Just as it should, the Jazz Festival leaves an immediate legacy in the form of ongoing jazz and blues events. Some are new ventures, with venue owners inspired by the attendances at festival events; others are ongoing programmes, freshly rejuvenated by their jazz festival involvement.
We’ve all read the somewhat mixed reports on the multi-million pound arts project in West Bromwich, The Public. They have been running twice – weekly blues and jazz shows since the festival – look out for bluesers The T-Bones (Saturday 9th August, 8pm) and Chicago swing singer Bobby Woods (Sunday 10th, 1pm). If you haven’t been to The Public yet, this is a great opportunity to get a close-up of this extremely controversial operation. It is close to the West Bromwich Bus Station – just go to the Town Centre and look up. It’s un-missable. Massive, shoebox-shaped, black with pink edging. Don’t read anything into the bar’s name – The Pink Tank. Admission is free.
In Birmingham, Sunday evenings at Bar Risa on Broad Street continue apace. For no admission fee you can enjoy regular jazz and blues every Sunday from 7pm – 9.30pm.
Impressive newcomers to the jazz fest Kel Elliott Band play Sunday 3rd August with The T – Bones (10th), Tipitina (17th) and Lexie Stobie (24th). Showtime is 7pm.
Over in Solihull there’s a string of shows in the Touchwood Centre, Solihull:
Blues giant Ian Parker with his band (July 30th 5.30pm), King of Rhythm and Blues, Big Joe Pleasure (August 3rd 2.30pm), The regions finest David Moore Blues Band (6th 5.30pm), rockabilly special with Dirty Robbers (10th 2.30pm), hillbilly jive with The Toy Hearts (13th 5.30pm), sensational new Kel Elliott Band (17th 2.30pm), ace pub-rockers The Elements (20th 5.30pm), all-girl blues band with bite The Rogue Dolls (24th 2.30pm), the trad jazz of Martinique Jazz Band (27th 5.30pm), and Tipitina bringing the spirit and soul of New Orleans to Solihull (31st 2.30pm).
And again, all the Shows are free.
Tuesday 29 July 2008
Thursday 10 July 2008
A Few More Programme Adjustments
Hi All, I hope you've all managed to catch a little it of the jazz festival, which has just reached its midway point.
Below are a few adjustments and late additions to the programme:
THURSDAY 10TH JULY
12:00 Pitcher & Piano - Django's Castle (SPAIN)
16:00 House of Fraser - Suzahn Fiering (U.S.A.)
19:30 Old Orleans - Suzahn Fiering - (U.S.A.)
20:30 Wine Republic - Becky Brine Rhythm Boys
FRIDAY 11TH JULY
18:00 The Arcadian Centre - Tipitina
19:00 Old Orleans - Bobby Woods
SATURDAY 12TH
13:00 La Tasca, Star City - Tipitina
Make sure, if you haven't already, to check out a little of the jazz festival, it's the best yet!
Below are a few adjustments and late additions to the programme:
THURSDAY 10TH JULY
12:00 Pitcher & Piano - Django's Castle (SPAIN)
16:00 House of Fraser - Suzahn Fiering (U.S.A.)
19:30 Old Orleans - Suzahn Fiering - (U.S.A.)
20:30 Wine Republic - Becky Brine Rhythm Boys
FRIDAY 11TH JULY
18:00 The Arcadian Centre - Tipitina
19:00 Old Orleans - Bobby Woods
SATURDAY 12TH
13:00 La Tasca, Star City - Tipitina
Make sure, if you haven't already, to check out a little of the jazz festival, it's the best yet!
Friday 4 July 2008
Let the Jazz Begin
The breakfast launch was today at 8am, the crowd was full of dignitaries such as the Lord Mayor, the venue - Wine Republic, was a wonderful place to start this year's festival.
Speeches came from City Leader Mike Whitby, new festival Patron Digby Fairweather and Lord Mayor Chauhdry Rashid, all of whom spoke passionately and were lovely to talk to over some orange juice and croissants.
Dixieland Crackerjacks played outside to the morning crowd at Centenary Square and Tipitina did a fantastic set inside. If you do get a chance to see the Crackerjacks or Tipitina in the small unique venues that this festival offers, don't pass on the opportunity.
Just a reminder, Debbie Jones, frontwoman of Tipitina is holding two choirworkshops tommorow.
12pm, St-Martin's-in-the-Bullring, free
5pm, Atrix, Bromsgrove, £4/£5
Speeches came from City Leader Mike Whitby, new festival Patron Digby Fairweather and Lord Mayor Chauhdry Rashid, all of whom spoke passionately and were lovely to talk to over some orange juice and croissants.
