Diary

The Roaring Twenties will give you an evening of entertainment from the era of beautiful fashions, elegant celebrities, flappers, gangsters and last but by no means least, Hot Jazz. Tunes from bands such as King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, The Wolverines and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings are all part of the bands repertoire. Added to this are the classis songs from the era, sung by Bessie Smith, Sophie Tucker, Ma Rainey and Mamie Smith in the blues and vaudeville styles. The band that recreate the ‘roaring twenties’ are Simon James, trumpet; David Hepworth clarinet / saxophone; Andy Bramall, banjo / guitar; Liz Hepworth, double bass, Rob Cotterell, drums; and featuring vocalist Suzanne James.

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old. He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'. A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop. By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique. Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham. But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities! One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music. As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards. From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike. The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass). They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

Sauce City Jazz is a traditional “Dixieland” Jazz Band that plays in and around Worcestershire and the Midlands. We play at a wide range of events including weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Barbecues and even Funerals but also Jazz Evenings, Dances, Summer Park events, Jazz Festivals and “Jazz in the Church” events. Sauce City Jazz was formed in 1992 in Claines, Worcestershire by a group of friends who got together to welcome a local soldier home from the Gulf War. A fun evening soon evolved into a six piece jazz band, now approaching its thirtieth year. Our line up is Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Banjo, String Bass and Drums, playing acoustically or amplified as the occasion demands. Our numbers include a wide range of traditional and popular jazz classics, which will lend a real party atmosphere to special events!

Sweet and Hot have always gone down a storm, so it was a no-brainer when Jeff & Anne approached the club for a re-booking in this year’s programme. We are always pleased to give Jeff & Anne Barnhart a warm welcome to our club and we look forward to an eclectic mixture of fantastic jazz, a huge dose of humour and an inexhaustible supply of historical chat and anecdotes. The band as before will feature Jeff Barnhart on piano and vocals, Anne Barnhart on flute and vocals, Graham Smith on the vintage drum kit and Tom ‘Spats’ Langham on banjo, guitar, jazz anecdotes, education and vocals.

For many years Dave Wood (Reeds) and Stan Stephens (trombone) were members of the New Georgia Jazz Band run by cornet player Dave Smith. Dave Smith left the band in 2016 as he moved to Wales. This left the band without a cornet, it was decided to stay as a five piece and they rebranded their selves as New Orleans Bump (the title of a Jelly Roll Morton tune).  Inevitably, without the usual cornet/trumpet, we have a different, rather more gentle sound to regular line-ups but our repertoire includes many standards plus a growing number of lesser-known tunes. Vocals from Stan and Dave are a regular feature and we are regularly booked at clubs that enjoy dancing.  The Covid lockdown brought about another complete change to the rhythm section which is now made up of Sarah Thatcher (banjo/guitar), Spike Kennedy (bass) and Dave Andrews (drums).

A return visit by popular demand of this great band lead by Ron Hills who is considered by jazz fans as one the UK's finest trombonists. This swinging, six-piece unit includes some of the Midlands most respected jazz musicians led by the wonderful Ron Hills (trombone), alongside Tony Pipkin (trumpet & flugel horn), Terry Roberts (saxophones). In the rhythm section, are club favourites Roy Dutton (drums), Jim Sutton (string bass) and Bill Hayes (piano). Who all pay a respectful tribute to some of greatest icons of 1930's and 40's jazz and popular music, when swing really was king!

Gethin Liddington studied classical trumpet with Terence Lax at Welsh College of Music abd Drama from 1989 - 1993. Since graduating he has mainly worked in jazz and commercial music. He has performed widely in collaborations including Keith Tippetts' Tapestry, The Paul Dunmall Octet and Big Band, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Back to Basie, Blue Harlem, Welsh National Opera, Jeff Hooper, Catrina Finch, Katherine Jenkins, Keith Nicholls, Alex Mendham Orchestra. He has performed for TV and radio and has recorded and given performances at many major festivals throughout Europe and is a jazz tutor at RWCMD. Gethin will be performing for us as part of his star line-up Trio. One not to be missed, Geth always puts on a very good show!

