Since 1995 roughly four days in Manchester’s May calendar have been dedicated to all that’s good and great about electronic sounds and theories. And it’s always a wholly enjoyable affair, though this year’s lineup goes well beyond anything the organisers have attempted in the past.
Namely because of house crazy man Matthew Herbert, who will be performing a show dedicated to the life of a pig from birth to slaughter, and experimental, call-it-what-you-like producer extraordinaire Amon Tobin, who takes over the sizeable Manchester Academy for his 3D audio visual spectacle, ISAM (Live). Needless to say then there are some ambitious events pencilled in, and we’ve not even mentioned Tom Hecker playing on a church organ, or club nights with Mike Huckaby, Marcel Dettmann, Levon Vincent, Falty DL, Deadbeat, and Andy Stott.
Music wise the agenda kicks off on May 16th and runs until May 19th, during which time anyone in Manchester City Centre should also keep an eye out for street spectacles from Blast Theory and other artist crews. On top of this there’s also a central exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry, AKA MOSI in Castlefield (close to Deansgate Metrolink), which will be on display through to June, whilst the conference- at which all manner of forward thinking concepts relating to that which we can see and hear will be discussed- takes place on May 17th and 18th. With so much to choose from we’ve hand-picked some recommendations from the three main days below, whilst links at the bottom of the page take you to a comprehensive programme and the ticketing site, which offers many different options for those looking to attend any or all of the events in the schedule.
FutureEverything, Manchester, May 16th-19th – Choice Cuts
Wednesday May 16th
8PM, ST PHILIP’S CHURCH, SALFORD; NOW WAVE
Revered Canadian electronic head Tim Hecker will perform a concert inspired by his album Ravedeath, 1972, on the in-house organ, which is the kind of thing you should probably go and see. Oh yeah, Forest Swords from nearby Merseyside is also playing some lo-fi beats.
10:30PM, ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD; FUTUREEVERYTHING OPENING PARTY
Deadbeat and local techno aficionado Andy Stott (of Modern Love fame) will play DJ sets at the artist’s hub come underground warehouse venue that is Islington Mill. Should be worth a punt.
Thursday May 17th
6PM, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, DEANSGATE, MANCHESTER; NIKKA & ALBA G
Nikka and Alba G are a Barcelona duo that combine live electronic programming with generative art and digital media. Better yet, this A/V performance takes place in the city’s Spanish Embassy, for free.
7:30PM, ST PHILIP’S CHURCH, SALFORD; DIETER MOEBIUS + POLINSKI
Another obscurity, Dieter Moebius, the alleged ‘Godfather of Krautrock’, will deliver a live, improvised score to Fritz Lang’s cinematically brilliant 1927 expressionist film, Metropolis, whilst Polinski plays a live warm up.
9PM-2AM, ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD; TRI-ANGLE RECORDS SHOWCASE
Tri-Angle Records has been garnering attention and praise for the variety of beats and pieces it puts out from a Brooklyn base. Tonight Holy Other, Evian Christ, The Haxan Cloak and more are in the house.
Friday May 18th
6PM, QUAY HOUSE, SPINNINGFIELDS, MANCHESTER; NEW SOUNDS FROM THE NORTH
New Sounds From the North takes place in an office located in one of the city’s busiest business districts, with Alt-J, Money, No Ceremony, Stealing Sheep, Great Waves and Pins all performing.
8:30PM, ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, OXFORD ROAD, MANCHESTER;
MATTHEW HERBERT- ONE PIG
Matthew Herbert is an out and out legend, whether making bleepy house music or experimental sounds constructed with broken TV sets. As such his show, One Pig, is going to be an essential event to attend.
10PM, ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD; MIND ON FIRE w/ DJ CHEEBA
Local crew Mind On Fire are known for a forward thinking, not to mention unpredictable music policy. Coupled with Ninja Tune’s DJ Cheeba playing a Solid Steel A/V set this should make for quite a night then.
Saturday May 19th
1.20PM, MEDIACITY UK, SALFORD; SUPERCRITICAL MASS / LOOPING THE LOOP
Something of a multi-event will see the area around Salford Quays transformed for the North West’s opening input into London 2012, with all manner of street performances and memorable sights promised.
7PM, MANCHESTER ACADEMY 1, OXFORD ROAD, MANCHESTER; AMON TOBIN ISAM (LIVE)
Only a handful of events have hosted Amon Tobin‘s ISAM (Live) showpiece before. Guaranteed to sell out, talk of 3D animation and other high end production costs should be taken very seriously indeed.
10PM, ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD; BOHEMIAN GROVE
Mike Huckaby, Claro Intelecto and Andy Stott take control of what seems to be FutureEverything’s nocturnal venue of choice for the latest instalment of cult underground party Bohemian Grove.
11PM, MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3/CLUB ACADEMY, OXFORD ROAD, MANCHESTER;
SELECTIVE HEARING & IDIOSYNC
Across town Marcel Dettmann, Levon Vincent, and John Talabot prepare to share their secrets with the locals, as does Falty DL; the ingredients for an interesting party.
Click here for the full programme of events at FutureEverything in Manchester, May 2012
Jump straight to the ticket options by following this link