AGBEKO

Agbeko are an Afrobeat-inspired juggernaut born out of reverence for music of West Africa in the 1970s and mixed in a cauldron of psychedelic rock, funk, Ethio-jazz, and contemporary UK jazz. Channeled through an onslaught of horns, irresistible grooves and powerful lyrics. Drawing as equally from Fela Kuti and Mulatu Astatke as they do from Led Zeppelin and Woody Guthrie, Agbeko’s songs strive to call out corruption and embolden the collective pull-to-wards societal change and healing in present times. Long-time stalwarts of the UK festival scene, their acclaimed 2023 album,There Must Be Another Way, saw them performing at major festivals across Europe. As Songlines magazine put it: “The spectacular chemistry shared by this large band is electric and emotive”

Band members

Amber Kuti – vocals 

Mali Hayes – vocals 

Jamie Stockbridge – tenor saxophone, guitar, band leader 

Emily Burkhardt – baritone & alto saxophone, flute 

Graham South – trumpet 

James Keirle – trombone 

Matt Brown – percussion 

Pete Mitchell – percussion 

Jon Needham – drums 

Alasdair Simpon – bass guitar, backing vocals 

Max O’Hara – keyboard, backing vocals 

James Girling – guitar

DIRTY FREUD

Dirty Freud is an electronic live and recording project led by producer Danni Skerritt who has found success since moving to the North of England. Described as “wonderfullywonky” by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Nemone, their music is live electronica wrapped in jazz melodies. Over the years, Dirty Freud has played headline slots at UK festivals including Glastonbury, All Points East, Citadel, Boomtown, Beat-Herder, as well as at gigs across Europe. He has gained keysupport in his journey from Jon More of Coldcut and NinjaTune, Rough Trade and Keep It Dirty Records.

Band members

Danni Skerritt – band leader

Ruby Tingle – vocals

Rob Andrews – guitar

Jono Allen – saxophone

HEATHER FERRIER

Stockport born accordionist, clog dancer and composer, Heather Ferrier, continues her mission to re-define alt-folk on her own terms. Her latest EP Engine for the Sound creates music that sets the accordion free from its stereotypes, and with an extended line-up of musicians, expresses everything Heather stands for using powerful melodies and jazz-influenced harmony. Bold, passionate and enthralling; the EP has been played on BBC Radio 6 Music and has been favourably reviewed in local and national publications. When performing, she is joined by guitarist Alasdair Paul and drummer Adam Stapleford, manifesting a genre-bending collaboration that transcends the limits of contemporary instrumental folk music, employing Heather’s distinct compositional style to create a show with both emotive and upbeat moments.

RÍOGHNACH CONNOLLY & HONEYFEET

Still residing as BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year, Ríoghnach Connolly’s taste for musical adventure is eclectic. Known to many for her involvement in a range of other projects such as The Breath, Afro-Celt Sound System and Band of Burns, she has fronted Honeyfeet since 2008, collectively drawing on a broad terrain of musical textures spanning big-band swing to Alabama blues-tinged folk, psych-soul to floor-thumping funk, all held together by the powerful vocals and flute from Rioghnach. The music evolves through the group dynamic, while Rioghnach writes most of the words, telling honest, personal, heartfelt stories, delivered with her characteristic passion and wit. Equally as proficient in headlining festival stages as they are in adapting to more intimate theatre performances, the band are having their busiest year yet, touring extensively around the UK.

Band members

Ríoghnach Connolly – vocals, flute

Ellis Davies – guitar, backing vocals

John Ellis – keyboards, backing vocals

Lorien Edwards – bass

Phillip Howley – drums

Alastair Maude-Roxby – trombone, backing vocals

VULVA VOCE

Creating radical musical experiences, Vulva Voce puts performance at the forefront, combining movement, experimentation and improvisation to produce a truly dynamic show. They combine their musical influences of folk, contemporary classical, techno, and beyond, to push the boundaries of how a string quartet can sound, perform and engage with an audience. The music they play is entirely created by women and under-representedartists from across history, including original music and specially commissioned works. Over the past two years, their innovative approach has gained them publicity on the GRAMMYS website, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Manchester, TheStrad and Slipped Disc. In March 2024, they attended South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas and most recently performed at Glastonbury Festival 2024.

Band members

Julia Sandros-Alper – violin

Georgina Macdonell Finlayson – violin

Nadia Eskandari- viola

Lucy McLuckie – cello

Agbeko, Dirty Freud, Heather Ferrier, and Vulva Voce perform live at the Opening Night concert at The Bridgewater Hall on Wednesday, 23 October at 20:00. This exclusive show is hosted by DJ Paulette and directed by Jenna G.

Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet perform live on the Horizons Stage at Albert Hall on Thursday, 24 October at 00:00 representing Manchester on the regional stage.

If you want to immerse yourself in the wider sounds of WOMEX 24 Festival, check out the official playlist curated by Manchester Music City