Nearly 1000 people who work in the live music industry in Manchester participated in a socially-distanced silent march through the city centre today.
The march formed part of the #WeMakeEvents – RED ALERT Day of Action nationwide event.
The #WeMakeEvents campaign – which has been organised by PLASA – is to raise awareness of the UK’s one million highly-skilled live music industry professionals, all of whom have had little to no work for the past four months amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and with little likelihood of the industry restarting until Spring 2021.
The live music sector includes a huge supply chain of workers in areas ranging from production, audio, lighting and video, to logistics, planning, transportation, and some of the world’s leading technology manufacturers.
#WeMakeEvents is calling on the UK government to “throw us a line”.
As stated on the PLASA website, without additional government support for the supply chain, the UK is not only “in danger of losing its global position as a world leader in world class events”, but “all of our incredible creatives and technicians could lose their livelihoods for good”.
Manchester is a city synonymous with music and the industry needs our help.
We support the 100,000+ professionals in #Manchester who make our city one of the top destinations in Europe for live music and events.
You should support them too. Their jobs could be lost without intervention. #WeMakeEvents
#WeMakeEvents is calling for “meaningful support from the government until the industry is allowed to operate in a way that is not limited by social distancing policies”.
This includes three main objectives:
1. Grants – not loans – made available to businesses in the events supply chain.
2. Furlough scheme extended until the industry is back to work.
3. Extension of the self-employment scheme – tailored towards the live music industry.
#WeMakeEvents Great scenes in Manchester. First industry to stop, last to return! More support is needed from the government until live music and events are able to start up again #letmusiclivepic.twitter.com/izny27imai
There has been a substantial amount of support seen for the #WeMakeEvents campaign within the wider music industry and across social media this week.
Many famous and well-respected names in the Manchester music scene have publicly expressed their support.
Sacha Lord – Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester and co-creater of Parklife Festival, The Warehouse Project and United We Stream GM – said that work by many crucial events staff goes “unseen by the public”.
This morning I will be marching (socially distanced and wearing my mask!) to support the freelancers, event and festival staff who have been simply forgotten. Nearly 114,000 people need urgent financial support now #WeMakeEventspic.twitter.com/JterGW7Cn1
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester this morning, he said: “From my own experience with Parklife, there are about 4,500 people working on that,”
“The stages don’t erect by themselves, the Portaloos don’t arrive by themselves, the fences, the arenas, the lighting techs, it is a vast swathe of freelancers that work behind the scenes, and sadly they have been forgotten.”
Mr Lord was also seen present at the city centre March today as well.
Without major immediate support from the Government, the entire live events sector supply chain is at risk of collapse. Red Alert is a campaign to raise public and media awareness in support of the live events sector #WeMakeEventspic.twitter.com/IX3YdLtvvp
#WeMakeEvents is an initiative looking for a solution to the devastating crisis that the live music industry is facing. Concerts have been organised in the past to help people all around the world – right now, it’s those who arranged and worked at those events who need help
Yes, performers, artists, speakers. But also venues, lighting/sound engineers, photographers, event planners, bar & catering teams, security, tent & stage hire, booking agents, festival teams etc etc. So many of us with little or no support. #WeMakeEvents I’ll see you there. pic.twitter.com/iIGvRVYwzL
Today the #WeMakeEvents RED ALERT Campaign calls on the government to support the live events industry before we lose the talent and expertise that is the envy of the world.#WeMakeEvents
Buildings across Manchester and the UK are also set to light up red this evening in support of the live music industry and as part of the #LightItInRed campaign.
Over 500 buildings throughout the country are said to be registered to take part.
CALL TO ACTION!
We are calling again for companies and venues to light up red on the 11th of August 2020.
With many other activities also happening throughout the day, we want YOU involved!
You can find out more information and show your support for the #WeMakeEvents campaign here.
Audio
Cult favourite clothing brand Clints has dropped the lineup for the first-ever music festival
Danny Jones
Popular Manchester street and footwear brand, Clints Inc., has now revealed the lineup for its first-ever music and culture festival to mark five whole years in fashion – and it’s looking big.
The highly sought-after clothing and sneaker make started out from a bedroom in Moston and is now a premium label in British urban, skating, UK grime and hip-hop culture, having been worn by many famous names and welcoming even more through the door of their Deansgate shop.
Located in the ABC Buildings on Quay Street next to Spinningfields, the flagship Clints store opened back in 2022 and is much more than a place to buy some new drip: it’s a place that showcases art, music, and a whole sub-sect of shopping beyond just skate silhouettes and trendy trainers.
As hack as it might sound to some, wearing this brand comes along with immersing yourself in the wider style and scene; the very same scene being celebrated in tandem with their fifth birthday.
Up until recently, details were still scarce, but now the debut Clints Fest lineup has dropped, and there are some big names on board.
Set to take place at Barton Aerodrome, a.k.a. City Airport, over in Eccles, the live performers confirmed for 2025 span multiple genres, spotlighting both music veterans and up-and-coming artists from all over.
Legendary DJ, producer and MC Mike Skinner – most famously for his music with The Streets – tops the bill, alongside Tottenham-born rapper and grime artist, Chip (formerly known as ‘Chipmunk’).
There’s plenty of local love on show too, with Manc R’n’B, jazz and soul singer, Victoria Jane, also set to perform, among many other acts from around the region and beyond.
Other names include the equally soulful hip-hop and rap star, Kofi Stone, New Zealand actor and solo artist, Sammy V, as well as plenty more.
On the launch of the event, Founder Junior Clint said: “We’ve built Clints on the back of our supporters embracing the DIY spirit. This festival is the ultimate expression of that ethos. Housing both music legends with upcoming artists is our ambition with Clint Fest, and we can’t wait to deliver it.”
Clints Fest (the inaugural one, at that) will take place on Saturday, 6 September, over in the Salford suburb of Barton-upon-Irwell, kicking off from 12pm and wrapping up around 10:30pm.
You can expect the festival to be packed to the rafters with die-hard followers of all things Clints and streetwear; here’s hoping this is just the first of many.
While the pre-sale and the first phase window for early access have both fully sold out, the second phase has now gone live, with general admission tickets available from £45.
The Canadian hitmaker has just come off the back of three very impressive nights at one of the biggest music events of the year, Wireless Festival, and is now embarking on a tour of the UK and Europe.
Drake has solidified his position in the rap field, dropping bangers from 2006 and since then, he’s gone on to have some of the most streamed tracks of all time with ‘One Dance’ and ‘God’s Plan’.
The postponed Drake concert will take place at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Tuesday 5 August.
Emily Sergeant -
11th August 2020 
