The Middewich Folk & Boat Festival takes place from June 15th - 17th and features some of the best folk and roots artists performing live in this beautiful town for your listening and boating pleasure. Camping facilities available too so make a weekend of it and enjoy one of the most perfectly intimate and friendliest weekenders out there.

Highlights

Glenn Tilbrook
Eddi Reader
Show of Hands
Mark Radcliffe & The Big Figures 

To find out more simply click here now

MANCHESTER JAZZ FESTIVAL

13 – 21 JULY 2012

FESTIVAL PAVILION, ALBERT SQUARE
ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC
BAND ON THE WALL
ST ANN’S CHURCH
MATT & PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB
THE MIDLAND HOTEL

Manchester Jazz Festival features 9 days of the best and the newest in contemporary jazz from the North West, the UK and abroad. Unlike any other event on the jazz festival circuit, mjf offers a fascinating journey of discovery through the world of jazz today. The weird and the wonderful, the challenging and the relaxing, the surprising and the familiar - mjf is a prized collection of treasures that that is simply not available anywhere else. 

A great celebration of Manchester’s native music scene, mjf also hand picks some of the hottest new international artists to debut in the UK. Highlights for 2012 include a jazzy Olympics, the ever in demand afternoon teas and more of mjf’s signature breakthrough bands plus premieres of specially composed new music.

There are dozens of free gigs at The Festival Pavilion in Albert Square, the perfect place to soak up the music and catch up with friends. Make the most of mjf - find your jazz!

www.manchesterjazz.com

Manchester Jazz Festival Events at Band on the Wall
Simply Click To Find Out More!

Fri 13th July
POCKET CENTRAL + DJ

Sunday 15th July
SISTER ELEMENTS presents GRANDMA'S PARTY 

Monday 16th July
JAZZ ON THREE BBC INTRODUCES feat. GILES PETERSON & JEZ NELSON

Wednesday 18th July
JAZZ AND THE REAL WORLD

Wednesday 18th July
ZOE RAHMAN QUARTET 

Thursday 19th July
SONS OF KEMET + ANTON HUNTER TRIO 

You may have noticed that we have lined up an incredible summer of West African music for Manchester, but did you realise that our line-up is part of We Face Forward, a hugely ambitious art and music fest that takes over the city during the summer months?

The Boutique Weekender

From the Cuban/Malian ‘supergroup’ AfroCubism at the Bridgewater Hall, to international photographer Malick Sidibé at the Gallery of Costume, from an exuberantly-decorated ‘art bus’ criss-crossing the city to incredible visual art in Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth, it’s all happening in Manchester. To celebrate the launch of We Face Forward, Creative Tourist has put together a ‘boutique weekender’ of the best of its launch events – visit their website to download your free Bank Holiday weekend itinerary.

And if you’re not in Manchester for the launch of We Face Forward, fear not: our gigs, their events and Creative Tourist’s guides to the best of the city’s culture run throughout the summer. We Face Forward, various venues, 2 June-16 September.

Win a night at the Lowry Hotel and tickets to see the ‘super-group’ AfroCubism, as part of the We Face Forward launch celebrations!

The original idea for the Buena Vista Social Club was to bring Havana and Mali’s musicians together to record in Havana; the Malians couldn’t make it and so the Buena Vista Social Club became entirely Cuban. Sixteen years later, they tried again; the result is AfroCubism, 13 musicians who put out a riotous mix of traditional African sounds and Cuban beats. The group come to Manchester this summer as part of We Face Forward, a festival of West African art and music that brings the very best of this vibrant region to the UK. AfroCubism play a rare UK gig at the Bridgewater Hall during the festival’s launch weekend. The group includes Grammy award-winner, Toumani Diobaté and Buena Vista original Eliades Ochoa and is, frankly, unmissable.

And to celebrate, Band on the Wall, the Manchester Partnership and The Lowry Hotel are offering a complimentary overnight stay in a Deluxe City View Room with breakfast for two people on the night of Sunday 3 June, plus a pair of tickets to the AfroCubism gig at The Bridgwater Hall on Sunday 3 June (7.30pm).

To enter simply click on this link and answer the easy question!

Highlights include Valentina Montoya Martinez & Voces del Sur, Calaita, Two Man Ting,  Awad Absin, Mickey Van Gelder, Gabbidon, fronted by ex-Steel Pulse founder, Basil Gabbidon, Golty Farabeau and the first UK performance of Kenyan Benga star, Makadem, as well as family and participatory events.  New commissions, especially for the festival,  include And Then There Were Four and Manchester’s very first World Music Bus Tour.

Click Here For Further Info: www.culturalcollagefestival.org

Reception: 7pm - 8pm
Concert: 8.30pm

The legendary soul queen,and patron of Band on the Wall, returns to the venue where it all began for what promises to be one of the most sensational nights of the year.

