TRACK OF THE DAY : Kula Bay - 7 Hours

7 Hours is the debut single from Warrington four-piece Kula Bay. The band only formed in June so 7 Hours is a very impressive opening gambit from a band that's already attracted the attention of BBC Introducing Manchester who have played them two weeks running with deserved rave reviews of the song.

James To Reissue Five Albums On Vinyl

James have announced the reissue of five of their albums on vinyl, two for the first time and the other three for the first time in over twenty years. Following on from 2015's Laid / Wah Wah deluxe, super deluxe and vinyl packages, Gold Mother, Seven, Whiplash, Millionaires and Pleased To Meet You all get the double heavy 180g vinyl plus download card treatment for a December 15th release.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Pip Blom - School

School is the latest single from Dutch teenager Pip Blom and her band, released ahead of their show at the Peer Hat in Manchester on Wednesday night as part of a short UK tour.

Nelson Can / LIINES - Manchester Peer Hat - 26th November 2017

Sunday night down in the bowels after the longest weekend known to man isn’t the sort of place you’d expect to have your flagging spirits lifted, your feet compelled to once last (dad) dance and performances as intense as they are fun. But that’s exactly what Nelson Can and LIINES achieved.

The Slow Readers Club - Manchester Albert Hall - 24th November 2017

Two thousand plus people have come to pay homage to The Slow Readers Club, a band that's come from the streets of this town to the grand surroundings of this resurrected Wesleyan chapel through their own hard work and perseverance, the never-say-die spirit that makes Manchester so special and a belief in a set of songs, old and new, that somehow sum up feelings that sit deep down within us all and wrest them out and into the world for all to see.

Kula Bay - Manchester Academy 3 - 18th November 2017

Having heard Kula Bay's new single 7 Hours on BBC Introducing an hour before, the notification they were playing Academy 3 the same night on Facebook was too much of a coincidence to turn down, to see whether the good impression that song gave on first listen would be replicated by their live show.

The Slow Readers Club / Desperate Journalist - Bristol Thekla - 17th November 2017

The unstoppable momentum of The Slow Readers Club's UK tour rolled into Bristol on Friday night for another sold out show at The Thekla. In a hot and sweaty basement of a boat they thrilled a packed out crowd with tracks from their first two albums and four new songs from their forthcoming third. Support came from the thrilling evocative and dark Desperate Journalist.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Jordan Allen - R.O.S.I.E.

When Jordan Allen released his Livin' La Vida Bolton EP earlier this year, it was clear from the reaction both to the release and at live shows, that R.O.S.I.E. was the fan favourite. Rebooted and with a video that perfectly matches the message of the song, it's now being given the single treatment it richly deserves ahead of Jordan's huge UK headline tour.

Finola - Manchester Jimmy's - 15th November 2017

Jimmy's hosted the launch of Finola's Waterworks EP on Wednesday night, the debut release of a songwriter who's kept a low profile for the past couple of years, but who is hopefully now about to blossom and make her mark on the Manchester scene and beyond.

Puppet Rebellion - Manchester Night People - 11th November 2017

Launching debut album Chemical Friends to a packed Manchester crowd, Puppet Rebellion celebrate their past, their present and look forward to the future.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Latchkey Kids - The Slow Knife

The Slow Knife is the first official single from The Latchkey Kids, the band behind Liam Frost's latest musical project. Their album is due early next year although the Pledge Music campaign for it has already launched and they play their debut gig at the Deaf Institute in Manchester on November 30th.

Finola - Waterworks EP

Waterworks is the debut EP from singer-songwriter Finola launched this week with a show at Jimmy's in Manchester. Over the four tracks she demonstrates an ability to express feelings and intentions with a clarity of purpose and with a voice that emphasises both the emotions and the intent of the words she's singing.

Happy Mondays - Dundee Caird Hall - 10th November 2017

Opening their marathon two month 30th anniversary tour with a career spanning set, Happy Mondays roll back the years in style at the historic Caird Hall.

Nicole Atkins - London Rough Trade East - 10th November 2017

In support of her new album Goodnight Rhonda Lee and ahead of her only UK show at London's Sebright Arms on Monday, Nicole Atkins performed an intimate eight song set of songs from the album at Rough Trade's Brick Lane store on Friday lunchtime. In the absence of a Manchester show, we caught her deliver a set that confirms her as one of the most stunning vocalists operating today.

