Factory International has announced the full line-up of Festival Square, the open-to-all hub of Manchester International Festival (MIF25), which runs every two years.
Located on the banks of the River Irwell by Aviva Studios, there’ll also be food and drink on offer from some of the city’s top independents.
Over the course of the festival, the Square will host hundreds of free performances from over 200 artists, bands, DJs and musicians, more than 75% of whom hail from the Greater Manchester 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 Gladwin from Rotherham Sight & Sound, a charity supporting blind and visually impaired people and a DJ set from Lady Shaka, whose music celebrates queer identity and her connection to the ocean.
Festivalgoers can also look forward to a performance from Manchester-based singer-songwriter Renee Stormz and a DJ set from local rapper, producer and Fixed Abode label-head, Rainy Miller.
There’ll be Festival Square takeovers from the city’s top promoters and venues including Carlton Club, Crop Radio, YES, South Asian Music Summit, Green Island, Night & Day, and Sounds From The Other City. Top DJs like Dave Haslam and club nights High Hoops and HOMOBLOC x Homoelectric will also be in residence.
The comprehensive line-up will also feature dozens of emerging artists discovered as part of Factory Sounds, an initiative to support grass-roots talent in the city, as well as 25 hand-picked acts who applied as part of an open call earlier in the year. These include Secret Night Gang, Shell Company and Brown Wimpenny.
Across the festival there’ll also be food on offer from Trading Route, Honest Crust and Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, as well as Shaun Moffat of Winsome’s creations, in aid of Eat Well MCR.
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.”
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.”
More details on the MIF25 programme, including Festival Square, can be found at factoryinternational.org.
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