The Skinny Northwest March 2015 by The Skinny

“I wanted to write about love”

BOOK NOW: 0161 832 1111 manchesteracademy.net

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR

ORPHAN BOY

TRAGEDY: A METAL TRIBUTE

SATURDAY 14TH MARCH

SUNDAY 15TH MARCH

DEMOB HAPPY

LAIBACH

MONDAY 30TH MARCH

FRIDAY 3RD APRIL

GIRLFRIEND

TOSELAND

SATURDAY 11TH APRIL

WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL

FINLEY QUAYE

+ BONAFIDE + NITRODIVE SUNDAY 14TH MARCH

TO THE BEE GEES & BEYOND

MARCH Covenant Wednesday 4th Death DTA + Massacre + Abysmal Dawn + Loudblast Wednesday 4th Jaws Friday 6th Corrosion of Conformity Saturday 7th The Stones (Rolling Stones Tribute) Saturday 7th The Veronicas Sunday 8th Collie Buddz Sunday 8th The Answer Monday 9th Room 94 Tuesday 10th Wednesday 13 Wednesday 11th Yellowcard & Less Than Jake + Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! Thursday 12th Little Comets Friday 13th Europe/ Black Star Riders Friday 13th Glass Caves + The Mantells Saturday 14th Hardcore Superstar Saturday 14th Tragedy: A Metal Tribute To The Bee Gees & Beyond Sunday 15th Dropkick Murphys Thursday 19th Amaranthe Friday 20th Transmission (Joy Division) Saturday 21st The Stranglers + The Rezillos Saturday 21st REEF Saturday 21st Four Year Strong Sunday 22nd Nathan Grisdale Sunday 22nd The Subways Tuesday 24th Logic Tuesday 24th Lagwagon Wednesday 25th Lordi Thursday 26th Ameriie Friday 27th

APRIL Vintage Trouble Wednesday 1st The View Wednesday 1st Laibach Friday 3rd Obey The Brave Saturday 4th Of Mice & Men Saturday 4th Pretty Ricky Sunday 5th Rick Ross Monday 6th The Shires Sunday 12th Toseland Wednesday 15th Frnkiero and the Cellebration Thursday 16th Adam Ant Friday 17th Finley Quaye Friday 17th Slow Readers Club Saturday 18th Lady Pank Saturday 18th Raleigh Ritchie Tuesday 21st Echosmith Saturday 25th Portico Sunday 26th Theory of a Deadman Monday 27th Flying Lotus Thursday 30th

For full listings visit manchesteracademy.net

GUN TAKING ON THE WORLD 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR FRIDAY 27TH MARCH

FRIDAY 17TH APRIL

EVIL BLIZZARD

PORTICO

WIRE

SATURDAY 18TH APRIL

SUNDAY 26TH APRIL

WEDNESDAY 29TH APRIL

ONLY REAL

LAZY HABITS

FM + ROMEO’S DAUGHTER + NO HOT ASHES

SUNDAY 3RD MAY

+ SNOW GHOSTS

THURSDAY 7TH MAY

SATURDAY 9TH MAY

VOL:2AABIG BIGBIG BIG LOVE... LOVE... VOL:2 MANCHESTER ACADEMY ACADEMY MANCHESTER

Bank Holiday Sat May 23 2015 Sat May 23 2015

THE BLUETONES THE BLUETONES

Photo: Ben Bentley

P.10 Josie Long

P.18 News from Nowhere

P.43 Wolf Alice

P.32 Joe Fletcher Orr - The Game (2015)

March 2015

I N D E P E N D E N T

C U LT U R A L

J O U R N A L I S M

Issue 24, March 2015 © Radge Media Ltd. Get in touch: E: hiya@theskinny.co.uk T: 0161 833 3124 P: The Skinny, Second Floor, Swan Buildings, 20 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JW The Skinny is distributing 22,710 copies across Liverpool and Manchester, a wide range of advertising packages and affordable ways to promote your business are available. Get in touch to find out more.

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Editorial Northwest Editor Film & Deputy Editor Events Editor Music Editor Art Editor Books Editor Clubs Editor Comedy Editor Deviance Editor Fashion Editor Food Editor Tech Editor Theatre Editor Travel Editor

Lauren Strain Jamie Dunn Simon Jay Catling Dave Kerr Sacha Waldron Holly Rimmer-Tagoe Daniel Jones John Stansfield Tasha Lee Alexandra Fiddes Jamie Faulkner Cathleen O’Grady Alecia Marshall Paul Mitchell

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Contents

THE SKINNY

Contents Up Front 06

Chat & Opinion: Stop the Presses has the latest news; artist Jock Mooney asks another unsuspecting person What Are You Having for Lunch?; BALLS. predict the future; Spot the Difference gives yers the chance to win a book and stare at a tiger, plus Shot of the Month and Online Only.

Lifestyle 30

08 Heads Up: Your daily guide to cultural events across the region in March.

Features

As she tours her new show Cara Josephine, eternal adolescent Josie Long talks heartbreak and nonsense, and why smaller venues are better than a comedy colosseum.

Filmmaker Desiree Akhavan discusses her boundary-pushing comedy Appropriate Behaviour and the media’s obsession with Lena Dunham. Liverpool’s radical bookstore News from Nowhere might offer the perfect shelter on the run-up to the general election. Longest serving member of the inspirational women’s co-operative behind it, Mandy Vere, discuss the importance of literature to politics – and vice versa. Illustration collective The Critter Shed introduce their first full-fledged comic book; and we preview the programme of mini multilingual film festival, Beyond Babel.

Mommy director and Québécois enfant terrible Xavier Dolan explains why his florid and emotion-saturated cinema is his revenge against the banality of everyday life. Plus: a look at the first of a trio of mini-¡Viva! festivals this year. SICK! Festival presents a bold, multidisciplinary programme investigating big issues around life, death, and everything in between. Our Theatre editor examines a brave dramatic offering. A new exhibition at FACT, Group Therapy explores the relationships between technology and mental health.

26 Mikey Dread of Channel One Sound

System defends the resilience of roots reggae, and recalls fighting for his corner at last year's Notting Hill Carnival.

Fancy leaving these isles for your annual bout of living like a pig while watching bands in a field, but don’t know your DC from your Dour? Voila: our International Festival guide!

March 2015

Showcase: Founder of Cactus gallery in Liverpool, Joe Fletcher Orr’s work sees him evade the role of either artist or curator. How? Wilson and Wilson have the answer.

Deviance: The BDSM bandwagon rolls into town. Plus, why we shouldn’t be calling our ladyparts ladyparts. It’s a vagina.

Food and Drink: Cloudwater Brew Co haven’t even made any beer yet and they’re already shaking up Manchester’s craft beer scene. Find out why; plus, our Food and Drink editor gets pished at Liverpool’s Hip Hop Wine Shop, and has news of three million new openings.

How many times can one bassist apologise? In between worries, Lightning Bolt’s Brian Gibson offers his thoughts on Japanese lunatics Boredoms and new album Fantasy Empire. In a club of one, Andy Gill is Gang of Four’s last man standing – with the blessing of vocalist Jon King. He tell us why he didn’t even have to think twice about continuing.

Fashion: Look, look! Look at those darling buds of spring! You know what this means – it’s time to think about what you’re going to be wearing in December. Our A/W15 trend report from London Fashion Week is in.

Review 41

Music: Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice tells us why everything we’ve ever thought about the band is wrong; plus new records from LoneLady, Errors and Courtney Barnett, your gig highlights for the month and a special look at the fifth anniversary edition of Threshold Festival.

Clubs: As well as your club picks for the month, Scandi pair Mr. Tophat and Art Alfie select their favourite albums (with extra “troll vibes”).

Film: It’s a strong month post-Oscars fuss, with Appropriate Behaviour, Wild Tales and Mommy winning our favour.

DVD: Elia Kazan’s Wild River proves a lasting masterwork; while on the other hand, our writer feels the much-lauded Pride isn’t worth the plaudits.

Theatre: Front Row Theatre underline the importance of providing a platform for fresh graduates; while Anna Karenina and Jumping Puddles head up the month’s highlights.

Books: Ishiguro comes to town, and there’s everything from real LA noir to slowly apocalyptic sci fi, to a novella with hints of Pynchon, in review.

Comedy: Sam & Tom are the cheekiest new chappies on the local scene – we should know, that’s three times they’ve run us over with their sweet BMX.

Listings: Eight whole pages of ways to not waste your life.

The Last Word: Warpaint’s JennyLee Lindberg enters the fray with this month’s Under the Influence.

MARCH 06 TUNE-YARDS

MAY 01 CALEXICO

11 BC CAMPLIGHT

04 MOON DUO

LIVERPOOL ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL (SOLD OUT)

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL

THE KAZIMIER

LEAF

20 THE HANDSOME FAMILY LEAF

09 TOPS

THE SHIPPING FORECAST W/ I LOVE LIVE EVENTS

23 KIRAN LEONARD

JUNE 03 GIANT SAND

THE SHIPPING FORECAST

APRIL 02 KALEIDOSCOPE + THE WICKED WHISPERS LEAF

18 MATTHEW E. WHITE

ST. GEORGE’S HALL CONCERT ROOM W/ LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC

SEPTEMBER 25 L’POOL INTERNATIONAL 26 FESTIVAL OF PSYCHEDELIA CAMP AND FURNACE

LEAF

30 JAMES HOLDEN (LIVE) THE KAZIMIER W/ EVOL

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE: SEETICKETS / EVENTIM / TICKETLINE IN PERSON: PROBE RECORDS (SCHOOL LN) & THE BRINK (PARR ST) FOLLOW ON TWITTER: @HARVEST_SUN @LPOOLPSYCHFEST

akala

nubiyan twist kids on bridges mr. woodnote

paddy steer k.o.g & the zongo brigade

eliza shaddad sha the baltic states

V TH R ESH OLD

music • arts • performance • film • discussion 27 - 29 mar 2015 • the baltic triangle, liverpool £20 weekend passes available from skiddle.com

Contents

fter Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Pancake Day, every Aquarian ever’s birthday and the release of Fifty Shades of Grey comes ‘March.’ No one is quite sure what happens in March, or indeed what it’s for – but it is our sincere hope that this magazine you hold in your hands will help you to more closely understand the concept of March. So. In what surely has to be taken as a positive thing, several festival/exhibition programmes this spring demonstrate a willingness to tackle representations of sensitive social, sexual and mental health issues head-on – most notably SICK! Festival, which expands from Brighton to Manchester for the first time, bringing with it a challenging selection of theatre, spoken word and art happenings; and FACT Liverpool’s new exhibition, Group Therapy, which collects 14 artists looking at how ‘mental distress’ at the intersection of digital and IRL might manifest itself. Both sound pretty great, and are explored on p22 and 25, respectively. Individualism is also something of a theme, not in that unpleasant free market capitalist way, but in one of those inspirational, believing-inyourself-and-your-art-and-managing-to-makeit-work ways. There are a lot of folk doing it for themselves this issue, from comedian turned cover star Josie Long (p10) – who hasn’t let earlycareer hype influence her style or principles – to filmmaker Desiree Akhavan (p16), whose debut feature Appropriate Behaviour voices a littlerepresented viewpoint; “the many identities of what it means to be a child of immigrants, or queer, or in New York even.” Those who’ve enjoyed Akhavan’s turn in the latest series of Lena Dunham’s Girls as Hannah’s post-ironic creative writing classmate will relish the opportunity to see her steal the limelight for herself. Elsewhere, Gang of Four’s last man standing, Andy Gill, tells us why he decided to strike out on his own after each of the other original members of the band fell away; Kaya Herstad Carney of Threshold Festival upholds the Liverpool event’s famously grassroots, DIY attitude in a chat previewing its fifth anniversary; and enfant terrible du jour Xavier Dolan is as fiercely independent

as ever (“Look, with all due respect to masterful cinematographers and the tastes of other artists, I fucking hate digital… It’s just ugly, and an absolute deception. It is lifeless, flat, soulless and a lie.”) (Having just premiered his fifth movie, Mommy, at the age of just 25, we reckon he merits his say.) Beyond that, Film gets its international on, with previews of Cornerhouse’s 21st (!) ¡Viva! Spanish & Latin American Film Festival and a oneday mini festival celebrating multilingual cinema, Beyond Babel; Music gets in on the act, too, recommending a variety of music festivals around the world just in case you’re one of those people with money and friends. Fashion goes as far as it’s reasonable to venture in the UK at this time of year – London – and brings us all the delectable/dubious news from the catwalk. Closer to home, much-loved radical bookshop News from Nowhere tell us why independent bookstores are pivotal to politics, and vice versa; arrested pre-teens Sam & Tom fall under our Comedy Spotlight; our Food ed gets properly sloshed, and Heads Up, Listings and beyond are smattered with events that constitute the city-spanning, month-long Wonder Women Festival. This issue of The Skinny was brought to you by… well to be honest, what with all the clementines we’ve been eating, adjustments to daylight we’ve been making and video charts of Sam Rockwell’s five best moments we’ve been watching it’s a miracle this issue of The Skinny got to you at all. Until next time. [Lauren Strain]

www.jockmooney.com

Editorial

Online Only Eyes to the website

ON THE COVER: Josie Long by Ailsa Sutcliffe Ailsa Sutcliffe is an independent illustrator, designer and maker based in Glasgow. She graduated from Communication Design at Glasgow School in 2014, and recently completed a residency at Hospitalfield House. She works primarily with collage, paper cut outs and printmaking, with her inspirations coming from museums, stories, vintage imagery and archives. cargocollective.com/ailsasutcliffe Good Girl

