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!