Community and faith leaders from across the city are urging local people to join them as Coventry Moves Together on Saturday 5 June.
Representatives from a range of religions and communities were brought together by Deepak Naik, a Hindu leader in the city, for the first time since the pandemic struck.
And, after pausing to reflect on the past 14 months, they all looked ahead to Coventry UK City of Culture 2021’s signature event, Coventry Moves, on Saturday 5 June.
The event begins at 8am and will be enjoyed and experienced by the people of the city, region and across the nation online and through broadcast and will tell the story of Coventry and look ahead to its future.
It starts with a solitary voice and will culminate in a unique, once-in-a-lifetime, collective moment for the people of Coventry at 20:21, called Coventry Moves Together when the whole city will form an orchestra – simply by switching on their radios or web-based devices and tuning into one of the local or community radio stations taking part.
Deepak said: “Now, more than ever, it is important to unite the whole city after such a difficult year. UK City of Culture can help us to do that and, what better way, than everyone taking part in Coventry Moves Together.
“We want all of our communities to get involved. Everyone in the city can be part of this moment and it could be something truly special for Coventry and will be a great way for people to really feel like they have played their part in UK City of Culture.”
Manjit Kaur, said: “Music has a beautiful way of bringing people together so it will be great to see communities all across Coventry taking part in this unique moment for the city.”
Dr Jotangia added: “It is going to be so special to see everyone coming out onto their doorsteps at 20:21 on Saturday evening to be part of this once in a lifetime moment for the city as Coventry Moves Together.”
Composer and sound artist Dan Jones, who has worked in film and on other major commissions for UK City of Culture 2017 and Paralympic Games, has created a new piece of music – including the voices of Coventry schoolchildren.
The track has been split into multiple streams and will come together as a full piece of music when radio stations can be heard simultaneously.
So, families, friends and neighbours are being asked to head out to their doorsteps, into their gardens or on their balconies and tune into different streams so that the whole city can hear the full, eight-minute piece.
It is being implemented with the support and collaboration of local businesses and services such as libraries, faith groups, retail units, hotels, supermarkets, music venues, charities, transport networks and police, ambulance and fire services, which will join with the whole city in broadcasting one of the streams.
The piece has been inspired by the legendary Coventry-born composer and mathematician, Delia Derbyshire, and will be broadcast via BBC CWR, Hillz FM, Radio Panj, Radio Plus, Vanny Radio, Fresh Radio, Arawak, Block Radio and Radio Abbey to create a world first moment – a city-wide surround sound musical performance.
The aim is to reach 350,000 individuals from all communities on their own doorsteps, in their gardens and at workplaces across the city. The piece will later be shared with the rest of the world through broadcast and online – but only after it has premiered on the doorsteps of Coventry.
Jon Davis, a Producer of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “Coventry Moves is going to be a very special day for Coventry and it will culminate in a very moving collective moment at 20:21.
“We want the whole city to join us as Coventry Moves Together by helping to join all of the pieces of the Coventry Moves Together jigsaw by tuning into different radio stations to help make the composition sound complete.”