Dirty Laces - Blink For Nothing

Eight years into their existence Dirty Laces have this week released their debut album Blink For Nothing, the culmination of a journey from a bunch of lads seemingly without focus and a plan to a band with a clear vision and ambition about exactly how they want to sound. It's an impressive first full length collection of songs and testament to their steadfast belief in their music.

Spaceheads / Paddy Steer - Manchester Carlton Club - 25th November 2023

Spaceheads, featuring Andy Diagram of James on trumpet and Richard Harrison on drums, played their first post-pandemic gig at a sold-out Carlton Club in Whalley Range on Saturday.

The Slow Readers Club / May Payne - Manchester Yes Basement - 24th November 2023

The Slow Readers Club opened up their three-show Manchester Mash Up with the most intimate hometown gig they've played in nearly a decade. Eighty or so lucky fans got the chance to watch them up and close and personal and pick the setlist for a show in the basement of Yes. With songs selected from all the way back to their self-titled debut through to this year's Knowledge Freedom Power and including a few real rare live gems, they delighted an ecstatic crowd. Support came from the very excellent emerging Manchester artist May Payne who performed a half hour solo set on keys and guitar.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Rosellas - The Same Curse

Rosellas continue their impressive volume of output with a new single Same Curse and b-sides Feels Like Yesterday and Who Remembers Love? ahead of support slots with The Stanleys and Starsailor to top off an impressive year of growth in the size of their own shows both in Manchester and further afield.

Ist Ist - Manchester The Yard - 17th/18th November 2023

Classic albums gigs have become a thing in recent years, heritage bands recreating an early album that's still the fan favourite by which they're defined. A current band taking on all three of their albums to date in one night is unheard of - but that's the challenge Ist Ist placed upon themselves as they celebrated the end of their most successful year to date where they laid down concrete markers both here and abroad both in the charts and on the stage where they're at their best. The first night sold out straight away and a second night followed it at The Yard, one of the city's best yet under-utilised venues.

The Murder Capital / Teeth Machine - Liverpool Invisible Wind Factory - 11th November 2023

The Murder Capital continued their Clown's Reflection tour on Saturday night at the Invisible Wind Factory with a set taken heavily from their second album Gigi's Recovery as well as older favourites from their debut When I Have Fears supported by Teeth Machine.

Spangled / The Assist / Arkayla - Manchester Gorilla - 4th November 2023

Spangled headlined the reopening of Gorilla's gig space on Saturday night supported by Walsall's The Assist and Manchester's own Arkayla. A perfect choice for the first night back, a Manchester band filling a room that is a rite of passage on so many local band's journeys to bigger spaces, Spangled delighted a packed crowd with an hour of songs that demonstrated their readiness to take that step themselves.

The 76 Club - Interview

The 76 Club release their new single Beside Myself today. We caught up with drummer Riley for a chat about the single, how their name pays tribute to an iconic venue in their home town of Burton-on-Trent and how they've built up a following further afield as well as their plans for the future.

Rews / IDestroy - Manchester Deaf Institute - 31st October 2023

Rews continued their tour in support of their third album Meridians with a Tuesday night show at the Deaf Institute supported by Bristol's IDestroy. Two very different sets warmed up a crowd that drawn in by the sheer force of energy coming from the stage on a cold Autumn night.