Performing at Band on the Wall on the back of her forthcoming album, Mica Paris exploded onto the international soul scene back in the 80s with her stunning debut album So Good. Showcasing her incredible vocals, it spawned the single My One Temptation which became an international hit and established Mica Paris as a great new voice in soul music. Further international hits have followed including Where Is The Love (with Will Downing), Black Angel, Stay and Carefree. Over the years she has collaborated with many of the greats from all genres including David Gilmour, Prince, Jimmy Barnes and James Morrison to name but a few. She is also Patron of Band on the Wall (where she performed some of the earliest concerts of her career), and we are delighted to welcome her back for this extra special night by one of soul music's most-loved voices. A Band on the Wall Fundraiser Event.

MEET MICA PARIS!

As Mica is our patron and a great fan of the venue she has agreed to do a very special 'Meet & Greet'  reception before her concert from 7pm - 8pm on the venue's mezzanine level. This event includes a free glass of wine and entrance to the concert as well. If you'd like to meet Mica Paris tickets are on sale now! Simply click here now and select the Meet + Greet ticket option. Limited to 30 tickets so buy yours now! Tickets also available for the concert only.

This August Bank Holiday weekend the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival celebrates a whopping 23 years of bringing the Blues to Colne!

With more than 600 artistes performing at nine official venues over four days, Colne’s annual – and award-winning - Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival will be bigger and better than ever!

Highlights include:

Joan Armatrading

Booker T. Jones

Spencer Davies

Connie Lush & Blues Shouter

Ticket Hotline  01282  661234  or www.bluesfestival.co.uk

Band on the Wall in association with Manchester Museums & Galleries present:

We Face Forward - Music from West Africa Today

Band on the Wall is proud to be presenting the music programme for We Face Forward - Manchester's dazzling celebratory season of exhibitions and concerts this summer by West Africa's finest artists and musicians. Taking place in venues, galleries, museums and spaces across Manchester. Click on the links below for tickets and more info:

AFROCUBISM

Sunday 3rd June, The Bridgewater Hall

From the creators of Buena Vista Social Club we present the Cuban/Malian supergroup, featuring Eliades Ochoa and Toumani Diabaté, that has taken the world by storm.

KANDA BONGO MAN

Friday 15th June, Band on the Wall

Kanda Bongo Man is one of Africa’s most joyful, mesmerising and hip-shaking pop stars. Join us on the Band on the Wall dancefloor for serious kwassa kwassa moves!

OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY PARTY

ft. SECKOU KEITA BAND

Saturday 23rd June, The Printworks

The official We Face Forward free party taking place after the Olympic Torch Relay event and featuring a very special concert by Seckou Keita, the Senegalese master of the Kora — Africa’s magical 21-stringed harp.

JALIBA KUYATEH & THE KUMAREH BAND

Friday 29th June, Band on the Wall

Gambia’s greatest living exponent of the Kora — one of Africa’s most beautiful and complex instruments — live at Band on the Wall with his wonderful Kumareh Band.

MAMANE BARKA & ETRAN FINATAWA:

THE ENDLESS JOURNEY

Tuesday 3rd July,

Royal Northern College of Music

This stunning multi-media event features images and film with music created by musicians from two of Niger’s most acclaimed bands — Mamane Barka and Etran Finatawa: The Endless Journey.

FEMI KUTI & POSITIVE FORCE

Wednesday 4th July, HMV Ritz

A very special concert by the true heir to the Afrobeat crown — Femi Kuti and his band performing their intoxicating mix of jubilant, funky music and completely addictive dance rhythms.

DIABEL CISSOKHO

Friday 3rd August, Band on the Wall

One of Senegal’s most loved musicians who, along with his incredible band, blends traditional rhythms with bluesy West African melodies and upbeat dance grooves.

DELE SOSIMI AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA

Saturday 25th August, Band on the Wall

One-time member of both Fela and Femi Kuti’s bands, and musical director of the National Theatre’s critically-acclaimed musical Fela!, Dele Sosimi brings his own Afrobeat orchestra for a thrilling and pulsating performance at Band on the Wall.

Presented by Band on the Wall in association with 'We Face Forward' a season of contemporary art and music from West Africa, celebrated across Manchester as part of the London 2012 Festival. For information on all events please visit www.wefaceforward.org

The Wall of Sounds Conference is a free all-day event aimed at new artists wanting to find out about new ways to make it in the music industry plus live performances in the evening from the Ticketwall New Music Competition Finalists. 

Sign up by CLICKING HERE NOW. Conference and concert passes are completely free!

