Two of Greater Manchester's nicest men in grassroots music have come together and launched a project which is simply brilliant. The greatly titled 'Art For Mcr' is the idea of The Information Highway guitarist Lee Gallagher and Black Sonic Revolver frontman Leon Kenny, two great bands who have both appeared on Tameside Radio as Band Of The Week on our Local Music Spotlight feature.
The 'Art For Mcr' project has a strapline which reads '10 bands, 2 gigs, 1 album, 1 goal', and with the passion, love and respect for Lee and Leon on the Manchester music scene, it will no doubt be a huge success. The aim is to raise as much money as possible for Greater Manchester charities which support the city's most vunerable people, and they plan to do this with the power of live music and art. With a launch night in the planning for August, a ten-band compilation album which will be available on vinyl and on Bandcamp set to be released in October, and a huge fundraising gig in November, 'Art For Mcr' is a project which I can see spreading to other UK cities in the coming years. Lee and Leon describe the project as 'A movement powered by music, community, and the belief that together a change can be made' and are looking for any local bands, artists, or creatives who would like to be involved and feel they can help, who also have the same vision as 'Art For Mcr' to get in touch with them. Greater Manchester has a thriving grassroots music scene, with Lee Gallagher and Leon Kenny highly respected amongst bands and promoters alike. With the pair working together, the 'Art For Mcr' scheme will no doubt become an annual staple fixture in Manchester's grassroots music scene, and I can really imagine other cities quickly picking up on the idea and getting involved. If you would like to be involved and can help the pair as a band, artist, volunteer, or can help in any other way, you can find 'Art For Mcr' on Facebook. To keep up to date with 'Art For Mcr' gigs and releases and other news, follow the same Facebook page. I wish Lee and Leon all the very best with 'Art For Mcr', it is an amazing thing they are doing, and I can't wait to see how far this brilliant idea goes, please support them if you can.
