Manchester International Festival (MIF) has announced two initiatives to support the city’s music scene – which is still reeling from the devastating aftermath of COVID-19.
The first of the initiatives is MIF Sounds – which will pledge £10,000 to ten Manchester music creatives in producing new work.
Since lockdown, Manchester’s music scene has received very little governmental support. Creatives and musicians have been left without work and venues are in despair.
Two kingpins of the city, Gorilla and Deaf Institute, were even on the brink of total shutdown a few months back only to be saved by the skin of their teeth by Tokyo Industries. But the risk of closures elsewhere remains high.
Manchester artists Children of Zeus performing at MIF 2019
This financial support from MIF will provide some much-needed hope and encouragement to keep the city’s musical spirit alive. MIF organisers are open to ideas and want to hear from musicians, producers and creatives alike that have been hit by the pandemic and need help finding their feet.
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Jane Beese, Head of Music at MIF said: “MIF want to support the next generation of Manchester’s music industry who have been affected by the pandemic, to continue to create work.
“Maybe you need help to make or complete a recording project or you are a label promoting new releases or you are working in production and have a new piece of technology you want to advance.
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“Perhaps you are a promoter looking for support to present a socially distanced gig with a small audience with a live stream, or you just need some headspace and some time to make new music. We want to hear from you”
Festival in My House and Yours in action
The second initiative is funding for MIF’s online series Festival in My House and Yours: A programme launched during lockdown.
The idea brings together local people online to host digital micro-festivals in their own homes.
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It will offer six artists £1,800 to develop projects for the series.
Punam Ramchurn, Talent Development Manager at MIF said: “We’re really excited to offer these opportunities for creatives to develop and create work in these current times.
“From financial support, mentorship and learning new skills, we’re investing in artists across Greater Manchester, and passionate about building long lasting relationships as we head towards MIF21 and The Factory.”
Festival Square at MIF
MIF is one of the biggest dates in the city’s music calendar – bringing together people from all over Greater Manchester whilst introducing new art, music and theatre.
In the past, work displayed at the festival has gone on to reach worldwide audiences. Take a look back at previous festivals here.
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This is an amazing opportunity to play a part in maintaining Manchester’s world-renowned music heritage.
The deadline for proposals for MIF Sounds andFestival in My House and Yours is midday on Monday 5 October, and you must be a Greater Manchester resident to be eligible.
Good luck!
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Wet Leg proved they’re well beyond the hype with a triumphant Castlefield Bowl debut
Clementine Hall
The Isle of Wight five-piece kicked off their biggest headline shows to date as part of Manchester’s Sounds of the City series.
If you have ever for a moment thought you are even remotely cool then think again, because you are not and never will be as cool as Wet Leg.
On paper, a Wednesday evening in Manchester should be fairly civilised. In reality? Thousands of people screaming the words to Chaise Longue in an old Roman amphitheatre while the sun slowly disappears behind the city skyline. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Wet Leg rolled into Castlefield Bowl with the confidence of a band who know they’re on a serious hot streak.
There was no over-the-top production, no unnecessary gimmicks – just a ridiculously tight live band and lots of attitude.
Rhian Teasdale remains one of the coolest frontwomen around, demanding the crowd with her full-throttle rockstar energy without even breaking a sweat. The chemistry across the band was undeniably magnetic, and every track landed harder than the last.
Tracks from their sophomore album moisturizer sat perfectly alongside fan favourites, with the biggest singalongs naturally arriving with Wet Dream, Mangetout and the unavoidable Chaise Longue.
Of course a special shoutout must go to Leeds band English Teacher, who delivered a blistering support set that deserved far more than polite applause and warmed the crowd up effortlessly (as if we weren’t already warm enough).
Gigs at Castlefield are always special, and this one was no exception.
For a band that’s spent the last few years steadily building momentum, this felt like another significant step forward. Wet Leg looked completely at ease headlining one of Manchester’s best-loved outdoor venues, and if last night’s performance was anything to go by, there are plenty more big stages waiting for them.
Local music student issues appeal over stolen saxophones just months after graduation
Danny Jones
A local music student has issued a heartbreaking appeal after two of his saxophones, one of which possessed a deep sentimental attachment, were stolen in Manchester not long after graduating from his degree.
Conor Parker-Delves, who only recently finished his undergrad degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, has dreams of performing professionally, but a sad twist of fate now means that he’s currently without the key tool he needs to make a living.
Having worked so hard up to this point in completing his studies, the 22-year-old was left gutted when the pair of extremely valuable instruments were stolen from his car after parking it in the Longsight area.
The still green graduate believes the items were originally kept at an address just south of Whitworth Park, along with some of his other stolen belongings, which he says were nearly resold on the high street in Moss Side.
Credit: Handouts (via Conor Parker-Delves)
What’s more is that one of these saxes belonged to his late granddad on his mother’s side, who sadly died when he was very young, and he’s been proudly playing it throughout his childhood. A gut-wrenching loss not just for him but for his family.
Speaking to The Manc, he said: “I have played on that sax ever since his passing and have kept the legacy alive. Losing this sax means losing him, and I am going to fight against this as hard as I can for as long as I can.”
A worn silver Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone (serial number: 240580) and a tenor sax of the same brand (SN: 91928) are estimated to be worth a combined £12,000 – funds a fresh graduate like Conor simply doesn’t have.
Given the connection to his grandad, it’s safe to say that he’s not ready to give up and say goodbye to the priceless heirloom, and being stuck without any means of playing is just cruel.
Unfortunately, Greater Manchester Police have already closed the case despite a “promising lead” that looks to have been exhausted, and now he’s been left with no other option than to issue a renewed appeal to the public.
It may only be a slim chance, but the London-born aspiring musician is hoping that the woodwind duo can be recovered, acknowledging that it is “much easier for the saxes to be handed in if they are come across” rather than be replaced.
Things are hard enough for artists these days as it is, especially those who have already spent their time and money uprooting their lives and moving to a big new city like Manchester.
We encourage anyone with any potentially useful information to get in touch and/or report to GMP online, via the non-emergency 101 number, or get in touch with Crimestoppers anonymously.
Fingers crossed we can get the tools of Conor’s craft and his grandfather’s before him back safe and sound – can you help?
Hannah Starkie -
9th September 2020 
