Space exploration, science and music will collide as Public Service Broadcasting open the 10th Manchester Science Festival with a special one-off gig at the Albert Hall.

The electronic duo will perform their hit album The Race For Space in its entirety for the the very first time on the festival’s opening night on October 20, accompanied by a brass section and musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music, including a string quartet and 13-piece choir.

Before the show, the audience can watch the mastermind behind the act, J. Willgoose, Esq., in conversation with Professor Tim O’Brien, associate director of Jodrell Bank Observatory, about the American and Soviet space race that inspired the album.

Manchester Science Festival director Antonio Benitez said: “We’re delighted to be working with Public Service Broadcasting for the first time, to launch this year’s event.

“The Race for Space tells the story of space exploration’s finest hours in such a unique and inventive way and so it is the perfect collaboration for the Manchester Science Festival, which also seeks to find exciting and unusual ways to celebrate scientific discoveries.

“The band’s eclectic and surprising mix of art and science will bring astronautics out of the lab and onto the historic Albert Hall stage. It’s a great fit for our opening night and a fantastic coup for our 10th year.”

(Image: Jack Kirwin)

J Willgoose Esq, added: “We’re absolutely delighted to be playing the album in full for the first time ever in such a brilliant venue and as part of such a fantastic event.

“We’ll be doing our best to make it a really special evening - we can’t wait.”

Produced by the Museum of Science and Industry and supported by Siemens and Salford University, the festival runs from October 20 to 30.

Events already announced and on sale include a festival preview show featuring Manchester Camerata performing Henning Kraggerud’s Equinox, which is written in 24 different keys depicting 24 hours and 24 time zones (Albert Hall, October 16), and The Hallé performing highlights from every Star Wars film score, from The Phantom Menace to The Force Awakens (Bridgewater Hall, October 29).

Tickets to the Public Service Broadcasting show are priced £27.50 and will go on sale on Friday at 10am at manchestersciencefestival.com.

The full festival programme will be announced on September 6.