Erin Arts Centre

Port Erin Jazz Festival: Dan Forshaw Quartet
2025-10-03 19:30 (Europe/Isle_of_Man)
Admission £20 / Under 18s £2 Buy a ticket for both nights at the same time and pay only £35 (click “continue shopping” after first booking)

The Dan Forshaw Quartet – New York Jazz

Two decades ago, award-winning saxophonist Dan Forshaw stood on the Williamsburg Bridge in New York, horn in hand, following in the footsteps of Sonny Rollins. Fresh from studying with jazz legends Branford Marsalis, Eric Alexander and Dave Liebman, Forshaw absorbed the spirit of a city where jazz isn’t history – it’s lived experience. Now, 20 years later, his new quartet project reflects on that formative time with music shaped by the energy of New York and the depth of personal journey.

This isn’t nostalgia – it’s a celebration of how far you can travel in music, in thought, in tone. Forshaw’s saxophone voice, refined over years of playing across clubs, cathedrals and concert halls, still carries echoes of those intense New York days. The Quartet brings that sound to life with a mix of original compositions and reworked classics, drawing lines from Coltrane to today. Expect sharp interplay, melodic clarity and moments of raw, honest power. These aren’t museum pieces – they’re living, breathing statements, played by a musician who has always treated jazz as a conversation across time and place.

It started on the bridge. It continues here. A must for sax lovers everywhere!

Support comes from local party starters, The Blue Train Big Band, launching the festival with a rousing set of swinging stompers. Bright shirts and big tunes guaranteed to get your feet moving!

Saturday 4th October:

Lucy Pickering’s Court & Spark – A jazz tribute to the Laurel Canyon songwriters

EAC Book Circle: Back In The Day by Melvyn Bragg
2025-10-01 14:00
2pm Wednesday 1st October

£2 minimum donation

Back In The Day by Melvyn Bragg

In this captivating memoir, Melvyn Bragg recalls growing up in the Cumbrian market town of Wigton, from his early childhood during the war to the moment he had to decide between staying on or spreading his wings.

This is the tale of a boy who lived in a pub and expected to leave school at fifteen yet won a scholarship to Oxford.

Join us the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm to chat about our chosen books – newcomers welcome!

October at Erin Arts Centre
2025-10-01 10:00 - 2025-10-31 16:30
Port Erin Jazz Festival 2026

Friday 3rd October 7.30pm: Dan Forshaw Quartet with support from Blue Train Big Band

Saturday 4th October 7.30pm: Court & Spark with support from The Stillmen

Tickets £20 each night (under 18s £2) available in person or online from EAC

Midweek Movie: Black Bag (15)

Wednesday 15th October 2pm & 7.30pm

Tickets £8 (£2 for under 18s) available in person or online from EAC

But First Promotions: Leddra Chapman

Saturday 18th October 7.30pm

Tickets £22.50+booking fee available online from But First Promotions

NY Met Opera: La Somnambula

Saturday 25th October 5.55pm

Tickets £20 (under 18s £2) available in person or online from EAC

Half Term Kids Film: Lilo & Stitch (live action)

Wednesday 29th October 2pm

Tickets £2 for kids (over 18s £8) available in person or online from EAC

Hop Tu Naa Weekend

Friday 31st October 8pm: Nosferatu X Radiohead

Saturday 1st November 8pm: Balla Sabbath

Sunday 2nd November 5pm: Spooky Village Walk (free & family friendly)

Tickets available in person or online from EAC

Please note – anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.

Manx Litfest: An Evening with Joanne Harris
2025-09-28 19:30
We are thrilled to welcome Joanne back to Manx Litfest, ten years on from her first visit.

Joanne is perhaps best known for her bestselling 1999 novel, ‘Chocolat’, which was turned into a film of the same name, but she is the author of many critically-acclaimed works, in a whole variety of different genres, including gothic horror, psychological thriller, Norse mythology, fairytales and cookery.

Over the course of the evening Joanne will be talking about her writing, particularly her newest book ‘Vianne’ – the long awaited prequel to ‘Chocolat’.

Get a combined ticket to this event and ‘Rogue Teacher, with Mark Grist’ for £30.

