Despite this rather unprepossessing start, they have played together since then in many groups including Jam Today, Sisterhood of Spit, The Guest Stars, The Emma Peel Fan Club, The Electric Landladies, Deirdre Cartwright Group, ARQ and too many other groups not led by us to mention…and run Blow the Fuse club, promotions and records.

Children have grown up, family members have passed away, many dear friends have gone from this life and still we create music and our journey continues.

We know that some of you have been a part of this extraordinary adventure from the very beginning and many of you have joined us more recently. We hope to see you during 2026 – so let the 50 year Celebrations commence with these marvellous gigs and watch out for some big events during the year!

Mrs Dates Diary:

• Thurs 8 Jan Deirdre w/Jo Fooks, Marianne Windham Fleet Jazz lunchtime
• Sat 10 Jan ARQ Bath Jazz Weekend, Widcombe Social Club BOOK SOLD OUT
• Fri 6 Mar Deirdre Cartwright’s ORGANIK Birmingham Jazz BOOK
• Sat 7 Mar ELECTRIC LANDLADIES IWD Celebration
  St Matthias Hall BOOK SOLD OUT
• Tues 17 Mar ARQ Ronnie Scott’s SOHO BOOK
• Thurs 26 Mar ARQ Folkestone, Neptune Basement Jazz Club BOOK
• Fri 24 April Deirdre Cartwright’sORGANIK Guildford Jazz BOOK
• Fri 1 May SeaChange St Matthias Hall N16 BOOK
• Fri 15 May ARQ Bracknell, South Hill Park Arts Centre BOOK
• Sat 23 May ARQ Southend, The Jazz Centre UK BOOK
• Wed 27 May Deirdre’s Quartet (featuring Alison) Twickenham Jazz Club

The post 2026 Alison & Deirdre Golden Jubilee appeared first on Blow The Fuse.

Beautiful Summer days are turning into gorgeous Autumn as we announce our splendid BTF Autumn 2025 season. Celebrating Jazz Voice with three of the UK’s most talented, original and entertaining singers.

The first concert with Carol Grimes was a wonderful evening. Early Bird tickets have now sold out for Ian & Liane! so book now as we expect these two concerts to be hugely popular!

Also look out for Alison’s group ARQ with dates in London, Dorking, Deal and a South-West mini–tour – plus our new Jazz in the House season at Lauderdale House. All details below and our gigs page.

OCT 3 CAROL GRIMES ‘Wild, declamatory soulfulness’ John Fordham The Guardian

NOV 1 IAN SHAW ‘The leading male jazz singer of his generation in the UK’ Jazzwise

DEC 5 LIANE CARROLL ‘She seems in some magical way to be made out of music’ The Observer

Ian Shaw (Saturday Nov 1) and Liane Carroll (Friday Dec 5) will be performing with us and solo in the beautiful setting of St Matthias Church, Stoke Newington’s only Grade I listed church. 

 BOOK LIANE CARROLL *****

Saturday 1 November Ian Shaw BOOK

Ian Shaw is one of the most recognisable names on the UK jazz scene, performing in the UK and worldwide both solo and in collaboration with an array of first-class musicians and ensembles. With eclectic influences from Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell and David Bowie as well as the classic swinging jazz repertoire, Ian is a huge talent with the most engaging personality and an ability to make every song his own.

“The leading male jazz singer of his generation in the UK” (Jazzwise, 2008), Ian delivers “shades of Mark Murphy and Jon Hendricks, artists in whose company Shaw very much belongs.” (All About Jazz, 2025)

Ian is the recipient of two BBC Jazz Awards and a Parliamentary Jazz Award. ‘Vocalist of The Year’

St Matthias Church
Wordsworth Road, N16 8DD
Doors & Bar 7pm | Music 8pm
Easy ground floor access and street parking available.

Friday 5 December Liane Carroll BOOK

Liane has enjoyed huge critical acclaim and is now considered to be one of the top jazz vocalists both in the UK and worldwide.

Her first four albums all enjoyed four-starred reviews, and ‘Ballads’ received ***** from Jazz Journal, while ‘Seaside’ won CD of the year at the 2015 British Jazz Awards.

A winner of the British Jazz and Parliamentary Jazz Awards, she received the 2016 Gold award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. Music commentators are unanimous in their praise.

‘One of the UK’s leading jazz vocalists… often matching raw emotion with jaw-dropping technique’. Jazzwise 

‘A powerful, soul-inflected performer with an Ella Fitzgerald-like improv athleticism and an emotional frankness on ballads’ The Guardian

St Matthias Church
Wordsworth Road, N16 8DD
Doors & Bar 7pm | Music 8pm
Easy ground floor access and street parking available.

