Words by Smiley Team
United We Stream is a new streaming platform broadcasting home-grown Manchester art, music and culture to audiences around the world during the global pandemic. Although the services are free to watch, viewers are encouraged to donate what they can do to help support Manchester’s night-time economy, cultural organisations and charities.
The event, created by Sacha Lord alongside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and local and national partners, offers a range of cultural entertainment.
Lord - who has worked as a promoter for twenty-six years throughout Manchester - and is most well-known for his ParkLife festival - watched as night-time businesses were left near ruined within days of Prime Minister’s Boris Johnson’s advisory statement that people should stop going out to pubs, bars and gig venues.
Many people working in the nightlife industry were not eligible for government support schemes and so slipped through the cracks. Lord recounts how one well-established technician working with global bands had now had to get a job stacking shelves in the supermarket to keep a roof over their head.
“I want to keep our vibrant Manchester music and entertainment scene active,” explains GMCA Night-Time Economy Adviser Lord: “ I am absolutely overwhelmed by the response and also by the enthusiasm and diversity of the talent we have lined up.’
The United We Stream model was pioneered in Berlin by the Night Tsar Lutz Leichsenring. Lord has been working tirelessly to ensure that Greater Manchester could be the second city-region worldwide and first in the United Kingdom to launch the concept. Other regions are following suit, too, with Amsterdam, Madrid, Vienna, Sydney and Melbourne all expected to launch United We Stream platforms shortly.
“The programme will be announced every week and we’ve tried to make sure that there’s something for almost everyone. Performances take place at artist’s homes, gardens, or from selected venues around the region, and all performances adhere to government advice around isolating and distancing,” said Lord.
Manchester is well known for its vibrant nightlife and UWS has been overwhelmed by the support from performers and the public alike, who have raised £260,000 to date. This money is going directly to a relief fund, with 70% going specifically to support the Greater Manchester night-time economy including music venues, bars, freelancers and cultural organisations whose work has been halted by the pandemic. 20% of the donated funds with be going to the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s charities and 10% will be donated to Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Charity. Lord says that “as well as helping our local night-time and creative industries, it’s great to give support for Nordoff Robbins, a national music therapy charity, who have a base in Greater Manchester, and offer music therapy for those affected by life-limiting illness, isolation or disability.”
“This is a free streaming service available to entertain everyone. However, I encourage as many of you as possible to please make a small contribution to watch. Anything will help, whether that’s £1 or £50. It’s only by working together as a community that we can be at our strongest.” Added Sacha Lord.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: “Supporting our culture and music organisations, venues and artists is so important through this difficult time. We want to be entertained and still be able to see bands and performances, but it’s important to do this within the Government guidelines and from our own homes”.
Smiley is excited to have teamed up with United We Stream to develop a t-shirt and hoodie range featuring the iconic Manchester Bee alongside the Smiley Logo, which will be launched as part of their Hacienda live-show this Saturday 9th of May. All profits from these sales will go to charity, details of this can be found here.
