Preview: Autumn Live Shows

Leaves are turning from green to a plethora of brightness and autumn is tightening its chilly grip. But before we drift into summer nostalgia, its worth reminding ourselves that this time of year is also synonymous with touring, and with Manchester being part of many major tours there’s no shortage of gigs coming our way in the coming weeks.

For starters, the Holy Trinity of Trof venues are offering a vast range of acts to please any discerning ear, from Mercury Award nominee Kate Tempest (Deaf Institute, 9 November) and the euphorically eclectic Adult Jazz (Deaf Institute, 12 November) to one of Liverpool’s finest new acts Circa Waves (Gorilla, 7 November) and the rising superstar St Vincent (Albert Hall, 22 October).

Manchester Cathedral has certainly come a long way as an alternative music venue. As well as an impressive list of gigs, on 1 November it is hosting the all-day festival, Columns. Its diverse and painfully cool line-up includes artists such electronic sound architect East India Youth (another 2014 Mercury nominee coming to Manchester) and this year’s US breakthrough ‘perfect pop’ act Future Islands.

While we're on the topic of those Mercurys, the shortlisted local tip is GoGo Penguin, an intricate jazz trio who've conveniently booked a show at Soup Kitchen on 21 October to celebrate.

Another notable festival event is Carefully Planned, which will take in various venues around the Northern Quarter over the weekend of 18-19 October, bringing us a wide range of new music with a line-up designed to please everyone from indie folk aficionados to hardcore fans. Now in its fourth year, Carefully Planned is making a bit of a name for itself, which is hardly surprising given its tactic of booking some of the best new bands from all corners of the UK (Hail! The Planes, Post War Glamour Girls) and established cult names (That Fucking Tank, Thought Forms).

Louder Than Words is another grassroots weekend event worthy of a serious mention. Dedicated to words about music, this new festival involves writing workshops as well as Q&As with the likes of Viv Albertine and John Bramwell, panel debates on subjects such as Goth subculture and the 'Golden Age' of music journalism, plus signings and performances.

Finally, keep an eye on Islington Mill's goings on as it’s now back in operation and its event listings once again prove it to be a key creative hub in the Manchester area. The awesome 2 Bears (Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard and Raf Daddy) are set to play there on 29 October, followed by a big Halloween event promising ghost tours, film screenings and live music.

Words: Anastasia Connor

Preview: Efterklang @ Bridgewater Hall, 29.10.12

Simon Bray looks forward to Efterklang's performance alongside the Northern Sinfonia at the Bridgewater Hall, having previously lauded their "inventiveness and versatility" as performers.

Manchester welcomes the return of Efterklang with open arms, as they embark on their most ambitious tour to date. Previous visits have seen the band performing at the Deaf Institute and Academy 3, but this time round, they grace the stage of the magnificent Bridgwater Hall on Monday 29th October. They'll be accompanied by the Northern Sinfonia as they look to realise their latest release 'Piramida', an album that's recieved exceedingly high acclaim across the globe and sets them apart as one of the most inventive and accomplished bands of a generation.

The album itself was inspired by a nine day recording session in an abandoned Norwegian mine, from which the album takes its name. The field recordings provide a vast sonic landscape that scatters itself across the final album and this show will be a realisation of this vastly ambitious outing. In typical Efterklang style, it seems the orchestral performance itself isn't enough, with an accompanying narrative leading the audience around the world as the band enlist the orchestra in order to bring each track to life. Combine this with the appreciation that Efterklang deliver some of the most joyful musical performances that I've ever seen and I can assure you that this is an experience not to be missed.

Words & photography: Simon Bray (Simon Bray Photography)

Arts & Music Preview, September 2010

It’s easy to associate September with a new influx of freshers, who line the streets with the flyers they’re bombarded with, blissfully unaware that they are the catalyst for numerous clubnights all clamouring for student loan pennies. But it’s not only wide-eyed freshers who appreciate somebody to separate the wheat from the chaff (and if you happen to be a student then the following preview will hopefully save you the unholy process of taking a mere three strides down Oxford Road before dismissing the umpteenth glossy A6-sized welcome to Manchester).

Very much some of the wheat in that analogy, The Warehouse Project inevitably returns for another stint in the spotlight. Kieran Hebden curates what looks to be the pick of the bunch in November. As for September, you’ve got Maximo Park, Joy Orbison or Basement Jaxx vying for the attentions of the sweaty swarm in that hive of activity below Piccadilly station on various nights.