For pity’s sake, The Internet, will you stop shaming folk for just five minutes? Luckily, award-winning author Jon Ronson has written a book on that very subject. How convenient! theskinny.co.uk/books Veteran music journo Mark Ellen entertains us with tales of Rod Stewart’s spending sprees and Elton John’s army of naked paratroopers. theskinny.co.uk/books Rory Alexander Stewart, winner of The Skinny's inaugural Short Film Competition, tells us how he made prize-winner Good Girl (pictured) ahead of its follow-up's world premiere at Glasgow Short Film Festival. theskinny.co.uk/film

Shot of the Month

D’Angelo, Manchester Apollo, 18 Feb by Sam Huddleston

Chat

Plus: the fruits of our Film editor’s labours reporting from Glasgow Film Festival for the last two weeks. He’ll be returning to the Northwest office hungover and broken to find his desk covered in everybody else’s paperwork and boxes of unfinished salad. That’s what you get for abandoning us, Jamie. theskinny.co.uk/film Londoner Jerome Hill delivers us the latest in our Skinned mix series, a typically turbo-charged

foray through his heaving techno and acid crates. theskinny.co.uk/clubs James Kelly details WIFE’s relationship with black metal; and ex-Golden Girls members Rachel Aggs and Eilidh Rogers explain why they’ve kept on truckin’ as Sacred Paws. theskinny.co.uk/music Now firmly secure in its position as post-graduate platform for the pick of Scotland’s art schools, RSA New Contemporaries returns this month. We pick some highlights, if you happen to be travellin’ that-a-way. theskinny.co.uk/art Our writers’ verdicts on Metamorphosis of Japan after the War at Open Eye Gallery and Playtime at Cornerhouse. theskinny.co.uk/art Our Scottish sister paper’s Food editor got himself in a right tizzy about trends in bar decor right now – and we’ve our fair share of filamentlightbulbs-on-ropes here in the Northwest, too. He tells us why it’s time to reassess our post-industrial interior design tropes. Also: SANDWICH CAKES. theskinny.co.uk/food

THE SKINNY

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all accompanied by the OyĂŠ Village, with its usual array of world foods, DJs, dance classes and more besides. africaoye.com

A city-wide celebration of art, culture, film, sport, history, music and more, Wonder Women returns to Manchester between Sun 1-Tue 31 Mar, with affiliated concerts, exhibitions, talks and theatre performances taking place across the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s museums, galleries and public institutions in a championing of female creativity and ingenuity. Highlights include Northumbrian folk duo The Unthanks at The Ritz on Wed 11 Mar and The Ladies Room on Sat 28 Mar at Stevenson Square, which celebrates the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history as a traditional protest meeting point. @WonderWomenMcr Africa OyĂŠ has announced the first four acts for 2015, and The Skinny can exclusively announce that London-based Ibibio Sound Machine lead the lineupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first few offerings, blending highlife, disco and post-punk to create a uniquely psychedelic form of soul music. The free festival, once again taking place in Liverpoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sefton Park (21-22 Jun), also stars Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nothing Like This hit-maker Omar, the father of British neo-soul, alongside Malian tradition-weavers BKO Quintet and Reunion Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lindigo, whose mayola stylings are significantly symbolic of creole culture.

More names have been added to multi-venue all-day music festival Dot to Dot, ahead of its upcoming move from Oxford Road to the Northern Quarter in Manchester on Fri 22 May. The new acts confirmed include Los Angeles fuzz pop duo Best Coast, breezy Birmingham indie poppers Swim Deep and the sordid post-punk of Fat White Family. They join Honeyblood, The Wytches, Hinds, Menace Beach, Cairobi, Tei Shi and Cymbals Eat Guitars among those already announced. Full lineup details and tickets are over at dottodotfestival.co.uk Guerrilla Eats are back! The Manchester street food party specialists have a new venue for another 12 weeks of food-related fun â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the three-floor grade II listed former warehouse The Wonder Inn on Shudehill. Six independent food traders will be on hand each week, from a revolving lineup that includes Mei Meiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Street Cart, Big Grillie Style, Beastys, Dirty Food Revolution, Yakumama and Cow Boys among many others. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also be plenty of local craft beer to wash down your gluttony with. Admission remains free and the residency begins Sat 14 Mar. More details at guerillaeats.com Red Bull Music Academy brings its globetrotting series of festivals and workshops to the UK this spring, with Manchester among the four host cities. Omar-S, Paleman and Mount Kimbie rank among the more notable names on the bill,

Spot the Difference

Ibibio Sound Machine

which also promises a wealth of (deep breath) concerts, club nights, daytime parties, live radio broadcasts, art installations and lectures. Performances and workshops feature a broad range of internationally renowned musicians and industry experts, alongside a selection of local talent (selected via application).

BALLS. with Mystic Mark ARIES This month, having heard that methane released in cow farts is a major factor contributing to global warming, you invent a revolutionary new wind turbine that affixes to cow bumholes to repurpose the powerful gas emissions into a renewable form of unclean wind energy.

TAURUS Due to budgetary constraints your star sign has been cancelled in favour of endless repeats of Jurassic Park III.

GEMINI You find the law of attraction means you are constantly attracting large swarms of wasps. The problem is that by thinking about the large swarms of wasps that constantly cover your body, you attract more wasps. Try not thinking about the wasps so much and see what happens ;)

Check out this grrrreat ambush of tigers. Arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t they ferocious. We think there might be something fishy about the ones on the right though. Can you spot it? If you think you can spot the difference, head along to theskinny.co.uk/competitions and tell us what it is. You could win a copy of Tim Clareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Honours, courtesy of those lovely folk at Canongate. Competition closes midnight Sun 29 Mar. Winners will be notified via email within two working days of closing and will be required to respond within 48 hours or the prize will be offered to another entrant. Full Ts&Cs can be found at theskinny.co.uk/about/terms-and-conditions

BEST IN SHOW: KITTEN V DRAGON Here are just a few of our favourite responses to our January issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitten conundrum. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve some animals youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like us to spot the difference between, email them to pics@theskinny.co.uk The one on the left is lactose intolerant, the one on the right isn't. The one on the left gets

March 2015

its soft furnishings from Habitat, the one on the right goes to Dobbie's Garden Centre for decor purposes, and lacks imagination. The one on the right loves bingo, the one on the left can't do numbers yet. And the one on the right isn't even a kitten â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it's like todally a dragon. Oh. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JH The one on the left is currently reading the Club pages in The Skinny whereas the one on the right has already read it and partaken of the Club scene. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EP One coughs up hair balls The other one is from Dragon Ball â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SS Both dragons used to be full of hope, naĂŻvity and youth. But the dragon on the right recently watched Aphex Twin's music video Come To Daddy and immediately lost all those feelings. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; AT

The Manchester programme is set to include events at Sankeys (Derrick May, Surgeon, 17 Apr, tickets ÂŁ10-15) and Soup Kitchen (Mount Kimbie, Synkro, Braiden, Dan Hampson, 17 Apr, ÂŁ10), with more to come at The Ritz and Antwerp Mansion, among others. Further details, including application information, will be announced soon. For more info in the meantime, head to redbullmusicacademy.com/events

CANCER The worst thing about losing your limb is now everyone expects you to become a fucking athlete.

LEO This month you wake to find you have metamorphosed into a giant insect, dramatically increasing your sexual attractiveness and career prospects.

VIRGO â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never a dull moment,â&#x20AC;? you chuckle to yourself as you hack through the shin bone of your dead best friend. LIBRA You watch as your children play a game of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Doctors and Nursesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, filling out endless paperwork, dealing with budgetary constraints and completing

grueling 30-hour shifts, all while a Tory toddler hangs around trying to shut the whole game down. SCORPIO Browsing around the surf shop for a wetsuit so you can go in the sea come springtime, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re shocked to see a colourful range of sporty-looking Shark Dildos for sale next to the snorkels and surfboard wax. You shrug and pick one up as well as a Dolphin Ball-Gag and some Sea Turtle Anal-Beads. You intend to enjoy the sea this year.

SAGITTARIUS You spend your evenings sitting in bars and restaurants doing silent, atrocious farts next to bright young couples out on their first dates, all the while complaining loudly that the stench is ruining your dinner, begging whoever is doing it to please stop.

CAPRICORN As an optimist, you believe the flaming bin containing your crushed hopes and dreams is half full, rather than half empty.

AQUARIUS Paranoid about asteroids hitting the earth and wiping us all out like the dinosaurs, you develop a gigantic magnet to pull them all closer towards earth so we can keep a better eye on them. PISCES Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t join that cult, start your own, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy! To find out how, simply cut off all contact with your family and attend my â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;How to Start a Cultâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lectures every day and night for the next six years in my desert compound.

twitter.com/themysticmark facebook.com/themysticmark

Chat

Nikolai Lugansky

Mon 9 Mar

Tue 10 Mar

Award-winning novelist Emma Jane Unsworth and former Time Out LGBT editor Paul Burston are among the panellists for In Front of the Children, a debate on whether the ease of access to pornography is helping or hindering children's sexual development in the 21st century. International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester, 3pm, £8 (£5)

The seventh annual Oliver Awards celebrates the the great and the good of Leeds' fast-rising food scene, with fine dining, quick lunch bites, food from regions of the world and all manner of other categories included in what's become a key part of the city's cuisine calendar. Centenary Pavilion, Leeds, 7pm, £55

Author, documentary filmmaker and radio presenter Jon Ronson comes to Waterstone's Deansgate to talk about his new book So You've Been Publicly Shamed, which takes a darkly comic look at the phenomenon of public shaming on social media. Seasoned chair John Robb will be leading proceedings. Waterstone's Deansgate, Manchester, 7pm, £8 (£6)

Emma Jane Unsworth

Photo: Darren Hall

Sun 8 Mar

Jon Ronson

Oliver Awards

Sat 14 Mar

Sun 15 Mar

Mon 16 Mar

We might look fresh-faced, but here at The Skinny we're old enough to get nostalgic about the one-off return of Keys Money Lipstick. Having plundered the best in art pop, electro and disco circa 2006-2009, they're returning to support The Star & Garter's fight against its ongoing threat of closure. The Star & Garter, Manchester, 10pm, £Donations

Getting older mercifully hasn't dimmed Dylan Moran's acerbic wit, and the Black Books and Shaun of the Dead man is back with some suitably embittered new material, which gives the impression of rambling even as it hits with a sharp precision. The Lowry, Salford, 8pm, from £24