John Bramwell - Leave Alone The Empty Spaces

Leave Alone The Empty Spaces is the debut solo album from I Am Kloot's John Bramwell. Stripping back all the production gloss of the last two I Am Kloot studio albums, it's a real back to basics record, inspired by both John's incessant solo touring of the last four years and the home-based recording studio where most of this was written and recorded. What remains is an intimate, heartfelt album that lays bare why many of his peers cite him as an inspiration and one of the leading songwriters of his generation.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Salvation Jayne - Juno

Juno is the new single from Kent four-piece Salvation Jayne, following on from their well-received Moves That Make The Record Skip EP that was released earlier this year. Accompanied by a predominantly live performance video, the song is a big, bold rock song with a hint of glam to it.

False Advertising - Interview

False Advertising have just released an EP entitled I Would Be So Much Happier If I Just Stopped Caring, a compilation of the singles they've released through 2017. We caught up with Jen, Chris and Josh for a chat about the EP, becoming an advert for Mobike and their plans for 2018 and new songs.

Puppet Rebellion - Chemical Friends

On many a "next big thing" list, the mighty Puppet Rebellion deliver their stunning debut album and Stuart Ralston loves it. You should too.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Seamonsters - Max And Archie

Max And Archie is the third single from Sheffield six-piece The Seamonsters. It captures an infectious energy that has run through their previous two singles, but hides more than a hint of menace and attitude behind its sweet catchy hook-laden tune.

Black Doldrums / Purple Merlin / Liberal Violence - Todmorden Golden Lion - 3rd November 2017

On a wet and windy Friday night in November Ste Ackley took a drive over the moors to Todmorden to witness London’s Black Doldrums roll into town on the penultimate date of their UK tour with support from Purple Merlin and Liberal Violence.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Edits - Don't Speak

Edits return with their new single Don't Speak, a song that encapsulates their "electronic other world-ness" description of their music perfectly. The follow-up to two well-received EPs is their first new music in over a year and signifies a subtle but noticeable change in direction for the Manchester-based two piece.

SKIES - We Fear Change EP

SKIES return with their new EP We Fear Change, four tracks that they've revealed across the course of a very successful 2017 for them that saw them do their own UK tour and then support The Slow Readers Club on their breakthrough tour. We Fear Change is the sound of a fresh, exciting band, ready to win over the hearts and minds of the nation.

The Slow Readers Club / Victories At Sea - Birmingham O2 Academy 2 - 4th November 2017

The UK leg of The Slow Readers Club's first tour since signing to Modern Sky kicked off at Birmingham's O2 Academy 2 on Saturday night with a set full of fan favourites from their first two albums and four tracks that should appear on their third album early next year. Support came from the impressive Victories At Sea.

Liam Fray / Carnival Club - Manchester Albert Hall - 3rd November 2017

As he came to the end of his three-week acoustic tour of the UK, Liam Fray played the first of three shows to an ecstatic response in the electric atmosphere of Manchester's becoming legendary Albert Hall venue. With a set comprising of songs from across the whole of The Courteeners' back catalogue, he often struggled to be heard over the deafening singing back from two thousand devotees crammed into every nook and cranny of this stunning building. Support came from one of the most exciting new bands in Manchester, Carnival Club, who looked perfectly at home up on the big stage.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Scarlet Fever - You Really Don't Know

You Really Don't Know is the debut single by Stockport's Scarlet Fever. They've already gathered a significant local following and this first release, full of brooding menace, is sure to put them on the radar of promoters further afield

James To Play Manchester Fundraiser At Albert Hall

James have announced a one-off fundraiser for the Manchester Arena bomb appeal on Monday 18th December. Tickets for the sure to be sought after show go on sale on Tuesday morning at 10am..

Shed Seven - Instant Pleasures

Shed Seven return with their first album since 2001's Truth Be Told. For a band that's made a success out of the reforming and biennial celebratory sold-out tour cycle for the past few years, it's a brave step to put new music out in the world when their audience might not be receptive to it. Instant Pleasures is classic Shed Seven though and dispels any such worries as it takes over where they left off so long ago.

Déjà Vega - Manchester Night And Day - 28th October 2017

Déjà Vega livened up a dark wet Manchester Saturday night with a barnstorming six-song half-hour set at the Night And Day Cafe. Starting with a new song that doesn't feature on their forthcoming debut album and finishing with Jack crowdsurfing, their raw power simply blew away the audience.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Denise Johnson - I'm Not In Love

I'm Not In Love, a cover of 10cc's 1975 classic, is the first single to be taken from Denise Johnson's forthcoming solo album. Having worked previously with Primal Scream, New Order, Ian Brown and A Certain Ratio amongst others, she's releasing an album under her own name for the first time.

