United We Stream is Manchester’s answer to enjoying what the city usually has to offer but while isolating safely indoors during this global pandemic. New advice: Wash your hands, stay at home, protect the NHS and watch United We Stream!
The concept has been brought to the county by Manchester’s very own Night Time Economy Adviser, Sacha Lord, also the co-founder of the city’s favourite music festival, Parklife and The Warehouse Project.
This creation has been previously pioneered in Berlin by Lutz Leichsenring, who managed to raise £700,000 since the launch in mid-march.
The online platform has so much to offer including streaming live music and performances from bands, comedians, poets, musicians, actors, DJ’s and presenters with also the occasional cooking lesson from Manchester’s greatest chefs. This platform features a diverse range of entertainment and creativity, something for everyone to enjoy at home. All this and more will take place daily on the virtual space from 7pm onwards with every line-up being posted each week.
After launching on Friday of last week, the opening line-up included performances from local bands such as The Slow Readers Club, The Lottery Winners and Twisted Wheel. There was also DJ sets from Solardo, DJ Paulette and Gareth Brooks, a performance from local comedian, Justin Moorhouse, poetry from Manchester legend Tony Walsh and a cooking class from Gary Usher.
Also making an appearance was Catherine Tyldesley and Faye Brookes, actresses from Coronation Street.
Each week, viewers will have the opportunity to donate money to this brilliant concept and 70% of proceeds going towards a relief fund for Greater Manchester’s night-time economy – restaurants, bars, venues, cultural organisations and freelancers – that are unable to operate as usual due to Covid-19 and in hope to get them back up and running when this is over.
8% of funds raised will also be donated to Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Charity and 22% will go towards the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Charity.
“People always associate Greater Manchester with football, music and culture – it’s in our DNA. But whichever band you prefer, or whichever colour you support, if there’s one thing Mancunians all agree on, it’s that we are a community. It’s in our blood. In the most difficult of times, we come together to look after each other, support each other and look after the most vulnerable. Not only will this potentially help many people who work within our night time economy such as our performers, our artists, our creatives, but I’m delighted that at the same time, Greater Manchester’s homeless, our most vulnerable, are being looked after.”
Sacha Lord
More information can be found in Sacha Lord’s announcement video here:
The site is up and running over at – unitedwestream.co.uk
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