Jazz at the Ruin

01/08/2024

11/08/24 - The Charlie Humphrey-Lewis Quartet!

🔥 We cannot wait for Charlie Humphrey-Lewis to bring his quartet to The Ruin NEXT SUNDAY! Come down!

🎺 Charlie Humphrey-Lewis
🎹 Josh Bailey
🎻 Josh Vadiveloo
🥁 James Borland

💥Charlie Humphrey-Lewis is a Midlands born musician, improviser and composer currently based in Birmingham. Since graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2022 Charlie has worked actively within the Birmingham music scene as a sidemen in several different ensembles and projects, as well as leading and co-leading his own quartet and quintet. He has been fortunate enough to have performed both nationally and internationally at The Spotted Dog, Cheltenham Jazz festival, Siena Jazz Festival and at the ‘Ensembles Festival’ in Paris.

🗓️ Sunday, August 11th

⏰ 2pm - 5pm

🎟️ Free entry!!!

👀 See you there

🎨 Poster by

#2024

08/07/2024

13/07/24 - TOM HENERY (woo🎉)

💥 We cannot wait to be joined by the PHENOMENAL Tom Henery this Saturday!!! He'll be bringing a mix of originals, arrangements, and (according to him) some really really hard tunes to make the house band suffer. We can't wait...

🎂 It is also going to be a little celebration for our very own Reece Downton's BIRTHDAY (everyone say happy birthday Reece) - if that's not a reason to come out we don't know what is.

🎸 Tom Henery
🎻 Thomas Marsh
🥁 Reece Downton

🔥 Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tom Henery is a guitarist now based in Birmingham. Since graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2023 Tom has established himself performing and recording in a range of projects spanning jazz, folk and fusion alongside the likes of Neil Yates and Lucy Mellenfield. His playing is heavily informed by the greats of Wes Montgomery and John Scofield, while also incorporating his influences from the folk tradition to create a unique sound.

🗓️ Saturday, July 13th

⏰ 9pm - Late

🎟️ Free entry!!!

👀 See you there

🎨 Poster by

#2024

24/06/2024

🔥 ADAM ROBERTS: LOW VOLTAGE - ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY!!!!!!

💥 How incredible was that???? What an amazing first outing for this brand new music! We cannot wait for the full official release soon... Stay tuned

🔥Adam Roberts
🎷Nathaniel Evans
🎷David Bustos
🎸Ollie Canham
🥁 Dominic Johnson

#2024

17/06/2024

22/06/24 - ADAM ROBERTS: LOW VOLTAGE - ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY!!!!!!

💥 THIS SATURDAY (!!!) Adam Roberts will be holding the release party for his album Low Voltage. Adam is a phenomenal bassist and we are honoured to be able to host this event. Be there THIS SATURDAY to be among the first to hear this incredible new music!

🔥Adam Roberts
🎷Nathaniel Evans
🎷David Bustos
🎸Ollie Canham
🥁 Dominic Johnson

📀 (There might even be CDs for sale)

🗓️ Saturday, June 22nd

⏰ 9pm - Late

🎟️ Free entry!!!

👀 See you there

🎨 Poster by
🎨 Album cover by

#2024

09/06/2024

💥 THE GIULIA MARRO QUARTET

🤯 Absolutely amazing stuff today from Giulia and her Quartet! Videos coming soon...

🎼 Giulia Marro
🎸 Joe Hiles
🎻 Ben Love
🥁 Kai Chareunsy

👉 Join us in 2 WEEKS TIME on Saturday, June 22nd for the launch of Adam Roberts' debut album - Low Voltage!

👀 See you all there

28/05/2024

📢 9/6/24 - THE GIULIA MARRO QUARTET!

👉 We're very excited to be joined on Sunday, June 9th by the fantastic Giulia Marro and her Quartet!

🎼 Giulia Marro
🎸 Joe Hiles
🎻 Ben Love
🥁 Kai Chareunsy

🎵 Giulia Marro is a jazz clarinetist and vocalist from Northern Ireland and is now based in Birmingham as she studies at the conservatoire. Over the past three years, Giulia has led her own bands around the West Midlands and Belfast performing music of the swing era.

🎶 Giulia’s sound is characterised by her warm tone and fast vibrato typical of the 1920’s - 40’s and her inspirations include Barney Bigard, Carmen McRae, Edmond Hall and many more. Giulia Marro is a jazz clarinetist and vocalist from Northern Ireland and is now based in Birmingham as she studies at the conservatoire. For this gig, Giulia will bring her quartet which features some of the best rhythm section players in Birmingham, Joe Hiles, Ben Love and Kai Chareunsy.

