Thousands of music lovers expected online for first ever digital Freedom Festival

Interactive installation where robots draw an audience of faces at Hull Truck Theatre
Among attractions at this year's event is this Interactive installation where robots draw an audience of faces Credit: ITV News

Thousands of music lovers are expected online for the first ever digital Freedom Festival this weekend.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the event could not go ahead in its normal format Credit: ITV News

The annual celebration - which normally brings crowds into the centre of Hull - is staging dozens of events featuring scores of artists online via an app . - including an interactive art installation where selfies can be sent to robots drawing a mural at Hull Truck Theatre.

He added: " You'll see on the programme on the app there's loads of links, so things go live at a certain time and everything will only be available for 72 hours, so you've got to get on to it."

The event was not able to be held in its usual format due to the coronavirus.

Audiences will be able to access live streams and recorded video performances via the app in the long term not just over the weekend.

For the full programme of events visit: Hull Freedom Festival 2020

Meanwhile a new photography exhibition depicting life in lockdown for families in Hull will form part of Freedom Festival in Hull.

The Lockdown Doorsteps series was commissioned by The Warren Youth Project, which supports under 25s in Hull with everything from employability skills to food parcels.

Around 50 families will feature in the online exhibition including 26-year-old Megan Brown, who spoke to ITV Calendar about having to skip meals in order to feed her children at one stage during the lockdown.

Video report by Jonathan Brown

Lockdown Doorsteps will feature as part of the first online-only Freedom Festival, which will see dozens of videos, interactive art installations, talks and performances go live on a website and app until Sunday.