Liam Gallagher has become an ambassador for Manchester-based charity Brighter Sound, which supports young people from working-class backgrounds pursuing careers in music. The charity, based in the Northern Quarter, works with over 1,000 creatives annually through workshops, mentoring, live events, and creative projects.
Liam Gallagher's Role and Impact
Gallagher, who grew up in a working-class home in Burnage and found global fame with Oasis alongside his brother Noel, announced his ambassadorial role earlier this year. He stated: "I'm honoured to be an Ambassador for Brighter Sound and support the new generation of creatives launch their music projects. We need more help for the arts, especially for the working class."
The charity launched a prize draw for a pair of Gallagher's coveted Adidas Spezial trainers, open until 11pm on Monday, July 13, as an initial fundraising effort. Proceeds will help establish a new direct-to-artists fund for rising musicians in Greater Manchester, offering financial support to early-career artists to develop new work.
Challenges Facing Young Musicians
Kate Lowes, director of Brighter Sound, explained Gallagher's involvement: "Coming off the success of the Oasis shows last year, we talked to Liam and Debbie about the impact they had... It has been a real driver for them to start to think about giving something back." She noted that while social media has made some aspects easier, grassroots challenges remain: "For grassroots venues it's a real struggle with audience habits, the price of utilities, so for people starting out, to get to a sustainable place it's still hard."
Lowes highlighted financial barriers: "Average earnings of musicians is £14,000, and most artists are subsidising their careers largely in the hospitality sectors. Having multiple jobs to sustain your music career can impact on mental health."
Brighter Sound's Work and Achievements
The charity operates three main strands: working with children and young people through music workshops and under-18 live nights; supporting emerging artists to develop creativity and careers; and helping the broader music scene. It became the community partner for both The BRITs and MOBOs when they took place in Manchester for the first time this year, supporting a range of fringe events.
Rebecca Horn, head of marketing, said: "Sport has this unified voice as Sport England, but in terms of how the grassroots and professional fields connect up it's more developed in the world of sport than it is in music. We are aiming to change that."
The charity praised Manchester Council's stance in supporting music, with Lowes noting: "The BRITs didn't just come to Manchester by accident, it's from the hard work by the council and local authority to make sure music is valued."
New ELEVATE Programme
Brighter Sound has announced its new ELEVATE programme, supporting five early-career artists from Greater Manchester over the next year. The artists—FREEQUENCY3, IORA, Jenni Orlopp, Lei Hope, and PRIDO—span genres including indie, alternative R&B, alt-pop, indie folk, Afro-fusion, and genre-defying sounds. Each will receive bespoke support to develop their practice, expand networks, and unlock opportunities.
Lowes said: "There's so much talent in this city... Often it's about opening up an opportunity or connection in the industry that can be the difference between giving up their career or making the next steps." She described the five artists as "potentially BRIT Award nominees of the future."
Meet the Artists
FREEQUENCY3 is a multidisciplinary UK artist blending emotionally driven lyricism with lived experience, emerging as a host, DJ, and dancer before transitioning to music after a life-changing event.
IORA is an indie folk/pop artist with rich vocals and cinematic production, whose work has secured international placements on Netflix, Paramount+, and the BBC.
Jenni Orlopp is a self-taught artist and producer in the alt-pop scene, drawing inspiration from Lorde, Avril Lavigne, and Amy Winehouse, crafting a sound that fuses pop, rock, electronic, jazz, and Latin elements.
Lei Hope is a Manchester-based artist, producer, engineer, and sound designer in the indie and alternative R&B scene, having performed at MOBO Fringe, Manchester International Festival, and toured Europe.
PRIDO blends storytelling Alté anthems with Afro, Hip-Hop, Grime, and Soul, having headlined Emirates Old Trafford and completed a sold-out UK tour.