Constantly one of the most innovative and chameleonic producers in the UK – as his two LPs on Warp have proven – Glasgow's Rustie calls in to Manchester ready to unpack his bag of tricks, mixing the euphoria of trance with hip-hop beats and flashes of techno. The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 7.30pm, £10

Rustie

Dylan Moran

Keys Money Lipstick

Thu 19 Mar

Fri 20 Mar

Sat 21 Mar

Olivier-nominated director Ellen McDougall makes her Royal Exchange debut with a stripped back and contemporary version of Anna Karenina, Tolstoy's classic novel of love and betrayal set in St. Petersburg, with Karenina giving up social respect for an illicit affair. Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, 19 Mar-2 May, from £15

Transmission Funk return to the JBs basement with a truly thunderous headliner. Perc Trax's Truss drops in with some hefty slabs of hardcore-driven techno menace, taking his cues from past innovators like Neil Landstrumm, Cristian Vogel and Surgeon, though rarely allowing himself to rest in the past. Joshua Brooks, Manchester, 11pm, from £8

Impropriety's mammoth two-day improv-athon returns, with Happily Ever After seeing the Kazimier bedecked out as a fairytale woodland for 33 hours of improv storytelling. Few details yet – which is how the organisers like it – but you can be sure of a gamut of twists and turns. The Kazimier, Liverpool, 21-22 May, from £15

Anna Karenina

Truss

Wed 25 Mar

Thu 26 Mar

Fri 27 Mar

Salford performance poet JB Barrington brings his award-winning show Woodchip Anaglypta and Nicotined Artex Ceilings to the Lantern. Known for their quick-witted comical rhymes, Barrington’s poems come from a working class perspective and lay out life in its wartsand-all glory. Lantern Theatre, Liverpool, 7.30pm, £10.50

The Ship & Mitre's inaugural Wirral Beer Festival was so successful last year that it's returning for a second instalment. More than 100 beers and real ales are on offer, while those of a sweeter tooth can choose from 40 ciders. The Ship & Mitre, Wirral, 26-29 Mar, prices vary

Threshold returns to the Baltic Triangle for another weekend of home-grown talent stretching across styles and genres. Among those to watch out for are past Skinny New Blood-er Natalie McCool, who presents a new project with DROHNE and Silent Cities, and MOBO-winning hiphop artist Akala. Various, Liverpool, 27-29 Mar, prices vary

JB Barrington

Chat

Wirral Beer Festival

Happily Ever After

Natalie McCool

THE SKINNY

Photo: Nuria Rius

Nirbhaya

Photo: Marco Borggreve

The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra turn a whopping 175 years old this month (they're looking well!) but as a prelude to the celebrations, they're performing one of Tchaikovsky's most angst-ridden works – his Fourth Symphony, written when the Russian composer was convinced that fate itself was out to destroy him. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 7.30pm, from £13

Photo: Andrew AB

Spring means touring season in the music world, and this month’s Heads Up is heavily propped by shows from Sleater-Kinney, Vessels and Courtney Barnett, among others. It’s been a good couple of weeks since Maxine Peake did anything of note too, so we’ve chucked her in as well.

Kicking off its theatre schedule with a UK premiere of Pieter Ampe's So You Can Feel, SICK! Festival debates urgent physical, mental and social challenges over a three-week programme spanning dance, literature, film, installations and debate. Also among the highlights is Yaël Farber’s moving play Nirbhaya. Various, Manchester, until 25 Mar, prices vary

Photo: Andrew Ellis

Compiled by: Simon Jay Catling

Wed 4 Mar

Photo: William Burdett Coutts

Heads Up

Tue 3 Mar

New exhibition Group Therapy explores the effects of digital technology on our mental state. Among the commissions is Madlove by The Vacuum Cleaner, which responds to the artist’s own experience of psychiatric hospitals as punishing rather than loving environments by creating “a safe place to go mad.” FACT, Liverpool, 5 Mar-17 May, Free

A more radio-friendly sound on last year's rapturously received third LP Nikki Nack hasn't reduced Tune-Yards' entirely unique live presence. The acrobatic vocalist and songwriter from New England returns to the UK ready to galvanise audiences once again with her eccentric worldpop. Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, 7.30pm, £15

With sampling informed by cutting-edge AfricanAmerican musical forms from jazz to juke, Romare's latest album Projections is at once methodical and imbued with freedom; and with an eye on the dancefloor even within the studio, the Ninja Tune artist's live show promises to be an energetic affair. Constellations, Liverpool, 9pm, £5

Tune-Yards

Wed 11 Mar

Thu 12 Mar

Fri 13 Mar

In celebration of 20 years of legendary Chicago label Dance Mania Records, Soup Kitchen invites DJ Funk to Manchester for an intimate midweek two-hour showcase of all things Dance Mania. You can expect everything from ghetto house, booty house and juke to techno, electro and trap. Soup Kitchen, Manchester, 11pm, £4

LIPA students present their take on comedy classic Hay Fever. Described as a cross between high farce and a comedy of manners, the play is set in an English country house in the 1920s, and deals with the eccentric Bliss family and their outlandish behaviour when they each invite a guest to spend the weekend. LIPA, Liverpool, 7.30pm, £8 (£4)

Hot Plate's Jamz takeover sees one of the brightest grime MCs on the circuit, Novelist, headlining proceedings. The 18-year-old's 2014 finished in a blaze, with a MOBO nomination and an appearance on the BBC Sound of 2015 list. Tonight's a real "say you were there" show. 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool, 10pm, from £8

DJ Funk

Hay Fever

Local Mancunian prodigy Kiran Leonard's been keeping busy since 2013's Bowler Hat Soup, with a series of low-key collaborations and experimental self-releases offsetting the surging interest in him. Tonight, though, promises a tantalising glimpse into new material from his forthcoming second album proper. Gullivers, Manchester, 7.30pm, £7

Once known for siren guitars and Mogwai-esque crescendos, Leeds' Vessels began a seismic stylistic shift a couple of years ago with a blistering cover of Nathan Fake's The Sky Was Pink – and with new LP Dilate they complete their transformation into a full-blooded live techno band. They launch the new album tonight. Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds, 8pm, £8

Photo: Manox

Wed 18 Mar

Vessels

Mon 23 Mar

Tue 24 Mar

How many grunge revivals are we up to now? Nevermind: when each cycle turns out bands as winningly energetic as local Liverpool scamps Scouts you don't need to keep count. The four-piece nip back home as part of their current UK tour, playing at unofficial DIY promoter hub Maguire's. Maguire's Pizza Bar, Liverpool, 7.30pm, £5

Maxine Peake's turned so many heads at this point that many of us now possess the spinal dexterity of a barn owl. Her stunning turn as Hamlet last year at the Royal Exchange premieres in widescreen form across the UK today, with the Cornerhouse among those showing the update of the Shakespeare classic. Cornerhouse, Manchester, 7.15pm, £12 (£10)

Returning with their first album in ten years, Sleater-Kinney are a trio who remain utterly vital in the makeup of punk music. Spawned from the initial riot grrrl movement, the group have gone on to influence countless others since their 1994 formation. To have them back as good as ever is a delight indeed. Albert Hall, Manchester, 7pm, £22.50

Scouts

Maxine Peake

Photo: Jonathan Keenan

Sun 22 Mar

Sleater-Kinney

Mon 30 Mar

As part of Wonder Women Festival and in celebration of Stevenson Square's historical meeting point for protest marches and political speeches, The Ladies Room presents a day of talks and performances, with headliners including experimental synth collective Eccentronic Research Council. Stevenson Square, Manchester, 28-29 Mar, Free (ERC £5)

Quickly establishing herself as a lyricist of both caustic wit and startling self-revelation, Courtney Barnett's mix of early 90s college rock and fastpaced wordplay comes to the Brudenell on tour in support of her first proper LP, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 7.30pm, £10

What needs saying about Lee Scratch Perry? One of the pioneers of the scratch DJing technique, and a pioneer in reggae and dub, the producer has worked with everyone from Bob Marley to The Clash. He's 78 years young but still touring, and tonight’s the first of two dates in Manchester. Band on the Wall, Manchester, 30-31 Mar, £24.50

March 2015

Courtney Barnett

Photo: Haydn Rydings

Sun 29 Mar

Photo: Leigh Yeats

Sat 28 Mar

The Ladies Room

Photo: Giles Smith & Jacek Zmarz

24 Kitchen Street

Tue 17 Mar

Kiran Leonard

Romare

Lee Scratch Perry

Chat

Photo: Pieter Morlion

Labyrinth Psychotica by Jennifer Kanary Nikolov

Photo: Chris J Rhodes

Sat 7 Mar

Photo: Tom Manley

Fri 6 Mar

Photo: Thomas Lenden

Thu 5 Mar

Cara Comedian She comes and goes. Embarking on her sixth nationwide tour Cara Josephine, Josie Long talks to us about growing up standing up Interview: Jon Whiteley Photography: Ben Bentley

t’s a cliché to say that comedians are just big kids; that being a comedian is less a career and more a means of extending one’s adolescence. Like most clichés it operates on a fuzzy, relativistic truth, with examples both for and against it. Many comedians have young families, mortgages and drive sickeningly sensible cars – other comedians are like Josie Long. As a performer, she’s unapologetically silly and boundlessly enthusiastic, and she brings more than a little of this off stage with her with both its benefits and its burdens. She started in comedy younger than most, at the age of 14, and by the age of 17 she’d scooped the BBC New Comedy Award. Despite appearances on most of the Polyfilla panel shows used to plug the gaps between Top Gear episodes on Dave, she’s broadly shunned the limelight of broadcasters’ big tentpole comedy shows, instead working for the last decade to cultivate a small but loyal following both at the Fringe – her shows sell out too quickly for the tardy punter – and all around the country. On her current tour of latest show Cara Josephine, she’s playing venues that, while not box rooms, are a far cry from the LOLosseums played by some of her contemporaries: “I love a small gig, and obviously that’s the essence of what stand-ups do really,” she says. “I just like the fact that you’re in a place where you can kind of have that intimate, exciting connection with a room full of strangers. For me the crappest, ugliest thing is massive stadium gigs. I just think, ‘Why would you ever want to see comedy in that environment?’ “It’s the same with bands,” she adds. “I’d much prefer to see a band in a smaller venue. It’s more exciting, it’s more like a real experience.” Bands, at least, can fall back on big choruses to fill an echoey void, but, as Long says, “You can’t sing along to comedy. You can’t even really dance.” Long has made her name in a style of whimsy that flits between the literary and the daft: long routines about Charles Darwin are interspersed with stupid gags and non-sequiturs. Her childlike wonder permeates her shows, right down to the hand-drawn programmes that accompany them. A large part of her enduring appeal is down to her ability to delicately balance

Feature

these two conflicting pulls, taking audiences from the academy to the ballpool. Aside from this, a flowering political conscience has changed the tone of her work in the past few years. She’s began producing shows still packed with optimism, but now with an activist slant. This has translated offstage into a number of projects, including arts-funding organisation Arts Emergency, which she cofounded in 2012. More recently, she’s been running stand-up investigative journalism shows with reporter Martin Williams: “It’s kind of a way to do political shows but make them more interesting and unusual, because they’re Martin’s investigations – it’s not, ‘I read this news article and I wrote some jokes,’ it’s like we did this investigation together and this is what it was.” It’s an interesting approach, where tough subjects can be tackled in a friendly, lawyer-free environment. “We’ve done one so far, which is about extreme fundamentalist Christian private schools – of which there are hundreds. In particular, ones that teach a particular type of curriculum called ‘Accelerated Christian Education,’ which is fucked up, basically. It’s terrible, terrible tuition – it doesn’t teach children to think for themselves.” The Cara Josephine show is arguably more personal than some of her previous offerings, documenting the aftermath of a messy breakup. “It’s about how in 2013 I found myself in this place where I was really heartbroken and I’d just been in a relationship that’d ended, and I wanted to write about love and to use writing as a way to make sense of it all – try and move on a little bit.” Relationship breakdowns are common fodder for comics wanting to stretch themselves to an hour-long show – it’s a universally-binding human experience, an easy mine for self-deprecation and when it’s not funny, you can always scrape a pity laugh – but this isn’t Long punching for the arena crowd. She doesn’t linger on the relationship itself, but instead uses the experience to look at the weightier concepts of love and her own feelings – “I just wanted to write something talking about love and how I felt. I tried not too worry too much about what people are doing because if you do that, it’s the road to ruin – once you start worrying, you never stop.” It could be self-indulgent stuff in more deadpan hands,

but as she says, “There’s quite a lot of tangents about sport and poetry and nonsense and politics.” This is a show that aims to put the sense of fun back into crippling heartbreak. It’s a step away from her more polemical work (although she makes exceptions, Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg both receiving deserved kickings). “In the past, I’ve performed shows about politics where it’s like you either agree or you don’t, or it kind of stirs something up in you or it doesn’t,” she says. “Whereas with this, people have been kind of really identified with it, and it’s been such a wonderful experience to get to have that connection with the crowd.”

