Salford has recorded just one new case of coronavirus bringing the total up to 918, although this could be more to do with reporting delays from the weekend and bank holiday.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, cases in Manchester now total 1,529 (up from 1,524), followed by Wigan with 1,157 (up from 1,151), Stockport 1,039 (down from 1,040?), Oldham 1,058 (up from 1,053), Bolton 1,001 (up from 999), Trafford 800 (up from 791), Rochdale 765 (up from 760), Bury 732 (up from 725), and Tameside 696 (up from 683).
There has also been one more sad virus-related death announced by Salford Royal Hospital bringing its grim total to 165.
We might still be in lockdown but the city's musicians and poets are determined to help out, with the Salford Music Festival going live online to celebrate its tenth anniversary for three days Friday, Saturday and Sunday 29th-31st May.
Over the three days there'll be performances from their own homes, with Salford legends Peter Hook and The Light, Graham Nash and John Cooper Clarke headlining.
Graham Nash will be performing an exclusive set and speaking with BBC DJ Janice Long, while Hooky will be showcasing Joy Division songs with The Light. There's also DJ sets from Jon Dasilva, Clint Boon and Graeme Park, a solo set from ace former Icicle Works frontman Ian McNabb, a soul set from Ren Harvieu and electronic dance classics from K Klass.
As well as the Salford bard, there's spoken word sets by Tony Walsh, Little Hulton's Salford Star award winner JB Barrington and Mike Garry. Plus music from a zillion bands and DJs.*
"I'm dead proud of this year's line-up" says Festival co-founder Ed Blaney, who will also be performing "Like everyone else in the music industry, we've had to adapt in the face of COVID-19. It's been touching to see how supportive people have been for someone like Graham Nash to get involved, a real legend, it's a massive coup for the festival. We're living in hard times right now, and we just want to bring a bit of hope and positivity with this year's festival."
The tenth Salford Music Festival is being steamed via Facebook and YouTube with final times to be announced via the website www.salfordmusicfestival.co.uk and the Facebook event site, and the aim is to raise £5,000 for Salford 4 Good, Salford Loaves and Fishes and Salford Lads Club via the Festival's Just Giving page click here to donate.
* The Full Salford Music Festival line-up:
Peter Hook and The Light, Graham Nash, John Cooper Clarke, Janice Long, Ren Harvieu, K-Klass, Jon Dasilva, Clint Boon, Graeme Park, Ian McNabb, ARGH KiD, JB Barrington, Mike Sweeney, Blaney, MC Tunes, LIINES, DJ Trafford, Ally Kidd Cameron, Jess Kemp, Alex Brierley/Bianca Alana, AAAK, Tony Longfella, DJ Paul Hughes, JD Meatyard, DJ Northern Boy, Natalie McCool, James Holt, Elles Bailey, Mike Garry, Matt Hill, Djane Percy (Portugal), DJ Madam (Andorra), Haig Sharon Twozeds, Daniel Clarke, Sony Woods and Lady K, Vinny Peculiar Music...
...Puppini Sisters, Kevin Toney (USA), Leah Weller, Eshe Escoffrey, Freya Beer, Amanda Jane Heywood, Dave Luvin, Tiki Black, Tagne Tebu, Idealistics, Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, Jessica And The Ragged Company, Ged Wilson, The Harveys. Ian Moss,The Junta, One Sided Horse, plus more tbc.
Meanwhile, in the other city Manc-land, Thursday 28th May sees a Together In One Voice, a mass doorstep sing-a-long from 7:30pm in which Liam Gallagher, Mark Owen of Take That, James' Tim Booth, Emeli Sande, Mike Pickering from M People, Tom Walker, Denise Johnson, Liam Fray from The Courteeners and Aitch, will be appearing on screen inviting people to sing along from their doorsteps, windows, balconies and streets.
There's a set-list of songs that will be streamed for people to join in with via MIF LIVE - Manchester International Festival's online channel - alongside introductions and contributions from the artists.
The soundtrack features twenty different community choirs and around thirty musicians from across the city region who have all spent the last few weeks recording themselves playing their instruments and singing their parts in isolation in their own homes. Each of these individual vocal and musical parts has then been sent in to Musical Director Dan McDwyer and his team of sound engineers for mixing into the live versions of the songs that everyone will sing along to during the event.
The set-list is Take That: Shine; Martha and the Vandellas: Dancing In The Streets; Emeli Sande: You Are Not Alone; Tom Walker: Leave A Light On; James: Sit Down; M People: Search For The Hero and Oasis: Wonderwall.
"Together In One Voice will help us all feel connected, despite the need to keep a distance, and will be one of those incredible occasions which make Greater Manchester so special" says Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, while Tim Booth from James adds: "Events like these are critical right now for the community and I am keen to support people in any way I can."
The doorstep singalong is being captured on the night with drones, street cameras and residents' own films that will be edited together afterwards along with interviews with artists and participants to produce an extended broadcast which will be transmitted on Sunday 31st May at 6pm (also on MIF Live).
People can send videos of their own doorstep or window singalong from the night to www.togethermcr.com for possible inclusion in the YouTube broadcast on 31st May.
For further details see the Manchester International Festival website click here and MIF Live YouTube Channel click here
Update 3pm: Care home deaths in Salford - click here
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