CITY guide
MANCHESTER
UK
Home to legendary bands such as the Buzzcocks, Joy Division, Oasis, and The
Smiths, Manchester’s music history is staggering. Not to mention the city’s
stunning architecture, which varies greatly in style and includes examples of
Art Deco, Victorian, and contemporary architecture, among others. Elevate
your senses no matter what facet of culture you immerse yourself in.
PINS
An all-girl four-piece that got its start in 2011,
PINS has a decidedly raw sound. Heavily distorted
guitar and bass are joined by equally distorted
vocals, and backed by hard-pounding, straightforward rock drumming, giving this band a classic
garage rock sound. Their debut album Girls Like Us
came out in 2013, and provided the platform on
which they could tour Europe. They plan to release
a follow-up album in June 2015.
Black Rivers
With Doves currently on hiatus and Jimi Goodwin
solo, brothers Jez and Andy Williams have joined
forces to form Black Rivers. Picking up where
Doves’ last release Kingdom of Rust left off,
their eponymous album is full of soaring rock,
melancholy lyrics and surging with just enough
beats to remind you of Doves’ Manchester roots
as the band Sub Sub. Not many artists get a
celebrated second act but this is an exception.
THE PERFECT MANCHESTER DAY
James: This city is so diverse I couldn’t walk just one line in
one day, but any day that ends with one of those long summer
evenings when everyone’s chilled is fine by me. On an evening
like that, even this gritty city has a warm glow, it shows its warm
side. Throw in a Craig Charles set at the Band on the Wall and I’d
sleep a contented man.
PINS: Get up, go for brunch at Common, which is where we’ll go
on a Sunday because they have really great food and nice coffee,
and it’s a real cool place. (Incredible Bloody Marys as well, for
the morning after... They make them with beet root) and then go
record shopping. Piccadilly Records or Vinyl Exchange. Go get
another drink at Home Sweet Home, they sell nice cakes as well.
Kind of a little tea... (I do feel like there would be a lot of drinking
involved) Yea. Oldham Street’s really good cause it’s got all the
vintage shops and they’re all pretty cheap. Buy a few things, have
a bit of shopping. There’s a cool pub called The Castle as well,
which would be likely to have a really good gig on in the evening.
It’s really small but it always catches the bands just before they
get big.
MANCHESTER town hall/SEAN NOLAN
Band on the Wall: 25 Swan Street; Common: 39-41 Edge Street; Piccadilly
Records: 53 Oldham Street; Vinyl Exchange: 18 Oldham Street; Home Sweet
Home: 49-51 Edge Street; The Castle: 66 Oldham Street
HAPPY HOUR
Black Rivers: Either The British Protection pub (it’s a ‘ye
olde’ pub in central Manchester) or Mr. Thomas’s Chop
House (another great pub).
Dutch Uncles: Matt and Phreds jazz bar do a free pizza
with every 2 cocktails purchased on a Tuesday night.
Slam dunk!
James: I don’t have a spot that makes me happy for an
hour, but Common in the N4 [the Northern Quarter] makes
me very happy for about 20 minutes with one of their
Caipirinhas.
Dutch Uncles
Playing in time signatures such as 5/4 while still
maintaining an accessible sound, Dutch Uncles
push the envelope of the definition of mainstream
music. Labeled as indie pop, math pop, and art
rock, this is a band that will keep you guessing.
Their fourth studio album O Shudder is out now.
The British Protection: 50 Great Bridgewater Street; Mr Thomas’s Chop
House: 52 Cross Street; Matt and Phreds: 85 Oldham Street
BEST PLACE TO STILL BUY RECORDS
Black Rivers: Piccadilly Records Manchester
Dutch Uncles: If you’re looking for up to the minute
releases, look no further than Piccadilly Records. If you’re
looking for second hand at great prices then you should
take the 85 bus to Chorlton and stop by Kingbee Records.
James: Vinyl Alley in N4 - special mention for Beatin’
Rhythm and Piccadilly Records.
Piccadilly Records: 53 Oldham Street; Beatin’ Rhythm: 108 Tib Street;
Kingbee Records: 519 Wilbraham Road
26 . TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE
PINS AT PICCADILY RECORDS/ELINOR JONES
Black Rivers / courtesy of artist; Dutch Uncles / Adrian Lambert; James / courtesy of artist; PINS / JULIE LEOPO
James
One of Manchester’s most beloved bands, James
has been releasing album after album since 1982.
Their unique mix of folk, dance, and rock as well
as their legendary reputation as a live band has
resulted in a devoted fan base and a back catalogue stuffed with hit singles. Their most recent
album, La Petit Mort, was released in 2014.
Two of their most innovative albums (produced
by Brian Eno) Laid and Wah Wah are slated for
deluxe re-issues in late March 2015.