The Salford-set celebration returns for more ace music and arty vibes…
Salford-based street party Sounds From The Other City festival 2023 kicks off in just over a week’s time, taking over a handful of pubs, clubs and arty spaces for a day of new music and Sunday partying. This gem of Salford’s cultural calendar is always one to remember. In fact, it’s become so popular with locals looking for a good time that it’s earned the festive nickname ‘Salford Christmas’ – and for good reason. After all, it only comes once a year and it’s chock-full of happy, boozy vibes.
If 2023 marks your debut foray into the festival then first off, lucky you — but secondly, there’s some stuff you should know that could help you get the most out of this colourful day. With that in mind, we’ve gathered together a list of five things you should definitely try to do at Sounds From The Other City festival 2023…
See an act you’ve never even heard of
One of the best aspects of Sounds From The Other City is the pure number of new and emerging acts that it puts punters into direct contact with. Due to the festival’s sprawling layout, attendees are in a prime position to stumble onto something mesmerising and potentially taste-changing as far as your music palate is concerned.
Of course, there are the more recognised names, with performances from the likes of PVA, Brown Brogues, Honeyglaze and Tokky Horror planned. These are all undoubtedly sure to be stand-out moments of this year’s fest. However, the real joy of Sounds is stumbling on an artist you’ve never even heard of that blows your socks off. Be it a DJ set, a rough-and-rowdy band, a spoken word performance or a dose of poetry, it’s these moments that stay with you long after your hangover evaporates.
Explore as many venues as possible
While Sounds From The Other City is a music festival, it’s also a day-long pub crawl – and that’s definitely part of its appeal. The event’s eclectic and vibrant line-up is scattered across multiple venues and spaces located either on or just off Chapel Street, inviting you to explore a whole heap of different stages as you make your way throughout the day.
The main festival hub at Regent Trading Estate gives proceedings an industrial vibe to start things off, while gigs hosted at beloved Salford boozers like The Old Pint Pot and The New Oxford (more on that later), bespoke tents at Bexley Square and the iconic Islington Mill only add to the day’s ever-changing aesthetic.
That said, it’s often the unexpected spots that offer the most impactful experiences. Obviously, St. Philip’s Church is a great spot for a gig but so is the sleek photography space FiveFour Studios and tapas lounge Porta – all of these varying spaces only add to the fun of the festival.
Attend the mini-rave hiding inside The New Oxford
While there’s lots to see in some of the festival’s airier spaces, one of its most intense and photogenic moments comes packed into a tiny area housed in the back of a much-loved Salford pub. Venture inside cosy pint-pitstop The New Oxford during your travels and you’ll find a wild, mini-rave kicking off in its little back room, with bar staff dishing out drinks to constantly-dancing revellers.
With pink balloons covering its ceiling, party hats adorning clammy heads and good times popping off all around, the fun in this Salford spot has become a legendary part of Sounds From The Other City lore. Put simply, it’s a must-visit part of your day – and with 40 constantly-changing beers on draught and 20 real ales available at the bar, it’s a decent shout for a drink too.
Try to follow the vibe
With so much to see, Sounds can be kind of overwhelming at times. However, like any festival, your key to ensuring that you have a good time is to first accept the fact that you’re not going to see everything it has to offer. Instead, try to just follow the vibe of the day and see where it takes you.
With arty pop-ups breaking up the music, Sound From The Other City is a festival that offers much more than must-see live sets – and on a sunny day (fingers crossed), its vibe can be felt as strongly as the weather. Follow it. There’s no telling where it might take you and what delights you might find.
Soak it all in
From DJ sets to after parties, the fun at Sounds spans both the day, night and into the wee hours so needless to say, there’s lots to see. In addition to the music, bars and atmosphere, the festival has plenty of arty-inspired mini-installations and hand-made pop-up weirdness that appears just when and where you least expect it too, so it pays to have your wits about you as you make your way from venue to venue.
This year, visitors can expect to find a tropical Mirage Bar at Islington Mill, while the festival’s hub at Regent Trading Estate provides a large, blank canvas for all sorts of strangeness to be conjured into existence under the Salford sun. So whether you may have your schedule meticulously planned out or even if you’re just in it for the pints and the banter, remember to take a moment to stop, look around and soak it all in because just like December 25, ‘Salford Christmas’ is over far too soon.
Sounds From The Other City 2023 takes place on Sunday, 30 April 2023. Tickets are on sale now.
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