Salt Magazine

21/06/2023

You can view a permanent archive of Salt articles here: https://tinyurl.com/bddw7nmm

02/03/2023

New: "Some poems have an anti-authoritarian streak and are coloured with playful observations of his fellow Mancunians." Dani Cole profiles poet Steve Brown.

Steve Brown, 59, is telling me about the first time he was sectioned. He experienced a psychotic episode and jumped through the window of a building. During one of his early stints in hospital, he was encouraged by a nurse to go to a creative writing class to help his recovery. These days, he focuse...

05/02/2023

New: 'Tracksuit bottoms are accepted, mucky trainers almost encouraged, and all ages welcome. There's no judgement at The White Hotel'. Alex Croft interviews the venue’s artistic director Austin Collings.

“I love coming to Manchester,” Ben Cowper says. “You guys are lucky to have a place like this – it’s special.” I catch the Bristol-born DJ, known as Count van Delicious, after an infectious set alongside Get Serious partner, Harry Fitz. It’s part of a buzzing night at Salford’s White...

01/02/2023

New: As part of our collaboration with Manchester Collective, Jess Coulson writes about Breaking Barz, 'one of the most exciting nights in Manchester', at The Old Abbey Taphouse

Breaking Barz has the most electric atmosphere of any gig I have been to in Manchester in the past few years. It started life as a series of workshops and talks by local historians celebrating the life of boxer and activist Len Johnson, before evolving into one of the most exciting nights in the cit...

18/01/2023

'Tarot cards were concealed throughout the streets surrounding Manchester's Northern Quarter.' Lily Hilton reviews The Order of the Fool's Street Traot exhibition.

Lilly Hilton reviews Order of the Fool's interactive Street Tarot exhibition in the Northern Quarter last October.

11/01/2023

For our project in collaboration with Manchester Collective, Isabel Armitage reviewed WEATHER at The Royal Northern College of Music.

Isabel Armitage reviews of Manchester Collective's WEATHER as part of Northern Voices 2022.

04/01/2023

In September, Elizabeth Adejumo wrote about Fayre Share Fayre at The Whitworth which explored food and consumpion.

A Modest Show explores food, hospitality, consumption and dining across multiple venues in Manchester. It's the local counterpart to the British Art Show, a national touring exhibition organised every five years by Hayward Gallery.

26/08/2022

We are back this year with two call outs for writers for our Northern Voices project with

We are looking for two Greater Manchester based writers to take part in this years project.

It is FREE to apply and each writer will be paid £250 for their article which will be published by Salt.

The first brief is 200 words on your relationship with WEATHER.
The chosen writer will write an extended feature responding to an immersive multimedia performance of Michael Gordon’s piece ‘Weather’ with sound artist Chris Watson and Spanish filmmaker Carlos Casas which will take place at the Royal Northern College of Music on Friday 23 September.

The second brief is 200 word pitch for an article to cover an interesting and exciting part of the city’s current music scene. This piece will be an investigation and you report on a section of the music scene in Manchester as it stands today. Whatever the genre, as long as you capture the people and culture of the scene, we are keen to hear from you. 

Deadline for both pitches is Thursday 15th September 11.59pm.
You can use the Google Form (link in bio) to apply.

Any questions please get in touch with us on [email protected] or DM and we will be happy to answer any questions or make relevant adjustments to suit your needs.

04/08/2022

New: Meet the indie record label creating cassette tapes on the third floor of Afflecks Palace for psych artists around the world. Interview by Matty Dagger.

Matty Dagger interviews the co-founders of Afflecks Palace based record label and promoters Sour Grapes who promote psych music in Manchester

05/07/2022

New: With a new innovation district on the horizon, UMIST's brutalist buildings are captured on film. Essay by Tom Taylor.

A photo essay providing an architectural snapshot of UMIST at the University of Manchester including the Renold Building.

19/06/2022

New: “Some people have said that this stuff I’m doing now is ‘ambient punk'. I don’t even know what that means to be honest. I’ll take it, it sounds cool.” Joe Ronan interviews CURRENTMOODGIRl

Joe Ronan interviews Manchester artist Greta Carroll who produces ambient punk music under the name CURRENTMOODGIRL

06/06/2022

New: “As performance organisations, we can tend towards the ‘museum’. In a city that is socially radical, we need to be looking forward.” Tom Taylor interviews Manchester Camerata

As Manchester Camerata turn 50, the orchestra’s leadership are asking questions about what it means to be an art organisation today.

29/05/2022

When closed its doors almost two years ago the city centre lost a key player in its creative scene and the future for independent bookshops looked bleak.

But now there are a new set of indies on the block.

Morys Davis speaks to , .co and ***rlituk to uncover Manchester’ bookshop renaissance.

Words + Images: Morys Davis

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25/04/2022

New: When Magma shut almost two years ago, it felt like a part of the city’s heart had been lost. Now, new indie bookshop are bringing that joy back. Morys Davies talks to Village, UNITOM and Q***r Lit

Morys Davies talks to the founders and managers of Manchester’s independent bookshops including UNITOM, Village Books and Q***r Lit.

