James / The Snuts - London Shepherd's Bush Empire - 30th October 2023

James concluded their 2023 live activity with their most intimate London show in years headlining Absolute Radio's 15th Birthday celebrations at Shepherd's Bush Empire. A hit-heavy set with a few curveballs for the hardcore fans saw them sign off the year in celebratory mood whilst still finding new ways to twist and turn old classics. Support came from The Snuts.

The Mission / Theatre Of Hate / Ist Ist - London Roundhouse - 28th October 2023

The Mission concluded their short UK tour with a triumphant first-ever performance at London's iconic Roundhouse venue playing a career-spanning set in front of a dedicated adoring audience. Support came from Theatre Of Hate and Manchester's Ist Ist.

Shed Seven / The Slow Readers Club - Glasgow Barrowland - 26th October 2023

As they approach their 30th anniversary, and a new album, Shed Seven hit the road, with this tour serving as both a preview of the new and a celebration of the old. They've asked The Slow Readers Club along as special guests.

James - Nottingham Royal Centre - 25th October 2023

 James concluded this year’s show with Orca 22 and the Manchester Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir with an exhilarating rearranged show at Nottingham’s Royal Centre. Switching the set around from the previous night in Bath, this collaboration felt at its most powerful yet and the love and connection between band, orchestra and choir fuelled them and the orchestra on as James took us on a journey through their forty-year career.

James - Bath Forum - 24th October 2023

James returned to Bath for the first of two shows rescheduled from their May tour with Orca 22 conducted by Joe Duddell and The Manchester Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir. A two-set performance captured songs all the way from their beginnings in the 1980s through to their last album All The Colours Of You, stopping at most bases in between. With perfect sound allowing all the subtlety in the instrumentation and vocal interactions to be heard, they built slowly into a crescendo of some of their best loved songs at the end.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Better Joy - Hard To Love

Hard To Love is the debut single from Manchester-based Better Joy.  Already having picked up airplay on 6 Music and performed at Beyond The Music festival, the band fronted by Bria Keely introduce themselves with a wonderfully rhythmic immediate earworm of a track about the joy of finding love and accepting yourself for who you are.

The Blinders / Yasmin Coe - Salford White Hotel - 13th October 2023

As they prepare to return with their third album, newly signed to a major label, The Blinders performed two low-key shows at the back end of last week. After a sold-out show in London on Thursday, they headed back to their adopted home for an intimate night amongst friends at The White Hotel in Salford, a venue that made it feel like they were returning to their roots. With five new songs in the set alongside old favourites they delighted an ecstatic crowd that welcomed them back like homecoming heroes. Support came from Yasmin Coe.

Déjà Vega / Mewn / The Rolling People / Uninvited / Ether Mech / Ellen Beth Abdi - Manchester Beyond The Music Festival - 13th / 14th October 2023

As part of Beyond The Music, the new music conference taking place at Manchester Central and other venues across the city, a key element is a showcase of new and emerging talent from the city and further afield.  We caught up with some recommended acts across Friday afternoon and early Saturday evening - Déjà Vega, Mewn, The Rolling People, Uninvited, Ether Mech and Ellen Beth Abdi.

The Last Dinner Party / Picture Parlour - Manchester Academy 2 - 12th October 2023

The Last Dinner Party are the name on everyone's lips. Whether it be the naysayers who dismiss them as industry plants or those throwing best band in the world accolades at them and everything it between, the six-piece have made waves with just three singles to their name. We caught their sold-out show at Academy 2 and witnessed a band set for greatness hold the audience spellbound for an hour. Support came from the magnificent Picture Parlour, a hometown show of sorts performing songs written a walk away in a Manchester flat.

Dream Wife / Prima Queen / Ash Kenazi - Manchester Canvas - 5th October 2023

Dream Wife opened their UK and Ireland tour in support of their recent third album Social Lubrication in a packed Canvas basement on Thursday night. Celebrating the diversity of their crowd with a message of community and a fuck you to those who seek to discriminate, they stormed through an energetic set that got the crowd moving from the off. Support came from the depleted but nevertheless impressive Prima Queen and Ash Kenazi.