What's on in Newnham Hill

Oxfordshire, England

The proper local stuff the big sites overlook — from open mic nights to dog shows, toddler groups to talks about local history that turn out to be more interesting than you'd think. Newnham Hill keeps its calendar surprisingly full, and we've tracked down the lot. Coffee mornings that turn into proper catch-ups. Quiz nights where the same team wins every week and everyone pretends not to mind. Craft fairs, food markets, community screenings, and workshops teaching you things you didn't know you wanted to learn. All the things that make living somewhere feel like actually living somewhere, not just sleeping there.

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Community

Midweek Downstairs Jam

Welcoming and relaxed, come for a drink, sit back and enjoy the music, or bring your horns, sticks and strings to join in during the second set. First set from house band: David Miller (saxophone), Davide Melis (piano), Duncan McKenzie (bass) & Bobby James (drums) followed by a jam session till close. Entry is free all night 19:00 – 22:30.

Mon 20 Apr19:00Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Kikimiki

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:30 PM - 1 set(s) of music Line-up: Keira Chakraborty - flute, vocals Mali Sheard - alto saxophone Maia Avery - tenor saxophone, vocals George Balmont- bass guitar Emmanuel Ampong - drums Kyle Osborne - piano About: Kikimiki is a young jazz fusion band based in London and led by and playing original music by vocalist and flautist Keira Chakraborty. Blending vocal and instrumental styles, with a particular emphasis on vocal harmonies, they bring a reflective, relaxed, and joyful energy to the music. Inspirations include Nubya Garcia, Elena Pinderhughes, Ezra Collective, Gregory Porter, and Ahmad Jamal. Members are currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music and are also members of Tomorrow’s Warriors, and the band itself began as part of the Tomorrow’s Warriors Emerging Artists program. Kikimiki has played at We Out Here Festival, Brick Lane Jazz Festival, The London EFG Jazz festival, Next Door Records, The Crypt and The Jazz Sanctuary. Ready for more, the band continues to write music and is excited to share their unique musical style with new audiences. [embed]https://youtu.be/psxcMrdyUcE?si=zXZXdrWqbhVHGFNO[/embed]

Wed 22 Apr18:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Dreamscapes

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Julien Durand - Guitar Cenk Esen - Piano George Garford - Saxophone Jack Robson - Drum kit John Jones - Bass guitar Rebecka Edlund - voice About: DREAMSCAPES is a UK-based post-fusion, nu-jazz ensemble blurring the lines of genre boundaries to create a musical experience of true freedom. Drawing from a wide range of influences such as Radiohead, Björk and Aphex Twin, their sound is immersive and rich in texture. Electric instruments and effects craft expansive soundscapes that shift 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 a deep, multi-layered journey. Each performance is distinct, offering an experience that’s as much felt as heard. After releasing their self-titled EP in January 2024, DREAMSCAPES headlined at Cheltenham Jazz Festival and completed their debut UK tour in September, well-received by audiences around the country. With support from Arts Council England, they have been working on their first full-length album in collaboration with producer Chris Hyson to be released in April 2026, supported by a UK/EU tour. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmvgxC4T3m8&list=RDDmvgxC4T3m8&start_radio=1[/embed]

Wed 22 Apr19:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Klara Devlin Quartet

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:15 PM - 1 set(s) of music Line-up: Klara Devlin - Trumpet Laurie Rich - Piano Tom Sheen - Double bass Emmanuel Ampong - Drum kit About: 19-year-old jazz trumpet player, Klara Devlin, was a 2024 BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist, currently studying jazz at the Royal Academy of Music. She began playing trumpet at five and discovered quartet, formed through Tomorrow’s Warriors, performs her original compositions and arrangements inspired by bebop, blues and free jazz. The Klara Devlin Quartet has appeared across numerous jazz venues and festivals, including Ronnie Scott’s Late Late show, The Jazz Café, Jazz In The Round, Pizza Express Soho, JazzLive at the Crypt and performances at the Brick Lane, We Out Here and Brecon Jazz festivals. In the words of Tony Kofi: “Klara Devlin, remember her name, she is in my opinion one of the most amazing and unique new trumpet voices to emerge onto the UK jazz scene. To coin the famous quote ‘if ya ain't got it in ya, ya can't blow it out’. Klara Devlin definitely has it, and definitely blows it out of her horn! I’m about 2-3 jazz generations in front of her and I’ve never been this excited about a young musician, definitely a stylist who’ll be making new waves for the next generation.” [embed]https://vimeo.com/1162691473?fl=ip&fe=ec[/embed]