Manx Litfest: Rogue Teacher with Mark Grist
2025-09-28 17:00
Mark Grist is an award-winning poet, rapper, storyteller, podcaster and children’s author, who rose to fame when his Don’t Flop rap battle against Mancunian MC Blizzard became an internet sensation. Mark’s shows are absolutely unmissable, thanks to his inspirational storytelling skills and passion for his subject, along with his complex grasp of rhyme and writing techniques.

His live show ‘Rogue Teacher’, which he is performing at Manx Litfest, is currently in development as a feature film with Studio Canal.

As the self-proclaimed Rogue Teacher of his show’s title, Mark left his career as an English teacher to try and pursue his love of words more directly as a poet, and it’s these stages of his life, along with the inadvertent rap battles that brought him to the public’s attention, that make up the majority of this show.

Get a combined ticket to this event and An Evening with Joanne Harris for £30.

A Concert to Celebrate the Life of Joyce Corlett MBE
2025-09-28 14:00
Tickets £12.50 / Under 16s £5

Drop into the EAC box office or book online.

Former President of Rushen Silver Band, founder member of the EAC, and lifelong champion of arts and culture (and many other causes!) in the IOM, Joyce Corlett was a highly valued and much-loved member of our community. Having won the Cleveland Medal in 1982, she was an acclaimed musician in her own right, supporting the arts in all it’s forms.

It gives us great pleasure to be able to commemorate her life with this concert at the arts centre she helped create and nurture – with music from Rushen Silver Band and some very special guests: Gareth Moore, Christine Teare and compere Michal Kewley.

Come and join us to celebrate a life well lived – Joyce Corlett MBE.

Piano Series: Recital by Julian Chan
2025-09-27 19:30
Admission £15 / Under 18 £2

We promise you a stunning start to this season’s Piano Series, with a Recital and Masterclass by the excellent, Julian Chan.

Rapidly developing a reputation as one of the most innovative pianists of his generation, Julian Chan has given performances at numerous prestigious venues, including Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Nanjing Poly Theatre, and Palau de la Música Catalana. Performing music by a particularly diverse range of composers, he has given thrilling recitals featuring works by Sweelinck to Messiaen, from Alkan to Rzewski, unifying these various styles in a captivating manner.

Julian has performed with numerous artists of international renown, including Anthony Marwood, John Myerscough, Dénes Várjon, Richard Lester, Dale Barltrop, and Charlie Lovell-Jones; distinguished conductors with whom he has performed, both as a soloist and as part of the acclaimed Manson Ensemble, include Jessica Cottis, Dominic Grier, Ryan Wigglesworth, Ben Glassberg, Jonathan Berman, and John Gibbons. Recently, Julian was awarded First Prize and Sonata Prize at the Nanyang International Music Competition, Singapore, Second Prize at the Jazeps Vitols International Piano Competition, Latvia, the Royal Over-Seas League Collaborative Piano Award, First Prize at the Norah Sande Award, and First Prize at the Coulsdon and Purley Festival with his performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto.

A passionate composer and performer of new music, Julian has collaborated with eminent composers such as Hans Abrahamsen, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Jörg Widmann, Deborah Pritchard, Elena Langer, and Peter Seabourne. He is graciously supported by the Royal Over-Seas League and the Keyboard Charitable Trust.

Julian’s recital programme will be:Frédéric Chopin Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 (1842)Bartók Béla Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56 (1917)Earl Wild Seven Virtuoso Études (1975)Franz Liszt Venezia e Napoli, S.162 (1859)IntervalLeopold Godowsky Java Suite (1925)

Piano Series: Masterclass with Julian Chan
2025-09-27 11:00
Free Admission – 11am start – Please book your place to give us an idea of numbers

For the first Piano Series of the season, we are thrilled to welcome rising star Julian Chan.

In this free masterclass, Julian will be playing excerpts from and discussing his programme for the evening recital, which will include works by Bartok, Lisz, Chopin and Godowsky. These informal sessions allow a fascinating look inside the mind and technique of a professional musician and provide an ideal opportunity for aspiring pianists to meet and observe someone at the top of their craft. Tell all your keyboard playing friends!

Rapidly developing a reputation as one of the most innovative pianists of his generation, Julian Chan has given performances at numerous prestigious venues, including Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Nanjing Poly Theatre, and Palau de la Música Catalana. Performing music by a particularly diverse range of composers, he has given thrilling recitals featuring works by Sweelinck to Messiaen, from Alkan to Rzewski, unifying these various styles in a captivating manner.

