The Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller has teamed up with Blackout Crew, poster boys of the north-west-based donk dance scene, for the Manchester International Festival (for which the Guardian is a media partner). Deller has been commissioned to organise Procession, a one-off parade down Deansgate on Sunday 5 July.
Why a procession?
I just love processions and parades, so when the festival approached me I said I'd love to produce a procession about Manchester and the surrounding boroughs. Hence Blackout - to represent Bolton.
What else are you aiming to reflect in the procession?
I just think the depth of the history here is so immense - the social history, the industrial history and the musical history. Manchester has its own personality and is far more inspiring than somewhere like Venice. Hopefully, the procession will be in the tradition of northern social surrealism, from Blackout Crew to ramblers.
How did you first come across Blackout Crew?
We went around all the boroughs to see what was happening, and when we went to Bolton people said: "You've got to see Harmony" - the Bolton youth project where Blackout started - "and the Crew." It's pretty intense and quite strange to outsiders. They are middle England's worst nightmare come true, which is what rock'n'roll should be.
Are you a donk fan?
I do actually like it. I love the whole madness and intensity of the scene.
• For full details see www.mif.co.uk