Wall of Sounds Conference 2012
New Ways To Make It In The Music Industry

Times: Noon - 5.30pm, Concert from 7.30pm

Free Entry To All Events

Band on the Wall and Brighter Sound, in association with Un-Convention is proud to present this free conference featuring a series of lectures, Q&A's, presentations and masterclasses by a selection of industry experts in alternative music industry business models.  This event will be a chance to learn about how to make a living from music on your own terms, by sharing knowledge and expertise and exploring  a range of practices and vocations.  The event will culminate in performances by the finalists from the Ticketwall New Music Competition, which will be filmed and recorded for the launch of Band on the Wall TV later in the year, and will be a great chance to network and meet professionals already working in the music industry.

Sign up by CLICKING HERE NOW. Conference and concert passes are completely free!

SPEAKERS

Gavin Sharp, CEO of Band on the Wall
A Grand Don't Come For Free
An introduction to basic gig economics for musicians and promoters.  

Richard Jones, Key Music Management Ltd
Fanfare will do
The New Way....Direct to Fan Marketing and Methodology

Andrew Booth, Turner Parkinson LLP
I Need A Lawyer!...Says Who?

Darren Poyzer, Music Promoter & Musician
Collaborative Songwriting

LIVE PERFORMANCES BY

BURLESKIMO

HOT BEAT REPEAT

PRESUMING ED

KING CAPISCE

Sign up by CLICKING HERE NOW. Conference and concert passes are completely free!

As well as programming the music at Band on the Wall, Mike is also a DJ on Jazz FM where his weekly shows have earned him a coveted nomination for Jazz Broadcaster of the Year. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, which will take place at the House of Commons on 16th May.

You can hear Mike Chadwick every week on Jazz FM presenting:

The Latin Party (11pm/Friday) - a feel-good hour of Latin Jazz, Salsa, Brazilian and dancefloor jazz.

The Saturday Night Experience (9pm) - two hours of the best in Nu Jazz/Broken Beat/Neo Soul/Funk/Rare Groove and everything that's good for you on a Saturday

The Cutting Edge (Sundays/10pm) - two hours of the very best in contemporary jazz, covering many styles from post-bop to fusion. Each week it features upfront music from forthcoming releases - it's definitely a jazz musical mystery tour!

You can also hear Mike present The Big Easy, his unmissable guide to all things New Orleans.

Tune into Jazz FM now by clicking here

Ticketwall - Buy Tickets. Build Music

www.ticketwall.org

Ticketwall is a pioneering new national online ticketstore where every ticket you buy directly supports music education and participation projects. Just as with any other national ticket store you can buy tickets for 1,000s of concerts in 100s of venues across the country. But what makes this site really special is when you purchase a ticket for a concert, club night or sporting event - For every £1 spent on Ticketwall, the registered charity Inner City Music will receive 3p towards developing local music projects and events - it might not sound like much but imagine an arena full of people on a ticket price of £50, this could generate around £20K! 

Bookmark the website and from now on buy all your music, sports, arts and event tickets from Ticketwall - you'll be making a difference to the future of music with every purchase.

www.ticketwall.org

For further information on the work of Inner City Music please click here now. 

William Ellis is widely recognised as one of the finest music photographers working today, and his work has been exhibited at international festivals and galleries in the UK and throughout the world including The Royal Academy of Arts, Amsterdam, Bremen, Cape Town, Havana, Hong Kong, and of course in Manchester at the Richard Goodall Gallery in the Northern Quarter.

Prints are available to purchase online from the Band on the Wall store, and we have a selection of images available ranging from recent Band on the Wall concerts and other photographs taken from William Ellis' archive. Artists include Miles Davis, Paul McCartney, Al Jarreau, Tim Booth (lead singer in Manchester band James) and many more.

As Band on the Wall's official photographer, William Ellis has been capturing on film some of the greatest artists to come through our doors, and what better gift for this festive season than the opportunity to take home a high quality, hand signed and individually numbered archival print. 

 A range of sizes, finishes and prices are available - visit the Band on the Wall store now for more information.

Watch Band on the Wall Concerts For Free At Home!

Enjoy Band on the Wall concerts for free from the comfort of your armchair. As part of our ambitions to make our live music programme as accessible as possible we now have official YouTube and Vimeo Channels. All performances on the channels have been filmed in hi def using our own state-of-the-art cameras and sound studio. Plug in and enjoy!

Completely free to subscribe if you have either YouTube or Vimeo accounts (also free), you can now enjoy Band on the Wall concerts in hi definition from the comfort of your home or office.

Subscribe to Band on the Wall's YouTube Channel by clicking here now

Subscribe to Band on the Wall's Vimeo Channel by clicking here now

Band on the Wall TV Coming Soon - Watch This Space!

Band on the Wall aims to provide live music content for the new Internet TV platform which is anticipated to available on your TV or mobile device very soon. Join our free mailing list here and we'll let you know about this and other developments at the venue as they happen.

