Björk is will undertake a new music & multimedia residency at the 2011 Manchester International Festival, under the banner of Biophilia.

The three-week residency – comprised of six 1800-capacity shows at Campfield Market Hall – will see the artist give live performances of news songs and introduce companion apps, invented instruments and more. A press release explains the concept of Biophilia:

“Where do music, nature and technology meet? Björk introduces Biophilia, an extraordinary answer to this fascinating question and her most ambitious and exciting work to date. A multi-media project encompassing music, apps, internet, installations and live shows, Biophilia celebrates how sound works in nature, exploring the infinite expanse of the universe, from planetary systems to atomic structure.

“For these six special shows, Björk will be performing new tracks from the forthcoming Biophilia studio album as well as music from her genre-defying back catalogue with a small group of unique musical collaborators. The show will feature a range of specially conceived and crafted instruments, among them a bespoke digitally-controlled pipe organ; a 30 foot pendulum that harnesses the earth’s gravitational pull to create musical patterns – creating a unique bridge between the ancient and the modern; a bespoke gamelan-celeste hybrid; and a one-off extraordinary pin barrel harp. These devices make visible some of the physical processes that are the subject matter of tracks.”

The Biophilia live show takes place on June 30 and July 3, 7, 10, 13 and 16. It will travel to major cities around the world following the Manchester premiere. More information and tickets here.