Our Big Gig returns to Greater Manchester

The Jackson Kay Band

Musicians and community groups in Greater Manchester are being encouraged to sign up for England’s largest summer community music festival.

Our Big Gig will once again host hundreds of music events in communities across the country from 11-13 July, with grants and support available for event organisers who wish to hold community events in their area.

Funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Our Big Gig will see the country once again come together to celebrate local music at community events, showcase new and existing talent, and give people the opportunity to have a go at making music.

Last summer, over 200,000 people attended 326 free Our Big Gig events which saw a wide variety of musical activities take place in a range of unusual spaces. From schools to skate parks, beaches to boats, some 14,600 people performed across the length and breadth of the country.

In Greater Manchester, events took place at Mesnes Park and Wigan Youth Zone in Wigan, Mahdlo Youth Zone in Oldham, Factory Youth Zone in Manchester, Salford Arts Theatre in Salford, and the Starlight Performing Arts Academy in Stockport.

Performances were also held at Bury College Sports Hall, Cadence Café in Tyldesley, Lancaster Road in Haughton Green, Wangies and the White Horse Pub in Eccles, and at Cross Keys Barn in Oldham.

For 2014, all types of community organisations are being urged to apply to put on an event in their local area and bring together diverse groups of people through music. Be it a sports club, faith group or another. All successful applicants receive grant funding and event management training is provided.

Organised by music and arts organisation Superact, Our Big Gig has grown out of the Bandstand Marathon; an iconic London 2012 festival event that helped close the London Games with 9,000 people across Britain simultaneously performing Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’.

As an official ‘Spirit of 2012’ legacy event, the Olympic feel good factor pervaded Our Big Gig in 2013 as 5,800 people volunteered to help at events and nearly 35,000 people took part in new musical activities.

Launching Our Big Gig for 2014, Stephen Williams said: “Our Big Gig is a great opportunity for local people to take the lead in putting on a musical event that unites their local community, celebrates home grown talent and inspires people without a background in music to get involved.

“Like taking part in sport, making music has the power to transform lives and I’m really looking forward to events that inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved and make music part of their lives.”

Katharine Lane, Director at Superact added: “Our Big Gig is a fantastic opportunity for organisations to put on a musical event in their community and reach out to people that they may not yet know.

“While Superact has been running community music events across the UK for years, we never cease to be amazed at the unifying power of music.

“We’re looking forward to receiving event applications from across the country and would encourage as many people as possible to apply before 31st March.”

'Our Big Gig' is one of a number of projects that the Department is funding to bring people together from different backgrounds and help build stronger communities.

To apply to host an Our Big Gig event, visit www.ourbiggig.co.uk and fill out the online form. The deadline for applications is 31 March 2014.