The Live Guide Manchester Feb / Mar 20

pocket size music guide feb / mar 20

FEATURING becky hill Ones to watch Picks Of The Month GIVEAWAYS EMERGING SOUnds Feb / mar gig Listings & more

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21.03.20 Manchester O2 Ritz

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Teenage Wildlife CD/LP Out Feb 14

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FRIDAY 14TH FEBRURAY / ACADEMY 2

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PINEGROVE

FRIDAY 21ST FEBRURAY / MANCHESTER ACADEMY

TUESDAY 31ST MARCH / ACADEMY 2

DIIV

THUNDERCAT

TEMPLES

DADJU

IAMDDB

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WEDNESDAY 26TH FEBRURAY / ACADEMY 2

SATURDAY 11TH APRIL / MANCHESTER ACADEMY

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Contributors / Say Hello Words:

Simon Robinson Emma Baker Michael Fairclough Gareth Lloyd

Photos:

Polydor Records Mathew Parri Thomas Neelam Khan Vela Märta Thisner Holly Rose Stones Alessandro Raimondo Holly Whitaker

Design:

James McCarthy

Big Love:

From The Fields See Tickets Adam Moore ESNS Global Publicity Simon Neal Becky Hill

Got some juicy news, gossip or rumours about your local music scene? We'd love to hear it, get in touch at theliveguide.net/contact Putting on a live show and want it to be featured in our gig guide? See theliveguide.net To submit press releases to the editorial team it's newsdesk@theliveguide.net To advertise call us on 0161 399 0102, email adsales@theliveguide.net or visit theliveguide.net/advertise Or just want to say hello? Email hello@theliveguide.net Follow us: @TheLiveGuideMCR Theliveguide.net Š 2020 - The Live Guide, From The Fields 20 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1EZ

Mar / APR 20 edition hits the streets from

09.03.20 Please note: Events published in The Live Guide are subject to change.

SATURDAY 23 MAY

SUNDAY 24 MAY

PALE WAVES

MILES KANE • TOM WALKER

THE MURDER CAPITAL THE BIG MOON • LOVE FAME TRAGEDY

ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER INHALER • SPORTS TEAM • FICKLE FRIENDS

THE LATHUMS • THE ORIELLES THE MYSTERINES • THE REYTONS BONIFACE • AIRWAYS • NOISY

RED RUM CLUB • WORKING MEN’S CLUB • BLOXX ALFIE TEMPLEMAN • PHOEBE GREEN GEORGE COSBY • THE GOA EXPRESS

REVEREND & THE MAKERS THE • THE MAGIC • THE CORAL GANG SHERLOCKS

SUNDARA KARMA • SEA GIRLS LIGHTNING • THE PIGEON SEEDS DETECTIVES

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Contents A new year means new music, so for our first edition of 2020 we headed to music industry showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag in the Netherlands to report on the freshest new talent we’re predicting to make it big in 2020.

Whilst in Holland we jumped aboard a ship to have a chat with No.1 selling artist Becky Hill to discuss her plans to become a global selling artist and get the lowdown on her career so far.

And, as always, you’ll find all our usual feats and gig listings that span longer than the DFS January sale. Well, almost...

Team Live Guide x 7

09

Local News

10

Picks Of The Month

16

Becky Hill Interview

23

Emerging Sounds

26

Ones To Watch 2020

32

Gig Listings

45

Giveaways

Local News

This is Manchester. We do exhibits differently here…

An extraordinary set of mementoes is being housed at Castlefield’s Museum of Science & Industry this summer: a selection of neverbefore-seen memorabilia from Factory Records. Even the biggest Hacienda aficionados are guaranteed to find some ‘unknown pleasures’ at the exhibit, which is set to showcase a dazzling array of items from the famous yellow and black catalogue until the end of 2020.

Star & Garter is saved

We’re almost numb to the closure of our favourite venues nowadays. Sadly, pubs and performance spaces shut down every month, but when it was announced that Star & Garter was hanging by a thread, panic spread across the city.

Hundreds of local bands have cut their teeth at the iconic indie venue in its 200-yearhistory, and the prospect of losing the listed building filled Manchester music fans with dread. Mercifully, The Mayfield Development Partnership stepped in to purchase the venue in December, meaning the legendary pub will continue to welcome budding bands for the next decade at least.

Parklife reveals 2020 line-up

Manchester’s famous festival just keeps getting bigger and better. The line-up for the eleventh edition of Parklife was announced in January and it’s arguably the most impressive yet – with Tyler, The Creator, Skepta, Robyn, Khalid, JME, Lewis Capaldi and Jorja Smith all starring on an eye-popping bill among dozens of others. And, to top it all off, Liam Gallagher will be kicking off the fest with a preshow performance on the Friday.

9

Picks

You may have seen the name Obongjayar (and what a name it is) featuring on tracks with the likes of Danny Brown, Kamasi Washington, Sampha and Giggs. Now it’s time for the UK-based Nigerian’s next solo project, ‘Which Way Is Forward?’, and fortunately for us, he’s taking it on tour. With plenty of airtime and backing from the likes of Gilles Peterson and Mary Anne Hobbs, 2020 looks set to be a massive year for Obongjayar. The tunes fuse electronic, afrobeat, soul and spoken word, guaranteeing an unmissable musical whirlwind.

- of the -

month FEB/MAR

Our pick of the best shows this month 21.02.20

Girl Ray

YES | £10ADV | 7:30pm

After supporting Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks and Metronomy respectively in our fair city, Girl Ray are back doing their own thing. And if their new album, ‘Girl’, is anything to go by, they totally deserve to be top of the bill. A blend of indie, lofi pop and a hint of R&B, the north London three-piece have been compared to Haim and we’re not going to argue. Not bad Friday night fun for the price of a round.

23.02.20

Obongjayar

YES | £10.50ADV | 7:30pm 10

critically acclaimed and what we’ve heard from the next release, ‘Disco Volador’ has been pretty spellbinding. Citing influences from across genres including cosmic jazz outfit, The Comet Is Coming, it’s totally different to anything we’ve heard from The Orielles. We urge you to give the single, ‘Space Samba’ a listen and if that doesn’t pop a ticket in your basket, then I don’t think we can be friends.

