mjf highlights: Home Nations Day

This week we are highlighting the artists performing at our Home Nations Day on Thursday 26 July. The day sees artists from England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland come together for a showcase of the best homegrown talent.

First up is Kim Trio, fronted by the winner of last year’s Peter Whittingham Jazz Award and Scottish saxophonist – Helena Kay. This lunch time gig of originals and jazz standards is inspired by Sonny Rollins’ classic piano-less trios. For more information and tickets click here.

The second gig of the day sees mjf return to the stunning surrounds of St Ann’s Church for one of our much-loved recitals. Described by BBC Music Magazine as ‘A European stylist of the highest order’, Huw Warren brings a taste of Wales to Manchester with his elegant melodies effortlessly traversing his interests in world, contemporary and folk music. For more information and tickets click here.

Sue Rynhart brings her trio to Salon Perdu for an afternoon of precise vocals complimented by lyrics infused with stories of relationships, motherhood and fragility. Sue has a reputation in Northern Ireland for being one of the most captivating and unusual contemporary artists and has received much critical acclaim. For more information and tickets click here.

Sugarwork bring our third taste of Scotland to the Home Nations Day – fronted by bandleader and keys player Paul Harrison. Paul leads these adventurous and accomplished players through a repertoire of new, intense but lyrical sounds, with elements of atmospheric electronica, European jazz, industrial looping, psychedelic exploration and post-rock flavours. For more information and tickets click here. 

We wrap up the day with our treasured Irwin Mitchell mjf originals commission Light Gatherer. The piece is composed by Scottish harpist Esther Swift and inspired by the feminist works poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy. Esther will be supported by her Clouds harp quartet, saxophone, trombone, violin, viola, cello, piano and percussion. For more information and tickets click here.

To find the full Festival programme click here.