Factory International has announced the line-up for Festival Square, the central hub of its biennial Manchester International Festival (MIF), which will take up residence at Aviva Studios on the banks of the River Irwell and throughout The Social from 4 – 20 July.
Festival Square will host free performances from almost 200 artists, bands, DJs and musicians, as well as family entertainment and a wide variety of food and drink.
With over 160 artists in the line-up hailing from Greater Manchester, the programme is a massive celebration of grassroots initiatives, venues, collectives and sounds from across the region.
Some of the highlights of the Festival Square programme include an exciting new collaboration between Rian Treanor and Kathleen Allott, Anne Goss, and Mick Gladwinfrom Rotherham Sight & Sound, a charity supporting blind and visually impaired people; a DJ set from Lady Shaka whose music is a representation of both her queer identity as a femme queen and her connection to the moana (ocean) and her diaspora
The line up also features Transmission Towers; a Liverpool-based duo blending machine-driven rhythms with deeply human energy, drawing from Motor City techno, cosmic jazz, and Afrofuturism; Manchester based MC, producer and singer-songwriter Renee Stormz, who draws on classical and traditional Nigerian music
Brown Wimpenny an 11-piece traditional folk ensemble, breathing new life into old jigs and raising the roof across the city; disco punk from Ninja Tune- affiliated PVA; and a DJ set from local rapper, producer and Fixed Abode label-head, Rainy Miller.
Throughout MIF25, Festival Square will present takeovers from some of the city’s best artists, promoters, collectives, venues and radio stations, highlighting the nature of collaboration and support of grassroots initiatives across Greater Manchester including: Carlton Club, Renee Stormz x Raise The Bar, Crop Radio, YES, South Asian Music Summit, Green Island, Night & Day, Sounds From The Other City, Adele Tondu & Friends, Reform Radio Sweet Vibrations and SWAGGA, and Under One Roof.
Across the weekend, the party doesn’t stop, with the festival hosting some of the best DJ’s and clubnights from across the city, including Haçienda legend Dave Haslam with Colin Curtis; and takeovers from Eves Drop Collective B2B The Social Service, HOMOBLOC x Homoelectric, Suffragette City, High Hoops, Swagga and Kiss Me Again.
Following an open call-out earlier this year, in which over 350 artists and community groups from the region applied, 25 were selected including: Our Kids Social, Brown Wimpenny, Secret Night Gang, See Thru Hands, Hamsaz Ensemble, Bethlehem Casuals, IRIS, Desi Fusion, Algernon Cornelius, Muzi Swaks, Tay Temple, La Familia, Rhod Parry, May & Hunte, Krin, NONUNONU, Holly Redford Jones, Third Kulture, NEKONEKO, E&I Collective, True Aubz, Rumbi, DJ EKUA, RUBIX & Beau Mec.
Rising stars from Factory International’s annual artist development programme, Factory Sounds, will also be taking to the stage to showcase the wealth of grass-roots talent in the city’s music scene. Factory Sounds solo artists, DJs, collectives and bands performing include:Shell Company, Tallulah Guard, Victoria Jane, Beck Pockett, Bennettiscoming, Grumpy, Lemon Vinyl, PAVÉ, Poolera, Olivesque, Superlative, Shanika Sunrise, Ewan Sim and RIYA.
Factory International’s Neighbourhood Organisers are local champions who help connect people from their communities around Greater Manchester to the work and events taking place throughout the year at Aviva Studios. For one special day on Festival Square the Neighbourhood Organisers are taking over the stage with a curated programme of their chosen local artists. Expect an exciting mix of music, dance, and spoken word from the talent that thrives in their neighbourhoods and beyond including a ceilidh led by Brian Boru Irish Club and music from Zola Steel Pan, The Divines, and Naomi Kalu.
Joy on the Square, a family friendly, joy-themed afternoon, celebrates three years of Factory International’s Community Partnerships Programme, working with charity and community organisations embedded in the heart of Salford and Manchester. The takeover includes the world premiere of Joy as Resistance – a film by REELMCR and a young people’s film crew at Salford Lads and Girls Club, as well as up-cycling workshops with CDM UK, a Brazilian carnival and more.