Julian has performed with numerous artists of international renown, including Anthony Marwood, John Myerscough, Dénes Várjon, Richard Lester, Dale Barltrop, and Charlie Lovell-Jones; distinguished conductors with whom he has performed, both as a soloist and as part of the acclaimed Manson Ensemble, include Jessica Cottis, Dominic Grier, Ryan Wigglesworth, Ben Glassberg, Jonathan Berman, and John Gibbons. Recently, Julian was awarded First Prize and Sonata Prize at the Nanyang International Music Competition, Singapore, Second Prize at the Jazeps Vitols International Piano Competition, Latvia, the Royal Over-Seas League Collaborative Piano Award, First Prize at the Norah Sande Award, and First Prize at the Coulsdon and Purley Festival with his performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto.

A passionate composer and performer of new music, Julian has collaborated with eminent composers such as Hans Abrahamsen, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Jörg Widmann, Deborah Pritchard, Elena Langer, and Peter Seabourne. He is graciously supported by the Royal Over-Seas League and the Keyboard Charitable Trust.

Julian’s recital programme will be:Frédéric Chopin Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 (1842)Bartók Béla Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56 (1917)Earl Wild Seven Virtuoso Études (1975)Franz Liszt Venezia e Napoli, S.162 (1859)IntervalLeopold Godowsky Java Suite (1925)

Friday Film Club: Black Dog (12)
2025-09-26 19:30
Adults £8 / Under 18 £2

Friday Film Club is back for a new season with this magnificent, Cannes-winning, widescreen paean to the enduring relationship between man and dog.

Recently released from jail, brooding loner Lang (Eddie Peng) returns to his hometown in Northwest China. As part of his rehabilitation order, he is required to join a dog catching gang, tasked with cleaning up the streets before the coming Bejing Olympics. As Lang patrols the city’s decaying estates on the charred fringes of the Gobi desert, he encounters a black greyhound with a price on it’s head and their adventure begins.

Shot through with cool, cloudy, slow-moving images, Black Dog is a heartwarmer, framed with real grandeur and a wry sense of the absurd. Compassionate but never cloying and a total must-see, whether you’re a dog lover or not!

Black Dog is in Mandarin with English subtitles. There will be a short introduction to set the scene.

Friday Film Club is kindly sponsored by the Elizabeth Clucas Trust

UK Rating: 12

Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrpBMPfe4wk

Midweek Movie: Mr Burton (12) - matinee & evening screenings
2025-09-17 19:30
Screenings at 2pm and 7.30pm

Wednesday 17th September

Adults £8 / under 18s £2

The new EAC Midweek Movie season launches with director Marc Evans true story of the teacher who inspired and encouraged the metamorphosis of wayward Welsh schoolboy Richard Jenkins, into Hollywood acting legend Richard Burton.

In Port Talbot, 1942, a community ravaged by the war, Richard Jenkins (Harry Lawtey) is caught between the pressures of his struggling family and his own ambitions. When Richard’s natural talent for drama catches the attention of his teacher, Philip Burton (Toby Jones) a new and exciting opportunity arises and he begins to thrive under Burton’s strict tutelage, aided by kindly landlady Ma Smith (Lesley Manville).

Toby Jones gives a brilliant, nuanced performance and Lawtey is excellent, charting Jenkins difficult transformation to Burton and capturing that dangerous charisma, nettled by self-loathing…..and that voice.

Heart, humour and ​quiet intensity. Welcome back!

Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Trx84-gy4

UK Film Rating: 12

CANCELLED: Live Roots Music IOM: Katie Nicholas with Càel Oak & April Moon
2025-09-12 19:30
Live Roots Music IOM Presents: Katie Nicholas with Càel Oak and April Moon on Friday 12th September 2025 at 7:30PM has been cancelled.

Regrettably, due to serious illness. Katie Nicholas has had to postpone her IOM shows. We wish Katie a speedy recovery & hope to see her on the Island next year alongside Cael Oak. We apologise for any inconvenience caused; full refunds will be issued for any tickets purchased.

