Stars join doorstep singalong
MUSIC STARS UNITE FOR MASS DOORSTEP SINGALONG ACROSS GREATER MANCHESTER
A GALAXY of Manchester stars – including Liam Gallagher, Mark Owen of Take That and Liam Fray from The Courteeners – will be taking part in a mass doorstep singalong tomorrow night.
The one-off Together in One Voice event is designed to celebrate the spirit and importance of community and to unite people across the region.
Also taking part will be Tim Booth from James, Emeli Sande, Mike Pickering from M People, Tom Walker, Denise Johnson and rapper Aitch.
The public are being asked to sing along with the event, which will also feature other well-known Manchester faces from the world of entertainment.
Tom said: “It’s great to be part of Together in One Voice – Manchester has been such a massive inspiration to me over the years.”
The special set-list of songs will be streamed via
MIF Live – Manchester International
Festival’s online channel – alongside introductions and contributions from the artists.
The soundtrack features 20 different community choirs and around 30 musicians from across the region who have all spent the last few weeks recording themselves playing their instruments and singing their parts in isolation in their own homes.
Each individual vocal and musical part has then been sent in to musical director Dan McDwyer and his team of sound engineers for mixing into the live versions of the songs that everyone will sing along with.
Dan said: “It’s been a huge task recording choirs and 30 musicians including rhythm, horns, and strings, plus co-ordinating sound engineers and mixing vocals from around 20 different choirs – all recording from their own homes safely within social distancing.
“But what a moment it’s going to be when those choirs, all singing in their bedrooms, are amplified by thousands of voices across Greater Manchester.”
Mayor Andy Burnham said: “Lockdown has been taking a toll on us all but this is a night that will give everyone a real lift. It’s a moment to celebrate the strength of our communities and what people have done to help each in these difficult times.
“Together in One Voice will help us all feel connected, despite the need to keep a distance, and will be one of those incredible occasions which make Greater Manchester so special. We are grateful to some of our biggest names for supporting our communities in this and creating a moment we’ll never forget.
“I would encourage everyone to get involved and get out on your doorstep!”
The event will be filmed on drones, street cameras and residents’ own films that will be edited together afterwards along with interviews with artists and participants to produce an extended broadcast which will be transmitted this Sunday at 6pm, also on MIF Live. People are being invited to send videos of their own doorstep or window singalong from the night to togethermcr.com for possible inclusion in the YouTube broadcastat the weekend.
Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “We’ve all turned to music or a great song when times have been tough and all know how uplifting that can be.
“We’re giving everyone across the whole of Greater Manchester the chance to join in and sing Together in One Voice from their doorsteps and windows to harness that magical power of music and to re-connect again with their neighbours and communities.”
The event is being led by Social Entrepreneur Rose Marley and Manchester International Festival alongside the council, the combined authority and is supported by Co-op. ● Together in One Voice takes place tomorrow at 7.30pm.
I would encourage everyone to get involved and get out on your doorstep
Mayor Andy Burnham