01.03.20

Alfa Mist

Royal Exchange Theatre FRM£13 | 7:30pm

Alfa Mist is coming back to Manchester to blow us away and soothe us in equal measure. His low key nu-jazz sound and pitchperfect piano playing is hugely popular around here. He’s packed out Gorilla and Band on the Wall in the past 2 years and what a venue for him to return to this time. Alfa’s been a key cog in the dominant and creative Tom Misch-Loyle Carner clique, as well as the thriving London jazz scene. Do yourself a favour and start your March with a serene Sunday to remember.

05.03.20

The Orielles

O2 Ritz | £12.50ADV | 7:30pm

Do The Orielles ever stop working their arses off? It’s been relentless writing, releasing, touring for the indie four-piece from Halifax.

That recipe is clearly working though as their first album was

Brought to you in partnership with

11

Visit Stereoboard.com to compare and buy thousands of tickets from their panel of over 30 ticket sellers.

09.03.20

Arlo Parks

YES | £12ADV | 7:30pm

You might have seen Arlo Parks supporting Jordan Rakei or Loyle Carner in 2019. You might have heard her dangerously addictive single, ‘Cola’. You might not have a clue what we’re on about. If you don’t, get to know, because Arlo is the latest in what seems to be a never-ending line of incredible neo-soul acts that we’re blessed with in the UK. Her songwriting is honest and her shadowy voice will haunt you in all the right ways.

06.03.20

Moses Boyd

Band On The Wall £12ADV | 7pm

Scooping a couple of MOBO and Jazz FM awards, landing a residency on BBC Radio 1Xtra and even writing scores for major Paris fashion shows, it’s fair to say Moses Boyd has been making waves. Why? Because his unique mix of jazz, afrobeat and grime is impossible to ignore. His latest offerings include a storming single with Poppy Ajudha and the groovy ‘Stranger Than Fiction’. The drummer and producer sold out London’s iconic Fabric at the end of last year. Don’t sleep on tickets for his Band on the Wall show because we’d be amazed if this doesn’t go soon too.

12

12.03.20

Jehst

YES | £15ADV | 7pm

Jehst has been a pioneer of the hip-hop scene on this side of the Atlantic for way over a decade now and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. His discography has topped triple figures, his independent record label has outstayed the competition and released countless classics.

You might forgive the 40-yearold for hitting the golf course, but his restless creativity is only growing. Don’t miss your chance to see a legend of the game in an intimate venue that just happens to be painted pink.

13.03.20

Agbeko

YES | £10ADV | 7:30pm

the dancefloors of 1970s Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia, the 11-piece (yes, 11) volley out powerful riffs, glorious grooves and politically aware lyrics. All of that while you, and them, have the collective time of your lives. Sounds like a perfect night out, doesn’t it? Yep, thought so.

We’re finishing off our picks of the month with one of our own and a show you’d be foolish to dodge.

Manchester’s one and only funkpsych-jazz-rock-afrobeat inspired outfit bring bags of energy and a raucous live show. Captivated by

Brought to you in partnership with

13

Visit Stereoboard.com to compare and buy thousands of tickets from their panel of over 30 ticket sellers.

facebook.com/o2ritzmanchester twitter.com/o2ritzmanc instagram.com/o2ritzmanc

Wed 12th Feb

Mon 9th Mar

Fri 3rd Apr • 6pm

Fri 22nd May • 2pm

The HU

Brittany Howard

Therapy? + Eureka Machines

Dot To Dot Festival 2020

Sun 5th Apr

Thur 28th May

Thur 13th Feb

Thur 12th Mar

Angel Olsen

NF

+ Hand Habits

Sat 14th Mar • 6pm

Barenaked Ladies

The Orb

Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana

Fri 10th Apr • 6.30pm

Sat 30th May • 6.30pm

HRVY

Ella Eyre

Sun 15th Mar

Sat 11th Apr • 6pm

Fri 5th Jun • 9pm

+ Monea

Tori Kelly

The Lottery Winners

Wed 19th Feb

Tue 17th Mar

Mon 13th Apr

Home Free - Dive Bar Saints World Tour

Geko: The 22 Tour

Sat 6th Jun • 12.00pm

Tue 14th Apr

ft Sham 69 (Pursey, Parsons,

Sat 15th Feb • 11pm

Dexta Daps: The Naked Stranger UK Tour

Palaye Royale Fri 21st Feb • 6.30pm

Wed 18th Mar

New Hope Club

Sat 22nd Feb • 6.30pm

The Cat Empire

Thur 16th Apr

DUB FX

Thur 19th Mar • 6pm

Fleur East

LOUISE REDKNAPP

+ Nia Ekanem

Fri 20th Mar • 6.30pm

Fri 17th Apr • 6.30pm

Cory Wong

Tue 25th Feb

Lennon Stella Wed 26th Feb

Cavetown + Hunny + Chloe Moriondo Thur 27th Feb

The Maine + Stand Atlantic Sat 29th Feb

Ladytron + Ist Ist + Stealing Sheep + Dave Haslam Sat 29th Feb • 10.30pm

Now That’s What I Call Music Club Nights Sun 1st Mar • 6pm

Tones and I

Jo Whiley’s 90’s Anthems North West Calling Tregunna and Guy), The Rezillos, Ruts DC, Goldblade, Dirt Box Disco, Gimp Fist, Hung Like Hanratty, Duncan Reid & The Big Heads, In Evil Hour, Vomit, The Outcasts Sun 7th Jul