Mrs Dates Diary: Autumn 2025

• Thurs 9 Oct ARQ The Lighthouse Deal, Kent CT14 7DX BOOK
• Thurs 9 Oct Pete Oxley | Nicolas Meier Group Lauderdale House N6 5HG
• Sat 11 Oct ELECTRIC LANDLADIES + DJ RITU Filia Women’s Conference Brighton Centre BOOK
• Tues 14 Oct Deirdre Cartwright/Steve Kirby Group Brecon Jazz BOOK
• Thurs 23 Oct ARQ Torbay Livermead Cliff Hotel, Devon BOOK
• Thurs 23 Oct Sarah Moule | Simon Wallace Lauderdale House N6 5HG
• Fri 24 Oct ARQ Lerryn Memorial Hall Lostwithiel, Cornwall PL22 0QB BOOK
• Sat 25 Oct ARQ Calstock Arts Centre, Cornwall BOOK
• Sat 1 Nov Ian Shaw St Matthias Church BOOK
• Thurs 6 Nov Andrea Vicary Quartet Lauderdale House N6 5HG
• Fri 7 Nov Deirdre Cartwright’s ORGANIK Hull Truck Theatre BOOK
• Tues 18 Nov ARQ Watermill Jazz, Dorking BOOK
• Wed 19 Nov ARQ London Jazz Fest Cadogan Hall, Lunchtime BOOK
• Thurs 20 Nov Monk & Mingus Malcolm Earle Smith Lauderdale House N6
• Fri 21 Nov Emily Saunders Lauderdale House N6
• Thurs 4 Dec Zoe Francis / Jim Mullen Lauderdale House N6
• Fri Dec 5 Liane Carroll St Matthias Church BOOK
• Sat 20 Dec ELECTRIC LANDLADIES XMAS PARTY Walthamstow Trades Club BOOK

The post news from the fuse Autumn 2025 appeared first on Blow The Fuse.

We also have the fourth season of Blow the Fuse programming for Lauderdale House. We’ve had a very successful start with some wonderful bands and nearly every gig sold out
With the superb team at Lauderdale House we’re hoping this season will be as splendid and popular as our first few seasons were. Thursday nights,

JAZZ IN THE HOUSE AUTUMN 2024

OCT 10 Nigel Price Organ Trio
Nigel Price Guitar • Ross Stanley Organ • Joel Barford Drums

OCT 24 Byron Wallen Hurricane Bells Project
Byron Wallen Trumpet Piano Shells •Daniel Kempshell Guitar • Jonny Mansfield Vibes Bells Percussion • Menelick Claffey Bass • Zoe Pascal – Drums

NOV 7 Pete Horsfall/Giacomo Smith Quintet
Pete Horsfall Trumpet • Giacomo Smith Clarinet/Sax •Joe Webb Piano •
Fergus Ireland Bass Will Cleasby Drums

NOV 21  Alex Clarke Quintet feat. Emily Masser
Emily Masser Vocals • Alex Clarke -Saxophones • Graham Harvey Piano •
Dave Green Bass • Steve Brown Drums

DEC 5 Liane Carroll solo
Liane Carroll Vocals | Piano

Award-winning musicians Deirdre and Alison have run their own jazz club for over 30 years and will carry forward ‘Jazz in the House’ in the spirit of Brian Blain and his tireless support for musicians and live music.
#jazzinthehouse

The post Autumn 2024 ‘news from the fuse’ appeared first on Blow The Fuse.

We also have a great second Blow the Fuse programmed season  for Lauderdale House. After the success of the Spring season with nearly every gig sold out it can only be downhill from here (haha).
No, not at all! We’ve booked some wonderful bands and with the superb team at Lauderdale House we’re hoping it will be as splendid and popular as our first season was.

OCT 5 Andrew McCormack Trio with special guest Denys Baptiste
Denys Baptiste  Saxophones • Andrew McCormack Piano • Joe Downard Bass • Rod Youngs Drums
OCT 19 Ed Jones Quartet
Ed Jones Tenor/Sop Saxophones • Ross Stanley Piano • Riaan Vosloo Bass• Tim Giles Drums
NOV 2 ARQ | Alison Rayner Quintet
Diane McLoughlin Saxophones/Clarinet • Deirdre Cartwright Guitar • Steve Lodder Piano • Alison Rayner bass Buster Birch Drums
NOV 16 ORENDA London Jazz Festival
Josephine Davies Saxophones, Composer • Brigitte Beraha Voice •  Alcyona Mick  Piano
NOV 30 Barb Jungr My Marquee
Barb Jungr • Jenny Carr Piano • Dudley Phillips Bass • Jonathan Lee Drums

Award-winning musicians Deirdre and Alison have run their own jazz club for over 30 years and will carry forward ‘Jazz in the House’ in the spirit of Brian Blain and his tireless support for musicians and live music.
#jazzinthehouse

The post Autumn 2023 news from the fuse appeared first on Blow The Fuse.

