Between the lines

issue #1 may 2014

Gorilla

more than a venue

bbc i n troduci n g live @ the ruby lounge Upcomi n g gigs and events &more

ÂŁ3.00 btlmag.com

www.plasticguns.co.uk

Bonjour!

A word from the editor.. James Kay

Between the Lines is a monthly magazine based right here in the centre of Manchester. From gigs to food and fashion to art we thrive to bring you the best of whats going on. This month’s issue sees Gorilla’s new menu, BBC introducing Manchester’s latest offering of new, raw talent and as always the latest events, the latest threads and your excellent Instagram photos. Between the lines is for you, so sit back, grab a drink and see what Manchester has to offer.

BTL x

In this issue..

page 4... gorilla - more than just a venue page 6... bbc introducing manchester live page 10... trending threads page 11... igphotos page 12... upcoming gigs and events

page 15

... closing thoughts

keep up to date with us

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gorilla more than just a venue

Too many times have I been to music venues that are dark, stuffy and let’s face it, all round dismal. Black walls, warm beer and the always forgotten sticky floor. However, venues are in a state of flux, realising that we (the customers) aren’t particularly fond of these features and would prefer an all round nicer environment. Gorilla is a venue that recognises this, and most definitely is all round nicer. Hidden under the railway tracks on Whitworth Street West, from the people behind Trof and The Deaf Institute, Gorilla houses

a bar, kitchen, live venue and club space. Boasting ‘The Best Burger in Manchester’ and a nomination

for ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards Gorilla also features a 700 capacity venue in the tunnel at the back playing host to bands, clubnights, comedy and theatre. So let’s take a closer look at the bar it’s self. Marrying original brick work and chic new design, Gorilla’s mezzanine bar hosts their Gin Parlour, which does exactly what it says on the tin. The gin parlour offers a relaxed and sophisticated space where customers can sample some of the best gins from around the world. The offering of drinks is extensive and not just limited to gin, there’s also a wide range of world beers, soft drinks, spirits and cocktails to wet your whistle with. The bar is just simply a tantalising place you will want to visit, and when you do, it’s more than likely you’ll end up staying longer than you expected. When this happens,

don’t be afraid, Gorilla has you covered, with a wonderful food menu. If you find yourself being a regular at bars and eateries in city centres, that aren’t your usual chain restaurants like spoons or Yates, you will have seen this style before. It seems the social norm that independent bars have to go for this trendy, upscale, old but new style. Many fail, and the main reason for this is that they simply just don’t feel right, they may have got all the separate aspects right but this isn’t simply a chemical formula.

Oldx new+ vintage+ quirky mainstream+ craft beerx a central location,

does not simply create the perfect bar.! ! The bar just has to be authentic, if it’s trying to be something it’s not people will see through it. Gorilla is authentic. Nothing is forced, the decor works and the whole concept is a success, it has that ‘right’ feel. Back to the food. Wether it’s a breakfast to cure a hangover, a

lunch to impress a colleague or a sunday roast to bring the week to an end, the extensive menu really does have you covered. The food is that of a very high standard, probably down to their high standards of food sourcing, as they state ‘Our bacon is from Cheshire pigs & our sausages are hand made by WH Frost Butchers to our own recipe. Our eggs are free range & laid in Cheshire. We care about animal welfare & only purchase from farms that think the same as us.’ The food is in line with what you would find at bar & grill; lots of burgers, steak, salads. But the use of fresh ingredients breathes a fresh lease of life into it. Also, considering the quality of the ingredients and the location of the bar it’s self the price is very healthy for the wallet. So you have had your food and drink, you’re relaxed and you’ve had a good day. But the day doesn’t have to end there, let’s not forget that Gorilla is in fact a music venue… Hosting acts such as Simian