In the arts, Blank Media’s upcoming exhibition – A New Sense of Emptiness – is at greenroom, where Italian illustrator Mario Sughi’s vibrantly coloured yet minimal scenes will be located for your perusal, from Thursday 9th’s public preview evening through until mid October. Currently adorning the Mooch walls, and continuing through September, will be The Beautiful and the Damned, which showcases Gemma Compton’s striking street art, Ben Slow’s mysterious portraits and Danny O’Connor’s multi-layered montages. When you’ve had your fill of those then there’s Whitworth Art Gallery, whose themed collation is scheduled for an autumn-long stay under the title of The Land Between Us: place, power and dislocation. Multifariously created but hinging on the uses of landscape, both natural and human, expect to see watercolours, creativity borne from conflict and political comment through images.

Local loop-laying electro-acoustic hybrid Denis Jones precedes his October LP, Red + Yellow = (released through Humble Soul and to be reviewed here in due course), with a limited, Piccadilly Records-only EP for album opener ‘Clap Hands’, including remixes by fellow Manc dwellers Graham Massey and Paddy Steer. And while we’re on the subject of recorded output, Melodic have lined-up south Manchester cacophony controllers Working For A Nuclear Free City’s latest, the double-disked Jojo Burger Tempest, for an early-September arrival. Both worth a trip to your local record store.

Gigs-wise: Pineapple Folk’s standouts for the month are fuzzy psyche types Black Mountain and the angsty folkster Deer Tick (15th and 30th, respectively), while Now Wave have PVT playing at the Deaf Institute on 28th. Elsewhere, Hey! Manchester welcome Horse Feathers to The Kings Arms’ cosy confines on Tuesday 14th and OH Productions bring Joanna Newsom to the Palace Theatre on Saturday 18th. The Band on the Wall pick has to be Nancy Elizabeth, Homelife and Denis Jones sharing the bill on Thursday 9th, with The Raghu Dixit Project on Sunday 19th a worthy contender for that crown.

If two of your favourite things are indie-folk bands and seeing your entry fee go to a charity then Sound Control on Sunday 19th is where you should gravitate. The all-dayer will see The Travelling Band, Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six, The Lovely Eggs and plenty of others, all supporting Didsbury’s Francis House Children’s Hospice.

Chorlton plays host to much of Mind on Fire’s innovation this month; Thursday 16th at Nook looks a great bet at the low entry fee of £0 – Manchester/Barcelona duo The Electronic Exchange, newly signed to Concrete Moniker’s ‘net label, will perform their self-proclaimed “toolshed dub” live. Otherwise, check out MoF's affiliated DJing slots; last Sunday of every month at Nook or the monthly record selection at Argyles.


Looking slightly beyond the realm of September, independent music conference Un-Convention returns to its motherland, Salford. And, to indulge in a little self-promotion, Now Then Manchester will be curating a stage as part of the event on Saturday 2nd October. We have King Capisce, Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six, Paul Green and Veí all lined up with their various instruments, while caro snatch and Joe Kriss will punctuate proceedings with spoken word performances. You can also catch the aforementioned Denis Jones performing on a barge.

Finally, if you’re looking for some cheap, post-Bank Holiday entertainment tonight, there’s the free entry show at An Outlet, to launch Red Tides' new EP, with Jo Rose also performing.

Words: Ian Pennington
Image 1: Girls and the City by Mario Sughi
Image 2: Courtesy of Un-Convention

Arts & Music Preview, July 2010

The World Cup’s nearly over and, if it’s been on your radar, you’ll soon have an extra-round Jabulani football-shaped void to fill. It seems appropriate timing, then, for another glance into the Now Then crystal ball of entertainment.

To kick off, a few of the many arts displays worthy of your time. Independent gallery Mooch N4 is exhibiting for the first time from Thursday 8th, promising contemporary painting and street art from Rocket01 and Faunagraphic for the foreseeable. On the walls at Nexus Art Café for the next month or so will be a look at urbanisation, environmental utopia and childhood imagination under the moniker of The View From Here; it culminates in a free film night there on Friday 6th August. Otherwise, time is slipping away on your chance to view Manchester Art Gallery’s Dorothy Bohm exhibition (with work spanning six decades), but, never fear, from Wednesday 4th August the ever-dependable Blank Media Collective take up the photographic mantle with their Angle of Refraction curation at Greenroom depicting uses of light through abstract images.

You’ve just missed July’s instalment of An Outlet’s premier live music showcase, Some Drum I Would Never Hear, but as long as you’re there on the first Saturday of any coming month then you’ll not go far wrong when previous bills have included Borland, Waiters and Illum Sphere. Early word is that SDIWNH resident Eleanor Lou (think PJ Harvey or The Kills) will be joined by glitch whiz Vei and Gold Blood on Saturday 7th August for the next one. And speaking of Waiters, they’re down to support New York’s 80s revivalists Silk Flowers under Comfortable on a Tightrope’s promotion on Wednesday 21st.