The Alarm

Sea Girls

Sat 21st Mar • 6.30pm

Thur 23rd Apr

Ash - Teenage Wildlife: 25 Years Of Ash

Confidence Man Fri 24th Apr • 6.30pm

Tue 24th Mar

Sat 25th Apr • 6.30pm

Midland

The White Buffalo

+ Desure

+ L.A. Edwards

Thur 26th Mar

Wed 29th Apr

Keith Sweat and Montell Jordan

The Boomtown Rats

Fri 27th Mar • 6.30pm

Steel Pulse

Thur 8th Oct • 6.30pm

Tue 5th May

Cast

Roachford Sat 28th Mar • 6.30pm

Lightning Seeds

Jordan Allen

Thur 30th Apr

Larkin Poe Wed 6th May

Hyukoh

Lupe Fiasco Fri 10th Jul • 6.30pm

Lee Brice Wed 15th Jul

Social Distortion Sat 15th Aug • 8pm

Brutus Gold’s Love Train + Ricky & Pablo (The Pescado Brothers) + Patric Duvet

playing All Change and a Greatest Hits set Sun 11th Oct

+ Billy Davis

Sun 29th Mar

Thur 5th Mar

FLETCHER

The Orielles

+ L Devine

Fri 6th Mar • 6.30pm

Mon 30th Mar

+ The Rose of Avalanche

BC Camplight

Hot 8 Brass Band

bbno$

Fri 15th May • 6.30pm

Sat 5th Dec • 8pm

Sat 7th Mar • 6.30pm

Thur 2nd Apr

Jonas Blue

Meute

The Pigeon Detectives

Brutus Gold’s Love Train Xmas Disco Ball

0844 477 2000

Thur 7th May

The Mission

Whitworth Street West, Manchester M1 5NQ Doors 7pm unless stated Venue box office opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-2pm Plus 2 hours before doors open on gig nights.

o2ritzmanchester.co.uk

The Steve Hillage Band Fri 27th Nov • 6.30pm

facebook.com/o2vicwarehousemanc twitter.com/o2vicwarehouse instagram.com/o2vicwarehousemanc

Fri 20th Mar

Thur 13th Feb

Sam Fender

Bowling For Soup + Simple Plan + Not Ur Girlfrenz

Sat 21st Mar

Sam Fender

Sat 15th Feb

Kano

Sat 28th Mar

Dermot Kennedy

Wed 19th Feb

Cage The Elephant

Sun 29th Mar

+ SWMRS + Post Animal

Dermot Kennedy

Sat 22nd Feb

Fri 3rd Apr

Mura Masa - R.Y.C World Tour

Caribou

Wed 26th Feb

Sat 4th Apr

Bicep Live

Supergrass + The Coral

Sat 23rd May • 9pm

Scooter God Save The Rave Tour

Thur 27th Feb

Supergrass + The Coral

Sat 20th Jun

Wed 6th Mar

EMBRACE performing ‘The Good Will Out’ and ‘Out Of Nothing’

Sun 21st Jun

Thom Yorke Wed 12th Jun

+ STARSAILOR + Cud

Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley

Sat 7th Mar • 5pm

Reminisce Presents Warehouse Dayz

Tue 10th Nov

The Neighbourhood

ft FPI Project, Ultrabeat, Livin Joy, K-Klass, Shades of Rhythm, Lasgo, Tall Paul, Jeremy Healy, Allistair Whitehead & many more

Thom Yorke

Sat 5th Dec

Ocean Colour Scene

o2victoriawarehousemanchester.co.uk

0844 477 2000

O2 Victoria Warehouse, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester, M17 1AB

Follow us on social media to win big!

benefit of having a face in music.”

Becky Hill is that kind of fun-loving girl you see at every festival: Spinning around in delight at her surroundings, a can of cider in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

“The turning point for me was when Ella Eyre said, ‘if you’re not the face of your shit, nobody cares.’

That’s when I knew I needed to get over this fear of being judged or not feeling pretty or thin enough.

I’ve just gotta fucking go for it.”

Except, there’s one big difference. She’s a secret star.

Becky might easily blend into a tented background amid hundreds of other hedonistic music lovers, but she’s actually the voice of – and writer behind – the biggest UK club hits of the decade.

Becky’s songwriting has turned tunes like MK’s ‘Piece of Me’ and Oliver Heldens’ ‘Gecko (Overdrive)’ into mega hits that are still being rinsed on the radio today, but now she’s ready for the world to see her for what she truly is: far more than just a featured artist.

Becky’s spent years crooning incognito; often heard and rarely seen. But now she’s done with being just another head in a party crowd. This is her time to go front and centre.

“I’ve walked into a room of industry people being like, ‘Who the fuck is she?’”, Becky chuckles. “Then one of my tracks starts playing and they’re like, ‘Oh, I love this song!’”

“I’ve been able to get on the tube or walk down the street and no one knew who I was: my career has always been like this,” Becky tells The Live Guide, perched on her seat aboard the beautiful Johannes Brahms boatel moored on a Netherlands canal.

“I’m kind of normal and I like that normality. But I do see the

“But I’ve got to a place where I feel a bit more validated now. The turning point in my career was when Sigala put me in his video (for ‘Wish You Well’) – he’s the only artist who’s ever done that. “

16

Then people started saying, ‘Oh, that’s what she looks like!’”

Becky is about to show her face at Eurosonic Festival – which offers a platform for some of the best rising talent in music.

looking back. “I was just turning 18, and I’d never been to London before. I was given £500 a week and a sick flat to live in.”

As she talks to us ahead of the gig in Groningen, the singer is visibly enchanted at the prospect of performing solo to a completely new crowd.

“The Voice felt like university to me. I was sleeping with one of the contestants, breaking out onto the roof to smoke fags and drink rosé. It was one big adventure.”

“I didn’t take myself too seriously.

Some of the people on there – and this is why talent shows can be quite fucked up – go in thinking it’s the be-all and endall, and if they don’t get somewhere their life’s fucking over.

You need to take it Becky Hill with a pinch of salt.“

“I just wanna go for it,” Becky enthuses. “It’s a fun position to be in.

You don’t get to do this kind of gig a lot.”

“I feel like I’ve spent a lot of time building up rapport in the music industry with the features that I’ve done.

“The Voice felt like university to me...”

“You’re treated like the best thing since sliced bread when you’re on there, and as soon as you’re off you don’t hear from anyone again.

That was the terrifying bit.”

“Now is my time to really go for it and break globally.

I wanna sell millions of records and have number one singles.”

Becky took a scenic route to get here, that’s for sure. After pestering her mum into buying her a “horrifically pink guitar”, the singer began writing music by age 13.

