Strictly Smokin’ Big Band & Gareth Lockrane | Preview

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band welcome acclaimed flautist, composer and arranger Gareth Lockrane to The Glasshouse in Gateshead on Friday 26 February 2027 for a full big-band performance in Sage Two. The collaboration brings together one of the North East’s established jazz ensembles with a musician known for making the flute a powerful lead voice rather than treating it as a decorative addition.

Lockrane’s work as both a player and arranger makes the pairing especially interesting because the show can use the full weight of the ensemble without reducing him to a conventional guest soloist. His writing has the flexibility to move between tightly organised ensemble passages and more open improvisation, giving the band plenty to work with across the evening.

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band and Gareth Lockrane at The Glasshouse

For Strictly Smokin’, the date is another opportunity to put a North East big band into one of the region’s strongest listening rooms. Their large-ensemble sound should make full use of Sage Two, while the collaboration with Lockrane gives the performance a specific identity rather than simply presenting a standard repertoire set.

The booking also adds a local connection to the wider 2026-27 jazz programme, which otherwise moves between national and international touring artists. That balance matters for a venue with a strong regional music-development role, and it gives audiences the chance to hear an established local ensemble alongside a distinctive guest artist.

Event details

• Date: Friday 26 February 2027
• Venue: The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

Current programme and ticket information is available through The Glasshouse’s official jazz listings. Check the venue page before travelling for final timings and any changes.

More North East dates are covered in SoundBite’s Gateshead gig previews, with new announcements added as they are confirmed.