🗓️ Sunday, June 9th

⏰ 2pm - 5pm

🎟️ Free entry and Jam

👀 See you there

🎨 by

#2024

24/05/2024

☀️ SUMMER AT THE RUIN ☀️

🎵 We're incredibly excited to (finally) announce our summer season of gigs!! Over the next few months we'll be joined by some of Birmingham's finest - and hopefully some of its finest weather!

🗓️ Sun, June 9th - The Giulia Marro Quartet

🗓️ Sat, June 22nd - Adam Roberts: Low Voltage ⚠️ALBUM LAUNCH⚠️

🗓️ Sat, July 13th - Tom Henery
with the JATR House Band

🗓️ Sun, August 11th -
The Charlie Humphrey-Lewis Quartet

🎟️ All these gigs are free and always will be! Just make sure you buy as much beer as you possibly can 🍻

🎨 All artwork for these gigs (including this) has been done by our artist, the incredibly talented Kathryn Schultz ()

#2024

22/05/2024

🖌️ Ben Carter & The Ruin House Band at The Ruin, Digbeth

🎨 Another fantastic piece from Tim Griffiths ()

🎵 Thank you again to everyone who came along to our most recent session. Stay tuned for a big announcement very soon!

16/05/2024

💥 BEN CARTER!

🎶 We had such an great time welcoming Ben Carter to The Ruin last weekend! Thank you to everyone who came out - also a huge thank you to Gareth Howell for surprising us with a massive amount of camera equipment.

📢 Stay tuned for a big announcement soon!

🎷 Ben Carter
🎸 Luca Gianassi
🎻 Thomas Marsh
🥁 Reece Downton

📸 /

10/05/2024

⚠️GIG UPDATE⚠️ - 11/05/24

📢 Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, we will no longer be joined by James Chadwick this weekend. We hope to be able to welcome him to The Ruin at some point in the future!

☀️ We will instead be kicking off our Summer Season with the amazing BEN CARTER! He'll be joined by The Ruin house band.

🎷 Ben Carter
🎸 Luca Gianassi
🎻 Thomas Marsh
🥁 Reece Downton

🎷 Ben Carter is a jazz saxophonist and composer based in Birmingham. Having graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2023, he is now aiming to increase his exposure and establish himself as an artist on the UK jazz scene, with his own unique voice and style of music. He is inspired by the sound of classic saxophonists like Paul Desmond, Art Pepper and Charlie Parker, and loves to bring this sound to a more modern environment, incorporated into free-flowing, complex compositions inspired by other musicians like Chris Potter, Kenny Garrett and Bob Reynolds.

🎶 He will soon be releasing his debut EP 'Pulsar' and will be playing some of the tunes from that on the night!

🗓️ Saturday, May 11th

⏰ 9pm - LATE

🎟️ Free entry

👀 See you there

📸 /.downton_

14/04/2024

💥 What an incredible gig!

👉 Massive thank you to everyone who came out this afternoon! The Aidan Amann Trio were PHENOMENAL! If you couldn't make it, don't worry - Stay tuned for some more pictures and videos!

🥁 Aidan Amann
🎸 Leo Morland
🎻 Josh Vadiveloo

06/04/2024

💥 Check it out!

🎶 We've just uploaded this brilliant version of It Had To Be You from our most recent session! This was such an incredible gig, keep your eye out for more to come soon!

🎷 Alex Clarke
🎹 Neil McCracken
🎻 Thomas Marsh
🥁 Reece Downton

🎞️ Edited by Thomas Marsh
🎨 Logo by Kathryn Schultz

Alex Clarke: Live From Digbeth - 'It Had To Be You'Alex Clarke - SaxophoneNeil McCracken - PianoThomas Marsh - Double BassReece Downton - DrumsRecorded live ...

01/04/2024

14/04/24 - THE AIDAN AMANN TRIO

✨ Actual real announcement this time! We're incredibly excited to be joined by Aidan Amann this month - and he's bringing his original trio!

THE AIDAN AMANN TRIO
🥁 Aidan Amann
🎸 Leo Morland
🎻 Josh Vadiveloo

After studying with internationally renowned musicians including Percy Pursglove and John O’Gallagher at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Aidan Amann is now an established drummer on the midlands and national jazz scenes. Aidan plays regularly with some of the best up and coming talent in the country, and has featured alongside accomplished figures such as Ray Butcher and Vic Evans, performing at prominent venues including Peggy’s Skylight and Pizza Express Soho. He achieved a spot in the semi final of the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 2022. He draws influence from folk music and Scandinavian jazz to shape a unique sound.

Joining Aidan are long time friends and musical partners Leo Morland on guitar and Josh Vadiveloo on bass, and the group will present their take on a mix of jazz standards and original tunes.

