Band on the Wall announces ‘2020’ fundraiser album to support Manchester artists
Mike Flynn
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
The iconic non-profit independent music venue will release a new album, entitled 2020, as a fundraiser compilation to provide financial support for musicians affected by the pandemic lockdown
Featuring 14 new, unheard and soon-to-be-released tracks from emerging Manchester musicians, all proceeds from the album are to be split 50/50 with the artists and venue. The album is released on 4 September, to coincide with another ‘Bandcamp Friday’, where the music platform waive their usual 10-15% fees to enable 100% of sales to go directly to the musicians.
2020 features music from some of Band On The Wall’s favourite artists and closest friends on the new Manchester scene. These include the likes of electro-jazz sax-and-drums duo Skeltr with their track ‘Lojong’; fast rising jazz/neo soul vocalist Mali Hayes whose track ‘Oceans’ featuring LayFullstop is included and the hugely uplifting MSC Big Band with their eight-minute epic ‘Grown Ups’ among the exciting tracks chosen for the album. With music spanning neo-soul, jazz, afro-electronic and more, 2020 is an eclectic mix of inspired and curated sounds which shines a light on the emerging stars of Manchester’s live music scene.
The Covid-19 pandemic has placed a colossal strain on the music industry, as Band on the Wall CEO Gavin Sharp explains: “In the first half of 2020 we, and many of the creators we work with, had to stop what we were doing and while activity initially stalled, it was clear that it would be impossible for the artists to stop creating and for us to stop celebrating their music. Therefore, the idea was born to help support our local creative partners and ourselves by producing this ‘memento’ of this incredibly strange year.”
Also commenting on her involvement with the album, Mali Hayes said: “I’m super happy to be able to support and be supported within this new project. The track of mine used for the project is solely created by Manchester based artists and producers, and it’s great to come together with other Mancunians to keep the flag flying for artists and the charity.”
2020 is the first from a series of fundraiser compilations to be released on Band on the Wall’s new in-house imprint; Band on the Wall Recordings. The compilation will be released as a CD from Band on the Wall’s website, Bandcamp and will be available digitally from all major platforms.
Buy the album here on Friday 4 September bandonthewall.bandcamp.com/releases