Mobile Disco, the Kaiser Chiefs and Toddla T just to name a few, the club uses the natural arch of the building to it’s full advantage. It allows you to fully emerge yourself in the music as if you’re in a tunnel of good vibes and bass. Surrounding the stage is a magnificent display of old tech, be it from submarines, musical equipment or spaceships no one knows but it looks amazing. So all in all Gorilla is great. We have established that it has a nice relaxed feel, that the extensive range of food and drink really does have something for everyone and that the club is literally and metaphorically out of this world. Next time you’re early for you train or miss your train at Oxford Road, don’t complain! Now you know you’ve got this gem literally under your feet pop in and see what you think… For more information visit www.thisisgorilla.com GORILLA 54-58 WHITWORTH STREET MANCHESTER M1 5WW 01614 070301

for free, with the latest instalment featuring Kill for Company, The Watch Makers and the headliner PINS.

bbc introducing featuring pins, the watchmakers & kill for company

Live music is, and always will be one of the greatest forms of entertainment. The excitement of a band setting up, the shock of feedback and the magic of instruments coming together to make harmonies. Manchester is in no way a newcomer to live music; in fact it has a huge pedigree when it comes to live venues and producing hugely successful musicians and bands. BBC Introducing Manchester, an umbrella of BBC Radio 1’s Introducing scheme, is hosted

every week by Michelle Hussey every Saturday at 8pm. The show’s main focus is to showcase new, up and coming bands from Manchester and the surrounding areas. The show is a great way for new bands to have their music heard by thousands. For the selected few, the show puts on a new music showcase every three months falling on the last Friday at The Ruby Lounge all

The Ruby Lounge it’s self is an amazing example of a traditional city music venue. As you enter from the street you find yourself descending down the stairwell, walls filled with past and future promo and the resonating bass slowly pumping through your body. When you open the door into the venue its self you are greeted by a very relaxed feel and an unusual L-shape layout, with a seating area at one end, the stage at the other and a large curved bar in the middle. The drink a standard price for a live venue, but unlike many others there’s a huge selection, especially when it comes to spirits. But the main thing, that many of you seasoned gig goers may know, is that they sell larger in cans, which when the crowd gets a a bit lively is much more cost effective than carrying a pint around. Myself and I assume everyone in the crowd weren’t there just to drink Red Stripe out of a can, they were there to see three great acts perform, so onto the acts themselves. The first act on the bill was Kill for

Company which consists of two Manchester musicians; Michael Banfield who plays a unique selfmanufactured hybrid guitar/bass and Mark O`Donoughue on drums and percussion. The pair met as 16 year old students, played together in various rock bands but became frustrated by band politics and after seeing various members selfcombust mentally and physically the idea of a duo was born.

Possibly the greatest move the duo made was scrapping the other band members and following through with the Guibass (guitar and bass hybrid) idea. At first it is really confusing to see them on stage, you see them but you hear three separate instruments and find yourself shuffling around the audience trying to find the hidden band member. However, once you overcome your initial confusion you’ll be able to hear the exciting sound that they’re producing.

The duo came on the stage full of confidence; probably down to recently selling out The Deaf Institute for their EP launch ‘Alternative To Living’. The second track from the EP ‘Black and White’ was included on Tom Robinson’s BBC Introducing Mixtape as well as gaining airplay from BBC 6 Music. On stage the pair were energetic and entertaining. The way that they played complimented each other greatly; they both got the chance to showcase their huge amounts of talents without deviating too far from well-written tracks. The duo have a great northern sound to them, with the accent coming through on the vocals but mixed with the new style riffs it gives the audience something truly fresh to listen to. Next up on the bill were The Watchmakers, a four-piece band, again from Manchester and if anything, solid proof that the Gallagher brothers have left not

just a musical legacy but also their haircuts. The Watchmakers consist of two families, which explains a lot. If you look at them without realizing your reaction will be ‘wow they really do look alike. Rich Maitland, Ian Maitland, Adam Lewis and Andy Lewis make up the four-piece psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll band. The band had an amazing year last year, playing slots with The Pretty Things, Jacco Gardner, Embers and Exit Calm and had two nights headlining This Feeling in London and Manchester. They also sold out both ‘happenings’ of ‘A Night Of Psychedelic Sights and Sounds’ in Manchester at The Kings Arms in Feb and The Castle in December. Psychedelic are exactly what these guys are. Reminiscent of 60s neopsychadelia The Watchmakers, although drawing on extensive influences, provide a unique onstage set. There’s a genuine underground sound to their music,

album Girls Like Us last year to great praise from a wide variety of music corners - including being listed in Manchester’s Piccadilly Records Top 100 albums of the whole of 2013 - and they were recently included in BBC Introducing in Manchester’s recommendations for Tom Robinson’s BBC 6 Music national radio programme. In fact, PINS went on to play the 6 Music festival the day after, rocketing their exposure.

