Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

From This Moment On

March

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Press release: Strictly Smokin's Christmas @ the O2 City Hall, Newcastle - Dec. 13 (6:00pm)

Black Friday ticket deal!

Pushing the boat out for our 15th year of Christmas shows... 

SSBB featuring Matt Ford, Bradley Creswick, Alice Grace and Northern Orchestra, plus world premieres from the pen of Stuart Mclean-Fowler...



This is shaping up to be the most wonderful Christmas show at City Hall... the band is sounding GREAT (video below!!), Matt Ford is poised to leap into action, Bradley Creswick is tuning his fiddle as we speak, Alice & Sanaz are sounding sublime, the orchestra is booked, and tickets are flying out...

...plus until Wednesday 3rd December you can grab Black Friday tickets with 30% off!

If you're travelling from further afield and making a weekend of it - we can recommend hotels and help you fill the rest of your weekend.

Dive into our most recent rehearsal by watching our new 'behind the scenes' video from our session last Thursday where we worked on "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas".
Lots of stopping and starting, but you can hear just how responsive the band are to making loads of little adjustments and making sure the performance really sparkles... imagine it with an orchestra and vocalists... it's going to be mega!

If you’re not already in, make sure you join our VIP Facebook Group for some more sneak peeks at rehearsals over the next few weeks.

We really hope you can make it to the City Hall for our 15th Christmas special — we can’t wait to see you there!

...and don't forget, 30% off tickets until Wednesday 3rd!
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