Manchester Jazz Festival 2025- 30 years of Music
- Alyssa Speight
- Mar 7
- 5 min read
Manchester’s longest-running music festival is back with a bang this May, celebrating three decades of bringing world-class jazz to the city. The Manchester Jazz Festival (mjf2025) runs from 16–25 May, filling venues across the city with the best contemporary jazz from the North and beyond. With a class line-up and plenty of free events, this year’s festival is set to be one of the most exciting yet.
We’ve been attending mjf for years, and it’s always a highlight of our calendar. The festival has an incredible atmosphere—whether it’s discovering a new artist, catching a set from an international name, or just soaking in the buzz of Manchester’s music scene. It’s more than just gigs, but a celebration of creativity, community, and the joy of live music.
A Festival Rooted in Growth and Discovery
Since its first edition in 1996—a single-day event with nine bands—mjf has grown into a 10-day city-wide celebration, drawing artists and audiences from across the UK and beyond. Despite its expansion, the festival has stayed true to its ethos: platforming new music, supporting northern talent, and making jazz accessible to all.
To kick things off, mjf2025 opens with a free weekend of music at First Street from 16–18 May. With three stages, performances from homegrown talent, and family-friendly activities, it’s the perfect way to dive into the festival spirit. We’ll be there on the opening weekend, chatting with festival-goers, interviewing artists, and capturing the essence of mjf as part of our music documentary collaboration with the festival. If you see us, come say hi!
A Line-Up That Blends the Best of Jazz
This year’s headliners include John Helliwell’s Super Big Tramp Band, Yazz Ahmed Quartet, Emma Rawicz & Gwilym Simcock, Camilla George Quartet, Steam Down, and many more. As always, mjf brings a mix of established names and emerging talent, with artists from across the North getting the spotlight they deserve.
A special highlight is Richard Iles’ Miniature Brass Emporium: New Futures II, a reimagining of mjf’s first-ever commissioned work from 25 years ago, featuring both original and new artists. Another exciting project is City of P E A C E, a commissioned work by Verity Watts for the PRS Foundation’s 2025 New Music Biennial, which explores what peace sounds like in 2025 through an experimental fusion of turntables, spoken word, and bassline improvisation.
More Than Just Music
Beyond the gigs, mjf2025 offers plenty of ways to get involved. The popular mjf piano trail returns, with 15 street pianos scattered across Manchester city centre from 20 March – 31 May, inviting anyone to sit down and play. For those wanting to showcase their skills, there’s a competition with a chance to win a Yamaha electric piano. There will also be guided walking tours and pop-up performances at some of the pianos.
The festival’s venue list keeps expanding too, with new partners including Aviva Studios, Low Four Studios, Flawd, and Stage & Radio. Meanwhile, established favourites like Band on the Wall, Matt & Phreds, and RNCM return to host some of the festival’s most anticipated gigs.
Keeping Jazz Accessible
One of the things we love about mjf is its commitment to making jazz open to everyone. While some ticketed gigs start from just £9.50, there are plenty of free events to enjoy, including the opening weekend at First Street, performances at Matt & Phreds and Band on the Wall’s Copper Bar, and an international jazz showcase at Aviva Studios.
As Steve Mead, mjf’s CEO and Artistic Director, puts it:
“Reaching a milestone anniversary is always cause for celebration, and the 30th mjf looks both back and forwards. We’ll celebrate some of the key players over the years, present the very best of jazz today, and preview the next generation of creative artists.”
If you’re a jazz fan (or even just curious about the scene) this is a festival that always delivers. We can’t wait to be there, see you in Manchester! Tickets can be found here
Follow manchester jazz festival
Facebook at /manchesterjazzfestival
Instagram @manchesterjazzfestival
#mjf2025 Events
mjf @ First Street, 16 - 18 May
Artists performing at First Street include: Cheshire Youth Music for Life Jazz Orchestra, jazz students from Chetham’s School of Music, mjf Youth Advisory Board takeover, Ubunye, Mali Hayes, Olivia Cuttill Quintet, Beware of the Bear, Thanda Gumede & Friends, Trees.R.Good, Cup Noods, José Dias, Jascha Bingham Trio, Yoshizawa, John Ellis Band, Ladies of Midnight Blue, Ponyland, Ella Ronen, Deep Cabaret Un, Ben Gaunt, New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds, and the Jazz North Northern Line Showcase on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 May, featuring: Amy Thatcher & Francesca Knowles, Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band, Ex-Easter Island Head, Ellen Beth Abdi and The Exu.
As well as some of the North’s leading artists gracing the House of Social Main Stage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (16 - 18 May), alumni from mjf’s talent development programmes will perform on the Ask Garden Stage: on Saturday 17, it’s young Soundcheck bands from across Greater Manchester, and on Sunday 18, a selection of mjf hothouse solo artists air their new work. On Sunday (19 May), mjf partners with Jazz North to present the Northern Line showcase: profiling five acts selected for the touring scheme by industry leaders.
The Hall, Aviva Studios, 16 May
Factory International in their landmark new home of Aviva Studios, presents ganavya in collaboration with manchester jazz festival
Matt and Phreds, 16 - 25 May
Back Chat Brass + NQ Parade, M&Ps Music Quiz, Dan Burnett, Mojo, mjf 30th Anniversary Party, M&P x mjf Jazz Jam led by Johnny Hunter, Bossa Dos Patos, Max Mantis, Sam Lightwing Quartet, Dana Ali Band, M&P’s Big Band Brunch, Charlie Cooper, Soul Grenades, mjf30 Wrap Party Jam ft Ed Kainyek, plus more to be announced...
RNCM Theatre 17 & 24 May
Yazz Ahmed Quartet: A Paradise in the Hold, John Helliwell’s Super Big Tramp Band
Low Four Studios, 19 – 21 May
mjf presents three special performances in the intimate surroundings of Low Four Studios, to be filmed live for their YouTube series: Live from Low Four Studios
Elliot Galvin, Alice Zawadzki: Za Górami and Maria Chiara Argirò
The Carlton Club, 20 May
Brume x mjf: Brume Jam/Verity Watts: City of P E A C E/Paint or Pollen/NONUNONU
The Stoller Hall 21 & 24 May (main venue and *Carole Nash Hall)
Richard Iles' Miniature Brass Emporium: New Futures II
Small Print (Winstone/Iles/Walker/Watts)*
St Ann’s Church, 22 May
Keys: originally premiered at mjf2014, bassist Matt Owens’ new album shines the spotlight on all things keyboards.
Forsyth Music Shop, 22 May
James Pearson Trio plays Oscar Peterson
Flawd, 22 May & 23 May
Giulia Marrow with the Flawd House Band
Anna Chandler-King with the Flawd House Band
Stage & Radio, 23 May
The GreensKeepers Jam
The Social & The Undercroft, Aviva Studios, 25 May
International triple-bill in The Social, featuring: Nabou, Sanem Kalfa's Miraculous Layers and Sylvain Rifflet: We Want Stars, with outdoor performances from Lou Barnell + Neighbourhood Voices and Young Pilgrims.
Band on the Wall, 22 - 25 May
Mammal Hands, Camilla George Quartet, Steam Down, Emma Rawicz & Gwilym Simcock, and more to be announced...
Comments