Mali Hayes (vocals)/Sam Lowther, Nii Adu-Ayree (guitars)/George Holliday (keyboards)/Jamie Moore (bass)/Tom Pattinson (drums)/Pariss Joseph, Amy Eckersley, Rachel Murphy (backing vocals)
Hobgoblin Festival Square
Young Mancunian vocalist and songwriter Mali presents her 9-piece band with multiple influences of jazz, rock, neo-soul and R’n’B – a quirky, funky sound with nods to Hiatus Kaiyote and Erykah Badu.
“If I had to describe my music, picture Hiatus Kaiyote, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Dangelo rolled into one. Gigging is what I love and it’s what I want to do as a career, sharing my music with as many people as possible. After being a cool kid, touring with my sound engineer mum in Brazil and around the UK, I’m just waiting for the day I can take a step on a tour bus.
“The musicians I work with create a sound that we all enjoy. We met in Leeds, where the majority of us studied previously, and instantly we gelled with genres. I work closely with my keyboard player, writing and performing. Each member of the band brings their own touches, which I really love. There are influences of jazz, rock, neo-soul and RnB, which creates that quirky, but funky sound we all enjoy creating!”