This just in!

In the words of club secretary Geoff Mullett,

"It goes without saying that a band that can lose three long-standing members in a short space of time, and replace them with three of equal experience and quality, is a band with a great reputation. New Orleans Heat played at the Club last night and to hear and see them, one would never have known they had barely been together for 3 months. Even then, their regular drummer was missing, but at short notice, Malc Murphy who used to play with the Ken Colyer band, drove from Surrey to complete the lineup, prompting one onlooker to comment “now that’s a New Orleans drummer!”.

So, there was dancing, drinking, cheering and applause from the capacity crowd as the band played some great New Orleans numbers, some not heard at the Club for many years, others not at all. The musicians enjoyed themselves as much as the audience, so it all made for a great night.

Another band that enjoy themselves can be seen here. The Stockholm Stompers play at the Club on Friday 3 July as part of Louth’s Zero Degrees Festival. There are two other bands at the Club over the 3-week festival period – on Friday 26 June, we have The Lucinda Foskett Quintet, four graduates from Birmingham Conservatoire's Jazz Degree course who play a mixture of jazz standards and original compositions; and on Friday 10 July (to be confirmed) Londoner Tom Moriarty guests at the Club. Tom is a singer/songwriter who, in 2012, released a critically acclaimed debut album entitled "Fire in the Doll's House" attracting praise in the industry and the press. Visit his web site here.

As part of the Zero Degrees Festival, members of the public will be able to purchase tickets, so all three acts will sell out quickly when the festival brochure is distributed. We don’t know ticket details for two of the bands, but the Stockholm Stompers are priced at £6 and are available on our web site, and from me at the door on Club nights. We had a waiting list for New Orleans Heat and several hopefuls were turned away at the door, and this will happen when these bands play, so reserve tickets if you think you would like to attend.

It's worth saying that these extra Friday nights, though not always jazz-orientated, really help the Club. Being open to the public (we purchase a special licence for this), these events showcase the Club and in the past has been a source of new members. Local bands attract a local, non-driving audience, so the bar profits are usually good, and all this helps some of the leaner nights that in the winter, we unavoidably suffer from on occasions.

Back to the business in hand – The Legendary Night Owls return to the Club this Friday, playing great blues. On Saturday, Brian Boles, fresh from New Orleans, returns to lead the Queen Street band. Not to be missed!"

PS. Those of you interested in wildlife, birds in particular, may like to know that we have a pair of peregrine falcons nesting on St James Church. There is a camera on the nest linked to a TV in the church, right next to the coffee shop! A few of us helped set up the nest, carrying sacks of gravel and a nest tray up the 197(?) steps to the walkway 3 weeks ago (and you wonder why I look tired!). Currently there are 2 eggs, but another couple are likely. If you are passing, call in and take a look, and please make a donation or buy a cake!