Beyond The Music: Manchester Festival Unveils Diverse Lineup and Expert Speakers
The second edition of the Beyond The Music Co-operative Music Forum and New Music Festival, taking place in Manchester's vibrant Northern Quarter from 9th to 12th October, has announced its second wave of artists and a stellar line-up of stage curators for its 2024 event. The festival will feature three days of live music alongside a world-class conference at Aviva Studios, boasting summits, keynote speeches, networking sessions, and exclusive announcements.
Beyond The Music has attracted some of the UK's most influential names in the music industry to curate and host showcases across the Northern Quarter, celebrating the next generation of exciting musical talent. BBC Introducing, a vital platform for emerging UK artists, will curate one of the stages, alongside Nice Swan Records, home to Mercury Prize nominees English Teacher and acclaimed quartet Sprints, who continue to champion the UK's burgeoning guitar music scene. Manchester Pride and From Manchester to Palestine, both dedicated to vital social causes, will also play a key role in curating the diverse festival experience.
The newly announced stage curators for the festival's three-day music programme include: Chris Hawkins Awesome Friends, Clash, Curated by Chunky, Disorderly Conduct, Dot to Dot Festival, Factory Sounds, Fat Out Fest, Focus Wales, Future Yard, Gig Pig, Greyline, Headstock, Jodie Bryant's Discover Live, Manchester New Tastemakers, Mas O Menos, Melodic Records, Moovin Festival, Raise The Bar Mcr, Rodeo Mag, School Night, Sour Grapes, South Asian Music Summit, Steve Lamaq, Studio 88, The Manc Audio, and Unity Radio. The announcement also includes a plethora of new additions to the already impressive line-up, further bolstering the festival's commitment to showcasing a wide range of genres and styles.
Beyond The Music's dedication to empowering and equipping attendees and performers with knowledge and a platform for open dialogue extends beyond the music programme. The festival recently issued a call-out for new artists to perform at the 2024 edition, attracting over 2,500 applications.
The full music lineup includes (new additions in bold): [ K S R ] | 024Kas | 32 Tens | Adjua | Adjustments | Adwaith | Aleighcia Scott | Alex Apolline | AlienChicks | Ambiere | Arka | Baby Said | Bandit | Bastet | Better Joy | Black Market Gallery | Blossom Caldarone | Britizen Kane | Bronagh | Cam Mannix | China Lilly | Chroma | Chunky | Claire Welles | Conor & The GreensKeepers | Coults | Crashface | Crysometimes | D3LTA | Danny Ray | David Arlo | Death by Denim | DeeD0t | Ditz | Divinitas | DR DR | Elcee The Alchemist | Ellen Beth Abdi | Formal Sppeedwear | Fuzz Lightyear | George Lawson | Greytooth | Half Happy | Hann | Heavy Salad | Hollowbody | Human Interest | Ivey | J Chambers | Jaws The Shark | JAXN | Jords | Junkyard Tornado | Just Banco | Karen Dió | Katie & The Bad Sign | Lavender Rodriguez | Lazy Day | Lei Hope | Levi Love | Lili Holland-Fricke | Little Strange | Lotusbliss | Low Pulse (Joey T & Lady Lady) | Lucy Deakin | Lucy McWilliams | Mace The Great | Marii Ella | Martial Arts | Mellt | Metrodome | Michael Brindley | MilkMaiden | MINAS | Modema | MOULD | Nico Harmony | Nyah Grace | OneDa | Ownlane Kay | Pat | Pizza Crunch | Plasticine | Private Joy | PRNCSS | Queen Cult | Renee Stormz | Riya | Rosebud | Run Remedy | SAINT | Salo | Sam Lightwing Quartet | Selve | Shader | Shelf Lives | Shlug | Skee | Slate | Slimzz | Spielmann | Teleshopping | The Beautiful Sinners | The Empty Page | The Mercians | The Outcharms | The Redroom | The Vanns | Third Kulture | Troopz | Vulva Voce | WRKHOUSE | Yaang | Zola Courtney.
Beyond the music festival's comprehensive conference schedule is equally impressive, boasting a diverse range of speakers and guests. The full conference information can be found on the Beyond The Music website. Confirmed speakers for the 2024 edition include: Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester), Rebecca Ferguson MBE, Tony Harlow (Warner Music UK), Grace Blakeley (Author), Matt Wilkinson (Apple), Dan Chalmers (YouTube), Jen Smith (CIISA), Tom Gray (The Ivors Academy), Zelda Perkins (Canât Buy My Silence), Erinch Sahan (Doughnut Economics Action Lab), Laura Harper (Lewis Silkin), Dr. Jo Twist MBE (BPI), Tim Burgess (Timâs Listening Party LIVE), Annabella Coldrick (MMF), Andy Edwards (UK Music), Jon Collins (LIVE), Richard Jacques (Composer), Sophie Jones (BPI), Sam Duckworth (Get Cape, Wear Cape Fly / MVT), Ben Wynter (AIM), with many more to be announced shortly.
Taking place over three days, the conference will feature twelve summits, four keynote speeches, ten networking sessions, insightful talks, and exclusive announcements. The 2024 edition will expand upon the existing conference structure, inviting some of the most influential voices in music, technology, and content to tackle pressing challenges within the music and content sectors.
Co-founded by promoter and social enterprise founder Oli Wilson and Sarah Pearson, Founder of Wasted Youth Music, alongside Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, Beyond The Music boasts strong support from prominent organisations including CityCo, Co-operatives UK, Factory International, GMCA, MCR BID, Manchester Accommodation BID, Co-op Live, AO Arena, BPI, and Manchester City Council.
Tickets for Beyond The Music 2024 are now more affordable than ever, with a standard Delegate Pass (including conference and festival access) priced at £170. A Festival Day Ticket is available for £20, while a Festival 3-Day Ticket is available from £40. First release tickets can be purchased through the Beyond The Music website. For more information on Beyond The Music, including tickets and the current programme of music and participants, visit the Beyond The Music website.
