mjf2024: Opening Weekender at First Street
Johnny James, Managing Editor
manchester jazz festival is back this May with 10 days of live music from some of the best northern, national and international musicians operating in the world of contemporary jazz.
From its superb line-up to its commitment to supporting emerging artists, there are many great things about mjf, but something that feels particularly worth celebrating is its accessibility. Amid a tough economic climate, when audiences are necessarily reining in their spending on cultural activities, mjf are making a good chunk of their 2024 festival free to attend. This includes one of mjf’s best bits – the Opening Weekender.
Running 17-19 May, the Opening Weekender is all about celebrating the breadth and individuality of Manchester’s home-grown (or in some cases lovingly nurtured) talent. It sprawls across three stages in the vibrant neighbourhood of First Street, with the Main Stage, Ask Garden Stage and HOME Stage all playing host to performances by acts emerging through mjf’s artist development programmes, alongside national and international talent.
Celebrated northern acts Mangorata, Secret Night Gang and Conor & The GreensKeepers are all highlights on the Main Stage on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May. Just around the corner, the Ask Garden Stage plays host to a selection of acts involved in the mjf soundcheck and hothouse artist development programmes, including Thanda Gumede & Friends, Hoda Jahanpour & Pedraum Agahi, m.oe and AJB3. And over on the HOME Stage you’ll find accomplished performers in a more intimate setting, with Gaz Hughes Trio, Claire Victoria Roberts and Sonic Threads among the highlights there.
On Sunday 19 May, mjf partner up with Jazz North to celebrate the Northern Line Showcase. Industry bigwigs have selected five acts for the 2024 artist roster who will perform on the Main Stage that day, with this year’s line-up including Ceitidh Mac, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Dirty Freud, Tom Harris and Vipertime.
Aside from the music, you can expect fun-loving family activities supported by Ask Real Estate, including Thanda’s Big Sing, a free community choir with morning rehearsals and afternoon performances on the Main Stage. You’ll also find plenty of food and drink vendors dotted around First Street, making for a really lovely festival vibe – especially when the sun’s shining and the beer’s flowing. We heartily recommend that you get in on the action.
You can read our preview covering the full festival here.
