New Order and Jane Horrocks among a miriad of artists at MIF2017

The detailed programme for Manchester International Festival 2017 which takes place in the summer under its new artistic director John McGrath will feature an appearance by the legendary band New Order at the Old Granada Studios.

The band will perform in a spectacular immersive environment by visual artist Liam Gillick.

And a major exhibition at Manchester City Art Gallery will explore the legacy of Joy Division, New Order’s previous incarnation before the premature death of singer Ian Curtis in 1980.

The event, which takes place in the city from June 29 to July 17 also includes star of stage and screen Jane Horrocks  stars in a musical drama based on the story of Manchester’s cotton famine.

The festival features more than 20 world premieres, said McGrath.

“I am thrilled to share the remarkable list of artists who are working with us to create this year’s Festival,” he said. “These names, drawn from the United States, Egypt, Austria, China, France, Pakistan, Germany, and Iceland underscore how truly international MIF is.
 
“Only a Festival of new work could speak so compellingly to the current state of the world. Everything has changed in the last 12 months, and our artists are responding in real time.

“This is where MIF’s commitment to commissioning new ideas from artists comes in to its own: many of these pieces are being made right now, and will continue to evolve in response to the events happening around us.”

Artists in the 2017 Festival also include Boris Charmatz,  Yael Bartana, Arcade Fire, Phil Collins, Underworld, Lucinda Childs, Frank Gehry, John Adams, Thomas Ostermeier, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Matthew Herbert, Anna Meredith, Olga Neuwirth, Huang Ruo, Mohammed Fairouz, Philip Venables, Jeremy Deller, Mary-Ellen McTague, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Company Wayne McGregor, Simon Stephens, Scott Graham, Susan Hefuna, Sampha, Raymond Yiu, Paloma Gormley, Nigel Barrett and Louise Mari, Mary-Anne Hobbs, Samson Young and many more.
    
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “In just over a decade from its early beginnings in 2005 MIF has helped secure Manchester’s centre-stage position on the global arts scene, and has become a much talked about and anticipated fixture on the international arts calendar.
 
“It has attracted thousands of visitors from around the world, providing an important economic boost to the city, whilst also inspiring local people to get involved.
 
“The calibre of internationally renowned artists, musicians and performers announced for this year’s event shows that MIF is continuing to break new ground, and is set once again to showcase Manchester as the vibrant centre of innovation and creativity that it undoubtedly is.”
 
For the first time, MIF opens with a large-scale public event. What Is the City but the People? will see a unique selection of individuals from across Manchester, recruited via open auditions, walking along a runway through Piccadilly Gardens for an audience of thousands. From an idea by artist Jeremy Deller, What Is the City features live music from Graham Massey, assisted by an unexpected mix of local musicians, directed by Richard Gregory and made in association with Islington Mill.