SINGLE REVIEW – LUCY WROE: THE VAULT

It had been a rough winter. Global politics swung with the same volatility as the weather outside—unpredictable, unrelenting, and sometimes disconcerting. Cold, dark days had felt endless, as if the world had settled into a permanent sepia haze, with no sign of spring and the inevitable feeling of hope that it carried. Then, in the […]
Spring is in the air and with it comes a glorious diversity of gigs in Manchester and Salford. Plenty of choice here and your chance to support bands and local venues. 1st         Evil Blizzard                                   Academy 3 1st         Loose Articles                […]

GIG GUIDE – MARCH 2025

GIG GUIDE – FEBRUARY 2025

While it may be the shortest month of the year, February always feels like a slog to get through! Whilst the weather is slowly getting hotter, the night still comes way too early, what’s better than to hide away inside a venue and listen to some amazing live music, here’s what’s coming up in Manchester […]
As the start of a new year looms, there is nothing better than to clear those post-Christmas blues with some amazing live music. Have a look at what’s going on throughout Manchester in January. January 8th 2025 The Jesus Lizard – Academy Formed in Chicago in 1987, The Jesus Lizard has nearly 40 years of […]

GIG GUIDE – JANUARY 2025

GIG GUIDE – DECEMBER 2024

We have trawled through the gigs for this month and are pleased to offer our recommendations of shows in a variety of genres. There should be something for everyone here. December 1st 2024 Villagers – New Century Hall Villagers have been a prominent force in the indie scene for over a decade and have been […]
We have trawled through the forthcoming gigs in and around Manchester so you don’t have to. We believe that if we are going to recommend a gig to you, then it should be exactly that, a recommendation. There’s always plenty of great gigs going on in Manchester, too many to cover them all, but here’s […]

GIG GUIDE: NOVEMBER 2024

ALBUM REVIEW – BANANAGUN: WHY IS THE COLOUR OF THE SKY?

A Bananagun is a surreal concept, like something visualised by Salvador Dali. It conjures brightly vivid images of sticky potassium being fired in a scattershot fashion while stumbling over discarded banana skins.  The name suits the Melbourne/Naarm group’s second album which creates a ramshackle blend of psych-garage, freakbeat experimentation and spiritual jazz. Compared with the […]
The answer to the album’s title is ‘yes’. It has been six years since their previous album, ‘Bringing The Backline’. In the intervening period, Trust Fund has shrunk from being a group into primarily Ellis Jones’ project. From a full band indie rock sound, they have made a welcome diversion into classical guitar and string […]

ALBUM REVIEW – TRUST FUND: HAS IT BEEN A WHILE?

ALBUM REVIEW – THE PAINTED CEILINGS: MAYBE THERE’S A DIFFERENCE

Collecting the last kisses of the sun, Maybe There’s A Difference transports us back to a warmer season. With an ear pressed to nature’s headphone, the spiralled form of a conch concocts wave-like vibrations of a nautical buzz. With the first pinches of strings, the sound of The Painted Ceilings coats you with the salt […]
With several of our writers having been part of our city’s previous music industry festival, In The City, which ran from 1992 – 2010, we were overjoyed when Beyond The Music picked up the baton and created what the music industry, and Manchester’s music scene has been missing – a festival devoted to honest discussions, […]

LIVE REVIEW: BEYOND THE MUSIC FESTIVAL: VARIOUS VENUES ACROSS MANCHESTER – 9-12 OCTOBER 2024