Lineup announced for Hull Jazz Festival 2025

Double bassist, bandleader and composer, Fergus Quill, was the Musicians’ Company 2022 Tina May Jazz Award winner – given to an exceptionally talented young British jazz musician.

Founder of avant-garde jazz ensemble, Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band, Fergus also arranges and performs with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) and the NYJO Jazz Exchange. Fergus has performed a number of his compositions at the Barbican and Ronnie Scott’s and has recently played with the likes of Hermeto Pascoal and Orphy Robinson

Celebrating the classic jazz organ-guitar trios of the 1960s Kenny Burrell, Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Larry Young, Wes Montgomery, Melvin Rhyne, plus some original takes on the Beatles, Doors, Curtis Mayfield and Kate Bush.

Swing, grooves and inventive improvisation between these outstanding musicians led by award winning guitarist and composer Deirdre Cartwright who became well known presenting the
BBC TV’s ground-breaking series Rockschool

Acid Dub Studies is the fully-fledged result of the merging of the calligraphic expression of the 303 Acid bassline with the stern sway of Dub Reggae and the hazier edges of Dub Techno and Ambient music. Om Unit brings the fusion works to the live stage with a new updated show.

NikNak is a multi-disciplinary artist described as a ‘musical polymath’ by Clash Magazine, with releases on Kynant Records, First Terrace Records, Inventing Waves, OTONO, Come Play With me and more. She is the first Black Turntablist to win an Oram Award in 2020 and regularly pushes boundaries on what the turntables are capable of with her captivating live show.

Mambo Jambo are known locally for captivating audiences. When they get together with Joe, they really take off, with infectious energy! Expect all sorts of musical wildness, a mash-up of some swing, some Latin American, Cajun, Eastern European, some folky Bluegrass, plus original pieces that they composed together for last year’s Out Of The Box Festival.

Blending elements of hip hop, prog rock, jazz, funk, and more, the band creates an inclusive and evolving soundscape where no two performances are ever the same. Expect grooves and chaos — all brewed fresh on the spot.

Stephanie Halsey is a neo-soul jazz harpist & vocalist blending original ableton backings with lush improvisations. She is a member of The Dyr Sister, Meridian Music Sound, plus collaborations with Kobby Taylor (Beats Bus) and The Broken Orchestra.