Offshoots: Flo / ra & Tom Harris

Offshoots returns in 2025, supported by the New Northern fund by Jazz North and Early Career Promoter Fund by the PRS foundation, featuring Flo/ra and Tom Harris. Tom Harris is a northern pianist, composer, and educator. They try their best to make interesting work with kind people, and want to share it with as many folks as possible! Toms heartfelt compositions explore mental health, queerness, acceptance, and joy, all filtered through the musical influence of their favourite artists (Nina Simone, Snowpoet, Cécile McLorin Salvant). Their latest offering takes inspiration from Buddleia - the vibrant purple shrub which thrives in ugly places. Its tough, beautiful, and a reminder that some version of life will always persevere flo/ra is a modern instrumental band fronted by Flo Taylor on saxophone; using their deadname the music aims to explore complex feelings on gender, belonging and neurodivergence such as in their tune Exposed, about the complex feelings around unmasking; and Mantra, inspired by repetitive chant music. The project draws on a wide range of musical influences of Flos including modern and spiritual jazz, world and folk music, rock and DNB, to create a unique twist on the conventional jazz quintet sound. flo/ra takes influence from artists such as Trish Clowes, Alabaster DePlume and Nate Smith. Flora features: Flo Taylor - alto sax; Henry Skinner - electric guitar; Callum Greenaway - piano; Jaden Hart - double bass; and Louis Berthoud - drums.