Artist Development Day in partnership with Leeds Jazz Festival and Jazz Leeds
Artist Development Day in Manchester, April 2026. Photo by Jeni Illingworth
When: Monday 5th October 2026, 11:00-18:00 (arrive from 10:45)
Where:The Attic, 3 Sheaf St, Leeds LS10 1HD
Are you a northern artist working in (and around) jazz?
You’re invited to join us at The Attic in Leeds on Monday 5th October for an informal day of creative collaboration and conversation hosted in partnership with Leeds Jazz Festival and Jazz Leeds.
We’ll be hosting a panel on building northern ecosystems, jam sessions to top and tail the day, workshops on marketing and booking gigs, and digging into the topic of our theme for the day: ‘Success on Your Own Terms.’
This event is aimed at artists but promoters are equally welcome to join us. We’re particularly interested in connecting with artists who would be considered mid-career or maybe re-entering after a break from the industry as we’ll be focusing on these perspectives through the day.
Confirmed guest speakers include Hannabiell Sanders (multi-instrumentalist, composer and activist, leader of Ladies of Midnight Blue and Hannabiell & Midnight Blue) and Stan Woodward (bass player, composer and founding member of Knats - shortlisted for the 2026 Mercury Prize album of the year), Jeni Illingworth (Digital Marketing Manager at Jazz North, Branding and Comms Specialist at mjf), Steve Mead (Artistic Director/CEO at mjf), Steve Crocker (programmer at Jazz Leeds) and Kieron Ferries (Festival Coordinator at Leeds Jazz Festival, programme coordinator at Music:Leeds).
Additional speakers, session descriptions, speaker bios and the
full schedule will be announced soon…
Please register your free place via the button below 👇
About Artist Development Days
Jazz North’s Artist Development Days are free to access, in-person networking events hosted in partnership with venues and festivals around the north of England. These events are relaxed and informative spaces for meeting like-minded musicians and getting real-world practical advice!
Feedback from Attendees
I absolutely loved the Jazz North Artist Development Day. Fantastic to meet like-minded people and to learn from the creative journey of others. It was a friendly, welcoming and supportive atmosphere, and the jam was a lot of fun!
I enjoyed the variety of speakers and the opportunity to have brief one-to-one chats with industry professionals.
It made me feel more confident about how to move forward in terms of planning my first releases as an independent artist.
Key details about the day
Jam Session
There will be a jam session which you're welcome to participate in or just enjoy listening! We will provide a basic backline (guitar amp, bass amp, drum kit, piano/keyboard TBC) so please bring your instruments with you!
Catering
We'll provide tea and coffee and bring in some pizzas for lunch! Let us know if you have any dietary requirements in the form and we'll do our best to accommodate.
+1s
If you're coming as a group, please make sure each person fills in this form as we need everyone's email, access and dietary requirements!
Contact / More Info
If you have any questions, please get in touch with helena@jazznorth.org and for further details, timings and speaker info - visitwww.jazznorth.org/artist-development-days. If you’ve signed up, we'll send a full event schedule to your inbox in the lead up to the event.
Change of plans?
If you can no longer attend, please email helena@jazznorth.org so we can track capacity and number for food!
Session Descriptions
Panel Discussion: Building northern ecosystems
with Hannabiell Sanders, Nicola Farnon, Steve Crocker, Kieron Ferries and Heather Spencer (panel chair)
What does it take to build a thriving, connected jazz scene in the north of England? This panel brings together artists, promoters and programme coordinators to talk candidly about collaboration, infrastructure and opportunity across the north of England and how musicians can find (and help build) the networks that support a sustainable career.
Workshop: Make marketing work for you
with Jeni Illingworth
A practical session on marketing yourself as an independent artist from branding and social media to building an audience that genuinely connects with your music. Led by Jazz North's Digital Marketing Manager, this workshop offers real, usable takeaways for your practice.
Workshop: getting gigs
with Steve Mead
Straight-talking guidance on how to approach promoters, pitch your act and land the gigs you want. Steve Mead, Artistic Director/CEO at mjf, shares an industry insider's perspective on what promoters are actually looking for and how to put yourself in the best position to get booked.
In Conversation: Success on your own terms
with Stan Woodward and Helena Summerfield (interviewer)
Bassist, composer and Knats founding member Stan Woodward sits down with Helena Summerfield to talk honestly about what success looks like when you define it yourself: navigating a creative career on your own path, in your own time and by your own measures.
