Jazz North announces the seven recipients of the 2024 edition of its promoter support programme, New Northern, who will support emerging artists via their clubs, venues, festivals and record labels.

Monday, September 30, 2024

Jazz North has awarded bursaries to seven promoters across the North of England to develop emerging talent as part of their programmes. Press release attached.

From Heather Spencer of Jazz North;

We’re pleased to share the news of the seven promoters awarded bursaries up to £1000 to support their work in programming emerging talent.

PRESS RELEASE:

Meet the promoters making a difference to emerging talent across the North of England

Jazz North announces the latest recipients of its promoter support scheme, New Northern

The bursaries will support fees and costs for northern emerging artists and support acts

Today, Jazz North announces the seven promoters awarded bursaries to present emerging artists in their programmes through its support scheme, New Northern.

Bursaries up to £1000 were awarded to the North West Music Academy (Barrow-in-Furness), Paul Rigby (The Continental, Preston), Nanette Brimble (YardFest, Saltaire), Anna Ross (Offshoots in Leeds), Robert Walker (Scarborough Jazz), DJ Lubi (Leeds) and Wesley Stephenson’s New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings (Newcastle-upon-Tyne).

Chris Bye, Jazz North CEO, says:
“Jazz North is thrilled to support the work of promoters across the North of England who are working to keep grassroots music alive and support that all important pipeline of talent in the North.”

North West Music Academy
North West Music Academy (NWMA) is developing a 4 storey heritage building in the heart of Barrow-in-Furness into a dedicated centre for music education & performance. As part of this they are establishing a regular platform for jazz - launching a micro-festival in 2025 which will become an annual event.

Big Bands @ The Continental, Preston
Paul Rigby
Paul Rigby will present big bands at The Continental in Preston. The events will showcase young and old talent but most of all give aspiring musicians in a big band setting a much needed voice to help hone their craft to jazz. Expect many a full house which young and old attend and appreciate exciting music from swing to funk.

YardFest @ Caroline Street Social Club, Saltaire, Bradford
Nanette Brimble
Jazz North is supporting the fortnightly YardFest Jazz night in Saltaire, Bradford by topping up its ability to fund a varied programme to include more local emerging artists.

Offshoots, Leeds
Anna Ross
Offshoots is a jazz, experimental and avant-garde event which takes part in independent venues across Leeds. The aim of Offshoots is to give a platform to a diverse range of new musicians and provide a safe and non-judgemental experience for musicians to gain experience performing live.

Scarborough Jazz
Robert Walker
Through New Northern, Scarborough Jazz will support fees for emerging artists presented through their longstanding schemes Scarborough Jazz Introduces and New Jazz Generation. The first of these is an event at Scarborough Jazz which takes place on Wednesday 2nd. October (The Cask) and features the Jascha Bingham Trio.
Jascha Bingham Trio will perform at Scarborough Jazz on 2nd October
Find out more: http://www.scarboroughjazz.co.uk/

DJ Lubi @ Hyde Park Book Club, Headrow House, Brudenell Social Club and Belgrave Music Hall
Lubi Jovanovic
DJ Lubi will present a program of contemporary jazz and world jazz at four venues across Leeds (Hyde Park Book Club, Headrow House, Brudenell Social Club, Belgrave Music Hall) featuring emerging Leeds artists - both professional and student musicians - taking place from October 2024 to February 2025 (9 gigs).

New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings, Newcastle upon Tyne
Wesley Stephenson
New Northern funding will enable a brand new release through New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings with a supporting album launch concert in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings project was established during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, offering a creative output for musicians when live performance opportunities were unavailable and encouraging artist independence.
http://www.newjazzandimprovisedmusicrecordings.bandcamp.com

On being awarded the bursary, Wesley Stephenson says:
“New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings is delighted receive support from New Northern to help enable the longevity of the recording project and to continue supporting exceptional improvised music in the North of England.”

For more information on upcoming events supported by New Northern, sign up to Jazz North’s mailing list: https://www.jazznorth.org/sendmemail

About Jazz North
Jazz North is the Strategic Development Agency for jazz in the North of England.
Supported since its inception in 2012 by Arts Council England, Jazz North has a national and international reputation in Artist Development, Sector Support and Learning & Participation.
A registered charity that has developed and supported hundreds of artists, managers, venues, festivals and promoters over the years - Jazz North has a proud record of working with and on behalf of the northern jazz scene.

About New Northern
New Northern is Jazz North’s promoter bursary to support live emerging talent. It supports promoters to programme emerging northern artists by underwriting risk and helping pay essential costs.
Designed both to support emerging artists in the north and give an injection of cash to promoters who need it, this easy-access scheme offers a quick intervention to northern grassroots promoters facing difficult financial circumstances.