Jay Taylor was born in Withington, Manchester, the son of a bass player and a showgirl. He is currently English National Coordinator for the Music Venue Trust supporting Music Venues Alliance members. He chairs the Greater Manchester Music Commission, liaising with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Mayor Andy Burnham, and contributes to the Manchester Grassroots Music Venue Network. His extensive career includes being promoter-manager at Manchester’s Night & Day Café, Ruby Lounge and Manchester235 Casino, a radio presenter, studio producer, Gold Blade guitarist, illustrator (notably at Deadline Magazine alongside Jamie Hewlett et al), music journalist, tour manager, lecturer, panelist, partner in the wonderful folly that was Manchester’s first urban beach project, shoe model, and Mister February in the one-off Beards of Manchester calendar.