All About Manchester

Playing outside the box

Think you've seen it all? How about an electro-dance gig in a fully functioning church? Or an indie rock concert in a train station? As Salford's quirkiest independent music event prepares to take over an unconventional venue near you, organiser Mark Carlin says it's challenging and a bit bizarre, but mostly it's just great fun.

Sounds from the Other City is an annual independent music event that takes place every May Day bank holiday Sunday along Chapel Street in Salford - not Manchester but the 'other' city.

Now in its fourth year, it showcases fresh music talent from the region and beyond, and some of Salford's most unique cultural venues.

Mark Carlin, who runs a recording studio in Islington Mill, Salford, is one of the event organisers. "The idea came about when we realised that there are so many old and unusual venues around Chapel Street," he says. "We thought it'd be interesting to try and use them for something quite different from what they've been used before.

Sounds from the Other City, All About Manchester

"So we invited some of our favourite promoters to select their favourite bands and artists and have them play in some of the most amazing spaces in the area."

The event started with four stages and has grown year on year to now encompass nine venues - from iconic old pubs like the Salford Arms and the Kings Arms to more unusual spaces like Sacred Trinity Church and the Salford Central Train Station.

Organising a live music event in a church is easier said than done, but for Carlin it's a labour of love.

He explains: "It's a little bit of a challenge because with the exception of the Kings Arms none of these venues have been used for live music before, so they are not geared up for this type of thing. It's different from having a venue with a set up stage and everything ready to roll. But this also makes the event more interesting because you get a totally different experience.

"Take Sacred Heart Church, for example - when we used the venue for this event in our second year, that was the first time they ever had any live music there, but now it's used quite regularly as a music venue by other event organisers. So it's quite nice to see that we started something that has led to other exciting things."

With the unusual venues come unusual experiences - moments that will stay with Carlin for a long time.

"In our second year at Salford Arms we had a 'welcome home from prison' party going on in the pub at the same time, which was quite bizarre," he recalls.

"And last year, before the event started at Sacred Trinity Church we had a christening in the morning. So that was a very different opening event.

"This year we actually invited Sacred Trinity Church to have its service at Islington Mill as a swap because we're using their venue on the day. And they agreed to do that."

This year's event is bigger than ever. More than 1,500 people are expected to attend Sounds from the Other City to pick and choose between 40-45 acts performing from 3pm until late on Sunday, May 4.

The music falls under the 'indie alternative' banner but covers everything from electro dance to folk.

"The first year we did it with pretty much entirely local artists, but the event has moved on since then to include some bands from the North West area and international bands as well," says Carlin.

"This year, Panther and Howling Rain are both American bands - and the latter is quite a big act to get for this size of stage. There's also Cowtown, who are based in Leeds but do a lot of things around here. And there are a lot of popular local bands, like Cats in Paris, for example, who have been doing quite well."

With an interesting mix of established and new club night promoters - including Lamb & Wolf, Hey! Manchester, Golden Lab and Red Deer Club - bringing together different styles of music in some very special venues, Carlin expects this year's event to sell out fast.

"It's always been a very popular event because it's a fun and affordable day out. And I think there's a certain element of adventure about going to gigs in venues that were never used for this purpose before."

Tickets for the event: £10. The chance to be able to tell your grandchildren that you saw a super-band before they hit the big time in a quaint little pub in Salford: priceless.

Sounds from the Other City takes place on May 4 on Chapel Street, Salford. Tickets cost £10 from www.quaytickets.com. For more information on the event visit www.myspace.com/soundsfromtheothercity.

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