Live music is set to return to the University of Salford’s historic Maxwell Hall as part of the upcoming Sounds from the Other City festival.
For the first time since 2014, the venue will host live music from external performances, with Welsh artist Gruff Rhys set to headline the venue, joining the likes of Paul McCartney, U2, The Smiths and Blondie who have all performed on the stage.
Maxwell Hall will also host the festival’s famous afterparty in the evening, which includes a set from A Guy Called Gerald.
The festival, now in its 18th year, will be held across six venues at the University of Salford’s Peel Park campus, including Peel Hall, the Salford Museum & Art Gallery, the recently-refurbished Old Fire Station, the Working Class Movement Library and a stage on Heritage Lawn off The Crescent.
Two special projects have also been announced in a partnership between the University and the festival that will be showcased on the day.
Renowned visual artist Mishka Henner will unveil his striking presentation The Conductor, developed as part of his residency at Energy House 2.0, which will ‘channel all the world’s thunder strikes’ as a single percussionist beats a drum each time a lightning strike is recorded.
The unique performance, which will take place in the Reverberation Chamber in our Newton Building, will use live data from a global network of sensors maintained by the Blitzortung.org project.
Multi-instrumentalist Ray Aggs will also take part in the Samarbeta Music residency at Islington Mill, which will see them create an album and live performance of new folk songs.
They will be inviting local people of colour to take part in an educational guitar workshop and improvised songwriting, focused on the nature of ‘roots’ music, appropriation, belonging, identity and the black diaspora.
As part of the residency, Ray will deliver an artist talk and discussion on Decolonising Folk Music at the Working Class Movement Library and the week will culminate in a live premiere performance of new music at SFTOC.
Tim France, Director of Performance, Music, English & Dance at The University of Salford, said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring live music back to the stage of our beloved Maxwell Hall. Sounds from the Other City is one of Salford’s most impactful and colourful musical spectacles and it is fitting that this year’s festival will mark the first time that bands have taken to the stage there in ten years.
“It is a hallowed stage that has played host to some of the world’s biggest bands and will forever have a space in our city’s illustrious musical history, but it is time that live music returns there and we are tremendously excited to see it return as a venue for this festival and to see music showcased across our campus this May. From Peel Hall to the stunningly-refurbished Old Fire Station, the University of Salford will be the place to be this coming Bank Holiday Weekend for music lovers across Greater Manchester.”
Sounds From the Other City comes to Salford on Sun 5 May. Tickets are on sale now, book yours using the button below.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Tue 2 Apr 2024
