Mr Wilson’s Second LIners
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New Orleans meets 90s club classics...a rave funeral without the body.
In New Orleans, funerals are celebrated in style, with noisy brass bands processing through the streets. The main section of the parade is known as First Line, but the real fun starts with the Second Line, those who follow the band to enjoy the music, marching with the musicians and twirling parasols or waving handkerchiefs.
Welcome to Second Lining.
A rabble of mischievous northerners, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners form a traditional New Orleans Second Line. However, this is no sombre occasion: Mr Wilson’s expend their collective musical talent paying homage to the diehard days of the Hacienda, 90s club culture and its greatest hero, Mr Tony Wilson.
These revolutionary genre bashers knock the First Line sideways, opting for upbeat dance tracks over traditional slow hymns. Proudly stepping out in uniformed style, they channel the spirit of the 24 hour party people and get audiences dancing wherever they play.
Follow the band: instagram.com/mrwilsonssecondliners
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ALLIGATOR GUMBO
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Alligator Gumbo are a 7 piece New Orleans jazz band from Leeds, who have been playing together since 2011. Having played extensively around the country, and often packed out Matt & Phred’s, we can’t wait to see them again.
A gig with Alligator Gumbo sees jazz from the hey-day of the New Orleans swing/jazz era, when music was raw and largely improvised with melodies and solos happening simultaneously which has now become defined as the 'New Orleans' sound.
As well as the band’s unique and fast-tempo treatment of the classic tunes, Alligator Gumbo take this distinctive style and apply it to their arrangements of more modern and popular songs which everyone will recognise and happily head to the dance floor upon hearing.
Follow the band: instagram.com/alligator_gumbo
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THE VINYL STEPPERS
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The Vinyl Steppers put a twist on chart-hits for music that’s unexpected, giving pop classics a throwback feel, with swing and jazz tunes in there too! Expect sultry sounds that make the dance floor irresistible for quick steppers and slow dances.
Follow the band: instagram.com/thevinylsteppers
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BEYOND THE BLUE
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“…their sound crosses genres and pushes boundaries whilst retaining their roots in the UK jazz scene.” - Voicemag UK
Beyond the Blue are an exciting, up-and-coming London-based Jazz band. They have played a number of sell-out shows in venues ranging from The Vortex Jazz Club to Hootananny Brixton to Milton Court Concert Hall as a part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. They have also opened for many established artists such as Omar, Moses Yoofee Trio, Blue Lab Beats, Ebi Soda and Rosie Frater-Taylor and have played at renowned festivals like Love Supreme and Cheltenham Jazz Festival.
Their music, written and arranged by pianist/composer Jude Lane, draws influence from a wide range of genres ranging from UK dance music to jazz and classical music, with a unique instrumentation of: cello, guitar, alto, tenor and rhythm section. Their latest release, a four-track live session, reimagines their previous quartet material in a dynamic septet setting that sets the tone for a future debut album release in 2025.
Follow the band: instagram.com/beyondtheblue__
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HAPPY DAGGERS
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“Turn It Up... that’s what I’m talking about #longlivethefunk” - Nile Rodgers
“Loving the nod to the 80’s from this outfit...BANGIN’!” - Craig Charles, BBC6 Music
Bringing a unique blend of guitar driven disco-funk propelled by thumping beats, throbbing bass lines, infectious melodies, and a captivating and commanding lead vocalist in frontman Sinclair Belle, Happy Daggers are a band on a mission to make you move.
On stage Happy Daggers are a party-igniting force. Appearances at major festivals and events featuring alongside the likes of Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Sister Sledge, Grandmaster Flash, Laura Mvula, Tom Misch and Ibibio Sound Machine, as well as numerous venues nationwide, have earned them critical acclaim for their innovative sound and indelible, high octane live performances.
Follow the band: instagram.com/happydaggers
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HONEY BEE JAZZ
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Honey Bee Jazz is a collective of Jazz musicians from around the world that met in Manchester to study music, and created a session jazz band. Since then, the up and coming 4-piece band has gone from strength to strength, continually arranging songs to showcase around the MCR jazz scene.
For this extra special gig, HBJ will play popular jazz, in styles such as Swing, Ballad, and Bossa Nova, from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, as well as jazz rearrangements of music from pop genres from the 1980’s til the 2020’s… Yep, this band has it all.
