Fans of Morrissey and The Smiths from all around the world are set to descend on the city for the 10th annual Mozarmy festival. The weekender will happen on April 28, and is reputedly ‘one of the biggest fan gatherings of its kind in the world’.
Tickets for the events go on sale today, with a host of talks, Q&A sessions and parties happening over the weekend. Visitors are expected from as far afield as Texas, Indonesia and Japan.
Festival founder Julie Hamill said: “There are people thousands of miles from each other who have become the best of friends. We have mums and dads, and sons, step-kids, grandchildren...every generation.
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“Every year there is someone who is anxious about coming to the meet, because they are attending alone. Then they realise, most of us attend alone. That person may have gone through life not feeling any sense of belonging anywhere, or to anyone. When I see them smiling and talking with others, dancing and singing, I know what we started can't finish.”
Three days of events kick off on the Friday night at the Star & Garter pub by Piccadilly, where the original Smiths Disco began in 1994. Proceeds from the event will be donated to a member of the veteran pub’s staff, who was fallen ill.
Iconic producer Stephen Street, who put together a host of hits for The Smiths, as well as producing for the likes of Blur, Suede and New Order, will be in attendance for a Q&A session, along with former Morrissey drummer Andrew Paresi.
The weekend will also feature live tribute acts including the Mexican Morrissey and The Salford Lads, who hail from New York. Also in conversation will be journalist John Robb and Morrissey bassist Jonny Bridgwood.
Mexican Morrissey, aka Jose Maldonaldo said: “I’ve been coming every year since 2015 and it’s always a joy to see people from far away places experience Manchester for the first time.
“There’s lots of fun to be had and it’s a great way to see friends that you’ve only met online. The Mozarmy Meet is the perfect event for Morrissey and Smiths fans to meet up - in the city where it all began.”
Tickets cost £35 for the weekend pass, with the weekend concluding with a Morrissey picnic in the new Mayfield Park. Head here for tickets.
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