The city threw itself into the Turner prize-winner's Procession, a celebration of the acts of creativity in everyday life
Jeremy Deller's Procession goes down Deansgate in the opening weekend of the Manchester international festival. Photograph: Christopher Thomond
It had everything, from a group of emos and goths to a float exactly re-creating Valerie's caff in Bury Market, complete with its regular customers. It had a gang of Unrepentant Smokers puffing away under a banner designed by David Hockney. It had a camp, elaborate piece of musical theatre created in honour of the earliest fish and chip shop, in Oldham. It gathered together descendants of those present on both sides at Peterloo. It had a Hindu piping band, in full be-kilted regalia, and it had a steel band joyfully playing the mournful songs of Manchester. I wasn't the only one who felt a tear come to my eye as they passed by, ringing out Love Will Tear Us Apart. Jeremy Deller's Procession for theManchester international festival, which wended its way down Deansgate yesterday afternoon, was an absolute joy, a lovely, confident celebration of a city grown-up enough to see itself sidelong and take the mickey out of itself.
If you missed the procession but are passing through Manchester, be sure to go to the exhibition at the Cornerhouse that opens on 9 July. It documents the parade, but also has lots of fascinating material about Manchester's history of mass gatherings and crowds – including visits by Jerry Lee Lewis, Gandhi and Yuri Gagarin. You can also see some of the beautiful banners made by Deller's collaborator Ed Hall. I love Deller's work, which is self-effacingly about involving others and about recognising, and giving dignity to, the small but important acts of expression, enthusiasm and creativity that go almost unnoticed in everyone's lives.
That's the end of my trip to Manchester – and I'm looking forward to coming back next weekend. On Saturday night I had a wonderful time atAntony and the Johnsons' performance with the Manchester Camerata.His singing of Beyoncé's Crazy in Love, with a lovely accompaniment of rippling piano and wind and tremolo strings, was spellbinding. When, three-quarters of the way through the show, the lighting was adjusted to reveal the Manchester Camerata, it was great to hear the local crowd giving their chamber orchestra the ovation they so richly deserve.
Posted by Charlotte Higgins Monday 6 July 2009 08.00 BST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/charlottehigginsblog/2009/jul/06/manchester-procession-jeremy-deller
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