The stellar line-up for this musical extravaganza is Jeremy Huggett (piano & vocals), Alex Clarke (saxes), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Simon Smith (double bass) and Steve Street (drums).The stellar line-up for this musical extravaganza is Jeremy Huggett (piano & vocals), Alex Clarke (saxes), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Simon Smith (double bass) and Steve Street (drums).

CALYPSO MOON are a UK-based jazz band with a passion for the music of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, made famous by stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Doris Day. CALYPSO MOON are Eleanor Dattani, Lydia Glanville and Amy Coates. ELEANOR DATTANI is a seasoned vocalist and songwriter. She has performed with many bands over the years, including festival heavyweights The Electric Swing Circus, with whom she performed at Glastonbury, Bestival, Womad, Shambala and Secret Garden Party, as well as touring internationally. Songs she has co-written and sang on have been played on BBC Radio 6 Music, and have millions of Spotify plays and YouTube views. After a break from music which involved having a baby during a global pandemic, Eleanor has returned to the mic to lead her own band - the incredible Calypso Moon! LYDIA GLANVILLE, Calypso Moon’s drummer, has had an exciting career gracing stages such as Glastonbury, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, The Barbican and Birmingham Town Hall. She has toured the UK and Europe extensively with many artists and groups, including Boat to Row, John Southworth, Gren Bartley, Kate Doubleday and Jipsy. She has performed live on BBC Radio 6 Music and recordings she has played on have been featured on the One Show. Playing with Calypso Moon allows Lydia the opportunity to revisit the types of music which she loved as a young musician whilst studying at Birmingham Conservative. AMY COATES is a badass jazz bassist and super-talented arranger in very high-demand! Having recently graduated from the University of Birmingham, this year she has performed at Birmingham Symphony Hall and Mostly Jazz Festival to name a few, and performs regularly with many different acts on the Birmingham jazz scene. We are certainly lucky to have such an exciting young talent in Calypso Moon!

On a gig with the Harlem Jazz Orchestra, Zoltan and Sarah were talking and Zoltan said that he wanted to play a New Orleans Revival-style gig with himself and Sarah. Inspired, Sarah has formed a band of some of the best musicians in the UK who play in that idiom. She decided to highlight the 2-reed front line and go without a trumpet player but, instead, have Mike Owen join them, which makes the band about as authentic in the New Orleans dance hall style as possible.

Sarah Spencer - reeds, Zoltan Sagi - reeds, Mike Owen - trombone, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham - banjo/guitar, Jim Swinnerton - string bass, Graham Smith – drums

The Jake Leg Jug Band bring you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America - Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime - and put their own twist on it. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption. After self-releasing their debut album, the band signed to one of the UK's top independent Jazz labels, recording 3 albums as part of the 'Vintage Recording Project' - essentially recording live around ribbon microphones, as it would have been back in the 1930’s. A further three albums were released in the last four years on the Green Bullet record label including their first ever live album. 2022 marked the 10th anniversary of the band and saw them play 100 gigs, taking in dates from Scotland to Cornwall and South Wales to Suffolk. 2023 is the bands busiest ever year and they bring their latest live show to promote their latest album Hello Central.
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"A masterpiece of nostalgic music" Folk North West
"Expert musicianship and great arrangements....highly recommended" Just Jazz
"Instrumental virtuosity" Blues & Rhythm
"Good time music from a good-time group" The Jazz Rag
"Pick any track at random and prepare to be entertained " RnR
"the album shows the tightness of a band that have spent many years on the road" Fatea​
"A fine feast of good-time music" Blues News (Norway)
“The band mesh together like a well-oiled machine. Smokin’!” Spiral Earth​
“Pretty damn good!” Blues Matters

The line up is:  Duncan Wilcox (Vocals & Double Bass), Liam Ward (Vocals, Harmonica, Jug, Saw, Washboard & Kazoo), Warren James (Vocals & Banjo) plus a host of guest musicians.