passion and of course that thick mancunian accent! The headliner for the night was the fantastic PINS, another four-piece from you guessed it, Manchester. Notching up gigs in disused office blocks and hotel basements to name a few, it was with little incredulity PINS should record their debut EP in an industrial estate. Comprising of Faith, Anna, Lois and Sophie, PINS are having a fantastic year already, with this show being just a stepping-stone in the grand scheme of things. There are a bunch of influences fighting for prominence: ‘60s girlgroups, the gothic discordance of Siouxie And The Banshees and even glam-rock, but, thanks in no small part by the steel-eyed

determination with which they approach it, it feels more alive than that ever could explain. Also, while it was often loud, it always felt very carefully under control, studied and precise. They have natural confines for

the chilling thrum of near whispered vocals, gutter grimed guitars and the tribal, thumping percussion, which makes for an interesting sound. Whilst they’re steeped in the entrancing abrasion of their local Mancunian heritage, they also bring something new to the foreground, something unique. The band released their debut

Things seem to be looking up and up for PINS. They now have shows at SXSW festival, New York, Italy, France, Switzerland and Iceland. Expect big things from PINS, and if you haven’t heard of them already make sure you go out there and have a listen! Events like this are amazing, they’re insight into what the future of music could become, or at least into what people can create. They’re free so you’re not going to be breaking the bank, and unlike some gigs you might go to, people are just here to enjoy the music! BBC Introducing Manchester run these events for all of these reasons so if you have any interest make sure you pop down. The next event is on the Friday 30th May and of course you can catch up on new music from around Manchester on the show every Saturday at 8pm.

For more information checck out: facebook.com/wearepins facebook.com/ The-Watchmakers facebook.com/ KillForCompany facebook.com/ BBCIntroducingInManchester

threads

what’s trending this month

Whether it’s a new shop opening, the next big thing or a brilliant independent brand, here at BTL we aim to find (and give you) the best of clothing, jewelery and shoes in Manchester. If you own or know a brand that you think we should be featuring let us know and we’ll do our best to feature it, simply drop an email and info to:

threads@btlmag.com

Unexampled Apparel

Plastic Guns Apparel

Unexampled Apparel is a Plastic Guns Apparel started unique new home-grown life from the world of skate street style clothing brand and surf culture with an situated in Afflecks Palace anti mainstream attitude. run by boyfriend, girlfriend From a design background team Ella & Luke. They PGA went from training specialise in handmade in the trenches to quickly custom clothing and up becoming a memorable cycled vintage pieces. Their jersey brand with UK and ‘Mini Me’ collection also European stockists. “Mixing offers the coolest handmade street style and upscale and one off customised style is back, it used to be clothing and shoes so there about fitting in and now it’s is something for everyone! about standing out.”

facebook.com/ unexampledapparel

facebook.com/ plasticgunsuk

Breaking Rocks

Hanna Makes Things

Breaking Rocks is a brand that loves craziness. And comfortable sweaters. That is why they make 100% cotton “all-over” print crewneck sweatshirts with things ranging from: palm trees, laser cats in space, a deer in a legendary landscape or other epicness beloved by fans... Really the list of things they put on sweaters is extensive.

Hannah Makes Things is a unique and independent jewellery label specialising in making amazing and unusual jewelery. Forever on the lookout for fresh ideas, Hannah Makes Things is a Manchester based label that is swiftly becoming a fashion favorite with products regularly being seen on celebrities such as Fearne Cotton and Eliza Doolittle to name but a few.

facebook.com/ breakingrocksclothing

notonthehighstreet.com/ hannahmakesthings

igphotos your photos from instagram

Every month Between The Lines will be searching high and low for the best first person shots of gigs, events and food on Instagram from around Manchester. To get your photos featured simply: • Take the best shot you can • Follow our account @btlmag • Mention us in the caption • Hashtag the band and venue