“My character is a bit like me, but a bit more of a mess” Josie Long

The blindly romantic character she portrays on stage is, like most good comic personas, an exaggeration of herself. She’s used the character for a number of other projects including a Radio 4 sitcom, Romance and Adventure (named after her 2012 live show: “I just thought it was a cracking title, so I thought ‘Fuck it, I’ll get my money’s worth’”), currently in development with director Doug King. “My character is a bit like me, but a bit more of a mess I suppose. And then there’s Doug’s character, who’s called Darren, who’s a bit more level-headed. Yeah, it’s been really exciting, I’m really chuffed that we’re going to make [a] series, because I want to see where we can take it.” One of the places she’s taking it is the big screen, with an independent feature film slated for the summer: “It’s about this woman who thinks she’s got everything sorted, but she wants to be more involved with politics and stuff like that. Her sister moves away and she kind of has this crisis, and it’s a bit about belonging and a bit about how you kind of feel you’re rooted in you and where you live. But more fun than that.”

COMEDY

Writing as a 32-year-old with a Peter Pan complex, she is perhaps better equipped to handle the topic of a break-up than more than most: a bad break-up does, after all, expose our basest, pettiest and most childlike qualities. But if the cliché holds, and comedians are overgrown teens granted licence to show off in front of the class, do they respond to something like a dumping in the same way a teen would? Do they sit in a room writing sub-Morrissey prose, or ride their motorcycle off a cliff like a 50s hearthrob? Of course not: pain becomes puns as the tears of the clown dry from the big, exhaling guffaws of a rapturous crowd. “Being a comedian, in general, is such a playful thing,” she says. “You have to engage with play and muck around and think in creative ways, that for whatever reason a lot of people can’t.” A certain childishness can break up the mundane rhythms of life – rhythms that stifle the kind of creative thought needed to make good, original comedy. It’s apt, then, that her show is a very much a coming-of-age tale 15 years too late. Long celebrated the birth of her niece – Josephine – last year. “I wanted to give her something,” she says, “but I’m not really a great adult role model for her; I can’t drive and there is something really adolescent about me.” So: she’s given her a comedy show. “There’s lots of different meanings of her name like love and friendship, and I was like, ‘This show is about love and friendship.’ I thought it was really something that meant a lot to me and it was something that I could give her, you know? Regardless of whether I may not be a very conventional adult.” Arguably, she’s a much better role model than she lets on: one that says it’s okay to hold on to your playful side well into adulthood. Long’s career proves that the self-confidently adult world of professional comedy with its sharp suits and Formica smiles isn’t the only route to finding an audience, extracting laughs and gaining the respect of your peers. Josie Long plays Unity Theatre, Liverpool, 2 Mar; Gorilla, Manchester, 7 Mar (7pm and 4pm matinée); and Machynlleth Comedy Festival, Wales, 1 May josielong.com

THE SKINNY

November 2014

COMEDY

Feature

Loud and Clear Rhode Island’s noisiest pair, Lightning Bolt return with the relative polish of new album Fantasy Empire – if only bassist Brian Gibson could stop apologising

he interview has barely even begun before Brian Gibson offers an apology, and all for the heinous crime of asking to see our questions in advance. “With certain interviews, it’s almost like I get a performance anxiety or something,” the genial bassist explains politely. “I’m better having casual conversation.” Whether down to natural candour or just straightforward politeness, he’s easy to like. Several times during our Skype conversation, having answered queries thoughtfully and in depth, there’s visible panic in his eyes when he fears he hasn’t been sufficiently clear. He pauses and stares back at us through the prosaic gaze of the webcam. “Do you know what I mean?” he asks, worriedly. We assure him that we do. Not that clarity has ever been an issue for noise rock duo Lightning Bolt. The reason for our conversation is Fantasy Empire, the band’s seventh album and their first to be recorded in the finery of a ‘proper’ studio, as opposed to their rather more humble practice space. It sounds enormous; a furious blend of piledriving riffs, wild drumming and incomprehensibly distorted vocals, and it’s a triumph. The differences, however, have been playing on Gibson’s mind. “We were definitely worried about being too hi-fi, too polished. Both of us had seen bands we liked who’d gone to record in a fancy studio, and then the magic that was there in the beginning is just instantly destroyed. I felt a little bit like that when The Jesus Lizard went on a major label. Even though I still love all their work, the record sounded a little more pristine. I was like, ‘this isn’t the point,’ y’know?” Naturally, both he and drummer/vocalist Brian Chippendale had their reasons for the upgrade – “We felt that we might be able to make something that’s more intense than we could’ve made before, that has more energy, captures more of the intensity” – but their worries naturally stretched to how this new development would be received by long-term fans. “The studio felt way more relaxed – another dangerous thing. It was so comfortable that we were worried the music would lose its edginess.” In any case, he needn’t be concerned. What their recordings have lost in sonic rawness does

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not detract from their brutal synaptic shock. Fantasy Empire is a fresh take on a unique formula; a chemistry between two contrasting musicians (Gibson being the steady, contemplative yin to Chippendale’s tireless, manic yang) that’s managed to remain vital for 20 years. “If I was playing with a different drummer, I think I’d play differently,” he says, musing on the intra-band relationship, “but sometimes I think if Brian played with a different bass player he might be more inclined to play drums the same way. I think we’re a little bit different in that way – he’s amazing, his drumming is awesome. We just play together, neither one of us leading. The music’s just kind of emerged out of the murk.”

“Are we professionals now? That’s not what we want! Not if we’re supposed to be a punk band!” Brian Gibson

As with previous offerings, the murk has unleashed another collection of raucously heavy noise rock. This time, however, Gibson and Chippendale seem to reach new levels of intuition and understanding, whether exploring the outer limits of what can be wrenched from their battered instruments, or simply peeling the paint from the walls with their sheer volume. Occasionally – particularly within the throbbing currents that drive numbers like The Metal East – they even hit upon something akin to the hard rock/drone crossover that constitutes much of psych’s re-emergence in recent times. Although the 39-year-old happily talks up his krautrock-flavoured listening habits (“Harmonia, Roedelius…

lately I’ve been really into Moondog”), he laughingly denies any awareness of the zeitgeist. “I never feel that tuned in. I think if I did know more about the zeitgeist then I might react negatively to it. It might sound arrogant to say that, but I get bored of things quickly – if everybody’s really into something, I naturally wanna produce something else. “We’ve had this thing lately where we’re trying not to have too many parts. Like, Ride the Skies and Wonderful Rainbow had a lot more going on. I remember being really influenced by this Boredoms record, Pop Tatari, and how playful it was. They would grasp onto different ideas and just change direction.” He chuckles. “And it’s funny, because now Boredoms are this superlong, repetitive psychedelic band.” Gibson warms to his theme: “The first time I saw them was in Providence, when Lightning Bolt formed. That one show totally blew my mind and changed the way I started thinking about music. I was really into this idea of a band that’s conveying fun, excitement and joy, rather than being in a heavy band that’s angsty and angry. Boredoms really showed me that.” This ties in nicely with something we’ve pondered after rewatching The Power of Salad & Milkshakes, the 2002 documentary that followed Lightning Bolt’s tour in support of second LP Ride the Skies. It makes for incredible viewing, capturing the sweat-drenched majesty of their live show from close up (largely thanks to the duo’s notorious policy for setting up amidst the audience rather than using the stage). During one scene, a frustrated Gibson bemoans the negativity of “Slayer-sounding stuff,” adding that darker sounds feel “played-out.” So what inspires the sense of catharsis in Lightning Bolt’s music? “We’ve definitely found over the years that it’s fun to be heavy and dark; that has its own quality. Wonderful Rainbow was really playful; we wanted to try being a little more serious, so we started writing more songs that were kind of intense. I have mixed feelings about it; I think when we started doing that, we lost something really magical. But also I’m not a big fan of doing the same thing over and over.”

MUSIC

Interview: Will Fitzpatrick

In that sense, has the documentary come to define what people expect from the band? “I think so, yeah. I was kind of having a crisis during that documentary, ‘cause even though the audiences seemed pretty small at some of those shows, people had heard of us, and they were going crazy before we’d even started. We weren’t actually playing music for people; we were just fulfilling their expectations. We weren’t a shock anymore.” He stops to reflect. “I’ve embraced that a little more now. It’s actually fun for everybody.” That familiar look of concern causes his brow to furrow. “Sorry, does this sound a little cynical?” Not at all, we insist – just the healthy perspective of maturity and experience. He nods. “It’s obvious that we’re 20 years older in a lot of ways. There’s definitely a lot of positive aspects – we communicate way better now because we know each other so well. But when we play…! Brian was amazing 20 years ago, but every day he gets a little better, and I think my bass playing gets a little better – I feel like we can do anything and it’s awesome.” A wry, self-aware grin creeps across his face. “We can’t do anything. But our options have expanded a lot. Maybe in some senses that means better music, but in other senses, it’s like, are we professionals now? That’s not what we want! Not if we’re supposed to be a punk band!” So what does he want? “That’s a really hard question, but it’s always been to be something real in a world that’s very manufactured in one way or another. And I say that humbly, because there’s no way to avoid being a product or manufactured, but the world needs real things that feel like some sort of shared experience.” And where does Fantasy Empire fit in with all of this? “I’m going to paraphrase what Brian Chippendale said: ‘It’s a raging record for a raging time.’” Got it. Crystal clear. Fantasy Empire is released via Thrill Jockey on 23 Mar laserbeast.com

THE SKINNY

F R O M T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L LY A C C L A I M E D KNEEHIGH THEATRE

A P L AY A D A P T E D A N D D I R E C T E D B Y E M M A R I C E

T U E 7 – S AT 1 1 A P R I L T H E L O W R Y. C O M / D R A M A | 0 8 4 3 2 0 8 6 0 1 0

REGISTERING TO VOTE IS EASIER THAN EVER

Make sure you’re registered to vote in the 2015 General and Local Elections on 7 May. Register now at

www.gov.uk/registertovote March 2015

YOUR VOTE MATTERS MAKE SURE YOU’RE IN

TUES 3 MAR 7PM £7 ADV

RHODES

TUES 3 MAR 7PM £19 ADV

THE SECURITY PROJECT

A UNIQUE CELEBRATION OF THE WORK OF PETER GABRIEL

THURS 5 MAR 7PM £3 ON THE DOOR

NOTORIOUS

FRI 6 MAR 7PM £14 ADV

MARTHA TILSTON

FRI 6 MAR 7PM £4 ADV

DUSK TILL DAWN PRESENTS

THE SONIC REVOLVERS

+ NOVICE MATHMATIC, BLACK NEON KNIGHTS, THE SIX THIRTIES, ATLAS EYES, FRANCESCA ROSE, THE WITTY FEATHERSTONES, CLAUDFIELD, AZTEX, DAISY MILL

