Sounds From The Other City: Lifeline Appeal

Sounds From the Other City: Lifeline Appeal, Until 28 February 2021, free entry - Visit now

Since its first outing in 2004, Sounds From The Other City has grown to be one of the country’s foremost festivals showcasing new and emerging talent. Sprawling across pubs, warehouses, social centres and churches across the city of Salford for one sweet, sweet day each year, the Festival champions local promoters, spotlights pioneering new artists and celebrates the other city’s off-kilter charm.

With a heavy heart, the Festival organisers recently announced the cancellation of the Festival for the second year running. Due to receiving no income from ticket sales in 2020 and 2021, SFTOC is now in a really precarious position, wholly dependent on grants and funding. Prompted by requests from its dedicated community, it is appealing to local music fans for financial help in a bid to secure its future.

In 2020, SFTOC asked ticket buyers to roll over their tickets to next year, but in 2021, the Festival team didn’t want to put this burden back on its patrons, and have issued automatic refunds. They are, however, asking people to consider donating to the SFTOC Lifeline via the Festival website. You can donate any amount you like, from a pound to the price of a ticket and beyond. The website reads:

“If 250 people donated £10 each it would keep us alive, thriving and building to the future for a month. If 500 ticket buyers donate their £25 refund, it will enable us to survive through to the beginning of our 2022 festival planning period.”

Speaking in a press release, the team explain the situation they’re in:

“The music and events industries are facing a national crisis and many music festivals and venues will not survive this year. Many of our team have received no government income support and like most people in the industry right now are struggling to find ways of maintaining their livelihoods […] We have no set goal, every penny counts right now. The Festival is a lean machine, our overheads are low and our staff are all freelancers, but right now we need to pay for people’s time and expertise.”

If you’ve ever been to the Festival, you know what an asset it is to the local music scene, how much good it does for artists and the support industry around them. Not everyone is in a position to donate money right now, but if you do have a spare few quid, then do consider helping to keep the jewel firmly in the crown of Salford’s music scene.