LYR To Open Manchester Festival Of Libraries With Ode To Literature

Commissioned especially for Manchester's Festival of Libraries 2024, band LYR collaborate with Josephine Oniyama, to bring the magic of libraries to life with their latest track, The Enlightenment. 

The lyrical masterpiece penned by poet laureate Simon Armitage is a fitting celebration of the vital role libraries play in shaping communities and opening doors into a multitude of creative worlds. 

Set to release on streaming platforms on June 7th, The Enlightenment promises to be a lyrical journey through knowledge and discovery and will be marked by a debut performance June 12th, when LYR and Josephine Oniyama will perform the track live at Manchester Central Library, kicking off an evening of literary celebration for Manchester's Festival of Libraries.

Throughout the festival, Manchester’s impressive 133 libraries - making it a UNESCO City of Literature - all welcome visitors to explore ideas, connections and discussions across the city where exhibitions, author talks, vibrant performances and fascinating installations, piece together the community festival.

For LYR – made up of Simon Armitage, Richard Walters, and Patrick Pearson –  this project and song is a testament to their shared passion for libraries as sources of inspiration and wonder. Josephine Oniyama, a local talent with deep roots in Manchester's vibrant and unmistakable landscape, the performance is set to captivate audiences with soul-stirring melodies and storytelling.

Reflecting on the project, Simon Armitage remarks: “Libraries are very close to my heart. Since I became Poet Laureate I’ve been reading in libraries around the UK every spring, from big landmark buildings like the British Library to a mobile library van on the Outer Hebrides. I want to support the under-pressure services that play a vital role in shaping the cultural, imaginative and intellectual life of this country, and often stand at the core of communities. So to work on this project fits perfectly with my ambitions and current direction of travel. When I was a student in Manchester I’d sit under the dome of Central Library reading and writing poems when I should have been studying social policy and criminology down the road.”

Sharing her love for the heart of this festival and project, Josephine Oniyama says: “Reading and libraries have always been a central part of my life and career. Narrative and prose have deeply informed my music making. This project has allowed me to work with some really talented musicians and writers and bring to life the power of knowledge and the importance of libraries as places for everyone to enjoy that knowledge.”

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‍Tickets for LYR open Festival of Libraries 2024 are £12, or £4 unwaged, and can be booked here.