manchester jazz festival 2024
Johnny James, Managing Editor
Jazz lovers rejoice – manchester jazz festival is back this May! Lighting up venues across the city, mjf2024 sees hundreds of northern, national and international jazz musicians descend on Manchester, showcasing the genre’s leading lights alongside its most exciting emerging talent.
mjf was first staged in the summer of 1996, hosting nine bands in one venue over the course of a single day. Who could have known that this would mark the start of what is now Manchester’s longest running music festival, sprawling across the city for 10 whole days each year. And yet for all it’s grown, mjf’s spirit remains the same, rooted in the joyful celebration and genuine support of the contemporary jazz world’s diverse artists.
It’s a hell of a line-up this year, with headliners including John Surman, Courtney Pine, Laura Misch, Nikki Iles, Tim Garland, Sarāb, Julian Joseph, Laura Jurd, Nubiyan Twist, Daniel Erdmann and Trish Clowes & Ross Stanley, to name a few. But for every big name there’s an emergent star waiting to be discovered. And that’s what we love about this festival – you’re pretty much guaranteed to stumble upon incredible artists who are still flying under the radar. You might even find whole scenes that have previously passed you by.
Hugely important is how accessible this all is, with a good deal of the festival being free, including the whole opening weekend. Located in the vibrant neighbourhood of First Street, mjf2024 kicks off with a celebration of the depth and breadth of Manchester’s home-grown talent (including bands emerging through mjf’s artist development programmes) alongside national and international acts. You’ll also find a host of family-friendly activities, food & drink vendors and all-round lovely festival vibes, especially when the sun’s shining and the beer’s flowing. Read more about the mjf Opening Weekender here.
After that, the pace only quickens as stages around the city light up. There’ll be nightly gigs at jazz institution Matt & Phreds and many events at RNCM, Stoller Hall, Forsyth Music Shop, St Ann’s Church and The Carlton Club. You can also catch a new mjf originals commission on 16 May, just before the festival begins. Built around voicemail messages from lost loved ones, Séance sees artists Verity Watts and Rosie Parsons invite audience members to come together over shared experiences of loss and grief, transforming The Deaf Institute into a space for connection.
Towards the end of the festival, the action will condense around Band on the Wall for a weekend-long closing party. This launches on Thursday 23 May with Nubiyan Twist, closely followed by a two-room special with Mr Scruff x Nu Genea (DJ + Keys) + Me Gusta (24 May). Adam Ben Ezra and Laura Misch will both play on 25 May, before Laura Jurd’s Big Friendly Band and the legendary Courtney Pine bring the festival to a close on the 26 May.
You should also keep your eye out for activities surrounding the much-loved piano trail, which sees mjf and Forsyth Music Shop install 14 pianos around the city, for anyone to play. From 18 April until the last day of mjf2024, they’ll be the focus of a competition for the title of Manchester’s best street pianist, which comes with a whole raft of prizes.
There are over 60 free and ticketed events taking place at mjf this year – a huge line-up, of which we’ve barely scratched the surface. Head to mjf’s website, via the ‘Visit Now’ button below, for the full scoop.