She didn’t win, but The Voice nonetheless played a role in Becky’s big break. She made contacts there – and after hustling for meetings in the capital, she met a lawyer and manager who helped her get inside the studio.

Then came an appearance on talent show The Voice. “I loved the experience,” Becky laughs, 19

“When I first came into the industry my manager told me to just go and write,” Becky explains. “In the first four years, I wrote about 400 songs.

It was relentless. About 10 were good and the rest were shit!”

and the uniqueness of Bon Iver.

I wanted to put all those things in a pot and stir it around. What I came out with was my first single ‘Losing’.”

Fast-forward to 2020, and Becky has a sold-out solo tour coming up – which she admits she’s “shitting herself” about. “I’m gonna be working my tits off for 12 months,” she says unabashedly.

“‘Afterglow’, for example, was written after a particularly shit day, and Wilkinson just happens to call the guy I’m with saying ‘I’ve got the beat’. During writing, Talay Riley said to me: ‘I’ve got this word ‘afterglow’ in my head and I don’t know what it means.’“

“Now is my time to really go for it and break globally”

“I’ve got ‘Better Off Without You’ released, which I think is a fucking smash – hopefully everyone agrees!

“We Googled it Then I’ve got three and learnt it’s the singles coming Becky Hill feeling you get out, Coachella, after taking MDMA To m o r r o w l a n d , or having sex. I was and I’m hoping for like: ‘Fucking perfect!’

Glasto as well. I’m doing loads of really cool shit this year.”

“After that I got my name about pretty quickly. Becky Hill: Pop “I just hope my voice lasts. I’m Whore. That was me.” gonna stop smoking and drinking… at some point. I’m telling you now But what Becky really wanted was I need to. A vocal haemorrhage is to pen music for herself and she not happening.” found inspiration in four particular artists. “I loved the sparkly songs Ahead of her headline tour, catch of Ellie Goulding, the amazing Becky Hill supporting The Script songwriting of Ben Howard, the at Manchester Arena on 21 bells and twinkles of Passion Pit, February.

20

“I want to drop an amazing album that people connect with.�

Grace Carter

our pick of the best emerging acts performing across manchester this February and March.

ALICE BOMAN 24.02.20

Gullivers

£9.50ADV | 7:30pm

Genre: Alternative // Indie Hometown: Malmö For Fans Of: Nick Mulvey // LoneyDear Keep Your Ears Out For: ‘Wish We Had More Time’ Facebook: AliceBomanOfficial Twitter: @AliceBoman

Grand Magus 06.03.20

Manchester Academy 3 £15.50ADV | 7:30pm

Genre: Metal Hometown: Stockholm For Fans Of: Cathedral // The Obsessed Keep Your Ears Out For: ‘Hammer Of The North’ Facebook: GrandMagusOfficial Twitter: @GrandMagus 23

FRI 21 FEBRUARY

SAT 22 FEBRUARY

DUBIOZA KOLEKTIV

DUB FX

SUN 23 FEBRUARY

SAT 07 MARCH

SAT 14 MARCH

X AMBASSADORS

TESTAMENT -

THE SUBWAYS -

CLUB ACADEMY

GORILLA

SAT 22 FEBRUARY

O2 RITZ

THE BRIDGEWATER HALL

+ DRAFT

+ TANYA MCCOLE

ACADEMY

JOHN PRINE

ACADEMY

+ TERRELL HINES

THE BAY STRIKES BACK

YOUNG FOR ETERNITY

SAT 14 MARCH

WED 18 MARCH

THU 19 MARCH

BAD//DREEMS

PLAIN WHITE T’S

LOUISE REDKNAPP

FRI 20 MARCH

FRI 27 MARCH

HEIR

JARED JAMES NICHOLS

NIGHT PEOPLE

THU 19 MARCH ACADEMY 2

TARJA

+ TEMPERANCE + BENEATH THE EMBERS

+ EXODUS + DEATH ANGEL

NIGHT PEOPLE

YES (THE BASEMENT)

+ ART BRUT

O2 RITZ

SOUP KITCHEN + COLLATERAL

FRI 27 MARCH

SAT 28 MARCH

SAT 28 MARCH

MR SAM & THE DEDNUTZ

RETRO VIDEO CLUB

MARGARET GLASPY

SUN 29 MARCH

FRI 10 APRIL

TUE 14 APRIL

SAXON

MILK TEETH

DITA VON TEESE

MON 04 MAY

TUE 12 MAY

ACADEMY3

O2 APOLLO

+ KROKUS + GIRLSCHOOL + DIAMOND HEAD

FRI 17 APRIL

NIGHT PEOPLE

ACADEMY 3

+ POTTY MOUTH + KOJI

DEAF INSTITUTE

O2 APOLLO

GLAMONATRIX

ARENA

THE BRIDGEWATER HALL

VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR

RYAN MCMULLAN

FRI 15 MAY

SAT 30 MAY

THU 4 JUNE

NICK MASON’S SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS

VISTAS

WARDRUNA

CRAIG DAVID

O2 APOLLO

THE ECHOES TOUR

ACADEMY 2

GORILLA

ALBERT HALL

In the spirit of that new year, new you stuff, we thought we’d treat you and your playlists to the most exciting up and coming music you just have to treat your ears to in 2020. How’ve we dug out these gems I hear you ask?

Well, we’ve just got back from Eurosonic festival over in The Netherlands. A place where all the freshest talent from across the continent strut their stuff each year. And, because sharing is caring, we’ve made a list of the best stuff we saw and heard, just for you.

Bad Nerves :

Listen: ‘Can’t Be Mine’ // ‘Dreaming’ For Fans Of: Cabbage // Yak

Bad Nerves were a bit of a sensory overload when we caught them at the festival. The band poured out a perfect cocktail of powerpop and garage rock ‘n’ roll whilst the lead singer threw himself off the drum kit and then the stage. There’s no album to get stuck into just yet, but if you like it loud, fast and distorted, make sure you listen to ‘Can’t Be Mine’.

