Manchester Jazz Festival kicks off this weekend with a huge free opening party

Manchester Jazz Festival makes its much-anticipated return this weekend, kicking things off with a three-day free party at the vibrant First Street neighbourhood.

Running from Fri 17 May – Sun 19 May, the opening weekender will be set across three stages — the Main Stage, Ask Garden Stage and HOME Stage — where visitors can enjoy free performances from an eclectic, wonderfully talented mix of acts emerging through mjf’s artist development programmes, alongside national and international talent.

Saturday includes a special lineup of family-friendly activities to ensure little ones are entertained throughout. There’ll be face painting, a percussion workshop with Little Groovers, the Make a Bee with Bianca craft workshop, participatory music events with Ain’t Misbehavin’, Thanda’s Big Sing and more.

Along with all the fantastic entertainment across the weekend, attendees can tuck into a delicious selection of food and drink as First Street is transformed into a buzzing festival site.

Beyond the huge opening weekender, the popular 10-day festival will bring nightly gigs to Matt & Phreds, special events at RNCM, Stoller Hall, Forsyth Music Shop, St Ann’s Church and The Carlton Club, and an extended weekend-long party at Band on the Wall.

Prior to the festival’s official kick-off, Manchester Jazz Festival will present the world premiere of this year’s mjf originals commission, Séance, on Thu 16 May at the Deaf Institute. Created by Leeds-based audio collective Better Songs, Séance features a debut performance by celebrated beatboxer Testament and world-renowned improviser Matthew Bourne.

For more information about all of this year’s events, and to download your festival programme, click here.