Binker Golding, Mali Hayes and Camilla George help Manchester Jazz Festival make the Freight Escape

The Manchester Jazz Festival is set to make a return in a slightly reduced, but still vibrant form, running from 11 to 13 June at a newly opened locale. Imaginatively named Escape to Freight Island, this long-forgotten freight depot has been carved from the city’s industrial landscape and has been transformed into an outdoor food market, art space and terrace-style seating across one sprawling indoor and outdoor location, which allows the MJF to take place in a Covid secure way. Attendees can book multiple time slots across all three days, for the indoor ‘Ticket Hall’, and outdoor ‘The Pavilion’ and ‘The Round’, with food and drink available at all points around the venue.

An eclectic line-up of bands matches this vibrant new space with vocalist Yemi Bolatiwa, New Orleans-style brass band Mr Wilson’s Second Liners and acclaimed Birmingham-based keyboardist Rebecca Nash and her band with trumpeter Nick Walters, who get things underway on Friday 11 June. The second day kicks off with Ain’t Misbehavin’, a morning show for 6-11-year-old kids, followed by neo-soul-fusion five-piece Yaatri, exciting saxophonist Camilla George’s band plus 10-picce groove troupe Nubiyan Twist. The final day sees performances from soul-jazz vocalist Mali Hayes backed with sublime strings from The Untold Orchestra; South African-influenced jazz sounds from Ubunye, and some scorching original music from saxophonist Binker Golding’s new Quintet with Billy Adamson (guitar), Sarah Tandy (piano), Daniel Casimir (bass) and Sam Jones (drums).

All the main shows are complemented by additional outdoor performances from some of the UK’s funkiest brass ensembles including Twisted Tubes, Break Out Brass, Young Pilgrims, Back Chat Brass and more, as well as weekend sets from Nishla Smith Quintet, John Pope Quintet, Rafe’s Dilemma and Marco Woolf. There are also DJ sets from Debra Richards, Harkirit Boparai, and Jenna G among others.

For full details and tickets visit manchesterjazz.com/mjf-festival/mjf-at-escape-to-freight-island