DIGBETH JAZZ

DIGBETH JAZZ LINEUP Q2 2026 7 APRIL - DONOVAN HAFFNER 14 APRIL - TC.KYLIE X THE HOURGLASS 28 APRIL - TOM FORD 5 MAY - AIDAN POPE 12 MAY - FELIX AMBACH GROUP 19 MAY - JANNETTE MASON - REWIRED 26 MAY - PETER EVANS 2 JUNE - BECCA WILKINS 9 JUNE - BIRMINGHAM JAZZ ORCHESTRA 16 JUNE - OLIVIA CUTTILL 23 JUNE - ALEX HITCHCOCK QUARTET

Digbeth Jazz is the UK Jazz Venue of the Year 2025!! Last night, 4/5 members of the team travelled down to the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, hosted at the World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens in London - an evening that celebrates and recognises the vibrancy, diversity, talent, and breadth of the jazz scene throughout the UK. We are incredibly pleased to announce that we received the award for Jazz Venue of the Year. Thank you to the APPJG for the nomination and recognition, and congratulations to all other nominees. We’d also like to thank the entire team - managers, bar staff, sound team, and security - at @thenightowlbham for being the home for Digbeth Jazz and for being the loveliest venue to work with. The past year since we moved there has been amazing. Thanks to our own sound team, the legends Harry and Zuzi, for coming every week, helping with the sound, and recording the gigs. Thanks to Ric, our resident DJ, for providing the perfect atmosphere before and after the bands’ sets. Thank you to all the artists who have performed at our night. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to programme amazing gigs week in and week out, featuring some truly world-class musicians. It’s an honour to provide a platform for some of the best musicians in the country (if not the world) to perform - outside of London. We also have to give huge thanks to the long list of extraordinary people that ran this night before us under previous iterations. Without their years of tireless work, laying the foundations for us and creating/running this night through the good and the bad we wouldn’t have anything close to what we have now created. And finally, thank you to you - the community - the heart of Digbeth Jazz. Without you, there would be no us. We are forever grateful to every single person who has come and supported us. Whether you come every week (shoutout Stef) or pop down when you can, your continued support means the world to us. Here’s to the future of Digbeth Jazz - a small cog in the huge wheel that is our regional grassroots jazz venues across the UK. Long may it continue! #yedig

What a crazy year it’s been! Thank you all for a wonderful first year of Digbeth Jazz. Here’s a throwback to our very first gig with Bumphtet captured by the amazing @connorpopephotos - if you need anything photo or video related, hit them up! Big thanks to @jamesborlandtpt for letting us use live audio from his gig at Digbeth Jazz a few months ago! Spread the word - Digbeth Jazz is making moves. Tell your friends, bring them down. Let’s keep our scene growing. X

JANETTE MASON REWIRED / DIGBETH JAZZ Q2 2026 S7 / 19 MAY 2026 7:30PM JAZZ WISE MAGAZINE 4 ****
 “Beautifully produced and thoughtfully put together.... long may she continue to put out music of this quality and variety.”  Victoria Kingham ReWired is the new acoustic trio project from acclaimed composer, arranger and pianist, Janette Mason.    Janette Mason has a storied career playing for multiple artists across the worlds of jazz and pop. As a session player she’s toured with some of the biggest pop names in the business including Oasis and Pulp, and as a band leader she’s released a series of acclaimed jazz albums featuring some of the UK’s most respected players. For her latest project, ReWired, she’s selected a basket full of all the tunes that mean the most to her, from timeless standards to modern chart classics and reworked each of them. No-one is off limits and the repertoire draws from everyone from Gary Numan and David Bowie to Kate Bush and Olivia Rodrigo, with Janette’s fierce and inventive arrangements pulling everything together. “The ReWired project is a true coming-together of kindred spirits, musically and in heart, mind and soul. The extraordinary rapport between the musicians was at its most palpable during Lane Del Ray’s ‘Video Games’…sublime bass lines fused with percussion to add rich tonal colouring to Janette’s dream-like inventions at the keyboard. Perfect!”  Trevor Bannister

