Jazz world darling: Zara McFarlane at Band on the Wall

Being likened to Nina Simone or Roberta Flack can play havoc with a young singer’s mind – and the pressure can be telling. But new darling of the jazz scene Zara McFarlane seems unfazed by such adulation and sings with a smile, proving to be a great performer and songwriter in her own right. She brings her new album If You Knew Her to Swan Street’s Band On The Wall to test the acoustics and people’s souls with a storytelling style that demands the attention of those in attendance. A live performer who is not to be missed, she is seen very much as the next big thing, having been signed to Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label and nominated for a MOBO in the Best Jazz Act category. Catch her in a venue built to capture her powerful sound.

Tue 18 Feb, Band On The Wall, 25 Swan Street, M4 5JZ. Tel: 0161 834 1786, 7.30pm, £14, (£12 early-bird), bandonthewall.org