🗓️ Sunday, April 14th

⏰ 2pm - 5pm

🎟️ Free entry

👀 See you there

🎨 by Kathryn Schultz

01/04/2024

APRIL FOOLS!

🤡 Sorry to anyone who actually thought we'd pulled this off... Maybe one day. Actual full announcement for our April date coming this evening!

////////////

📢 14/04/24 - VULPECK

💥 Due to unforeseen circumstances we've had to reschedule our planned guests for April, but DO NOT FEAR. We're lucky to have the incredible VULFPECK stepping in!

Vulfpeck
🎷 Joey Dosik
🎙️ Antwuan Stanley
🎸 Cory Wong
🎹 Woody Goss
🎵 Jack Stratton
🎻 Joe Dart
🥁 Theo Katzman
👉 With the amazing Jazz at The Ruin House Band!

🗓️ Sunday, April 14th

⏰ 2pm - 4pm

🎟️ Free Entry

🎶 Jam as always, so bring your horns!

👀 See you there...

🎨 Kathryn Schultz
✒️ Shoutout to our official review partner

14/03/2024

🎂 Happy Birthday to us!

🍾 It's officially now been two years! and what a two years it's been. All your support so far has been incredible and we can't wait to see what the next two years brings!

🥂 THANK YOU!!!

Love from,
Reece and Tom xx

10/03/2024

💥 WHAT A NIGHT!

🎶 A huge thank you to everyone who made it out to see the phenomenal ALEX CLARKE 🎷 last night! We had the most amazing time, and hope you did too. The perfect way to celebrate 2 years of Jazz at The Ruin 🍾

House band
🎹 Neil McCracken
🎻 Thomas Marsh Music
🥁 Reece Downton Music

👀 Stay tuned for more...

📸 .moose.richards

10/03/2024

Last night...

03/03/2024

📢 Out now on YouTube!

🎶 The Aidan Pope Trio - Red Rocks/Lonely Woman

🎸 Aidan Pope
🎻 James Owston
🥁 Euan Palmer

🔗 Link in Bio

🎞️Edited by Thomas Marsh

03/03/2024

📢 Out now on YouTube!

🎶 If you couldn't make it, do not fear! Check it out below! 👇👇👇

The Aidan Pope Trio

🎸 Aidan Pope
🎻 James Owston
🥁 Euan Palmer

🎞️Edited by Thomas Marsh Music

02/03/2024

We cannot wait!

MARCH DATES‼️

Off to New York at the end of the month (v excited!)✈️Any recommendations for good hangs/plays, aside from the obvious, then let me know...

Fri 1st - with Keith White, Simon Smith & Tash Buxton - O Bar, Birmingham

Thu 7th - with Emily Masser & Tom Kincaid Trio - Alsager Golf & Country Club Jazz Society

Sat 9th - with Tom Marsh Trio - Jazz at the Ruin, Birmingham

Sun 10th, 12:45pm - The Clark Tracey Quintet - Upwell

Tue 12th - Nick Langston - Cheltenham Gold Cup

Wed 13th - Nick Langston - Cheltenham Gold Cup

Thu 14th - Nick Langston - Cheltenham Gold Cup

Fri 15th - Nick Langston - Cheltenham Gold Cup

Sat 16th, 2pm - with Andrzej Baranek & Ed Harrison - Congleton Unplugged

Sun 17th, 12:30pm - Crash Collective Big Band - Moseley, Birmingham

Sun 17th - Len Phillips Swing Orchestra - Hayes, Kent

Mon 18th - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club

Tue 19th - with the Terry Seabrook Trio - Hare and Hounds Worthing

21st Mar-4th Apr - NEW YORK!

01/03/2024

Two years of Jazz at the Ruin ❗️🎉
March is a big month for me this year, myself and are celebrating two successful years hosting jazz in the heart of Digbeth ❤️

Thank you to everyone who has supported the night, let’s continue to support live music, and have a party at our next gig on March 9th with the amazing .clarke 🎷
at.the.ruin ❤️
❤️

25/02/2024

09/03/24 - ALEX CLARKE 🎷

🎶 For our third gig of 2024 we're very excited to welcome the phenomenal saxophonist Alex Clarke Jazz to The Ruin Bar and Kitchen! Our last Saturday Session was huge - don't miss out! She will be joined by the Jazz at The Ruin House Band featuring....

🎹 Juliane Deil Music
🎻 Thomas Marsh Music
🥁 Reece Downton Music

🗓️ Saturday, March 9th

⏰ 9pm - LATE

🎟️ FREE ENTRY

Alex is known to be one of the most in-demand and versatile saxophonists to have emerged on the UK jazz scene. A finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020 and winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards, she was also a nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 & 2022.