@deuxdejoie Bonobo

@iamjameskay PINS

@gilliangmoore Tokyo Police Club

@thisisgorilla New Menu

@jonthegunhatch Bombay Bicycle Club

@jamesrangely AMP Albert Hall

upcoming gigs, events &more

Here’s what we think you shouldn’t be missing in the next few months, and this month we have loads of treats lined up for you. From quiz nights to food festivals there’s a little something for everyone. If you’ve got an event that you think we should be featuring let us know, send an email and the relevant information to:

events@btlmag.com

Bank Holiday Carnival may 4th

METROPOLIS & APE : SUB FOCUS / NETSKY / SHY FX / MATRIX & FUTUREBOUND / TCTS / GOTSOME / NORTHBASE APE and METROPOLIS present a special Bank Holiday Carnival at The Albert Hall. The six-hour show will be headlined by Sub Focus and Netsky, with a full support bill including Matrix & Futurebound, and Digital Soundboy boss Shy FX. The Albert Hall, 27 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5QR.

8pm-4am £20-£25

Exhibition until may 8th

The photographic exhibition Uncovering the Invisible focuses on the diversity of backgrounds and life stories of the people that make up this culturally rich community. While Latin Americans contribute economically and culturally to the shaping of British society, they remain unrecognised as an ethnic minority in law. These portraits have been taken in a setting entirely chosen by the individual photographed, with a strong meaning and connection to them or their identity. Instituto Cervantes Manchester, 326-330 Deansgate, Manchester, United Kingdom, M3 4FN. 01616614201/12

tapas workshop until may 13th

Instituto Cervantes offers the opportunity to learn about Spanish gastronomy by preparing some cold Spanish tapas, and recognising the ingredients, tastes and aromas that compound Spanish geography. You will be able to learn to cook 12 tapas from different places in Spain, as well as Spanish culture and history. The course will provide all the necessary ingredients and utensils to prepare the tapas. Students will dine the tapas cooked on the session accompanied by a nice glass of Spanish wine. For more info email prenman@cervantes.es. Price: £130

Tourist may 14th

Having released one EP, Tonight, he followed it up with Together, an extended play that illustrated his ability to weave complex and intricate, undeniably brilliant melodies. He counts MNEK and Jacob Banks as among those to have contributed to his tracks, has remixed for the likes of Haim, Sam Smith and CHVRCHES, and 2014 looks to be the year that the mainstream will finally catch up to the bloggerati in their love for Tourist. Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Manchester, M1 1DF. 9pm-1am £5 advance / £7 door

Arts & Music Festival may 25th

“We are welcoming the spring by inviting all types of creative folk down to our festival, for one big sunny,warm and colourful party” Music from: The Fire Beneath The Sea, Young Mountains, Jess Megson, Kye Jones plus many more. The festival also boasts performances, live art and stalls. Antwerp Mansion, Rusholme Grove, Rusholme, Manchester, M14 5AG 4pm-12am £5 advance / £7 door

deaf institute quiz may 26th

“A new quiz - a new species of quiz - irreverent & ROFLOL random yey-timez but also displaying the proper credentials and a sense of history - much like the Deaf Institute itself.” Expect lot of juicy chin-strokers on film, music, art, literature and the more fascinating side of WORLD FACTS, plus regular rounds Dead or Alive and SlangSolver. The Deaf Institute, 135 Grosvenor Street, M1 7HE Manchester. 8pm-10:30pm £1

closing thoughts

So there it is, another month down and another issue of BTL in your hands. So what have we learnt this month? Well, Manchester really is a non stop city but as we’ve seen, there are some perfect nooks go and hide away in where you can put your feet up and relax. We’ve also learnt that if you’re passionate about something and keep going with it then you will eventually reap the benefits as we saw with PINS. As always, we’ve hopefully opened your eyes to some new clothes and events that you were maybe unaware of. As always if there’s anything you think we should be publishing then get in touch! But until next time, say cool, experiment with new experiences and enjoy life for all it is.

behind the scenes this month..

Next month..

Getting ready for Parklife: The essentials, the acts and the secrets, Manchester fashion week: What you need to see and where you need to be, A look inside The Deaf Institute: One of Manchester’s most historical venues, More threads, More events + An all new feature: illustrator of the week