Look north: composer Gavin Higgins on his new song cycle celebrating northerness

From the high energy and high rises of Manchester to the wild beauties of the moors and mountains, the north of England has enriched and inspired Gavin Higgins. His newest work explores the idea – and the sounds – of being northernAs a child, the idea of “the north” captured my imagination. Images of lonely moors, mist-drenched mountains and driving rain provided backdrops for some of my favourite books, poems and films. But for me, the raucous energy of Manchester had an almost religious pull. It was the birthplace of bands I loved – Oasis, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, A Guy Called Gerald – and home to that palace of techno and acid house music, the Haçienda, which I dreamed of visiting.I grew up at the rural borderland between England and Wales, but moved to Manchester when I was 16. It was my first time experiencing a real city with its cacophony of police sirens, shop alarms and drunken revelry, a far cry from the woodlands I’d grown up with. It was also the first time I realised I spoke with an accent. Against nasal Mancunian colloquialisms, my broad west country twang made me feel that I was from a different planet. But one of Manchester’s great charms is how its people throw their arms open to strangers. The city quickly became my home and I became a proud northerner. Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

Pope Leo's video address to be played at Chicago's White Sox ballpark

washington times

Comments

Similar News

Brian Wilson and Beach Boys’ Style Showed What California Living Looked Like

Sly Stone Had a Whole New Look

Big man! First look at Stormzy in his film debut

TV tonight: a horrifying look inside the prison walls of the Assad regime

Tony Awards Unforgettable Looks: Cole Escola, Nicole Scherzinger, and More

Robbie Williams: ‘My dad doesn’t look after himself – he should have had help long ago’

Harvey Fierstein, on eve of Tony honor, looks back on his career

Nintendo Switch 2 console first look: I tried it before it went on sale — is it any good?

A look at the Met Museum's exhibition on Black dandyism

‘Tudor high drama’: English Heritage looks for descendants of abbey rebels

Forget the ratings, Thunder-Pacers looks like an NBA Finals for true basketball fans

Young men shaving eyelashes to 'look more masculine' in latest TikTok fad

Forget the ratings, Thunder-Pacers looks like a series for true basketball fans

Trump Says He’d ‘Look at the Facts’ of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Case: Latest Trial Takeaways

'The Andromeda Strain' 4K review: Classic contagion film deserves fresh look

Looking Back at Lollapalooza 1995

Harry Potter TV show unveils first look of Harry, Ron and Hermione actors

A look at Indian American life highlights communities across the U.S.

Blushing JoJo Siwa looks shocked when bluntly asked about ‘boyfriend’ Chris Hughes

Looking to grill more veggies this Memorial Day? Try nopales

Culture

Pope Leo's video address to be played at Chicago's White Sox ballpark

The National Weather Service issues Alaska's first ever heat advisory

Mexico's president calls for no ICE raids during Mexico-Dominican Republic soccer match

Rylan Clark says he begged Celebrity Gogglebox editors to cut out risqué ‘career-ending’ remarks

Love Island star jailed for 14 years after role in huge drug smuggling ring exposed

Made In Chelsea star pays tribute to ‘lovely friends’ killed in Air India crash

Australian man shot to death at a villa on the tourist island of Bali

How Prime Video's 'Burn Bar' is changing the way we watch NASCAR

King Charles III marks Air India tragedy with moment of silence during annual birthday parade

David Beckham, Gary Oldman, Elaine Paige and others honored by King Charles III

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez to spotlight Venice's artisanal heritage during upcoming nuptials

‘We’d hold hands and cry’: Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers’ wife opens up about his final months for the first time

Keira Knightley reflects on negative consequence of Pirates of the Caribbean role

Star Wars boss Kathleen Kennedy addresses concern over ‘illegal’ screening of original film

The degrading moment the ‘best TV show’ crossed a line and never looked back

Watch: Idris Elba unveils celebratory stone at old college

Mood swings fuelled Heston Blumenthal's genius. But the highs got higher and the lows got darker

Gary Oldman and Strictly hosts join Beckham in honours

I made Sleep Token's masks on my mum's kitchen table

Love Island’s Georgia Harrison: 'I re-read my MBE letter three times'

One student reflects on how their dad inspires them

Molly Recommends 2 Very Male New Novels

Pop star Robbie Williams named as new Fifa Music Ambassador

Jarvis Cocker is Britpop’s ultimate comeback king in scintillating Pulp show

Tess Daly almost missed MBE after error in letter

Churchill won the war but lost the peace - was that inevitable?

30 years on, I watch Braveheart for first time. It would bring a tear to a glass eye

10 exhibitions to see next - including work from a top Scottish sculptor

Top Chef finalist Shuai Wang cooks Chinatown BBQ with a Lowcountry flair

10 years after the deadly church shooting, a new history of 'Mother Emanuel'

Pop star Robbie Williams named as new Fifa Music Ambassador

Reëxamining Victimhood in Guatemala

A Very Elon Father’s Day

Lessons of Later-in-Life Fatherhood

EastEnders to hold back release of next episode as new boss shares statement

Eamonn Holmes says he has worked with ‘so many horrible’ co-stars

Rylan says Celebrity Gogglebox editors had to cut out ‘career-ending’ conversations

What if being Mr. 305 was a state of mind?

I played the new Resident Evil — and a whole lot more. Here are my thoughts

Book Review:

Trying to Sell a Conservative Book? Go on a Podcast.

A Decade of Bruising Labor. A 6-Mile Work of Land Art.

At National History Day, Students Get Competitive About the Past

Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Busy Caring for a Pony, Pig, Donkey and Malamute

Lenny Henry fights back tears reflecting on mother’s death during tour

No more Edinburgh Book Festival for me – where did it all go wrong?

Noel Gallagher gave me his Oasis Wonderwall guitar - after Liam smashed up mine

Abbott Elementary's Chris Perfetti talks getting notes from mom and loving Wait Wait

The Grammys tweak rules to create two new categories for 2026

The 7 best ‘explosive’ Australian thrillers free to watch in UK

Fern Britton: ‘Newsrooms used to be misogynistic. We really were more resilient to it’

The five best historical novels of all time, according to Kate Mosse

Barbie Ferreira on her life and career post-Euphoria: ‘We all have daddy issues – literally everyone’

13 worst songs by brilliant artists, from The Beatles to Taylor Swift

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition review: 'where is British art going?'

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, 'Jaws' 50th anniversary is here

Missed Glasto? 11 festivals you can still get tickets for