Community Engagement initiatives, such as the Neighbourhood Organisers and Community Partnerships programme, are also helping to facilitate the distribution of free and affordable tickets for a range of communities throughout Greater Manchester to events in the wider Manchester International Festival programme. Through its ongoing partnership with Rainbow Haven, Factory International is also supporting refugees and asylum seekers to connect with the city’s arts and culture scene through volunteering opportunities across the festival.
The range of Manchester’s scene will be in full force across Festival Square, including Ghost Assembly’s narcotic basslines dipped in dub, NY garage and the darker ends of the dancefloor; a new project from multi-disciplinary artist Lois MacDonald exploring how emerging technologies impact composition; hip-hop theatre from new local company RUBIX; Latin rhythms and reggaetón from atalaya; a queer line dancing night by Red Rodeo Clubhosted by Violet Blonde with tutorials by Shanika Sunrise and soundtracked by DJ Klitbait; high-camp chaos and unfiltered joy by the queer performance collective Miss Chief Cabaret; to Deafwhip’s heavy garage-rock with synthesised nods to drone, punk and psychedelia.
Family activity takes over Festival Square on weekend mornings with kids clubbing, storytelling, crafting and a Sports Day with a difference. Z-Arts present an Alice in Wonderland themed Family Jam (Saturday 5 July) with soul singer Yemi Bolatiwa and dance-pop artist Adam Westley, Born to be Wildchild host a space themed party (Saturday 12 July) and Ray Bubbles presents an immersive Giant Bubble Show blending science, art and storytelling (Sunday 20 July). Manchester’s Little Artists provide messy art workshops and Semi Peppered present classic Sports Day competitions set to a soundtrack of pumping tunes as part of Carlton Club Presents (Sunday 6 July). Our Kids Social host a silent disco for the whole family (Sunday 13 July) and Playhouse Project present a daytime clubbing experience for parents who miss their dancing days and the next generation of music lovers (Saturday 19 July).
Each day food and drink on the square will feature Indian street food from Bundobust, Hot Chicken from Trading Route and Thai food from Superserve as well as regular appearances from Ginger’s Ice Cream and other friends of the festival. On Sunday 6 July Honest Crust will be serving up limited edition pizza in collaboration with celebrated chef Shaun Moffat(Winsome) from 1pm until they sell out in aid of EatWell MCR. Official beer of the festival comes from Madri, with a new Dream Differently cocktail offered by Superserve.
Visitors to Festival Square will also be able to visit the summer exhibition Football City, Art United. in the Warehouse space at Aviva Studios with free entry for those aged 16 and under. Curated by Juan Mata, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Josh Willdigg, the exhibition features 11 new works created by pairings of internationally renowned artists and footballers, including interactive play arenas, sound installations, manga and sculpture.
A series of afternoon talks in The Social hosted by Factory International Creative Director Low Kee Hong and Factory International Artistic Director and Chief Executive John McGrath welcomes artists creating works across the city for MIF25 and others connected to Factory International to explore how their work encourages us to dream differently, offering space for reflection, conversation and community.
Factory International’s five partner schools are coming together for the grand culmination of this academic year’s creative learning programme with a vibrant, end-of-year celebration. Expect a party for all ages – with plenty of opportunities to get involved with denim upcycling workshops, a collaborative giant mural, dance sessions, a talent show and exhibitions of the work created by local students throughout this year’s programme.
Rivca Burns, Head of Music at Factory International and Manchester International Festival, says:
“Festival Square is a vital part of the annual music programme at Factory International. It’s where we celebrate our fantastic city and its musicians on an international stage. For many of us – including myself as a programmer – it’s where the journey begins. Festival Square tells the story of Greater Manchester’s sound, both on stage and behind the scenes. I’m incredibly proud that this year we’re working with more promoters and curators than ever before and celebrating some of our most cherished music venues, shining a light on independent voices. The variety of performances is incredible – a true reflection of Manchester, with something for everyone. Come and discover your new favourite artist!”
Low Kee Hong, Creative Director of Factory International and Manchester International Festival says: “Programmed in collaboration with artists, organisations and community groups across the city, Festival Square is a 15-day party celebrating the very best of Manchester in upcoming music, a real variety of fun activities for all ages and late night parties – all completely free. No two days will be the same.”
