> > > SOUNDS FROM THE OTHER CITY < < <
Sunday May 2nd 2010!
“It’s a sell out year for Manchester promoters’ annual excursion across the Irwell. There’s no doubt that it’s stronger – if not bigger - than ever. This year’s event was so good it could be used as propaganda for the area. It flattered the region”Artrocker
“moves to grow the fabulous Sounds From The Other City Festival into a 12-hour occupation of every venue on the Chapel Street corridor is just about the finest thing that could have happened to Salford in a very long time.”
Manchester Evening News
“It may have taken a big step up this year, but Sounds from the Other City – and Islington Mill itself – has retained the spirit of defiant invention and personality that has often been lacking in the gentrified bigger city just down the road.”
CreativeTourist.com
SOUNDS FROM THE OTHER CITY really is an annual wake up call. It’s the first UK city music festival on the calendar and since 2005 and has proven itself to be both a barometer for tomorrow’s sounds and a reliable, ingenious and innovative artistic platform with an anything-goes attitude.”
Manchestermusic.co.uk
And so it was, the 6th instalment of Sounds from the Other City,without a doubt one of our best outings yet, with some amazing music, performance and all round good times. This year the obligatory rain was instead replaced by a brisk wind from Siberia but it didn't dampen the spirits a tiny little jot. Here is a little idea of how it all went off...
All pictures courtesy and copyright of:
Fraser Chapman: www.msa.mmu.ac.uk/~fraser/
Alexandra Wolkowicz: www.studiowolkowicz.com
Heads up, everywhere
Pic: Fraser Chapman
Queues at the door of the Mill still excite us - and here was a big mad one to start the day off. 2pm and ready to roll deep Pic: Fraser Chapman
Down on Bexley Square, Cheap Affair was getting the show underway. In the centre can be seen poet Andrew Beswick nonchalantly ambles to his spoken word performance at Paradox in the New Oxford. The New Oxford is a wonderful little hideaway on the back corner of the square
Pic: Fraser Chapman
The Wristband Exchange now filling up with excited punters. This picture makes me realise how the seat of ones pants really does make a big difference to how your bum appears.
Pic: Fraser Chapman
Islington Mill's One69a Collective flex the SFTOC merch muscle with some nifty little totes and tees. These went like hotcakes all day
Pic: Fraser Chapman
And One69a continued to show their tremendous work ethic by being in two places at one time. Here's Sally upstairs at the Kings Arms, effortlessly screening another Mind on Fire tee. Under the watchful eye of an intense looking mannequin.
Pic: Fraser Chapman
Right in front of Sally, in the main room at the Kings, Levenshulme Bicycle Orchestra work their magic on an already packed room. Mind on Fire and WotGodForgot put together an amazingly eclectic line up that also included the mental Italians Io Monade Stanca and the blissbeat of Kelpe.
Pic: Alexandra Wolkowicz
Back at the Mill and the cafe is filling up with eager gourmands ready to sample the delightful concoctions of resident dinnerladies Kim and Fliss - cooking up treats all day and all night long
Pic: Fraser Chapman
And up above them the mighty Gnod flouted the conventions of normal festival fair play by setting up and playing every hour on the hour. We think they finished at some point on Tuesday
Pic: Fraser Chapman
Meanwhile the Tim and Sam Band carry on proceedings at St Phillips Church. The Church had such a lovely atmosphere all day, truly an exceptional space
Pic: Alexandra Wolkowicz
Out on the street the Artyarn bombs are blowing in the wind.
Pic: Fraser Chapman
And the Telephone Showbox gets ready to beam the stars down its tiny headset to some lucky punters
Pic: Fraser Chapman
Here is Elliot Melody on the blower to Andrew WK direct from New York. Elliot at this point is drinking Guiness and Orange whilst Andrew is dispensing life guidance ('He told me to remember that sometimes we think life is like watching a movie but actually we're the actors and the directors, and we can write the script if we want to)before writing a "Song for Elliot', all about his dj set later in the evening. Others enjoyed Six Organs of Admittance, Dan Deacon and TuneYards.
Pic: Alexandra Wolkowicz
Back at the Mill, the Mount Pleasant exhibition is getting much love and attention
Pic: Alexandra Wolkowicz
Whilst next door Bo Ningen pull out one of the shop stopping performances of the day. They broke several mics and shattered a few minds.
All the while upstairs and downstairs at the Pint Pot they was a racking up big show after big show but it was so busy in there that neither man, woman nor camera could pass.
Pic: Alexandra Wolkowicz
Upstairs at the Angel, Maria and the Gay take things to the precipice by performing in a tent. The Angel was incredible fun all day with amazing shows from Waythrough, Talk Normal and the Cartune Xprez screenings
Pic: Fraser Chapman
Exhausted by the exertions of the tent show Amy of Maria and the Gay took a well earned breather, joined by Lowri from Hotpants Romance, herself not long recovered from her earlier show at the Angel Centre
Pic: Fraser Chapman
While the punters look on at 'House' in equal parts wilder and bewilderment.
Pic: Fraser Chapman
And as the night sets in, the crowds makes a last hotfoot to catch the final acts of the day, here the ubiquitous Mr Penguin greets the folks on the way to see Chrome Hoof at Islington Mill.
Pic: Alexandra Wolkowicz
And with that our memories begin to fade... before being lost in time, like tears in the rain...
Till we meet again
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The event was kindly supported by:
