A Hidden Piano Gem at the Mitchell Library

Last Saturday, the Glasgow Piano Project welcomed pianists and music lovers to the Glasgow Room at the Mitchell Library for another of our Open Days.

Home to a magnificent 9-foot Danemann concert grand, the Glasgow Room provides one of the city's most inspiring places to experience live piano music. Throughout the afternoon, performers of all ages and abilities shared music in a relaxed, supportive environment, creating an atmosphere that was just as rewarding for listeners as it was for those at the keyboard.

One such performance came from Matthew McIlree, whose playing beautifully captured the spirit of the day - a celebration of music, community and the joy of performing.

As the Glasgow Piano Project continues to grow, our vision is simple: to create opportunities for people not only to play exceptional pianos, but also to experience live piano music in some of Glasgow's most remarkable spaces.

Join Us at Glasgow City Halls

If you missed our Mitchell Library Open Day, we'd love to welcome you to our next event on Saturday 18th July at Glasgow City Halls.

Whether you're an experienced pianist, someone building confidence at the keyboard, or simply enjoy listening to live music, our Open Days are open to everyone.

If you'd like to perform, attend or learn more about the Glasgow Piano Project, get in touch - we'd love to welcome you to the community.

Find out more

Summer in Full Swing: July 2026

Jack Heavenor performing jazz standards at Bluedog Glasgow during an evening live music session.

Summer in Full Swing: July 2026

From weekly residencies and late-night sessions to a quartet concert at Basement Jazz Café and the Modern Crooners Show, July continues a summer filled with live music across Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

A Summer Rhythm

If June was about variety, July feels like settling into a rhythm.

One of the pleasures of being a working musician is discovering that no two weeks are ever quite the same, while at the same time recognising the familiar places that gradually become part of your routine. Throughout July I'll once again be moving between community music, restaurant performances, late-night entertainment and dedicated jazz concerts, with each engagement offering its own atmosphere and audience.

Looking across the calendar, what stands out most isn't simply the number of performances, but the relationships that continue to develop with venues, audiences and fellow musicians. Returning regularly to the same spaces allows performances to evolve naturally, with familiar faces becoming friends and each appearance feeling like another chapter rather than a completely separate event.

Thursdays at Maverick

Open Jam Thursdays continue to provide the heartbeat of the month.

Every Thursday evening, musicians from across Glasgow gather at Maverick to perform, collaborate and share music in an informal and welcoming environment. Whether someone is stepping onto a stage for the first time or arriving with years of professional experience, the aim remains exactly the same: to create a space where live music is shared rather than simply presented.

What continues to surprise me is how unpredictable each session remains. Every week brings different combinations of musicians, different repertoire and unexpected musical moments that couldn't have been planned beforehand.

Watching new collaborations emerge in real time is still one of the most rewarding parts of hosting the evening.

Evenings at Fonn Mór

July also sees several appearances at Fonn Mór, alternating between relaxed early evening performances and energetic late-night sessions.

Although the venues may be the same, the atmosphere can be completely different depending on the time of day. Early evening audiences often settle in with friends over dinner and drinks, while later performances naturally become more interactive as the night unfolds.

Finding the balance between jazz standards, timeless classics and familiar favourites remains one of the most enjoyable aspects of these performances. Reading a room is as much a musical skill as singing or playing an instrument, and every audience brings its own character.

Returning to Familiar Stages

Regular appearances continue throughout the month at Bluedog and Crossbasket Castle's Trocadero's restaurant.

These performances remind me how fortunate I am to perform in venues that each have their own identity.

At Bluedog, the focus often shifts between intimate jazz listening and lively weekend entertainment depending on the evening. It has become a venue that has accompanied so much of my musical development over the years, and returning each month always feels familiar.

Meanwhile, performances at Trocadero's provide a completely different experience. Set within the surroundings of Crossbasket Castle, the emphasis is on creating an elegant soundtrack that complements the hospitality and atmosphere, allowing guests to enjoy live music as part of their afternoon.

The Modern Crooners Show

One of the highlights of July will be returning to Epicures with the Modern Crooners Show.

This programme celebrates the timeless appeal of artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Michael Bublé and Harry Connick Jr., combining classic swing with more contemporary interpretations of the Great American Songbook.

Performed in the relaxed surroundings of Epicures, the evening is designed to bring together wonderful food, conversation and live music in an atmosphere that feels both intimate and entertaining.

An Evening with the Quartet

Towards the end of the month, I'm particularly looking forward to appearing with my quartet at Basement Jazz Café.

Concert performances like these provide a different kind of musical freedom. With an audience gathered specifically to listen, there is more opportunity to explore arrangements, stretch improvisations and allow the music to breathe.

