With Manchester Jazz Festival 2016 set to launch on Friday 22 July, we take a look at where the action is to be found.
As normal, whilst the main hub of Manchester Jazz Festival is being hosted at the Hobgobline Festival Pavilion and Square at Albert Square). MJF 2016 is also spread across several other venues (nine in fact) spanning the city centre, which will host concerts.
Venues are set to include established concert venues as well as some of the more unconventional spaces, Manchester Jazz Festival fans have come to expect.
Hobgoblin Festival Pavilion and Square
What’s on – The Hobgoblin Festival Pavilion and Square is set to be the main hub of Manchester Jazz Festival 2016 offering live music from lunchtime everyday, featuring 42 concerts as well as eateries, a bar, pop-up performances and even a jazz film hut.
Highlights – Solstice (23 July 1pm); Tim Garland Electric Quartet (24 July 8pm); Jeremy Sassoon’s Ray Charles Project and Jam Experiment (29 July 8pm); Perhaps Contraption and Abstract Orchestra (30 July 8pm)
Location – Albert Square, M2 5DB
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Band on the Wall
What’s on – Band on the Wall hosts six fantastic events including including Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club featuring Beggar and Co.
Highlights – Jo Harman and Company and Seany Clarke (23 July 2pm) and Connie Lush and Kyla Brox (23 July 7.30pm)
Location – 25 Swan Street, Northern Quarter, M4 5JZ
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Central Library
What’s on – 4 concerts (a mixture of free and paid for events) are featured in Manchester’s recently refurbished and reopened Central Library.
Highlights – Inclusion Principle, a part of Jazz north’s northern line showcase (25 July 2.40pm)
Location – St Peters Square, M2 5PD
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Home
What’s on – The newest addition to Manchester Jazz Festival’s venues and Manchester’s new centre for international contemporary art, theatre and film hosts its first MJF event
Highlights – Najia Bagi: The Same Thing to Both Sides (24 July, 4pm and 5pm)
Location – 2 Tony Wilson Place, First Street, Manchester, M15 4FN
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Portico Library
What’s on – One of the more unusual venues, the Portico Library will host a sci-bar event to mark Manchester’s year as the European City of Science
Highlights – Dr Graeme Wilson, Adam Fairhall and Tom Ward: What happens in our brain when we improvise (29 July 3pm)
Location – 57 Mosley Street, M2 3HY
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Royal Northern College of Music
What’s on – 6 concerts are split across the RNCM’s Studio Theatre and Theatre, with some free and some ticketed events.
Highlights – Ben Cottrell – Irwin Mitchell mjf originals performer (27 July 8pm); Thomas de Pourquery: Supersonic Play Sun Ra (23 July 8pm)
Location – 124 Oxford Road, M13 9RD
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St Ann’s Church
What’s on – 8 concerts, a mixture of ticketed and free take place at St Ann’s Church spread across lunchtime, afternoon and evening.
Highlights – Kit Downes and Tom Challenger: Vyamanikal (28 July 10pm); Atom String Quartet (28 July 1.15pm)
Location – St Ann Street, M2 7LF
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Midland Hotel, The Wyvern
What’s on – 5 concerts accompanied by afternoon tea in the glorious surroundings of The Wyvern at The Midland hotel
Highlights – Clare Morel and Richard Wetherall (26 July 2.30pm); John Helliwell and John Ellis (28 July 2.30pm)
Location – Peter Street, M60 2DS
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Matt & Phred’s Jazz Club
What’s on – The famous Matt & Phred’s in the Northern Quarter hosts 9 live events as a part of Manchester Jazz Festival. Always guaranteed to be a good night, enjoy some jazz with a pizza.
Highlights – Mr Wilson’s Second Liners (22 July 9.30pm); Dana Ali Band (23 July 9.30pm); RNCM Pop Live (Sunday 24 July 5pm-10.30pm)
Location – 64 Tib Street, Northern Quarter, M4 1LW
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The full Manchester Jazz Festival 2016 programme may be found at http://www.manchesterjazz.com/programme/
