From Nick Heyward of Haircut 100 to John Foxx, Pauline Black of The Selecter, Marco Pirroni of Adam and The Ants and Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, this year’s line-up is again really strong.
The Louder Than Words Festival of music and writing grows louder each year. Now in its 14th edition, this remains the only festival that truly interrogates that enduring love affair between music and the written word.
The Louder Than Words team, led by Jill Adam, former chair of Harogate International Festivals, and musician, journalist and broadcaster John Robb, have announced this year’s festival programme, all taking place at the Innside Hotel on Tony Wilson Place, Manchester – appropriately located in the shadow of what was Manchester’s Haçienda nightclub.
The festival kicks off on Friday November 13 with a typically eclectic collection of events, from an in-conversation with Alan Parsons of The Alan Parsons Project, DJ, presenter and keyboard player Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets) talking about his autobiography Manchester Chronicles, and Jayne Houghton, John Dewhirst and Baz Warne of The Stranglers talking about the new photography book The Stranglers: Hanging Around Life on the Road with the Men in Black. Nick Heyward will also discuss his autobiography, Fantastic Days.
Saturday November 14 sees Nicky Weller, Stuart Deabill and Steve Rowland discussing their Paul Weller book In the Shadow of the Sun; Keith Kahn-Harris in conversation about his critically acclaimed book The Beautiful Death of Ozzy Oscourne; Cathi Unsworth talking all things History of Goth with accompanying tracks from the album Dressed in Black, and MTV video director Tim Pope sharing tales from his book I Shoot Rock Stars, plus a romping DJ set courtesy of Daryl Easlea who will close the evening, with drinks and networking in the hotel bar.
Dr Adam said: “As for musical genres, is it possible to get a more varied selection than one that runs from journalist Sylvia Patterson to Nige Tassell and Graeme Thomson talking about the writing of biographies of renowned reclusive frontmen (Prefab Sprout and The The) and the brilliant Nigel Planer with his Young Once: A Life Less Heavy show hosted by Christopher Eccleston? From Punk to Funk; and from Performance to Pop via The Fall with The Dave Bush Files film and an insight to the infamous hub for independent music Cargo Studios with Chris Connelly and Mark Hoyle – we have something for everyone.”
And Sunday November 15 rounds things off in the same spirit, with conversations discussing subjects as varied as Simon Goddard in conversation with his Bowie Odyssey collection, a talk and exhibition on The Sex Pistols at 50: a regional retrospective with Ian Trowell, and John Robb and Manchester’s own Mike Pickering in conversation on his book Manchester Must Dance.
Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet and graphic designer Simon Halfon will be discussing their 1967: The World of Brian Epstein and The Beatles book; Zoe Howe will talk about her book on The Slits, while cult author Irvine Welsh will be in conversation about his latest book Can No-one Save Us? Louder’s Sunday is drawn to a close by special guest John Foxx, celebrating his career in music, art and performance.
Dr Adam adds: “And that is merely to scratch the surface, as elsewhere numerous academics and music writers gather for panels, discussions, Q&As, workshops, dancing, skanking and more. As well as hearing their stories, Louder Than Words Festival also offers a unique chance to get up close to people often only seen on the stage; in the much more social and conducive atmosphere of The Innside Hotel.
“We have sole use of the four fully accessible adjoining function rooms of the hotel over the entire weekend, giving visitors the best experience of comfortably moving between events. With all four rooms operating throughout the weekend, there is obviously plenty to choose from and we will also have a dedicated book shop via our partners Blackwells, Manchester, book signings and socialising in the hotel bar and social spaces before and after the events.”
Louder Than Words works in partnership with a number of local, regional and national organisations including Omnibus Press, The Blacka Group, New Modern Books, CMC School Catering, P-C Press, Route Publishing and Melia Hotels.
Since its first incarnation in 2013, audience and contributor numbers have more than doubled at Louder, which in turn has only increased the variety of talks, panels and workshops programmed over the weekend. Over those years the festival has welcomed music characters such as Rick Buckler (The Jam), Guy Garvey (Elbow), Edwyn Collins, Viv Albertine, Mary Anne Hobbs, Woody Woodmansey (The Spiders From Mars), Wolfgang Flur (Kraftwerk), Brix Smith (The Fall), Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), and Billy Bragg.
Attendees come from as far as San Francisco and Moscow to engage in a weekend that includes panels, Q&As hosted by Louder’s John Robb amongst others and special performances from all four corners of the musical world: from rave to metal; ska to punk.
Louder 2026 also includes an opportunity for aspiring and inspiring writers to enter Louder’s annual Wilko Johnson Writing Award. Entrants must respond to a topical and pertinent theme and have the chance to win an enviable collection of music books, two full weekend passes to the Festival and their winning piece published by Louder Than Words, Northern Gravy and Louder Than War.
Says Dr Adam: “Expect music… expect conversation… expect laughter… expect things to get loud.”