SAT 7 MAR 12PM-5PM FREE ENTRY

PILLBOX VINTAGE FAIR

SAT 7 MAR 7PM £6 ADV

OUTLINES

WEDS 11 MAR 7PM £13 ADV

LUCY ROSE + HALF EARTH

FRI 13 MAR 7PM £14 ADV

DUKE SPECIAL

+ PAUL COOK & THE CHRONICLES

FRI 13 MAR 7PM £6 ADV

LIVERPOOL ROCKS! - SEMI FINALS SAT 14 MAR 12PM-5PM FREE ENTRY

TINDERBOX VINTAGE FAIR

SAT 14 MAR 7PM £11 ADV

WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS

SAT 14 MAR 10PM 18+

CHIBUKU 15TH BIRTHDAY

TUES 17 MAR 7PM £15 ADV

THE ANSWER

WEDS 18 MAR 7PM £4 ADV

WEDNESDAY RAGE FT. CLOUD

THURS 19 MAR 7PM £16.50 ADV

THE SELECTER + THE TUTS

THURS 19 MAR 7PM £11 ADV

MILES & ERICA OF THE WONDER STUFF

FRI 20 MAR 7PM £10 ADV

HUNTER & THE BEAR

FRI 20 MAR 7PM £6 ADV

LIVERPOOL ROCKS! - SEMI FINALS SAT 21 MAR 11PM 18+ £10 ADV / £8 NUS

DUBABUSE FT. MACKA B & THE ROOTS RAGGA BAND

WEDS 25 MAR 7PM SOLD OUT

JOHNNY MARR

SAT 28 MAR 7PM £10 ADV

MIC LOWRY

SAT 28 MAR 7PM £6 ADV

JACKOBINS

MON 30 MAR 7PM £3 ON THE DOOR

MOONSHINE

FT. COLLECTORS CLUB, HIGH TYDE, VYNCE, WHITECLIFF & SPECIAL DJ SET

TUES 31 MAR 7PM £6 ADV

DEMOB HAPPY

WEDS 1 APR 7PM £11 ADV

WARD THOMAS

THURS 2 APR 11PM 18+ PAY ON DOOR

NOTORIOUS

ALL THE 2000’S HIP HOP, POP AND R&B YOU COULD ASK FOR

SAT 4 APR 10PM 18+

CIRCUS

MON 6 APR 7PM £12.50 ADV

YOUNG GUNS

THURS 9 APR 7PM £16 ADV

HAPPYSAD

FRI 17 APR 7PM £12.50 ADV

MARK MORRIS (THE BLUETONES)

SAT 18 APR 7PM £22.50 ADV

ADAM ANT PERFORMING DIRK WEARS WHITE SOX IN FULL

THE SKINNY

Last Man Standing Through his work with Gang of Four, Andy Gill is a guitar hero who has inspired everyone from St. Vincent to Franz Ferdinand. When vocalist Jon King quit in 2012, most presumed the group was over. Gill explains What Happens Next

thrash of punk. Gill’s riffing would echo down the years and inspire everyone from The Edge to Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party and St. Vincent – the latter recently proclaimed him as her favourite guitar player ever along with Marc Ribot. The 59-year-old’s minimalist, often abrasive style was forged in an era when convention dictated more was always more. While Genesis and Pink Floyd were reaching for outer space, Gill was listening to The Best of Muddy Waters and dreaming of emulating the style of Canvey Island’s finest duck walker, Wilko Johnson. “Seeing Wilko and Dr Feelgood was a real lightbulb moment,” he recalls. “He never stopped looking at the audience and didn’t spend much time looking at his guitar – I duly noted that. That robotic, machine-like thing the whole band had, that sort of riffing – it was almost like an electronic take on Steve Reich or something. “I always think of the guitar as being part of a larger instrument, which is the band,” he continues. “What I always find uninspiring is when guitarists treat the rest of the band as a background over which they show off, so the guitar playing isn’t part of the intrinsic sound that the bass and drums and other instruments are making. The sort of image I had in mind was that everything was side by side – the drums had to work around the guitar riff, which had to work around the bass riff, which had to work around this semi-chanted lyrical thing, which worked around the drums – each element had to work with the other parts of the band.” This blueprint would be built with fantastic results on 1979’s Entertainment! and Solid Gold two years later, and its influence is still apparent on the latest Gang of Four album. But there are two crucial differences between the new record and those that preceded it. There are a wider range of outside collaborators working with the band than ever before. And there’s no Jon King. While original bass player and drummer Dave Allen and Hugo Burnham returned for a brief mid-2000s reunion, they played no part in 2011’s Content. There were a few quips that

enthusiasm didn’t help the creative process. I think, from that point onwards I knew I wanted to make another record and embrace those opportunities very enthusiastically. I felt a number of doors had opened up.” There was no question of whether Gill would make another Gang of Four record. “I told Jon, ‘well, you know I’m going to be continuing, don’t you?’ He said ‘that’s your decision.’ I didn’t have to think about it for a second.” Gill could still call upon the services of Glaswegian bassist Thomas McNeice, who has played with Gang of Four since 2008, but questions remained over who could fill King’s sizable shoes as frontman. “I wanted to have other guests and collaborations, partly because I felt like doing that for some years. I didn’t want to have a situation where I’ve gone, okay, ‘goodbye to the old singer… and hello to the new singer,’ ta da! It would have been a bit odd and also put pressure on whoever came in. I thought, this is the time to do what I’ve been thinking about, and work with different people.” Thus, new singer John ‘Gaoler’ Sterry is variously joined on vocals on What Happens Next by the likes of Alison Mosshart from The Kills, Robbie Furze of The Big Pink and Japanese guitar hero Tomoyasu Hotei. Perhaps most intriguing is the presence of German actor and musician Herbert Grönemeyer, who, although relatively unknown in the UK, is a major Central European star. “He’s an old friend,” confirms Gill. “Most people in this country know him from Das Boot, but in Germany, he’s their biggest selling rock star by a million miles. I was introduced to him about 20 years ago, and he volunteered as soon as I mentioned I was getting involved with a lot of different people. He’s got a really extraordinary voice.” Many of the songs on What Happens Next explore the idea of identity in the 21st century, a natural choice for a group always known for being politically aware. “All across Europe there is an identity crisis,” Gill ponders. As an adopted Londoner, he views multiculturalism and the growth of the city favourably, but worries that the capital’s dominance comes at a cost to the rest of the UK. The artwork for the new album is a dual image of the building that defines London’s recent boom more than any other: the Shard, the neofuturistic, 87-storey skyscraper that dominates the South Bank. It was a deliberate choice, says Gill. “I’m personally in favour of striking modern architecture, and I think the Shard is rather brilliant; but at the same time there’s something slightly threatening about it. You look at it sometimes, and think it’s like a modern-day pyramid stretched upwards, and then other times, you think that right at the top of the Shard there is probably some psychopathic derivatives trader snorting a bag of cocaine and looking through his binoculars at the minions below.” Although he is the last one standing of the original Gang of Four, Gill is in no mind to slow down and is already planning another album. His motives are simple, he insists. “I just enjoy it; if something gets in my head I make little notes, and the next thing I know I’m down in the studio busting something out. In other words, it still comes naturally and it’s hard not to, in a way. I do feel sort of grateful that I’m able to continue what it is that I do.”

Gang of Four had become Gang of Two, but that number was further reduced when King left the group in 2012. Gill, whose partnership with the vocalist stretched all the way back to when they ran the Leeds University film society, must have been disappointed to see him leave.

“I told Jon, ‘well, you know I’m going to be continuing, don’t you?’ He said ‘that’s your decision.’ I didn’t have to think about it for a second” Andy Gill

“Yes and no,” he responds after a short pause. “We made Content with the explicit purpose of doing a lot of live stuff. The commercial reason for touring back in the old days was to help sell the record. And now the commercial reason is the other way around, you make the record to help the touring. We had done very few gigs, a couple of weeks in North America and a couple of weeks in Australia, when he said ‘well, I think that’s me done.’ So that was a disappointment, as we weren’t doing what we had said we would do in terms of playing, and all touring stopped from that point on. “But… I think sometimes his enthusiasm was not there, perhaps sometimes – you can tell I’m carefully choosing my words here! – the lack of

Photo: Leo Cackett

t’s a question that would baffle even the most eager connoisseurs of pop music trivia. What links Gang of Four, prime movers of postpunk, and Dolly the sheep – the first mammal ever to be cloned from an adult cell? The unlikely answer involves a tour manager-turnedbiotech entrepreneur named Simon Best and seminal Edinburgh independent record label Fast Product. It was Best who commercialised the cloning technology responsible for Dolly in the late 90s, making millions for the Roslin Institute that pioneered the process. Some 20 years before, as a jobbing sound engineer, Best had recommended a group of students at the University of Leeds to Bob Last, founder of Fast Product. The band was The Mekons, still touring to this day, and then good pals with Gang of Four. It’s a story that Andy Gill recalls fondly when The Skinny calls him one freezing Sunday evening in January. With a much-anticipated new album, What Happens Next, out on 2 March, 36 years after the group’s debut, it’s hard to believe they thought their chance had once gone. “We were all feeling a bit passed over,” he laughs. “It was Andy Corrigan, who was the singer in The Mekons at the time, who told Bob: ‘You shouldn’t be mucking about with The Mekons – it’s the Gang of Four you want.’” That timely intervention led to the release, in 1978, of a stellar EP, Damaged Goods, which won the group a deal with EMI. Gang of Four would go on to release seven albums over the next three decades. They pioneered a strippedback sound built on robotic drums and bass, like a Krautrock-inspired Chic, over which Andy Gill’s guitar would chop in and out with bursts of freeform noise. When combined with the chant-like vocals of Jon King, whose lyrics ranged from Marxist critique to social realism, it was an intoxicating mix. Along with contemporaries such as Public Image Ltd, Gang of Four incorporated funk and dub influences at a time when guitar music was rapidly evolving from the snarling three-chord

Interview: Chris McCall

March 2015

MUSIC

What Happens Next is released on 2 Mar via Membran. Gang of Four play Gigantic Indie All Dayer at Manchester Academy on 23 May gangoffour.co.uk

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Girls Behaving Badly It’s not in every debut that you find a scene where a bisexual Iranian woman angrily brandishes a strap-on in public – but you’ll find it and more in Desiree Akhavan’s boundary-pushing comedy Appropriate Behaviour. Just don’t call her the new Lena Dunham

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find your anger incredibly sexy – I hate so many things too,” Shirin (Desiree Akhavan) deadpans when first meeting her soon-to-be girlfriend Maxine (Rebecca Henderson). Shirin’s attempts at flirting are as awkward and misguided as nearly everything else she does in Appropriate Behaviour, but her guileless need to please can’t help but charm. Whether angrily and very publicly brandishing a strap-on (in her hands, that is) or spending a blind date boozing out of paper bags in the Brooklyn streets, Shirin’s life is laid bare emotionally and physically. (She’s so plainly spoken that before roleplay she suggests to Maxine that they make their safe word “safe word” to avoid any misunderstandings.) It could be said that Shirin is open to a fault – except when it comes to revealing her bisexuality to her Iranian immigrant parents. “She’s incapable of being anything but genuine,” says writer-director Akhavan, who makes her feature debut after the cult success of online web series The Slope, which she co-created with ex-partner Ingrid Jungermann. “The title was a commentary on all these different subcultures she belongs to, the many identities of what it means to be a child of immigrants, or queer, or in New York even. To me, each one of those identities has their own very strict set of rules, of what’s appropriate, what’s inappropriate. The character of Shirin is someone who is incapable of being appropriate in any setting she finds herself in.” Disingenuous is a word that pops up often during our conversation, and it’s obvious that Akhavan considers it a dirty one. Still, Shirin’s (and Akhavan’s) self-effacing, almost kittenish vulnerability mitigates her inappropriate, at times painfully blunt, attitude. In Appropriate Behaviour, Akhavan strikes the perfect comic balance between cheeky and needy without ever seeming precious or posed. The film’s storyline – which follows Shirin’s attempts to deal with an overbearing family and win back Maxine while tracing the arc of their relationship through flashbacks – bears more than a passing similarity to Akhavan’s own life. While writing the screenplay, she was dealing with a breakup and the aftermath of having come out to her family. Akhavan is herself the daughter

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Interview: Michelle Devereaux

of Iranian immigrants and openly bisexual, two pivotal facets of her life she rarely sees depicted onscreen. “Just the very fact that I’m an out bisexual and Iranian is completely inappropriate,” she says, insisting there’s a unique “neither here nor there” stigma attached to being bisexual. “We have depictions of gay couples and gay life and what it is to be gay, but that’s a very clearcut division in the sand, you know? Gay people feel the way you feel about the opposite sex but with the same sex. [Bisexuality] is in the messy grey area. There’s also this weird implication of cheating and lying.” As for Iranian portrayals in Hollywood, she’s even more disheartened. “There are very few depictions of Iranians, period. It’s like, Argo and Not Without My Daughter.”

