I saw a signed Oasis guitar at Selfridges in Manchester - Music for the Senses tour has begun

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) has also created an interactive installation for the duration of the trail on King Street called ‘Guitar Street’ that lovingly repurposes donated guitars.

It was great to see all of these famous faces plus local artists incorporated in there alongside some of the greats such as Kurt Cobain!

We also got to see an amazing installation on St. Peter's Square called Cathedral of Sound, which will be there 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. This is the perfect place to come and take some photos and admire this amazing sculpture.

Additionally, 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.

We then got to see a beautiful mural by Nomad Clan located on the wall of Oxford Road Train Station. This is a brilliant area for commuters to stop for a moment and admire before or after travelling.

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.

Manchester City Council 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”

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."

Adding: “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.”