What we’re about
Do you, like us, listen to the Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum every week on BBC Sounds? (Or the Blues Show with Cerys Matthews... Or the Funk and Soul Show with Craig Charles?)
Did you also, like us, make a New Year's resolution to go to more gigs this year?
We thought, why not create a Meetup group for queer guys who like going to gigs? As well as Jazz, Blues, Funk and Soul gigs, we'll also be posting Indie, Reggae and World Music gigs too (just not Pop and Rock, you can join the lovely WYBTD? - Will You Be There Darling - Meetup group for those).
We created the group for queer men mainly but if you are a different letter in the LGBTQIA acronym, or an ally (A is for Allies!) feel free to join too 🤗
About your hosts:
Stephen is a 53-year-old gay man. Bored of the bars and the apps, he wanted to create a way for queer lovers of live music to meet. He has two other Meet Up groups: LGBT Friendly Qi Gong & Forest Bathing through which he hosts days out in the summer months: and Monthly Thai Massage, Qi Gong & Sound Bath - For Gay Men, which will be starting on 24th September 2023, then every last Sunday of the month from then.
Stuart is a 57-year-old bi guy. He’s happily married but he’s a night owl and his wife is a lark, hence the search for people to go to gigs with. Stuart prefers music of black origin, from the Blues to Afrobeats. A founding member of ‘The Funky Five’ at school, he’s a rude boy, soul boy, dub head and jazz fag.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Erykah Badu, En Vogue ++ @ Cross the Tracks Festival, Brockwell ParkBrockwell Park, London
"Cross The Tracks is the ultimate destination for everything jazz, funk, soul and hip-hop. Immerse yourself in a diverse lineup of heritage legends, current icons, and new artists we know you’ll love. Grab your one-way ticket to London’s best day festival"
Is what it says on the festival website. Come for Erykah Badu (but I hear say that she's being a bit of a diva these days and will probably keep us waiting a while before gracing is with her presence) or En Vogue... and discover lots of acts you've never heard of in the course of this fab festival.
Ticket prices seem to change every week but mine were around £66 for pre 2pm entry.
https://www.xthetracks.com/As this is a festival I shall probably take a picnic blanket and might have to invest in some Jazz Fags balloons or something to help us find each other 😜 (or we can just coordinate via WhatsApp on the day)
If this is your first Meet Up group don't worry, I'll try to make you feel welcome and introduce you to other members of the group as soon as you arrive 🙂
- Angie MacMahon @ LafayetteLafayette, London
Angie MacMahon's show on 24th June sold out so fast I failed to get a ticket.
So imagine my delight when today she added a second date on June 23rd
If you are a fan strike now to secure your ticket!
https://lafayette.seetickets.com/event/angie-mcmahon/lafayette/2848863?aff=id1Lafayette
- Mayra Andrade @ The BarbicanBarbican Centre, London
Mayra Andrade's topical, tropical, travelling pop reflects the life of the Cape Verdean singer songwriter. At the Barbican, Mayra invites us to rediscover songs from across her discography of five albums. She will be joined by Djodje Almeida on acoustic guitar.
Mayra is arguably the front-runner of the many talents that have emerged from Cape Verde over the years. Her vividly-hued, multi-layered music provides a warm and adventurous unpredictability as she sings in Cape Verdean creole, English and Portuguese. Mayra's pop spans the world from Western romanticism, Southern sensuality, domestic reggae and Afrobeats.
Tickets from £25-35 can be purchased at https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2024/event/mayra-andrade
Stuart and Fausto have booked seats in the Stalls (C32 and C33). You might like to buy tickets nearby.
We can meet at 7 pm for a drink (soft or alcoholic as you wish) and if it's not too late afterwards, stay for another drink and gig post-mortem.
If this is your first Meetup group, please don't worry. We’ll try to make you feel welcome and introduce you to other members of the group as soon as you arrive 🙂
- Love Supreme Jazz Festival @ Glynde Place, East SussexGlynde Place, Lewes
"A gathering of the jazz and soul tribes like no other." The Independent *****
Now in its 11th year, the Love Supreme Jazz Festival is a 3-day greenfield music festival held annually on the first weekend of July in the South Downs of East Sussex. It includes a spectrum of musical styles adjacent to jazz, such as funk, soul, blues and hip-hop.10-time Grammy-winning Chaka Khan will headline the Sunday night in celebration of 50 years in music. Other artists performing include one of the most charted vocalists of all time Dionne Warwick; 70 million-selling American funk band Kool & The Gang; powerhouse UK vocalist Joss Stone; Sananda Maitreya, the artist formerly known as Terence Trent D'Arby; Brazilian bandleader Sergio Mendes; British Jamaican R&B star Mahalia; US psychedelic soul band Black Pumas; multi-award-winning US vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant; visionary multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello; trailblazing, Grammy-winning blues sensation Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram; inspirational husband and wife vocal duo The War & Treaty; American rapper and poet Noname; Japanese pianist Hiromi with her Sonicwonder project; London-based Australian soul singer Jordan Rakei; 8-time Grammy-winning US bassist Christian McBride; and “fusion’s greatest drummer” Billy Cobham, who will perform at Love Supreme shortly after celebrating his 80th birthday.
Love Supreme comprises 5 stages: The Main Stage, which focuses on broader styles of R&B, Funk, Soul and Blues; The Big Top, which plays host to the biggest names in Jazz and its neighbouring styles; The Arena, which hosts contemporary and progressive acts in the jazz sphere and The Bandstand, which hosts up and coming acts as well as local performers. The latest addition is Bands & Voices, which showcases a range of spoken word, dance and cabaret.
Accommodation options include camping, glamping and hotels in nearby Brighton and Lewes (using festival buses to and from the venue). Stuart is staying with a friend in Brighton.
Ticket, accommodation and transport packages can be explored at https://lovesupremefestival.com/tickets/
Stuart has purchased a full weekend ticket costing £174.90 but single days can be accessed from £79.20. Discounts are available for groups of 6 and for children. Payment plans are also available.
If this is your first Meetup group, please don't worry. We’ll try to make you feel welcome and introduce you to other members of the group as soon as you arrive 🙂
