THE second in a series of monthly jazz nights takes place in a vacant city centre shop premises turned arts venue next week.

Safe Sextet will follow opening act, the Debra Milne Ensemble, as the latest monthly performers at The Empty Shop HQ, on Framwelgate Bridge, Durham.

Each session features a different local jazz group, in a four-month trial run, staged in association with the Pink Lane Jazz Co-Op, of Newcastle.

The jazz nights, which began earlier this month, will run until July in the hope of developing an audience for such events and continuing them, indefinitely.

Anyone interested in jazz or who would like to discover jazz-influenced music is urged to attend and support the events.

The second session, on Thursday May 1, sees Safe Sextet bring its hard bop style, playing a range of music from, and inspired by, the late 50s early 60s, including original tunes.

Doors open at 7.30pm, with an 8pm start, and admission costs £4.

Safe Sextet, will be followed by Redemption Jazz, on June 5, and the Ray Burns Trio, on July 3.

Empty Shop HQ has become a multi-use cultural venue in the heart of the city, playing host to a range of events including art, theatre, poetry, film and live music.

Formed in 2008, it is a Durham-based non-profit organisation, helping to stage and arrange arts events in empty shop space in the city and across the North-East.

The website www.emptyshop.org gives further details of events at the Durham venue.