Band on the Wall and Brighter Sound are thrilled to announce that the wonderful Beth Orton will be leading our fourth Wall of Sounds Artistic Directors Series.
From the 16th to the 20th February, Beth will lead a 5-day intensive residency for 13 female musicians, vocalists and songwriters from across the UK…

 The material created during this incredible week of collaboration will be showcased live at Band on the Wall on the 20th February.
We’re inviting applications from up and coming female musicians, composers and vocalists from all over the UK.
“I am thrilled to be asked to support and take part in this exciting and important project. Getting the chance to mentor, or simply the opportunity to stand as witness to the diverse, and possibly unheard, talents of artists from all across the UK fills me with curiosity and some apprehension! If I’m lucky I will get to share some of what has been passed along to me over the years. I am equally prepared to be humbled beyond recognition and cannot wait to be so!” Beth Orton
This will be the fourth in our Wall of Sounds Artistic Directors Series. Since starting the programme in 2011 we have had 346 applications to take part, with only one in four coming from women. As part of our response to this we have decided to create a residency specifically for female artists. We hope the residency will be a springboard for discussion around women in the music industry and a chance to support female emerging professionals who are creating exciting new music in the UK.
“It’s the sort of opportunity that money can’t buy, that decides a career, turns on a light, ignites a creative candle – a candle that shines upon your face and lets the world know who you are. It’s the kind of opportunity that can give someone the boost they need for stepping on into the next generation of British music” Bethan Morgan-Williams, residency participant
For all three previous residencies we’ve received over 100 applications each time for the 13 available places, from some of the most exciting emerging talent in the country.
Previous Wall of Sounds residencies have been led by The Unthanks, Snarky Puppy and DJ Yoda . Brighter Sound also produced Chaos to Order, a six day artistic residency which celebrated the re-opening of Manchester Central Library curated by Everything Everything.
If you’re over 18 and you’d like to apply to take part in the Beth Orton residency please click HERE.
Applicants must be available to travel to and stay in Manchester for the whole of the week of 16th to 20th February 2015. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on the 23rd January.
For more information about this project please contact Brighter Sound on info@brightersound.com or call 0161 830 3899.
Wall of Sounds is produced and delivered by Brighter Sound in a partnership between Brighter Sound and Band on the Wall funded by Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts Fund.