Opening the Festival is Leeds' biggest and best cult music ensemble Ferg's Imaginary Big Band (led by maverick bass player/composer/bandleader and all round musical genius Fergus Quill).

Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band is a Leeds-based ensemble, led by Fergus Quill and comprised of over 25 of the city’s most exciting and experimental young musicians, all deeply integrated into the hotly tipped and burgeoning Leeds Jazz Scene. Fergus’ ever-expanding imagination has realised the daring possibility of eighteen horns, a doubled-up rhythm section and a do-wop vocal group; a band almost big enough to bear the weight of Fergus’ creative load.

​

Outlandish live performances feature Fergus’ barmy, bombastic, cosmic, comical and considered original compositions alongside a selection of references including Art Ensemble of Chicago, Duke Ellington, Indian brass band music and even Beatles tunes, all eccentrically conducted by Quill upfront. Performances have been known to cause mass dancing, mosh pits and crowd surfing.

​

After years of blowing the socks off of many a Leodensian live, the band hit record… Their eponymous debut album was released on 24/02/23 by local independent record label, Tight Lines Records. Recorded in a 48 hour session at The Green Room in Leeds, it features new and original compositions performed by the entire 25+ piece ensemble. For fans of Loose Tubes, Corto Alto, Pharaoh Sanders, Kamasi Washington, Sun Ra, Duke Ellington and more. The album is available to buy on 12″ vinyl, as a digital download, and streamable on all the usual platforms.”