Following the success of Warren James and his telling of The Lonnie Donegan Story we are delighted to invite the band back to perform for us a more broad and varied selection of songs that had England swinning throughout the 1950s Skiffle Boom. As well as 'The King of Skiffle', Lonnie Donegan, the Skiffle Boom also prouduced hit records such as Freight Train for Chas McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey, Last Train to San Fernando for Johnny Duncan, as well as hits for The Vipers, including Don't You Rock Me Daddio, Cotton Fields and Maggie Maggie May. Many jazz stars of the day had their own skiffle groups, including, Chris Barber, Ray Bush, The Avon Cities Skiffle Group and the City Ramblers. Skiffle was the launch pad for an entire generation of musician, many became jazz players, many went on to influence the 60s folk revival, whilst many more became the pop stars and hit makers of the 50s and 60s. Come and experience the music that was once described as "The Poor Man's Jazz" and "Britain's Jug Band Craze" but will always be "The Music that Made Britain Swing".

Formed in 2012 Washington Whirligig has quickly gained an enviable reputation for its versatility and professionalism. Catering for all occasions from birthdays and anniversaries to formal dances and corporate entertainment, they have also taken the jazz club scene by storm, earning praise and gaining great reviews wherever they perform. Playing early New Orleans through to driving mainstream jazz, swing and blues, they have a programme for every occasion. All band members are experienced musicians, respected within the industry, ensuring your event will be a memorable day. “Whirligig by name and by nature, this recently formed band is a joy to both listen to and play with. Their enthusiasm, endeavour and the excitement they create on the bandstand will, in my opinion as an occasional guest member of the band, take them a long way toward their drive to success. As with many other bands, the Alex Welsh Band are among their influences and inspirations, but with one difference, they play with the fire and drive of their idols, missing in so many other “tribute” bands. I will be happy to play with this band as often as they ask me to" Jim Douglas, guitar and banjo, Alex Welsh Band, 1963 to 1981. Dave Hepworth (clarinet & tenor sax), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo & vocal), Rob Cotterell (Drums), Liz Hepworth (bass & vocal) & Andy Henderson (trumpet & vocal).

For many years Dave Wood (Reeds) and Stan Stephens (trombone) were members of the New Georgia Jazz Band run by cornet player Dave Smith. Dave Smith left the band in 2016 as he moved to Wales. This left the band without a cornet, it was decided to stay as a five piece and they rebranded their selves as New Orleans Bump (the title of a Jelly Roll Morton tune).
Inevitably, without the usual cornet/trumpet, we have a different, rather more gentle sound to regular line-ups but our repertoire includes many standards plus a growing number of lesser-known tunes. Vocals from Stan and Dave are a regular feature and we are regularly booked at clubs that enjoy dancing.
The Covid lockdown brought about another complete change to the rhythm section which is now made up of Sarah Thatcher (banjo/guitar), Spike Kennedy (bass) and Dave Andrews (drums).

Sarah relocated back to the UK in January of 2017 and has been continuing to lead her ‘Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band’ on both sides of the Atlantic, in Europe and in the USA. Sarah worked for a while for the long-established, Bob Dwyer’s Bix and Pieces band and is the other member of the front line of Mike Owen’s exciting and wonderful Scarlette’s Serenaders, which also performs internationally. In addition to these, she is guesting with many other bands all across the UK and Europe. Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band performs powerful New Orleans jazz in the tradition of the great Revival. Drawing influence from bands of that era, as well as taking influence from more modern New Orleans music, blues, rhythm and blues and the greats of all eras of Jazz and Blues; like Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima and countless others.

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music. As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards. From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike. The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass). They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

This Midlands based band was formed over 20 years ago with some members from the Hazel Slade Big Band. They always promise to please the audience with some fabulous numbers from a varied repertoire. Presented in a light hearted fashion with some banter between Jon & Robin. They really are a little big band! Tunes from W C Handy, The Ellington Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt to name just a few.  As the band name suggests, this band don’t ‘alf swing! One of the clubs favourites.

