Am Jam Welcomes New Jazz Players to The Globe Newcastle

Am Jam returns to The Globe in Newcastle on Sunday 11 October 2026 for a relaxed afternoon of jazz, with musicians and listeners both welcome. The session runs from 2pm to 5pm in the upstairs bar, and admission is free, although cash donations are appreciated. This isn’t a ticketed show with one headline performer: it is a participatory jam designed particularly for people who have not played many jazz sessions before.

A house trio will keep the music moving while instrumentalists and singers take turns joining in. The announced repertoire centres on well-known jazz standards, giving participants a shared starting point rather than expecting everybody to learn an original composition on the spot. Musicians can listen first, step up when comfortable and hear how the group responds as a tune develops. There is no requirement for every visitor to perform; you can simply come along and listen.

The welcoming format is the key difference between Am Jam and The Globe’s separate More Jam afternoon. Am Jam is specifically intended to encourage less experienced jazz jammers, whereas More Jam, held on the fourth Sunday of the month, is geared towards musicians who already know their way around the repertoire and a jam setting. Choosing the right afternoon therefore matters if you are coming with an instrument and looking for a level of participation that suits you.

The Globe’s regular jazz programme includes touring players, intimate concerts and community sessions, but a jam has its own appeal because nobody can know exactly which tune will come next or who will take the lead. The house trio provides continuity while different musicians bring their own feel to familiar material. For listeners, that makes the afternoon a chance to hear jazz taking shape in real time rather than a rehearsed set performed from beginning to end.

The Sunday session is advertised for 2pm–5pm, upstairs at The Globe, with free entry and voluntary cash donations. Check the official Am Jam listing for any alterations to the venue’s regular second-Sunday schedule before travelling.

See the official Am Jam listing for current information.