Welcome back to University, as the second semester comes into play and COVID restrictions are limiting the practicalities of “Re-freshers” week, many of you may be wondering what to do on your Thursday night. Fortunately, the jazz society will be able to keep your nights filled with exciting nerves and positive energy every Thursday, as they kick off this semester on January 20th.
Filing into 601 with fun and laughter, you and your friends are guaranteed to be dancing by the end of the night. Although many COVID restrictions are still at play, the jazz society has done their best to ensure that the warm and inviting atmosphere they bring to St. Andrews stays for the rest of the foreseeable future. Even though their beginning event may not have gone to plan due to the hardships with these very limiting restrictions. We can only wait for these new governmental plans to be enforced to ensure our beloved nights of jazz return to normal, and our school year remains intact.
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Unfortunately to the few students who regularly fix their cute, yet casual outfits for the smooth tunes of jazz nights which happens every Thursday within The 601 from 9:30 to 12:00, the latest, most recent event did not go according to their plans. For zealous followers of the jazz society — who await in excitement for their grand opening performance and their stellar closing song, “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone — they know to arrive between 8:30 to 9:30 to ensure that they get the best seats within a good listening distance between the bar and the stage.
However, with the current COVID restrictions, their night took a turn for the worse. With entry times lasting from 25 to 45 minutes and students pushing and edging their way through to gain a seat within 601, their efforts ultimately came to no avail. After security checks and vaccination status approval, those who came to support their favourite student musicians were selectively seated within Main Bar or Sandy’s, whilst individuals looking for a pint of ale were pleasantly surprised and entertained by the jazz society. A current first year student highlights student frustration saying, “We were so disappointed to leave early. We had been waiting to go to jazz night all week but we weren’t even able to see the stage and Sandy’s was packed.”
To all those who were also disappointed and exhausted by the end of the night, your Thursday evenings will soon be returning back to normal with the updated COVID restrictions that will be taking place within the University this upcoming Monday. If you have not been keeping yourself informed about the changes happening within the University, they are as follows: restrictions involving social distancing within restaurants and nightclubs at a 1-meter distance are to be lifted, while the main guidance on face coverings are maintained.
Therefore, if you were a first-time supporter of the jazz society, hopefully, this one unsuccessful experience will not deter you from the cool and easy-going atmosphere involving jazz night. Everyone should take another chance at listening to their upbeat rhythms, whilst being entertained and enthralled by the amazing fight between the drummer and bassist as they playfully improvise off of each other. All the while being captivated by the amazing voices of their singers, and waiting to be delightfully swept to the past of Aretha Franklin, Etta Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and many more poignant and influential singers from the jazz era.
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If you do happen to entertain the idea of joining students to support the jazz society make sure you come early to the best seats before the crowd files in, and whilst you are waiting for the band to begin their performance grab yourself a nice cocktail within Main Bar or a mocktail at Beacon Bar, or grab some friends and play a game of pool! Getting in an hour earlier is worth the wait. You can always encourage a musically inclined friend to join you on your excursion to 601 where they can sign up to sing a song with the highly talented jazz band where all are welcome to sing and where you are guaranteed an applause.
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