One of the two live performance spaces at east London jazz club the Vortex is undergoing changes with even more gigs planned.

The venue’s website recently posted a notice that from the beginning of this month the Downstairs bar “will be treated as a fully integrated second performance space.”

Opening hours will reduce as will late night DJ sets, the club message continued, adding: “There will be more gigs, especially early and late night, in addition to our regular Sunday sessions led by Hannes Riepler.”

The Downstairs venue boss Oliver Weindling who is also one of the directors of the Vortex and runs the Babel label says: “Food will return, as ‘pop up’ but I can't confirm when. We have the jam as usual, a South African jazz jam on the last Friday of the month; a new ska jazz gig being run by Bruno Heinen on Saturdays; poetry and jazz run by Nicki Heinen once a month.” Story & photo: Stephen Graham

The Hannes Riepler Sunday jam above downstairs. Vortex regular Jon Scott of Kairos 4tet is on drums