Barney Artist

Listen: ‘Good To Be Home’ For Fans Of: Loyal Carter // Sampa The Great

Alfie Templeman

Listen: ‘Stop Thinking (About me) Live: 09.05.20 | Band On The Wall | £10.50 | 7pm For Fans Of: APRE // Bad Sounds

26

Bang Bang Romeo :

Listen: ‘Love Yourself’ (Feat. Example) // ‘You & I’ Live: 09.04.20 | Gorilla | £12 ADV | 7pm For Fans Of: YONAKA // HMLTD Bags of spirit and a lead singer with powerful vocals and a presence that’ll blow you over, the Bang Bang Romeo trio are the perfect measure of attitude and sincerity.

They’ve already supported Pink on every night of her European tour and they beam the same kind of confidence as the international pop star. Tackling topics like body positivity and femininity, BBR are a band for the woke generation.

Delilah Montagu

Listen: ‘Next To Me’ For Fans Of: Lily Moore // KAWALA

Georgia

Listen: ‘24 Hours’ Live: 05.03.20 | YES | £12.50ADV | 7:30pm For Fans Of: Chvrches // Barrie

Celeste :

Listen: ‘Strange’ // ‘Both Sides of the Moon’ Live: 13.06.20 | Parklife | FRM £125 For Fans Of: Emeli Sandé // Amber Mark

Celeste arrived in Holland fresh off the back of her BBC Music Sound of 2020 win. Her room-silencing voice is straight from the soul and has a hint of Billie Holiday and Amy Winehouse. Little tip, dig out the performance of ‘Strange’ on Jools. It’s almost making me cry right now as I write this. It’s no shock that her show at The Deaf Institute in April has already sold out. If you hear of any spares, please send them to your pals at The Live Guide. If not, no worries, you can catch her at Parklife too...

27

Griff

Listen: ‘Paradise’ For Fans Of: Taylor Swift // Demi Lovato

Dry Cleaning :

Listen: ‘Magic Of Meghan’ // ‘Dog Proposal’ Live: 12.02.20 | Gullivers | £10ADV | 7:30pm For Fans Of: The Lovely Eggs // Snapped Ankles

Dry Cleaning will sparkle up your shuffle with their very own brand of post-punk realism. Take their hit ‘Magic of Meghan’, for example. It’s a chaotic catapult of fiery riffs that tells a story of seeking comfort from Prince Harry and Meghan’s marriage on the same day that your own relationship ends. Magic, indeed.

Joy Crookes

Listen: ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ For Fans Of: Eliza // Amy Winehouse

Sorry

Listen: ‘Starstruck’ For Fans Of: The Orielles // Porridge Radio

Inhaler :

Listen: ‘Ice Cream Sundae’ // ‘My Honest Face’ Live: 15.02.20 | Manchester Academy 2 | £10.50ADV | 7:30pm For Fans Of: Seagirls // Sam Fender

Let’s just get it out of the way. The frontman of Inhaler, Elijah Hewson, is the son of U2’s Bono. But the quartet from Dublin are much more than a claim to fame.

Their psychedelic rhythms and catchy melodies are stand out in their own right. Spoil the love of your life, or the last person you swiped right on, to a Valentines night out they won’t forget at the Academy 2.

Sinead O’Brien

Listen: ‘A Thing You Call Joy’ Live: 09.05.20 | YES | £7 | 7pm For Fans Of: Fight Like Apes // Johnny Foreigner

The Howl & the Hum Listen: ‘Hall of Fame’ FFO: Stereo Honey // Vistas

Los Bitchos :

Listen: ‘Pista (Great Start)’ // ‘Bugs Bunny’ For Fans Of: Childhood // Connan Mockasin We saw Los Bitchos twice at Eurosonic and it definitely wasn’t enough.

Their raucous, globe-trotting and entertaining sound is totally unique.

Helped by the fact that the band is made up of multi-instrumentalists from Australia, Uruguay, Sweden and...Croydon. On stage there were synchronised dance moves while a bottle of tequila was being swigged; all set to an instrumental Cumbia/psych/garage soundtrack.

Black Country, New Road : Listen: ‘Sunglasses’ // ‘Athen’s, France’ For Fans Of: Girl Band // Sports Team

Not every gnarly rock band makes use of a saxophone, a violin and draw on classical and jazz sounds. Maybe Black Country, New Road aren’t like any other, then. We saw them pack out the iconic Vera venue in Groningen and it was the audience their unique vibe deserves. They’re only two singles into their journey but it genuinely feels like the seven-piece from Cambridge are on an energetic rise to something big. Bring it on.

Working Men’s Club :

Listen: ‘Teeth’ // ‘Bad Blood’ Live: 13.02.20 | Gorilla | £10 | 7:30pm FFO: New Order // The Human League

Actual working men’s clubs might not have been the place for young indie bands to knock around in back in the day. But the venues must have left a lasting impression on this West Yorkshire outfit. They’ve got a Joy Division/New Order vibe about them, maybe something to do with the lead singer studying songwriting right here in Manchester. The single ‘Teeth’ was released at the back end of last year and it has dark electronic tones that still manage to lift you up.

Westerman

Listen: ‘Confirmation’ For Fans Of: alt-J // Hand Habits

Winnie Raeder

Listen: ‘Don’t You Dare’ For Fans Of: Grace Pitts // Jay Styles

Kosmo Sound

Listen: ‘Furious’ For Fans Of: Jamaican Jazz Orchestra // Compro Oro

Squid :

Listen: ‘Houseplants’ // ‘The Dial’ For Fans Od: Boy Azooga // Fat White Family If you’ve been paying attention to this article, you’ll spot that there’s a bit of a post-punk revival going on. Squid are another who are swimming to the surface. Bursting with as much energy as their slippery, tentacled namesakes from the sea, the Brighton band made a splash at Glastonbury with three well-attended shows. That’s enough squid puns. We’ll leave you with the band’s own description of themselves: “the Coronation Street theme tune played on flutes by angry children”.

