We Invented the Weekend launches with a showcase event at MediaCityUK, with Pops Roberts (Lovescene), Adele Tondu (Unity Radio), singer songwriter Bee Rosebud and a show from Ghetto Fabulous.
Last Thursday was the official launch for the brand-new, bold, imaginative and completely free festival for the North, We Invented the Weekend (WITW) which will take place on 10th and 11th September across Salford Quays and MediaCity.
Hosted at Dock 10, the launch revealed the first programme announcements from the festival, at a creative showcase presented by Nihal Arthanayake (BBC 5Live) and Karen Gabay (BBC Radio Manchester).
We heard about exciting plans for the music programme from Rivca Burns who is bringing the magic of Sounds from the Other City to the Quays for the first time. Plus Michael Betteridge and Simon Webb of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, talked about the incredible Weekend Orchestra, which will bring thousands of singers and musicians together to perform.
Guests were treated to DJ sets from Lovescene’s Pops Roberts and Adele Tondu from Unity Radio collective, a live performance from Bee Rosebud, plus the very first performance of the We Invented the Weekend song by Honeyfeet singer, Ríoghnach Connolly.
Artist and Goggleboxer Helena Worthington was also in the building, painting live to demonstrate the creative workshops she announced for WITW, while designer Kemi Gbadebo and Manchester Fashion Movement’s Alison Carlin told us and showed us what they have in store, with a performance showcasing their sustainable fashion from queer arts collective Ghetto Fabulous.
The programme announcement also revealed the first piece of research from Ipsos in partnership with the festival, which found 37% of Brits have reduced their paid cultural activities, including cinema, theatre, museums, concerts or festivals due to the rising cost of living and that the same amount now taking part in free activities, with the trend growing on both counts.
It’s never been more important that everyone has access to free culture and it’s wonderful to be part of a free event doing just that, celebrating the weekend’s invention in Manchester in 1843 with a glorious mix of sports, music, greening and gardening, theatre, dance, workshops, talks, food, charity, wellness, crafts and more.
Manchester’s media came through with some brilliant support with coverage and some stunning images from the launch appearing in Manchester’s Finest, About Manchester, Manchester World, Unlock Mcr and Salford Voice, as well as interviews with creative director Wayne Hemingway and Lowry CEO Julia Fawcett on BBC Radio Manchester, Wayne on LBC and Your Manchester, and festival director Kate Doyle on Salford City Radio.
Watch this space for more details about the festival – Salford is going to show the world it knows exactly how to celebrate the weekend!
Sundae x
Photographs by James Stack
