about
Viv Griffin is a 23-year-old bassist from Manchester. She is a touring bassist of Manchester post-punk-funk band A Certain Ratio, having played on their "1982" tour and "45" tour in 2023, "It All Comes Down To This" tour in 2024, multiple live sets on BBC 6 Music and European festivals such as Luna Festival (Portugal) and Pop Kultur (Berlin).
She also plays bass for indie artist Lei Hope and soul artist Rumbi Tauro, with bass credits on several of their released works. She has performed in a variety of venues including Band on the Wall, New Century Hall and Royal Albert Hall and at festivals including Manchester Jazz Festival, Shambala and Kendal Calling.
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Developing a jazz background in youth big bands and playing double bass in youth orchestras before surrounding herself with eclectic pop music at the Royal Northern College of Music for four years has allowed Viv to explore different musical ventures with her original projects Beck Pocket and Apollo House.
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In 2023, Viv was selected as one of Manchester Jazz Festival's Soundcheck Programme artists, further exploring the interlink between improvisation, technology and bass playing.
In 2021, Viv formed electronic-pop duo Beck Pocket with keyboardist Jasper Clarke, sharing writing/production roles, incorporating Ableton Live effects in performances and harnessing the power of the Novation Bass Station II. 2023 saw them play overseas in Groningen as part of the Eurosonic festival as well as Manchester venues Off The Square, 33 Oldham Street, The Eagle Inn, Aviva Studios, RNCM Opera Theatre with an orchestra, and The Peer Hat.
In 2024, Beck Pocket released their debut EP 'all your dreams', receiving play on BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing and Selector Radio, throwing a release party headlining Band on the Wall's bar stage.
Beck Pocket were selected to be part of Factory International's Factory Sounds cohort in 2025.
Viv is also a member of space-jazz quartet Apollo House, having performed at The Yard, Manchester Jazz Festival and Hyde Park Book Club (Leeds) in addition to a 6-date UK tour in 2023, concluding in a performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