Katie Nicholas with Càel Oak:Katie Nicholas is an independent female producer, videographer and singer-songwriter from Liverpool with firm roots in country, folk and Americana. With a loyal community that has steadily been building, performing sold out shows at various theatres, galleries, museums, including her first headline show at the Liverpool Philharmonic accompanied by strings, her work has been recognised by the likes of Whispering Bob Harris (featuring on his Nashville Showcase Stage at AmericanaFest 2018) as well as various BBC Radio sessions and airplay. “Powerful Vulnerability” – BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk Show.Càel Oak is a gifted acoustic singer-songwriter hailing from Liverpool. With a knack for melancholic yet uplifting melodies, his music resonates with a raw, heartfelt honesty. Each song is a chapter from his life, conveyed by his uniquely powerful voice. Influenced by the likes of Dermot Kennedy, Chris Stapleton and Billy Joel, Càel infuses his work with a blend of emotive storytelling and musical finesse. His work creates a bridge between personal experiences and universal emotions, captivating audiences with a genuine, evocative sound that lingers long after the final chord fades.April Moon:Combining irresistibly charming, boot-stompin’ tunes with intertwined twangy and jangly guitars, powerful vocal harmonies and a kick drum made from an old suitcase, Jaime April and Jason Moon make up the UK-based duo APRIL MOON. Known for their high-energy live shows and fun, well-crafted song-writing, they make a formidable duo. Growing up on the prairies beside the North Saskatchewan River in Canada, embracing the open road became a necessity to travel between venues and the pair haven’t put down roots since, splitting their time between several countries a year and living out of a cool campervan they call ‘The Clubhouse’.

Paint With Ellie Baker (6 week course)
2025-09-09 19:00 - 2025-10-21 21:00
Created with GIMP

Paint With Ellie Baker – Building skills in acrylic landscapes

6 week course, 7-9pm Tuesdays from 9th September

Have fun with bold colour and texture, unleash your imagination and refine a range of techniques – all materials included.

But First Promotions: Ed Harcourt
2025-09-06 19:30
New Announcement

Tickets on sale at 10am Friday 13 June: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/butfirstpromotions

One of Britain’s most cherished and inventive music creators Ed Harcourt will hit the road this autumn to tour behind an upcoming new release.

Making his debut with the Mercury Prize-nominated Here Be Monsters in 2001, Harcourt has released music under his own name that blends raw emotions, impeccable songwriting and visionary flights of imagination. A succession of ten rich, enthralling albums have followed that first spark of his, including the intoxicating addictive Strangers in 2004, 2013’s breathless Back Into The Woods which was recorded in just eight hours, and Furnaces which compellingly and entreatingly envisioned family ties confronted by the small matter of the apocalypse. After that LP in 2016, Harcourt then moved to explore the instrumental sphere with recent soundscape albums Beyond The End and Monochrome To Colour. In 2024 he released his latest full length album El Magnifico to massive critical acclaim on both sides of the pond.

EAC Book Circle: Trust by Hernan Diaz
2025-09-03 14:00
2pm Wednesday 3rd September

£2 minimum donation

Trust by Hernan Diaz

Hernan Diaz is Hernan Diaz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author.

Trust, is a collection of four manuscripts at different stages of completion, and they tell different versions of the story of a Wall Street businessman and his wife in the years leading up to the Great Depression.

Join us the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm to chat about our chosen books – newcomers welcome!

Exhibition: Contrasts by Stephen Free & Keith Holden
2025-09-02 10:00 - 2025-10-10 16:30
Drop in from Tuesday 2nd September to Friday 10th October to see this exhibition of work from 2 local artists. Stephen Free and Keith Holden have come together to create this collection of ink sketches and watercolour landscapes.

Gallery opening hours:

10am to 4.30pm / Tuesday to Friday / During events

Stephen Free:

“I enjoy making friends smile. The whimsical and expressive features of the emu’s face allow me to create fun drawings.”

Keith Holden:

“Having taken up painting when I retired, the medium I use is watercolour. The subjects I like tend to be local landmarks and landscapes, and sometimes maritime scenes.”

EAC Events: September 2025
2025-09-01 10:00 - 2025-09-30 16:30

EAC Closed for Summer Break
2025-08-18 10:00 - 2025-08-31 16:30
Please note – the EAC will be closed for the last 2 weeks in August (Monday 18th to Sunday 31st) so that our staff can take a well-earned summer break.

