Letter in the Stage -Lottery money should not be used for core funding February 27th 2025

So ran the headline in the Observer on Sunday 24th May 2020. It was an article by Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital Culture Media and Sport. (  https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/may/24/the-world-looks-to-british-theatre-so-lets-get-it-back-on-track ) The article presented the new task force and working groups which was the same old storey with the usual suspects in place. Of course…

A key strand in the “Salute To Humphrey Lyttelton Tour” that took place from the 18th of November to the 5th of December 2021 is “Create Your Tune”. The National Youth Jazz Collective (NYJC) in partnership with the “Salute To Humphrey Lyttelton“ band are launching the scheme. This scheme is for people of any age…

Saturday 9th August Snails Deli at 6-8 Beulah Rd, Cardiff CF14 6LX.  Phone: 029 2280 0385 Showtime 7pm Featuring: Keith Little (piano), Glen Manby (alto sax) Ashley John Long (double bass) with Chris Hodgkins (trumpet) Sunday 10th August Crug Room, Castle Hotel, Castle Square, Brecon LD3 9DB Phone: 01874 624611 Showtime 7pm Featuring: James Chadwick (guitar)  with Chris Hodgkins (trumpet) ‘JAZZ STORIES’ in words & sound: from the Cardiff music scene…

There was a leader article, “Opera is often derided as elitist”, in the Guardian on the 28th September 2017. Regrettably the article ignores the fact that opera in the UK receives a disproportionate amount of public subsidy compared to other art forms and like the banks are too big to fail. In a time of…

Recipients Announced For 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards The recipients of the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards were announced on Tuesday 14th October 2025 at 8pm. The Awards, are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) and supported by the Musicians’ Union and UK Music. The recipients of the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards will be…

There was an article in the Guardian on the 18th June 2020, “Act to save industry, leading lights of stage urge government” https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/jun/17/cultural-catastrophe-uk-theatre-faces-ruin-amid-coronavirus-crisis . Dowden was quoted as saying  “he does not want to let anyone down”. Well his insouciance to date has let a whole raft of jazz musicians and volunteer jazz promoters down and…