Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 2026.

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Thu 29: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 35s only. Rescheduled from December 4th.
Thu 29: Oh No Noh + Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £16.45., £13.28., £12.22., £9.04. Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: TBC.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Friday, July 13, 2018

Francis Tulip Quartet – Tour Dates!

(Preview by Russell)
They’re back, fresh from a first summer get together at the hugely successful Durham DJazz Festival at the beginning of June, the Francis Tulip Quartet will be playing three gigs during July and August with a return to Hexham’s Fox Inn, a first concert performance at the Literary and Philosophical Society, and a return date at Newcastle Jazz Co-op’s Globe headquarters.

Four young men from the north east of England; guitarist Francis Tulip, home for the summer from his studies in Birmingham, Whitley Bay resident, pianist Joel Brown, now out of school and taking time out, and Berklee, Boston music student, drummer Matt MacKellar, over here as his American friends would say, ‘on vacation.’ 
Over the last few years the lads have made waves sitting in at jam sessions, playing in youth big bands, participating in invaluable workshop sessions and, of course, gigging as a quartet – the Francis Tulip Quartet. Starting on Tuesday at the Fox Inn (8:00pm, free admission although please make a donation!) the quartet will, no doubt, receive another amazing reception from the Hexham Jazz Club regulars who, first time around, couldn’t believe what they were hearing. The Fox is a typical one room community pub and thanks to the publican supporting live music there is a flourishing jazz scene Way Out West! The following week, Friday lunchtime, July 27, it is thanks to Paul Edis for offering the lads the opportunity to play a gig at the prestigious Lit and Phil on Westgate Road in Newcastle, near Central Station. A one o’clock, one hour concert in Edis’ jazz concert series is a coveted prize and the Francis Tulip Quartet has hit the jackpot. A large turn-out is all but guaranteed, its pay on the door, no advance sales, so arrive in good time and pay your fiver, this promises to be something special.

The third gig is on Sunday August 5 at the Jazz Co-op on Railway Street located near the Metro Radio Arena. Doors at 7:30, £6 (£3 student). The Newcastle Jazz Co-op exists, in part, to support gigs such as this, make the effort, there’s plenty of on-street parking, alternatively, walk from Central Station, it’s only five minutes away.  Later in August there is the little matter of a concert set at this year’s Ushaw Jazz Festival but more on that nearer the time. Do get along to at least one of the gigs, put the date in the diary now, the future of jazz is in safe hands with the Francis Tulip Quartet. 
Russell

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