IOM Poetry Society: Open Mic Night
2025-08-16 20:00
IOM Poetry Society presents 2 open mic nights at Erin Arts Centre

Saturday 28th June and Saturday 16th August 2025

8pm til 10pm(ish)

Bring along your poems to read out – max 3 minutes each poet

No need to book a place!

Contact for more info: poetry@manxcat.org.uk

Beyond The Canvas with Ellie Baker
2025-08-09 10:30 - 16:00
Beyond The Canvas – a one day workshop exploring mixed media with Ellie Baker.

Use acrylic, ink, pen and spray paint to create your own landscape.

Saturday 9th August, 10.30am to 4pm at Erin Arts Centre

£75 including all materials

Your work on a wooden panel (1 square foot) will be ready to take home and hang.

Email Ellie on springtreescontact@gmail.com or DM her on Instagram @elliebakerart to book.

Exhibition: Rock Paper Canvas
2025-08-08 10:00 - 16:30
Join us for the exhibition preview on Friday 27th June, 6-7pm in the gallery.

A contemporary collective of 5 vibrant Isle of Man artists showing together in June at Erin Arts Centre: Ella Magee, Sally Black, Ellie Baker, Helen Faragher, Onkgy Wijana

A celebration of material, mark-making, and meaning: Where texture meets expression across rock, paper and canvas,

Erin Arts Centre

Opening Friday 27 June 2025

Until Friday 15 August

Gallery open 10-4.30pm Tuesday to Friday, plus during events.

Port Erin Photo Walk - all cameras welcome
2025-08-02 12:00 - 14:00
Tickets £10

Join experienced photographers Sarah Callow and Adrian Cowin for a guided photo walk around Port Erin, including a brief introduction to highlight the kind of patterns, lighting and framing to look out for!

We’ll meet at the Erin Arts Centre at 11.15am for an introduction from Adrian, before heading off at 12pm for around 2 hours (including breaks for refreshments).

Any cameras are welcome including vintage film, modern DSLR, and even phone cameras. Sarah and Adrian will be able to advise you on getting the best out of your camera.

Photographers of any experience are welcome, but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.

Please note – this walk usually includes steps, please let us know in advance if this is an issue so we can plan an alternative route.

EAC Closed on Friday 1st August
2025-08-01 10:00 - 16:30
Please note – the EAC will be closed on Friday 1st August.

We will be open on Saturday 2nd August to host the Port Erin Photo Walk with Sarah & Adrian.

Africa Alive! Folksongs From Southern Africa
2025-07-26 19:30
Tickets £20 / Under 18s £15

Join the UK’s only African marimba band, Otto & The Mutapa Calling, for an unforgettable night of joyous marimba music from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana. Immerse yourself in the lively music, song, dance, and storytelling of southern Africa as the band takes you on a riveting journey through the region’s rich cultural tapestry.

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a colourful London-based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from southern Africa, including traditional folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band’s set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas with drumming and singing. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms – and the band’s music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa.

Doors open at 7pm with the concert kicking off promptly at 7:30pm. This will be a night not to be missed!

Exhibition: Rock Paper Canvas - meet the artists
2025-07-13 14:00 - 16:00

Darkroom Open Day (July)
2025-07-13 12:00 - 16:00
We’re opening the darkroom 12-4pm on Sunday 13th July to coincide with the open day in our gallery with the Rock Paper Canvas artists AND the Port Erin Festival of The Sea down on the beach.

Drop in between 12pm and 4pm to meet Sarah and Adrian, our friendly and experienced photographers. It’s free to come in and look around, but we’re suggesting a donation of £5 per print to make a photogram.

Manx Wildlife Trust: Ocean with David Attenborough (film screening with Q&A)
2025-07-12 19:30
This is a free event but please reserve a seat to give us an idea of numbers.Join Manx Wildlife Trust for a free screening of Ocean with David Attenborough on Saturday 12th July at 7.30pm at EAC.

This is David Attenborough’s greatest message of hope – revealing 100 years of incredible ocean discovery and why there’s nowhere more important for all life on Earth than the ocean.

Co-produced by Open Planet Studios and Silverback Films, Ocean with David Attenborough showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to show that the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.

