Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

August

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk. SOLD OUT!
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 26
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Saturday, August 01, 2026

August highlights

The month begins with a weekend workshop and concert performance, and ends with an invitation to tango. The Globe is host to both. Nel Begley and Paul Edis take up residence on Railway Street in Newcastle to lead a two day workshop on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd. Tickets for their Sunday evening concert performance (8:00pm) are available from www.theglobenewcastle.bar. At the end of the month, Argentina's popular Tango Quartet makes a welcome return, dancing positively encouraged. 

Between times there is much else to look forward to. Saturday 8th sees the return of Newcastle's NOVUM Festival. If you find yourself on Northumberland Street during the day it'll be all but impossible to escape Mr Wilson's Second Liners. The New Orleans-style street band will be performing at intervals during the day. 

On Friday 14th, Bishop Auckland Jazz (Bishop Auckland Methodist Church) presents the John Settle Quartet. Vibes are something of a rarity in jazz and if you're at all curious, John Settle is your man. One o'clock start. In the evening, at Pilgrim, Newcastle, Brian Wicks' award-winning Bold Big Band will be in action. Get along to experience Brian's terrible jokes and, more importantly, listen to some terrific big band charts.                                      

Sunday 19th, Roker seafront. If the weather holds, Cliffe Park is the only place to be. Glasgow's online viral sensation, Vintage Explosion (see photo), will be top the bill. Frontman William Hitchell has a soul voice to die for. Sam Cooke? You'd better believe it! Tickets £44.00 and worth every penny!

The Edson Angus Quartet could be worth a punt. The Black Swan, Thursday 20th, welcomes the young quartet and it's free admission (donations via a jar on the bar). 

Friday 21st. Newcastle's Lit & Phil stages another sold out lunchtime concert. Danny Lowndes' Hot Club will be making the short journey up the road from Yorkshire to play Django/Stéphane and more. To enquire about returns, call 0191 232 0192. Friday evening , it's Showtime! At 7:30pm David Gray's Flextet will be giving it everything at, of all places, Sunderland Minster! 

Sunday 23rd, Blue Notes and new notes. The Blue Note Quintet, featuring several of the region's A-listers, will call in at Queen's Hall, Hexham (3:00pm) and at eight o'clock, Newcastle's Globe is the place to hear some new notes, new to Tyneside, that is, from Timmy Allen's emerging Scottish quartet. 

As the month draws to a close, Durham's Gala Theatre presents the Graham Hardy Quartet (Friday 24th, 1:00pm), Pilgrim, Newcastle (Saturday 29th) hits the jackpot with a return visit by Brian Jackson (Gil Scott-Heron). Note, there is a 'low ticket warning' for this one. Book at: www.pilgrimncl.music. And finally, to see out the month, on Sunday 30th, it's the aforementioned Tango Quartet. Russell  
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