DIGBETH JAZZ Q2 S6 / FELIX AMBACH / TUESDAY 12 MAY 2026 7:30PM / THE NIGHT OWL Felix Ambach is a producer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer from Germany based in Brooklyn, New York. the long standing friendships and established trust within this trio build the strong foundation for their honest search for sincere emotional expression. His current set of compositions is based on poems by brooklyn-based writer Aster Drewe. Aster Drewe’s poetic work combines the ethereal with the grounded in hopes to bring productive dialogue around systematic societal change. Her work was exhibited at Yale university, Columbia university and NYU Tisch new york. Alongside the music, the goal is to create awareness of current political trends, spark thoughts, and provide a space for reflection and exchange. Felix Ambach’s trio features long time collaborators london based vibraphonist Jonathan Mansfield (Chris Potter, Nikki Iles, Kaja Draksler) and Cologne based bassist Roger Kintoof (Kate Gentile, Christian Lillinger, Cory Smythe). Felix Ambach has worked with Shahzad Ismaily, Yves Jarvis, Milena Casado, Emmanuel Michael, Slowspin, Renee Christine, John Benitez, Grey Mcmurray, Django Bates, Frank Lazy, and many more.  Current musical influences are careful in the sun, Underscores, Steve Reich, Pink Must, Prince, Sanguis, Toninho Horta, Shirley Horn, Steve Reich and Flanafi.  Jonathan Mansfield (vibraphone, aux percussion) Roger Kintopf (bass) Felix Ambach (drums, electronics, composition) feat. Poems by Aster Drewe

DIGBETH JAZZ Q2 S5 / AIDAN POPE / 5 MAY 2026 7:30PM / THE NIGHT OWL Aidan Pope, winner of the 2025 Rome international jazz competition and alumni of Birmingham Conservatoire brings his quintet to Digbeth Jazz. Aidan has been described as “a tasteful and imaginative player who brings something truly individual to proceedings” by ‘The Jazz Mann. Bass player Giovanni Tommaso (Chet Baker, Max Roach) noted that Pope stands out for his “fluid and musical technique, a modern, never derivative approach to jazz guitar”. The quintet will feature John Turville on piano, Lewis Sallows on alto saxophone, James Owston on double bass and Johnathan Silk on drums.

DIGBETH JAZZ Q2 S4 / TOM FORD / 28 APRIL 2026 7:30PM / THE NIGHT OWL Tom Ford has been a steady member of the UK jazz scene for the past 10 years having regularly performed at Ronnie Scotts, Jazz Cafe, 91 living room and more as well as being a regular sideman for Reuben James, Jas Kayser and Jay Phelps. He has also been welcomed into the US and European jazz scenes respectively touring and recording with Chris ‘daddy’ Dave’s drumhedz, Keyon Harrold, Pet Eldh’s Projekt Drums amongst others. Outside of jazz he also writes and produces for many people in both the jazz and commercial world, having worked across the world in LA, NY, Europe and Brazil.

DIGBETH JAZZ Q2 2026 S3 | DREAMSCAPES | 21 APRIL 2026 7:30PM - THE NIGHT OWL As much prog rock as jazz fusion, DREAMSCAPES’ music resists easy labels, refusing to sit neatly within a single genre. The UK-based ensemble blurs stylistic boundaries to create a sound rooted in freedom and risk-taking. Drawing from a wide range of influences including Radiohead, Björk, and Aphex Twin, their music is immersive and rich in texture. Electric instruments and effects craft expansive soundscapes that move fluidly from serene, ambient moments to powerful prog-rock grooves. Known for blending multiple songs into one, DREAMSCAPES seamlessly combine improvisation with intricate structures, pulling audiences into deep, multi-layered journeys where each performance feels entirely its own. Following the release of their self-titled EP in January 2024, DREAMSCAPES performed a headline show at Cheltenham Jazz Festival and completed their debut UK tour to enthusiastic responses nationwide. Recent performances at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall have marked a significant step forward for the band, with upcoming shows at Ronnie Scott’s, Duc des Lombards (Paris), and a UK tour in April continuing this momentum. With support from Arts Council England, DREAMSCAPES are releasing their first full-length album in collaboration with producer Chris Hyson (Snowpoet, Jordan Rakei) this April 2026. “A performance brimming with imagination, technical brilliance, and emotional resonance… felt like a journey through dreams, exploring textures and moods with ease.” - UK Jazz News “Stunning vocals and progressive new music.” - The Jazz Mann “Atmospheric, stadium-sized jazz-rock… Absolutely epic!” -Somewhere Soul

