Sounds From The Other City (SFTOC)

Preview by Steve Cooke

Sounds From The Other City (SFTOC) is Salford and Greater Manchester’s annual independent music and arts festival, celebrated for showcasing emerging talent in unconventional spaces such as pubs, churches, galleries, and concert halls. The 2026 edition marks the festival’s 21st year and continues its tradition of championing local promoters and offbeat artistry.

Venues: 17 stages across Salford, including Maxwell Hall at Salford University, St Philip’s Church, Peel Hall, Islington Mill, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Old Pint Pot, Old Fire Station Café, Porta, The Green, The New Oxford, and Bexley Square.

Lineup Highlights

The festival features a diverse roster of over 100 performers from the UK and beyond.

Key acts include:

Maxwell Hall: Lynks (masked provocateur), Moonchild Sanelly (South African future ghetto funk), and Manchester’s jasmine.4.t (BBC 6 Music Artist of the Year 2025).

Peel Hall: Pollyfromthedirt (ambient pop).

St Philip’s Church: Blue Bendy (South London art-rock), ashnymph, and Pyncher.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery: Ellen Beth Abdi and nu-jazz fusion outfit NONUNONU

Islington Mill: Programming from Band on the Wall, Reform Radio, queer day-rave

BENT, LGBTQ+ POC collective Swagga, and performances by Sorvina, Renee Stormz, and DJ Chimpo.

For the first time, early-career promoters trained with Factory Academy will curate their own artist lineups at Islington Mill, adding fresh perspectives to the festival programming.

SFTOC is known as the “Christmas Day” of Greater Manchester’s independent music scene, offering a vibrant, multi-venue experience that blends music, art, and community engagement. The festival does not offer camping, but nearby hotels, hostels, and guest houses provide accommodation options.

Sounds From The Other City 2026 promises a full day of eclectic music and art across Salford, highlighting emerging talent and independent promoters. With over 100 artists performing across 17 venues, it remains a cornerstone event for the region’s alternative music scene.

For two decades Sounds From The Other City has been championing new music, local promoters and the off-kilter beauty of Salford, the oft-overlooked ‘other city’ to Manchester.

To abtain tickets visit: https://soundsfromtheothercity.com/

Sunday, 3 May 2026, during the early May Bank Holiday weekend.