RSSClub cleans up with Dirty Old Town
Published: 2009-12-09 14:35:08
Salford Lads' Club premiered a film and music event called Dirty Old Town on November 22nd, as part of the recent Salford Film Festival.
A tribute to Salford's legendary singer, songwriter, playwright and folk archivist, Ewan MacColl, Dirty Old Town featured music and images performed and created by young people from across Manchester and Salford. They were assisted by members of the BBC Philharmonic - illustrating the city's stengthening ties with the BBC as parts of the corporation prepare to move into MediaCityUK.
The event made use of the club's Edwardian concert hall, refurbished earlier this year using £85,000 donated by Central Salford URC. "It generated a great atmosphere with some great singing and rapping by the 'raworchestra'," said Leslie Holmes, Salford Lads' Club project manager.
The rawchestra is a "scratch" orchestra made up of young people from Salford and Manchester who came along to a series of open workshops to create the soundtrack for the event. Participants included singers, rappers, guitarists, percussionists and DJs.
"105 tickets were available and they all went," said Holmes. "With 50-plus musicians and filmmakers, technicians and so on there were over 150 people here."
