Building on the success of last year, manchester jazz festival (mjf2025) begins with a spectacular FREE opening weekender at the vibrant neighbourhood: First Street (mjf @ First Street) from 16 – 18 May, supported by House of Social. There will be three event stages: House of Social Main Stage, Ask Garden Stage and HOME stage, each celebrating the breadth and individuality of our home-grown scene and beyond: bands emerging through mjf’s artist development programmes alongside a host of northern success stories giving their homecoming performance at mjf (Mali Hayes, Olivia Cuttill, Phil Meadows).
The opening night shines a light on tomorrow’s talent, including Chetham’s students and a pop-up performance curated by mjf’s Youth Advisory Board, with family-friendly activities on Saturday morning. House of Social, a brand-new food hall due to open at First Street in summer ’25, have joined mjf as sponsors and will curate a section of the food offering – a preview of what’s to come when the two-storey venue opens later in the year.
On Saturday (17 May) there’s family-friendly activities between 10am – 1pm including Yoga with Gilly, music workshop with Little Groovers and Doctors of Music, plant your own meadow workshop with Plant MCR, Adventures in Wonderland with Z-Arts and more…
On Sunday 18 May we partner with Jazz North for the return of the Northern Line showcase: on the Main and HOME Stage, we’ll showcase five acts selected by industry experts to be elected onto the 2025 artist roster.
All events are free with no booking required, visit the links below for more info!
Friday 16 May: https://manchesterjazz.com/events/?dates=friday-16-may
Saturday 17 May: https://manchesterjazz.com/events/?dates=saturday-17-may
Sunday 18 May: https://manchesterjazz.com/events/?dates=sunday-18-may
About First Street
- First Street is a vibrant urban mixed-use neighbourhood located at the heart of Manchester and is a phased development which is being delivered by Ask Real Estate in partnership with Richardson. First Street includes cultural arts venue, HOME, the UK’s first Melia INNSIDE hotel, safe and welcoming areas of public green spaces and a 700-space car park operated by Q-Park. Now boasting an array of bars, restaurants and leisure venues including newly opened Gino D’Acampo Manchester, Indian Tiffin Room, relaxed fine dining offered by Hakkapo, Junk Yard Golf Club, The Gas Works Brewbar, Ribeye Steakhouse, family favourite Pizza Express, and Bunny Jacksons.
- First Street is proving to be an eye-catching location for a broad mix of office occupiers and is now established as a thriving business location which will see the Government Property Agency make it their new home by the end of the year.
- The expansion of the Estate is continuing apace; currently open on site is phase one of Downing’s co-living scheme named Square Gardens as well as House of Social, a new concept by Vita Student which will be open in September. Both schemes will further enhance the residential options here at First Street.
- First Street’s 10th anniversary celebrations start with manchester jazz festival’s opening weekender (16-18 May) where there will be three event stages: House of Social Main Stage, Ask Garden Stage and HOME stage, each celebrating the breadth and individuality of Manchester’s home-grown scene and beyond.
About House of Social
- House of Social is a collection of independent kitchens that will open in the First Street area of Manchester later this year, just steps away from the cultural hotspot of HOME theatre. Showcasing a range of both home-grown talent and incoming operators, this exciting new venue, founded by Vita Group, spans 12,000 square feet of brand-new dining and drinking space, over two design-led levels.
- Developed by Jake Atkinson, the former operations manager of the wildly successful Mackie Mayor, The Picturedrome and Altrincham Market, House of Social will host five kitchens tucked between statement arched windows. Jake has spent a year building a brand-new collective of operators, with some much-loved regional brands bringing new ideas to the table as well as a cult London outfit soon to be announced.