The Lovely Eggs / Seazoo - Manchester Gorilla - 27th October 2017

The Lovely Eggs are out on the road ahead of the release of their fifth album early next year and on Friday night called into Manchester Gorilla, the biggest date on the tour and full to the rafters, for a raucous run through of some of the best moments from their spiky back catalogue in front of an up-for-it crowd. Support came from Wrexham's rather excellent Seazoo.

The Rainkings - Good Times and Interview

The Rainkings today released a new single Good Times with all the proceeds going to the British Tinnitus Association. Front man Stephen Holt became an ambassador for the Association following the death of his Inspiral Carpets band mate Craig Gill last year who suffered from the condition. We caught up with Stephen to find a little more about the organisation, his role in it and the single itself.

Ist Ist - Live

Ist Ist are releasing a live album of their recent Gorilla headline show when they filled the 600 capacity venue and delivered an explosive set the likes of which the venue could hardly have witnessed before. Unbeknownst to them their set was caught on a single recorder and microphone in the audience, but the tape was so powerful and captured the raw explosive energy of the performance more traditional methods of recording a live album ever could that they had to release it.

Trampolene - Swansea To Hornsey

It's been a long wait for Swansea To Hornsey as Trampolene have bided their time until the moment was right to release an album, satisfying their growing fan base with a series of weird, wonderful and varied EPs and we're delighted to say that diversity is also present and correct on their debut album.

REWS - Interview

Rews release their debut album Pyro next Friday (November 3) before embarking on a UK tour. We caught up with one of the most exciting new bands to emerge ahead of that to find out a little more about them, the writing and recording of the album and why they're the happiest band around

Gathering Of Strangers - Gathering Of Strangers EP

Gathering Of Strangers’ debut EP is released this week with a launch gig at Jimmy’s on Friday. Building on the back of some ambitious expansive live shows they seek to do to the same in recorded format and hit the mark.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Island - Try

Island have announced the release of their debut album Feels Like Air on April 6 next year ahead of their UK tour which starts next week. The album is introduced by their new single Try.

The Slow Readers Club / Slow Riot - Dublin Button Factory - 21st October 2017

The Slow Readers Club opened up their Through The Shadows tour in Dublin at the wonderful Button Club venue revealing two new songs for the first time and mixing tracks from their self-titled debut and 2015's Cavalcade to a rapturous response from a lively Irish crowd. Support came from the young up-and-coming Limerick band Slow Riot.

Dream Wife / Pearl City - Manchester Band On The Wall - 19th October 2017

Dream Wife's long-awaited Manchester return at Band On The Wall threatened at times to descend into chaos after two stage invasions and a ten minute FUU, but their control of their crowd and the incredibly positive vibes that they create meant that there was never any danger of things getting out of control and the gig became a celebration. Support came from Pearl City playing their first ever show.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Slow Readers Club - Lunatic

It's two and a half year since The Slow Readers Club last released new music with their album Cavalcade. Since then their world has changed dramatically, going from the small venues of the Northern Quarter to selling out The Ritz and The Albert Hall months in advance, supporting James at the likes of Manchester Arena, Brixton Academy and Castlefield Bowl and being possibly the most sought after unsigned band in the country. As they prepare to embark on their Through The Shadows tour of the UK and Ireland they release the first single, Lunatic, from the sessions for their third album.

Delights - Delights EP

Delights are the latest band off a seemingly endless conveyor belt of great new music coming out of Manchester. Their debut self-titled EP might be the work of a band just starting their journey but it’s brimming with confidence and an assured knowledge of their own sound.

Phoebe Bridgers - Manchester Soup Kitchen - 18th October 2017

"This is my first headline show over here" announces Phoebe Bridgers as she comes towards the end of her ten song set at Manchester's Soup Kitchen to rapturous applause. For just over forty five minutes she holds an audience, most of them witnessing her for the first time, captivated with just a guitar, her accomplice Woody, her voice and a between song chat that grows in confidence and humour as the set progresses.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Milagres - Are You Lonely?

Are You Lonely? is the first new material from Milagres in three years. With three albums - Seven Summits, Glowing Mouth and Violent Light under their belt by 2014, they disappeared off the radar, seemingly lost. However, a show in New York's Rough Trade store has coincided with the release of this first track of a batch of new ones that will form an as-yet-unannounced new release.