Manchester:Unplugged debuted in September of last year, and in a beautiful, sweeping cinematic style,
Each Manchester: Unplugged film blends intimate storytelling with a reimagined performance, exploring the sparks, setbacks and moments that turn an idea into a song.
To quote me, in a previous blog post about the series, if you’re a Manc, a mancophile, an honorary manc or are indifferent and just love good music, this one’s for you – Manchester: Unplugged – Stream GM’s new series launches today
In last night’s episode, Salford based, 26-year old Salo opened up about arriving in Manchester as a young asylum seeker (her family fled Georgia following the collapse of the Soviet Union) and how Greater Manchester has shaped her career and music, weaving soul jazz, drum & bass and jungle together,
And before I’ve even heard her perform a note, I love her. Salo shows us how talent and determination should transcend social and economic sanctions. It’s of course not that easy but that shouldn’t deter you from following your instincts and passions and putting them out there in the world, in the here and now. Pushing through regardless of where you may end up in the future, figuratively and actually.
We see brilliant home footage of Salo finding her way through the keys as she plays the theme from The Godfather, learnt by ear, to the delight of her listening family.
We see her passion for the piano, showcasing (and this is one of the things I love about this series) Manchester’s music shop and mecca, Forsythes on good old Deansgate.
Without airs, graces and with full candour, the instantly likeable artist takes us through her musical memories and motivators, recounting performances at another Manc musical institution, Chetham’s School of Music, and even struggles in her personal relationships during when she wrote a song, ‘Set Me Free’ (much to her boyfriend’s alarm 😁).
And it is Set Me Free that the short film ultimately showcases, that Salo has written and produced independently. And as the documentary reaches its pinnacle point, we get to see a beautiful, almost ethereal , stripped back performance of this song, the moody and melodic strains take me to artists such as Portishead.
And back to the production of Manchester: Unplugged, the breathtaking way this performance is shot, is both respectful and fitting of its artist and location – the acoustically on point Stoller Hall.
Side point – my last visit to this concert hall was to see Eric Cantona perform. Yep. Moving on.
A stage, a musician and her grand piano. Sends chills. The daughter of a professional, classically trained pianist, I may be biased in what sends shivers, but this was a bit special.
Salo says…
One thing I hope people take from this documentary is that you don’t need to come from money to follow your ambition,” says Salo. “Once you have people around you that fully support you, that believe in you sometimes more than you believe in yourself, that’s your foundation set.
Producer, Laura Graham says…
Manchester: Unplugged is about more than music. It’s about memory, place, and that moment a song comes alive. Each episode is a personal story told by the writer of the song, filmed in the local venues and creative spaces that have influenced their sound.
So what have we learnt.
Well I’ve learnt that having streamed this episode 2500 miles away from Manchester, seated in a hotel bar in Tenerife (Manchester I love you but you’re damp and dark just now), there’s always something, someone to make you feel a little bit closer to home.
And like seminal series and showcases that have come before, Manchester: Unplugged is a love letter to a city that serves not just as an accidental backdrop to artists and musicians going about their business. It’s part of a story that didn’t just come to a standstill after the 90s but continues to give and put out into the world.
Now where’s my passport, it’s time to go home*
To stream this episode, visit
To read more about Stream GM visit https://streamgm.co.uk/
More from the artist – Salo on Spotify
*the cheese, I know…
honorary manc 
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