Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music 2026, line-up announced.
Sunday, August 16, 2026
The line up has been announced for the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music which will take places at various venues from 24th September to 4th October. Press release attached.
We have received the following press release;
We’re absolutely delighted to announce funding has been secured for Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music 2026 and gratefully acknowledge Arts Council England along with our partners and investors for their support. Tickets are now on sale.
More than 67 musicians will feature over 26 performances in 9 days across 7 of the region’s top music venues including Gosforth Civic Theatre, The Cluny, The Cumberland Arms, The Globe, The Lubberfiend, The Lit and Phil and Glasshouse International Centre for Music.
We’ve commissioned Manon McCoy and Emmy Lambert to create our festival interludes, Jon Bradley will make two performances at the historic Edith Adamson Carillon, and two great workshops lined up with Rachel Musson and Free The Aanimals.
It’s an absolutely fantastic programme with so many twists and turns, can’t wait to see you there!
As ever we feature an explosive mix of experimental and improvised music alongside some of the best contemporary jazz around.
Regular Portishead collaborators Get The Blessing are welcomed, this time with Radiohead regular Clive Deamer being replaced by Dave Smith, best known for his six years touring and recording with Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters. Sharing the bill will be the delectable art-pop sounds of Dilettante.
Adam Fairhall and Johnny Hunter bring their swinging tribute to Mary Lou Williams downstairs atthe legendary Cumberland Arms, and there’s a soft launch planned for the new album by John Pope Quintet, one of five releases coinciding with the festival through side hustle New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings.
Internationally acclaimed Alex Hitchcock Quartet join us for a regular Sunday night jazz session at The Globe to close the festivals opening weekend.
Regular partners the South Asian GemArts organisation support us in promoting Arun Ghosh, Zoe Rahman, Urvashi and New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds. Counterworlds also feature in the BBC Introducing From The Glasshouse programme with return visits from Helen Anahita Wilson and Juliana Day with Manon McCoy.
New to the festival this year is the DIY arts venue space Lubberfiend whose suggestion of the incredible Valentina Magaletti is to be complemented with the brand new duo of Steve Malley and Raymond MacDonald of Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra.
For our opening event at the festival’s spiritual home of the Lit and Phil, Alison Gill performs George Crumb’s Makrokosmos Book 1.
Andy Champion returns for one of his spellbinding double bass and electronics sets, joined by the compelling Zoë GIlby and Johnny Hunter voice and drums duo, having performed their first live dates in this pairing around the UK earlier this year.
Jeppe Zeeberg will be visiting us from Copenhagen to play one of his devastating solo piano shows, whilst accordionist Zbigniew Chojnacki will visit from Poland to play in an exclusive trio alongside Manon McCoy on harp and John Pope on double bass.
On Saturday we also see a rare outing from the Laura Cole driven Anemone Quartet, the night climaxes with the spiritual jazz sounds of Harper Trio, a rare Northern solo set from Alexander Hawkins, and closing with the powerhouse Olie Brice Quartet.
Our closing concert on Sunday afternoon will feature three acts who all feature in this years Jazz North artist development programme Ceitidh Mac, ATFK and Rivkala.
- Wesley Stephenson (Artistic Director and Festival Producer)
TICKETS
Most Tickets Available Through Jazz North East Seetickets
https://www.seetickets.com/tour/jazz-north-east
Tickets for Valentina Magaletti w/Steve Malley and Raymond MacDonald available through the Lubberfiend
https://www.fatsoma.com/e/wu6dtxes/newcastle-festival-of-jazz-and-improvised-music-presents-valentina-magaletti-w-steve-malley-and-raymond-macdonald
Tickets for BBC Introducing From The Glasshouse with artists from New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings: New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds / Juliana Day and Manon McCoy / Helen Anahita Wilson
https://theglasshouseicm.org/whats-on/bbc-introducing-from-the-glasshouse-jazz-north- east-30-09-26/
http://www.newcastlefestivalofjazzandimprovisedmusic.co.uk
CONCERTS
Arun Ghosh Sextet
Jon Bradley (The Edith Adamson Carillon)
Get The Blessing
Dilettante
Adam Fairhall and Johnny Hunter play Mary Lou Williams
John Pope Quintet
Urvashi
Alex Hitchcock Quartet
New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds
Juliana Day and Manon McCoy
Helen Anahita Wilson
Valentina Magaletti
Steve Malley and Raymond MacDonald
Alison Gill (George Crumb Makrokosmos piano scores)
Zoë Gilby with Johnny Hunter
Andy Champion
Zoe Rahman Trio
Jeppe Zeeberg
Anemone Quartet
Zbigniew Chojnacki / Manon McCoy / John Pope
Harper Trio
Alexander Hawkins
Olie Brice Quartet
ATFK (Amy Thatcher and Francesca Knowles)
Ceitidh Mac
Rivkala
WORKSHOPS
Free The Aanimals at Ouseburn Farm (Tim Dalling / John Pope / Jeremy Bradfield)
Saxophone Choir at The Globe (Rachel Musson)
INTERLUDES (New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings)
Manon McCoy with Emmy Lambert - Close In
https://newjazzandimprovisedmusicrecordings.bandcamp.com
NEWCASTLE FESTIVAL OF JAZZ AND IMPROVISED MUSIC 2026 - THE FULL SCHEDULE
Thursday 24th September: Doors 7.30pm (Gosforth Civic Theatre)
Arun Ghosh Sextet
https://www.seetickets.com/event/arun-ghosh-nfojaim-2026-/gosforth-civic-theatre/3668840
Friday 25th September: Performance 5.00pm - 6.00pm (Newcastle Civic Center)
Jon Bradley - The Edith Adamson Carillon
Free Entry - Just Show Up!