“In the tiny indie world there are so many powerful women” Desiree Akhavan

Despite the film’s autobiographical elements, she insists that it doesn’t amount to simply a “diary entry.” “I wanted to explore these issues that felt so specific to me and do it in a way that could potentially be universal,” she says, “and to do that effectively I didn’t want to make something that was so clearly my experience.” A bittersweet relationship comedy at its core, Appropriate Behaviour treads familiar territory, but its universal feel isn’t won by sacrificing character and moment specificity; from incredibly awkward sexual hook-ups to weed-induced, stream-of-consciousness conversations played against the backdrop of falling in love, the film hones in on small, emotionally charged moments even in the midst of near-absurdity. A young, Brooklyn-based female filmmaker with a sexually frank outlook, Akhavan is often compared to Lena Dunham. To make the idea even more

tempting, she recently appeared in episodes of Girls after Dunham and co-creator Jenni Konner saw and liked Appropriate Behaviour. “I find it flattering, but I also think it’s incredibly lazy,” she says of the comparison. “I understand how people sell papers or get clicks online. Everyone wants to read something that says ‘Lena Dunham’ in the title. So it’s very cheap, and it sucks, especially since it’s inherently sexist and has this weird implication. Because it’s not just me, it’s every female filmmaker right now making honest work,” she says, pointing to Gillian Robespierre, the director of 2014’s Obvious Child, Zero Motivation director Talya Lavie and US television series Broad City. “Every young woman doing something outside the norm of the Hollywood system is the next Lena Dunham. That does have the implication that there’s only space for one funny woman whose work can be monetised. So there’s a threat behind it.” Still, despite offering a very different perspective than Dunham (queer and non-white, for starters) she concedes to some of the reasoning behind it. “I live and work in Brooklyn, I’m comedic, I star in the work I direct and write. Yes, I see that.” Media bias or no, Akhavan is excited about the changing, increasingly positive attitudes to female sexuality and to women making their own work, at least in the world of independent film. “In the tiny indie world there are so many powerful women. The majority of the accolades and the best films I’ve seen this past year from first-time directors were from female directors,” she says. When asked why she thinks it’s so difficult for women to transition from the indie world to become major players, she is circumspect. “Most first features are independent. Most first-time filmmakers do work in a bubble because no one’s going to take a multi-million-dollar risk – I mean, people do, but it’s rare. So it’s a transitional leap that’s very hard to make, and I have no idea what it takes because I’m not there yet.” (Akhavan’s

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film was funded through private equity secured in the UK.) Currently she’s taking a different route to success, in a medium that’s recently proven much more receptive to telling substantive stories by and about women, by pitching a small-screen comedy about a “lesbian-identified woman who comes out as bisexual and starts dating men for the first time in her thirties.” “First and foremost I want to make work that is really funny and entertaining,” she says, “but I also really don’t give a shit unless [it] has something cutting beneath the surface.” She regularly tackles taboo subjects within the queer community, such as internalised homophobia, power dynamics in queer relationships, trans men versus butch lesbians, and lesbians who start playing for the other team. The tagline for The Slope, a hilariously irreverent takedown of queer Brooklyn hipsters, is ‘superficial, homophobic lesbians’; one of the shorts even features a scathing parody of the near-universally beloved ‘It Gets Better’ anti-suicide campaign. (“Don’t kill yourself,” Akhavan counsels, “because suicide is super gay.”) That brashness, though it may be intrinsic to Akhavan’s button-pushing proclivities, feels a little toned down in Appropriate Behaviour – likely a nod to her desire for broader appeal. But there’s still plenty of the blissfully bitter mixed in with the sweet. Ultimately, Akhavan says, she’s interested in redefining the parameters of what’s acceptable: “The more people who come out, the more people who demand respect for themselves, the more the culture bends to them,” she insists. Her beguilingly awkward take on boundary pushing certainly demands respect, even as her fumbling, funny alter ego suffers from a lack of it. Appropriate Behaviour is released in cinemas on 6 Mar by Peccadillo Pictures peccapics.com

THE SKINNY

Utopian Thinking As the general election approaches, it will be impossible to avoid the ambush of political soundbites and slogans. The Skinny talks to radical bookshop News from Nowhere about the link between politics and language – and the fate of independent bookstores

Interview: Holly Rimmer-Tagoe

align the creation of a future socialist state with a return to a medieval, pre-industrial past). Vere refers to a quote by Morris; he said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” It’s a “lovely thing to think about,” she says. “What do we need in life? We need bread; everybody needs a roof and the physical necessities of life, but we also need roses, we need beauty, we need art and culture. That’s what the bookshop is about: the politics of culture and the culture of politics. The point where those intersect is where News from Nowhere lives and it’s often very much on the edge. We aren’t the centre of anything. We’re always considered a bit wacky and off the wall – if not positively subversive and dangerous, which we love to be thought of [as].”

s you stroll down the bohemian oasis of Liverpool’s Bold Street, it is impossible for your eyes not to be drawn to the bright rainbow painted above the bookshop News from Nowhere. Symbolising both unity and diversity, as well as being the emblem of the gay rights movement, the rainbow serves as an apt introduction to the famous radical bookstore. Inside, there are bookshelves with labels such as ‘Dirty thieving bastards’ and t-shirts on sale with Karl Marx proclaiming, “I told you this would happen” and “Bollocks to the bedroom tax.” The bookshop is a women’s co-operative; all of the workers have equal status and pay. At the shop’s core is a commitment to social change and development; it stocks literature that provides an alternative view to mainstream culture and debate. “We’re all directors,” laughs Mandy Vere, the longest serving co-operative worker of the bookstore. “We wanted to show that women could run a business. For a long time we’d have people coming in saying ‘where’s the boss?’ as soon as they saw a woman at the till.” News from Nowhere has been at the centre of progressive bookselling since it opened in 1974. “At the time, the books that we wanted to stock were not available in mainstream bookshops,” observes Vere. “It was a revolutionary time – the feminist movement was just starting and there were civil rights movements. Radical bookshops were very much centres for those radical ideas through literature and information about campaigns. The bookshop was the centre for all the things going on in Liverpool, at the time, throughout the militant years (including the Falklands War, Thatcherism and the period of the riots and uprisings in Toxteth). It was always a hotbed of revolution, radicalism and campaigns and, to some extent, we are still that. “I’m talking a lot about the politics here, but the books are obviously integral because books are power and books are information,” Vere continues. “If people can’t read, or don’t have access to literature, they are impoverished intellectually, politically and socially. Yes we have access to information now from the internet, which is absolutely brilliant, but nothing will ever completely replace books.”

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Vere describes the bookshop as a haven that provides “intellectual and cultural sanity” amid a chaotic world. She is aware that the bookshop’s reputation often precedes reality: “Sometimes people are aware of the bookshop and have always had an impression of us as being very militantly lefty, or that we’re a bit scary. When people actually venture into the shop, they find that we’re actually quite normal and there are a lot of books here that they like. It’s all about openness, information and ideas. We hope that people will find something to laugh at when they come in as well. It doesn’t all have to be serious.” The bookshop’s name is taken from William Morris’s novel of the same name (a utopian book which tries – not altogether successfully – to

“That’s what the bookshop is about: the politics of culture and the culture of politics” Mandy Vere

Debate among literary academics and readers continues to rage as to whether political writing can ever be considered in the same vein as literary masterpieces, given that works such as George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Lewis Jones’s Cwmardy seem to lack a floridity of language and ambiguity that supposedly characterises prize-winning, critically successful literature. Orwell wrote about the division between politics and literature in his essay Why I Write: ‘In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues.’

Vere similarly depicts the separation of literary and political writing as arbitrary. “I could give you a list as long as my arm of beautiful, wonderful novels that have real political content,” she says. “I mean ‘political’ in its wider sense about society and how we fit into that. Our bestselling novel is The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell. That’s the bible of the labour movement in Britain; trade unionists recommend it to their friends. It probably isn’t a literary masterpiece in terms of the way it’s written. It’s a bit turgid and it could have done with a bit of editing, but it’s a really important book and people still read it. “We can all read crime, thrillers and fantasy books, but the books that you remember are the ones that really touched you, that had some depth to them. Or, that opened your eyes up to a different culture and way of looking at the world, and I think that those are the important ones.” The plight of independent bookshops is widely acknowledged with the number dwindling to fewer than 1000. In 2013, the Booksellers Association created the Books Are My Bag campaign where celebrities, including model Lily Cole and TV personality Dawn O’Porter, attempted to garner support for indie booksellers. Is independent bookselling, in the current climate, as difficult as it seems? Vere is optimistic about the future of independent bookshops, but laments their demise. “The rise of Amazon is the biggest threat to independent bookselling,” she says. “It is a terrible indictment of the UK; the UK’s book trade has been the envy of the world for hundreds of years. “Liverpool’s radicalism is one of the reasons we’ve survived. People rally around because they feel that it’s their bookshop. It’s almost like it’s not our shop – it very much belongs to Liverpool. Amazon will fail. They have become too big for their boots. Anyway, we are a women’s co-op and we are the real amazons. That’s our phrase: shop with the real amazons.” Visit newsfromnowhere.org.uk for information about all of News from Nowhere’s events this month

Mandy and Bob at 100 Whitechapel, 1977

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THE SKINNY

Creature Creators The founders of The Critter Shed publishing collective explain why they decided to put out their first comic Interview: John Duffy

Life Death - Vicky Ledsom

itting at an unfurnished wooden table under a mesh of cable and light bulbs in Liverpool’s newest coffee shop, Golden Square Coffee, Chris Anderson and Alex Smith – creators of independent printing collective The Critter Shed – are recalling the shenanigans of their recent birthday bash. The duo are relieved to be finally free of a hangover: “Yeah, it feels good to be one again” – and are open, easy-going and friendly; not something you might expect after reading their comic book about all things existential and survival, Life Death. The Critter Shed started in late 2013 with a mission to create a collective platform for independent artists to showcase their work. “It started in Leeds University, which we both attended, and in wanting to do something in Liverpool when we got back,” Smith explains. “It

came about by collaborating with people we had met along the way, and asking them to draw yetis and sea creatures, and the outcome and positive feedback that stemmed from there.” Having initially focused on screen printing, with Life Death The Critter Shed has now moved into the publication of comic books. “It wasn’t anticipated. We just sort went with flow,” says Anderson. The expansion is organic, given they “are both into small-print comics,” says Smith, and the intent is now to “keep the ball rolling and keep pushing our name further, with a line of comics and eventually podcasts.” With the future looking bright for The Critter Shed, the conversation moves on to the comic book itself, which manages to be both comedic and bleak in its exploration of life and death, and features some of the best

independent comic artists from the UK and around the world. The timing of the release couldn’t have been better, given the growing popularity of, and increased demand for, independent and alternative comics. With Gosh! Comics – London retailers of cuttingedge small-press comics – picking up Life Death, The Critter Shed has reached another important milestone. “It feels amazing to have a comic that you have made in your hands and that people were willing to get involved with,” says Smith. “It goes back to the Creatures packs [collections of illustrations] we did such as Yeti and Space that revolved around one creature and one aspect, and seeing the artist’s interpretations of that concept – but it also stems from them, their technique and the medium they work in.”

