Sounds From The Other City 2025

Salford’s much-loved festival of new music, Sounds from the Other City (SFTOC), announces its 20th anniversary lineup for Bank Holiday Sunday 4th May 2025, featuring Du Blonde, Grove, Astrid Sonne, The Orielles and over 100 more acts.

Celebrating two decades of programming the best emerging artists and genres from across the UK, SFTOC returns with an eclectic lineup curated by a diverse group of independent local promoters, selectors and tastemakers. The festival will once again take place in unconventional venues across Salford, with 15 stages around Chapel Street and The Crescent, from pubs and churches to concert halls and in-between spaces.

2025 LINE-UP HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating two decades of programming the best emerging artists and genres from across the UK, SFTOC returns with an eclectic lineup curated by a diverse group of independent local promoters, selectors and tastemakers. The festival will once again take place in unconventional venues across Salford, with 15 stages around Chapel Street and The Crescent, from pubs and churches to concert halls and in-between spaces.

Expect incendiary energy from the incredible combination of Grove x Toya De Lazy x TaliaBle plus freewheeling scuzzy rock from Newcastle’s Du Blonde, both at Salford University’s brutalist Maxwell Hall. Just round the corner you’ll find the alt-pop of German-Australian producer Hachiku at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, and the woozy wonky compositions of Danish violist Astrid Sonne in Peel Hall.

Indie-avant-pop group The Orielles and party punk queens Loose Articles will both be playing Islington Mill’s event space alongside electronic producer and WH Lung member Tom Sharkett, and Dublin’s electro-punk trio YARD take on a true festival favourite, The Old Pint Pot.

The historic Bexley Square sees the return of SEEN after their blistering day-party at SFTOC 2024, this year hosting a back-to-back set from two of Manchester’s best: Chunky B2B Samrai; and the gorgeous St Philips Church will play stage to the kuduro-flavoured grooves of London-based bassist Marla Kether.

A CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE

This milestone edition of SFTOC highlights the ongoing importance of organisations like From The Other, the team behind SFTOC, Fat Out and a range of special projects and residencies, reinforcing the positive impact independent festivals and promoters have on both the local community and the wider UK music scene. As the grassroots music sector faces increasing challenges, SFTOC stands as one of the country’s longest running independent festivals.

The festival has long been a launchpad for some of the most exciting talent in the UK, with past performances from celebrated artists such as Sampha, IAMDDB, Black Country New Road and The Ting Tings. The 20th anniversary edition will continue this legacy, offering a unique snapshot of the Greater Manchester music scene, showcasing the next generation of independent artists. This anniversary edition is not only a celebration of SFTOC’s history but also a reaffirmation of the festival’s role in shaping the future of UK music.

The unique model of SFTOC means that the line-up curation is ever-evolving; each year the festival organisers invite a selection of the region’s best promoters and selectors to book the artists that most excite them. This year they include promoters such as Heavenly Recordings, Now Wave and Band on the Wall alongside new and emerging selectors such as Crop Radio, $eamu$ Presents, Rare Mags and FLUFF.

Bristol-based artist Grove, who will perform their collaborative soundclash show at Maxwell Hall said: “I'm so hyped to bring our soundclash to Sounds From The Other City. Toya Delazy, TaliaBle and I have been working on Afrorave X Afropunk, bringing together perspectives from South Africa, North London and Bristol. SFTOC is a home for raw, authentic and experimental expression. We're glad to be part of it and excited to bring plenty of that energy."

SFTOC 2025 full line-up:

Note that line-up may be subject to change
[stage venues // selected by]

Maxwell Hall // Fat Out x Heavenly Recordings

Du Blonde
Big Joanie
Grove x Toya De Lazy x TaliaBle
The None
Tristwych Y Fenywod
More TBA

The Green // Love Party

Jus 'T
Love Party
Good Afternoon
The Fat Britney

Salford Museum & Art Gallery // Hey! Manchester x Red Deer Club

Brown Wimpenny
Hachiku
British Birds
Milkweed

Peel Hall // Now Wave

Brown Horse
The Orchestra (For Now)
Astrid Sonne
More TBA

Acoustics Laboratories // University of Salford Arts Collection

Hayley Suviste

The Old Fire Station Café // Reform Radio

Hosted by Yolanda Damoyi
KD22LR
NOT BAD FOR A GIRL
Mica (UK)
Robin Hergé
Sharari
INA b2b DR MYSTERY
Obeka

Working Class Movement Library / Rare Mags

Left Cultures magazine and Jennifer Reid
Oluwaseun Olayiwola
Copper Sounds And Jennifer Lucy Allan talk Clay And Sound

Pint Pot upstairs // Grey Lantern x Strange Days

Westside Cowboy
Kynsy
Holodrum
Set Dressing
YARD

Pint Pot downstairs // FLUFF

Chaine
Industries
ZOLATEC
Norrisette
Kaoti
Bennettiscoming

St Philips Church // Band on the Wall

Meduulla
Caleb Kunle
Marla Kether
Bodur
Nøelle

Islington Mill Event Space // Islington Mill

Karl D'Silva
The Orielles
Meme Gold
Tom Sharkett
Leo Hermitt
Lill

Islington Mill Gallery // Club Brenda

Loose Articles
Moth Slut
Ghost Assembly
Sonic Yootha DJs
Club Brenda DJs

Cabaret:
Gerry Potter
Debs Gatenby
Anti Suzann
Holy Gore Arcade
Violet Blonde

Islington Mill Balcony // Kath McDermott & Friends

Metrodome
James Holroyd
Ladybeige b2b Julie Wills
Ellen Beth Abdi
Sophia

Islington Mill // The Fifth Floor

John Powell Jones
More TBA

Bexley Square // SEEN

Chunky b2b Samrai
DJ Wachita
Reisner
Zeyla

Porta // Crop Radio

Amaka
Fliss Mayo b2b Henzo
baby b
d.clemente
Charlie Boy Manson

The New Oxford // $eamu$ & Friends

La Familia
Stuart Richards
WDDS & Ror Materials (LIVE)
Galgish b2b Linge
Inness Hallam b2b teepee h
Alex Milo b2b Mystique
Nora b2b teepee h
Twin Complex B2B thisvibrantbody
Princess Elf Bar B2B Leaha

AFTER PARTIES

Islington Mill Events Space // High Hoops

Finn
Egg On Toast
Fastlove

Islington Mill Gallery // Green Island Festival

Lena C
Marley

Pint Pot upstairs // Papa Sage’s Karaoke Club

Papa Sage

The White Hotel // Morsel x Self

SILVERWINGKILLER
DR MYSTERY
Sockethead
Buffee
Loney (DJ)
Niix (DJ)