Stephen Foster and Wayne Savage’s must-see gigs and concerts across the region
Top pick
Guitarists the world over cite the late, great Django Reinhardt as a major influence. Among them is an American musician making a welcome return to the Ipswich Jazz Club this coming weekend.
Fifty-eight-year-old Californian Howard Alden is one of the finest exponents of gypsy and swing jazz guitar and he returns to Ipswich for the first time in 11 years.
Like many of his American peers, Alden is a prolific recording artist and with more than 30 albums under his belt will have no shortage of material to draw on for his two sets at the California Club.
Backing him will be tenor saxophonist Olly Wilby, double bassist Simon Woolf and ex-Jamie Cullum drummer Sebastiaan De Krom.
This is turning out to be a vintage year for the IJC. In the coming months there’ll be celebrations of the music of Cole Porter, Dudley Moore, John Coltrane and much more besides.
Foz’s six of the best:
The Partisans, Stoke-by-Nayland Hotel, Friday, May 19
Any group featuring guitarist Phil Robson and saxophonist Julian Seigal has got to be worth catching.
Clare Teal’s Mini Big Band, The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Saturday, May 20
A hugely popular singer and broadcaster celebrating the first ladies of jazz.
Attila The Stockbroker, Ansell Centre, Hadleigh, Saturday, May 20
One of the UK’s best performance poets will ensure a rousing end to the Hadleigh Poetry and Music Day.
Hawkwind, Corn Exchange, Ipswich, Sunday, May 21
The pioneers of space-rock with founder Dave Brock still very much at the helm.
Paul Rodgers, Regent Theatre, Ipswich, Tuesday, May 23.
The legendary rock vocalist revisits his work with Free. Opening for Paul is his good friend Deborah Bonham. Read entertainment writer Wayne Savage’s chat with Paul here.
Kathryn Tickell and The Slide, The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Tuesday, May 23
One of this country’s most respected folk musicians graces the Bury Festival.
What’s on Wayne’s best of the rest:
Adam Ant, Ipswich Regent, May 22, 7.30pm; Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion, May 25, 8pm
Anthems - The Singles Tour does exactly what it says on the tin as Adam plays classic chart-toppers as well as rare singles, B sides and personal favourites. He will be joined on the tour by Glam Skanks, an all-female glitter rock band from Los Angeles who supported Adam on his recent US tour and have opened for Alice Cooper.
Charity gig, The John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, May 19, 7.30pm
Students from Ipswich’s One sixth-form centre are raising their voices to raise money for Autism Anglia. Bands performing are Subwoofer, The Orangutans and Intervention. Jacob Ottaway, one of the organisers, said: “We will have three bands from One all performing eight songs. The music will be a mixture of our own material and covers. There will be something for everyone.”
Back to Bacharach, Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, May 19, 7.30pm
Celebrating the magical music of Burt Bacharach, one of the most accomplished popular composers of the 20th Century, who together with Hal David penned some of the most iconic hits that stand the test of time. This show is performed by West End singers accompanied by a live 10-piece band. Songs featured in the show include Alfie, Anyone Who Had a Heart, Magic Moments, Walk On By and many more.
Patsy Cline and Friends, Beccles Public Hall, May 19, 7.30pm
The velvet country voice of Patsy Cline recreated by life-long fan and vocalist Sue Lowry, whose powerful renditions of Crazy, Sweet Dreams and I Fall to Pieces do justice to the down to earth country “Gal”. Plus Marc Robinson performs Hank Williams songs and Roger Bird offers the hits of Jim Reeves.
Cry Me A River, Quay Theatre, Sudbury, May 19; Diss Corn Hall, May 20
Scarlet Black and her live jazz band (plus a guest male vocalist) present a night of heart-warming hits from Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday and Louis Armstrong.
Saskia Moore, Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft, May 19, 7.30pm
Frequently compared to Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and Eva Cassidy for her vocal tone, Saskia’s original songs draw on the genre’s of Americana, roots and darker folk music.
Jenn Bostic, Norwich Arts Centre, May 23, 8pm
Worth the trip across the border, Nashville star Jenn Bostic stops by as part of A Night of Nashville also featuring Sarah Darling and Michael Logan.
Lunchtime Concert, Cramphorn Studio, Chelmsford, May 24, 1pm
Resonance are a consort led by Sue Handscombe who perform a miscellany of music on a variety of recorders.
Martlesham Brass, Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath, May 20, 7pm
The spring concert’s special guest is Alan Fernie, a renowned brass composer who was commissioned to compose The Sound of St Michael’s for the group’s 20th birthday celebrations.
Emily Smith and Jamie McClennan, Colchester Arts Centre, May 22, 7.45pm
Their anniversary tour showcases a big new sound for the folk duo, with newly-written songs plus some of their favourites from the past 15 years.
Bury Bach Choir, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, May 20, 7.30pm
The choir is join by Nayland Choir and Prometheus Orchestra to perform Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
Sam Bailey, Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, May 20
The X-Factor winner’s tour continues. Read my chat with her here.
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