“We had a shortlist of artists from Liverpool, Leeds and Valencia [who use] diverse ways of creating and designing, to see the contrast in the answers each artist gave to a ‘yin and yang’ concept,” says Anderson. “Mikko [one of the artists featured in the comic] uses paints, Henry Booth spraypaints, Vicky Ledsom uses pencil (we use pencil to digital) and Tommings uses poster pens [to] convey the story and the outcome of their work as well as what is going on in their heads. “That’s the beauty of it – we sent out the same brief and every submission is different and totally unexpected. That really surprised us.” Life Death, published by The Critter Shed Press, is out now, RRP £4 thecrittershed.co.uk

Speaking in Tongues Part of the Humanities in Public programme, Beyond Babel celebrates multilingual life and the richness of those who speak several languages. We take a closer look at the trio of films in the one-day festival Interview: Chris High

ultilingual film festival Beyond Babel brings together three movies from across the globe, with the aim of guiding audiences closer to cultures and realities different from their own, while also providing a platform for widening critical debate in increasingly important subject areas such as multilingualism and global citizenship. It is certainly a diverse programme, with work from legendary German filmmaker Wim Wenders playing alongside that of France’s Cédric Klapisch and Welsh director Marc Evans. These are films that cover a varied a range of genres, including near-future (now past) science fiction, comedy and social commentary. Bis ans Ende der Welt (Until the End of the World) is Wenders’ 1991 offering starring William Hurt, Max von Sydow, Sam Neill and Jeanne Moreau. Much of Wenders’ work is both sprawling and – in all fairness – a little confusing. Both of these traits still apply here, but Bis ans Ende der Welt raises many interesting questions with regards to technological advancement and its consequences. In the 1991 film (it takes place in late 1999), Indian authorities have lost control of the country’s nuclear satellite, which is set to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and thereby contaminate a vast area of the Earth’s surface. On fleeing the city and getting caught up in traffic,

March 2015

Claire (Solveig Dommartin) takes a side street and embarks on a ‘road trip’ of self-discovery that is every bit as intriguing as it is, at times, perplexing. L’Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment) is, by contrast, a comedy with which many current and former students will identify, particularly if they have ever studied abroad on the Erasmus programme. The movie was a considerable commercial success in France in 2003 and the presence of a talented ensemble cast (including Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou and Kelly Reilly) and some playful directorial touches involving splitscreens and speeded-up footage make Cédric Klapisch’s film an entertaining romp, despite some overt cultural stereotyping which, in itself, provides grounds for debate. Following the screening, Dr Isabelle Vanderschelden, the author of several critical film texts and guides, and her MMU colleague, sociology lecturer Dr Benedicte Brahic, will discuss the film’s intercultural dimension and the effects of multilingualism on its characters. “The movie depicts the day-to-day realities of constructing the European Union – the sort of experiences, dilemma and emotions Brussels does not and cannot account for,” Dr Brahic tells us. “It shows the tensions between the resilience of traditional identities and the ‘appeal’ of cosmopolitanism

Patagonia

and globalisation and what being a global citizen means, or at least a somewhat ‘hedonist’ version of these ideas.” In 2010, Mercy singer Duffy – who hails from Bangor in north Wales – made her cinematic debut playing Sissy in Patagonia, which tells the story of Gwen and Rhys, a troubled Welshspeaking couple who attempt to reinvigorate their failing marriage by travelling to South America so that Rhys can photograph the Welsh chapels of Y Wladfa, the Welsh settlement established there in the 19th century. A low-budget movie with the vista of a Hollywood blockbuster, Patagonia has a great deal of warmth and humour, covers a range of human interaction and is quite subtly clever in

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the way in which it dovetails the two cultures of Wales and Argentina. If for no other reason, however, the film should be seen for Robbie Ryan’s stunning cinematography, which brings to life the wild, barren landscapes in which the characters find themselves and illustrates each of their individual isolations perfectly. There’s an additional linguistic dimension in which Patagonia excels: it parallels two nations clinging on to the survival of their own languages and, in so doing, trying to preserve their individual identities, which makes the movie all the more intimate, absorbing and beautiful. Beyond Babel takes place 14 Mar at Manchester Conference Centre. For screening times, go to hssr.mmu.ac.uk/hip

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IN CINEMAS MARCH 6 20

THE SKINNY

Dreaming Bigger, Screaming Louder Québécois firecracker Xavier Dolan says he sees cinema as revenge against the mundanities of everyday life. With his brilliant new melodrama Mommy, that revenge is served piping hot Interview: Philip Concannon Illustration: Louise Lockhart

March 2015

As Cornerhouse prepares to move to HOME, its Spanish & Latin American Film Festival gets a makeover, too. We preview the first in a trio of ¡Viva! weekenders Words: Chris High

n May 2009, a young man named Xavier Dolan arrived in Cannes to present his new film, the story of a troubled relationship between a mother and her son. In May 2014, a young man named Xavier Dolan arrived in Cannes to present his new film, the story of a troubled relationship between a mother and her son. Just five years passed between the release of Dolan’s debut feature I Killed My Mother and his latest film, Mommy, but the difference we can see in the artist who made them is extraordinary. What looked like raw potential in 2009 has since been brilliantly realised. Although the subject matter and the presence of Anne Dorval and Suzanne Clément in the cast list may encourage us to draw comparisons between these two films, Dolan refutes any suggestion that Mommy is a revisitation of earlier themes. “A movie about mothers and sons is like a movie on human beings,” he tells me. “It really is just so vast a theme, and encompasses so many, many, many possibilities for characters who are defined by quests and dreams and personalities rather than just titles.” In general, Dolan is a man who is too busy looking forward to contemplate what’s behind him, but he is conscious of the progress he has made so far, admitting that he finds it hard to watch some of the more jejune moments in his first two features. ”Certainly, every new film is a new opportunity, not necessarily to explore things you haven’t explored in previous endeavours, but more likely to avoid repeating mistakes you’ve made in those,” he explains. As well as eliminating those mistakes, Dolan has ventured boldly into exciting new territory. After shooting his 2012 film Laurence Anyways in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Mommy finds the director squeezing the frame even further, utilising a 1:1 ratio that takes some getting used to but pays off spectacularly during the course of the film. He and his talented cinematographer André Turpin previously experimented with this style on a music video they made for Indochine’s College Boy (which also starred Mommy ’s Antoine Olivier Pilon), but there’s a big difference between a technique working for a six-minute music video and a 139-minute feature. “I didn’t know Mommy was my next movie when I shot College Boy. I figured it out a couple of weeks later,” he tells me, “André and I realised that anything in the ‘middle-range’ shot-wise was a waste of our time; it was either close-ups, or very large shots. Anything in between was oddly inelegant, even ugly, and seemed completely incompatible with the square aspect ratio. It’s been used over centuries for portrait photography, and portraits really are what fill it in with the most sense, and harmony.” It’s funny to hear Dolan talk about harmony in the context of Mommy, because this is a film largely defined by disharmony. With his characters often at each other’s throats and with every emotion being pushed to the limit, that tight frame seems ready to burst at every moment, and Dolan clearly relishes this type of storytelling. “I’m not interested in documentary-like restraint and pastel-toned characters acting like losers. It’s not that I only relish histrionic display and balls-to-the-wall scenes; there is a time for silences, and calm and rest, and I love to find the

Adiós, Cornerhouse: ¡Viva! 2015

balance between both.” Mommy is a full-throttle melodrama and Dolan makes no apology for that; in fact he believes that cinema should offer a heightened alternative to our reality rather than a reflection of it. “I just think that life can be boring enough to the point where cinema is – more than any other media or art – its revenge. So characters are allowed to dream bigger, scream louder, cry uglier, sing better, dance without shame, and have the last say with sassy dialogue that they perhaps couldn’t come up with in normal life. They are allowed to win.”

“I fucking hate digital. It is lifeless, flat, soulless and a lie” Xavier Dolan

Some subjects elicit a particularly passionate response from Dolan. Having begun his career shooting on digital, the director has since moved to 35mm, transitioning in the opposite direction to most contemporary filmmakers, and when asked about this choice his answer is unequivocal. “Look, with all due respect to masterful cinematographers and the tastes of other artists, I fucking hate digital,” he says. “It’s just ugly, and an absolute deception. It is lifeless, flat, soulless and a lie. Sometimes extremely talented people make it work, but there always is a scene where you see it, in the whites, in the trees, it just is a lie and it takes away the

film’s life.” You can add Xavier Dolan’s name to those of Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson and other fervent 35mm advocates, but Dolan is pessimistic about the medium’s future. “I just fear the time when film will disappear. I apprehend it so badly because I know that, when it happens, I’ll keep making movies but I’ll watch them and something will be forever missing. I’m afraid that would be life.” For the time being, Dolan is still shooting on film and still making movies his way at his own phenomenal pace. He is currently in production on The Death and Life of John F. Donovan – his first English-language feature, starring Kit Harington and Jessica Chastain – but he is already thinking beyond that film to the future. I ask him how far down the road he is looking and his answer surprises me: “Far, far, far down indeed. You never know what will go, and what won’t. So, I don’t know… I’d say… as far as six years down the road?” Xavier Dolan will only be 31 years old then, and considering the way his work has evolved over the course of the past five years, I’m relishing the prospect of seeing what he has produced at an age when most directors are only warming up. One thing is for sure – everything he makes will be produced with the same passion and intensity that has distinguished his films to date, and he has little time for critics who decry these aspects of his work. “I will never tone down my characters or deprive them of their traditional soliloquies and big eruptions just to please people who love sobriety, and tamed personas,” he states defiantly. “Cinema is a spectacle – wake up!” Mommy is released 20 Mar by Metrodome

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ne of the most exciting prospects to look forward to at HOME, Manchester’s soonto-be-opened centre for contemporary visual art, theatre and film, is that Cornerhouse’s much-loved Spanish and Latin American cinema season, ¡Viva!, will also be making the migration down Whitworth Street West to become a crossplatform festival at the new venue, incorporating visual art and theatre as well as cinema in 2016. Until then, Cornerhouse and HOME will be splitting the festival into three parts across a trio of ¡Viva! weekenders throughout the year. Part one takes place at the Cornerhouse from 5-9 March, and promises a typically eclectic mix of movies and events. The ¡Viva! weekender opens with the darkly funny Quién mató a Bambi? (Who Killed Bambi?), directed by acclaimed Sevillano filmmaker Santi Amodeo, who will also be in town to introduce. The film is essentially a comedy of errors which centres on David (Quim Gutiérrez), a young man who’s not having the best of days when he finds his boss and future father-in-law dead in his office. It’s a film full of mistaken identities and crossed wires and is sure to be a popular opener (5&7 Mar). Another highlight is María y el Araña (Maria and Spider), from award-winning director María Victoria Menis. It tells its story from the points of view of María (Florencia Salas), a 13-year-old girl who lives in the Argentine shantytown of Villa Rodrigo Bueno, and that of Araña (Diego Vegezzi), a 17-year-old dressed in a lousy Spider-Man costume, who scrapes a living by juggling balls in the subway. As their love story unfolds, another narrative comes to the foreground – a story of suppression and hidden pain that will stir audiences to their very core (9 Mar).

María y el Araña

Love is also in the air in Ecuadorian comingof-ager Feriado (Holiday), from writer-director Diego Araujo. Juan (Juan Manuel Arregui), a shy and sensitive 16-year-old from a posh family, finds himself attracted to teen biker Juano (Diego Andrés Paredes), who introduces the privileged kid to black metal and his first flutterings of true friendship, love and attraction (7 Mar). For local film-fans, ¡Viva! is the perfect opportunity to see great movies that are unlikely to find their way to your local cinema. And for the Cornerhouse itself, this weekender marks the end of an era as it prepares to finally close its doors in April. No need to get too teary-eyed, though: the second ¡Viva! weekender takes place at HOME in June, with a third gala programme set to be unveiled for the autumn. Keep your eyes and ears open for further details in The Skinny.

