L’Objectif at The Talleyrand
Thursday 3rd February
L’objectif are schoolmates from Leeds, Saul Kane (vocals, guitar) Louis Bullock (drums), Ezra Glennon (bass) and Dan Richardson (guitar). With each member picking up instruments as children, the young friends, none of whom are over the age of 17, have a shared love of genres and musicians jazz funk, hip-hop, punk, post-punk, and almost everything in between. Also inspired by painters Basquiat and Francis Bacon, L’objectif seek excitement in the intellectually stimulating and subjective; finding thrill in the confusion.
Penny at The Castle Hotel
Tuesday 1st February
Huddersfield-based artist PENNY is pure pop-perfection and will be bringing big pop ballads from her EP, which will be released in 2022, to The Castle this Tuesday. The songs explore her queerness and mental health journey through angelic vocals and gorgeous lo-fi bass led beats.
Saturday Night Special – Funk and Soul at The King’s Arms
Saturday 5th February
Blowin’ Wax are back for another funktastic audio-visual soirée at The King’s Arms! Expect the finest 70s / 80s funk and soul selections with bizarro imagery, all night long. Don your best disco-wear, I’m talking flared jeans, bodysuits and glitter, this one is not to be missed!
Abi Rose Kelly, Slap Rash, Body Water & Velma at The Peer Hat
Thursday 3rd February
A great line-up of some of Manchester’s best rock, punk and grunge artists will be putting on a big performance at The Peer Hat this week! Headlined by Abi Rose Kelly, known for her no-nonsense, relatable music, Slap Rash, Body Water and Velma will join her for a night of female fronted noise.
Doll Parts at Aatma
Friday 4th February
Doll Parts is a nightlong celebration of some of the best women in music! XS POP will be tearing up Aatma to pay homage to all of the best women who have rocked our worlds and sent tidal waves through the male-dominated music industry. Expect to hear everything from Bjork and Blondie to Stevie Nicks and The Breeders, this one is gonna be bloody mint.
Jodie Nicholson at Gullivers
Friday 4th February
Jodie Nicholson’s ethereal vocals and soft delicate melodies blur the genre soundscapes of folk, indie and electro-pop, and her live show is a stripped back, goosebump inducing spectacle. She draws influence from artists including Warpaint, Laura Marling and Bombay Bicycle Club, and will bring her beautiful music to Gullivers this Friday!
Yellow Brain at The Rose and Monkey
Tuesday 1st February
Dreamy indie poster boys, Yellow Brain have been on my radar for a while now. Reminiscent of the former B-town scene bands of 2013, including Swim Deep and Peace that swam non-stop around my fifteen year old brain, Yellow Brain are a refreshing blast from the past. The Manc-based band have also recently collaborated with neon-synth led, PINS to redo the infamous track, Isolation by Joy Division. A fairly fitting choice for the time, cementing their love for the city.
LIINES at The Trades Club
Thursday 3rd February
Manchester post-punk trio LIINES released their much-anticipated debut album, Stop-Start via Reckless Yes in May 2018. Comparisons range from Savages, PINS and Sleater-Kinney to Joy Division, WIRE and Gang of Four. LIINES have built a reputation as one of the most exciting acts to emerge from Manchester playing frenetic, electric shows across the UK and Europe.
Seb Lowe at Night & Day Cafe
Friday 4th February
Seb Lowe burst out of Saddleworth with a gob full of honest, political poetry and a guitar that is a machine gun of riffing. His ferocious music gives a nod to a familiar Northern working class background, resonating with a bunch of lairy Mancs and Northern folk alike. His Night & Day Cafe debut is not to be missed!
Turn on Fest at Hope Mill Theatre
Thursday 3rd February & Friday 4th February
Hosted by Hope Mill Theatre in collaboration with Superbia, Turn On Fest is the annual LGBTQIA+ festival that explores themes of gender, sexuality and identity. This week, there are two performances to check out. On Thursday, If Not Then When Now will be at the theatre, a visceral blend of performance art and physical theatre presented by Gertrude Schmixon, and Friday will see spoken-word show, The Reason for Geese, written by Elizabeth Gisbon, make its debut.
Déjà Vega at Gorilla
Saturday 5th February
A force to be reckoned with, Déjà Vega’s guitar led psychedelia is a welcome addition to Manchester’s music scene. They’ll be bringing their chaotic live show to Gorilla on Saturday, full of fierceness and incredible energy, an absolute must-see this Independent Venue Week!