gig listings Monday - 10.02.20 The Calling FAC251 | £25.50ADV | 6pm

Dry Cleaning Gullivers | £10ADV | 7:30pm Thursday - 13.02.20

Wheel Deaf Institute | £10ADV | 7:30pm

Angel Olsen O2 Ritz | £18ADV | 7pm

October Drift YES | £8ADV | 7:30pm

See Thru Hands Soup Kitchen | £8ADV | 7pm

Tuesday - 11.02.20

Hyde Park Brass Band Gullivers | £8ADV | 7pm

Polyphia Gorilla | £16ADV | 7pm Lisa O’Neill YES | £12ADV | 7:30pm Twen YES | £10ADV | 7:30pm Amy LaVere Rose & Monkey | £10ADV | 7:30pm Mae Muller Deaf Institute | £10ADV | 7:30pm Wednesday - 12.02.20 Shards Soup Kitchen | £12.50ADV | 7pm The Hu O2 Ritz | £19.50ADV | 7pm Automatic YES | £8ADV | 7:30pm Sean Mcconnell Castle Hotel | £11ADV | 7:30pm Isobel Holly Deaf Institute | £5ADV | 7:30pm

To buy tickets visit seetickets.com

Gengahr Band On The Wall £13ADV | 7:30pm Working Men’s Club Gorilla | £10ADV | 7:30pm Damo Suzuki YES | £12.50ADV | 7:30pm Elephant Stone Castle Hotel | £9ADV | 7:30pm Emily Capell Rose & Monkey | £8ADV | 7:30pm Tom Walker Night & Day | £20ADV | 8pm Friday - 14.02.20 Rhapsody Of Fire Rebellion | £20ADV | 6pm Joe Armon-Jones Soup Kitchen | £15ADV | 7pm Explosions In The Sky Albert Hall | £26.50ADV | 7pm

FEB 2020 Beans On Toast Gorilla | £15ADV | 7pm

Rosie Lowe YES | £10ADV | 7pm

Space Monkeys Deaf Institute | £12ADV | 7pm

Saults Bread Shed | £8ADV | 7pm

The Murder Capital Manchester Academy 2 £13.50ADV | 7:30pm

Man & The Echo Band On The Wall £10.50ADV | 7pm

Nathan Carter Bridgewater Hall | FRM£26 | 7:30pm

The Jade Assembly Gorilla | £10ADV | 7pm

County Line Runner YES | £10ADV | 7:30pm

APRE Deaf Institute | £7ADV | 7pm

Sambroso All Stars: The Buena Vista Band On The Wall £15ADV | 7:30pm

Kano O2 Victoria Warehouse £30ADV | 7pm

Lady Lamb Gullivers | £10ADV | 7:30pm

Sigala Manchester Academy £18ADV | 7pm

Dollie Demi Castle Hotel | £6ADV | 7:30pm California Love Deaf Institute | £6ADV | 11pm Saturday - 15.02.20 Mike Woodstock Star and Garter | £7ADV | 4pm Hypno5e Satans Hollow | £8ADV | 6pm James Blunt Manchester Arena | FRM£25 | 6pm The Rezillos Rebellion | £17.50ADV | 7pm

Palava Castle Hotel | £7ADV | 7:30pm Inhaler Manchester Academy 2 £10.50ADV | 7:30pm Dexta Daps O2 Ritz | £26.25ADV | 11pm Sunday - 16.02.20 The Small Fakers Lazy Sunday Pt.3 Night People | £12ADV | 3pm Fleshgod Apocalypse Rebellion | £16ADV | 6:30pm

In partnership with

gig listings Wrabel Eagle Inn | £11ADV | 7pm Adam Hender Deaf Institute | £10ADV | 7pm Joe Gideon Gullivers | £8ADV | 7:30pm Martin Speake Quartet Band On The Wall | £14ADV | 7:30pm Monday- 17.02.20 Beth Hart Bridgewater Hall FRM£40 | 6:30pm

New Rules Manchester Academy 2 £12ADV | 7:30pm Junior Brother Castle Hote | £6ADV | 8pm Twist & Pulse RNCM | £25ADV | 7pm Freya Beer Talleyrand | £4ADV | 8pm Wednesday - 19.02.20 PVRIS Gorilla | £22ADV | 7pm

Nancy Castle Hotel, | £7ADV | 7pm

King Nun Soup Kitchen | £8ADV | 7pm

Ditz YES | £6ADV | 7:30pm

Palaye Royale O2 Ritz | £16.50ADV | 7pm

Laurence Fox Deaf Institute | £17.59ADV | 7:30pm

Lauran Hibberd Deaf Institute £9.50ADV | 7:30pm

Pi’erre Bourne YES | £12ADV | 7:30pm Tuesday- 18.02.20 Max & Harvey Club Academy | £19.50ADV | 7pm Jack Garratt Deaf Institute | £23ADV | 7pm Twin Peaks Gorilla | £13ADV | 7pm Counterparts Rebellion | £15ADV | 7pm

To buy tickets visit seetickets.com

HMLTD YES | £11ADV | 7:30pm Skiltron FAC251 | £10ADV | 7pm Broken Hands Night People | £5ADV | 7:30pm U-Bahn YES | £8ADV | 7:30pm Later Youth Gullivers | £9ADV | 7:30pm

FEB 2020 Daddy Long Legs Night & Day | £12.50ADV | 8pm

JyellowL Whiskey Jar | £10ADV | 7pm

Thursday - 20.02.20

Sorcha Richardson Soup Kitchen | £9ADV | 7pm

Robin Richards Band On The Wall | £10ADV | 7pm Liz Lawrence Deaf Institute | £8ADV | 7pm William Doyle YES | £10ADV | 7pm Boy & Bear Gorilla | £16.50ADV | 7:30pm Kindness YES | £15ADV | 7:30pm Friday - 21.02.20 Homewrecked Satans Hollow | £5ADV | 6pm Cory Wong O2 Ritz | £18.50ADV | 6:30pm Sanchez & Barrington Levy Manchester Academy £40ADV | 7pm Julian Cope Gorilla | £25ADV | 7pm The Mysterines Deaf Institute | £8ADV | 7pm Goo Goo Dolls Albert Hall | £32.50ADV | 7pm Cultdreams YES | £8.50ADV | 7pm

