Terry Hall's Piano at Tim Burgess' Merch Market

Tonic Music are excited to be attending Tim Burgess' Merch Market in

Manchester... and we will be bringing Terry’s Hall’s piano!

Join us on Sunday 25th May from 11am until late as Tonic Music provides a mental

health lounge and will be taking Terry Hall’s piano to the free entry Merch Market in

Manchester. Established by Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), the event will enable

100s of music artists to sell their merch without commission - ensuring they take

home all of the profit. This builds upon Tim Burgess' campaign to stop music venues

taking a commission from artist merch sales, many of whom are larger venues.

Four venues will be participating in the Merch Market - O2 Ritz Manchester, Gorilla,

Brickhouse and Mother Marys - featuring a stacked programme of stalls, print on the

spot merch, live performances and DJ sets, plus on-stage interviews and panels. Tim

Burgess himself will be headlining, which will be unmissable for anyone attending.

Terry Hall's Piano

The Tonic Music team will be showcasing the piano of founding Patron, Terry Hall

for the first time, which was kindly donated to Tonic by Terry's family for people to

play and enjoy. Terry was a firm believer in the power of music to help aid mental

health recovery stating “Music can pave the path to light even in the darkest of

places” which is used on the plaque on the piano (as shown below).

The piano will be positioned in The Tunnel of Love (the archway between Gorilla and

Dog Bowl, highlighted in yellow below which is named after the Fun Boy Three song) and will be accessible throughout the day.

Tim Burgess

Alongside this, the Tonic Music team will be providing a mental health lounge in the

O2 Ritz Manchester, offering an opportunity for artists and attendees to talk to one

of our mental health team, take home some resources and purchase some of our

merch - in aid of establishing good mental health within music communities. In

addition, the Tonic Music team will be represented on a panel.

Tonic Music recognises the economic difficulties encountered across different

music industries, particularly in live music - artists, venues, promoters and of course,

music fans - however, we believe venues taking a commission from artists selling

merch is not indicative of a mutually supportive music sector. Music fans can

support their favourite artists by purchasing and wearing merch.

Artists and manufacturers who are interested in getting involved with the Merch

Market can sign up to request a stall. You can do so via the Help Us Help Bands

website.

Volunteers also wishing to help out, can email erpr@ogenesisrecordings.com.

You can also read the NME article about The Merch Market.