mjf 2023

mjf 2023 ran from the 19 – 28 may 2022 at venues and sites across Manchester, including a free opening weekend at First Street, weekday gigs at St Ann’s Church, nightly gigs at Matt & Phreds, events at Forsyth Music , Blues Kitchen and at The Yard with partners NQ Jazz, but we wrapped it all up with a closing weekend fiesta at Band on the Wall.

• We kicked off mjf2023 ahead of time with a sold out performance at Stoller Hall from the Drummer Hall of Fame legend, Billy Cobham
• Our free opening weekender saw the 24 piece noise machine, Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band, headline our Saturday night. Audiences may also have spotted them busking around Piccadilly Gardens earlier that day
• The Hot 8 Brass Band paid tribute to its founder, Bennie Pete, in true New Orleans fashion at The Albert Hall
• Funk legends, Fred Wesley and the New J.B’s, played to a sold out Blues Kitchen.
• Freight Train and in particular Cathy Jordan’s vocals had us spellbound in an intimate St Ann’s Church gig
• The James Pearson Trio gave us a sophisticated insight into the artistry of Ronnie Scotts in Forsyths’ showroom
• Heavy Beat Brass Band gave the M&Ps dancefloor a workout to remember
• Ibibio Sound Machine well and truly launched our closing weekend Fiesta whilst Buena Vista Social Club’s Eliades Ochoa played us out with a bang
• Our Piano trail brought interactive music-making to 13 public locations across Manchester, tempted by winning the first prize of a grand piano!
• 1 incredible audio visual installation entitled ‘THEMORY’ delivered to us by Jerwood Jazz artists, Un.Procedure focused on the fluid forces of memory. Built from archived footage of the mills of Manchester, it was set to a new composition and featured live performances from the band.  The installation ran at The Anthony Burgess Foundation over our closing weekend.  And with special thanks to The North West Film Archive (NWFA) for their support to the project. 

Put mjf24 in your diaries: 17-26 May 2024

Check out the mjf2023 gallery here