Black Honey - Manchester Soup Kitchen - 13th October 2015

For a band with only a self-released EP and single to date, it's astonishing to see Soup Kitchen practically sold out for a band generating a buzz by word of mouth on the back of some scintillating live performances. Black Honey are a band on a mission though and the gig ends in a huge stage invasion and a room full of love going their way.

Broken Hands - Turbulence

The resurgence of psychedelic rock continues with Broken Hands releasing their majestic, ambitious debut LP, Turbulence.

Reverend And The Makers - Manchester HMV - 10th October 2015

To support the release of their fifth album Mirrors, Reverend And The Makers are doing a short tour of UK record shops to play a short acoustic set and sign copies of the album. We caught them play five songs at Manchester HMV and get up close and personal with the Rev.

David Ford - I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused

To celebrate the ten year anniversary of his debut album I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused, David Ford is playing a series of commemorative shows. Even The Stars goes back in time to reminisce how low-fi homemade demos and videos and a series of intense live shows turned him from the front man of a dropped post-Britpop outfit to one of the hottest unsigned properties in the business for a few short months in 2005.

Delamere / Vynce / James Christy Band / Control Of The Going - Manchester Academy 3 - 10th October 2015

Four very different bands make up the line-up of Scruff Of The Neck's latest showcase of the North West's best emerging talent at Manchester Academy 3. Headliners Delamere are launching their new single Heart, whilst Vynce, James Christy Band and Control Of The Going seek to make the most of the opportunity of the big stage to showcase their talents and win over new fans.

Minute Taker - Manchester Royal Exchange - 9th October 2015

Manchester's Royal Exchange hosts one of the city's best kept musical secrets. Most Fridays at 5.30 there's a free show in the Great Hall. This week we were treated to a set by Minute Taker, aka Ben McCarthy, playing a mix of intelligently composed and structured songs and instrumental pieces to an appreciative audience.

Ist Ist - Manchester Sound Control - 9th October 2015

It's been a few months since we last saw Ist Ist and they've been growing horns whilst we've been away. Louder, more direct than ever before with new songs that reveal a burgeoning diversity of sound and mode of attack.

Track Of The Day : The Lottery Winners - I Know

After what seems like an eternity of waiting, The Lottery Winners have finally released a new single I Know. A live favourite already it has all the traits that have won them an ever-growing following - big chorus, upbeat guitar riffs and the most fantastic vocal harmonies.

Jane Weaver / The Sundowners - Manchester Gorilla - 8th September 2015

Tonight feels like a celebration, a moment taken aside to celebrate the unexpected success of Jane Weaver's The Silver Globe album, a record that was perfect for its time on release last year and which still resonates with the five hundred people crammed into Gorilla. She's supported by The Sundowners, a band that hasn't yet got the recognition they deserve for both their debut album and the thrill of their live shows.

Introducing - Delamere

Delamere play their biggest headline show this weekend headlining Manchester Club Academy. The gig represents the launch of their new single Heart, which has been gathering rave reviews, and is a taster for their debut album which they hope to record and release in early 2016. We caught up with them for a chat ahead of the show.

The Lemonheads - Manchester Ritz - 7th October 2015

Tonight's Ritz show is the penultimate of The Lemonheads' first UK tour for three years. Led by the charismatic Evan Dando, who doesn't look like he's aged a day in the last two decades, they mix twenty-six songs from their back catalogue as well as some judiciously selected covers and Evan Dando solo tracks leaving the Manchester audience suitably impressed.

Track Of The Day : Billy Bibby - Hideaway

Billy Bibby has been building a following of his own with a series of acoustic gigs and low-key releases of songs on the internet ahead of launching his new band. Hideaway is the latest of these and is an impressive classic-sounding acoustic tale of a broken relationship.

Reverend And The Makers - Mirrors

Mirrors is Reverend And The Makers' fifth album and a marked departure from the bass-heavy dancefloor oriented @Reverend_Makers and Thirty Two. It's a concept album of sorts, recorded in part in Jamaica, where they filmed a DVD to accompany the album. It only last thirty four minutes for fourteen songs, but it takes the listener on a memorable musical journey. Unlike so many concept album, it hits the spot every time and is their best album yet.

Track Of The Day : Slowcoach - In Limbo

Slowcoach is the solo project of Melbourne's Dean Valentino who plays all instruments on In Limbo other than drums. It's the b-side for his recent single Beneath The Board and we slightly prefer it of the two as its jangly guitars and surf rhythms are impossible not to fall for.

