Mercury Award-winning band, Ezra Collective, paid tribute to Manchester ahead of their performance at the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival last night.
Femi Koleoso spoke to Huw Stephens live on his 6 Music show and said:
“What does it [Manchester] mean to me. It means to me, 2017, Deaf Institute, Band on the Wall, YES, Manchester Albert Hall, Manchester Apollo, now we get to take on the Warehouse Project. I almost forgot Gorilla. That’s what Manchester means to me.
“And you can see there’s no notes or anything, that’s just straight off memory because it’s such a powerful music city with such a deep understanding for the power of live music. The Northern Quarters is rocking, man. You leave there and it’s vibrant, it’s alive. Manchester, for me, is a blueprint of what I’d love to see across the whole country – just like venue after venue surviving and thriving”.
The Festival has been taking place across Greater Manchester and will run until 29th March, with performances from major acts and many of the station’s presenters bringing their shows to the North West. That includes Nick Grimshaw, Lauren Laverne, Jamz Supernova and Huw Stephens.
BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show presenter Nick Grimshaw, who introduced Ezra Collective on stage with Jamz Supernova said:
“What a day getting to meet our listeners, catching up and chatting at gigs. Starting my day with jasmine.4.t and Florentino at breakfast and ending it with the phenomenal Ezra Collective has been one for the books. Ezra are a very special band who feel limitless and tonight we got to witness how their energy, message and passion for performance is truly infectious.”
Today and tomorrow will see headline performances at Victoria Warehouse from Mogwai with a unique collaboration with KNDS Fairey Acid Brass; and Kae Tempest, who’ll premiere new material. Also taking to the stage are English Teacher and Perfume Genius, with 6 Music’s Tom Ravenscroft and SHERELLE DJing.
[Picture Credit – BBC Radio 6 Music / Shirlaine Forrest]
