Latest News
How to prepare for your recording session so it runs smoothly
You’ve composed some great tunes and the next step is for your band to record them professionally. Don’t worry if you’ve never been in a studio before, this handy guide created in partnership with Reuben Griffiths, Spring Tank Studios, Sheffield will help to prepare you for your recording session to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible.
Artist Forum: The challenges and joys of being a band leader
A band is a unique and sometimes complicated relationship, full of different personalities and expectations. Good leadership is key to bringing everyone together, keeping things clear and making sure the whole band is working towards the same bigger goals. Without someone to inspire and guide them, a band can lose its motivation and sense of direction.
If music be the food of love, play on…
The 4-day pilot camp was all that I could have hoped for and more. The girls were super engaged and enthusiastic and grew in confidence throughout the week. This is definitely a model that I will be encouraging our jazz camp partners to adopt in the future.
Let’s talk about stress (baby)
These are stressful times, right? In the music sector, many of us feel more under pressure than we’ve ever done before. And in the world at large, there’s a lot for us to deal with right now. So how can we move from being stressed out to tuned in?
How do you run a record label?
Join our forum with guests Martin Archer from Discus Music and Pete Woodman from Jazz in Britain to hear about the journeys that led to running a label and their approaches to releasing music. As always, our forums are a safe space to reflect, share ideas and ask questions.
Promoting grassroots jazz and need financial help?
New Northern - our bursary to support live emerging talent - is now open! This programme helps northern jazz promoters programme emerging northern jazz talent in their clubs, venues or festivals with bursaries up to £1000.
Jazz Camp for Girls goes international + Summer Camp!
Helena Summerfield recently travelled to Helsinki for the Jazz Camp for Girls summit organised by Suomen Jazzliitto / Finnish Jazz Federation and Jazz Danmark. The summit gave participants the opportunity to share good practice, explore inclusive approaches to music education and possibilities of long-term international cooperation.
How to develop your digital and streaming strategy
Would you believe that a staggering 120,000 new tracks are released on music streaming platforms every day according to a study by Luminate, a music data analysis company. So, how can you maximise the impact of your release and ensure that your music gets to the ‘right’ ears?
New online resources guide to Releasing your Music
A step-by-step guide written by award-winning artist Ni Maxine is a practical guide to help you releasing your music. Available to download for free as a Jazz North online resource
Breaking boundaries - It’s jazz, Jim but not as we know it!
The 2025 Northern Line showcase took place over the opening weekend of the Manchester Jazz Festival (mjf) on 17th-18th May. Northern Line is Jazz North’s answer to live touring support for northern artists and champions the most pioneering, bold and innovative music across the scene.
Jazz Camp for Girls in Sheffield at Spring Tank Studios
Our latest Jazz Camp for Girls took place at Spring Tank Studios in Sheffield. The communal atmosphere and bright aesthetic at the studio helped the girls to feel safe and relaxed which is vital for a workshop focussed on improvisation and developing new skills.
JazzFM Awards: Absence truly and absolutely makes the heart grow fonder
We have missed the Jazz FM awards and on Thursday 24th April, they were back, marking a firm return and stating just how strong the UK jazz scene stands on the global stage. 2025 also represented a pivotal year for the North as Jazz North Northern Line artists were nominated across not one, not two but three key categories.
Sharing our Northern Line memories to celebrate 30 years of mjf
Manchester Jazz Festival (mjf) is celebrating its 30th anniversary from 16-25th May 2025. The festival will see hundreds of northern, national and international jazz musicians descend on Manchester, showcasing the genre’s leading lights alongside its most exciting emerging talent.
To celebrate this special year, we asked two of our Northern Line alumni to share their memories of performing at our Northern Line mjf showcase.
Manchester pupils inspired to play ‘beyond the notation’
Jazz North was delighted to collaborate with NYJO and One Education Music to bring jazz workshops to 6 Manchester schools during March. Aspiring young jazz musicians had the chance to explore improvisation with the saxophonist, composer, producer and NYJO resident MD Ahnansé. The workshops were designed to introduce a new approach to music making and support pupils to have the confidence to play jazz ‘beyond the notation’.
New Northern: Supporting exceptional improvised music in the North of England.
NEWJAiM Recordings applied to New Northern to support the release of ‘Capillary Cycles’ by Sheffield’s Juliana Day. We were keen to support an album by emerging northern talent and to contribute to the ongoing longevity of NEWJAiM Recordings, an eco-centric label championing ecological sustainability.
New Northern: Offshoots - a safe and judgement free zone for musicians and audiences
For our fifth New Northern feature we spoke to the Leeds based promoter Anna Ross who runs an event called Offshoots. Anna impressed the Jazz North team with the ethos behind Offshoots in her New Northern application and were keen to hear how the bursary had helped to develop the night further.
New Northern: YardFest - building a community with live music
In our fourth New Northern feature Helena Summerfield talked to Nanette Brimble about YardFest. Nanette applied for a New Northern bursary to help support the fortnightly YardFest Jazz night in Saltaire, Bradford by topping up its ability to fund a varied programme to include more local emerging artists.
Merseyside Jazz Scene - Challenges and Solutions
Members of the Merseyside jazz community came together to discuss the challenges facing their local scene and explore potential solutions. The forum revealed a proactive desire to overcome these issues through collaborative efforts, improved communication, innovative financial models, and strategic advocacy. Read our report.
New Northern: supporting the next generation at Scarborough Jazz
In our third New Northern feature we travel across to the east coast of Yorkshire and Scarborough Jazz to catch up with promoter Bob Walker. Their New Northern bursary has been used to support fees for emerging artists presented through their Scarborough Jazz Introduces and New Jazz Generation schemes.
Celebrating our biggest Jazz camp weekend yet
Over the weekend of 8th-9th March, eight ‘Jazz Camp for Girls’ events took place across the north of England. The camps gave 122 young musicians the chance to explore jazz and improvising, some for the very first time. Feedback from the camps received so far has been extremely positive.