Jazz North has announced the latest recipients of its promoter support scheme, New Northern.
Tuesday, September 01, 2026
Jazz North has announced the two jazz festivals & six jazz promoters awarded bursaries to present emerging artists in their programmes through its support scheme, New Northern. Press release attached.
We have received the following press release;
Meet the jazz festivals and 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 two jazz festivals and six jazz promoters awarded bursaries to present emerging artists in their programmes through its support scheme, New Northern.
New Northern bursaries were awarded to -
Lancaster Jazz Festival
Leeds Jazz Festival
Jazz Coop, Newcastle upon Tyne
Parrjazz Limited, Liverpool
DJ Lubi Presents, Leeds
Footprints Jazz Club, Sheffield
Scarborough Jazz
North West Music Academy, Barrow-in-Furness
Chris Bye, Jazz North CEO, says:
“This round reminds us why New Northern really matters - people backing people, and taking the risks that keep the northern jazz scene alive. Promoters and festivals are tackling real challenges on the ground to support the next generation - taking chances on new sounds, championing the underrepresented and making room for talent that might otherwise go unheard. That’s what this fund is for.
From grassroots spaces to integral festivals of the northern scene; from free community stages, to dedicated showcases, to whole fringe programmes; from Newcastle to Barrow, through Sheffield, Liverpool, Leeds and Lancaster, these bursaries will ease financial pressures, ensure fair pay for artists, and keep live jazz accessible for communities across our region.”
The 26/27 New Northern recipients will be using their bursaries in a range of ways to promote emerging talent across the north of England.
E Jamieson - Footprints Jazz Club, Sheffield
Footprints Jazz Club supports up-and-coming jazz bands and artists in Sheffield through regular jams and development activities. The New Northern bursary will be used to platform four of these acts in support slots for larger (touring) jazz artists over the coming months.
Jonathan Butters - Parrjazz Limited, Liverpool
The Liverpool International Jazz Festival Fringe, 26-28 February 2027, will provide paid performance opportunities for grassroots, jazz-spectrum artists from the Liverpool City Region. The programme will showcase original music and innovative collaborations, creating opportunities for artists to develop their performance skills, build audiences and connect with other musicians, venues and promoters.
Lesley Faulkner - North West Music Academy, Barrow-in-Furness
The bursary award will support Jazz@NWMA - their planned jazz music programme for 2026-27. Enabling them to platform emerging northern jazz artists alongside established performers and in addition to a programme of jazz workshops for young people in Barrow-in-Furness.
Debra Milne - Jazz Coop, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Globe, owned and run by Jazz Coop, has become the pre-eminent small venue for jazz in Tyneside, with a weekly Sunday night programme. In spring 2027 this will feature two special gigs, each a ‘Jazz North Double Header’, bringing to Newcastle two great emerging bands from the north of England.
Lubi Jovanovic - DJ Lubi Presents, Leeds
DJ Lubi will present two exciting emerging artist shows; one celebrating the music and life of Xero Slingsby - one of Leeds’ cult jazz musicians and punk jazz pioneers of the 80s’ - and the second showcasing the growing interest in the Leeds jazz scene for world jazz - Latin jazz, Brazilian jazz, Afro jazz.
Bob Walker - Scarborough Jazz
The New Northern bursary will support Scarborough Jazz Presents Murray Robinson’s NPCs - an eleven-piece jazz collective dedicated to bringing original, high energy arrangements of video game music to all audiences, whether they are gamers or jazz lovers.
Lucy Woolley - Lancaster Jazz Festival
Lancaster Jazz Festival will use this bursary to expand the Ignite Programme; building on their commitment to platforming emerging artists. The Ignite programme supports opportunities for emerging artists to present exceptional performances and gives them resources to support their future development.
Kieron Ferries - Leeds Jazz Festival
Leeds Jazz Festival will return for its sixth edition in May 2027. With the support of Jazz North’s New Northern Fund, they’re excited to welcome back their community stage and provide new opportunities for emerging talent from across the North to play in Leeds.
Speaking about her bursary, successful New Northern promoter Debra Milne from Jazz Coop, Newcastle upon Tyne said:
“Jazz gigs, jam sessions and Learning & Participation have been a core part of The Globe’s multi-genre programme since it became the UK’s first Cooperative owned Grassroots Music Venue in 2014. We are delighted to have support from Jazz North to host 2 special gigs to bring to Newcastle great emerging jazz artists from across 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.