30th Anniversary Concert

A 30th Anniversary Celebration Like No Other

Celebrate 30 years of unforgettable music at The Bridgewater Hall with a landmark, one-night-only anniversary concert bringing together Manchester’s musical past, present and future.

Created especially for this milestone year, this flagship performance blends highlights from the Hall’s history with new arrangements of original music by artists including Stevie Wonder, Jamie Cullum, Liza Minnelli, Laufey, Herbie Hancock and more. It’s a celebration of everything The Bridgewater Hall has become over three decades, and a bold look ahead to the artists shaping what comes next.

A Musical Celebration, Made In Manchester

At the heart of the concert is the debut of the newly formed Greater Manchester Youth Orchestra, bringing together outstanding young musicians from across the region. Artistically led by The Untold Orchestra, the ensemble represents the next generation of Greater Manchester’s musical talent. The concert opens with performance poet SAF-S2E joining the Youth Orchestra’s string section for a powerful setting of Barber’s Adagio for Strings.

Throughout the evening, Manchester artists will celebrate the Hall’s history by reimagining music connected to performers who have appeared on its stage. Pianist, producer and composer Matt Wilde performs Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage, while the Greater Manchester Youth Choir, joined by the NIA Choir, presents Jamie Cullum’s arrangement of Radiohead’s High & Dry. Banksie brings the theatricality of Liza Minnelli’s Cabaret to life.

The programme will also explore hip hop’s history, from its use of classical samples to its influence on genres including grime and reggaeton. Rooted in Moss Side and his Jamaican heritage, Roberto will perform two original tracks, accompanied by a steel pan band.

Genre-defying string quartet Vulva Voce put performance at the forefront, combining movement, experimentation and improvisation. Drawing on folk, contemporary classical, techno and more, they push the boundaries of how a string quartet can sound, perform and connect with an audience.

Manchester music icon Rowetta, whose powerhouse vocals span her work with Happy Mondays, solo releases and dance-music collaborations, will perform So Sweet. She will also join the NIA Choir for a specially commissioned arrangement of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart.

Looking firmly to the future, young musicians from Salford and Gorton Youth Zones will perform music by Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder, with Zephy from Hideout Youth Zone closing the concert with Don’t You Worry About a Thing.

Together, these performances celebrate the Hall’s musical past, Manchester’s creativity today and the young talent shaping its future.

Hosted by Karen Gabay

The evening is presented by Karen Gabay, a much-loved broadcaster, DJ and cultural voice in Manchester. Known for her warmth and insight, she will guide audiences through the programme, introducing each performance and connecting the stories behind the music to create a shared celebratory experience.

A Line-Up Reflecting Manchester Today

This special concert features a diverse group of guest soloists, each representing a different strand of Manchester’s contemporary music culture:

• Rowetta – powerhouse vocals spanning soul, dance and alternative music
• Matt Wilde – pianist, producer and composer shaping a modern jazz sound
• Banksie – theatrical, joyful performance celebrating self-expression, known for RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Roberto – blending grime and dancehall, rooted in Moss Side and Jamaican heritage
• Vulva Voce  – genre-spanning string quartet fusing historical and original music to amplify music composed by women and underrepresented voices through bold, energising performance.
• NIA Choir – uplifting Soul and R&B community choir from Hulme, Moss Side and beyond, open to all those who identify and align with womanhood
• SAF-S2E – dynamic performance poet and recording artist rooted in hip hop, blending lyrical precision with powerful live performance

Together, they reflect the creativity, diversity and energy of Manchester’s music scene.

The Future Takes the Stage

At the heart of the concert is the debut performance of a newly formed Greater Manchester Youth Orchestra, bringing together outstanding young musicians from across the region.

The orchestra is led artistically by Untold Orchestra, a Manchester-based collective known for innovative, genre-crossing orchestral work. The project has been developed in partnership with OneEducation Manchester, Olympias Music Foundation, and Greater Manchester Music Hub, creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation of musicians.

Past, Present and Future, All in One Night

This anniversary concert is not just about looking back. It asks an exciting question: are you seeing the stars of the next 30 years on this stage?

From established voices to emerging talent, this is a defining moment in Manchester’s musical story, brought together in one celebratory night.

Join us for a landmark evening of music made in Manchester, for Manchester – and for the world.