Praised for her intelligent ear for harmony and a deep knowledge of repertoire across a broad spectrum of styles, Alex's sound is steeped in the tradition of bebop. Her respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in a melodic and fiercely swinging approach reminiscent of Phil Woods, Cannonball Adderley and Vincent Herring.

Summer 2022 saw the release of her quartet's latest album “Only A Year”, which features some of the UK’s finest musicians: David Newton, Dave Green and Clark Tracey.

As well as working as a bandleader, Alex performs alongside many notable names such as Alan Barnes, Mark Nightingale and Dave O'Higgins, and regularly works with big bands such as The Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and The Simon Spillett Big Band. She is also a member of The Clark Tracey Quintet, who have an upcoming CD release and tour in Spring 2024.

🎷 Jam as always, so bring your horns!

👀 See you ALL there

🎨 Kathryn Schultz
📸 Ron Milsom

11/02/2024

📸 The Aidan Pope Trio!

🎸Aidan Pope
🎻 James Owston
🥁 Euan Palmer

🎶 It was such a pleasure to see these guys play - What an amazing gig!

🎥 Keep your eyes peeled for more from these guys soon...

28/01/2024

13/02/24 - THE AIDAN POPE TRIO

🎵 For our second gig of 2024 Guitarist and Composer Aidan Pope brings his trio to Jazz at The Ruin for an incredible afternoon of music!

🗓️ Sunday, February 11th

⏰ 2pm - 5pm

🎟️ Free entry

🎸 Aidan Pope
🎻 James Owston
🥁 Euan Palmer

Aidan Pope is an award winning guitarist and composer based in the UK. His recent projects include a guitar trio that recently went on a sell out tour of the UK, and an octet featuring Emma Rawicz, John Turville, and many other esteemed uk jazz musicians. Aidan has recorded/performed with musicians such as Iain Ballamy, Clark Tracey, and Percy Pursglove, and has had air time on Brooklyn Free Radio and Jazz FM.

👉 Jam as always, so bring your horns!

🔎 See you all there!

🎨

27/01/2024

📢 OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

📽️ Jazz at The Ruin now has an Official YouTube channel!

👉 Following our 'soft launch' of the channel last weekend with 'Night and Day' from our incredible gig with Ben Shankland, we are excited to announce the release of the FULL first set from that gig. Available NOW on YouTube

🔗 SUBSCRIBE NOW
(we'll know if you don't)

Ben Shankland plays Cole Porter - full first setPiano - Ben ShanklandDouble Bass - Thomas MarshDrums - Reece DowntonRecorded LIVE at The Ruin Bar & Kitchen, ...

25/01/2024

🖌️ Check out this incredible artwork by Tim Griffiths!

🎨 Painted LIVE during our most recent session - Ben Shankland plays Cole Porter, with the Jazz at The Ruin house band 🎹 We're so lucky to have such talented people in our audience!

🧑‍🎨 Be sure to give a follow on Instagram for amazing works from other Birmingham jazz gigs, and more!

🎹 Ben Shankland
🎻 Thomas Marsh Music
🥁 Reece Downton Music

📍 The Ruin Bar and Kitchen

01/01/2024

Happy New Year!

We're very excited to announce our first block of gigs for 2024. Keep your eyes peeled for more details and announcements throughout the year 🎶

Jan 13th - 🎹 Ben Shankland
Feb 11th - 🎸 Aidan Pope
March 9th - 🎷 Alex Clarke
April 14th - 🥁 Aidan Amann

All hosted by Reece Downton 🥁 and Thomas Marsh 🎻 at The Ruin bar and kitchen, Digbeth!

🎨 All the artwork for these gigs has been done by the amazing Kathryn Schultz!

#2024

30/12/2023

13/01/24 - BEN SHANKLAND

For our first gig of 2024 pianist and Composer Ben Shankland joins the Jazz at the Ruin house band for an evening celebrating the music of one of the Great American Songbook’s finest contributors - Cole Porter.

🎹 Ben Shankland
🎻 Thomas Marsh
🥁 Reece Downton

Edinburgh-born pianist and composer Ben Shankland is, despite his young age, already gaining recognition on the UK jazz scene. He performs with his trio regularly around the country, exploring his original compositions with Ewan Hastie and Chun-Wei Kang. He is also active as a solo pianist, and has performed and recorded as a sideman in various bands with fellow young musicians. He recently won BBC Scotland's Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2023.

Alongside his primary focus in improvised music, Ben continues to perform in the classical world. Notably, he recently accompanied BBC Young Musician 2022 percussionist Jordan Ashman in an award-winning recital, and was the soloist in three performances of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra. His ability to engage and connect with audiences at his young age truly sets him apart as one to watch in the years to come.

🎨 Kathryn Schultz
📸 Alan Donaldson