By Georgina Hurdsfield
Manchester International Festival is back for 2019 from 4th – 21st July, boasting an exciting line-up which gathers artists from over 20 different countries. MIF provides an electrifying cultural experience for the people of Manchester and afar, showcasing original music, art, theatre and so much more!
Opening the festival is Yoko Ono with her ‘BELLS FOR PEACE’, which invites festival-goers to join in on a mass-participatory art piece in Cathedral Gardens. This exhibitions requests participants to sing out for peace and was curated specifically for Manchester.
Another event we are excited to see is David Lynch’s art exhibition. For those of you who don’t know, David Lynch is a legendary artist, musician and director of works such as Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet. His artwork will take over every corner of HOME for 18 sensational days. In the cinema there will also be screenings of Lynch’s classic films as well as some rare shorts. Fingers crossed that he may actually turn up for his own mini festival at HOME!
For fans of grime, Skepta has curated a piece called ‘DYSTOPIA987’, taking place in a secret location in Manchester that presents his vision of the future. This will feature a live performance from the Mercury Prize winner himself, as well as handpicked DJs.
For those of you who love the idea of a festival but don’t quite fancy the camping bit, MIF will be turning Albert Square into its own miniature festival, featuring art pieces from Manchester School of Art and free live music as well as fabulous food and drink. Admission is free and festival square will be open till late throughout the duration of MIF.
If you’re looking for ways to get involved with the festival, there are many opportunities such as volunteering, joining online forums, artist development opportunities and MIF traineeships/internships. MIF is even offering a budget for people to throw their own mini-festival in their home with help from experienced producers.
Event listings and tickets can be found here. However, don’t forget more special events will be announced closer to the festival, including conversations, master classes and much more.
The evening begins with Soap, a pop-punk four piece from London. Formerly known as The Tyne, they have found success in supporting the likes of Busted and Noahfinnce. Lead singer Ryan Lofthouse clambers around the stage with his microphone as he riles up the audience.
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