Beyond the Music 2023 – Corporate Event Production

In October 2023, we supplied full technical production to the inaugural Beyond The Music event. The event was started in the 1980s by legendary Manchester Music mogul Tony Wilson, known back then as ‘In The City’, and has been reignited by a new team headed by Tony’s son Oli Wilson.

With grassroots music in its DNA, it seemed fitting that Oli should call on Neuron’s technical expertise to deliver this ambitious project. The project spanned a full week of events taking place at a host of venues and temporary spaces across Manchester city centre.

The opening event at the Midland Hotel, the original venue for ‘In The City’, reads like a who’s who of Manchester music with panel discussions featuring stars such as Rowetta, A Guy Called Gerald, Martin Moscrop, Graham Massey, Mike Pickering and Kermitt. Guest speakers included Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham and local chart-topping artist Aitch. 

The main conference took place at Manchester Central, formerly GMex, with Neuron supplying audio, lighting and video packages for a jam-packed schedule of panel discussions and keynote speakers from across the world of global music. Panel guests included singer Rita Ora and DJ/broadcaster Clint Boon. As well as two breakout workshop spaces, the main conference space at Manchester Central focused on inclusivity with an ‘in the round’ production design encouraging open forum Q&A.

To cap off the week, Neuron were instrumental in transforming The Northern Quarter Car Park on Tib St into a nightclub space, deploying a Danley Sound Labs audio system with Robe lighting to host DJs into the early hours.