Our first season in May and June featured Norma Winstone, John Etheridge, Alan Barnes & Dave Newton, Deirdre Cartwright’s Picnic and Laura Jurd. We were thrilled that nearly all the gigs were sold out.
Award-winning musicians Deirdre and Alison have run their own jazz club for over 30 years and will carry forward ‘Jazz in the House’ in the spirit of Brian Blain and his tireless support for musicians and live music.
#jazzinthehouse

Blow the Fuse jazz club continues to be in the heart of Stoke Newington in the superb space of St Matthias Hall and St Matthias Church.

The post Summer 2023 appeared first on Blow The Fuse.

Our relationship with Lauderdale House and Brian goes back many years. Deirdre’s mother walked her as a baby in Waterlow Park and both of us lived locally for many years. Brian was a friend of ours from the 1980s and we first encountered him whilst playing in the Guest Stars, through his work with the Musicians Union. We truly valued his support and our many interesting chats about life, art, politics and music. We were very saddened by his passing but we are looking forward to continue keeping live jazz at Lauderdale House and enabling it to thrive and develop.

‘Blow the Fuse’ featuring the acclaimed team of Deirdre Cartwright and Alison Rayner will continue Brian’s legacy with a new programme of jazz starting on Thursday May 4th 2023. Award-winning musicians Deirdre and Alison have run their own jazz club for over 30 years and will carry forward ‘Jazz in the House’ in the spirit of Brian Blain and his tireless support for musicians and live music.
#jazzinthehouse

Blow the Fuse jazz club continues to be in the heart of Stoke Newington in the superb space of St Matthias Hall and St Matthias Church.

Fri 28 Apr BTF Jazz Club Sea Change  St Matthias Hall N16 8DD
Formerly River Cruz, these four renowned musicians play Latin influences, Bossa Nova, Afro-Cuban grooves with a little bit of rock – and a great sense of fun and dancing.  BOOK
Please note the later door time of 8pm.

Deirdre Cartwright Guitar • Diane McLoughlin Sax • Alison Rayner Bass • Jessica Palin Congas & Percussion
An evening to celebrate the life of Al Rider and Fran Rayner and to raise money for the Isabel Hospice.

Fri 26 May BTF Jazz Club
Ruthie Smith & Friends  BOOK
Ruthie Smith Sax & Vocals • Deirdre Cartwright Guitar, voc • Alison Rayner Bass, voc • Linda da Mango Congas, percussion, voc • Jim Dvorak Trumpet, voc • Alastair Gavin Keyboards • Winston Clifford Drums, voc.
An evening led by Ruthie Smith celebrating the coming together of various musical friends and genres, and a variety of soulful jazzy styles including original material, mainstream and bebop, softer moods of cool jazz, blues, South African Township and joyful uplifting Latin-Jazz

The post April 2023 News from the Fuse appeared first on Blow The Fuse.

Our relationship with Lauderdale House and Brian goes back many years. Deirdre’s mother walked her as a baby in Waterlow Park and both of us lived locally for many years. Brian was a friend of ours from the 1980s and we first encountered him whilst playing in the Guest Stars, through his work with the Musicians Union. We truly valued his support and our many interesting chats about life, art, politics and music. We were very saddened by his passing but we are looking forward to continue keeping live jazz at Lauderdale House and enabling it to thrive and develop.

‘Blow the Fuse’ featuring the acclaimed team of Deirdre Cartwright and Alison Rayner will continue Brian’s legacy with a new programme of jazz starting on Thursday May 4th 2023. Award-winning musicians Deirdre and Alison have run their own jazz club for over 30 years and will carry forward ‘Jazz in the House’ in the spirit of Brian Blain and his tireless support for musicians and live music.
#jazzinthehouse

Blow the Fuse jazz club continues to be in the heart of Stoke Newington in the superb space of St Matthias Hall and St Matthias Church.

Fri 24 March  Sarah Jane Morris & Solis String Quartet BOOK

We expect this to be one of the stand out events of 2023.

• The amazing four octave voice of Sarah Jane Morris,
• The sublime musicianship of the Italian Solis String Quartet
• The beautiful setting of St Matthias Church, Stoke Newington’s only Grade I listed building.
• And this is their ONLY London show.

