Digbeth Jazz, The Night Owl, 17-18 Lower Trinity Street, Birmingham (2026)

28/05/2026

BECCA WILKINS’ REVERIE / DIGBETH JAZZ Q2 S8 / 2 JUNE 2026 7:30PM / THE NIGHT OWL

Becca Wilkins is a London-based jazz vocalist, improviser and educator whose music explores
the space between tradition and reinvention. Known for her expressive storytelling, refined
phrasing and lyrical clarity, she brings a grounded, emotionally rich voice to every performance.
Her recent project Rêverie reimagines French Chanson through a contemporary jazz lens,
reflecting her deep connection to language and song. A long-time collaborator with composer
Olivia Murphy, she also performs with the London Vocal Project and pianist Maria Grapsa.
Whether leading her own group or working within an ensemble, Wilkins delivers intimate,
atmospheric performances that blend craft with quiet risk.
“charming, artful…” Paris Move
“she’s graduated to the premier league” - Jazz Journal

Featuring:
Rebecca Wilkins
Olly Chalk
Sam Ingvorsen
Billy Pod

21/05/2026

PETER EVAN’S EXTRA / DIGBETH JAZZ Q2 S8 / 26 MAY 2026 7:30PM / THE NIGHT OWL

Peter Evans is unquestionably one of the finest contemporary voices on the trumpet. “Mr. Evans has taught his trumpet a new vocabulary… he treats the trumpet as a tool of infinite possibilities rather than just a melodic device” (New York Times).

EXTRA blends progressive, experimental, improvised music, fused with acoustic and electronic instruments, creating a high-energy and intense performance.

We’re really looking forward to it – and due to increased demand we’re limiting advance ticket sales to leave space for on the door sales.

Peter Evans - Trumpet
Petter Eldh - Bass
Jim Black - Drums

14/05/2026

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

07/05/2026

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

30/04/2026

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.

23/04/2026

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.

16/04/2026

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

09/04/2026

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

08/04/2026

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

02/04/2026

DIGBETH JAZZ
Q2 2026 S1
DONOVAN HAFFNER QUINTET
07.04.26
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

Digbeth Jazz

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