What actually happened here was, that Emma had a couple of dates open and asked Sarah to put a band in which wasn’t the Transatlantic Band or Sax ‘n Bone as they had enough bloomin’ gigs.  Sarah called Mike Owen and asked what he thought they could do and should call a new band…. he suggested a name that he’s had on the back burner for a while…….Forming a 5-piece lineup that would be more New Orleans Revival-style, Sarah has formed the Mississippi Mudbugs (with gratitude to Mike Owen for the band name).  It has a 2-piece front line and a powerhouse rhythm section and plays the music of the New Orleans dance halls.

Mike Owen - trombone, Sarah Spencer - reeds, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham - banjo/guitar, Jim Swinnerton - string bass, Graham Smith – drums

Fret and Fiddle have come a long way since forming in 2001 as a duo making their mark as a tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Since those early days playing at small folk and blues clubs and experimenting with their repertoire, they have enjoyed over a decade of success as a trio, winning awards such as Stafford Jazz Society's “Band of the Year” and producing over four albums of material. The co-founders of the group, professional violinist Sally Minchin and guitarist Andy Bole, embarked on their project “Grappelli Swing” in 2014 to wide critical acclaim playing as a five-piece line up on their'' UK tour. Now they have added an exciting new dimension to the band and are joined by the phenominally talented Steve Street on drums, Rich Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on double bass. Prepare to be dazzled by Fret and Fiddle's show which takes you through the swing music of the 1920's, the blues, americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. Come and hear songs from the shows such as “Anything Goes by Cole Porter,” sing along to old hits like “I Can't Give you Anything but Love” and prepare to be dazzled by Andy's greek bouzouki playing! This versatile and entertaining group even throw in a few refreshingly individual songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, making certain that there is something in every show to delight everyone in every audience. Fret and Fiddle have just released their new album “J'Attendrai” which has been making waves locally and nationally and their track “Pennies from Heaven” has already been played as part of BBC Introducing on local BBC radio.

Following the UK's Skiffle music boom of 1956 kids became known as 'teenagers' and for the first time had a music that they could call their own. Many who cut their teeth in Skiffle Groups now began exchanging their washboards for drums, their tea chest bass for an proper electric bass and their old banjos for real guitars as their own musical tastes widened to the sounds across the Atlantic Ocean. It was in 1958 that Buddy Holly brought the first Fender Stratocaster guitar into the UK and from then on the door was wide open for the magnificent and energetic sounds of America to shake up old blighty forever. A new breed of music hero now dominated the British Hit Parade - with home grown talent such as Tommy Steele, Joe Brown, Lonnie Donegan, Adam Faith and Marty Wild and many other American stars such as Johnny Cash, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, The Everly Brothers and more. Enjoy 2 hours of musical nostalgia with Warren James as he remembers his Hit Parade Heroes.

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music. As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards. From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike. The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass). They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

Saxarama is lead by club favourite Jeremy Huggett on saxophones and vocals. Alongside him in the frontline is Alex Clarke on saxophones. Jeremy and Alex first played together at the headline session of the Old Duke Jazz Festival in Bristol in August 2019. Such was the positive feedback of the crowd that they’re going to join forces once again. They’ll be backed by a fantastic swinging rhythm section of Rich Hughes (piano), Simon Smith (Bass) and (drums). With a saxalicious repertoire that’s great for listening and dancing this is a session not to be missed!

The Pedigree Jazz Band are a real tribute to Trad Jazz. Chris Walker (reeds), Andy Chislett (Trumpet), John Noddings (Banjo & Guitar), Ken Ames or Mike Bennett (double bass) and Sy Gorlick (drums).

Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters, is made up of great musicians and great friends - ‘we enjoy our music and enjoy our time together. When a band has fun, you can guarantee the audience will too.’ We play Dixieland jazz from its roots in New Orleans through to its heyday during the British Trad boom.’ Paula Jackman – clarinet and saxes (soprano, alto, C melody and tenor), ‘Magic’ Mike Henry (cornet), Alistair Allan (Trombone), Hugh Crozier (Piano and vocals), ‘Lord’ Marc Easener (Sousaphone), Graham Collicott (Drums & Washboard).

The Roaring Twenties will give you an evening of entertainment from the era of beautiful fashions, elegant celebrities, flappers, gangsters and last but by no means least, Hot Jazz. Tunes from bands such as King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, The Wolverines and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings are all part of the bands repertoire. Added to this are the classis songs from the era, sung by Bessie Smith, Sophie Tucker, Ma Rainey and Mamie Smith in the blues and vaudeville styles. The band that recreate the ‘roaring twenties’ are Simon James, trumpet; David Hepworth clarinet / saxophone; Andy Bramall, banjo / guitar; Liz Hepworth, double bass, Rob Cotterell, drums; and featuring vocalist Suzanne James.

Jazz Buddies came about when Birmingham trumpeter Arthur Brown was asked to put a band together at twenty-four hours notice to appear at his local jazz club, the Northfield CEM, (now known as the Quarry Sports & Social Club). By pure luck famed trombonist Mike Owen had returned to the UK just days before and was looking for gigs, Arthur also secured the services of Brian Mellor (banjo & guitar), Dennis Mowatt (bass), Tim Jones (drums) and Matt Palmer (reeds). It was one those great moments when the band just ‘clicked’ from the word go and it was decided this couldn’t be left as a ‘one off’, the band secured a monthly residency at the CEM which continued for several years and they also appeared at many leading jazz venues. Many things have changed since then but the band still perform occasionally with the current line-up of Arthur Brown (trumpet), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), Matt Palmer (clarinet/sax), Pete Robinson (banjo & guitar), John Gibson (drums) and Simon Smith (bass). The Buddies present a eclectic selection of traditional favourites ranging from early American jazz classics to hits from the “British Trad Boom”.

Baby Jools is part of the new youth movement in old school New Orleans jazz. The Gloucester musician has spent much of his time as the drummer with Jim McIntosh and Max Collie, but the Jazzaholics have now been together for several years, thereby strengthening his own leadership duties. Baby Jools started playing drums at the age of six, rumbling around to the accompaniment of his father’s record collection. By the age of 17, he’d already joined our locally-based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band. He favours the authentically clunky sound of the 1920s and 30s, emphasising his collection of woodblocks and rolling out a particularly resonant snare and bass drum clatter. The Jazzaholics repertoire differs from most such outfits as they’re very likely to throw in a large shot of rock’n’roll. This club session should certainly guarantee a strutting and spinning Sunday afternoon. Baby Jools (drums), Kevin Grenfell (trombone), 'Magic' Mike Henry (trumpet), Jim Swinnerton (double bass), Karl Hird (reeds) and Warren James (banjo and guitars).

Following the UK's Skiffle music boom of 1956 kids became known as 'teenagers' and for the first time had a music that they could call their own. Many who cut their teeth in Skiffle Groups now began exchanging their washboards for drums, their tea chest bass for an proper electric bass and their old banjos for real guitars as their own musical tastes widened to the sounds across the Atlantic Ocean. It was in 1958 that Buddy Holly brought the first Fender Stratocaster guitar into the UK and from then on the door was wide open for the magnificent and energetic sounds of America to shake up old blighty forever. A new breed of music hero now dominated the British Hit Parade - with home grown talent such as Tommy Steele, Joe Brown, Lonnie Donegan, Adam Faith and Marty Wild and many other American stars such as Johnny Cash, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, The Everly Brothers and more. Enjoy 2 hours of musical nostalgia with Warren James as he remembers his Hit Parade Heroes.

Louis Louis Louis are a 4-piece band from Leeds, originally formed in 2011 as a tribute to Louis Prima and Louis Jordan. Over the years, they have extended their repertoire somewhat, and have become specialists in vintage vocal-harmony music, including swing, jump blues, doo wop, rocksteady and soul.