Trip-hop, experimental beats, dubstep and electronica specialists This City Is Ours return with The Glitch Mob headlining a show with From the Kites of San Quentin and Jonny Dub in support, visuals from Fata Morgana and OneFiveEight’s eye-catching live art. All happening under Sound Control’s roof on Friday 9th.

If you’re into psychedelic monotony then Wooden Shjips offshoot Moon Duo are worth a look on Sunday 25th, courtesy of Now Wave’s stubborn insistence to stage buzz bands in this city before others have the chance to see them. The Sacred Trinty Church should be a great setting for that as well. The Now Wavers are teaming up with WOTGODFORGOT for an even bigger one; Silver Apples founder Simeon strides straight out of the 60s and into your ears on Wednesday 28th, ably supported by Denis Jones, but if you prefer your noiseniks less noodley than the irresistibly catchy ‘I Don’t Care What the People Say’, for instance, then the second half of WOTGOTFORGOT’s divided attention that night is at The Corner in the form of younger electronic types These Are Powers, who likely owe a debt to the pioneering of Silver Apples themselves.

A Micron / Contort Yourself collaboration looks a safe bet where tech house is concerned. They’ve booked Saytek to bring his drum machines, synths and effects gadgetry to The Roadhouse on Saturday 17th.

Then looking a little further ahead you may have to toss a coin on 3rd August to choose between Wu-Tang Clan’s much-anticipated return, staged by Now Wave, One Inch Badge and OH Productions, and Pantha Du Prince; Ruby Lounge, put on by WOTGODFORGOT.

Words: Ian Pennington

May Music Preview

May is always a busy time for Manchester’s gigging circuit, so without hesitation, here’s your guide for the month:

FutureSonic / FutureEverything / FutureWhatever is back and oh how we are so very grateful. Highlights include Konono No.1, Omar Souleyman, Kyle Hall and Ryoji Ikeda. Also, the Boomkat boys are doing something, but you’ll have to see the listings to find out what.

Easter’s just passed but this shouldn’t stop you going to Church once in a while. Especially when Sacred Trinity has the electric Tim Hecker and the lesser known LevILoW playing two separate dates. Neither will get you out of going on Sunday (if you’re that way inclined) but still, necessary trips.

Promoter of the month award goes to WOTGODFORGOT as Grails, Faust and Scout Niblett will all be playing at The Ruby Lounge. If anyone thinks Faust are past it last year’s LP would easily silence the sceptics. Scout Niblett’s show made me weep with joy a few years ago, so I’ll have a pocket pack of man-size tissues with me. If you need any I’ll be at the back, in a corner, surrounded by empty gin martini glasses. If old men or crying isn’t your bag, then head to Grails.

After such an extended hiatus, Band on the Wall continues its renaissance with a collaborative performance from Hauschka, James Blackshaw and Nancy Elizabeth. Looks like it’ll be worth the entry fee. I’ve no idea what it’ll sound like but, chances are, something special.

From this month’s featured artists [NB: see posts over the next couple of weeks], WU LYF should be playing at An Outlet on the last saturday of the month but check first via their blog. Also Folk on a Train run regular events so search their website for upcoming dates. They’re both cheap as chips (a pound for the former, donations for the latter) so you’ve no excuse, even if you’re saving up for your jollies. Me? Well I’m spending the summer with my nose buried in flyers so that you don’t have to. It’s not pretty, what with all the papercuts I resemble an A&R executive shovelling the last supply of mephedrone in the vein hope of being down with the kids. Which by comparison makes my job relatively attractive. Plus, the novelty plasters offer some sweet relief.

Regular purveyors of good sounds, buzz bands and obscure heroines/heroes Pineapple Folk have got the excellent Phosphorescent on at The Deaf Institute. Also at the indie end of the scale, DottoDot festival comes to town for the first time. I’m always sceptical as to how so many bands can be on a bill with a comparatively nominal door charge, but with Liars, Beach House and the (overly?) hyped Washed Out on the bill I’m willing to suspend my disbelief. There are other bands on the bill, but none of them are any good.

Finally, Rihanna and Black Eyed Peas are at the Arena. They’re both amazing live and are worth having a look on ebay for. Neither need explanation nor require justification.

Note: If you’re a promoter and would like to be next month’s winner of Fairtrade coffee and a pack of Maryland cookies please send us info of your events to manchester.music@nowthenmagazine.co.uk

Words: Samuel Breen