The Glasshouse, manchester jazz festival, and Music Meeting Festival in the Netherlands have joined forces to programme two tours which will travel between venues exclusively by train. The tour serves as a pilot for a new model for sustainable touring and to help build local relationships. Flights are one the biggest sources of carbon emissions in the music industry. By taking the train, artists can significantly reduce their impact on the planet.
Taking place in May 2024, both tours stop off at the three venues, as well as travelling to other venues and festivals in the UK and the Netherlands. These will include Leeds Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scotts, Bimhuis (Amsterdam) and De Doelen Concert Hall (Rotterdam). The tours will set a positive example and gather useful data about touring by train that can be shared with other musicians and venues.
Fusing jazz-rock and Arab traditional music, SARĀB tour across the UK and Netherlands, visiting Music Meeting Festival (19 May), manchester jazz festival (25 May) and The Glasshouse (26 May). German saxophonist Daniel Erdmann will also present Thérapie de Couple, a new German-French sextet at Music Meeting Festival (20 May), manchester jazz festival (21 May), and The Glasshouse (22 May).
The tours are funded by European Jazz Network’s Green Pilot Tour Fund which was created to support EJN members in organising tours based on the principles of sustainability, fair remuneration, inclusion, and gender balance.
SARĀB
One of the most popular bands in the Parisian jazz scene is SARĀB, meaning ‘mirage’ in Arabic. The 5-piece outfit was born from the meeting of Franco-Syrian singer Climène Zarkan and guitarist Baptiste Ferrandis. Their sound combines elements of rock, contemporary jazz and Arab traditional music.
Daniel Erdmann – Thérapie de Couple
German saxophonist Daniel Erdmann’s project Thérapie de Couple translates to Couples Therapy in English. In this instance, that refers to the relationship between Germany and France. The ensemble unites six musicians from these countries who perform in the wide territory that lies between composition and improvisation.
The Glasshouse have also recently launched their Green Rider, which is shared with all visiting artists and outlines the ways in which the venue and artists can work together to make their visit more sustainable. The venues are also taking other measures, such as limiting single-use plastics, saving paper by using electronic tickets, offering plant-based food options, and opting for local suppliers.
Audience travel makes up a large proportion of emissions, so the venues are encouraging audiences to play their part by travelling sustainably. The Glasshouse, who aim to be Net Zero by 2030, have partnered with the local transport network to offer ticket-holders free Metro and bus travel for two hours before and after concerts.
D’Accord!
As well as programming the tours, The Glasshouse and manchester jazz festival have also come together to launch D’Accord! – the pilot of their newest French-UK collaboration. The partnership, formed between mjf and The Glasshouse, with the support of Centre National de la Musique (CNM) in Paris, has selected two alumni artists from each country –one each from Manchester and Newcastle and two from Paris – to work together on a new music collaboration.
This will offer an invaluable opportunity for emerging artists to collaborate on new music, open up their international horizons and develop partnerships with overseas artists. Devising sessions will take place at The Glasshouse and this exclusive musical partnership will be premiered at The Glasshouse on 22 May and during mjf at Band on the Wall on 23 May.
Lucy Scott, Senior Producer at The Glasshouse, said: “At The Glasshouse we’re dedicated to exploring new models for sustainable touring, and to support artists on our stages to do the same. We’re hugely grateful to European Jazz Network for the support that has been the catalyst for this new project, allowing us to join forces with other likeminded international promoters and festivals to re-imagine the future of live tours. We can’t wait to welcome these exceptional artists to the North East.”
Steve Mead, Artistic Director of manchester jazz festival, said: “I’m delighted that mjf is partnering with our valued peers on these groundbreaking initiatives. With the ongoing challenges faced by artists, venues, international working and sustainable touring, the way forward is collaboration. With such empathic partners, our shared values ensure we stay relevant to our mission to bring powerful new music to audiences.”
Martyna van Nieuwland, Artistic Director of Music Meeting, said: “We are happy to join forces over this great initiative of Europe Jazz Network. These days collaborations are everything, especially regarding environmental sustainability. Being members of EJN gives us a lot of opportunities, but also encourages us to implement better, newer solutions.”
Tickets for all performances are on sale via: The Glasshouse, manchester jazz festival, and Music Meeting Festival websites.