Hatch free spoken word Mike Garry Cassia String Quartet

Manchester’s most exciting new pop up food, drink and retail concept has announced an exclusive free concert with award-winning Manchester poet Mike Garry and the Cassia String Quartet on Thursday 14th June.

One of the North’s most powerful poetic voices, Mike Garry has worked with artists from John Cooper Clarke to Iggy Pop, but it was his collaboration with the Cassia String Quartet which earned him a number one single in the UK charts with their ‘Ode To Saint Anthony’.

Mike’s iconic poem - a tribute to Anthony Wilson - has become a beloved eulogy to one of Manchester’s most important musical figures, and as part of a collaboration with the Cassia String Quartet, composer Joe Duddell and a host of famous faces, topped the UK singles chart raising money for The Christie Hospital.

You can watch the video to Saint Anthony here.

Now Mike has teamed up with the quartet again for a reprisal of their magical partnership, as Mike’s powerful words are put to music on an album of newly composed tracks – all written, composed and recorded by Mike and the Cassia String Quartet musicians.

The Cassia String Quartet are a young, passionate, talented, classically trained, award-winning group of musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. They formed in 2010, born out of a passion for the string quartet repertoire.

Recipients of the 2013 Musiciens Entre Guerre et Paix Award from the International Académie Ravel, they were finalists in the Trinity Laban Intercollegiate Competition and winners of the 2013 Nossek String Quartet Prize. They have also worked with New Order (alongside Mike), plus The Charlatans and Daughter.

The Hatch concert will be Mike Garry’s only performance of the year with the quartet in Manchester, ahead of the release of their anticipated new album later this year. The concert will be taking place within Hatch’s newly expanded outdoor courtyard area – a wonderful new space for summer events and concerts, which has already been the location for some very special musical occasions including a performance by local artist Mica Miller.

Hatch provides a space that is designed to help independent brands grow and develop, as small and artisan operations are welcomed, and for some it is a chance to trial a city centre operation, or even a first ever ‘real life’ HQ. Special events, gigs and collaborations with some of Manchester’s most interesting and relevant artists are part of the experience – with a host of events and activity planned across the Summer.

Each of the Hatch brands is housed in a reclaimed shipping container – creating a unique new independent village and hidden courtyard in the city, all perfect for dining, browsing, hanging out and just watching the world go by.

The food at Hatch is a globally-inspired menu with an authentic, Mancunian flavour served up by the most exciting of independent food businesses. The eclectic mix of street food traders are all clustered around the courtyard where communal seating, free wifi and a green roofed pergola make this the coolest of al fresco dining enclaves. With new ventures launching on a regular basis, there’s regular surprises and fresh experiences to be had.

 The Mike Garry and Cassia String Quartet performance will be free to attend and starts at 8pm.