New Order will be spearheading an upcoming music festival titled Beyond The Music in their native Manchester. Taking place from October 11th-14th 2023, the event will be part festival and part conference, and will take place across several different venues in the city. While the full lineup is yet to be determined, New Order has been confirmed as a featured act as well as the festival’s artist ambassadors. The band will officially launch the event with a performance at SXSW (South By South West) in March.
New Order will be supported by fellow Manchester bands The Orielles and Loose Articles, both for the SXSW performance and for the event itself. Partners for the event include Cityco, Co-Operatives UK, Manchester Business Improvement District, Manchester International Festival and the Manchester City Council.
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Beyond The Music plans to deliver all the elements of a music festival atmosphere while also offering a setting for creatives, businesspeople and music industry professionals to network. The conference element of the event will allow a space for people to gather and create solutions to some of the issues facing the industry — namely, the closing of venues as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the impacts of streaming on artists, and touring post-Brexit. The event hopes to not only create a forum for actionable solutions to these concerns, but also to cement Manchester as a global music capital.
The need for new strategies comes in the wake of the cost of living crisis. The rise in inflation and an economy bordering on recession has made it exceptionally difficult for artists to make a living. A survey by the organisation Help Musicians found that nearly half of musicians expressed concern that they would have to leave the industry. Due to insufficient pay, many artists have had to explore different career pathways, such as relocating to other countries or switching professions.
Tickets for the festival have not gone on sale yet, however New Order fans can still register to attend SXSW and catch the exclusive show on March 13th at the Moody Theatre. SXSW is offering digital attendance with their online pass, so those unable to travel to Texas can still partake in the experience. The event also offers discounts for large groups and students. The band is also performing in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans.
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