Unique jazz nights continue to go ‘from strength to strength’ with two popular venues added to the roster
These unique jazz nights have continued to go “from strength to strength” in Northampton, with two popular venues added to the growing roster.
Daniel Perkin is the founder and organiser of Flamingo Jazz Nights, established in June 2024 with the aim of building a community by bringing a jazz club experience to the town.
The offering allows people to enjoy world-class musicians in cosy and intimate settings on their doorsteps, and Daniel has been inspired since his first jazz club visit in 2008 in New York as part of his university course.
“It’s like stepping into a different world,” Daniel previously told the Chronicle & Echo. “I love jazz music and used to play in a local jazz group in school. I still play the trumpet in bands to this day.
“It was an aim of mine to have a jazz club in Northampton as the cost is quite high. I chose to organise events rather than have a fixed premise as it’s cost effective and you choose the venues in the town. They’re intimate, high quality and you forget you’re in Northampton. That’s the experience I’m trying to create, where people are transported to another world.”
Each jazz night is hosted on a Friday evening, and Daniel believes this is a great way to end a week and welcome the weekend. Attendees can either come along and simply enjoy the music, or opt to dine alongside.
The evenings typically run from 7pm until 9.30pm, with two sets of 45 minutes, and there are four venues to choose from – The Sun Inn and Shipmans, and the new additions of The Lamplighter and Pizza Express.
When asked how Flamingo Jazz Nights has been since he last spoke to this newspaper at the end of 2025, Daniel said: “It’s been fantastic and really well supported. Since I started in 2024, we’ve hosted around 20 jazz nights with 500 plus guests in total.
“We’ve added two new venues to the roster this summer and both of their first events sold out. We’ve had incredible support from the local community, as well as Corby, Towcester and Banbury. It’s great to see regulars and new faces.”
Audiences praise the intimate and private jazz club experience that is created, particularly as they can focus and enjoy the music without interruptions despite being in busy venues. A community is building and it enables like-minded jazz lovers to connect.
“The feedback from the bands has been great too,” said Daniel. “They are looked after, paid quickly and I hear that’s a rarity and not always the case in the industry. If you look after the bands, they put on a great show.
“I knew there was a demand for jazz in Northampton but I wasn’t sure about the extent of it, and now many events are selling out weeks in advance.”
The new programme of events is set to begin from September to April with two jazz nights a month, which is a step up from this time last year as the demand is there to hear top drawer, local and emerging artists perform.
“I do this as a passion project as I love jazz music and creating experiences,” Daniel concluded. “It’d be great to hold even more regular jazz nights but I’ve taken a gradual approach and I’m not overstretching. If anyone is thinking of coming along, please do – everyone’s friendly.”