Oceans On Mars Rebellion | £8ADV | 7pm Girl Ray YES | £10ADV | 7:30pm Rivet City Night People | £7ADV | 7:30pm Dubioza Kolektiv Club Academy £17.50ADV | 7:30pm Saturday - 22.02.20 Deco Records All-Dayer Shuck, Binge & More Peer Hat | £5ADV | 2:30pm Thank You Scientist Satans Hollow | £10ADV | 6pm The Script Manchester Arena | FRM27.50 | 6pm Dub Fx O2 Ritz | £15ADV | 6:30pm Example Manchester Academy £20ADV | 7pm John Prine Bridgewater Hall | £32.50ADV | 7pm The Growlers Albert Hall | £18ADV | 7pm In partnership with

gig listings BABYMETAL O2 Apollo | FRM£32.50 | 7pm

Obongjayar YES | £10ADV | 7pm

S-X Deaf Institute | £10ADV | 7pm

X Ambassadors Gorilla | £18ADV | 7pm

Julian Cope Gorilla | £25ADV | 7pm

Magic Shoppe Peer Hat | £8ADV | 7pm

Mura Masa O2 Victoria Warehouse £26.50ADV | 7pm

Harpans Kraft Castle Hotel | £5ADV | 7pm

Katy J Pearson YES | £5ADV | 7:30pm Adrian Sherwood Band On The Wall | £12.50ADV | 7pm Vex Red FAC251 | £15ADV | 7pm New Years Day Club Academy | £14ADV | 7:30pm Valve Aatma | £7ADV | 7:30pm Cat & Nat Manchester Academy 2 £22.50ADV | 7:30pm Sunday - 23.02.20 Saint Phnx Deaf Institute | £10ADV | 7pm Lucia YES | £7ADV | 7pm The Dead South Manchester Academy £22.50ADV | 7pm

To buy tickets visit seetickets.com

Extra Soul Perception Band On The Wall £10ADV | 8pm Monday - 24.02.20 Marika Hackman Gorilla | £15ADV | 7pm Alice Boman Gullivers | £9.50ADV | 7:30pm Hotel Lux YES | £8ADV | 7:30pm Tuesday - 25.02.20 Lennon Stella O2 Ritz | £17.50ADV | 7pm D’One Soup Kitchen | £9ADV | 7pm ROE YES | £8ADV | 7pm Louis Berry Gorilla | £10ADV | 7:30pm Sam Lewis Gullivers | £14ADV | 7:30pm

FEB 2020 Wednesday - 26.02.20 Lana Del Rey Manchester Arena | £30ADV | 6pm Cavetown O2 Ritz | £16ADV | 7pm Rings Of Saturn Rebellion | £15ADV | 7pm DIIV Manchester Academy 2 £14ADV | 7pm Supergrass O2 Victoria Warehouse £33ADV | 7pm The Marcus King Band Manchester Academy 3 £20ADV | 7pm

Supergrass O2 Victoria Warehouse £33ADV | 7pm The Staves Gorilla | £20ADV | 7pm Michael Ball & Alfie Boe Manchester Arena | £40ADV | 7pm Gospelbeach Soup Kitchen | £12ADV | 7pm The Lounge Kittens Band On The Wall £14.50ADV | 7:30pm Thumper Night People | £8ADV | 7:30pm Skylights YRA Castle Hotel | £7ADV | 7:30pm

Johnny Mac And The Faithful Deaf Institute | £12.50ADV | 7pm

DJ Shadow Albert Hall | £24ADV | 7pm

The Rumjacks Night People | £16ADV | 7pm

Friday - 28.02.20

Mikal Cronin Soup Kitchen | £11ADV | 7:30pm Molchat Doma Night & Day | £10ADV | 8pm

The 1975 Manchester Arena | £36ADV | 6pm Wille & The Bandits Deaf Institute | £15ADV | 7pm

Thursday - 27.02.20

The Estevans Castle Hotel | £7ADV | 7pm

Sleater-Kinney Manchester Academy £27.50ADV | 7pm

Beartooth Manchester Academy £22.50ADV | 7pm

The Maine O2 Ritz | £19ADV | 7pm

DJ Shadow Albert Hall | £24ADV | 7pm In partnership with

gig listings The Wants YES | £8ADV | 7:30pm

Deja Vega Deaf Institute | £8ADV | 7pm

Field Music Dancehouse Theatre £18ADV | 7:30pm

DDE’s Castle Hotel | £7ADV | 7:30pm

SPQR Gullivers | £7ADV | 7:30pm Temples Manchester Academy 2 £16ADV | 7:30pm Cykada Soup Kitchen | £7.50ADV | 7pm

Love Fame Tragedy Club Academy | £14ADV | 7:30pm Bunny Hoova YES | £5ADV | 7:30pm Nasty Cherry Manchester Academy 3 £12ADV | 7:30pm

The Whitney Houston Hologram Tour O2 Apollo | £55ADV | 7:30pm

Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club ft. Young Pilgrims Band On The Wall | £19ADV | 9pm

Reclaim Vienna Night and Day | £7ADV | 7:30pm

Chris Farren Gullivers | £8ADV | 7:30pm

Teedra Moses Band On The Wall | £22ADV | 7pm

Sunday - 01.03.20

Adult Entertainment YES | £5ADV | 11:30pm

Speak Your Mind Festival Night People | TBC | 3:30pm

Saturday - 29.02.20

Tones And I O2 Ritz | £18.50ADV | 6pm

Ladytron O2 Ritz | £26.50ADV | 6pm

Ben Watt Deaf Institute | £17.50ADV | 7pm

Horla Star And Garter | £8ADV | 7pm

Winston Surfshirt Band On The Wall | £11ADV | 7pm

Prose Gorilla | £15ADV | 7pm

Big Thief Albert Hall | £20ADV | 7pm

Editors O2 Apollo | £27.50ADV | 7pm

Tempers YES | £8.50ADV | 7:30pm

To buy tickets visit seetickets.com

feb / mar 2020 JPEGMAFIA Manchester Academy 2 £13.50ADV | 7:30pm Dan Lyons Castle Hotel | £9ADV | 7:30pm Alfa Mist Royal Exchange Theatre £13ADV | 7:30pm Monday - 02.03.20 Lewis Capaldi O2 Apollo | £29.50ADV | 7pm Kyle Gass Satans Hollow | £15ADV | 7pm Heather Woods Broderick Castle Hotel | £12ADV | 7:30pm A Winged Victory For The Sullen St Philips Church | £22.50ADV | 7:30pm Tuesday - 03.03.20 Monuments Rebellion | £15ADV | 7pm Hannah Diamond YES | £10ADV | 7pm Lewis Capaldi O2 Apollo | £29.50ADV | 7pm

