Music:Leeds
Music:Leeds acts as a centralised point to support, develop, grow and promote music in the city across all levels, genres and cultures.
The first of Music Local’s region-specific projects, Music:Leeds runs projects, events, workshops, creates networking opportunities, signposts information on music in Leeds and runs the Launchpad emerging talent development program across the Leeds city region.
The team works with individuals, artists, musicians, local organisations and businesses, funding bodies, local and national government and national music industry bodies.
Music:Leeds is supported by Leeds 2023 & Leeds City Council, Youth Music with public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner and with additional support from UK Music, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds College of Music, Leeds BID and Awesome Merchandise.
Bradford Music Network
The second Music Local project, Bradford Music Network, exists to connect people in the District, offer information on activities and opportunities including funding, events and available support for artists and those working in music.
Bradford Music Network is supported by a steering group and Music Instigator.
The Bradford Music Network, its Steering Group and the newly recruited Music Instigator are being established by Bradford Council, and will be supported by Music Local and Bradford Producing Hub
Music:SouthYorkshire
Music:SouthYorkshire represents the South Yorkshire Music Board to signpost artists and industry in the region to funding opportunities, advice and more. It highlights work, opportunities and events to the regions' music community.
South Yorkshire Music Board exists for the benefit of South Yorkshire’s music industry. The board aims to ensure everyone has all the tools at their disposal to create, perform, learn and teach. They represent your interests to ensure support is available to the region and aim to broaden the focus away from London and to the working heart of the industry in the regions.
The music board was formed by Mayor Dan Jarvis MP in 2018 and has at its core a small number of experienced and passionate industry practitioners including label owners, festival directors, artists and educators, as well as additional members from national membership and representational groups such as the Musicians Union, Performing Rights Society and regional MPs.
Music:SouthYorkshire is delivered in partnership between the music board and Music Local.
Leeds Jazz Festival
Leeds Jazz Festival is a city-wide festival taking place across the late May bank holiday. It unites and celebrates the musicians, venues, promoters, audiences and organisations who are part of the Leeds Jazz tapestry - whilst showcasing the best of local, national and international music. With two years under their belt, it will return for its third year from 23rd - 28th May 2024.
The inaugural event took place between 1st and 12th June 2022. The programme featured a variety of free to access events and ticketed showcases, representing the wide diversity of Jazz in the city, with something for everyone, from the most die-hard jazz fan around to a first time attendee. You can check out the gallery and events listings to get a sense for the 2022 festival.
In 2023 the festival ran from 25th - 30th May, expanding on the previous years highlights; the Welcome to Leeds Stage and the range of gigs in venues across the city. Lara Jones immersive audio-visual dome Ensō+ was in situ at Leeds Train Station, the curated exhibition ‘The Story of Leeds Jazz through the lens of Denis Dalby’ was at Leftbank, DJ workshops for women, trans, non-binary and gender expansive people took place in Canned Heat all alongside a programme of gigs and panels celebrating the local scene and showcasing bigger names, from Gilles Peterson to Soft Machine and Mica Millar. Watch the highlight video here.
Leeds Jazz Festival is produced by a city-wide network of partners, representing venues, programmers, musicians and more, coordinated by Music:Leeds and supported by Leeds 2023, with public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England alongside Split, LeedsBID, Welcome to Leeds, arts@leeds, Leeds City Council and bcausam.
Consultancy & Industry Training
Music:Local manage a number of projects, and offer various services to support, develop, promote and represent local music groups.
We deliver consultancy work to help develop place-based music support systems and infrastructures by engaging with local music communities, through a combination of thorough research and engagement activity. In collaboration with local music communities we develop recommendations and support the development of appropriate and inclusive infrastructure to create sustainable resources and support for the music community, reaching wide and diverse groups within a town, city or region.
We deliver industry training, for all levels of music industry professionals, from workshops and resources for emerging musicians and music industry professionals to mentor and leadership training for established music businesses, and those looking to foster new music enterprises.
We collaborate with regional and national music organisations and local government to support the local music sector. Our team have delivered events in partnership with UK Music, PRS For Music, MOBO Awards, Musicians’ Union and more; supported development activity with Leeds City Council, Leeds 2023, Yorkshire Sound Women Network and Brighter Sound; currently act as Yorkshire representatives for Association of Independent Music and Independent Venue Week and are a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner. In 2020, we managed the fundraising and coordination for establishing regional PPL Momentum & Momentum Accelerator funds in Yorkshire.
If you are interested in working with us, get in touch below!