15 Greater Manchester artists have been awarded touring support through the new Greater Manchester Grassroots Music Fund.
The £36,000 fund was launched by Wild in Art as part of its Music for the Senses art trail, and is being delivered by Forever Manchester.
Grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 have been awarded to help artists cover the costs of touring, including transport, accommodation, promotion, production, and paying technicians and fellow musicians.
The fund was oversubscribed, receiving 29 applications, with organisers saying the response underlined the financial pressure facing emerging artists trying to take their music beyond the region.
The successful artists span punk, folk, jazz, electronic, hip hop, soul and guitar-driven music. They include Stockport rock and soul outfit Alabaster Queen, folk collective Brown Wimpenny, Manchester songwriter Caoilfhionn Rose, jazz-fusion producer Dobbö, contemporary soul artist Emmanuela Yogolelo and experimental indie group Fauna.
Also awarded support are Loose Articles, MALCOM, Rochdale alternative hip-hop artist Medley, Onion Mash, Mossley-based Rare Breed, electronic art-pop duo Shape of Water, The Empty Page, teenage garage-punk act The Sick Fix, and Macharia.
Loose Articles said: “As functioning as a touring band becomes increasingly difficult, we are grateful for the grassroots music fund. It helps musicians stay on the road, which in turn helps the grass roots venues stay open.”
Macharia’s connection to Music for the Senses began during last summer’s trail, when her portrait appeared on the back of a guitar as part of Guitar Street, the public art installation created by Lazerian. She also performed at The Cathedral of Sound installation in Mayfield Park, which helped launch the fund.
Macharia said: “I am so, so grateful to have gotten this support, so many aspects of my performances felt unreachable due to finances but this fund has enabled me to bring in elements from home such as Leso’s (Kenyan Coastal fabrics) and beaded jewellery that otherwise would have been very expensive for me to ship over. This has allowed me to bring a slice of home to the stage with me in a way that is so special!
“It has all come together in such a beautiful way and I am eternally grateful. I cannot emphasise how important it is to be supporting grassroots musicians. We have amazing ideas, we have big dreams, we just don’t have the resources to bring those dreams to fruition.”
The Greater Manchester Grassroots Music Fund was created to support artists at a point where touring can become essential to building a sustainable career, but increasingly difficult to afford.
Ben Reed, Head of Creative Development at Wild in Art, said: “Whilst demand for live music remains high, many grassroots artists simply cannot afford to tour. Through Music for the Senses, we wanted to turn the city’s love of music into something practical; a fund that helps artists take those next steps and supports the future of live music.”
Kate Lowes, Director of Brighter Sound, sector lead for Manchester Music City, said: “The Greater Manchester Grassroots Music Fund is a practical and timely intervention that directly responds to the pressures facing emerging artists. Touring is essential to building sustainable careers, but rising costs are making it increasingly difficult to take that step.
“We’ve been proud to help shape the development of this fund, which will enable talented artists from across the region to reach new audiences, grow their careers and continue to strengthen Greater Manchester’s global music reputation.”
The fund follows Manchester City Council’s recent £250,000 commitment to supporting grassroots music venues. While that investment is focused on venues, the Grassroots Music Fund is aimed at artists, helping support the next wave of talent ready to play them.
The fund has been developed by Manchester Music City with Wild in Art and delivered by Forever Manchester. It is financed through the Music for the Senses guitar auction, featuring instruments donated by, or inspired by, artists including Mani, Oasis, New Order and Elbow.