Dixieland Crackerjacks played outside to the morning crowd at Centenary Square and Tipitina did a fantastic set inside. If you do get a chance to see the Crackerjacks or Tipitina in the small unique venues that this festival offers, don't pass on the opportunity.
Just a reminder, Debbie Jones, frontwoman of Tipitina is holding two choirworkshops tommorow.
12pm, St-Martin's-in-the-Bullring, free
5pm, Atrix, Bromsgrove, £4/£5
Tuesday 1 July 2008
A World of Jazz in One Mile
Imagine travelling over 6 countries in the space of one night. Tiring work, isn’t it? But it is possible, only at this year’s Birmingham International Jazz Festival.
Take, for instance, Wednesday 9 July where you could start your evening at 6.30pm in the Copthorne Hotel in Paradise Circus, have a drink in the bar and listen to Canada’s Katya Gorrie. Then hop in a cab and hot foot it over to The Duck on the Hagley Road where from 7pm Spanish band Django’s Castle takes the stand.
It takes just three minutes to walk to the opposite side of the road and into the Lychee Garden, where you might want to sample the delicious cuisine and catch up with our very own Becky Brine. Two minutes walk from the Lychee Garden and you’re in the USA, where Synthesis Big Band will be performing at the Strathallan Hotel.
When you have had your fill, jump on a bus and make your way back towards the City Centre to the Broad Street area where you will find Walkabout: the Australians are in town in the form of Michael McQuaid’s Red Hot Rhythmakers who are on from 8pm. Almost next door you will find The Living Room; here Suzahn Fiering from the USA will be providing entertainment also at 8pm.
The following evening you could do the same again, starting in the Slug and Lettuce, or should that be the Spider and Eucalyptus seeing as Australian band Michael McQuaid’s Red Hot Rhythmakers are playing once again, only this time at 7pm.
Jump on the bus heading towards the Hagley Road, getting off at The Garden House for an American feel with the Greg Abate Quartet who are performing there at 7.30pm. Back on that bus, or a taxi, if you’re feeling flash, head towards Broad Street and don those lederhosen because at 8pm German band, Bourbon Street Stompers are going to be in fine form at The Brasshouse.
Just down the road from The Brasshouse we enter Wine REPublic and a Hungarian feel where the Budapest Ragtime Band are entertaining that night at 8pm. Or if you fancy a bit more American Jazz, then Aaron Weinstein is playing at The Living Room.
So for trips that would take you between 15,000 and 20,000 miles, multiple time zones, a few days and a lot of money, you could do it in under a mile, on one or even two nights, and best of all, you only have to pay for your drinks!
Take, for instance, Wednesday 9 July where you could start your evening at 6.30pm in the Copthorne Hotel in Paradise Circus, have a drink in the bar and listen to Canada’s Katya Gorrie. Then hop in a cab and hot foot it over to The Duck on the Hagley Road where from 7pm Spanish band Django’s Castle takes the stand.
It takes just three minutes to walk to the opposite side of the road and into the Lychee Garden, where you might want to sample the delicious cuisine and catch up with our very own Becky Brine. Two minutes walk from the Lychee Garden and you’re in the USA, where Synthesis Big Band will be performing at the Strathallan Hotel.
When you have had your fill, jump on a bus and make your way back towards the City Centre to the Broad Street area where you will find Walkabout: the Australians are in town in the form of Michael McQuaid’s Red Hot Rhythmakers who are on from 8pm. Almost next door you will find The Living Room; here Suzahn Fiering from the USA will be providing entertainment also at 8pm.
The following evening you could do the same again, starting in the Slug and Lettuce, or should that be the Spider and Eucalyptus seeing as Australian band Michael McQuaid’s Red Hot Rhythmakers are playing once again, only this time at 7pm.
Jump on the bus heading towards the Hagley Road, getting off at The Garden House for an American feel with the Greg Abate Quartet who are performing there at 7.30pm. Back on that bus, or a taxi, if you’re feeling flash, head towards Broad Street and don those lederhosen because at 8pm German band, Bourbon Street Stompers are going to be in fine form at The Brasshouse.
Just down the road from The Brasshouse we enter Wine REPublic and a Hungarian feel where the Budapest Ragtime Band are entertaining that night at 8pm. Or if you fancy a bit more American Jazz, then Aaron Weinstein is playing at The Living Room.
So for trips that would take you between 15,000 and 20,000 miles, multiple time zones, a few days and a lot of money, you could do it in under a mile, on one or even two nights, and best of all, you only have to pay for your drinks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
