Celebrated musicians to headline UCLan music festival

24 April 2016

Former Stone Roses guitarist and 808 State founding member to play at Future Sound Festival

Globally respected musicians are heading to Preston to headline a festival organised by students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Former Stone Roses and Simply Red guitarist Aziz Ibrahim and founding member of pioneering British electronic music outfit 808 State Graham Massey, will play alongside emerging UCLan artists at the annual Future Sound Festival.

The experimental music and dance festival will return to UCLan for a third year with 24 acts performing over two days on the 14 and 15 May in the University’s Media Factory. It is organised by second year music students to give them hands-on experience of delivering a music festival and also sees final year students showcasing their musical talents, performing alongside established acts.

Aziz, who is a member of the UCLan Creative Communities Group (CCG) and will be presenting his brand new collaborative project Fret Sector for the first time, commented: “UCLan Future Sound Festival, bring it on. I love the enthusiasm and the emergence of new up and coming talent. It’s an honour to be involved.” 

"Organising the festival has helped to give me a real insight into the demands of the current music industry. As Marketing Manager for the festival I have been encouraged to find new and creative ways to connect the festival to new audiences."

Aziz, who will be presenting his brand new collaborative project Fret Sector for the first time, commented: “UCLan Future Sound Festival, bring it on. I love the enthusiasm and the emergence of new up and coming talent. It’s an honour to be involved.”

Student and Future Sound Festival Marketing Manager Harry Westall commented: “Organising the festival has helped to give me a real insight into the demands of the current music industry. As Marketing Manager for the festival I have been encouraged to find new and creative ways to connect the festival to new audiences. This experience and the skills I have gained throughout the process have given me the ability to develop and deliver my own events successfully.

“I am really looking forward to seeing Graham Massey's ToolShed. Graham’s music has been cited as a crucial influence by people like Aphex Twin, he has produced and written artists such as Bjork, remixed artists including David Bowie and been remixed by the likes of Brian Eno. Massey has made a profound contribution to British music.

“Our audience can expect a fresh, exciting and contemporary performance of music. Prepare to be amazed.”

"Future Sound is a forward thinking festival packed with really interesting and exciting music related activities. It’s great to have world class artists like Aziz Ibrahim, Graham Massey and Matthew Bourne perform."

Music industry consultant and UCLan lecturer Tony Rigg said: “Future Sound is a forward thinking festival packed with really interesting and exciting music related activities.

“It’s great to have world class artists like Aziz Ibrahim, Graham Massey and Matthew Bourne perform at the University, but brilliant that our students get the chance to actually work with them. It’s also exciting to see successful music alumni Elizabeth Vince and Mobius Loop return to perform again. UCLan is a hotbed of creative talent which will be evident from the many brilliant student performances at this event. Future Sound has grown year on year and become a well-respected local festival with a reputation for delivering quality music to discerning music enthusiasts.”

People can book tickets in advance via Eventbrite or pay £5 on the door at the entrance to the Media Factory for a two-day ticket. For more information visit the event’s Facebook page.

The festival will be followed by a two-day Future Sound Music Conference bringing academics and music industry professionals to share their insight of the future of music.