Image credit: Sion Dawson
Band Members
Ben Creighton Griffiths (Cardiff - harp)
Adrien Chevalier (New York - violin/vocals)
Jeremy Lohier (Corsica - accordion/vocals)
Ashley John Long (Cardiff - bass)
Come and experience the exciting Parisian jazz scene of the 1930s with The Transatlantic Hot Club as they perform at Ilminster Arts Centre on their 2027 UK tour! Featuring Adrien Chevalier (New York) on Violin, Ben Creighton Griffiths (Cardiff) on Harp, Jeremy Lohier (Corsica) on Accordion, and Ashley John Long (Cardiff) on double bass. Expect to hear Swing classics, Django standards, Corsican Song, and Latin Bossa Nova during this exciting performance.
The Transatlantic Hot Club was formed by Ben Creighton Griffiths (Harp) and Adrien Chevalier (Violin) in 2013 when they met whilst both performing at ‘Journées de la Harpe’ - a harp festival on the French Caribbean islands of Martinique, Guyane, Guadeloupe, St Anne, and St Lucia. The following year they began an annual tradition of performing in Cardiff and have been expanding this into a full tour ever since. In 2019 they adopted the Transatlantic Hot Club name.
Musicians who have performed in the Transatlantic Hot Club line up include - Jeremy Lohier (accordion), Ashley John Long (bass), Don Sweeney (bass/guitar), Philip Ambuel (bass), Julian Smith (Bass), Tatiana Eva-Marie (vocals), Vincent Simonelli (guitar), John Dufosse (bass), Alex Gilson (bass), Edouard Pennes (bass), Adrien Tarraga (guitar), Neil Saidi (reeds), Jean Marie Giannelli (bass), Charly Menasse (drums), Tara Minton (vocals), Irene Serra (vocals), Abe Pollack (bass), and James Robbins (bass).
As well as returning to the French Caribbean in 2016 and 2022, the Hot Club has performed extensively in the UK including at venues such as Cidermill Theatre (Chipping Campden), Tetbury Goods Shed, Insole Court (Cardiff), Ludlow Assembly Rooms, and Pavilions (Teignmouth). They have performed at a number of jazz clubs in the UK including Aberjazz (Fishguard), Brecon Jazz Club, Spice Jazz Soho at Crazy Coqs (London), Speakeasy Jazz (Portishead), Guildford Jazz Club, Bude Jazz Club, Narberth Jazz Club, North Devon Jazz Club, and Black Mountain Jazz Club (Abergavenny). Festival appearances in the UK include Aberjazz Festival (Fishguard), Barry Arts Festival, Django in the Bay (Rutland), Brecon Online Jazz Festival, Edinburgh International Harp Festival, Wales Harp Festival (Caernarfon), and the World Harp Congress (Cardiff).
The Transatlantic Hot Club annually tours in Corsica in collaboration with their accordionist Jeremy Lohier. They have performed at Spaziu Culturale Natale Rochiccioli (Cargese), CNCM VOCE Auditorium of Pigna, Spaziu Edmond Simeoni (Lumio), Espace Saint-Jacques (Bonifacio), and Salle de Spectacle (Calvi) and held creative residencies in Pigna and Cargese.
In France they have performed at the Camac Space and Le Piano Vache in Paris, and at the Conservatoire Zino Franscescatti (La Ciotat) and Le Lido (St Raphael) in the South. In the USA they have performed at the American Harp Society National Conference (2024, Orlando), and at a number of venues in New York City including St Mazie's Jazz Club, The Keep Brooklyn, Centurion Lounge, Motto Chelsea, and Linden's.
In 2023 they recorded their first album at Zoot Studios in Paris. Their second album featuring the quartet formation with Jeremy Lohier on accordion was released in April 2026.
Links
Website - https://www.transatlantichot.club/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@transatlantichotclub
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/7EYc5Rc2oKY6V9eWDQB1hB?si=8hn1CxaTTtaIx5hYgvCEsg
Performance starts at 7:30pm, doors from 6:30pm with bar available.
Tickets:
General admission: £20
Students: £10 with valid student ID
*Tickets purchased online are subject to an additional booking fee. This fee is to cover the cost of providing our Box Office service.
Tickets can also be purchased by ringing 01460 54973 or visiting us during opening hours.
*Please note that tickets for performances and workshops are not refundable unless we are fully booked and have a waiting list. Refunds are subject to a £5 admin charge.
Image credit: Barry Hill