Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

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, September 03, 2025

NEWCASTLE JAZZ FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH STELLAR LINE-UP FEATURING ACCLAIMED GUITARIST ANT LAW

Newcastle upon Tyne, 2025 – The Newcastle Jazz Festival is thrilled to announce its return for a spectacular 6th edition on Saturday, 20th September 2025, at the prestigious Live Theatre in Newcastle. This one-day celebration of world-class jazz will showcase an exceptional lineup of national stars and the finest regional talent.

HEADLINER: ANT LAW'S 'UNIFIED THEORIES' QUARTET

Headlining this year's festival is the outstanding London-based guitarist Ant Law and his acclaimed 'Unified Theories' Quartet. Known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary jazz, Ant Law's quartet delivers a unique blend of influences, including jazz, classical, South Indian rhythms, and rock. The group creates intricate harmonies and grooves, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary jazz that has captivated audiences across the UK.

REGIONAL TALENT TAKES CENTER STAGE

The festival proudly showcases the region's finest jazz musicians with captivating performances from:

Nauta (13:00, The Undercroft) – A dynamic quintet formed in 2023, Nauta blends jazz with folk influences, creating a fresh and improvisational sound. With a growing presence in the North East, they bring their original music to the stage, offering a captivating and unique experience.

Noel Dennis Trio (14:30, The Studio) – Featuring Mark Williams and Andy Champion, this trio delves into be-bop and post-bop, drawing from the styles of Miles Davis and Chet Baker, with deep improvisation and new takes on jazz standards.

Joe Steels Quartet (14:30, The Studio) – Known for his melodic and innovative guitar playing, Joe Steels leads a quartet that fuses jazz tradition with modern influences, inspired by the likes of Grant Green and John Scofield.

NEW VENUE PARTNERSHIP

The Newcastle Jazz Festival is excited to announce its partnership with the Live Theatre, one of the region's most respected cultural venues. This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter for the festival, with plans to expand the event in future years. The Live Theatre's intimate spaces provide the perfect setting for experiencing world-class jazz in the heart of Newcastle.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are available now through TicketSource, with special discounts for multiple ticket purchases:

Full Festival Pass (All performances): 15% discount • Afternoon & Evening Sessions: 10% discount • Lunch & Evening Sessions: 10% discount • Lunch & Afternoon Sessions: 5% discount

All tickets include access to the After Hours Festival Jam at 9:30 PM in the Undercroft, where festival-goers can enjoy more live music, drinks, and a chance to socialize with artists and fellow jazz enthusiasts.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

13:00 - Nauta (The Undercroft) 14:30 - Noel Dennis Trio & Joe Steels Quartet (The Studio) 19:30 - Ant Law's 'Unified Theories' Quartet (The Theatre) 21:30 - After Hours Festival Jam (The Undercroft)

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk or follow the festival on social media @newcastlejazzfest.

CONTACT

For media inquiries, please contact: comms@newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk

SPONSORS

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors who make this year's festival possible:

• Transmission Dynamics - https://www.transmissiondynamics.com/ A leading engineering company specializing in advanced transmission systems and dynamics solutions. Their support helps us bring world-class jazz to Newcastle.

• Ray Truscott Estate We're grateful for the continued support from the Ray Truscott Estate, which enables us to showcase both national and regional talent at this year's festival.

About Newcastle Jazz Festival

The Newcastle Jazz Festival celebrates the vibrant jazz scene of the North East while bringing national and international talent to local audiences. Now in its 6th edition, the festival continues to grow as a highlight of Newcastle's cultural calendar.

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