Salt Magazine

Hopes, dreams and nightmares at Central Library

By: Tom Taylor 2nd December 20212nd December 2021

A vintage, four-legged stereo system stands on a small stage in Central Library’s performance space. The audience gathered around it are invited to tune into late-night talk radio show Dream FM, whose presenter asks a deceptively simple question: “Where do you drift behind closed eyes?” Since August, residents from across Greater Manchester have been leaving…

The KTNA: “We push against the narrative that female artists need to be perfect and positive”

By: Emily Roney 24th November 202124th November 2021

MusicInterviews

“It was too personal, too deep – too dark.” This is one of the reactions that Mancunian-raised, Kenyan-born sisters Millie and Hope Katana received from industry heads on their 2019 EP Life Under Siege. With thick Lancashire accents and bold humour, the twins, who perform as The KTNA, represent a wave of artists from the…

STiR by LayFullstop review

By: Tom Taylor 17th November 202124th November 2021

MusicReviews

LayFullstop opens STiR with a prayer spoken over a muted jazztronica beat, giving thanks to God for her family, friends and the opportunities she’s been given in life. It sets an unapologetically religious tone for the rest of the mixtape and announces her new musical style, blending gospel, jazz and grime, which she broadly labels…

Northern Voices: Finding diamonds in the rough

By: Avery Dire 8th November 202124th November 2021

ArtsNorthern Voices

A grey, hazy veil has been placed over my vision. I sit hidden within the armour of my car, parked at the roadside, gazing at passers-by. I know this street and yet it looks so unfamiliar. I know that bend in the road, yet it looks like a stranger. As I stare, the road changes…

A place to sit down

By: Tom Taylor 20th October 20212nd December 2021

PhotographyPhoto Essay

“Spanish cities are the kings of public space to me,” Hayley Flynn says. “They’re the kind of cities where you get your lunch, or an ice cream and you’ll quickly find a bench to sit down. It doesn’t cross your mind that you would have to wander around looking for one.” Being able to comfortably…

Investigative Aesthetics: An argument for active art

By: Joe Ronan 13th October 202124th November 2021

ArtsLiterature

Published by Verso in August, Investigative Aesthetics is a book about the theory and practices of investigation, art and politics. The book’s authors, Matthew Fuller and Eyal Weizman, argue for forms of investigating and presenting information aimed not just at reading but working the conjunction. This idea of a ‘conjunction’ is something that comes out…

Salt Shaker: New music from across Greater Manchester

By: Tom Taylor 5th October 202125th November 2021

MusicSessions

The latest new music from artists across Greater Manchester. Download the playlist on Spotify to keep up with updates and check out more of the featured artists’ work below. Abnormal Sleepz // Acre // Aitch // All Hands on Deck // Andy Stott // Anz // Akemi Fox // Biome // Blackhaine // Black Josh…

Using literature as a window into Manchester

By: Tom Taylor 30th September 202124th November 2021

ArtsLiterature

Last year, Ayo launched the Salt Book Club to discuss fiction set in Greater Manchester or written by Mancunian authors. The idea was that people who weren’t from the city or wanted to learn more about it could use literature as an entry-point. We wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on discussions we had…

Greater Manchester, what do you dream of?

By: Tom Taylor 15th September 202124th November 2021

ArtsGallery

“I’ve been dreaming so much recently,” Danielle Swindells says. “I’ve been dreaming about people who used to be in my life who have passed away.” She pauses. “I dream that one day, we all meet again. Something like that.” Brit Seaton smiles. The two artists are old friends who met whilst at different universities in…

Photographer Sharon Latham on touring the world and her Bolton roots

By: Tom Taylor 6th September 202124th November 2021

PhotographyBehind the Lens

“I used to go to open mic nights and photograph everything that was going on,” Sharon Latham says of her early career. “I got known around Liverpool as that woman with the camera.” These days, she is better known for covering stadium touring bands like the Foo Fighters and Bruce Springsteen. I caught up with…

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