Meet our speakers
Hannabiell Sanders
Dr. G Hannabiell Sanders is a charismatic multi-instrumentalist, composer, and activist. Her music ignites audiences with a vibrant fusion of brass, African and Latin percussion, and improvisation. As founder of Ladies of Midnight Blue and Hannabiell & Midnight Blue, she uses music to break barriers, foster unity, and inspire social change. Her performances are immersive celebrations of rhythm and identity, blending storytelling and activism. Hannabiell is the Artistic Director of Harambee Pasadia CIC, where she champions collaboration and empowerment through innovative, community-focused programs.
Stan Woodward
Stan Woodward is the bassist for Mercury-nominated “Geordie Jazz” band, Knats.
Knats are a hard-hitting trio from Newcastle upon Tyne, channelling rock grit, fusion fire and floor-filling grooves into a bold new sound they call “Geordie Jazz”. Formed by two lifelong best friends from Newcastle’s West End – bassist Stan Woodward and drummer King David Ike-Elechi – they’re completed by trumpet phenom Ferg Kilsby. Described by Jazzwise as “one of the most exciting new bands in the UK”, they’ve won plaudits from Gilles Peterson, The Guardian, DownBeat, Rolling Stone Japan and many more. Their latest album, A Great Day In Newcastle, is produced by Geordie Greep and takes the energy to new heights.
Steve Crocker
Steve Crocker is a Leeds-based jazz organiser, supporter, broadcaster and double bassist. He began promoting jazz at LSE before running Sheffield Jazz at the Leadmill and broadcasting for Radio Hallam. In Leeds, he founded Seven Jazz, now JazzLeeds, which won the 2016 Parliamentary Jazz Award for best UK Jazz venue and became a charity in 2018. Steve now organises more than 100 concerts each year alongside workshops, ensembles, jam sessions, festivals and jazz education projects.
Jeni Illingworth
Jeni is Jazz North’s Digital Marketing Manager and is responsible for managing digital marketing, social media and email marketing campaigns to promote, raise awareness of and support Jazz North’s work.
Jeni has a Music degree and a Masters in Digital Marketing Communications and a passion for the arts & cultural sector, where she has worked for over 20 years in a variety of roles across theatres, venues, festivals, orchestras etc, and most recently as Branding and Communications Specialist for manchester jazz festival. She also supports artists, creatives and cultural organisations to navigate the world of marketing, campaigns and strategy on a freelance basis.
Kieron Ferries
Kieron Ferries is Festival Coordinator for Leeds Jazz Festival and a programme/project coordinator for Music Local / Music:Leeds. After relocating from Newcastle to Leeds in 2020 and completing a degree in Music Industries Management at Leeds Beckett University, he joined the Music Local team in 2023. He has since contributed to Launchpad and helped organise events across Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, including the Launchpad Conference, Leeds Jazz Festival and UK Music Networking Events.
Nicola Farnon
Nicola Farnon is one of the UK’s best-loved jazz musicians, celebrated as both a singer and double bassist. Originally trained on cello and piano, she has built a career spanning more than three decades, performing at leading jazz clubs and festivals, touring internationally and working with many leading British jazz musicians. Alongside jazz standards and original songs, Nicola increasingly brings cello, voice and piano together across jazz, classical and contemporary styles, creating warm, engaging performances with a strong audience connection.
Steve Mead
Steve Mead is the Artistic Director/CEO and co-founder of Manchester Jazz Festival, where he has programmed festivals and series, and led pioneering initiatives for artist and audience development. Steve is also the Head of Talent Development for Jazz North, the ACE-funded jazz development agency for the north of England, where he helps develop programmes to raise the profile and opportunities for artists, promoters and other stakeholders in the northern jazz ecology, such as the celebrated northern line touring support scheme, open bursaries, and 1-1 funding advice.
Steve Hanley
Drummer Steve Hanley is a first-class honours graduate of Leeds Conservatoire and part of a fresh generation of northern UK musicians. He has performed with artists including Mike Walker, Ant Law, Stuart McCallum and Jim Corry, and has been a Jazz North ambassador since 2014. His projects include Family Band, which represented the UK at the 2019 12 Points Festival, and Ubunye, winner of the 2023 Parliamentary Jazz Award for Ensemble of the Year. He also lectures at the University of Hull and Leeds Conservatoire.