16/04/2022

New: “Organisers of events such as Tough Act and Fatty Acid
give individuals space to feel like part of a majority.” Words by Vic Saule.

Vic Saule speaks to some of the people behind Manchester’s q***r dance nights and discusses belonging on the dance floor.

28/03/2022

New: “A reflection of an artist who cares more about why he’s making music than if anyone is listening.” Tom Taylor reviews Rat Heart’s A Blues.

Tom Taylor reviews Tom Boogizm’s latest ensemble A Blues which is released under his Rat Heart persona

22/03/2022

Back in November the beloved Northern Quarter bar were served a Noise Abatement Notice by Manchester City Council.

In our latest piece Lily digs deeper into the threat residential developers pose on the culture in our city. Thank you to Isaac Rose, an organiser at Greater Manchester Tenants Union for his comments. You can find out more about the work of GMTU via their website.

As always read more via the link in bio.

Words: Lily Gordon Brown
Photographs: Tom and Lily

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This is one of our commissioned pieces brought to you by our subscribers. To support Salt and independent journalism in Greater Manchester consider becoming a member for as little as £3 a month.

We are a not for profit which means that all of the money raised goes straight back into Salt. Every penny goes to supporting our writers and designers to continue bringing you the stories that might otherwise not be heard.

25/02/2022

New: Night & Day’s Noise Abatement Notice last year was a symptom of the residentialisation of post-industrial cities like Manchester and Liverpool, Lily Gordon Brown writes.

Lily Gordon Brown discusses the impact of residential developments on nightlife spots such as Night & Day Cafe in Manchester.

14/02/2022

New: Oldham-born Wajid Yaseen’s Tape Letters project seeks to unearth and preserve the oral histories of British-Pakistani families. Interview by Yasmin Al-najar.

Modus Arts’ Tape Letters project investigates and preserves the oral histories of British-Pakistani migration between 1960 and 1980.

07/02/2022

New: Electronic Massachusetts duo Boy Harsher brought arthouse horror to Chapeltown Picture House with their debut film The Runner. Joe Ronan reviews.

A review of Boy Harsher’s film and accompanying soundtrack The Runner which was shown at Chapeltown Picture House

21/01/2022

New: Rainy Miller talks Preston, songwriting and the underground music scene in Manchester. Interview by Tom Taylor.

Rainy Miller discusses growing up in Preston, Manchester's underground music scene and the city's obsession with the Hacienda.

10/01/2022

New: Fresh from Latitude Festival and her debut EP, Cathy Jain looks forward to what 2022 will bring. Tom Taylor interviews.

Recently named as an essential artist for 2022, Cathy Jain is going from strength to strength with her blend of dream-pop and indie.

14/12/2021

‘The rapper and singer-songwriter, who grew up in Birmingham before moving to Manchester, is perhaps best known for her 2019 performance of Cherries for the COLORS Youtube series and has received praise for her silky jazz-rap delivery and the honest vulnerability of her lyrics.’

Read the full piece on ’s latest release via the link in our bio.

If you have exhibitions, albums, books or features you’d like to write on you can pitch to us via our website.

Words: Tom
Photographs: courtesy of artist

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10/12/2021

New: "In the anger and uncertainty, there is a desire for change." Joe Ronan on Blackhaine's second EP And Salford Falls Apart.

And Salford Falls Apart is the second EP from the multidisciplinary artist Blackhaine, released by The White Hotel affiliate label HEAD II.

06/12/2021

We've been putting the finishing touches to tomorrow's edition of the newsletter.

"One of my favourite inbox arrivals every week" is the verdict from one of our subscribers.

Sign up for free: bit.ly/3otD4vr

04/12/2021

In our latest piece, Tom () chats to Hayley Flynn aka Skyliner about hostile architecture and Manchester City Centre.

“Cold, steel bolts protruding from wooden slats, awkward angles and sloping seats are design decisions. Walking through Manchester with this in mind makes the city’s very deliberately marketed propensity for ‘doing things differently’ ring very hollow.”

As always read the full piece via the link in bio.

Words + Images: Tom _________________________________

02/12/2021

New: Greater Manchester residents left answerphone messages detailing their hopes, fears, dreams and nightmares for broadcast on Dream FM, soundtracked by Space Afrika. Tom Taylor reviews.

Tom Taylor reviews the Dream FM broadcast at Central Library from artists Danielle Swindells, Brit Seaton and Space Afrika.

28/11/2021

28/11/2021

"I felt that people around me knew indescribable things I didn’t. They seemed comfortable in middle class art spaces, where I didn’t."

The third and final article commissioned as part of our series in collaboration with out now

Read all three Northern Voices pieces from , and up on the website.

Words + Images:
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25/11/2021

‘We all need poetry and we need more poetry.’ Nia sat down with artist and poet to discuss his work as part of the Poet / Artist exhibition curated by and which was on show this summer at as part of as well as his first UK institutional solo show at in North Wales.

Words: Nia ( )
Images: credited in graphics

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