Joined by Tim Lallemant on piano, Mark Hendry on double bass and Greg Irons on drums, the programme will feature a carefully curated selection of swing standards and bossa nova favourites, celebrating the conversational nature of small-group jazz.

Opportunities to present this kind of dedicated concert remain some of the most rewarding performances of the year, and I'm looking forward to sharing the evening with both regular listeners and new audiences alike.

Looking Ahead

Although July continues the momentum established during the summer, it also reinforces something I've come to appreciate over the past year.

Every performance serves a different purpose.

Some evenings are about encouraging musicians to take their first steps on stage. Others invite audiences to sit back and simply listen. Some provide the soundtrack to celebrations, while others bring dancers onto the floor or create an atmosphere for friends to spend time together.

Taken together, they paint a picture of why I continue to enjoy this profession so much. Every venue, every audience and every collaboration adds something different, yet all are connected by the same desire to bring people together through live music.

Whether you're joining me at Maverick, Bluedog, Fonn Mór, Epicures, Crossbasket Castle or Basement Jazz Café this month, I hope to see you there.

For full performance details and upcoming appearances, visit the Events page.

A Month of Music: June 2026

Jack Heavenor performing jazz standards at Bluedog Glasgow during an evening live music session.

From Open Jam Thursdays at the Maverick to Crossbasket Castle, Newlands Jazz Recital and the Glasgow Swing Exchange Tea Dance, here’s a look at what’s coming up this month.

A Month of Music: June 2026

From weekly jam sessions and summer socials to castle performances, concert recitals and swing dancing, June promises to be one of the most varied months of the year so far.

As the summer months begin to arrive, June is shaping up to be one of the busiest and most diverse periods in my calendar. Looking ahead, what strikes me most isn't simply the number of performances, but the sheer variety of settings, audiences and musical experiences that the month will bring.

Within the space of a few weeks, I'll move between hosting community jam sessions, performing in luxury hospitality venues, presenting a dedicated jazz recital, entertaining late-night audiences and providing live music for swing dancers. It's a reminder that being a working musician often means wearing many different hats, each requiring a slightly different approach while remaining rooted in the same love of live performance.

Open Jam Thursdays at Maverick

At the heart of the month are my weekly Open Jam Thursdays at Maverick.

What began as a simple opportunity for musicians to meet and play together has grown into a regular fixture of my week. Every Thursday evening brings a different collection of singers, instrumentalists, students, professionals and curious listeners through the doors. Some performers arrive with years of experience, while others are stepping onto a stage for the very first time.

Although jazz remains at the core of the evening, the real joy comes from the unpredictability. No two sessions are ever quite the same, and some of the most memorable moments happen completely by accident when musicians who have never met before find themselves creating something together.

For me, the jam continues to represent one of the most rewarding aspects of Glasgow's music scene: a willingness to share knowledge, encourage participation and celebrate live music in its most spontaneous form.

Summer Socials and City Performances

The month begins with Orange Blossom's Summer Social, a daytime event that feels perfectly timed as Glasgow moves into the warmer months.

Events like these provide a very different atmosphere from traditional jazz performances. The focus is often on creating a relaxed soundtrack for conversation, celebration and community, allowing the music to become part of a wider experience rather than the sole centre of attention.

The following day brings a familiar combination of venues that perfectly illustrates the variety of modern performance life.

During the afternoon, I'll be returning to Crossbasket Castle and Trocadero's, one of Scotland's most impressive hospitality destinations. Performing there always feels special. The surroundings are beautiful, the atmosphere is elegant, and guests often arrive specifically looking to enjoy an afternoon experience that combines food, hospitality and live music.

Later that same day, I'll head back into Glasgow city centre for an appearance at Bluedog. Few venues have been as significant to my musical journey over the years. From jam sessions and residencies to concert promotions and collaborations, Bluedog has become one of those places that feels woven into my story as a performer.

Bluedog After Dark

A week later, I'll be returning to Bluedog in a very different capacity.

Alongside the regular afternoon appearances, June includes a late-night swing trio performance running from midnight until 2am. These sets often take on an entirely different character from daytime performances.

As the evening progresses, audiences become more involved, requests become more adventurous and the line between performer and audience begins to blur. A swing standard might sit comfortably beside a Rat Pack favourite, a vintage pop arrangement or an unexpected singalong moment.

Late-night performances require a different kind of energy. Rather than asking audiences to focus quietly on the music, the goal becomes creating an atmosphere that encourages people to stay a little longer, sing a little louder and enjoy the shared experience of live entertainment.

It is a style of performance that continues to teach me valuable lessons about audience engagement, spontaneity and reading a room.

Newlands Jazz Recital

One of the highlights of the month will undoubtedly be the Newlands Jazz Recital.

