Queen’s Hall, home of Hexham’s Sunday Jazz Sessions, has announced the first-ever Hexham Jazz Weekender — a two-day Bank Holiday celebration of world-class jazz taking place at the end of May.
Building on the success of the Northumberland Jazz Festival, this newly branded event brings together UK jazz greats alongside some of the North’s most exciting talent. Tickets start at £10, with Day and Weekend Pass options available.
The weekend opens on Saturday 23 May with the Alexia Gardner Quintet (7pm, £12). The British Jamaican, Grammy-nominated vocalist is joined by some of the North’s finest musicians, delivering stylish interpretations of jazz standards and the Great American Songbook.
Later that evening, the festival presents a special tribute to jazz guitar legend Wes Montgomery (8.15pm, £12). Acclaimed guitarist Joe Steels, who also programmes jazz at Queen’s Hall, leads a North East quartet celebrating Montgomery’s iconic thumb-picked sound and celebrated recordings with the Wynton Kelly Trio.
“We’re very excited to welcome some of Britain’s most prodigious musicians to our community,” explains Joe Steels, Jazz Programmer at Queen’s Hall “From Modern Vikings, hailing from across our northern border, to artists from the south coast, sharing the stage with our fantastic local musicians, this programme brings together talent from across the UK. We’re building on the success of the Northumberland Jazz Festival and our Sunday Jazz Sessions with a fresh, vibrant platform to celebrate outstanding British jazz.”
Saturday night continues with Chris Coull’s Porgy and Bess (9.30pm, £15), reimagining Gershwin’s masterpiece for the 21st century with award-winning vocalist Imogen Ryall and an all-star ensemble.
Sunday’s programme begins with SwanNek (3pm, £10) at Hexham Library, the boundary-pushing Newcastle-based collective, followed by Ben Crosland’s Threeway (7pm, £12), a melodic chamber jazz trio, and the Finn-Keeble Group (8.15pm, £12), delivering energetic contemporary jazz rooted in improvisation.
The weekend culminates with Modern Vikings (9.30pm, £15), closing the festival in style. The award-winning quintet has taken the UK jazz scene by storm, blending intricate arrangements, high-energy improvisation and folk-inspired influences. Led by drummer and composer Stephen Henderson, and featuring some of the UK’s brightest jazz talents, Modern Vikings promise a thrilling and unforgettable finale to Hexham’s first Jazz Weekender.
The festival also includes a special fundraiser performance from Paul Edis (Saturday 3pm, £12), taking place at Core Music, with all proceeds going directly to the Hexham based charity to support local music initiatives
Tickets for all Hexham Jazz Weekender events are on sale now...
