There will also be murals, installations and new artwork celebrating Manchester’s music scene
A city-wide art trail celebrating music will take over the city centre this summer with guitars donated by famous musicians, new artwork and tram stop murals.
Music for the Senses is the brainchild of global arts producer Wild In Art and features more than 80 different mosaics, installations and pieces of art that will honour Manchester’s thriving music scene.
Amongst the collection will be instruments donated by the likes of New Order, Elbow, Doves, Mani, PINS, and Busted, which have all been painted or revamped by professional artists, including Hammo, Danielle Rhoda, Tim Stucliffe and Becky Smith.
The Oasis brothers have also donated a guitar as part of the trail. It was previously announced that an Epiphone Riviera, signed by Liam and Noel Gallagher, will go on display in Selfridges on Exchange Square.
The trail will be in place from July 7 until August 31 with the designed guitars on display in shopfronts and windows of popular Manchester music locations, including Aviva Studios, Piccadilly Records, Band on the Wall, Koffee Pot and New Century.
Guitars donated by the public, and designed by artists, will also be available to discover at the likes of Co-op Live, The Treehouse Hotel, AO Arena, the Royal Northern College of Music, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Forsyth Music Shop, Royal Exchange Theatre and Hallé St Peters.
There will be a special Music for the Senses app, available to download from the App Store and Google Play for free from July 7, which will include a map of all locations and more.
There will also be specially-created new murals from renowned street artists Lei-Mai LeMaow, Nomad Clan, ASKE and .EPOD, which will be on display at Etihad Campus Metrolink station, Oxford Road train station and the Great Northern.
Along the way trail goers can also take in the Manchester Music Mooch, which features five interactive AR experiences at prominent music locations around the city. Manchester artist Lazerian has also created two interactive installations – Guitar Street (on King Street) and Cathedral of Sound (St. Peter’s Square from July 7-20, before moving to Mayfield Park from July 25-August 31).
At the end of the trail, the designed guitars will be auctioned off to raise money for grassroots music projects and venues throughout Greater Manchester via a special fund put together by the Forever Manchester charity, in collaboration with Manchester Music City.
Ben Reed, Head of Creative Development, at Wild in Art, said: “Manchester has always been a place for music and we’re delighted to unveil Music for the Senses,” Ben Reed, Head of Creative Development at Wild in Art, said.
“It’s our first ever guitar trail, and we think that there is something really magical about repurposing musical instruments into stunning works of art.
“This is also the first time we’ve put together a trail showcasing brand new art while at the same time highlighting some of Manchester’s iconic music inspired artwork. It has enabled us to explore creativity in a range of different art forms including new murals around the city by some of the very best street artists in the business.”
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder at Wild in Art, added: “We’re delighted to be back in Manchester, Wild in Art’s home city. Music for the Senses is a slight departure from our traditional sculpture trails and we have loved working with our partners at Manchester City Council on our mission to showcase artists and support grassroots venues in the city.
“Huge thanks must go to everyone who has supported us; our sponsors, artists, musicians and, of course, all those who have donated guitars to be part of the project.”
Manchester punks Loose Articles, who feature in Hammo’s artwork and have supported the likes of New Order and Foo Fighters, also said: “Manchester is the centre of the universe and its beating heart is music. We are buzzing to be part of this city-wide initiative that celebrates music for all.”
More details on Music For The Senses, which runs from July 7 to August 31, can be found here.