Northern Uproar - Hey Samurai!

Stockport veterans return with their fifth album Hey Samurai! Stuart Ralston discovers a band he missed back in the day and finds them in fine form.

Monica Heldal - Manchester Castle Hotel - 5th October 2015

Monica Heldal hails from Bergen, Norway. Already well known in her homeland following the release of her debut album The Boy From The North which finally gets a UK release this week, she has been over playing shows here for the first time. We caught her debut Manchester show and were impressed not just by her songwriting craft, her soft seductive voice, but also her ability to extract both delicate and detailed sounds from her guitar.

Track Of The Day : Zuzu - Where'd You Go?

Where'd You Go? is the first track revealed by Liverpool band Zuzu in live demo format. We'd been tipped off to them by a London friend (where they're based) who was overwhelmed by them supporting Kid Wave and demanded we check them out. This is the only song we could find but it's one we felt compelled to share.

Hidden Charms - Middleton Carsons Bar - 3rd October 2015

On the back of the recent release of their single Dreaming Of Another Girl, Hidden Charms are on what feels like a never ending tour of the country's small venues and building themselves a burgeoning reputation as a ferocious live band. We caught them for the second time at Carsons Bar in Middleton as they more than justify the growing hype.

Track Of The Day : Rory Wynne - Post Party Confusion

Post-Party Confusion is the new single from Stockport's Rory Wynne. Already a live favourite, it's a hell-for-leather blast through hazy drunken memories of last night's party. Booze, throwing up in a sink, a fight over a girl, waking up with two black eyes, it's a tale of a typical teenage party set to a siren blast of guitar that you won't be able to get out of your head.

Trampolene - Pocket Album Three

The third in the series of Trampolene's Pocket Albums is set to expand their fanbase with its lead track It's Not Rock And Roll already having secured them radio play, but it's the diversity of the material that makes them stand out (as it did with the previous pocket albums - or EPs as those of us old enough to remember called them).

Kid Wave - Manchester Gullivers - 1st October 2015

It's been a big year for Kid Wave with the release of their debut album Wonderlust and they're topping it off with a big UK headline tour after a number of prestigious support slots. We caught up them at Gullivers in Manchester and witnessed a band spreading its wings and taking the songs to a new level.

Introducing - Mayflower

There are a number of bands emerging from Manchester at the moment with a true understanding and love of the art of songwriting. Whilst nodding to the past and the eras of classic guitar-driven alternative pop, they're creating something that also feels completely contemporary. One of our more recent discoveries are four-piece Mayflower who've just revealed their fourth song Sienna and who headline the Night And Day on Saturday. We had a chat to find out more.

Jenn Grant / David O'Dowda - Manchester Gullivers Lounge - 30th September 2015

Canadian Jenn Grant has been released five albums to date, but it's only with her latest release Compostela that she's ventured to the UK and toured. Tonight is her second show in Manchester in the intimate surroundings of Gullivers' Lounge and she charms us with her beautiful delicate acoustic songs and her infectious between song talk. Support was from local composer David O'Dowda.

The Lake Poets - The Lake Poets

The Lake Poets debut album is a record that explores the darkest parts of the human psyche. Love, loss, domestic violence and reminiscing on a lost childhood and those departed are set against a spindly desolate musical accompaniment to create one of the most intense pieces of music you're ever likely to hear.

Pinkshinyultrablast / Fever Dream / Blossomer - Manchester Night And Day - 29th September 2015

St Petersburg's Pinkshinyultrablast caused a stir after their performance at Salford's Sounds From The Other City earlier in the year and the Night And Day is packed on a Tuesday night for their return and we're not left disappointed by their hard-edged intertwining blend of heavy guitars and light dreamy pop moments. Support came from London trio Fever Dream and Sheffield trio Blossomer.

The Happy Fallen - Lost And Found

Lost And Found is the first album by The Happy Fallen, a solo project from Manchester's Neale James, an artist who's worked with the likes of Craig Gannon, John Bramwell, Stella Grundy and Ivor Perry. The Happy Fallen is him branching out on his own and the results are quite spectacular.

Track Of The Day : Mayflower - Sienna

Sienna is the new track by Mayflower, a dreamy emotive contemplative song that should win them a whole new host of admirers. Although only a demo, it's rich in detail and emotion yet also still quietly understated.