Fri 28 Apr BTF Jazz Club Sea Change  St Matthias Hall N16 8DD
An evening to celebrate the life of Al Rider.

The post Jan 2023 News from the Fuse appeared first on Blow The Fuse.

We’re very excited to be back in the heart of Stoke Newington for our new season in the superb space of St Matthias Hall and St Matthias Church.

Two ‘Tomorrow the Moon’ gigs

14 October Alex Clarke + BTF Allstars BOOK
18 November ARQ + Balledestre London Jazz Festival BOOK
10 Dec Electric Landladies North London Xmas Party BOOK

This season has been generously supported by DissentersN16 as part of their 10th anniversary celebrations.
www.dissenters.org.uk

11 Dec Electric Landladies South London Xmas Party BOOK

Watch out for regular slots at Ronnie Scott’s and the Clapton Country Club from Deirdre Cartwright, Electric Landladies will be LIVE in St Matthias Hall and New Cross Inn in December 10th & 11th and if any of you are thinking now’s the time to put on that postponed birthday, anniversary celebration then do get in touch. The Electric Landladies play at many a private ‘do’ and a wonderful and fun evening is guaranteed!

The post Autumn 2022 News from the Fuse appeared first on Blow The Fuse.

We’re very excited to be back in the heart of Stoke Newington for our new 2022 season in the superb space of St Matthias Hall, generously supported by DissentersN16 as part of their 10th anniversary celebrations.  St Matthias Hall, Wordsworth Road N16 8DD.

NEXT BTF JAZZ CLUB DATES 

Friday 27 May Deirdre Cartwright’s PICNIC feat. Annie Whitehead
This gig is selling out so book….

Inspirational, upbeat jazz with South African, Latin and Reggae influences.
Picnic make absorbing and life affirming music.

Deirdre Cartwright Guitar • Annie Whitehead Tbn • Alison Rayner Bass • Winston Clifford Drums

Supported by RSL Awards.

BOOK TICKETS

Friday 24 June Carol Grimes & Friends

Carol Grimes is a towering presence in the UK music scene; from busking in the streets as a teenager to touring internationally with contemporary classical group The Shout. 

Carol Grimes Vocal • Steve Lodder Pno • Deirdre Cartwright Gtr • Alison Rayner Bass • Winston Clifford Drums

Supported by RSL Awards.

BOOK TICKETS

St Matthias Hall, Wordsworth Road, N16 8DD.
Doors 7pm | Music 8-10:30pm
Bar till 11pm. Food available.

Easy ground floor access and street parking available. Drive down Belgrade Road from Stokey High Street.

Thanks to the generous support of DissentersN16 as part of their 10th anniversary celebrations. 

Our first night Friday 22nd April was a real opening night celebration featuring a double bill of River Cruz and Michele Drees.

New quartet River Cruz, four celebrated musicians and their Cruz patrons – Penelope and Celia! Latin influences, Bossa Nova, Afro-Cuban grooves and a great sense of fun. Plus the Latin influence continues with supporting act Michele Drees on Brazilian guitar and vocals in Portuguese and English.

Deirdre Cartwright Guitar • Diane McLoughlin Sax • Alison Rayner Bass • Jessica Palin Congas & Percussion

ARQ on tour:

If you’re not in the London, Bath, or Suffolk areas, check out the gig list below. Alison’s quintet ARQ will be playing a series of concerts all over the country from April. Check out the first dates below…

Bassist & composer Alison Rayner’s award-winning quintet combine richly nuanced compositions, rhythmic interplay and folk-infused melodies; this, along with their love of improvisation, creates a strong sense of narrative and cinematic quality. ARQ play ‘songs without words’ and are lauded for their vibrant, communicative performances.’

Check out Alison’s website HERE for ARQ videos, music and touring dates this Spring.

THE ELECTRIC LANDLADIES are playing LIVE in WALTHAMSTOW E17.

Walthamstow Trades Hall

Saturday 21 May 2022 BOOK

Mrs Dates Diary:

• Fri 18 Mar River Cruz Widcombe Social Club, Bath BOOK
• Sat 19 Mar River Cruz Vela Arts Cafe Saxmundham, Suffolk BOOK
• Sun 27 Mar Deirdre Cartwright /Jenny Carr duo 1pm Clapton Country Club, London E5
• Sat 2 Apr ARQ Scarborough Music Centre
• Sun 3 Apr ARQ Leeds Seven Arts 1.30pm BOOK
• Fri 22 Apr BTF Jazz River Cruz + Michele Drees St Matthias Hall, N16 8DD BOOK
• Tues 26 Apr ARQ London East Side Jazz Club 8pm BOOK
• Thurs 28 Apr ARQ Folkestone Tower Theatre BOOK
• Sat 30 Apr ARQ Ribble Valley Jazz festival 3.30pm BOOK
• Sat14 May ARQ Birmingham Jazz Festival 2pm BOOK
• Sun 15 May ARQ Colchester Arts Centre Jazz Club BOOK
• Sat 21 May ELECTRIC LANDLADIES Walthamstow Trades Club BOOK
• Fri 27 May BTF Jazz Deirdre Cartwright’s PICNIC feat. Annie WhiteheadSt Matthias Hall,N16 8DD BOOK
• Fri 17 Jun ARQ York NCEM BOOK
• Sat18 Jun ARQ Sage Gateshead BOOK
• Fri 24 Jun BTF Jazz Carol Grimes St Matthias Hall, N16 8DD BOOK
• Sun26 Jun ARQ Naturist Jazz Festival, Orpington
• Sat 9 Jul Deirdre Cartwright /Alison Rayner w/ Lynda Murray St Leonards Festival
• Sun 10 Jul ARQ Swanage Jazz Festival 2pm BOOK
• Thurs 4 Aug Deirdre Cartwright /Ciyo Brown Two for the Road Upstairs at Ronnie Scotts

See you at a LIVE gig soon but don’t forget the wonderful archive we now have on Blow the Fuse ‘On Air’ our series of lockdown online concerts, now with over 12,000 views on You Tube and Facebook!

All shows can now be viewed on our You Tube channel HERE

Shows feature Carol Grimes, Deirdre Cartwright, Liane Carroll, Annie Whitehead, The Guest Stars 1985 film, Martha & Eve + DaDa Dandies, The Casimir Connection, Ian Shaw and ARQ.

Please subscribe to our Blow the Fuse YouTube channel – it’s totally free to do so.

Thank you for your continued support of live music and the Arts.

“The only truth is music.” Jack Kerouac

The post SPRING 2022 News from the Fuse! appeared first on Blow The Fuse.

* Alison has a new website for herself and ARQ www.alisonrayner.com – oh wow!

* More new albums with The Casimir Connection album launch next week Thurs 26 September at the Vortex BOOK

* Electric landladies announce competition for BEST RETRO OUTFIT at their fabulous Christmas party Sat 7 December BOOK

News about ARQ on tour around the country, the London Jazz Festival opening night at Kings Place concert hall celebrating 30 years of Blow the Fuse and many more great gigs. Keep on reading…..

* Coming up Thursday week Blow the Fuse new season at the Vortex with The Casimir Connection on 26 September. Diane Mcloughlin’s wonderfully evocative quartet launch their album Cause and Effect. With influences from Keith Jarrett to Poulenc, Bartok and Balkan folk music, The Casimir Connection is a jazz chamber group for the modern era. BOOK

* ARQ (Alison Rayner Quintet) release their new album ‘Short Stories’ on25 October and are touring all over England. Come and see us if we’re in your area! Dates below. Tour starts in South East London on 29 September!  BOOK

* Tickets for 15 November EFG London Jazz Festival featuring ARQ, The Guest Stars and JFrisco are selling fast. There are still some good seats left… but they are selling out… BOOK

* Electric Landladies Xmas Party Saturday 7 December Boston Music Room, opp. Tufnell Pk tube station. Fabulous dance band, competition for best retro outfit – definitely the most fun you’ll have this Christmas!  BOOK

Mrs Dates Diary: 2019

• Thursday 26 SeptemberThe Casimir Connection Vortex Jazz Club BOOK
• Sunday 29 September ARQAlbany Empire, Deptford BOOK
• Monday 30 September ARQAshburton Arts Centre, South Devon INFO
• Tuesday 1 October ARQSt Ives Jazz Club, Cornwall INFO
• Friday 5 October ARQNC Jazz, Northants BOOK
• Friday 11 October ARQBracknell Jazz INFO
• Saturday 12 October ARQMarsden Jazz Festival BOOK
• Sunday 13 October ARQLeeds Jazz 1:30pm BOOK
• Thursday 17 October Deirdre Cartwright Groupfeaturing Louise Elliott Vortex Jazz Club BOOK
• Friday 8 November ARQWakefield Jazz Club BOOK
• Saturday 9 November ARQVerdict, Brighton INFO
• Friday 15 November BTF 30 years ARQ/The Guest Stars/J Frisco EFG London Jazz Festival BOOK
• Saturday 7 December Electric LandladiesBoston Music Room BOOK
• Thursday 12 December Picnic featuring Annie Whitehead Vortex Jazz Club BOOK

The post N E W S  F R O M  T H E  F U S E appeared first on Blow The Fuse.