Band on the Wall Archive

These online platforms are an addition to Band on the Wall's acclaimed online archive - accessed via our website by clicking here where you can already access and enjoy this footage.

We have just announced a special four week course for Flamenco enthusiasts, plus an amazing opportunity to work with the world renowned master guitarist and composer Paco Pena and his accompanying artistes. The course incorporates elements of guitar, dance and percussion with leading exponents and tutors of this visceral and emotional art form.

Tutors:

Flamenco Guitar: Nick Wilkinson

Dance: Gloria Lopez-Castejon

Percussion: Adam Warne 

Venue: Band on the Wall Main Venue, Picturehouse Bar, Education Rooms

Days: Saturdays

Times: 9.30am-3pm

Course Dates: 10/03/2012, 17/03/2012, 24/03/2012, 31/03/2012

Fiesta Workshops and Performance Day: Saturday 21/04/2012

CONCESSIONARY RATES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE ON PRODUCTION OF  VALID ID WITH PROOF OF STUDENT/OAP/UNWAGED STATUS AT BOX OFFICE AT FIRST SESSION.

A small number of special bursary places are available on application. Email learning@bandonthewall.org to register your interest in a bursary application.

To enrol and find our more, click here now.

Sponsored by Levanter Fine Foods.

Band on the Wall Private Party Bookings Now Being Taken!

Fancy having the party of a lifetime at Manchester's world famous, city-centre venue? Hire Band on the Wall for your private party with full live band, delicious food and welcome drinks included for £33 or less per person! (£33 based on attendance of 150. Larger parties receive further discount - a champagne reception, live music, full buffet and a band can be as little as £19.50 a person!)

Booking your Bespoke Event is easy...

We can sort everything out for you from helping you select a fantastic band that's perfect for your event, to providing a range of delicious food and drink options - all hosted and managed by our expert and friendly team to ensure your event runs exactly how you want it to. We can even provide all those special extras such as cakes and decorations should you require them. Please find our range of packages below, and if you would like any more information simply contact our Development Manager, Najia Bagi, who will help you create the perfect event at najiabagi@bandonthewall.org  or call 0161 830 3883.

We do advise you book early as available dates are filling up quickly. 

Music To Your Ears!

If there's one place in the world that knows about great live music, it's us, and choosing your live band couldn't be easier. We welcome you to select from a list created by us who we think will be perfect for your night - or simply talk to us and we'll suggest who we think suits your event best. Subject to availability, you just choose one of the following great bands and its all included in the price!

- LaTinto Bros (Latin, Salsa)
- Doctor Truth (Blues)
- Rory Duffy Trio (Brazilian, Pop, Jazz, Latin)
- The Compass Roses (R&B, Jazz. Funk, Soul)
- Extra Love (Reggae)

Food, Drink & Music Packages

Please find our range of packages listed below. All packages include live music and are based on an average of 150 attendees. We can cater for up to 320 guests, and the larger your party the bigger the discount - a champagne reception, live music, full buffet and a band can be as little as £19.50 a person! So if your party is larger (or smaller) just let us know and we'll tailor the package and costs accordingly to suit your event. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact Najia Bagi at najiabagi@bandonthewall.org / 0161 830 3883

1. Private Party Package

- Live Band
- Champagne Reception
- Buffet

£25 per person (based on 150 people but less if you bring more people!) 

2. Three Course Meal Package

- Live Band
- Champagne Reception
- Three Course Meal

£50 per person (100 guests max)

Enquiries

All packages can be bespoke and include cakes, decorations and extras you choose. So just contact Najia Bagi, Band on the Wall's Development Manager, to find out how we can give you the party of a lifetime at najiabagi@bandonthewall.org / 0161 830 3883

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings have come a long way since their humble beginnings nearly a decade ago. Steeped within the gilded and gritty sounds of gospel, soul and funk, this nine-piece Brooklyn collective has continued to electrify fans, disc jockeys, critics, record collectors, and bloggers the world-over with their authentic, heart-felt sound. The band’s critically-acclaimed albums including Dap Dippin’, Naturally and 100 Days, 100 Nights – recall an analog era led by iconic studios like those at Motown and Stax Records.

As distinguished as their recordings may be however, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings have truly become renowned thanks to their incredible live show, not to mention their relentless touring. And though it’s certainly no easy task to keep such a vast ensemble on the road, the band continues to pack hundreds of clubs worldwide, from legendary venues like New York’s Apollo Theater, Beacon Theater and Central Park’s SummerStage to their show-stopping sets at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Roskilde, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits and WOMAD.

AGMP and Band on the Wall are now delighted to present this great band at Stylus, Leeds University. A Band on the Wall Fundraiser Event.

Tickets are on sale now and are likely to sell very quickly - advance booking for this show is strongly recommended.

Click Here For More Info / Tickets!