Sounds From The Other City 2024 – Festival Review

Sounds From The Other City
5th May 2024
Salford (The Other City)

“Curiosity killed the cat but what it found brought it back.” – Iggy Pop, Curiosity (1979)

2023 was my first encounter with Sounds From The Other City festival. I had heard many tales of the festival’s legendary music status. Yet, I had never experienced it for myself. I admit, maybe I had turned my back on Salford, dismissing what the “other city” really had to offer… 

The festival has been a cultural hub since 2005 and I was determined to experience the hype, lured by whispers of epic early morning after-parties fueled by the outrageous performances of the queer alt troupe, THE FVCKPIGS. The irresistible promise of a wild night out, and also stumbling upon the next big band right here in Salford, only added to the appeal. 

Last year, I was there all day until the hours passed and dawn broke over the horizon with its soft city glow. By that ungodly hour, I was stumbling back to my flat. I was officially a seasoned survivor of the outrageously fun parties I was told about at Islington Mill. The experience was so exhilarating that I couldn’t resist coming back for more this year. Round 2.

That is exactly what is great about Sounds From The Other City. It isn’t just a music festival; it’s a vibrant D.I.Y community, a hands-on experience, a queer celebration. It’s a whirlwind of art, culture, and fun, where the streets become dance floors and churches become holy raves. That’s why I, and many others, love going. Manchester has long held the spotlight as the ‘music city’ but move over, venture across the River Irwell, and you’ll find the city of Salford, one with a fierce determination to forge its own path in the cultural landscape.

It was a glorious Bank Holiday weekend day, so we grabbed the tickets from the helpful workers at the desk and began the events at Salford Museum and Art Gallery to catch C Duncan at 4pm. His performance sets a wonderfully serene tone, allowing the audience to drift into the day’s festivities with his pretty electronic dreamscapes. It’s the perfect, light ‘sunny day’ soundtrack.

We came outside to wiggle our toes in the soft, warm grass on The Green, the lovely vibrant outdoor space at Peel Campus at the University of Salford. There was no shortage of street food vendors and spots to grab a refreshing beer, provided by the local brewery, Seven Brothers.

As we lay down, around us, hundreds of spectators gathered in their masses to witness the anarchic spectacle that is “FVCK PIGS: Pork Idol Pageant,” a gloriously bizarre talent contest judged for its “swine factor” for contestants to join the ensemble. It’s refreshing to encounter such a quirky antidote to traditional music festivals, offering a fun queer experience for all involved. It’s bold, vivacious, and liberating, and it certainly breaks free from any convention with its unapologetic energy. The music was filled with uplifting dance tracks and energetic mash-ups, turning the event into an insane daytime party. The fun had started, and this year’s art directors, the FVCK Pigs, represent everything great about SFTOC.

On to the bands – TTSSFU was the first watch for Now Wave’s stage, as the bedroom-pop musician opened up Maxwell Hall with a moody, introspective vibe reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers’ signature sound with a shoegaze twist. TTSSFU captures the raw essence of girlhood angst with a dainty love-heart shaped guitar and Courtney Love-esque aesthetic. Tamsin Stephens has a fantastic voice, heard in her latest EP Release, Me, Jed and Andy. The performance was enjoyable and she is certainly an upcoming artist to watch.

Next on the itinerary was Daisy Rickman at NOW WAVE’s stage, for a haunting installation of finger-picked, down-tuned folk melodies. Performing her latest album, Howl, on the edge of twilight, Rickman’s deep voice echoed out to a stunned audience. Rickman is a promising talent in the world of British folk, a genre deep with centuries of history and tradition. Drawing inspiration from her Cornish heritage, the song Falling Through the Rising Sun played out as an ode to nature in Maxwell Hall.

We made our way down to The Old Pint Pot in Salford in the blistering heat, eager to catch the art-pop sounds of Good News on the Alphaville x Fat Out x The Beauty Witch stage. Despite being relatively new to the live scene, it was evident that they had big ambitions, as reflected in their dynamic setlist to a packed-out crowd. Vocalist Bethany captivated watchers with her multi-instrumental skills (drums, clarinet, guitar – you name it) and transitions between languages, from Russian to occasional bursts of English and back to Russian. It was kooky in the best way. Their song, Kishki, immediately reminded me of ESG, with its disco-infused Factory records basslines and stabbing guitar lines. 

Alphaville have succesfully run the stages at SFTOC for a few years, and chatting to Hayley Scott, the mastermind behind Alphaville, about what separates Sounds From The Other City as a festival, she said: “Sounds From The Other City is a metropolis of counterculture, it remains as the beating heart of genuine alternative culture in the city; it’s a joyous, collaborative antidote to the cliques and echo chambers of Manchester’s vast musical landscape.”

Falling downstairs at The Old Pint Pot, we watched Jellyskin, a pumping electronic duo bringing filth and chaos to the underbelly. I couldn’t help but think they should have been put on a later set, as the beaming sunshine sparking through The Old Pint Pot’s window panes didn’t do justice to the menacing techno synthesisers curated on stage. However, it was a gritty sharp set from an interesting band, but a band I’d like to see in a blacked-out Berlin basement.

We walked over to St Philip’s Church to catch Halo Maud for some deliciously dreamy prog-psych pop, and then back to catch the NOW WAVE headliner, Gruff Rhys, in The Maxwell Hall. Known as the front-man as Super Furry Animals, Rhys graced the stage to showcase his latest album, Sadness Sets Me Free, delivering a strong melancholic performance to close the evening.

I managed to catch some of Muva Of Earth‘s performance at Peel Hall for the Band On The Wall x Reform stage, shining brightly as one of the evening’s standout highlights with her mesmerising spiritual vocals set to a tranquil guitar. I hadn’t heard of this artist before but it was a soul-stirring performance that left a lasting impression, and I can’t wait to see her play again.

Nightbus was one of the final acts I caught for the evening at St Philip’s Church for Heavenly Recordings x Strange Days. Over the past year, Nightbus has garnered significant attention, having been signed by So Young Records and releasing a steady stream of singles. Witnessing their progress first hand, and the enthusiastic turnout for the band, was great. Nightbus were a perfect fit for the church, looking effortlessly cool in their monochromatic aesthetic. Evoking the minimalist vibe of The XX, their set had layers of depth and intrigue. They were a perfect close to the night.

The after-parties commenced with acid-house legend A Guy Called Gerald taking the reins, and the rest of the night blurred.

If supporting independent businesses and being part of a truly vibrant community are values close to your heart, then this festival is tailor-made for you. Every step of the journey, Sounds From The Other City is supportive and compassionate. The staff were an absolute delight, making everyone feel welcome. It feels like home. SFTOC, you’re always a pleasure. Here’s to next year – Round 3!

~

All words by Amelia Fearon, you can find her author’s archive here

Photos by Liam Maxwell