Friday 20 March 2009

Elbow, Kraftwerk and More For Manchester International Festival

An impressive line up has been announced for the Manchester International Festival 2009. Acts set to premiere new work at the biennial event are Damon Albarn, Kraftwerk, Elbow and Antony & The Johnsons.

The festival is held in venues across Manchester between the 2nd and the 19th of July. Established two years ago, the event was responsible for the first staging of Damon Albarn's opera, Monkey: A Journey to the West.

One of the highlights will be Elbow collaborating with the Hallé Orchestra, performing two special shows that will feature selections from the band's entire career. Elbow have ruled out filming of the collaboration, so you'll only see it if your there.

The event kicks off with German electro pioneers Kraftwerk and composer Steve Reich; famously inspired by cycling, and celebrated for their hit Tour de France, Kraftwerk will perform at the velodrome on the 2nd of July.

Twenty years since the release of their debut album 'Three Feet High And Rising', New York hip hop trio, De La Soul, will be performing with guests and a 10-piece band at The Ritz.

Mancunian legend Vini Reilly aka The Durutti Column will perform a special piece, 'Paean To Wilson', a tribute to the late Factory Records man Anthony H. Wilson.

Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson perform together for the first time in the UK at the opera house.

The festival ends with Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed performing together for the first time in the UK at the opera house.

For the full programme and ticket information go to mif.co.uk.

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