Thu 23 Apr18:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Family Band

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 set(s) of music Line-up: Kim Macari - Trumpet Riley Stone-Lonergan - Tenor saxophone Tom Rivière - Double bass Steve Hanley - Drum kit About Comprising four long-term collaborators and friends (thus the 'family' tag), the band takes as its starting point the freewheeling music of those musicians who, back in the 1960s, were at the forefront of the free jazz revolution, but whose opening up of jazz's constraints is now recognised as not a break from the past but an integral part of the music's development. So Family Band doesn't recreate the work of Ornette Coleman and others, but shares its powerful and freewheeling momentum - moments of fierce intensity, introspection and the blues all combining into an emotionally complex and often cathartic whole. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynB37CklFdc[/embed]

Thu 23 Apr19:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Kasper Rietkerk The Happy Worrier

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Kasper Rietkerk - Alto saxophone Rebecka Edlund - Vocals John Parricelli - Guitar Tom Herbert - Double bass Jonah Evans - Drum kit About: On this special night, award-winning saxophonist Kasper Rietkerk takes the stage with music from his well received album The Happy Worrier, performed by the original recording line-up. The album is written after Rietkerk received the Brubeck Living Legacy Prize in 2024. Last year, Rietkerk received a Dutch Edison Award for his debut album The Island. “Rietkerk’s writing is impeccable: memorable themes, unexpected twists, and, above all else, space for the band to breathe.” – Tom Spargo, Jazzwise (2025) “…definitely one of my favourite releases of the year so far….” Helen Mayhew, Jazz FM The British Jazz Show [embed]https://youtu.be/JDVkhGkPZjE[/embed]

Fri 24 Apr19:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Vortex Lates: Tom O’Brien & Citizen Pain

Doors 10:00 PM, Music 10:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Tom O’Brien - Piano George Mooney - Saxophone Barney Anderson - Electric guitar Kobe Heath-Ngugi - Bass guitar Sacha Harlan - Drum kit About: Keyboardist Tom O’Brien presents his new band; exploring and transforming groove-driven compositions and free improvisations using a colourful palette of sounds and a broad range of textures. Together the group, all frequent collaborators, create music that is unpredictable, playful and introspective. [embed]https://on.soundcloud.com/yp8PI62PSZMNK3xaWs[/embed]

Fri 24 Apr22:00Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Vortex Jam Session with Olly Chalk

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:15 PM House Band TBC About A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation. If you’re an instrumentalist – we can’t wait to welcome you back to the club – you can attend for free if you’re planning on playing with the house band. No need to book in advance! Our dear Vortex members are also welcome to these sessions free of charge.

Sun 26 Apr19:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Sebastian Rochford and Marie Kruttli

Sebastian Rochford Photo Credit: Dave Stapleton Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Marie Kruttli - Piano Seb Rochford - Drums About: The duo will be playing music from Sebastian Rochford's ECM album "A Short Diary" and some new music. British drummer and composer Sebastian Rochford first gained international acclaim as part of the experimental and electronic jazz outfit Polar Bear and has since collaborated with names like David Byrne, Brian Eno and Nadine Shah, while also being the touring drummer for Patti Smith. The drummer first appeared on ECM with Andy Sheppard’s band on 2012’s Libero and subsequently on Surrounded By Sea (2015) and Romaria (2018), before releasing his first leader-date for the label with his own compositions A Short Diary – in duo with Kit Downes – in 2023. The album is dedicated to Rochford’s father, Aberdeen poet Gerard Rochford (1932-2019) and to his family. According to Pitchfork, “‘A Short Diary’ rarely relaxes into a comfortable emotional space, though its mood is consistent in its muted qualities. it’s as honest a depiction of grieving as you might hope to hear.” Marie Kruttli is a swiss pianist, composer, producer who lives in Berlin. She was born in a village in Switzerland, in a family of musicians and started playing the piano at the age of 6. She first learned classical music and then switched to jazz (obtaining later on a bachelor and master at HEMU Lausanne and Hochschule Luzern academies).

Tue 28 Apr19:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Tony Bianco Memorial

Photo Credit: Steven Cropper | www.transientlife.uk Doors 6:15 PM, Music 6:45 PM Line-up: Faith Brackenbury – violin, viola Alex Maguire – piano Michel Delville – guitar Loz Speyer – trumpet Mike Fletcher – saxophone Mark Hanslip – saxophone Oli Hayhurst – bass Jair-Rohm Parker Wells – bass Gary Willcox – drums About the Event This gathering brings together close collaborators and musical allies of the late drummer Tony Bianco for an evening of performance, remembrance, and shared musical language. The music will draw from Bianco’s compositions, repertoire closely associated with him, and open improvisation. The intention is to honor his legacy through the very thing he gave so much to: live, spontaneous creation in the moment. ARTIST SNAPSHOTS Alex Maguire - A central figure in UK improvised music, Maguire has worked extensively with Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Tony Oxley, and Elton Dean. He co-founded the trio douBt with Michel Delville and Tony Bianco and has recorded widely across leading experimental labels. Michel Delville - Belgian guitarist and composer known for The Wrong Object and collaborations with Tony Bianco in Machine Mass and douBt. His work bridges jazz, progressive rock, and experimental music through collaborative composition and live exploration. Faith Brackenbury - A key collaborator with Tony Bianco from 2020–2025, releasing acclaimed duo recordings and performing extensively.

