Mr Wilson’s Second Liners

In New Orleans, funerals are celebrated in style, with noisy brass bands processing through the streets.

The main section of the parade is known as First Line, but the real fun starts with the Second Line, those who follow the band to enjoy the music, marching with the musicians and twirling parasols or waving handkerchiefs.

Welcome to Second Lining.

A rabble of mischievous northerners, Mr Wilson’s form a traditional New Orleans Second Line. This is no sombre occasion: Mr Wilson’s expend their collective musical talent paying homage to the diehard days of the Hacienda, 90s club culture and its greatest hero, Mr Tony Wilson. These revolutionary genre bashers knock the First Line sideways, opting for upbeat dance tracks over traditional slow hymns. Proudly stepping out in uniformed style, they channel the spirit of the 24 hour party people and get audiences dancing wherever they play. The vision is an anarchic, street extravaganza, bursting with colour and sound, rallying impromptu raves on street corners and rousing audiences young and old into a joyful frenzy.

Take your music to the streets
Mr Wilson’s Second Liners now deliver workshops and presentations:
Our bespoke training packages, including one-day CPD training courses, are aimed at bandleaders and musicians of all ages. As experienced workshop facilitators, the core team are committed to engaging young people and adults through music and increasing the uptake and quality of processional and street music. We look forward to sharing our skills and helping others develop their current material for outdoor performance contexts. We are also happy to make presentations and host conversations around getting bands up and running.

“Mr. Wilson’s Second Liners refresh the street band formula
with an original repertoire of club classics guaranteed to bring smiles of recognition and a feel good groove to any town centre.”

Frank Wilson, Associate Artistic Director
Stockton International Arts Festival.