16 September 2023
Newsdesk
Johnny Marr has announced two very special homecoming shows for Factory International at their landmark new cultural venue Aviva Studios in Manchester, taking place on 7th and 8th December 2023.
For the first time, Johnny Marr and his band will be joined by a 30-piece orchestra for an expansive celebration of the last decade of Johnny’s solo body of work - 10 prolific years since the release of his 2013 debut solo album, The Messenger.
Led by conductor Fiona Brice, the orchestra has been assembled by Johnny Marr specially for the event and is composed of musicians from across the North.
Fans can expect to hear songs from across Johnny’s revered catalogue in what is set to be an emotional and epic finale to Johnny Marr’s 2023 live performances.
Tickets are on sale from 15th September here and available for pre-sale to Factory International Members from 13th September.
Speaking ahead of the Factory International shows, Johnny said:
“I’ve had two experiences of playing with an orchestra – Hans Zimmer, obviously, and also with Pet Shop Boys – but to actually sing in front of an orchestra playing my own work, that’s a first. You can’t help feeling a little bit emotional.
It’s been really enjoyable working on the arrangements. I’ve been doing a lot of pre-orchestration work, and some of the songs have taken on a sort of highly pumped symphonic feel.”
The two exclusive concerts will follow a busy year of activity that has already seen Johnny debut as yet unreleased new music at shows across the UK and Europe this summer, with audiences eagerly receiving his latest work.
This month Johnny Marr will join BBC 6 Music as the station’s latest Artist in Residence, presenting eight new shows broadcast from Monday 18th – Thursday 21st September and Monday 25th – Thursday 28th September, 9pm-10pm.
Through each episode Johnny will explore the songs that have shaped specific periods of his life. Episodes include Influencers, where Marr explores the artists who informed his own playing and North x North West, in which he recalls his time living in Portland, Oregon. Throughout the series he’ll also take a deep dive into the inspiration behind various The Smiths riffs, demonstrate his deep love of Chic, and share advice for anyone about how to play the guitar.
Speaking about the programme Johnny said: "It’s been fun doing the 6Music Artist In Residence. I get to share my inspirations, collaborations, and recommendations. I hope people enjoy it. Good times."
The 2023 summer live season has seen Johnny and his band perform headline shows, summer festivals and outdoor gigs as special guests with The Killers and Noel Gallagher, alongside a raft of surprise collaborations. Glastonbury 2023 saw Johnny team with The Pretenders anew for a one-night-only secret set, widely received as a thrilling highlight of the entire festival weekend. At Lakefest Johnny was joined onstage by Gaz Coombes to perform The Smiths’ classic ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’, and a sold out crowd at Halifax’s Piece Hall were treated to a rendition of Electonic’s hit single, ‘Get The Message’, joined by The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess.
The busy year began with the launch of The Johnny Marr Award, a new funding initiative to support the next generation of young musicians from Salford in partnership with the Salford Foundation Trust. Never one to sit still creatively, Johnny also contributed guitar to several songs on ‘Council Skies’, the acclaimed new album released this year by long-time friend and collaborator Noel Gallagher, whilst also working on his own new songs.
Each of these creative moments point towards the upcoming publication of ‘Marr’s Guitars’ - a stunning new photography book set for publication on 17th October via Thames & Hudson. The book presents the most significant of Johnny Marr’s extensive collection of electric and acoustic guitars, revealing through them the evolution of his iconic sound and style of playing. With personal reflections and insights written by Johnny Marr, foreword written by Hans Zimmer and photographs shot by Pat Graham, each guitar is identified with a crucial moment, a specific song or a particular sound, and each embodies a key aspect of Marr’s lifelong passion for songwriting.
In celebration of the book, on 17th October fans will have the chance to attend a live in conversation event with Johnny Marr at London’s Islington Assembly Hall, joined by journalist John Harris, and a selection of his personal guitars, to reflect on an incredible career and the instruments that continue to inspire him. The event will also be livestreamed, with full details here.
Further activity, and new music, is soon to be announced.
