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Jazz at the Craven Arms, 47 Upper Gough Street, Birmingham (2026)

13/05/2025

Big thanks to James Borland and his band for the amazing performance last weekend! We loved it!

Unfortunately it falls upon me to share the rubbish news that we are having to shut down the Craven Arms Jazz series.
We are so grateful to all the amazing musicians that have played in the little room above the Craven over the last year and a half, and we’re so grateful to all of you who attended the gigs and parted with your hard earned money to support the jazz scene in Birmingham.

Though it’s not ending the way we wanted when we started the night, we’ve had a great time and have seen some truly wonderful gigs.
Big thanks to the Craven (big up John) for hosting us every month, big thanks to for the incredible artwork and support.

Maybe we’ll do a goodbye jam or drink or something at the craven sometime! Will let you know!

Stay safe, keep on truckin’ and enjoy this throwback to our first gig all the way back in December 2023.
All the best,
Henry

02/05/2025

Our next session is a special one!! So pleased to announce…
JAMES BORLAND SINGS AND PLAYS: like many of the great trumpet players before him, for this performance James will be singing standards alongside playing his horn. Joined by a wonderful band of Brummie heroes expect standards, swing and voices!

James Borland- Trumpet and Vocals
Giulia Marro- Clarinet and Vocals
Josh Vadiveloo- Bass and Vocals
James Coni- Guitar

We’re so excited to welcome these wonderful musicians to the Craven Sunday the 11th of May for what promises to be a fantastic gig!

Once again thankyou so much to always grateful for her work! Check it out!

19/04/2025

We’re back!!! And so excited to announce Aprils Jazz at the Craven Arms gig!

REBECCA WING!!!

We’re so excited to welcome this Brum legend to the Craven with an amazing project that is sure to deliver a totally unique experience to all those who attend!
Here’s a little bit about Beccy and her project “Songs From Home”:

Rebecca Wing is a saxophonist, vocalist, and composer from London, now based in Birmingham. Since graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where she was mentored by world-class musicians such as Sara Colman, Mike Williams, and Rebecca Nash, she has continued to develop her project “HERITAGE” expanding the score to big band and recording her debut album that will be released in 2025. Ever since her arrival to Birmingham in 2020, Rebecca has been an active member of the Birmingham jazz scene, hosting jams and playing gigs in and around Birmingham and London with her band, playing gigs in venues such as The Spotted Dog, Symphony Hall, The Warehouse Café, and supporting mentor Rebecca Nash at the EFG London Jazz Festival 2023. Since collaborating with Vato Klemera for the first time for Flatpack film festival 2024, they have been in a songwriting partnership ever since. “Songs from home” is a new project exploring free-flowing songwriting on themes of childhood memories and philosophical musings. Bridging ethereal jazz improvisation with granular and tape-emulated looping, the project attends to the ephemerality of tape as a musical focus, and metaphor for reminiscing.

We can’t wait!!!
Catch Rebecca and her band in action next Sunday, the 27th of April, live at the Craven Arms!
As usual tickets are £7 on the door with a student offer of £5.

Get a pint or a famous cob and come listen to this amazing set of music!

#2025

22/02/2025

Thanks so much to Dave Bustos for the amazing trio gig last week! We’re so excited to announce our session for March, and it’s only a week away!!!

The AIDAN AMANN TRIO!!! Trio madness at the Craven arms it seems!
Aidan will be bringing his unique and intoxicating drum work to the Craven Sunday the 2nd of March!
Joining him are:
BEN LOVE on double bass
NICK MANZ on piano

You can expect an eclectic and virtuosic by these incredible musicians!

Here’s a little about them:
After studying with internationally renowned musicians including Percy Pursglove and John O’Gallagher at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Aidan Amann is now an established drummer on the midlands and national jazz scenes. Aidan plays regularly with some of the best up and coming talent in the country, and has performed with renowned figures such as Andy Hamilton and Vic Evans. He draws influence from folk music and Scandinavian jazz to shape a unique sound.

Ben Love is a double bassist currently based in London. He studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and has had the opportunity to perform with acclaimed musicians such as Giacomo Smith, Xhosa Cole, and Pete Horsefall. Ben has performed at Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Symphony Hall and other various venues nationwide.

Nick Manz (piano) has been praised by critics as ‘exciting, absolutely brilliant’ (Ayanna Witter-Johnson), with ‘rapid, shimmering pianism and virtuosic melodic fluency’ (Planet Hugill). After studying at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Rob van Bavel, he was then offered a scholarship at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he now studies. Artistic influences include Sullivan Fortner, Kenny Kirkland and Olivier Messiaen.

We can’t wait to welcome them to the Craven Sunday the 2nd for an amazing session! Come and get a pint and celebrate the end of February with some live jazz!

Thankyou so much to our artist for these amazing posters! Check out her page for designs and other pieces!

05/02/2025

WE’RE BACK!!!

We hope you all had a very merry Christmas/New Year and are happy to see the back of January!!!

We’re so pleased to be back this month with a very special gig!!!
The DAVID BUSTOS trio shall be making their debut at the Craven Arms Sunday the 16th of February, making it a little bit romantic (hence the pink on the poster)!

Here’s a little about Dave:

David is a saxophonist and composer / arranger based in Birmingham. He is the bandleader and arranger for 12-piece jazz/funk outfit DISCO MANIFEST, and writes for contemporary jazz group BUMPHTET, which he co-leads with trumpeter Charlie Humphrey-Lewis.

David has most recently become part of the team running DIGBETH JAZZ (formerly Jazz at the Spotted Dog) and has spearheaded the night’s new branding and aesthetic.

