A new edit of the acclaimed MIF17 show at Old Granada Studios launches our free online programme for audiences at home.

New Order + Liam Gillick: So it goes.. is the first show announced for MIF LIVE, our new free online programme for audiences at home during the lockdown. The exclusive new edit will be streamed at 7.30pm this Friday (17 April), kickstarting the weekly release of archive shows, talks, behind-the-scenes insights and a new series of Festival in My House.

Originally presented as part of MIF17, New Order + Liam Gillick: So it goes.. saw the legendary Manchester band take over the city’s iconic Old Granada Studios, where Joy Division made their 1978 television debut on Tony Wilson’s So It Goes programme, for a very special series of intimate performances created in collaboration with visual artist Liam Gillick.

The MIF world premiere saw New Order deconstructing, rethinking and rebuilding a wealth of material from across their career, with Liam Gillick transforming the historic space at Old Granada Studios into an immersive environment, creating a stage set that responded dynamically to the music. The band were joined by a 12-strong synthesiser ensemble from the Royal Northern College of Music, put together especially for the shows, with Mancunian composer Joe Duddell conducting and providing the orchestrations.

Winning universal acclaim from critics and audiences, New Order + Liam Gillick: So it goes.. played for five unforgettable nights in July 2017. This one-night-only revival of the original live stream from the event begins with short introduction from Manchester-based DJ and author Dave Haslam and artist Liam Gillick and then joins the performance for the second half of the show. Featuring tracks ranging from much-loved 1986 single Bizarre Love Triangle to 2015’s Plastic from New Order’s critically acclaimed Top 5 album Music Complete, the special online presentation is a rare chance to relive those magical five nights. The livestream will be followed by a new live conversation between Manchester-based DJ and author Dave Haslam, artist Liam Gillick and designer Peter Saville.

John McGrath, Artistic Director & CEO, Manchester International Festival says: “New Order are Manchester legends with a truly global influence and we’re thrilled to be returning to this fantastic show to kick off MIF LIVE. Over the coming weeks we’ll be giving people a peek into our archives, revisiting some of our much-loved Festival shows along with opportunities to hear some of the artists talking about their work, plus exciting new work from Manchester artists. We’re grateful for the support of our artists, partners, co-commissioners and rights holders who have enabled MIF LIVE to happen as we find different ways to share and connect during these difficult times.”

Also on the weekly bill for MIF LIVE is a selection of artist talks from across the Festival archives, starting with Neneh Cherry in conversation with Manchester-based DJ and author Dave Haslam at 12.30pm on Thursday 16 April. Each week the schedule will be announced through our website, Facebook and Twitter.

Livelihoods of people working in the creative sector have, like the wider community, been badly hit as a result of COVID-19 and MIF has repurposed some of its existing artist development funds, to help people across the region create work digitally and online. Over the coming weeks the MIF LIVE programme will also feature a reimagined version of the micro-festival series, Festival in My House, designed to reach audiences in lockdown. It will start on Wednesday 15 April, 7.30pm, with former MIF Jerwood fellow, poet, playwright and performance artist Chanje Kunda who has created a light-hearted response to the toilet roll shortage.

MIF LIVE shows will be streamed our Festival YouTube channel, subscribe to get live notifications.

∑(No,12k,Lg,17Mif) New Order + Liam Gillick: So it goes.. was commissioned by Manchester International Festival, OGR and Wiener Festwochen, and produced by Manchester International Festival. It was orchestrated & conducted by Joe Duddell, and curated by Dave Haslam & Mark Beasley.