Preview: Blues, Jazz & Swing Festival @ The Exchange Theatre, North Shields

This weekend (Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd July) a weekend of blues, jazz and swing comes to The Exchange, North Shields to offer noobs or aficionados of the genres the chance to dance, learn or just sit back in the café and enjoy the vibes.

Bringing their big sounds to the auditorium are a plethora of North-East talent, including The Commandments, On Parole, Swung Eight, King Bees, Abbie Finn Trio and Wild Women of Wylam. Other home-grown artists who will be gracing the festival include the Langdale Youth Jazz Ensemble, The Exchange Theatre regulars 4B and Panharmonia, who originally formed at a jazz jam at The Exchange Cafe Bar.

For those who like to strut their stuff on the dance floor, on Saturday 2nd July, there will be a free taster swing dance class with Swung Eight, which will be followed by Jazz DJ sets from the King Bees.

Other highlights include a screening of the film ‘Geordie Jazz Man’ about the late, eccentric Keith Crombie and Newcastle’s infamous Jazz Café, an introduction to storytelling through jazz by Ph.D. researcher James Mackay and a Jazz Jam on Sunday (6.30-8.30pm).

Some events are ticketed, but all are Pay What You Feel, making it the perfect opportunity to try something new. Tickets are available via The Exchange Theatre website.