After the screening there will be a Q&A with Dr Peter Duncan (Senior Marine Environment Officer at the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture), Dr David Beard (Chief Executive of Isle of Man Fish Producers Organisation), Dr Isobel Bloor (Postdoctoral Fisheries Scientist at Bangor University) and Dr Lara Howe (Marine Conservation Officer at Manx Wildlife Trust) to discuss the film and how the Isle of Mans fishing industry is leading the way in sustainable fisheries.

Mananan Festival 2025: Gruff Rhys (solo show)
2025-07-05 19:30
This event is fully booked, but you can add your name to the online waiting list at the link below.

Adults £25 / Under 18s £2

But First Promotions have brought us some of the most memorable shows of the last 12 months, and it’s a great pleasure to join forces with them to bring you a special Mananan surprise – a solo show by pop maverick, Gruff Rhys!

Gruff Rhys is a songwriter, producer and award-winning storyteller from Bethesda, Wales who has consistently sought a variety of outlets for the spectrum of muses behind his creative flights. Formerly most well known as the frontman of Super Furry Animals – a band that has been able to achieve that rarest of mixes, artistic adventure with popular devotion – he blended fuzz-filed rock, pure harmonies and cutting edge electronics. With his other band, Neon Neon, Rhys has documented the lives of maverick car maker John DeLorean and Italian activist and publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli in widescreen style.

With their blissful melodies, his solo records have explored untapped areas lyrically too. His first, 2005’s Yr Atal Genhedlaeth, revelled in Welsh puns. 2014’s American Interior celebrated the unlikely yet influential 18th century explorer John Evans. Babelsberg offered a baroque take on the modern world in 2018, while a year later Pang! created a multi-lingual mash-up, driven by folkish bleeps crafted in collaboration with South African artist-producer Muzi.

However, while all those records certainly explored fresh territory, the Top 10 charting Seeking New Gods climbed lyrically and musically on to totally new terrain. For this seventh solo record, Gruff created a conceptual album about his own mountain which became his most critically and commercially successful solo album yet. 2024 saw the release of it’s follow up Sadness Sets Me Free, garnering rave reviews and acclaimed to be amongst his finest work.

Mananan Festival 2025: Bruce Adams Quartet
2025-07-04 19:30
Adults £22 / Under 18s £2

We’ve got a real Mananan treat for all the jazz fans out there, in the shape of legendary Scottish trumpeter Bruce Adams and his red-hot quartet!

Brought up in a musical family, Bruce Adams’ first real musical interest was the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Consequently, he started his musical journey on the guitar, switching to trumpet in 1962 when his father bought him one for his 11th birthday. By the time he was 12, Bruce was working three to four nights a week in the Glasgow area playing in small dance band residencies and performing in a cabaret act with his father. When he was 14 he was sponsored on Hughie Green’s Opportunity Knocks by British trumpet legend Nat Gonella.

After years on the club circuit, Bruce got involved in the local jazz scene in Glasgow first by forming a jazz quintet with alto saxophonist Bill Fanning, one of the stalwarts of Scottish jazz. Bruce also joined the big band formed by Glasgow drum legend George McGowan. The band entered the 1982 Holsten Big Band Competition, where Bruce won the Best Trumpet prize and the Outstanding Soloist prize. Two years later, the band entered the BBC Big Band Competition, and Bruce won the Trumpet Soloist prize. During the 1980s, Bruce became a regular at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival where he had the chance to work with such luminaries as Harry Sweets Edison, Spanky Davis, Dick Hyman and many more. This association led to him joining Mike Hart’s Scottish Society Syncopators, touring the world and playing at some of the most prestigious festivals, dressed in a kilt!

In the 1990s, Bruce toured extensively with a variety of bands and recorded his first album for Big Bear Music. This was followed by The first of several collaborations with Alan Barnes called Sidestepping, forging a partnership that endures to the present day. Bruce is a multiple British Jazz Awards winner, having been nominated more than 20 times, and he continues to ply his trade encompassing jazz styles ranging from Louis Armstrong to the present day. Bruce will be joined by a formidable trio of jazz talents: Robin Aspland on piano, Julian Bury on bass, and Matt Fishwick on drums.