This band sports a healthy combination of youth and experience, Pete Brown (trumpet cornet and valve trombone) and Brian Lawrence (Bass and Sousaphone) were both long serving members of the original Eagle Jazz Band after initially forging their musical partnership in the Potteries based Mardi Gras Society Band during the 1970s. Matt Palmer (clarinet & saxes) joined in 2004, having worked extensively with Pete at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire. Drummer Tim Jones has  added vigour to the engine room to allow the band to fire on all cylinders when required, along with Brian Mellor (banjo and guitar) and Terry Williams (trombone drums vibes).The collective experience amassed by the current line-up includes top UK theme parks, river cruises cruise liners, major UK and European Jazz Festivals and Radio and Television broadcasts. The wide repertoire is drawn from popular songs from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Classic Jazz compositions by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton Sydney Bechet and Duke Ellington plus New Orleans Marches, Rags, Stomps, Blues, Swing and instrumental features. All band members are multi-instrumentalists, enabling us to play a variety of different sounds and styles each played in a happy, entertaining manner, many featuring vocals. Whatever we play, the major priority is to entertain the audience but to always maintain a high standard of musicianship and presentation. The Eagle Jazz Band have made their mark in several UK jazz clubs and at society functions where they are equally at home.

Coming from a family of strong musicians, Carl first started playing the piano when he was six years old. He had classical lessons to the age of twelve (just listening and learning to copy the sounds) and went on to win 'Young Musician of The Year'. A few years later, he switched to a teacher that gave more direction on improvisation, jazz and pop. By the age of eighteen, he'd mastered the art of playing boogie-woogie piano - relying on a strong left hand and a quick technique. Since 2007, he has become one of the resident pianist at Jools Holland's live music venue 'The Jam House' in Birmingham. But he’s also very privileged to have performed at some of the country’s top music festivals and theatres and at countless weddings/private parties - and even done a few for some celebrities! One of our club favourite acts, Carl Sinclair (piano) will make a return visit to us alongside Howard Smith on Drums.

Lady be Good is an all-female, saxophone-filled jazz band that brings a touch of class to your event. Think classic swing and jazz from the likes of the Rat Pack, Julie London, Nina Simon and Peggy Lee, plus more modern numbers with our unique twist. Lady Be Good have it all covered, featuring the vocal talents of Lynn Dawes and Joe Greaves.  From Ella Fitzgerald through to Frank Sinatra. Lady Be Good just love to play your favourite songs. Perfect music to get your guests up on the dancefloor and keep them there, without overpowering those who just want to sit and tap their feet at the back. Don't forget your dancing shoes! Expect some Christmassy classics.

What actually happened here was, that Emma had a couple of dates open and asked Sarah to put a band in which wasn’t the Transatlantic Band or Sax ‘n Bone as they had enough bloomin’ gigs.  Sarah called Mike Owen and asked what he thought they could do and should call a new band…. he suggested a name that he’s had on the back burner for a while…….Forming a 5-piece lineup that would be more New Orleans Revival-style, Sarah has formed the Mississippi Mudbugs (with gratitude to Mike Owen for the band name).  It has a 2-piece front line and a powerhouse rhythm section and plays the music of the New Orleans dance halls.

Mike Owen - trombone, Sarah Spencer - reeds, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham - banjo/guitar, Jim Swinnerton - string bass, Graham Smith – drums

Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters, is made up of great musicians and great friends - ‘we enjoy our music and enjoy our time together. When a band has fun, you can guarantee the audience will too.’ We play Dixieland jazz from its roots in New Orleans through to its heyday during the British Trad boom.’ Paula Jackman – clarinet and saxes (soprano, alto, C melody and tenor), ‘Magic’ Mike Henry (cornet), Alistair Allan (Trombone), Hugh Crozier (Piano and vocals), ‘Lord’ Marc Easener (Sousaphone), Graham Collicott (Drums & Washboard).