Jazz North announces its tenth roster of Northern Line - a live talent development programme for jazz.
Friday, February 16, 2024
Jazz North has announced the five acts selected to join the the live touring programme. They are ; Dirty Freud, Tom Harris, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Vipertime and Ceitidh Mac. Press release attached.
We have received the following press release;
Five northern jazz artists you really need to know about
Jazz North announces its tenth roster of Northern Line - a live talent development programme for jazz
Dirty Freud, Tom Harris, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Vipertime and Ceitidh Mac join the celebrated cohort of northern artists
Northern Line is the live touring programme providing transformative support for northern jazz artists. Today, Jazz North announces the five outstanding bands selected to join the cohort.
Chris Bye, Jazz North CEO, says:
“Jazz North is proud to present the artists of Northern Line Round 10. Everyone on this year’s panel was blown away by the standard of applicants across the board and this final roster is evidence of just how high the level of talent is coming through here in the North.
This Northern Line roster is reflective of the diversity we have across the breadth of the region, a diversity of geography, community and musical styles. What we share though, is a sense of genuine community through sound.”
The tenth roster features a range of styles from ‘dirty cinematic electronica’ through to songs exploring themes of masculinity and motherhood, post-punk meets dub and afrobeat and folk-infused cello basslines.
Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Dirty Freud, Vipertime, Tom Harris and Ceitidh Mac will perform live at the Northern Line Showcase on Sunday 19th May at manchester jazz festival (mjf).
Each of the five bands will receive a £3000 live touring bursary and tailored 1:1 support across an 18-month period.
On joining the roster, Dirty Freud’s Danni Skerrit says:
“This is such a crucial time in our development as a band and to be recognised as a northern act is huge for us…[This] is a massive part of our identity and means we have support to make the music we love! Jazz North does some incredible things well and this is one of them, the chance to learn and grow as artists as well as bouncing ideas off others on the roster will be invaluable.”
The artists were chosen with the support of an esteemed advisory panel of promoters, artists, agents and festival directors - Nishla Smith, Agnese Daverio, Paul Duhaney, Grace Pitkin, Charlotte Bowen.
Northern Line provides essential support for artists to move from point A to point B. Welsh-born, Tyneside-dwelling singer-songwriter & cellist, Ceitidh Mac says:
“Taking away some of the financial barriers of touring will allow us to push our live set to new places. We’ll be bringing our music to new cities, and have lots of plans in the making!”
The Northern Line roster will perform at the Northern Line Showcase at manchester jazz festival (mjf) on Sunday 19th May 2024 in front of a public audience and invited music industry guests.
mjf is the North’s most celebrated jazz festival, with a reputation for fostering rising jazz talent through their own bespoke development schemes and innovative events programme.
Visit http://www.jazznorth.org/northern-line for more information.
Northern Line Artist Bios:
Bryony Jarman Pinto
Lancaster-based singer, songwriter, musician Bryony Jarman-Pinto seamlessly blends enchanting vocals and spellbinding jazz-infused melodies with intricately crafted and personal lyrics. Bryony grew up surrounded by music, attending singing workshops with her mum and BlueJam Arts from a young age. Bryony’s sophomore album ‘Below Dawn’ (out 10th May) explores sentimental themes of societal change, untapped emotions, and the profound journey of pregnancy and motherhood.
https://www.facebook.com/BryonyJarmanPinto
https://twitter.com/BryonyJP
https://www.instagram.com/bryonyjarmanpinto/
https://www.bryonyjarmanpinto.com/
Ceitidh Mac
With a progressive twist to her music, Ceitidh Mac is an alternative singing/cellist, tipped by Jude Rogers as a ‘Fascinating Welsh-born, Tyneside-dwelling singer-songwriter & cellist, with an unusual, stunning voice.’ Absorbing in its originality, Ceitidh Mac creates songs that soar with contemporary arrangements & unusual instrumentation. A mesmerising live show, expect to be drawn in by bold songs & cello basslines. In Adam Walton’s words on BBC Radio Wales ‘Sublime & absolutely outstanding’.
https://www.facebook.com/ceitidhmac
https://www.instagram.com/ceitidh_mac/
https://twitter.com/Ceitidh_Mac
Dirty Freud
Hotter than Hendos!
Dirty Freud are an electronic live &, they found success since both moving back to the North of England. The music contains elements of dubstep and Jazz. It is simply Dirty Cinematic Electronica.
Over the years, they have played headline slots at UK festivals including Glastonbury, All Points East, Citadel, Boomtown, Beatherder, as well as at gigs across Europe.
“Wonderfully wonky that, isn’t it?” - NEMONE (BBC 6 NEMONE)
https://www.instagram.com/dirtyfreud/
https://twitter.com/DirtyFreud
https://www.facebook.com/DirtyFreud/
https://www.dirtyfreud.com
Tom Harris
Tom Harris is a northern pianist who tries his best to make interesting music with kind people. His heartfelt compositions explore mental health, masculinity, acceptance, and joy, all filtered through the musical influence of his favourite artists (Nina Simone, Snowpoet, Cécile McLorin Salvant).
Tom’s latest offering takes inspiration from Buddleia - the vibrant purple shrub which thrives in ‘ugly’ places. It’s tough, beautiful, and a reminder that some version of life will always persevere…
https://www.instagram.com/tomharrisisacommonname/
https://www.youtube.com/@tomharrisisacommonname/videos
https://www.facebook.com/tomharrisisacommonname
http://www.tomharrismusic.com
Vipertime
Vipertime explore the borders of jazz, post-punk, dub and afrobeat to create a sound that is simultaneously unique to the band and a microcosm of the thriving UK scene. Since their birth in Leeds basement parties, they have released a number of albums and singles including 2023’s critically acclaimed Arise. The group has also made a name with a series of incendiary appearances at UK venues and festivals, pushing their line up of saxophone, bass guitar and twin drum sets to its sonic limits.
https://www.instagram.com/viper.time/
https://www.facebook.com/vipertimemusic
https://twitter.com/Vipertimemusic
https://vipertime.bandcamp.com/
About Northern Line
Northern Line is Jazz North’s answer to live touring support for Northern artists. The programme champions the most pioneering, bold and innovative artists across the scene. It’s a roster of the best new talent, recognised by promoters, festivals, funders and management.
The programme supports northern artists to reach the next stage of their live performance career and meet their ambitions through targeted 1:1 support and network development.
5 bands from jazz and jazz-related genres are selected each year through an open application and rigorous selection process using a panel of independent industry experts from across the UK.
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 manchester jazz festival (mjf)
mjf is the city’s longest-running music festival, championing regional artists, new commissions, European collaborations and musical innovation. mjf 24 takes place from 17-26 May at indoor and outdoor city centre venues.
mjf is the only UK winner of the Europe Jazz Network Award for Adventurous Programming, the UK’s first festival Keychange signatory, supporting gender balance across stages, and was the first Founder Member of the Black Lives in Music charter. An Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner, mjf also receives support through GMCA’s Culture Fund and Manchester City Council’s Culture Partnerships Grants programme.