About Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival at Thinktank -Simon Spillett Quartet

Celebrate the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival 2025 with Birmingham Museums Trust

 

Join us as we celebrate the 41st year of the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival with a series of pop-up performances across five of our sites. Experience live music in our iconic spaces and discover jazz in some of Birmingham's most beautiful locations.

Performing at Thinktank will be the fantastic Simon Spillett Quartet

 

Full Programme:

Wednesday 23rd July - Simon Spillett Quartet
Thinktank, Level 0 

Thursday 24th July -Django Chutney
Blakesley Hall, in the Gardens

Friday 25th July - Hot Club Of Halifax
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, in the Galleries

Saturday 26th July - Florence Joelle
Sarehole Mill, in the Courtyard

Sunday 27th July -Bruce Adams Quartet
Aston Hall, inside the Hall

 

All performances will take place between 1:00pm and 3:00pm.

 

All activities are included with general admission. Please note that additional admission fees apply for access to the grounds at Sarehole Mill and Blakesley Hall for these outdoor performances.

More information about Simon Spillett Quartet

"Straight-ahead, high energy jazz is his line and he does it with aplomb" -
The Guardian

Over a career stretching twenty-five years multi-award-winning instrumentalist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards, Jazz Journal's Album of The Year) tenor saxophonist Simon Spillett has cultivated a unique persona within British jazz. 
Leading both his own quartet and big band, and inspired by the classic Brit-bop of the 1950s and 1960s, his is a powerfully passionate style, its emphasis on straight-ahead jazz delighting audiences who like their music hard swinging, heartfelt and entertaining. 
Popular across the entire spectrum of the UK scene, from Ronnie Scott’s club to major festivals, Simon’s communicative performances encompass everything from high energy bebop to lyrical balladry.

And Simon has also become a champion of the music in all manner of ways, including writing a major biography of legendary British saxophonist Tubby Hayes (The Long Shadow of The Little Giant), penning hundreds of accompanying notes for vintage album reissues, contributing essays to many jazz periodicals and latterly becoming the go-to expert of UK post-war history.

He has recorded four highly-regarded albums, the latest of which, Dear Tubby H., garnered a prestigious five star review in Jazzwise magazine. His work with his big band, playing the music of Tubby Hayes, has received universal acclaim.

 

Big Band Ticket

Purchase a 'Big Band Ticket' to ensure you don't miss a beat! This special ticket gives you entry to all performances at a discounted rate of £25 for Adults / £15 for Children, compared to buying individual tickets and can be bought via the link below.

Dates and times

  • Drop-in