Upcoming Events
Brasserie Zedel residency
Welcome to Ma Bessie’s Speakeasy, a musical delight from a bygone era. Playing the jazz and blues classics from the 1920s onwards, as well as some hidden treasures, vocalist Ma Bessie aka Julia Titus, pianist George Webster, saxophone/clarinet Clare Hirst and bassist Chris Hyde-Harrison take a journey through this forgotten time.
Please check Zedels website for each evenings timings as they vary during the week.
Julia Titus guesting with Sunset Cafe Stompers
A fun night of Blues, Jazz and Gospel. Who knows what could happen. Always a fun night.
Wallingford Winter Blues & Jazz Weekend
Building on her passion for the Empress of the Blues, Julia Titus performs as Ma Bessie, sharing the music of Bessie Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation of listeners. Julia’s rich, warm vocal sound brings classic blues and jazz tunes from the inter-war years to life, alongside original songs and hand-picked covers.
Show will last approx 2 hours including one interval.
All tickets £20
This live show starts at 7.30pm. Please arrive in good time; admission to the auditorium once the show has begun will be at an appropriate point in the performance.
For other events at the Wallingford Winter Blues & Jazz weekend, see:
https://wallywinterbluesnjazz.co.uk/
Ma Bessie’s Speakeasy
Ma Bessie returns for an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling, weaving through the intoxicating sounds of the 1920s and 30s Prohibition era. Celebrating the legendary voices of Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and more, this captivating new show will leave you spellbound and wanting more.
Ma Bessie performs with George Webster on piano, Clare Hirst on Sax/Clarinet and Dom Geraghty on Bass and Luke Trenwith on drums.
An Evening with Ma Bessie
An Evening with Ma Bessie.
Building on her passion for the Empress of the Blues, Julia Titus performs as Ma Bessie, sharing the music of Bessie Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation of listeners. Julia’s rich, warm vocal sound brings classic blues and jazz tunes from the inter-war years to life, alongside original songs and hand-picked covers.
Building on her passion for the Empress of the Blues, Julia Titus started to perform as Ma Bessie in mid-2015 to share the music of Bessie Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation of listeners.
Mixing Julia’s rich, warm vocal sound with a dynamic group of musicians that look as well as sound the part, Ma Bessie combines classic blues and jazz tunes from the inter-war years with a selection of original songs and hand-picked covers, bringing the spirit of a bygone era to life.
The repertoire includes classics such as Careless Love, Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out and, of course, Gimme A Pig Foot (And A Bottle Of Beer).
Tickets £15
Cafe Boheme Duo
A duo performance with Ma Bessie on Vocals and Luke on guitar. A great way to spend the weekend. A mix of prohibition Jazz and Blues and a touch of Gospel.
Ma Bessie’s Speakeasy Jazz & Blues Night
Experience the soulful sounds of jazz and blues.
Ma Bessie’s Speakeasy
Come on down to Ma Bessie’s Speakeasy for a night of live jazz, good vibes, and old-school fun - it's gonna be a blast!
Ma Bessie & her Pig Foot Band
Building on her passion for the Empress of the Blues, Julia Titus started to perform as Ma Bessie in mid-2015 to share the music of Bessie Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation of listeners.
Mixing Julia’s rich, warm vocal sound with a dynamic group of musicians that look as well as sound the part, Ma Bessie combines classic blues and jazz tunes from the inter-war years with a selection of original songs and hand-picked covers, bringing the spirit of a bygone era to life.
The Pig Foot repertoire includes classics such as Careless Love, Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out and, of course, Gimme A Pig Foot (And A Bottle Of Beer).
Tickets £20
Spirit of the Blues
Actress poet, singer and songwriter Julia Titus with Mike Denham on piano and Steve Graham on cornet, recreate the songs of the great blues and vaudeville singer of the 1920s, Bessie Smith along with a selection of Gospel numbers.
Twisted Halo Garden Party
Twisted Halo Garden Party organised and hosted by our very special friends at Angel Bar! And they are so special they have offered Date in the Diary members discounted early bird tickets! Sssshhh don’t tell everyone…
So glam up and party at Caversham Court this September, from 5pm onwards, Angel Bar will transform the Caversham Court Gardens into a glamorous hotspot, offering live music, refreshing cocktails, delicious food and non stop entertainment.
The live music line up:
Jewels and the Jacuzzis, a 5 piece band delivering a fresh, upbeat mix of soul, reggae, blues and disco.