Unlike many of my regular engagements, this performance places the music firmly at the centre of the experience. Presented in a dedicated concert setting, the recital offers an opportunity to share songs from the Great American Songbook in an environment designed specifically for listening.

Many of these songs have accompanied me throughout my development as a performer. Some have remained in my repertoire for years, while others have emerged more recently as my understanding of the music has evolved.

What excites me most about recital performances is the chance to tell stories alongside the music. Jazz standards are often remembered for their melodies, but many also carry fascinating histories, connections and personal memories that add an extra layer of meaning when shared with an audience.

I am very much looking forward to presenting this programme and seeing where the evening leads.

From Concert Hall to Restaurant Jazz

One of the amusing realities of life as a musician is how quickly the context can change.

The day after the recital, I'll once again be returning to Crossbasket Castle before heading to Epicures in Hyndland for an evening of live jazz.

Epicures has become one of my favourite additions to the calendar. The venue manages to strike a balance between restaurant dining and live music in a way that feels completely natural. Rather than competing for attention, the music becomes part of the overall atmosphere, helping to create a warm and welcoming end to the weekend.

The audiences are often wonderfully varied too. Dedicated jazz listeners sit alongside diners who simply happen to discover live music while enjoying their meal, creating a unique dynamic that keeps every performance fresh.

Fonn Mór and the Art of Reading a Room

Later in the month, I'll return to Fonn Mór for both a late-night appearance and an early evening performance.

These engagements showcase yet another side of what live music can be.

Where a recital encourages careful listening, venues like Fonn Mór invite interaction. Requests arrive constantly, familiar songs prompt spontaneous singalongs and every audience develops its own personality as the evening unfolds.

Part of the challenge — and the enjoyment — lies in finding the right balance between jazz standards, popular favourites and unexpected choices that suit the room in front of you.

No two nights are ever quite the same, and that's exactly what makes them enjoyable.

Finishing the Month with Swing

The month concludes with one of the most joyful events on the calendar: the Glasgow Swing Exchange Tea Dance at Sloan's Ballroom.

There is something uniquely satisfying about performing for dancers. The relationship between music and movement becomes immediately visible, and every tempo, phrase and musical decision has a direct impact on the atmosphere in the room.

Sloan's provides the perfect setting for this kind of event. Rich in history and character, it remains one of Glasgow's most iconic venues and an ideal home for an afternoon of live swing music and social dancing.

As someone who has always loved the connection between jazz and community, events like this feel like a fitting way to bring the month to a close.

Looking Ahead

When I look across the performances ahead, what stands out most is the variety.

From community jam sessions and concert recitals to castle hotels, restaurant jazz, late-night entertainment and social dancing, June represents many of the different strands that make up my musical life.

Each venue, audience and performance offers something unique, and I feel fortunate to be able to move between so many different musical worlds throughout the month.

Whether you're a regular face at one of the venues, a fellow musician, or someone simply looking for an excuse to enjoy some live music this summer, I hope our paths cross somewhere along the way.

For full event details and upcoming dates, visit my Events Page.

September Schedule

This September brings two exciting opportunities to share music in Glasgow.

On Friday 13th September, I’ll be performing with Del Artek at the Ando Glaso Festival, a project celebrating Romani culture through gypsy jazz and cross-cultural collaboration. Tickets are available now via the Ando Glaso website.

Later in the month, the 73rd Street Trio will appear at Epicures on Sunday 14th & 21st September as part of their Easy Jazz Sundays series. With two live sets from 7:30pm and a 2-course dinner menu available from £24.50, it’s the perfect way to enjoy a Sunday evening.

Otherwise, catch me at my usual residencies of the Maverick, Bluedog & Bossa.

Autumnal Beginnings - Easy Jazz Sundays at Epicures

August reminded me what consistency feels like. September is about giving that consistency a shape.

This month has been a quieter one — rehearsals, smaller rooms, moments of reflection — but those spaces often carry the seeds of what comes next.

I’ve been working on bringing together a new trio, built around the same vision that’s guided me through residencies and jam nights: music that adapts to the room, balances energy, and leaves space for genuine connection.

I’m excited to say we’ll be debuting at Epicures in Glasgow’s West End as part of their Sunday Dinner series on September 14th & 21st.

https://www.epicures.co.uk/events/easy-jazz-sundays

These nights will be about atmosphere and flow — two sets shaped around swing, Latin, and cocktail-era standards. Not just background music, but a curated listening experience woven into the evening.

It feels like the right way to carry August’s quiet work into September’s next chapter.

If you’re local, come by. And if you’re building something new this autumn — musical or otherwise — I’d love to hear what you’re shaping.