I’m Jess and I work freelance in the live music industry. I have a range of experience across Production, Artist Relations and Event Management, most recently working as a Tour Manager. Before moving full time into live music and events I worked for over a decade in the travel industry where I specialised in creating and booking bespoke round the world itineraries.
My work experience is listed below and you’ll see I’ve worked with a range of artists from grassroots acts and community groups through to festival headliners and legacy artists. I’ve also worked in theatre, performing arts and exhibitions. My experience spans small club tours and theatres through to international festivals and state of the art venues.
Some of the work I’m most proud of includes my time working for Manchester International Festival as Festival Artist Liaison Manager where I booked all travel, accommodation and ground transport for over 300 artists and their crew including international travel and visa documentation. I oversaw a team of eight who ran all the hospitality on the ground with two of the team assisting with the advancing. My background in the travel industry really came into play during this time and helped me juggle the busy schedule.
I loved the work that came after this, being asked to lead the Artist Liaison team on the ground for the first events in Factory International’s brand new venue Aviva Studios. Including my favorite project, A Night with the Johnny Marr Orchestra which saw Johnny and his band take over the 5000 capacity warehouse alongside a 30 piece orchestra for two nights with five days of rehearsal.
I’ve worked as Production Manager, Stage Manager and Venue Manager across a range of festivals here in the UK and internationally. I’m a UK and EU passport holder and I have a full UK driving licence. In 2024 I was shortlisted for Access All Areas Freelancer of the Year and for the Production Futures awards.
Right now I’m focusing on my touring work as Tour Manager, Production Coordinator, Assistant Tour Manager and other production related roles but I still have a keen interest in venue based and festival work. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch about opportunities in touring, live music or festivals please use the form at the bottom of the page or contact me via LinkedIn.
I’ve been described as a calming influence with patience and the ability to stay cool under pressure. I worked in the travel industry during the pandemic, bringing stranded travellers back to the UK amongst the chaos of changing entry requirements and airline cancellations. That was a test of my resilience and crisis management skills which has helped me many times in the music industry! One of my best friends calls me the human swiss army knife; I’ve always got a skill, a past experience or some kind of tool to help me figure out a solution to a challenge.
I'm really interested in mental health and touring, I have completed the Mental Health First Aid Course with Music Support and have attended further training with them around mental health in the industry. I'm also really passionate about the local music scene and supporting working class artists. I'm a part of the West Yorkshire Music Network steering group, working to shape the music industry in the region.
Outside of work I’m a keen traveller, I’ve lived in Australia, New Zealand and Canada and have travelled extensively throughout Asia, Australasia, Central America and Africa. I love the outdoors and like to hike, swim and snowboard whenever I can. You’ll also often find me lost in a good book.....when I have the time!
Client Highlights:
Factory International
Manchester International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
Deer Shed
Hidden Door
London 2012 Olympics
Artist Highlights:
Amyl & the Sniffers
Johnny Marr (A Night with The Johnny Marr Orchestra)
Children of Zeus & Special Guest Ghetts
Angelique Kidjo
Alison Goldfrapp
John Grant
Richard Hawley
Portico Quartet
Penelope Isles
Ellur
tiLLie
George Ezra
First Aid Kit
James Bay
Hot Chip
Event Highlights:
MOVE Manchester with Joe Wicks
Marina Abramović MIF25 Research and Development
Kalabanté Productions: Afrique En Cirque
Yayoi Kusama: You Me and The Balloons
Find Your Eyes by Benji Reid
R.O.S.E: Sharon Eyal, Gai Behar and Young with Ben UFO
