Latest Northern Line artists revealed
Latest roster artists - Amy Thatcher & Francesca Knowles, The Exu, Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band, Ellen Beth Abdi & Ex-Easter Island Head
Jazz North announces its latest roster of Northern Line - the live talent development programme for jazz across the North
Amy Thatcher & Francesca Knowles, Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band, Ex-Easter Island Head, Ellen Beth Abdi & The Exu make up the cohort of northern artists to watch
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 reveal the latest Northern Line roster. Selected by a panel of industry experts and with closer engagement than ever before with the stirling promoters that make up the northern jazz community, Northern Line Round 11 represents some of the strongest artists across the region. From solo to big band, raw to polished, contemporary to experimental, there is music here to thrill crowds, push envelopes and make waves locally, nationally and internationally.2025 is shaping up to be a very special time for the northern jazz scene.”
Hailing from Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool: Amy Thatcher & Francesca Knowles, Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band, Ex-Easter Island Head, Ellen Beth Abdi & The Exu join the celebrated cohort of artists and will be available to book for activity starting in September 2025.
On joining the roster, Ex-Easter Island Head’s Benjamin Duvall, says:
“We are very grateful to be selected to be part of the Northern Line programme and look forward to working with the team to get our music in front of new audiences in the UK. Since the release of our most recent album Norther in 2024, we have had the privilege of taking our music further afield than ever before, using the material as a jumping off point for adventurous improvisations and left-turns. We're particularly excited to explore and present these musical developments, alongside expanding the live experience for the audience with Northern Line's help.”
Northern Line artists were chosen with the support of an esteemed advisory panel of promoters, radio producers, artists and festival teams - Rivca Burns, Rob Farhat, Jez Matthews, Hannabiell Sanders, Thomas Rees and Josh Aitman. The programme provides essential support to artists’ live touring ambitions. Each of the five bands will receive a £3000 live touring bursary and tailored 1:1 support across an 18-month period.
Francesca Knowles, says:
'We're overjoyed to be on this year's Northern Line, having seen so many incredible artists on the roster over the years. It's exactly the boost we need to make this the live show we've always wanted it to be, and to get out there touring and sharing our music further afield with the necessary support. Touring is (financially) getting harder and harder nowadays, so we're so grateful to be able to jump into it with confidence and can't wait to see what unfolds in the next year.”
Audiences can see the full roster perform live at the Northern Line showcase at manchester jazz festival (mjf) on 17th & 18th of May as part of the festival’s opening weekend at First Street. 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. This year, the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary edition.
Industry guests are invited to attend a networking reception on the Sunday afternoon, hosted by Jazz North.
Promoters can contact artists directly or via Jazz North for round 11 bookings from September 2025.
Currently available Northern Line artists include Tom Harris, Ceitidh Mac, Nat Sharp, DAYZY and Ni Maxine.
Visit www.jazznorth.org/northern-line for more information.