Horsebeach - II

II is the second album by Manchester's Horsebeach, aka Ryan Kennedy, following on from last year's self-titled debut album that was a word-of-mouth hit around the city. Lovers of that album won't be disappointed by his new one; it retains many of the same attributes that made us fall in love with it.

LIINES - Chorlton The Royal Oak - 25th September 2015

It's been over six months since LIINES' last Manchester show even though they all live in the city. They've been off around Europe playing to big crowds, but they're back home now and planning an assault on their home town. They start off in fine style with a fierce headline set at Scruff Of The Neck's monthly Royal Oak night in Chorlton.

False Advertising - Manchester Deaf Institute - 25th September 2015

False Advertising are a band full of contrasts. They swap lead vocals half way through the set between Chris and Jen who also swap from guitar to drums and vice versa. Their songs mix a love of grunge with some moments of sweeter pop to great effect and despite only surfacing this year are already an accomplished live band.

New Order - Music Complete

Music Complete is New Order's first studio album proper in ten years. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then including the acrimonious departure of bassist Peter Hook. Laden with guests and focusing more on the dance floor than rock poses, it's unmistakably New Order throughout yet brought right bang up to date.

Dexters - We Paid For Blood

We Paid For Blood is the second album from Dexters. The follow-up to last year’s Shimmer Gold debut album is a heady mix of a band on the outside looking in, analysing their place in the world and putting a big supporting arm around their friends and loved ones. Fast and frenetic in parts, more reflective in others, it’s a bold statement of intent that will delight those who loved the debut, but will also draw in new fans.

Track Of The Day : LIINES - Blackout (Live)

It's been a relatively quiet year for Manchester three-piece LIINES. Or it would seem so given their rare appearances in town, but they've been on the road in Europe where they've build up quite a following with their full-on punk / grunge assault on the senses. They're returning with a few hometown shows including a free one at The Royal Oak in Chorlton tonight and have revealed a live video of Blackout recorded in Austria earlier this year.

Liam McClair - Honest EP

The Honest EP is the first recorded material from Liam McClair with a band rather than solo. It's a huge step up for him both lyrically and musically on the back of a growing profile in and around Manchester on the back of some intimate live shows and the revelation of the songs that make up this EP.

False Advertising - False Advertising

Despite only surfacing live for the first time in April, Manchester trio False Advertising have already recorded their debut self titled album.  Stuart Ralston has a listen and is mightly impressed.

Introducing - No Hot Ashes

No Hot Ashes have been steadily building themselves a reputation in Manchester as a thrilling live band with their funk-inspired sound, as evidenced on recent double A-side single Easy Peeler / Smooth (No Bits) and a number of sell-out shows as well as festival slots. We caught up with them to take stock of what's happened to them this year and see what their plans for the future are.

Track Of The Day : Those Handsome Animals - Do Wrong

Do Wrong is the lead track from London four-piece Those Handsome Animals' new EP Hits. It was recorded live to tape and captures an infectiously catchy guitar riff combined with a passionate bitter lyric about a relationship break-up.

The Bluetones - Return To The Last Chance Saloon (Deluxe Edition)

To coincide with their reformation, The Bluetones have reissued their top 10 1998 album Return To The Last Chance Saloon with a host of bonus material. We revisit the album that often lives in the shadows of its predecessor Expecting To Fly and discover a band trying to match the commercial expectations of their label against their own musical instincts.

Dub Sex - Manchester Deaf Institute - 20th September 2015

Always one of Manchester's dark horses, Dub Sex reformed a couple of years ago and have played sporadic gigs around town and further afield. On Sunday they played an eight-song set early in proceedings at the People Over Borders fundraiser at the Deaf Institute.

Track Of The Day : Louis Barrabas - You Did This To Me

Best known as front man of Manchester's quirky songmeisters Louis Barrabas And The Bedlam Six, Louis has been working on a solo album Gentle Songs Of Ceaseless Horror. He's just released the lead track from the album You Did This To Me.

Ramsbottom Festival - 19th September 2015 - Part Two : Tom Robinson / Dave Fidler / The Slow Readers Club / Jesca Hoop / John Bramwell

On Saturday Even The Stars made a welcome return to Ramsbottom Festival, possibly the best small festival in the country. Thoughtfully curated line-ups, easy access to and around the site, great food and drink stalls and something on the bill for everyone makes it a stand-out in the festival calendar. The second of our reviews of the day features Tom Robinson, Dave Fidler, The Slow Readers Club, Jesca Hoop and John Bramwell.