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

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: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
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: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.

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

Tuesday, September 05, 2023

Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music 2023

With great pleasure we announce the 7th year of Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music. 

Launched 2017, the festival continues to respond to the city’s appetite for a contemporary grass roots jazz festival, presenting an innovative and diverse international line up, celebrating and pushing boundaries that challenge perceptions of jazz and improvised music.

This year we welcome new performance spaces including the Jesmond United Reformed Church and Blank Studios, alongside our regular venues Bobiks, The Globe and the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society.


We are also especially delighted to include three performances from the Edith Adamson Carillon at Newcastle Civic Centre. A landmark on the Newcastle Skyline the carillon is the heaviest of its kind in the world, with a total metal mass of 22 tonnes, what a treat to hear the 25 bells ringing out across the city through a specially commissioned festival piece for our three weekends. 

We continue to work with our lead partners Jazz North East, but also other key regional promoters including Jazz.Coop, GemArts and the Thursday Night Prayer Meeting.

Alongside British and International UK based artists this year we’re delighted to be bringing musicians from Italy, Switzerland, France and multiple Scandinavian regions. 

Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music gratefully acknowledges Arts Council England, associated partners and funders for their support.

Our festival this year is dedicated in memory of Steve Horowitz who recently passed, a tireless supporter of the Tyneside jazz scene who will be sadly missed but never forgotten.

We hope you enjoy the show! 
Wesley Stephenson (Artistic Director and Festival Producer) 

Jon Bradley with Paul Taylor 
Three Tsuru Origami
Paul Edis with Graeme Wilson 
Zoe Rahman Band
John Pope Quintet
Late Girl 
Shapeshifters
Sarah Gail Brand / Cath Roberts / Andy Champion / Mark Sanders 
David Birchall / Thomas Dixon / John Pope 
Alcyona Mick 
Balo
Sebastian Lexer / Martin Mayes / Steve Noble
Semay Wu 
Mimam
Maja Bugge with Sarah Niccols 
Olivia Moore with Adam Fairhall 
Rie Nakajima 
Samuel Blaser Trio
Laura Toxværd with Jeppe Zeeberg 
Atzi Muramatsu and Fritz Welch 
Ubunye

DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL FESTIVAL BROCHURE FOR FULL DETAILS
www.newcastlefestivalofjazzandimprovisedmusic.co.uk


TICKETS AVAILABLE VIA OUR PARTNERS AT JAZZ NORTH EAST
www.seetickets.com/tour/jazz-north-east


FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/newcastlefestivalofjazzandimprovisedmusic


Twitter: @NFOJAiM

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