Follow the band: instagram.com/honeybeejazz
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THE MUSIC OF MILES DAVIS, WITH THE TOBY BRAZIER QUINTET
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The Toby Brazier Quintet come from Leeds and Bradford where they perform regularly in and around the local scene.
They focus on the bebop, hard bop and post bop periods of jazz performing the great tunes of the 40s, 50s to the modern day. The band’s repertoire sees them spotlight the likes of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter and Charlie Parker, to name but a few jazz greats.
Tonight, the focus of the band will be on the jazz legend which is Miles Davis; celebrating how he changed and influenced music of the day. The quartet will play music from great albums such as ‘Kinda Blue’, ‘Milestones’, ‘Seven Steps to Heaven’ and many more classic Miles and Wayne compositions.
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THE GREEN SHIFT
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From the classic era of Blue Note Records to their own original music, The Green Shift bring funky beats, hectic solos and cool melodies from artists like The Meters, George Benson, Grant Green, The New Mastersounds and The Isley Brothers.
Follow the band: instagram.com/thegreenshiftmusic
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BUTCHER’S BREW
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Ray Butcher is a jazz trumpeter who has played jazz with many of the greats from the UK scene. He’s worked with Dr John, Mica Paris and recorded a solo on the song ‘God’s Great Dance Floor’ from the US chart topping and GRAMMY nominated release by Chris Tomlin ‘Burning Lights’.
Tonight, Ray is joined by a superb line up for an unforgettable night of the best music ever. Expect jazz, funk, blue note, and Latin instrumental music. Tim, Ray and Sam performed a similar set during two tours of Moscow and St Petersburg at the Union of Composers’ Club.
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PAOLO FUSCHI & THE OUTSIDERS
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INSTAGRAM
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Since 2002 the Manchester based Sicilian Singer-Guitarist Paolo Fuschi has been sharing his heart-warming, foot stamping, hip shaking blend of Electric Blues, Classic Soul and Vintage Funk. His high-intensity live performances have been enjoyed everywhere, from Manchester basement jams to scorching Sicilian Summer Festivals.
Today, after more than 20 years of collaborations both in studio and live which led him to touring the whole country and Europe and performing in prestigious venues such as the London O2 Arena, Manchester Apollo, Liverpool Echo Arena (sharing the stage with George Thorogood, Mud Morganfield, Cedric Burnside, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Cory Wong, Gladys Night & The Pips and many more), Paolo has finally decided to answer the question "What is my voice?".
Soulful Minds
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Meet Soulful Minds Music, a dynamic 4-piece ensemble from Manchester breaking musical boundaries with their soulful blend of Motown and Soul alongside their Gospel roots. Led by the captivating Manchester R&B vocalist Natasha, the band weaves together diverse influences into a harmonious journey.
Demetrius, the rhythmic heartbeat, drives the band with his infectious energy on drums whilst Miguel, adds sophistication with soulful/Rnb and Occasional Rock solos on the Guitar, and Roger, The bands MD and Keys player, masterfully binds the arrangements to make this band sound phenomenal and have your unique experience one to always remember.
Church raised musicians, SoulfulMinds bring an ultimate twist of gospel to their sound including POP HITS and POP Rock songs where there is an underlying Gospel sound which is why it sets this 4 piece band apart from other bands.
This multicultural quartet transcends borders, delivering performances that celebrate unity through music which includes carefully arranged Medleys of songs from the 80’s right up to the 00’s. - This band will keep you dancing all night long! literally.
WANDERING MONSTER
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Leeds-based group Wandering Monster reaches beyond what may be expected from the tried and tested line-up of the tenor saxophone/guitar quintet. The band’s original compositions, penned by double bassist and leader Sam Quintana, draw from a love of American and European jazz, rock and world music, creating a sound that’s simultaneously raucous and sensitive, intense and intellectual.
Wandering Monster is made up of some of the finest musicians operating in the UK today; members of the band have also performed with a host of esteemed artists who include Mike Walker, Nikki Iles, Mark Nightingale, Lianne Carroll, Evelyn Glennie, Ant Law, Jasmine Myra, Melt Yourself Down and Worldservice Project amongst others.
Line Up: Sam Quintana (Double Bass/Compositions), Ben Powling (Tenor Saxophone), Calvin Travers (Guitar), Richard Harrold (Piano/keys), Tom Higham (Drums)
