Peter's Field

Sound Roots is thrilled to announce a tour of Peter’s Field in March 2026.

Peter’s Field was commissioned by Sound Roots and Rochdale Development Agency (Rochdale Creates), funded by Arts Council England in 2024. The piece is a further development of work Sound Roots and Sean Cooney first worked on in 2019 as part of the commemorations around the 200-year anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre.

Rising Up premiered at Manchester Folk Festival in 2019 at HOME before touring to London, Gateshead, Bristol and Liverpool. A theatre piece with song, written by Debs Newbold based on songs by Sean, the theatre piece retold the story of the massacre in the context of democracy in 2019.

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 Folk East then Feelgood Folk (Rochdale) and performed to sold out audiences at the Old School Rooms Middleton and Halle at St Michaels as part of Manchester Folk Festival 2025. The work was recorded by Sean, Sam Carter, Eliza Carthy and Jennifer Reid set for release alongside a book in November 2025.

In March 2026, Peter’s Field will be toured by Sean Cooney, Sam Carter and Rowan Rheingans.