Wed 29 Apr18:15Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Whirlpool: Ananda Brandão

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:15 PM - 1 set of music Line-up: Ananda Brandão - drums Dom Howard - guitar Laurie Rich - piano Ben Boardman - bass About: Bright, punchy, and vibrant, drummer Ananda Brandão presents a fresh set of original music with a new quartet. Blending modern jazz, Brazilian influences, and ambient music, the band’s sound channels the driving energy of the New York jazz scene alongside the more contemplative, atmospheric spirit of European jazz. Winner of the Musician’s Company Silver Medal and 1st Prize at the Rezzo Competition by Jazz à Vienne with her band Ninanda, Ananda Brandão is a French-Brazilian drummer who has performed across the UK, Europe, and Brazil alongside artists such as Alex Hitchcock, Emma Rawicz, Anatole Muster, and Clélya Abraham. After completing her Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music in June 2025, she now bridges the Paris and London jazz scenes, fully engaged in both She is joined by leading musicians from the London jazz scene: Dom Howard (guitar), Laurie Rich (piano), and Ben Boardman (bass). A vibrant, immersive, and intimate live show, not to be missed.

Thu 30 Apr18:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Matt Carmichael

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Matt Carmichael - Tenor saxophone Owen Spafford - Violin Rory Green - Acoustic and Electric guitar Finn Carter - Piano Corrie Dick - Drum kit Ali Watson - Double bass About: A special one-off London line-up feature some of the UK's most exciting Jazz and Folk musicians. Alongside music from previous albums this gig will also preview new material that sees the music moves into a slightly darker, more guitar-driven space, evolving the Scottish Folk-Jazz sound with indie influences. Heralded by BBC Music Magazine as "a distinctive new voice in a crowded scene," Scottish saxophonist and composer Matt Carmichael continues to move from strength to strength and grow his reach globally with his powerfully emotive blend of melodic jazz and folk music. Born just outside of Inverness before moving to Glasgow, where, at the age of 11, he enthusiastically ran home from school clutching a letter from his local music service offering saxophone lessons. Music instantly became his passion, and he soon began writing music for his own band, performing their first gig at the Butterfly and Pig in Glasgow — before half the band were legally allowed in the pub. Since then, the band has developed a special chemistry and sound together, grounded in collective improvisation.

Thu 30 Apr19:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Kneebody - Reach (2 Shows)

Timings: 1st Show Doors 6:30 PM, Music 7:00 PM – 1 set of music 2nd Show Doors 8:30 PM, Music 9:00 PM – 1 set of music Line-up: Shane Endsley - Trumpet Adam Benjamin - Keyboard Ben Wendel - Saxophone Nate Wood - Drums About: In their almost two-decade history, the Grammy-nominated band Kneebody has created a genre and style all its own. Their sound is an explosive blend of rock energy and high-level, nuanced chamber ensemble playing, set within the frames of highly wrought compositions that balance adventurous, no-holds-barred improvisation. Kneebody embarks on an exciting new chapter with the release of their highly anticipated album, Reach, which was released on April 18 via GroundUP Music. This marks the band's latest project as a quartet, featuring keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, saxophonist Ben Wendel, and the uniquely dynamic Nate Wood, who simultaneously handles both bass and drums. Reach exemplifies Kneebody’s continued evolution, pushing the boundaries of genre while delivering their signature blend of intricate composition and raw energy. The album’s lead single, "Repeat After Me," is already available for streaming, giving audiences a first taste of Kneebody’s refined yet adventurous approach. Saxophonist Ben Wendel describes the track as a "cheeky song" that channels a Morse code-inspired melody through shifting harmonies and groove-driven intensity.

Fri 1 May18:30Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

London Jazz Orchestra Vortex Sessions - "featuring Tori"

Doors 3:30 PM, Music 4:00 PM - 2 sets of music About Saxophonist Tori Freestone is one of the most interesting on the London jazz scene, known for her original and engaging solo style. This gig features her both as soloist and especially composer, with a new set of pieces created for the LJO. Only the third player/writer to hold her tenor saxophone "chair", after Tim Garland and Josephine Davies, she continues the tradition of LJO players who also contribute as original writing voices. Check out the band, directed by Scott Stroman, at their up-close-and personal monthly sessions.

