ALBUM REVIEW: CBGB – A NEW YORK CITY SOUNDTRACK 1975- 1986

New York in 1975 was a far cry from the cultural, bustling metropolis it is today. The city was in the depths of a financial crisis, strikes and slowdowns crippled most public services leading to an estimated 58,000 tons of rubbish on the streets, and crime rates soaring. Add into the melting pot a serial […]
January in Manchester is a very quiet month, with the chaos of Christmas and New Years out of the way, there is still some amazing gigs to look forward to. Here is what is going on across Manchester this January. January 8 The Molotovs — Gorilla January 9 Tigers & Flies — YES Basement January […]

GIG GUIDE – JANUARY 2026

GIG GUIDE – DECEMBER 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, Manchester has one last month of excitement up its sleeve, away from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, there is only one way to keep your spirits up, live music! And with a wonderful selection of new and old artists performing across Manchester this month, there is […]
There’s never been a band as triumphantly independent as The Lovely Eggs. A duo consisting of Holly Ross and David Blackwell who over the course of seven studio albums, and numerous EPs in the last twenty years have managed to bring their brilliant indie pop to the masses all on their own terms.  Now with the […]

INTERVIEW: THE LOVELY EGGS

LIVE: THE WEDDING PRESENT – THE RITZ, MANCHESTER 10/10/2025

The Wedding Present are one of those bands who have soundtracked a vast part of my life, from dancing at indie discos as a teen to well pretty much doing the same around the kitchen at a recent 50th birthday do. It’s safe to say the huge crowd assembled in The Ritz tonight probably identify […]
Back in 1985, the brilliant guitar pop of ‘Go Out And Get Em Boy’ was the Wedding Present’s first single, and in the intervening decades, it’s fair to say that David Gedge and the Wedding Present have done exactly that. Their blend of shimmering guitar tunes, often with a rockier overtone, and lyrics capturing love […]

INTERVIEW: THE WEDDING PRESENT – CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF INDIE GREATNESS!

ALBUM REVIEW- GUITAR: WE’RE HEADED TO THE LAKE

Guitar’s We’re Headed To The Lake is a scruffy album. Coming from me that’s a compliment, by the way. As a slacker rock band in the vein of Pavement etc. this kind of scruffiness is kind of the point. But Guitar does pull enough from the various corners of the genre umbrella to not be […]
October is an exciting time in Manchester, with all sorts of events happening across the city and the sudden chill and dark evenings making a reappearance, what better to cure those pre-winter blues than to watch some of your favourite bands and artists, here is what you can expect in Manchester this October.   October […]

GIG GUIDE – OCTOBER 2025

LIVE IN PICTURES – LA WITCH: LEEDS BRUDENELL SOCIAL CLUB – 23/09/2025

There is an old saying about a picture being worth a 1,000 words so by that measurement, here is a dissertation length photographic review of LA Witch. Dive in and capture the atmosphere as the trio blast out their melange of darkwave, punk and psychedelia through Mat Coffey’s photos.  
With the first leaves falling off the trees, autumn is just around the corner, what better place to hide away than in a sweaty room somewhere in Manchester watching some of your favourite bands and artists. Here is what is happening in September. September 1 o Only The Poets — Deaf Institute September 3 o […]

GIG GUIDE – SEPTEMBER 2025