Femur Night & Day | £6ADV | 8pm Wednesday - 04.03.20 Oh Wonder Albert Hall | £18.50ADV | 7pm IAMDDB Manchester Academy £17ADV | 7pm Torres YES | £10ADV | 7pm Mosa Wild Deaf Institute | £8ADV | 7:30pm Robbie Cavanagh Castle Hotel | £9ADV | 7:30pm ...And You Will Know Us

By The Trail Of Dead Night & Day | £20ADV | 8pm Thursday - 05.03.20 The Orielles O2 Ritz | £12.50ADV | 7pm Born Of Osiris Rebellion | £15ADV | 7pm Alcest Gorilla | £18.50ADV | 7pm

Ecco2k YES | £10ADV | 7:30pm

Ghostemane Manchester Academy 2 £17ADV | 7:30pm

Samantha Fish Gorilla | £20ADV | 7:30pm

The Trials Of Cato Castle Hote | £14ADV | 7:30pm

In partnership with

gig listings The Peach Fuzz Gullivers | £6ADV | 7:30pm

SYFTA Night People | £8ADV | 7:30pm

Georgia YES | £12ADV | 7:30pm

DJ Hype Albert Hall | £17.50ADV | 9pm

Krzysztof Drabikowski Manchester Academy 3 £20ADV | 7:30pm

Saturday - 07.03.20

Jesse Malin Night & Day | £16ADV | 8pm Friday - 06.03.20 Kisstory Presents: The Blast Off Tour!

Manchester Arena £37.50ADV | 6:30pm Hot 8 Brass Band O2 Ritz | £22.50ADV | 6:30pm Embrace O2 Victoria Warehouse £32.50ADV | 6:30pm Sheafs Gullivers | £8ADV | 6:30pm Grand Magus Manchester Academy 3 £15.50ADV | 7:30pm Moses Boyd Band On The Wall | £12ADV | 7pm Ghetts Manchester Academy £16.60ADV | 7:30pm King Kartel Club Academy | £8ADV | 7:30pm

To buy tickets visit seetickets.com

Girlz Rawk! Weekender 2020 FAC251 | £12.50ADV | 1pm Warehouse Dayz O2 Victoria Warehouse £28.75ADV | 5pm The Sisters Of Mercy Albert Hall | £32.50ADV | 6pm Testament Manchester Academy £26.50ADV | 6pm Jonas Blue O2 Ritz | £16ADV | 6:30pm OHHMS Satans Hollow | £8ADV | 6:30pm Kid Kapichi YES | £7ADV | 7pm Phil X & The Drills Rebellion | £12.50ADV | 7pm Bryan Ferry Palace Theatre | £45ADV | 7pm Michael Kiwanuka O2 Apollo | £27.50ADV | 7pm Orlando Weeks Stoller Hal | £20ADV | 7pm

MAR 2020 Teeth Of The Sea Soup Kitchen | £10ADV | 7pm Jamie Pollock YES | £10ADV | 7:30pm The Picturebooks Manchester Academy 3 £14.50ADV | 7:30pm Gabrielle Aplin Manchester Academy 2 £20ADV | 7:30pm Café Mambo Albert Hall | £32.50ADV | 11pm

Anvil Manchester Academy 3 £18ADV | 7:30pm Tuesday - 10.03.20 Tove Lo Albert Hall | £25ADV | 7pm Anamanaguchi Deaf Institute | £15ADV | 7pm Twin Atlantic Manchester Academy 2 £20ADV | 7pm

Sunday - 08.03.20

Dancing On Tables Castle Hotel | £9ADV | 7:30pm

Shay D Deaf Institute | £5ADV | 7pm

Special Interest YES | £8.50ADV | 7:30pm

David Keenan YES | £8ADV | 7:30pm

Turnover Gorilla | £14ADV | 7:30pm

Skeltr + Paltin + DJ Glue70 Band On The Wall | £8ADV | 7:30pm

Found Footage Festival: Volume 9 YES | £13ADV | 7:30pm

Monday - 09.03.20

Tony Momrelle Band On The Wall | £18ADV | 7pm

Turnstile Manchester Academy 2 £17.50ADV | 7pm Brittany Howard O2 Ritz | £25ADV | 7pm Arlo Parks YES | £12ADV | 7:30pm Prettiest Eyes Deaf Institute | £10ADV | 7:30pm

WIKI YES | £12ADV | 9pm

Full listings @ theliveguide.net

In partnership with

KENDAL CALLING The award-winning Kendal Calling returns to the glorious Lake District from 30 July-2 August with the Primal Scream, Supergrass, Stereophonics, Foals, Blossoms and special guest Craig David. In celebration of their recent line-up annoucement, we’re giving away two full weekend camping tickets to one very lucky reader.

G I V E A W A Y S

BlueDot festival Shine off your space boots we’ve teamed up with Bluedot Festival to offer one lucky reader a pair of weekend camping tickets to their 2020 event, taking place from 23-26 July.

Enter for free at Theliveguide.net 45

SPIKE ISLAND - THE RESURRECTION IN CELEBRATION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONE ROSES SHOW

THE CLONE ROSES James Experience The

(Born of Frustration)

SPIKE ISLAND WIDNES, CHESHIRE

DJ SETS FROM CLINT BOON BEZ

(HAPPY MONDAYS)

ANDY

(808 STATE)

SATURDAY 16TH MAY 2020 TICKETS FROM JUST £27.50

VIP & TOILET UPGRADES AVAILABLE

DAVE BOOTH

(SPIKE ISLAND ‘90)

MC TUNES DAVE SWEETMORE

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT SPIKEISLAND2020.COM