Selina and the howling dogs are a reading based upbeat, funky blues rock band.
Plus Ma Bessie peforming Jazz and Blues celebrating the music of Bessie Smith.
And it doesn’t finish there as from 10pm there is a DJ set from Gold Dust Radio who promise to create a ‘party’ atmosphere.
So come and join the fun with a big singles group of Date in the Diary members and let’s party and have some fun again this summer. Discounted tickets are early bird until end of July so get booking to take advantage!
Ma Bessie Duo
Julia Titus aka Ma Bessie singing the blues accompanied by Matt Foster on guitar.
Jazz & Blues Night featuring Ma Bessie
Tickets £5. A night with Ma Bessie with a live band. Experience the soulful sounds of Jazz & Blues.
Cafe Boheme Duo
A duo performance with Ma Bessie on Vocals and George Webster on keyboard. A great way to end the weekend. A mix of prohibition Jazz and Blues and a touch of Gospel.
Brasserie Zedel
Brasserie Zédel is a grand Parisian Brasserie with an authentic Art Deco interior. Hidden underneath the ZL Café in the heart of Piccadilly, it serves traditional French food at exceptional value. Listen to the beautiful, soulful tones of Julia Titus aka Ma Bessie while you eat.
Brasserie Zedel
Brasserie Zédel is a grand Parisian Brasserie with an authentic Art Deco interior. Hidden underneath the ZL Café in the heart of Piccadilly, it serves traditional French food at exceptional value. Listen to the beautiful, soulful tones of Julia Titus aka Ma Bessie while you eat.
Manchester Swing Dance, Swing North
Entrance is down the alleyway called Stevenson Place and above The Peer Hat.
The first of our brilliant musical acts for August. Julia Titus (aka Ma Bessie) will be joining us with her band at our late night Saturday and Sunday parties.
Saturday 30th August at midnight AATMA 14-16 Faraday Street
Sunday 31st August in the afternoon at 530-7pm Hallé St Peters 40 Blossom Street
Aberjazz
This year Aberjazz is using Theatr Gwuan as the venue for two amazing concerts.
The first is Ma Bessie's Speakeasy - turning the clock back to the early days of jazz and one of 1930's blues, when Bessie was the most popular female blues singer, nicknamed the "Empress of the Blues". She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
This show brings the excitement of the 1930's jazz scene back to life will be brought back to life with a six-piece band lead by Ma Bessie (Julia Titus) on vocals.
Cafe Boheme Duo
A duo performance with Ma Bessie on Vocals and George Webster on keyboard. A great way to end the weekend. A mix of prohibition Jazz and Blues and a touch of Gospel.
Jamaica Society Summer Ball
The Jamaica Society & Friends Reading’s Summer Ball.
In celebration of Jamaica’s 63rd Anniversary of Independence and The Jamaica Society & Friends Reading 20th Anniversary.
7pm-1am
Rum punch reception, three course meal, raffle
Tickets £70
A Night with Ma Bessie
A night with Ma Bessie with a live band. This is a free event. Experience the soulful sounds of Jazz & Blues.
Cafe Boheme Duo
A duo performance with Ma Bessie on Vocals and George Webster on keyboard. A great way to end the weekend. A mix of prohibition Jazz and Blues and a touch of Gospel.
Spirit of the Blues
Julia Titus, Mike Denham and Steve Graham performing.
Building on her passion for the 'Empress of the Blues', Julia started to perform as Ma Bessie in 2015, sharing the music of Ms Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation of listeners.
Expect to hear classics including 'Careless Love', 'Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out', 'Gimme A Pig Foot (And A Bottle Of Beer)', and of course 'Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight', all delivered with verve and style.
Witney Blues presents Ma Bessie
Building on her passion for the “Empress of the Blues”, Julia TitusJulia Titus formed her Pig Foot Band in mid-2015 to share the music of Bessie Smith and her contemporaries, with a new generation of listeners. Mixing Julia’s rich, warm vocal sound with a dynamic band that look and sound the part, Ma Bessie and her Pig Foot Band perform classic blues and jazz tunes from the 1930s with a selection of original songs and hand picked covers from the last 50 years of popular music.
Blues at the Bridge
Celebrating the the life and accomplishments of Bessie Smith. A talk and then performance of the music of the Empress of the Blues
Events Calendar
View our events calendar here. If you have a free evening, we would love for you to join us!