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

18246 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 100 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

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:Times of the Day & Trios.
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.

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Yorkshire village takes on traditional jazz clubs at national awards

(Press release)

A West Yorkshire village will take on traditional jazz clubs for the title of ‘venue of the year’ at a national jazz awards ceremony later this year.

Marsden Jazz Festival has made it through to the final of the prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Awards in London and has been shortlisted in the venue of the year category alongside jazz clubs in Bristol, Dorking and Brighton.
The festival takes place in 25 venues in Marsden during the second weekend in October, including a 19th century Mechanics Hall, two churches and an outdoor stage on a bridge over the River Colne.

This year’s headliners include the all-female Crissy Lee Orchestra, re-imaginings of 70s and 80s pop hits with the Beverley Beirne Quintet and Mercury Prize 2019 nominees SEED Ensemble, who will bring the festival to a close at 6pm on Sunday 13th October.


Luca Manning, who has been nominated for ‘Jazz Newcomer of the Year’ at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, will also be among the dozens for artists performing free gigs in Marsden’s pubs and clubs throughout the festival weekend.

Barney Stevenson, Artistic Director at Marsden Jazz Festival, said:
“We’re delighted to be the only festival to be nominated for venue of the year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and are keeping our fingers crossed for the ceremony in December. We already know how much the festival means to the thousands of people who come to Marsden every year to experience the unique atmosphere it brings to the village, but it’s great to get national recognition as well. We’ve got another amazing line-up planned for this year’s festival so we’d definitely encourage anyone who hasn’t been before to give it a go.”

This year’s Marsden Jazz Festival will once again feature a hugely popular street parade and battle of the bands on Saturday afternoon, family-friendly events and a ‘street food alley’ as well as over 80 gigs.

The festival takes place between Friday 11th and Sunday 13th October, and tickets are on sale now at 
www.marsdenjazzfestival.com. Half price tickets are also available for under-30s and children up to the age of 16 can see each of this year’s headliners for just £1.

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