Rachael Jean Harris

Band on the Wall (bar stage)

Rachael Jean Harris vocals, guitar, keyboards

“Wildly original songwriting” (Tom Robinson, BBC6 Music)

Hailing from The Wirral, Rachael Jean Harris draws much inspiration from a love of adventurous writers such as PJ Harvey and Esperanza Spalding. Her songs fall into themes surrounding the lives of people on the raw edges of existence – women in conflict zones, men in long-term confinement – whilst her recent work takes on more personal themes, intertwined with a love of the natural world and interest in ornithology.

Her two most recent releases, Battledress and Imprint (both 2022) have attracted plays on BBC6 Music.

“Her songs are beguiling and break all the rules…” (Derek King for Liverpool Acoustic)

Photo by Debbie Ellis

Free admission, no ticket required

Date: sunday 28 may

Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Price: Free

Pyjæn

Band on the Wall (bar stage)

Ben Vize saxophone, ewi / Dylan Jones trumpet / Tjoe Man Cheung guitar / Benjamin Crane bass / Charlie Hutchinson drums

PYJÆN reach inside the deep, multidimensional well of what is broadly called Jazz and bring together all its diverse components in a singular, emotional sound.

They released their debut self-titled album in 2019 to wide critical and public acclaim, garnering support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Jazz FM, and Clash Magazine.

The new chapter of their musical journey created room for featured artists once again, an exercise they thoroughly enjoyed on their Sage Secrets EP with Blue Lab Beats and Odette Peters, which reached over 1M streams on Spotify within only 6 months, testimony that the band has become a major force in the UK “Jazz and beyond” scene.

In 2021 they released their second full album, Feast, their most daring release yet, with thirteen tracks and five features ranging from singer Renato Paris on By Your Side, to Glasgow Jazz legend Corto. Alto on Stay Home. Feast was recorded over five days at Peter Gabriel’s legendary studio Real World Studios.

The band is now in the process of releasing their third EP Sunset Milk Tea. This collection of tunes were recorded during the Feast recording sessions at Real World Studios, but were not released until now. The band will be releasing a single every month, starting with Halloween special Spook on the 28 October, and finishing with the release of the EP on 24 March 2023.

Adventurous songwriting, meticulous timing, incredibly tight horn arrangements and an obvious joy to play together are PYJÆN’s hallmarks.

Free admission, no ticket required

Date: sunday 28 may

Time: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Price: Free

Buena Vista Social Club’s Eliades Ochoa

Band on the Wall (main venue)

Doors 7.30pm

Cuban sonero Eliades Ochoa became world famous with Buena Vista Social Club®. On the iconic self-titled debut album, Ochoa sings the classic song Chan Chan. But long before the Buena Vista hype, Ochoa already enjoyed great fame among lovers of Cuban music. He has been performing for decades with his backing band Cuarteto Patria and is one of the best guitarists of his generation.

His main musical styles are guajira, guaracha and bolero. With his trademark cowboy hat and black clothes, he has also been called the “Cuban Johnny Cash.” Ochoa has various gold and platinum albums to his name and has received three American Grammy Award nominations. He has also worked with Bob Dylan, Manu Dibango and Bløf, among others.

Eliades Ochoa is back this Spring with a whole set of new music, being released in May 2023. Expect nostalgia, with a contemporary twist.

This event is promoted by manchester jazz festival and Band on the Wall and is part of mjf2023

Date: sunday 28 may

Time: 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Price: £35

Hannabiell & The Midnight Blue Collective

Band on the Wall (main venue)

Doors 3.30pm

Hannabiell Sanders bass trombone, voice, djembe, conga, percussion / Thomas Dixon tenor saxophone / Luke Gaul guitar / Nuga Dapo keyboards / Stan Woodward bass guitar /King David Ike-Elechi drums / Yilis Suriel djembe, dundun, percussion / Juan Manuel Loaiza conga, timbales, percussion

Led by multi-instrumentalist Hannabiell Sanders, this high energy ensemble is nothing less than exhilarating as it fuses together Afro-Caribbean & Latin percussion, Jazz, Afro-beat, and Funk to create their unique sound. The music created from this fusion is an organic blend of powerful and upbeat drums, brass, vocal chants, and mbira compositions which not only produces an invigorating party atmosphere, it also summons audience participation. This fusion they call “Afro-psychedelic funk.”

Award-winning Hannabiell & the Midnight Blue Collective, have created a buzz, performing at venues such as the Southbank Centre in London, Sage Gateshead, The Cluny Newcastle, the Hare & Hounds-Birmingham, Jazz Refreshed-London, The Hagglers Corner-and many more.

Presented in partnership with Jazz North as part of the northern line programme

This event is promoted by manchester jazz festival and Band on the Wall and is part of mjf2023

Date: sunday 28 may

Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Price: £12

Julie Campiche Quartet

Band on the Wall (main venue)

Doors 12.30pm

Julie Campiche harp / Leo Fumagalli saxophone / Manu Hagmann double bass / Clemens Kuratle drums

Harpist Julie Campiche’s work is an on-going process of musical innovation. Through research and experimentation she has developed the use of electronic effects that enhance the scope of her improvisational work. She has a very personnel technique and her own musical language.

Julie introduced her harp into the world of jazz and contemporary music in a very organic way. She now performs in numerous European clubs and festivals on a regular basis. Through her innate curiosity and desire for new experiences she plays with groups that have diverse instrumentation and aesthetics. Be it theatre or contemporary performance, octets or duos, compositions or free-style improvisation, Julie infuses her music with an urgent fragility.

This event is promoted by manchester jazz festival and Band on the Wall and is part of mjf2023

Photo credit Sophie Le Meillour

You might also like…

Alina Bzhezhinska’s HipHarp Collective ft. Tony Kofi
Tuesday 23 May, 7.30pm
NQ Jazz at The Yard

Alina Bzhezhinska is a one-woman powerhouse, on a mission to bring the harp to the fore of contemporary sound.

Tickets £14 full, £10 students (advance) – more info

Date: sunday 28 may

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Price: £12