Manchester Jazz Festival will return to the city this Bank Holiday weekend, with more than 60 free gigs and an exciting new festival hub.
First staged in the summer of 1996, Manchester Jazz Festival has grown to feature hundreds of musicians, across 80 – 100 free and charged events each year.
And from May 23 – 27, the festival hub, which will run the length of St Ann’s Square and Exchange Street, will play host to free gigs across three stages – the St Ann’s, MJF introduces and Acoustic stages.
This year’s line-up will include the Celebrating Europe strand, which champions the rich musical talent across the channel. As well as performances by regional jazz artists and up-and-coming musicians.
Gigs will also take place in venues across the city, including established favourites such as RNCM, Matt & Phreds and Night and Day. As well as eight new festival venues, The Whiskey Jar, YES, The Royal Exchange Studio, The Bread Shed, Deaf Institute and The International Anthony Burgess Foundation, and the premiere of three new commissions.
There will be a range of culinary treats on offer, curated in partnership with Manchester Food and Drink Festival. While Harvey Nichols will extend their bar outside the store and into the festival hub, where it’ll be selling a range of prosecco and other delights. There will also be two festival bars serving beers from Meantime Brewery and a range of specialist gins from JJ Whitley.
MJF Artistic Director Steve Mead said:
“This year’s new and improved MJF has taken months of planning and programming – and we can’t believe it’s finally here! There’s a lot to listen out for this year and the festival experience will take you on a non-stop rollercoaster ride of discovery around the city, creating your own sonic adventure of unmissable and memorable moments.
“Amidst all the changes, our commitment to commissioning northern and European artists is stronger than ever. I count amongst my personal highlights our three new works: Maja Bugge’s multi-media Northern, Nani Noam Vazana and Abel Selaocoe’s moving Both Sides of Africa and Andy Scott’s Mancunity – a spectacular opening fanfare for the festival, our new location and Manchester and its people.
“Join us for some extraordinary music-making this summer and see for yourself what makes
us one of Europe’s most adventurous jazz festivals.”
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