Dilettante

Aviva Studios (The Social)

Francesca Pidgeon vocals, alto saxophone, guitar, loop pedal / Kate Pham backing vocals, guitar, percussion, synthesizer / Aaron Collins-Wood bass, keyboards / Jack Mee drums

Dilettante is the art-pop brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and former BC Camplight member Francesca Pidgeon.

Based in the North of England, Dilettante has supported Caribou, Self Esteem and Philip Selway (Radiohead) with her intricately looped sax and fuzzy guitar riffs. The live quintet has sold out headline shows across England, plus festival appearances at SXSW (Texas, US), Pop Montreal, NXNE (Toronto), Kendal Calling, Deershed, Live at Leeds, Focus Wales and The Great Escape and mjf.

The sophomore album Life of The Party’ was released earlier in 2025 on EMI North and led to plaudits and live sessions from 6Music DJs Marc Riley, Huw Stephens and Iggy Pop.

“A dazzlingly skewed pop-vision” **** – MOJO

“Groove-laden misfit art-pop worth rooting for” – Uncut

“The freshest pop aficionado gracing the circuit. Dilettante’s set is an exceptional performance piece.” – NARC

“A multi-instrumentalist maelstrom.” – Electronic Sound Magazine

“A CBGB Zooey Deschanel making art-rock as magnificent as the genre has ever been. Fizzing with life and invention, a steely forward gaze under a 00s indie fringe, a Manic Pixie Dream Terminator.” – Under The Radar

Date: sunday 24 may

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Price: Free

Caraway

Aviva Studios (The Social)

Polly Meyrick vocals, saxophone, clarinet / Tom Valentine keyboards, vocals / Dom Cramp trumpet, synthesizer, MPC / James Simpson guitar / Paul Hopkins double bass, synth bass / Kyle Edwards drums

Sometimes stripped bare, sometimes hard-hitting, Caraway’s songs tell stories of today’s world – from conversations with strangers to body memory, freight ships and NHS waiting lists.

Soul-stirring and cinematic, they blend poetic lyrics with rich soundscapes, foley samples, intricate rhythms, double bass grooves and sultry horn lines. Fronted by Polly Meyrick, Caraway fuses jazz and neo-soul with the twists and turns of their global folk influences. They merge electronic and organic sounds, resonating with artists like Bonobo, Submotion Orchestra, This Is The Kit, Ezra Collective and Portico Quartet.

Date: sunday 24 may

Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Price: Free

Satnam Galsian: Love or Sacrifice

Aviva Studios (The Social)

Satnam Galsian: Love or Sacrifice 

Satnam Galsian vocals Meera Maharaj flute / Lili Holland-Fricke cello John Hogg electric guitar / Simon Henry drums

Reimagining women’s roles in Punjabi folklore 

Satnam Galsian presents the vibrant premiere of a brand new mjf originals work, commissioned by Oldham Coliseum Theatre (as part of Khushi Festival), The Old Courts Wigan and mjf.

Satnam Galsian is a groundbreaking British Asian singer-songwriter and progressive folk artist whose music blends the rich tradition of Punjabi folk with contemporary, feminist storytelling. Through her distinctive sound, Satnam reimagines the vibrant narratives of her heritage, responding to traditional Punjabi songs through a modern and empowering lens.

For this premiere, Satnam has created Love or Sacrifice, a new piece that explores themes of gender roles and the expectations of women in South Asian culture. Her songs are deeply rooted in her personal experiences, drawing on her own journey of identity, belonging, and empowerment. Challenging the notions of how love is portrayed in Punjabi folklore tales, Satnam explores the complexities of navigating multiple cultural worlds and the strength that comes from embracing one’s true self.

With two self-released Eps, Fragmented Truth and Sahiban, Satnam has begun to carve out her own space on the folk music scene. She was a recipient of the Alan James Creative Bursary and an Opera North Resonance residency, both of which have allowed her to expand her artistic vision and deepen her musical craft. Satnam is also part of Kinaara, a cross-genre trio that blends Punjabi folk songs, original compositions and Celtic music. An artist who is redefining what it means to carry forward Punjabi folk music, Satnam Galsian continues to break boundaries and amplify voices often left unheard.

mjf gratefully acknowledges support from Sound UK towards the production of this event

Photography Credit: Libby Greenwood. 

Date: sunday 24 may

Time: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Price: Free

Women in Jazz Photography: Her Frame. Her Sound

Aviva Studios (The Social)

The exhibition takes place in The Social at Aviva Studios. Check here for opening hours.

Bringing together inspirational women from across the globe, the award-winning organisation Women in Jazz Media presents an exclusive photography exhibition: Women in Jazz Photography: Her Frame. Her Sound 

Celebrating women working in jazz behind and in front of the camera, the exhibition showcases inspirational moments in jazz captured by some of the remarkable female photographers leading the way in jazz photography. Exhibiting legends such as Geri Allen, Abbey Lincoln, Alice Coltrane, Nina Simone and contemporary artists Lakecia Benjamin, Nubya Garcia and Brandee Younger, this is the first exhibition of its kind.  

With award-winning photographers from South Africa, New York, Poland and the United Kingdom, this breathtaking exhibition features the work of Monika S Jakubowksa, Vuyo Giba, Tatiana Gorilovsky, Enid Farber and Kasia Ociepa. 

The exhibition launched in April 2025 at London’s award-winning Karamel Club, going on to visit the Black Mountain Jazz Festival in Abergavenny, and continues to the Highworth Jazz Festival in June. 

 The Photographers 

Enid Farber resides in New York City and has been photographing mostly jazz musicians since 1979 but her work includes artists from a variety of genres, including Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Bob Marley, Charlie Watts, Diana Ross, Bono and Celia Cruz who have all appeared before her lens. 

Vuyo Giba is a South African -based photographer, writer, and creative professional dedicated to preserving South African jazz heritage. Her work spans jazz, abstract, and lifestyle photography, capturing evocative narratives through imagery. With experience in film production, research, and project coordination, she collaborates with artists and communities to document and celebrate cultural stories. 

Tatiana Gorilovsky is a London-based photographer specializing in music photography, particularly jazz. She has captured the dynamic spirit of the genre for renowned venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express, 606 and others, as well as festivals including the EFG London Jazz Festival and Love Supreme Festival. Tatiana loves experimenting with long exposure and multiple exposure to capture the sounds, rhythm and energy of Jazz. Her images are held in the National Jazz Archive and have been featured in prominent publications such as Jazzwise Magazine, The Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, Billboard, UK Jazz News, The Independent, Time Out London and others.  

Kasia Ociepa is a Wales-based photographer specializing in jazz, events, weddings, and portrait photography, with a deep love for fine art photography. Originally from Poland, she moved to the UK in 2006 and transitioned from garden design to professional photography during lockdown. As the resident photographer for Black Mountain Jazz Club, she has documented the club’s vibrant jazz scene, with her images used by musicians for album covers, press materials, and social media. Kasia sees photography as storytelling, capturing the energy and emotion of live music, and she is always happy to collaborate with musicians and event organizers. 

The award-winning photographer Monika S Jakubowska is renowned across the world.  As the in-house photographer for prestigious London venues, Ronnie Scott’s and Kings Place, she has captured award winning images of legends and is the photographer of choice by many artists. Her portfolio is vast and includes Jeff Goldblum, Genesis, Macy Gray, John Legend, Jazz royalty Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Clinton and Courtney Pine to name a few. Darius Brubeck included Monika’s photographer in his foreword to the brilliant book Sight Readings: Photographers and American Jazz, which was nominated for book of the year by the jazz Journalist Association. 

Date: friday 15 may

Price: Free