Soup + Left, Right & Centre – Bruce, Aletha, Korzi at SOUP
Friday 4th February
I’m not sure it can be overstated how integral Left, Right & Centre have become to the Manchester music continuum, and this party indicates that they show no signs of abandoning that. Hessle Audio’s, Bruce has been enlisted once again, alongside rising star Aletha, to cause carnage with the man in charge, Korzi. Buy a ticket (if you know what’s good for you).
Taylor Paisley-French at Matt & Phreds
Saturday 5th February
London-born pop artist and pianist, Taylor Paisley-French has carved his name into the pop music scene with sounds influenced by jazz, blues and soul. His reputation in the music industry has seen him working alongside artists such as, Jamie Cullum and Gil Scott-Heron’s band: The Revolution Will Be Live. With cinematic elements featured throughout his piano based catalogue, and an intense focus on lyrical content, Taylor’s repertoire is sure to deliver an eclectic musical experience.
Pochenski at Night People
Friday 4th February
Three-piece alt rock band, Pochenski fuse experimental guitars and sophisticated lyrics, producing a fitting soundtrack for these very strange times we find ourselves in. The band have waited a lengthy two years to finally play their music live to the folk of the city, and their headline show at Night People is completely FREE to attend! Generous, these lot.
The Ghost: All Night Long at The Loft
Saturday 5th February
The Loft’s very first all night long showcase welcomes The Ghost. Back in Berlin in 2015, local authorities receive reports of a mysterious white van parked up around the city. House music can be heard from within while a queue of people wait in line. It’s called The Ghost, and six years on, what was once this covert mobile record shop has become its own little universe!
WAVES at Lock 91
Wednesday 2nd February
This Wednesday, WAVES presents some of Manchester best-emerging artists. Get yourself down to Lock 91 for a night of live hip hop and R&B, and get waves with some of Manchester’s best upcoming and emerging artists. There’ll be sets from; Aziza Jaye, OG Carrasco, SAF-S2E, Doze Crude, 316 Incorporated, as well as an open cipher if you fancy stepping up to the mic!
IVW at The Snug
31st January – 5th February
The Snug in Atherton is offering a week long Independent Venue Week Ticket for a mere 20 quid for its line-up of incredible local entertainment. AK Patterson, The Lounge Society, Shade, Yellow Brain and Blue Kubricks are all taking to its cosy stage to celebrate the venue this week, so it’d be 20 pound very well spent.
Funkademia at Mint Lounge
Saturday 5th February
Manchester’s longest running club night returns to its humble home of Mint Lounge this weekend. DJs armed with stand-out disco bangers and unadulterated funk and soul tunes will transport you right back to the disco-doused days of the 70s!
Open Mic at The Whisky Jar
Tuesday 1st February & Wednesday 2nd February
The Whisky Jar’s weekly open mic nights will be taking place again this Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s a great opportunity to grab yourself some stunning whisky based drinks, all whilst enjoying live entertainment from some local musicians.
Saturday Social at Stage and Radio
Saturday 5th February
Pascal Benjamin, one of Amsterdam’s finest DJs will touch down in Stage and Radio this weekend! He has been releasing music ever since he was 14 on labels including; SlapFunk, Kina, Norse Projeckt, Minimal Movement, Algorhythmic & Focus On Egoless. His sound is a mix between Deep- and Tech House sure to get those feet moving!
HIT & RUN presents 1985 Music Manchester: MONTY “Hit The Lights” LP Party at Hidden
Friday 4th February
After the sold out madness of their last show in Manchester, HIT & RUN are delighted to welcome back Alix Perez’s 1985 Music – in celebration of MONTY’s exceptional Debut EP, which features some of clubland’s biggest anthems of 2021. The line-up includes; MONTY, WORKFORCE, VISAGES (France), TASHA, STRATEGY, CHiMPO, CESCO – MCR Debut, TRAIL (France) – MCR Debut, T-MAN, BIOME b2b ENADA – MCR Debut, SPARKZ, TRUTHOS MUFASA, RICH REASON plus a very special guest headliner!
Mood Swings x Moshi Moshi – Speedboat, Vanity Fairy, Nu Garcon, All Cats Are Beautiful at YES
Thursday 3rd February
The next addition to Now Wave’s monthly Mood Swings night will see another four bands take to the pink-hued stage of YES. Speedboat, Vanity Fairy, Nu Garcon and All Cats Are Beautiful will perform an amalgamation of experimental pop and wave-inspired synth led music, all for a fiver!