Friday 25th September: Doors 7.30pm (Cluny 2)
Get The Blessing + Dilettante (Solo)
https://www.seetickets.com/event/get-the-blessing-dilettante-nfojaim-2026-/the-cluny-2/3669621
Saturday 26th September: Doors 6.00pm (The Cumberland Arms - Downstairs Back Bar)
Adam Fairhall and Johnny Hunter play Mary Lou Williams
Free Entry - Just Show Up!
Saturday 26th September: Doors 7.30pm (The Cumberland Arms - Upstairs Room)
John Pope Quintet + Urvashi
https://www.seetickets.com/event/john-pope-quintet-urvashi-nfojaim-2026-/the-cumberland-arms/3672778
Sunday 27th September: Doors 11.15am / 12.15pm / 1.15pm (Ouseburn Farm Events Space)
Free The Aanimals - Music Workshop
https://www.seetickets.com/tour/jazz-north-east
Free Entry - Just Show Up! (Subject To Room Capacity / Advance Ticket Recommended)
Sunday 27th September: Doors 7.00pm (The Globe - Downstairs Bar)
Alex Hitchcock Quartet
https://www.seetickets.com/event/alex-hitchcock-quartet-nfojaim-2026-/the-globe/3670016
Wednesday 30th September: Doors 7.30pm (The Glasshouse)
New Ways of Moving In The Counterworlds + Juliana Day and Manon McCoy + Helen Anahita Wilson
https://theglasshouseicm.org/whats-on/bbc-introducing-from-the-glasshouse-jazz-north- east-30-09-26/
Thursday 1st October: Doors 7.00pm (The Lubberfiend)
Valentina Magaletti + Steve Malley and Raymond MacDonald
https://www.fatsoma.com/e/wu6dtxes/newcastle-festival-of-jazz-and-improvised-music-presents-valentina-magaletti-w-steve-malley-and-raymond-macdonald
Friday 2nd October: Doors 12.30pm (The Lit and Phil - Loftus Room)
Alison Gill - Makrokosmos
https://www.seetickets.com/event/alison-gill-makrokosmos-nfojaim-2026-/the-literary-and- philosophical-society/3675068
Friday 2nd October: Performance 5.00pm - 6.00pm (Newcastle Civic Center)
Jon Bradley - The Edith Adamson Carillon
Free Entry - Just Show Up!
Friday 2nd October: Doors 5.45pm (The Lit and Phil - Members Library Reference Room)
Zoe Gilby with Johnny Hunter + Andy Champion (Solo)
https://www.seetickets.com/event/gilby-and-hunter-andy-champion-nfojaim-2026-/the-literary- and-philosophical-society/3675069
Friday 2nd October: Doors 7.30pm (The Lit and Phil - The Loftus Room)
Zoe Rahman Trio
https://www.seetickets.com/event/zoe-rahman-trio-nfojaim-2026-/the-literary-and-philosophical-society/3672779
Saturday 3rd October: Doors 12.30pm (The Lit and Phil - Loftus Room)
Anemone Quartet + Jeppe Zeeberg (Solo)
https://www.seetickets.com/event/anemone-4tet-jeppe-zeeberg-nfojaim-2026-/the-literary-and-philosophical-society/3675074
Saturday 3rd October: Doors 5.30pm (The Lit and Phil - Members Library Reference Room)
Zbigniew Chojnacki / Manon McCoy / John Pope
https://www.seetickets.com/event/zbigniew-chojnacki-mccoy-pope-nfojaim-2026-/the-literary- and-philosophical-society/3700929
Saturday 3rd October: Doors 6.45pm (The Lit and Phil - Loftus Room)
Olie Brice Quartet + Alexander Hawkins (Solo) + Harper Trio
https://www.seetickets.com/event/olie-brice-4-hawkins-harper-trio-nfojaim-2026-/the-literary-and-philosophical-society/3675073
Sunday 4th October: Doors 1.30pm (The Globe - Upstairs Room)
Saxophone Choir Workshop with Rachel Musson
Free Entry - Just Show Up!
Sunday 4th October: Doors 2.00pm (The Globe - Downstairs Room)
Rivkala + Ceitidh Mac (Solo) + ATFK
https://www.seetickets.com/event/rivkala-ceitidh-mac-atfk-nfojaim-2026-/the-globe/3700931