Peter's Field Tour Announcement

Sound Roots is thrilled to announce that Peter’s Field by Sean Cooney is going on tour in March 2026, following sold-out 2025 dates.

This epic musical chronicle is a further development of work first created by Sound Roots and Sean Cooney in 2019, as part of the commemorations marking 200 years since the Peterloo Massacre.

Rising Up premiered at Manchester Folk Festival in 2019 at HOME before touring to London, Gateshead, Bristol and Liverpool. Written and directed by Debs Newbold, based on songs by Sean, the theatre piece retold the story of the massacre in the context of democracy in 2019: the rise of the far right, the climate crisis, the resurgence of misogyny. 

In 2024, Sean revisited the project working with Touchstones Archives and Voltalab Studios in Rochdale - further researching individual stories of the people who walked from Rochdale to demand the reform of parliamentary reform. 

13 songs came out of that work which were premiered at FolkEast then Feelgood Folk (Rochdale) and performed to sold out audiences at the Old School Rooms Middleton and Hallé at St Michael’s as part of Manchester Folk Festival 2025.

Born from years of research and comprising thirteen original songs by Cooney - performed with Rowan Rheingans and Sam Carter - this remarkable new work commemorates one of the most momentous days in working-class history.

The piece was recorded by Sean, Sam Carter, Eliza Carthy and Jennifer Reid and is set for release in November 2025. 

Head to Sean Cooney’s website to book your tickets for this “passionate, radio-ballad-like and haunting” (Songlines) performance.

Funded by Arts Council England in 2024, Peter’s Field was commissioned by Sound Roots and Rochdale Development Agency (Rochdale Creates).

Peter’s Field Tour Dates

10th March - Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford On Avon

11th March - The Fire Station, Sunderland

12th March - Champness Hall, Rochdale

13th March - Upper Chapel, Sheffield

14th March - Conway Hall, London

15th March - Music Room Liverpool (Matinee & Evening)

https://www.seancooney.co.uk