A city-wide art trail by global art producer Wild in Art with over 80 artworks, murals, mosaics and installations that celebrate the people, places, moments and instruments of Manchester’s music scene

Music for the Senses takes over the streets of Manchester this summer from 7 July – 31 August 2025, as the city welcomes 1.3m music fans to one of the biggest summers the city has ever seen.

Raising money and awareness for grassroots music venues and projects, the trail will feature over 80 artworks, murals, mosaics and installations that celebrate the people, places, moments and instruments of Manchester’s music scene. Trail goers can download the Music for the Senses app (available from 7 July) from the App Store and Google Play. A free trail map including all the artwork locations will also be available.

Celebrated musicians including Busted, Doves, Elbow, Mani, New Order, Oasis, PINS and Pixies have donated precious instruments to display in windows across the city including Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, Piccadilly Records, Koffee Pot, Band on the Wall, New Century, and Selfridges, plus many more.

As part of Music for the Senses, Manchester artist Liam Hopkins, known as Lazerian (Celebration of Polar Bears, Weave) will create an interactive installation for the duration of the trail on King Street called ‘Guitar Street’ that lovingly repurposes donated guitars. Lazerian will also be stencilling the faces of some of Manchester’s grassroots music artists onto the back of the forty guitars that will hang in an exhibition along Guitar Street.

Lazerian will be creating another show-stopping installation on St. Peter’s Square called Cathedral of Sound, from 7-20 July before moving to Mayfield Park from 25 July – 31 August. This is a large-scale, immersive public art sculpture made from hundreds of reclaimed acoustic guitars—once cherished, now reimagined into a living, breathing sanctuary of sound. This architectural pavilion acts as a tribute to Manchester’s rich musical heritage while embracing its evolving sonic future.

Meanwhile more guitars donated by the public have been painted or adorned by professional artists such as Hammo, Danielle Rhoda, Jim Medway, Tim Sutcliffe, Becky Smith, Thomas Wolski, Sally Adams, and Jenny Leonard, turning them into individual artworks, and displayed in shop windows and venues including Fred Aldous, The Treehouse Hotel, Co-op Live, AO Arena,  Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Forsyth Music Shop, Royal Exchange Theatre, People’s History Museum, NOMA, Represent (New Cathedral Street), Hallé St Peters, and Royal Northern College of Music, plus many more.

There will also be four brand-new murals by internationally renowned street artists Lei-Mai LeMaow (Etihad Campus tram stop), Nomad Clan (Oxford Road Train Station) and .EPOD and AKSE (Great Northern).

Along the way trail goers can take in Manchester Music Mooch – an interactive journey through the locations of Manchester’s grassroots music community with exciting interactive AR experiences at five locations around the city.

At the end of the trail the decorated guitars will be auctioned to raise money to support grassroots music projects and venues throughout Greater Manchester via a special fund put together by charity partner Forever Manchester charity in collaboration with Manchester Music City.

Music for the senses is created by Wild in Art, the team behind the award-winning Bee in the City, in collaboration with Manchester City Council.

It’s part of MCR Live ’25 – a massive music-filled take-over of the city centre this summer to celebrate an incredible programme of live music happening in Manchester throughout July and August from some of the biggest artists on the planet.

Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader, Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester already has a global reputation as a city of music attracting visitors from across the world, and with another 1.3 million music tourists set to visit us this summer, we’re going all out to celebrate the massive contribution that music makes to the city.

“Guitars have played a huge part in the sound of Manchester over the years and Music for the Senses is an unmissable celebration of this iconic instrument, of some fantastic music, and of amazing art. With a trail that runs right across the city centre there’s a lot for everyone to see and get involved in, whilst at the same time supporting the next generation of music talent in the city.”

Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder, Wild in Art said: “We’re delighted to be back in Manchester, Wild in Art’s home city. Music for the Senses is a slight departure from our traditional sculpture trails and we have loved working with our partners at Manchester City Council on our mission to showcase artists and support grassroots venues in the city. Huge thanks must go to everyone who has supported us; our sponsors, artists, musicians and, of course, all those who have donated guitars to be part of the project.”

Ben Reed, Head of Creative Development, Wild in Art said: “Manchester has always been a place for music and we’re delighted to unveil Music for the Senses; it’s our first ever guitar trail, and we think that there is something really magical about repurposing musical instruments into stunning works of art.

“This is also the first time we’ve put together a trail showcasing brand new art while at the same time highlighting some of Manchester’s iconic music inspired artwork. It has enabled us to explore creativity in a range of different art forms including new murals around the city by some of the very best street artists in the business.”

Manchester punks Loose Articles, who feature in Hammo’s artwork, fresh from coveted, high profile support slots with the likes of New Order, Foo Fighters, The Lovely Eggs, and Gang of Four, are currently on a headline tour of grass roots venues in the North of England.

Loose Articles said: “Manchester is the centre of the universe and its beating heart is music. We are buzzing to be part of this city-wide initiative that celebrates music for all.”