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Striking photography of Manchester and Salford at dawn inspires weekend arts festival

Salford-based artist Simon Buckley is returning for another year with his arts festival, this time in the Chapel Street and River Irwell areas of Manchester. The Not Quite Light Festival is running from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 May and features over 20 events combining art, music, guided tours, architecture and debate.

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All images courtesy of the artist. Via Creative Boom submission.

All images courtesy of the artist. Via Creative Boom submission.

Simon’s inspiration for the weekend is drawn from his year-round Not Quite Light project, with striking city imagery taken at dawn, indeed, when it’s not quite light. The festival in 2016 explored themes of heritage and restoration in central Manchester and won the accolade of Best Exhibition in the CityLife Awards – cultural recognition for a unique and thought-provoking programme of events.

This May’s 2018 Festival weekend is to be held throughout Salford and seeks to inspire people to observe the city, so often in Manchester's shadow, from a different perspective. Based on this current project, there will be a photography exhibition entitled From Trinity to the Crescent. Showcased at the Lowry Hotel, it will run for two months and begins on Thursday 17 May, which is also when the festival kicks off.

"It has been a joy putting this programme together," says Simon. "The subjects in question are so interesting and important to the future of Salford. Individually and collaboratively, I have created events at dawn, during the day, and at dusk, to explore the city in a unique way.

"I’m thrilled to be back with a 2018 Festival. It's a new festival for Salford, with the aim being to repeat in 2019 and 2020. It would be fantastic to see as many people there as possible to meet, socialise, discuss and enjoy the environs of a special place through the arts and these events."

Kicking off the festival on Friday 18 May is Transition, poetry reading and storytelling from local actor and activist Julie Hesmondhalgh alongside live performances from classical musicians playing the work of Beethoven, Britten and Macmillan on the theme of dawn and dusk. There will also be a special performance of Amid The Irk Over The Irk – combining trad Irish and Jewish Klezmer music, featuring well-known musician Mike McGoldrick.

Next up is the Changing Face of Salford, a talk on the history of Salford and a debate on its future. Night Lights on Saturday 19 May is a captivating night of art, light, new music, live performances, poetry, ghost stories, and cocktails – all in the stunning backdrop of the iconic Georgian St. Phillips Church.

To find out more about what's on and to purchase tickets, visit notquitelight.com.

Construction site at dawn with orange barriers and a brick building alongside the River Irwell in Salford, Manchester
Wet cobbled street at dawn lined with bare trees and iron gates, leading towards an illuminated church tower in the distance with Georgian buildings either side
Suburban residential street at dusk with brick bungalows, a red car and potted plant in foreground, Manchester city skyline with construction cranes visible in background
A Victorian mansion illuminated at dusk surrounded by modern high-rise buildings and red and white traffic barriers on a Manchester street at twilight
Illuminated Victorian building on Chapel Street at dusk with city skyline beyond and road markings in foreground
Illuminated bridge spanning a dark river at dusk with street lamps glowing against a twilight sky and trees lining the banks
An illuminated street with bare trees, benches and historic buildings at dusk, with a modern building and colourful digital display visible in the distance
Industrial street with red-lit overhead structures and shop fronts illuminated at dawn, part of Simon Buckley's Not Quite Light photography project in Manchester
Railway bridge over a street intersection at dusk with red traffic lights, street lamps and brick Victorian architecture in Salford, Manchester
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