jazznorth devon.com/northdevonjazzclub

About NDJC

The North Devon Jazz Club is the real backbone of the area's jazz scene. It's been running for many years with different organisers and at various venues, but for the last ten years or so it's been hosted by the Beaver Inn at Appledore. Roughly every fortnight, always on a Monday evening, current organiser Peter Hames puts on a classy and varied programme featuring some of the top names in British jazz. Just to give a taste of what's on offer, here are a few people wo have appeared here (several times in some cases): Peter King, Andy Sheppard, Gilad Atzmon, Steve Waterman, John Law, Liane Carroll ... the list goes on.

For those who haven’t been to jazz nights at the Beaver before, here’s some information that may be useful. The music starts at 8.30, but it’s a good idea to get there at 8.00 or earlier to get a seat - not everywhere in the bar has a good view, though there is a closed-circuit TV screen to solve this problem, at least partially. If you want to eat, tables in the dining area with a good view of the music get booked up quite quickly; alternatively, you can eat in the bar.

Finally, there’s no entrance charge because it’s a public space. Instead, someone will come round with a “hat” (actually a beer mug) for contributions. It’s obviously up to you how much you put in, but here’s something that the organisers would never tell you directly but we’re allowed to: please bear in mind the purpose of the collection is to help pay the musicians, who are professionals and have often travelled a long way to be there. Ask yourself how much you’d normally pay for an evening of high class live music.

Current Programme

Musicians and promoters please note: future bookings aren't made through this website - please contact Peter Hames: peterhames@hotmail.com

2023

20 February Xhosa Cole Quartet - BBC Young Jazz Musician winner
6 March Charlotte Glasson Band - Joyful, genre-defying jazz
20 March Tommaso Starace Trio - Top alto sax player
3 April Global Wave - Led by singer/violinist Azhaar Saffar
24 April Gaz Hughes Trio - Piano trio with fine drummer Gaz Hughes
8 May Pete Oxley/Nicolas Meier Quartet - Best jazz guitar duo in the UK with Raph Mizraki on electric and acoustic bass and Paul Cavaciuti on drums
22 May Robert Fowler with Martin Dale Quartet - Two sax front line
12 June - Jake McMurchie Quartet - Tenor player's Bristol-based band
26 June Hugh Pascall Quartet- Lyrical trumpeter's hard bop band
10 July John Williamson Trio - Double bassist and composer John Williamson
4 September Corrie Dick Band - Top drummer leads star line-up, including trumpeter Laura Jurd
18 September Martin Kern with the Jim Blomfield Trio - Swiss saxophonist with fine UK pianist
25 September Liane Carroll - Award-winning singer/pianist
16 October Lorne Lovsky/Nigel Price Quartet- Award-winning guitarists
13 November Craig Milverton Trio Tribute to Oscar Peterson
27 November Neil Burns Quintet, featuring top trumpeter Steve Waterman and fine saxophonist Terry Quinney.
11 December Martin Dale Quartet. An evening of jolly Christmas jazz.

And for 2024 (so far):

5 February Annika Skoogh
19 February Al Swainger - Pointless Beauty
4 March Rebecca Nash and Sara Colman
18 March Emily Francis Trio
1 April The Jazz Defenders
15 April Karen Sharp Quartet
10 June Dave Storey Trio
8 July B.D. Lenz Trio
9 September Liane Carroll. Return to The Beaver of wonderful multi-award-winning singer/pianist

For full details please go to the What's On page

Location

The Beaver Inn is in the pretty fishing and boat-building village of Appledore, on Irsha St., overlooking the estuary. Park in the main car park by the quay, walk down Irsha St. and it's about half way along, on your right. The postcode is EX39 1RY if you're using a satnav.