Salford has just got its first-ever interactive trail that celebrates the incredible legacy of the city’s music and cultural footprint.
Made possible through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, Echo Salford is is a brand-new and immersive augmented reality (AR) experience that takes users all across Salford to the places and spaces that best showcases the city and borough’s iconic musical and cultural history.
Starting at MediaCity, and taking in the sights of Salford Lads Club, Islington Mill, and Maxwell Hall along the way, before ending at the infamous Kings Arms, the trail promises to take people on a “mind-opening visual and audio journey”.
The ultimate aim of the trail is to “inspire and educate” people, all while showing just how important Salford is to the culture of Greater Manchester.
Accessed via the Echo Salford app, the trail will enable users to launch an AR experience at each location, view never-before-seen images, create musical content and other digital takeaways, and downloadable memorabilia too.
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From exploring the Edwardian elegance and Smith’s room at the Salford Lads Club, with history spanning over 100 years, to immersing yourself in the artistic epicentre of Islington Mill – which is creating a new wave of artists and creators to this day – Echo Salford is also said to be a “celebration” of the “diversity and inclusion that runs through the city”.
You’ll event get to submit a poem in the style of the wondrous John Cooper Clarke at The Lowry, which he’ll also personally review and award prizes to the best of.
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A new interactive AR trail celebrating Salford’s music and culture has just launched / Credit: The Lowry | Wikimedia Commons
Not enough to get you hooked?
How about the fact that you’ll even be able to enjoy the dulcet tones and supporting commentary of some local and national treasures around the trail too? Think guidance from the likes of Peter Hook, Maxine Peake, and John Cooper Clarke, as well as the next generation of incredible talent from the city such as Priya Matharu, and Cheddar Gorgeous.
Ultimately, the creators of Echo Salford say the app is about “sharing, uncovering, and restoring” heritage content.
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It will so this all while supporting new and future music in Salford, as well as providing career opportunities for both students and early-stage professionals as they start their media production careers too.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett says the Echo Salford app is “a perfect example of the world-class innovation produced here in Salford”.
Launch day is finally here for @EchoSalford – the first ever Salford immersive culture and music trail app! 📱
He continued: “This wonderful immersive trail shows off Salford’s vibrant cultural and musical past, present and future.
“Bringing buildings and people to life in front of our eyes, there are many Salford greats to spot along the route [and] I would encourage residents and visitors interested in music, culture, or local history to download the app.
“It really is a fun way to explore Salford at your own pace.”
A big battle of the bands is happening in Manchester this week – and it’s all for charity
Danny Jones
A massive battle of the bands event is happening in Manchester this week, and it’s helping raise money for crucial grassroots organisations.
Better still, it’s happening at one of our favourite venues in the city centre: Band on the Wall.
Now, the beloved Northern Quarter institution hosts all kinds of live music throughout the year, so they’re no strangers to events like a battle of the bands competition. Teaming up with homegrown charity Forever Manchester and some other well-known faces, this is set to be a big one.
This brand new event will see local businesses and employees come together to form a band for one night only, to see who is the best of the best up on stage. Who knows? You could be about to see the best-kept secret…
Yes, Manc worker bees are banding together (quite literally) to form the exclusive super group and will be judged by a panel of audiophile aficionados.
It doesn’t matter whether you work in the industry, you do office admin or work in a cafe all day long; at the debut ‘Forever Manchester Rocks‘ competition, consider yourself a music god in the making.
The live on-stage battle is open to pre-existing bands who have already played together, but we’ll confess, we’re looking forward to seeing what those cobbled together specifically for this contest are going to sound like.
Finalists not only have the opportunity to perform at the most iconic venues, but the winners of this year’s competition will claim the inaugural ‘Manchester Business Rocks Legends’ trophy, as well as being invited to play the annual Forever Manchester Birthday Party at the Kimpton Clocktower in February.
Once again, the best part of this new battle of the bands event at Band on the Wall is that it’s all for the greater good, with important funding being generated for local community groups – a cause that both pursue with 24/7, 365 days a year.
If you’re interested in a last-minute sign-up, the rules for entering the competition are as follows:
A majority of band members must work at the same company or in the same industry
Covers or originals welcome – just bring your best 15-minute set
You bring the instruments and tunes – the backline, PA and sound engineer will be provided
Acts will be judged on talent, energy, crowd reaction, showmanship and amount of money raised.
Nick Massey CBE, chief exec at Forever Manchester, said: “As a region famed for its musical prowess, entrepreneurial spirit and its sense of community, Forever Manchester Rocks just made total sense to me as our next big occasion.
“It is a battle like no other, and we’re calling for businesses across the region to trade their KPIs for killer riffs to show us how they shine on stage… And it’s all in support of a fantastic cause, with the money raised helping to fund vital community initiatives in the Greater Manchester region.
“We can’t wait to see colleagues from across the region unleash their hidden talents and bring that Manchester energy to Band on the Wall on 10 December!”
For those looking to come along this Wednesday (10 Dec), you can grab your tickets HERE.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Billy Weaver (supplied)
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The BRIT Awards announce Manchester host as Jack Whitehall, plus ticket info
Daisy Jackson
Jack Whitehall will host this year’s BRIT Awards, as the glittering music ceremony moves up to Manchester for the first time.
The BRIT Awards 2026 has now also confirmed that public tickets will be going on sale today, so us Mancs have a chance with being right in the action when the awards take place at the Co-op Live in February.
This is the first time in the nearly-50 year history of the BRITs that the show has moved north, with an exclusive broadcast with ITV1 and ITVX.
And Jack Whitehall will be back once again, after a five different gigs hosting the show down in London.
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard announced the news with an ‘Ode to Manchester’ video with Jack Whitehall, where he takes a green screen trip down the Curry Mile (except it’s actually the Northern Quarter), visits the Coronation Street cobbles, and pokes fun at the arrival of Soho House.
The comedian may be as southern as they come, but has special connections to Manchester, having studied at the University of Manchester – and later revisited those days in the sitcom Fresh Meat.
Jack credits the city as one of the most influential places that helped shape his early comedy career.
Jack said: “I am so excited to be coming back for this very special BRIT Awards in Manchester, a place that is so important to me.
“The city I started my comedy career in, it feels like a real full circle moment returning to host this historic night at the Co-op Live, a venue that is only a stone’s throw away from the comedy club I did my first 10 minute set in all those years ago.
“Hopefully I get a few more laughs than I did that night. I cannot wait.”
The BRIT Awards 2026 will be taking place at the Co-op Live in Manchester on 28 February – and tickets will be going on sale from 10am HERE.
Matthew Williamson with this year’s BRIT Award trophy. Credit: Supplied
Last week, the shortlist was revealed for the prestigious BRITs Critics’ Choice award (previous winners include Dua Lipa, Adele, The Last Dinner Party and more), with Jacob Alon, Rose Gray and SIENNA SPIRO the chosen three.
And this year’s physical BRIT Award is designed by internationally acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson, inspired by his Manchester roots and built from an amber toned resin – resembling the golden honey of a worker bee.
Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: “Jack is absolutely brilliant at his craft so we are thrilled to welcome him back and excited for the fun and mischief he’s bound to bring to the show again this year.
“His legacy hosting the awards speaks for itself and as the BRITs enters a new era, in a city familiar to him, there’s nobody better placed to take the helm of the biggest night in music.”
Emily Sergeant -
9th September 2023 
