We’re delighted to welcome James Mainwaring as our Artist in Residence at this years festival

James Mainwaring is a genre-fluid improvising saxophonist and composer. Since co-founding the Mercury Prize-nominated Roller Trio, he has carved a distinctive path through ambitious solo projects and boundary-pushing collaborations.

His playing combines extended techniques—currently focusing on multiphonics, and singing while playing—with a deep commitment to instrumental exploration.

In addition to solo work, Mainwaring leads and co-creates in ensemble contexts. His collaborative focus currently is on two projects: one of which is The Exu, a visceral trio with double bassist Dave Kane and drummer Emil Karlsen. Drawing influence from free jazz, hip hop, and metal. The second is Sveið, a trio with Karlsen and electronic artist Federico Reuben. Their upcoming album Latent Imprints (due in 2025 on New York’s 577 Records) explores the creative tension between human expression and machine logic, using generative AI to co-create and disrupt in real time. Entirely improvised and recorded in one session, the album interrogates authorship, agency, and post-digital mythmaking.

Mainwaring continues to contribute to the UK and European improvised music scenes through performance, recording, and education. Based in Leeds, he is a tutor and lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire.

James will be running a workshop and performing a special solo set at the Gregson on Saturday – see the Innovation Hub page for details.

Also look out for James playing with one of his current projects, the Exu, at Kanteena on Sunday.