The British rock group New Order have been chosen as ambassadors for a new global concept festival this year in October, founded by Oli Wilson, son of Manchesters famous cultural catalyst, Tony Wilson.
Named Beyond The Music and based in multiple venues around Manchester, the event is uniquely designed to contribute positively toward the music industry to create a crucial change toward the industry’s most aggravating challenges, such as Brexit’s impact on touring, underpaid streaming services and Covid’s negative aftermath on live gigs.
Not only is it showcasing a line up of fresh live acts, but also conferences and collaborative features to address such issues by getting people into contact with each other. It is an original way to support the affected areas of the industry, as well as bringing a certain awareness to the table in order to bring innovation toward an unadapted sector. An event where all artists, entrepreneurs, innovators, techs, gaming brands and authors can take part.
The festival is set to take place from the 11th to the 14th of October in several venues around the city, where the chosen ambassador band, New Order, are the only to have been confirmed for the lineup. They will officially launch the event playing a live gig at a similarly designed annual festival in the US, known as Southwest Music Festival, at the Moody Theatre on the 13th March.
It is no coincidence that such a project is based in the UK’s most innovative city. Manchester was the world’s first industrial city, creating a wealth of diverse and world-changing breakthroughs which makes it perfectly fit to host said event. In this city, the festival founder’s father, Tony Wilson, founded Factory Records, the Hacienda club and the In The City music conference. Oli Wilson has followed in his father’s footsteps by creating such an ingenious, game changing notion.
Looking forward to the event, New Order express their pride toward their beloved city; “Manchester is a place where this can happen, our home and the city of revolution, and we’re looking forward to the launch of Beyond The Music with a live show at SXSW and being a part of this positive movement for the music industry.” The band is expected to be accompanied this March by two other Manchester based bands; The Orielles and Loose Articles, assisted and supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. They were also selected by the Greater Manchester Music Commission and Manchester Music Cities Network. The following day after New Orders gig, Beyond the Music will be showcasing a number of up and coming artists at the same SXSW.
