Manchester council has called for choirs across the city to come together for a singalong to mark the passing of one year since the arena bombing.

The Manchester Together – With One Voice event will be held on 22 May in Albert Square, a year to the day since Salman Abedi killed 22 people and himself when he detonated a bomb at an Ariana Grande concert.

Events planned to mark the date include a civic memorial service held at Manchester Cathedral, attended by a congregation including the families of those who died or were injured, and members of the emergency services. The service will also be screened at York Minster, Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral and Glasgow Cathedral.

The One Voice event will culminate in a communal singalong from 8.30pm to 9pm, which will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Manchester. Choirs and singing groups have until 30 April to register to take part.

The event was inspired by a moment following the bombing when a crowd taking part in a minute’s silence spontaneously started singing the Oasis song Don’t Look Back in Anger.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester city council, said: “Music is in Manchester’s soul and it is only fitting that it should play a central part in marking what will be an emotional anniversary. We saw in the aftermath of the 22 May attack how spontaneous song captured the city’s spirit, its solidarity and refusal to give in to hatred.

“Coming together in song will once again demonstrate that remarkable sense of togetherness and we invite choirs who can help lead us in raising our voices to get in touch. It is a fitting way for us to honour those who went full of joy to a music concert but never came back, or saw their lives changed forever.”

Leese quoted a poem by Manchester poet Tony Walsh, This is the Place, which was read at a public vigil after the bombing: “We keep fighting back with Greater Manchester spirit. Northern grit, northern wit in Greater Manchester’s lyrics.”



Plans for a permanent memorial to the victims remain under discussion, but the council is planning a “Trees of Hope trail”, which will allow people to leave messages on trees placed around the city in the days before the anniversary.