He is currently working on a number of projects, including writing for his own group, and working with saxophonist Rebecca Wing to arrange her Heritage project for big band.

Joining David for this special gig are two of Brums favourite rhythm section players:
SAM CASEY on bass

And making his Craven Arms debut,
ANDREW DUNCAN on drumkit

We can’t wait to see you all on the 16th of February at the Craven Arms!
As usual, doors open at 4pm with music starting around 4:30! Arrive in good time to secure a seat, and bring a loved one or a date as this is pretty close to Valentine’s Day!

Once again Thankyou so much to the amazing for the fantastic poster!!!

#251

01/12/2024

NEXT UP, and our final gig of the year!!! we’re very excited to welcome London based trombone player, James Wade-Sired in a special duo trombone gig with our very own, Henry Hanssen! Featuring the return of Ben Shankland on Keys after his first semester studying at the Jazz-Institut Berlin!

Here’s a little about James and Henry

James Wade-Sired is an up and coming trombonist who has played, toured and recorded with the likes of Charles Tolliver, Ricky Ford, Cleveland Watkiss, Tony Kofi, Byron Wallen, Julian Joseph, Olivia Dean, Lime Cordiale, Giacomo Smith, Jake Shears, Greentea Peng, and many more.

Henry Hanssen is a jazz trombone player based in Birmingham where he is an active and prolific member of the scene, playing in both his own projects and others for the last 4 years while receiving coaching from Dave Sear and Percy Purseglove at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He has appeared as a featured soloist at several of Birminghams jazz nights including, Upstairs at Cherry Reds, and Jazz at the Ruin.

Come down to the Craven Arms on the 15th December from 4pm and bathe in the glory of double trombones, the greatest sound on earth. You’re definitely not going to want to miss this one!!! There may even be a few Christmas surprises!!!

IN THE BAND:
James Wade-Sired 🦴
Henry Hanssen 🦴
Ben Shankland 🎹
Adam Roberts 🎸
Dominic Johnson 🥁

And don’t forget to check out our amazing artist, responsible for all our posters

16/11/2024

🌶️🥵🔥 Hot Sambal 🔥🥵🌶️

Here’s a spicy clip of Doug Sides’ incredible composition 'Hot Sambal' 🔥 from his final gig at the Broadstairs Jazz Festival, performed by the Doug Sides Quartet

🥁 – drums
🎷 – sax
🎸 – guitar
🎹 – keys

Be sure to come down to the Craven Arms this Sunday, 17th November, for our tribute gig to celebrate Doug's remarkable legacy. Join us for a night of sensational jazz featuring:

🎷 – sax
🎸 – guitar
🎸 – bass
🥁 – drums

Let’s keep the music going! 🎵 Don’t miss it!

15/10/2024

Coming this Sunday (20th), we’re very excited to welcome London based alto Saxophonist, Joe Bazalgette! Here’s a little about Joe:

Joe Bazalgette is a saxophonist based in London. Currently studying, he is a gigging musician in the Jazz scene as well as doing session work with a variety of funk, hip hop and rock bands. He has taken many influences for his compositions, including Immanuel Wilkins, Joshua Redman and Joe Henderson.

Joe will be performing with the Craven house band this Sunday! Doors at 4, music at 4:30!!

See you all there!!!

22/09/2024

GIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Thrilled and excited to announce that our September gig will be none other than the exceptionally talented Grace Conner!!!

Grace Conner is a vocalist in her final year at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and leader of legendary function band, The Grace Notes!
She is under the tutelage of Sara Colman and Noemi Nuti. Grace calls on a vast array of influences ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Sade. Sundays performance will entail a variety of songs from standards to originals. Grace will be accompanied by her quartet consisting of Jono Hilliam, Ollie Canham and Jamie Paxton.

We’re dead excited to have Grace this Sunday (the 29th) to hear some exciting arrangements from her and her band!

11/07/2024

GIG ALERT !!!

We're excited to announce that The Nat Evans quartet will be joining us at the end of the month.

Featuring:
Nat Evans on saxophone
Nick Manz on piano
Sam Casey on bass
Matt Holmes on drums

The Nat Evans quartet deliver some of the most exciting new music to hear on the Birmingham and national jazz scenes. Playing compositions and arrangements of Nat's which explore his intertwining backgrounds in classical and jazz music, the band have a very characteristic and recognisable sound aptly able to move audiences. His writings are reminiscent of the likes of Aaron Parks, Fred Hersch, Joshua Redman, and many others.

As always, there will be a Jam and a Jaffle (jazz-raffle).

Love, Jazz at the Craven Arms xx

25/05/2024

We're very excited to announce that on Sunday June 9th, Lucy Mellenfield and Aidan Pope will be playing an intimate gig at The Craven Arms!!!

We hope you're looking forward to this as much as we are!!!

Doors open at 4pm, so be sure to arrive on time to secure your seat for this very special gig!

- Jazz at The Craven Arms 🌷🌸🥀💐🌻🏵️x

12/05/2024

⚠️⚠️⚠️HEAVY GIG INCOMING!⚠️⚠️⚠️

On Sunday 19th May, Neil McCracken and his wonderful trio will be playing at The Craven Arms!!!!!

The band will be .mccracken.79 on keys, on bass and on drums all the way from Germany. Fantastisch!!!

This isn't one to miss. Of course there will be the classic Craven jaffle and jam as well!!

See you there,
Jazz at The Craven Arms x

Poster by the amazing !!!!

Jazz at the Craven Arms

13/05/2025

02/05/2025

19/04/2025

22/02/2025

05/02/2025

01/12/2024

16/11/2024

15/10/2024

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11/07/2024

25/05/2024

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