Mananan Festival 2025: Ensemble 360
2025-07-03 19:30
Adults £22 / Under 18s £2

Seating for this event will be in the round, by general admission.

Ensemble 360 is renowned for virtuoso performances, bold programming and engaging interpretations of music, ranging from baroque duos through classical quartets to new commissions for all 11 players. For the Mananan Festival, they will present a programme for four wind players and piano.

Ensemble 360 is a versatile and unique group of 11 musicians whose work is deeply embedded in the communities it serves. The name reflects the group’s passion for performing in the round, letting the audience surround the players and gain an unusually close relationship with live chamber music. Within its home city of Sheffield, the group is Resident Ensemble of Music in the Round and is proud to call the Sheffield Crucible Theatre’s Playhouse its home – an intimate space that challenges the conventions of classical music concerts by allowing the audience up close to the players. This is where the group cultivated its distinctively personal approach to music-making and performing.

Ensemble 360 is a mixed group comprising five string players, five winds and one piano. Formed in 2005 by Music in the Round to continue the great legacy of the Lindsay Quartet, the group now boasts a glowing reputation throughout the UK and is known best for the outstanding quality of its performances, the breadth of its work and its passion for reaching new audiences. Continuing the Lindsay Quartet’s ethos of delivering world-class performances to audiences that wouldn’t usually have access to live chamber music, Ensemble 360 brings its singular approach to venues right across the UK.

Community and education are at the heart of Ensemble 360’s work. The group is recognised not only for the excellence of its performances in major recital halls but also for its pioneering storybook musical events. Every year thousands of young children are introduced to classical music through Music in the Round’s innovative collaborations with local schools in Sheffield and further afield.

Ensemble 360’s festival programme will be:Francis Poulenc: Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and PianoLudwig van Beethoven: Quintet for Piano and Winds in E flat major, op. 16IntervalFrancis Poulenc: Elégie for Horn and PianoWolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Quintet in E flat major for Piano and Winds, K. 452

Mananan Festival 2025: Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver
2025-07-02 19:30
Adults £22 / Under 18s £2

Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver are each highly respected in their own right for their contributions to the folk genre, and while honouring and being highly influenced by English and Irish traditions they have managed to bring a unique and contemporary quality to their output. Following the release of their remarkable collaborative album Hinterland, we are delighted to bring this this inspirational duo to the Mananan stage.

Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver fuse their deep-seated love for English and Irish folk traditions into a vibrant project that’s as grounded in tradition as it is daring in innovation. With Knapp’s distinctive voice and her skill in weaving the ancient with the contemporary, alongside Diver’s fiddle virtuosity and trailblazing production, they craft an auditory journey that honours the past while boldly stepping into new musical territories. This partnership is poised to enchant traditional folk purists and new seekers alike, promising a fresh, exhilarating spin on folk music’s timeless tales.

Lisa Knapp’s debut album Wild & Undaunted (2007) saw her emerge as a distinctive voice in British folk, known for her captivating vocals and highly imaginative approach. Deeply rooted in the folk traditions of Britain and beyond, she garnered a highly coveted BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for her songwriting on Hidden Seam. Her 2017 release Till April is Dead A Garland of May, featuring Blur’s Graham Coxon, is now celebrated as a modern classic and is an exhilarating deep dive into historic songs and rituals of May. Recently her voice graced the closing song of the Oscar-nominated film Living (2022). As part of the Hack Poets Guild with Marry Waterson and Nathaniel Mann, she’s released Blackletter Garland (One Little Independent 2023), showcasing her ongoing evolution and collaborative spirit in the folk scene.

Gerry Diver, a visionary composer, producer, Irish fiddler, and multi-instrumentalist, has significantly impacted the folk scene. His innovative Speech Project featured folk icons like Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan, Martin Hayes, and others in a collaborative masterpiece described as “groundbreaking” by The Guardian. Diver’s role as an award-winning producer shines in his contributions to a host of contemporary folk albums. Diver has displayed his versatility by working with a broad spectrum of artists, including Damon Albarn, Sinéad O’Connor, Tom Robinson, Benjamin Zephaniah, and many others, showcasing his ability to transcend musical boundaries. His creative prowess extends to the cinematic and television realms, where he has written soundtracks for various movie scores and BBC dramas, further establishing his reputation as a multi-faceted artist.
