Orchestra plans series of free pop-up performances

Manchester Camerata will perform a series of free shows across all of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs

An orchestra is set to perform a series of free pop-up concerts in unusual venues - including libraries and skate parks - across the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Manchester Camerata will begin its Here We Are series with an open rehearsal at The Monastery in Gorton on 1 October, with free performances taking place each day until 5 October.

The series celebrates the expansion of Manchester Camerata's free Music Cafes initiative, in which dementia patients have music therapy by playing percussion instruments.

The orchestra's chief executive Bob Riley said: "Here We Are is an invitation to Greater Manchester to join us in celebrating the people and places of our amazing city region."

One of the performances will be held at the skate park at Graystone Action Sports in Salford, in collaboration with local production company From The Other.

Danny Bradley, from the skate park, said: "Hopefully together we can inspire the next generation of both skateboarders and orchestral players – maybe even get some people who are great at doing both!"

Manchester Camerata is also launching 10 new Music Cafes for people with dementia

After launching one Music Cafe in each of Greater Manchester's boroughs last year, the orchestra is set to start running an additional one in each borough - at a different time and location - from early October.

The orchestra's head of communications Sebastian Mariner said the expansion was due to the success of the programme.

He said: "Through our dementia work and our Music in Mind programme, we see explicitly the power that music can have on an individual."