The weekend of Friday 1st July – Monday 3rd July sees Manchester play host to the very first International SWAP Festival, featuring some of the all-time great songwriters performing alongside unsigned artists and emerging talent from across the UK and Europe. With exclusive live performances, SWAP Festival promises three jam-packed days of outstanding musical talent from a fantastic diversity of artists, including the world renowned Steve Earle and Shane McGowan, headlining shows in Academy 1. The acclaimed Be Good Tanyas, Thea Gilmore, Kathryn Williams, Brendan Benson, Allison Moorer, Damien Dempsey, Martin Joseph, Amos Lee, Roger Young and Patrick Wolf are amongst other featured SWAP Festival international artists.
SWAP tickets are available as a WEEKEND PASS at the bargain price of £50 or £35 for students. Individual concert tickets are also available.
The SWAP programme also includes daytime song writing workshops and master classes, taken by some of the artists due to perform and other name facilitators. The Workshops are organised in association with GMMAZ, City College Manchester and song writing and publishing associations. Recruiting participants from emerging songwriters in the region. For information on taking part in SWAP workshops, email: mail. For workshop press info and updates call 0161 244 5795
The SWAP team will also be creating 4 free outdoor stages in Manchester City centre, on the afternoon of Sunday 3rd July at The Triangle, The Printworks, Albert Square and St Ann’s Square. Check link for details of full line-up, individual gig tickets and weekend pass prices. Tickets and weekend passes are available from link phone 0161 832 1111 and link and from Manchester University SU where there is no booking charge.