If you’d said to me a few years ago, “Let’s go to Lincoln Jazz Café,” I’d probably have looked at you like you’d grown another head.
Jazz? Really?
Doesn’t all jazz sound the same? Isn’t it all a bit serious and, dare I say it, slightly depressing? Will everyone there know far more about music than me while I sit there pretending I know what’s going on? And surely a jazz café means fancy cocktails and ridiculously expensive bottles of wine?
I’ll happily admit it, I had absolutely no idea what to expect.
And as it turns out, I was wrong about pretty much all of it.
So, what changed my mind?
For the past six months, I’ve been working as Events Coordinator at Lincoln Jazz Café and in that relatively short space of time, my eyes have been opened to a whole other world I genuinely didn’t know existed.
I’ve heard some absolutely wonderful music, met ridiculously talented musicians and, perhaps just as importantly, some genuinely lovely people.
Less than a six minute walk from Lincoln train station, Lincoln Jazz Café is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, which gives it an almost secret, “if you know, you know” kind of feel.
There’s a lovely outdoor seating area, although I fear the Great British weather might be putting an end to sitting outside with a glass of wine for much longer!
Once you head inside, it’s small, cosy and intimate. You can tell the owners have put a lot of thought into how they want the place to feel. It isn’t stuffy or overly formal. It’s just a really lovely space to settle in for the evening, order a drink and enjoy yourself.
And my theory that a jazz café would only serve fancy cocktails and eye wateringly expensive wine?
Wrong again.
The bar is incredibly well stocked, with something for pretty much everyone and a seriously impressive spirits selection. And if cocktails are your thing, our Head Barman Craig is a master mixologist who can seemingly make just about anything you can think of!
But doesn’t all jazz sound the same?
This was probably my biggest misconception of all.
Absolutely not!
Every week I’ve been able to experience completely different sides of jazz. One evening can be slow, soulful and intimate, where you could hear a pin drop in the room. The next can be energetic, upbeat and very much a “sing along if you know it” kind of night.
I’ve quickly learnt that jazz isn’t one particular sound or style at all. The variety is huge, and that’s become one of my favourite things about working at LJC. I genuinely never quite know what kind of atmosphere we’re going to have until the musicians take to the stage.
The musicians have probably been one of the biggest surprises for me too. We’ve had some ridiculously talented people perform on our little stage, and when you’re sitting just a few feet away watching them play, you realise how lucky we are to have them.
And here’s the important bit. You don’t need to understand the technical side of what they’re doing.
I certainly didn’t when I started!
You can literally order your favourite drink, sit back and enjoy the music.
So… who actually goes to a jazz café?
Another thing that has completely surprised me is the variety of people who walk through the doors.
Before working at LJC, I think I’d imagined a jazz café would attract quite a specific crowd.
Once again, I was wrong.
We’ve had university students celebrating their graduation with a bottle of fizz and some live music before heading out to continue their celebrations. Married couples enjoying each other’s company over a glass of wine while celebrating an anniversary. Large groups of friends finally getting together for that long overdue catch up and more than happy to join in with a familiar song when the opportunity arises.
Then, of course, we have the genuine jazz enthusiasts. The people who know the musicians, understand the music far better than I probably ever will and simply love being in a room where they can experience it live.
And the funny thing is, it just works. Nobody looks out of place.
That’s probably one of the things I’ve come to love most about LJC.
You don’t have to be a certain age, dress a certain way or know anything about jazz to feel like you belong there.
Some people come specifically for the musician. Others are celebrating something. Some are catching up with friends. And some simply fancied doing something a little different with their evening.
And it’s not all about the jazz…
One thing I’ve absolutely fallen in love with at our little café is the Thursday night tasting sessions.
And when I say tastings, there’s quite a variety!
One month you might be taking a journey through New World red wines, the next discovering tequila, rum or even port.
They’re all put together and hosted by our Head Barman Craig, who knows an unbelievable amount about what he’s pouring! But don’t worry, you absolutely don’t need to know your Malbec from your Merlot before you arrive. That’s kind of the point.
These evenings have become incredibly popular and often sell out well in advance, and I completely understand why.
They’re a brilliant way to try something different, learn a little more about a drink you already love, or simply start the weekend with friends.
And if you’re forever struggling to buy a present for the person who already has everything, tickets to one of our tastings make a pretty impressive gift for a wine, rum, whisky or tequila lover too.
You might arrive knowing absolutely nothing about what’s in your glass and leave having discovered a new favourite.
Which, thinking about it, isn’t actually that different from my experience with jazz!
Ready to give it a try?
So, if you’re looking for your next favourite spot in Lincoln, planning a night out with friends or simply fancy trying something a little different one weekend, come and see what you’ve been missing.
Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear about upcoming performances, tasting evenings and special events, follow us on social media to see what’s happening behind the scenes or, better still, come in, grab a drink and say hi!
You might just discover something you never knew you’d love.
Victoria Meads | Events Coordinator
Lincoln Jazz Café