TC.KYLIE X THE HOURGLASS / DIGBETH JAZZ Q2 S2 / TUES APRIL 14TH 7:30PM / THE NIGHT OWL TC.KYLIE’s narrative is one of profound transition and Asian female empowerment. Formerly a prominent journalist for Hong Kong’s public broadcaster (RTHK), she applies a documentarian’s precision to her compositions. This evolution serves as a testament to artistic agency and well-being, establishing the stage as a sanctuary for cultural dialogue and personal resilience. Building on the international momentum of her debut EP, RE:birth, Kylie is currently in production for her cornerstone full-length album slated for late 2026. Inspired by the spirit of Hiromi Uehara, she maintains an uncompromising commitment to 96kHz audiophile-grade recordings. Currently embarking on her 2026 UK & Ireland tour, Kylie continues to bridge her storytelling depth with the raw emotional power of cinematic performance. This tour supports the release of the live album “RE:birth (The Lightship Sessions)” on March 6, 2026. The project features a unique blend of Hong Kong–Japan–UK influences with a gaming-inspired jazz aesthetic, captured in 96kHz audiophile quality. The Line-up: TC.KYLIE – Keys／Keytar Victor Wu – Flute／Alto Sax Natasha Petrović – Violin Indigo Pearce – Bass Karlos Hall – Drums

DIGBETH JAZZ Q2 2026 S1 DONOVAN HAFFNER QUINTET O7.04.26 19:30 DOORS ‘Donovan Haffner, winner of the ‘Jazz Newcomer’ category at the Jazz Parliamentary Awards 2025 is a south-east London born and bred alto saxophonist. He will be presenting a performance featuring his original music from his debut album ‘Alleviate’ and more. Aged 11, Donovan joined the highly respected Tomorrow’s Warriors Young Artist Development Programme and was mentored by Gary Crosby OBE, Binker Golding, and Alex Davis. He proved to be a stand-out talent and, by the age of 18, he was invited to tour Italy with multi-award-winning drummer Moses Boyd.  Since then, Donovan has played with Jay Phelps, Charlie Stacey, and Balimaya. He has also performed with the Danish jazz pianist/composer Rasmus Sorenson and was selected by Tony Kofi to be part of, American jazz legend, Charles Tolliver’s Big Band, headlining at the Barbican as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. And Donovan is still very much part of the Tomorrow’s Warriors musical family, performing with both Nu Civilisation Orchestra and Jazz Jamaica.’ Band personnel: Donovan Haffner: alto saxophone Scottie Thompson: piano Harry Pearce: double-bass Luke Mccarthy: drums

BIRMINGHAM JAZZ ORCHESTRA FT. OLIVIA MURPHY / DIGBETH JAZZ Q1 2026 S12 / TUES 31 MARCH 7:30PM / THE NIGHT OWL Olivia Murphy has quickly established herself as an innovative, creative and colourful artist working in large ensemble composition and has developed her own distinct and personal voice. Her music fuses contemporary composition and song-writing with elements of free improvisation, while always keeping story-telling at its core, hailed as “some of the most exciting large ensemble jazz emerging from the London scene today” (UK Jazz News).   Since being awarded the prestigious Peter Whittingham Jazz Development Award in 2021, Murphy has established and performed with her Jazz Orchestra across the UK, from Birmingham Symphony Hall, to Vortex Jazz Club (London) to Cheltenham Jazz Festival. The Orchestra recorded their debut studio album with support from the Help Musicians’ Next Level Award in 2024. The album (release May 2026) features Murphy’s 4-piece Sister Suite and her Eddie Harvey Award-winning arrangement of You Are There. Olivia will be directing the Birmingham Jazz Orchestra, performing a selection of her original music alongside the best of Birmingham’s instrumentalists and improvisers.

NORMAN&CORRIE / DIGBETH JAZZ Q1 2026 S11 TUES 24 MARCH 2026 7:30PM THE NIGHT OWL Norman&Corrie are a Scottish folk-jazz duo reimagining ancestral melody through effected saxophone, organ pedals, electronics and drums, creating a vast and futuristic folk- orchestral sound. Rooted in heritage but fiercely contemporary, Norman Willmore (Peatbog Faeries, Beth Orton) and Corrie Dick (Laura Jurd, Rob Luft, Elina Duni) combine improvisation, folk melody and dance-like pulse into something singular. Formed in 2023, they released Twa Double Doubles with an accompanying documentary film and have performed at London Jazz Festival, Celtic Connections and Athens Jazz Festival. With Creative Scotland funding for album two, they now collaborate with eight icons of Scottish traditional music - boldly stretching tradition into the future.