our partner venues

The Albert Hall

With a full calendar of live music and club events throughout the year the past twelve months has seen Albert Hall feature live shows from Beck, Sam Smith, Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers, Placebo, Suede, Underworld, Tame Impala and has been an excellent home for club nights such as Bongo’s Bingo, La Discotheque, Warehouse Project, Glitterbox, Fatboy Slim, Community, Elrow, Steve Aoki & more.

Band on the Wall

Band on the Wall, the venue owned and operated by Inner City Music, has been at the very heart of Manchester culture for many years. A showcase venue for some of the best music in the world, it presents an internationally-acclaimed programme of live music events, both in-house and externally at venues across the UK. In the past, acclaimed artists such as Craig Charles, have performed here and in collaboration with mjf.

Blues Kitchen

Opened in May 2021, and serving up hearty Texan BBQ and blues music, The Blues Kitchen brings a touch of Southern soul to Manchester! Soak up a live soundtrack of timeless blues, soul grooves and rock 'n' roll from the world famous resident musicians.

First Street

With a rich history and exciting future, First Street is the place to gather, work, live, and enjoy; a natural home for culture, creativity and success, it’s where the big city meets and communities thrive. There are a host of exciting restaurants, bars and theatre venues (HOME) that fall within the First Street Community. It will be the home for mjf2023's opening weekender.

Forsyth Music Shop

This year we're partnering with Forsyths Music Shop for two very special events featuring James Pearson Trio and Nishla Smith - both performing in Forsyth's historic piano showroom - and the piano trail is back for mjf2023! You can literally trail across Manchester and play all the pianos, which have been provided by Forsyths.

Matt & Phreds

Once upon a time, in a year nobody can agree on, two musicians named Matt & Phred decided to open a Jazz Club. In 2010, some years after both musicians had left for pastures new, the Turner family took over the little back street Jazz Club and have been enjoying meeting musicians and guests from all over the world ever since. We are proud to ensure we partner with them throughout the festival.

St Anns Church

A firm favourite venue for mjf regulars, at St Ann’s, we welcome a selection of the UK’s most respected and cherished established players in intimate acoustic performances (Freight Train, Robert Mitchell, Stan Sulzmann & Nikki Iles) that bring you close to the music. Artistry, expertise and virtuosity, set in an oasis of calm in the bustling city centre.

Stoller Hall

Based in the heart of Manchester, stepping into The Stoller Hall is like nowhere you have ever been before. Built in 2017, the Hall has been specially engineered to provide a totally immersive experience. Designed as a box within a box, the performance space has very low noise levels and a variable acoustic system, which means audiences can truly hear, feel and almost see the music.

The Yard

The Yard is a unique working environment designed for the greatest creative minds of the city, where music and art thrive, and where creative industry start-ups and established pros can shake off the tired and let go of the expected. We have seen many new, exciting and innovative artists perform at the Yard over the festival months.