Sun 3 May15:30Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Naná Rizinni - Epiblast Album Launch

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Naná Rizinni - Drums Mark Cake - Saxophone Lazy H - Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer About: A proud exponent of the São Paulo scene known for its subversive, alternative music underbelly, Naná Rizinni is a drummer, producer and composer who bridges improvisatory flavours with progressive electronics, Brazilian rhythms and expansive textures. Now based in London after making the move across continents in 2020, her new album ‘Epiblastʼ chronicles a journey of transformation, rebirth and personal evolution. The record will release digitally and on vinyl on Friday 24th April via Bridge The Gap. Known in Brazil for her fluid, experimental approach to the confines of genre, her work has evolved from the alternative, post and garage rock textures of her early music into a hybrid, jazz-forward language rooted in rhythm, texture and improvisation. That experimental edge has deepened with 'Epiblast'. Written and co-produced with saxophonist and producer Mark Cake over the course of the last two years in London, the music sits somewhere between the synth-heavy sonics of The Comet Is Coming and future jazz of corto.alto, whilst nodding to the progressive fusion of jazz and electronics pioneered by other contemporary drummer-turned-producers like Mark Guiliana and Richard Spaven. Nanáʼs musical journey began in the mid-2000s, studying with celebrated Brazilian drummers including Lilian Carmona, Vera Figueiredo, and Duda Neves.

Tue 5 May19:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Ed Hogben Trio

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:15 PM - 1 set of music Line-up: Ed Hogben - Trumpet Simon Spies - Drums TBA - Double bass About: Ed Hogben is a London-based trumpeter exploring uncharted territory with his instrument. Using a MIDI harmoniser, he’s able to play chords in real time – essentially fulfilling the role of piano or guitar in a jazz trio. His approach has resonated widely online, with performances capturing attention across the jazz community and beyond. Drawing on influences from Miles Davis and Tom Harrell, Hogben is opening up fresh possibilities for what a trumpet can be in jazz. [embed][/embed]

Wed 6 May18:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Alice Zawadzki & Friends

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Alice Zawadzki - voice Rob Luft - Guitar Misha Mullov-Abbado - Double bass About: “Loosely connected to the world of jazz, but realistically inhabiting her own realm”, (Clash Magazine), Alice Zawadzki operates in the rich intersections of the jazz, folk, classical and art-pop worlds, “all propelled with a voice of velvet suppleness and gutsy emotional intensity” (The Arts Desk). The award-winning singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer released her latest highly-lauded album, Za Górami, with ECM Records in 2024, produced by Manfred Eicher, described by Bayerischer Rundfunk as “a model of cliché-free beauty”. Tonight sees her collaborate with long term colleagues and two of London’s most esteemed musicians, guitarist Rob Luft and bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado, presenting new music as well as revisiting her 2019 album Within You Is A World Of Spring. Jazzwise called it "tender in spirit and defiantly anti-genre... a cornucopia of delights", Downbeat Magazine described it as “hued with mystique and eclecticism”, and it appeared in The Guardian’s list of 10 Best Albums of 2019. “Zawadzki’s talent is bursting at the seams.

Wed 6 May19:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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Community

Bugge Wesseltoft & Mark Wastell

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Mark Wastell - 32” Paiste tam tam, gongs, cymbals, bells, shakers Bugge Wesseltoft - Piano About: World renowned, Norwegian piano maestro Bugge Wesseltoft, makes his Vortex debut in the company of celebrated British improvising percussionist, Mark Wastell. Since the early 1990´s Bugge Wesseltoft has made an impressive, truly post-modern transition from his ECM nordic jazz roots. Playing and recording together with the likes of Jan Garbarek, Sidsel Endresen, Terje Rypdal, Nils Petter Molvaer, Jon Eberson, to forming his own innovative New Conception Of Jazz group. Equally at home with solo or group playing, his most recent formation is a trio with Arild Andersen and Gard Nilssen. Mark Wastell's varied resume reflects his diverse interests, working with luminary's like Derek Bailey, John Zorn, Tony Conrad, David Sylvian, Maggie Nicols and Mats Gustaffson. Over the years, Mark has also developed a close connection to the Norwegian scene which includes projects with Lasse Marhaug, Arild Andersen, Jan Bang, Erik Honoré, Michael Francis Duch and Ståle Liavik Solberg. This year marks the 30th anniversary of record labels run by each of tonights performers.

Thu 7 May19:45Vortex(3.2mi)

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