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Tackling the Art of Difficult Conversation As it expands from Brighton to Manchester, directors Helen Medland and Tim Harrison discuss the issues and impetus behind SICK! Festival here are certain topics that we would simply rather not talk about. Topics that belong under the carpet and at the back of the closet, that are strictly forbidden at the dinner table. They are distinguishable via a large warning sign that reads ‘do not approach’ and the unsavoury smell of archaic stigma. Trapped in an age where it is considered normal to deposit every banal thought into the bank of social media (‘you just have to watch this sleeping cat’), important dialogues remain unheard, pushed into a corner to converse in hushed voices. But no more – SICK! Festival aims to tackle the art of difficult conversation. Launched in Brighton in 2013, SICK! Festival is dedicated to revealing and debating our most urgent physical, mental and social challenges, embracing difficult topics through an unflinching programme of theatre, dance, film and debate. “We were frustrated with contemporary art,” explains director of development Tim Harrison. “We wanted to present work that reflected the real issues of our own lives and the lives of the people around us, bridging the gap between art and life and more specifically, art and health.” Among a muscular concoction of ‘real issues’ sit topics such as schizophrenia, suicide, rape and pornography. “We have compiled a programme that addresses these issues boldly,” continues Harrison, “presenting work that is keen to say the things that others shy away from.” For Helen Medland, artistic director of SICK!, the festival was born from the desire to offer Brighton audiences a meatier artistic proposition. Programming for Brighton’s contemporary performance hub, The Basement, Medland recalls the limitations of the venue: “I became frustrated with both the size of the venue and the breadth of work I could present there. I found myself with a bank of work that I was eager to share, but had no way of doing so. I began to realise that there were strong themes in the collection and the idea for a festival came soon after.” An instant success in Brighton, SICK!’s expansion into Manchester is an explosive move. “Manchester is a great city,” Harrison begins when asked about the choice. “It has a long history of amazing, socially engaged arts practice – the perfect place for SICK!.” “Brighton is a particular sort of place and we thought it was important for SICK! to happen in a big city with lots of social issues,” Medland adds. “We also like the idea of a North/ South divide: taking the same programme to two very different cities demonstrates its reach.” The programme in question is vast and varied with a wealth of international artists: Ridiculusmus present the intelligent Eradication of Schizophrenia in Western Lapland after a successful Edinburgh run; Yaël Farber’s harrowing verbatim piece Nirbhaya features at Contact Theatre; Irish shocker Lippy moves from London’s Young Vic to The Lowry; and Itai Erdal’s lighting masterpiece How to Disappear Completely arrives from Canada. They are fitting choices in the context of a challenging festival – and equally remarkable in their artistry – though some would point out that this is not theatre for the fainthearted. “The festival needed both dark and light,”

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acknowledges Medland. “We have been very conscientious of that. Performers like Pieter Ampe and Tammy WhyNot help to keep the balance.”

“The subjects we address are heavy and personal, but everybody has difficult moments in their lives” Tim Harrison

“And there are different ways of dealing with trauma,” interjects Harrison. “Sometimes you have to accept a dark experience or you can find an uplifting way to respond. Humour is a strategy that people use to cope when bad things happen in their lives and I think we have reflected that duality in the programme.” For those looking for a little light refreshment the acclaimed Hunt & Darton Café opens its doors in Piccadilly. The eccentric hub of this year’s festival, the pop-up eatery serves as a social and artistic melting pot where spontaneity and performance meet great food and drink.

With guest waiters, themed events and hosted talks, the café approaches the core themes of the festival through collaboration with medical practitioners, academics, artists and local groups. “You could be enjoying a cup of tea and slice of Battenberg cake while engaging in a serious conversation with a doctor,” laughs Harrison. “The café allows more than your normal seven minutes with a GP – it provides room for a more open conversation.” There is, however, the assumption that the nature of the festival’s themes may dissuade the more conservative audience member: do people really want to engage with such weighty topics? Medland and Harrison are confident that they do. “Yes, the subjects we address are heavy and personal,” Harrison offers, “but everybody has difficult moments in their lives.” “Alongside your regular theatre- and dancegoers there is a huge – and largely untapped – audience for this kind of work: service users, mental health workers, those who have been indirectly affected by the subject matter and those who continue to struggle with it. The mixture is wonderful.” In a climate of collaboration, SICK! Festival boasts an array of support that serves to buttress its programming, ensuring the experience extends beyond the 90 minutes of performance: “The charities that we work with – whether that be Survivors, M.I.N.D. or Suicide Prevention

– will be present at all festival events,” explains Medland. “Merely signposting our audience to these organisations didn’t seem enough; we wanted them to be in the room.” There is, of course, no obligation to engage: “They will not be standing with a flag in their hand shouting hello,” she clarifies. “Their presence is simply for those who need it. It is important that there is somebody on hand for those who feel deeply affected by the work.” Such charities have also played an instrumental role in the construction of the festival programme. Implementing an advisory panel comprised of professionals from various social sectors, Medland and Harrison have been careful to enlist specialist advice on what are inarguably delicate topics. “The panel helped us to unpick big issues and recognise the sensitivities attached,” says Harrison. “We didn’t want to make ignorant or insensitive decisions because we didn’t fully understand the territory – the charities have helped to shape things. They are an important part of SICK! and will always continue to be so.” Such a provocative festival is sure to be welcomed by a city that champions brave work, and if it gets people talking – well, that is half the battle won. 26 Feb-25 Mar, various venues, Manchester For more information and tickets find the festival programme at sickfestival.com

Nirbhaya

THEATRE

THE SKINNY

Photo: Sinbad Phugra

Interview: Alecia Marshall

A Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse production

A MIDSUMMER NIGHTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DREAM

By William Shakespeare Directed by Nick Bagnall

Sat 21 Mar to Sat 18 Apr Box Office 0151 709 4776 everymanplayhouse.com

March 2015

Europe’s Largest New Circus

Cirque Surreal Voyagers A circus story for yesterday, today, tomorrow.

Thu 2-Mon 6 April thelowry.com | 0843 208 6010 The Lowry, Salford Quays Tickets £13 - £27 (includes £2 booking fee)

THE SKINNY

Digital Distress As an exhibition exploring the relationship between technology and mental health opens at FACT, artist Katriona Beales talks about her new commission dealing with internet addiction

ne in four people in the UK will apparently experience a mental health issue at some time in their lives. Anxiety and depression are the most common disorders, and whereas in the past these issues have commonly been ignored/denied/brushed under the carpet, today they are more in the open than ever. Over the last few years, celebrity figures such as Stephen Fry and Stan Collymore have talked publically about their struggles with depression, and YouTubers such as Zoella talk frankly about their struggles with anxiety and panic attacks (‘Anxiety Q&A’ with Zoella last year got just under 2.5 million views). In 2010, curator and researcher Vanessa Bartlett started the blog Group Therapy on the a-n Artists Talking website. The blog documented her research into the relationship between art, technology and mental health and, in her first post, she set as her task: “[to extract] the outdated romantic perspective on the insane Byronesque artist and [view] it from a more contemporary perspective, both in terms of the artistic media used (digital and new technologies) and the way in which we understand the issues around mental health.” Fast forward four years and Bartlett is now a PhD candidate at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and Group Therapy: Mental Distress in a Digital Age, opening this month at FACT, is the first case study of her research into the links between art, technology, mental wellbeing and how digital art can be used to raise awareness of mental health issues. The exhibition brings together 14 artists that approach ‘mental distress’ in radically different ways. Superflex open the show with a video work called The Financial Crisis, in which a hypnotist takes the viewer through a set of scenarios relating to job loss, crisis and the breakdown of the economic system. “My choice to position this as the first interaction in the show is part of a larger attempt to frame mental distress as an issue that impacts on all of us who participate in the modern world, and not just a small cohort of people who are ‘ill,’” Bartlett explains. The exhibition includes work from Melanie Manchot, Dora Garcia and George Khut and also objects that refer to the history of how society deals with mental health, such as a 1950s electroshock therapy machine. “[It] intends to highlight our ongoing love of harnessing technology to build better, healthier humans,” says Bartlett. “The first use of electricity to treat brain disorder is on record as early as 1785!” A more local inclusion is a new commission, the installation White Matter, from Katriona

Beales. “The work is part of a body of research I’ve been undertaking over the last few years into internet addiction,” says Beales, “and was developed in conversation with clinical psychiatrist Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, an expert in online addictions. It also responds to my research into the historical antecedents of the black mirror of the screen. The Mexica people treasured obsidian, the volcanic black glass-like material, making mirrors and other ceremonial devices as portals to access other realms. In White Matter I draw a parallel between these obsidian mirrors and contemporary mobile telecommunications devices, which also act as portals into vast realms of information.” The installation centres around a moving image work, back-projected onto the ceiling of a round room. In the centre of the space, a raised surface supports hand-shaped black glass objects: “Of a similar scale to mobile phones and tablets but with curved surfaces, solid and weighty in the hand,” as Beales describes them. The audience is invited to handle these and use them as viewing surfaces, watching as these hand-held surfaces reflect and distort the projection above them.

“There was a kind of disconnect from the body as I browsed online; I forgot myself” Katriona Beales

The title of the piece comes from some research showing that online gaming addicts have changes to the white matter structures (the neural pathways) in their brains similar to cocaine addicts. (“A scientific study in 2012 has shown that Internet addicts ‘show an impairment of white matter fibres in the brain connecting regions involved in emotional processing, attention, decision making and cognitive control,’” says Beales.) One of the shorts in the moving image work references the news story of a South Korean couple who played a role-play game called Prius Online for 12-hour stretches every day. In the game they nurtured an online girl called Anima, who grew and developed the more interaction she received. Meanwhile, tragically, their three-month-old baby starved to death.

Katriona Beales - Anima (2014)

March 2015

Interview: Sacha Waldron

Katriona Beales - White Matter Fibers, HCP Dataset side

The coroner reported that the pair had fed their premature baby just once a day. “I‘ve digitally manipulated [an] image of Anima’s face and transformed it into a topography and rendered in 3D,” says Beales, “inviting [the viewer] to journey over the contours of this unknown landscape and gaze into some of the dystopian facets of our increasingly mediated lives.” So what does Beales’ interest in internet addiction stem from; does she have her own internet addictions? “My interest in internet addiction came out of personal experiences of insomnia,” she says, “which I ‘managed’ (or not) by chasing hyperlinks across news articles and websites for hours in the middle of the night. Hours and hours disappear and I end up looking at some totally random stuff with no idea or memory of how I got there. It was this dissolution of time and space – and the sense of being sucked into some kind of void – in which both time and space became somehow meaningless. “Strikingly, there was a kind of disconnect from the body as I browsed online; I forgot myself. I find being online very seductive, in part because of the sensual experience of the physical object (I’m thinking particularly about the glass screen of my mobile) and also because of the aesthetics – vivid, hyper-real, glowing colours and everything happening at once in a plane; pop-up windows, GIFs, banner ads, videos, images, scrolling text panels, etc. I found these experiences of information overload very appealing, addictive, compelling and disturbing all at once, and started to research internet addiction as a result.” The example of the South Korean couple and their unfortunate child seems to be rather extreme – probably most of us suffer from mild internet addiction (I have checked my email three times just while writing this sentence) – but perhaps necessary in order to highlight the difference between compulsion and addiction. “The incident with the baby dying interested me because it was an extreme illustration of this disconnect from the body, and the parents from the physical needs of the child,” says Beales. “It epitomised the dissolution of the physical, a disembodiment so total that it ultimately resulted in death. Unfortunately, it’s not isolated – in South Korea (which is basically pioneering the field of internet addiction as it has a heady combo of super-fast broadband, high youth

ART

unemployment and a popular online gaming culture) there are regularly reported deaths [of] individuals who have not eaten or slept for three or more days and died from cardiac arrest.” “For me,” she says, “the puzzle is to maintain ‘agency’ in the state of human being within the conditions of the digital, which [German artist] Hito Steyerl describes as ‘an audiovisual politics of intensity.’ I’m interested in a critical engagement with the new human environment of the digital – rather than just what are we becoming, what type of human beings do we want to be? I think it’s the sculptor in me – I can’t fully leave behind a preoccupation with the physical and material world. For me both the physical and virtual are forms of reality that are important – and interdependent. I love the pictures of the Google server farms for this reason. IRL isn’t a separate state. “If you look at the diagnostic test for Internet Addiction, which was developed by Dr Kimberley Young in 1998 and is still the only diagnostic test available, you can see that a majority of people (myself included) would be classified under its terms as addicts. In reference to your email ‘habit’ (I had shared my particular internet addiction with Beales), the mesh of telecommunications with network culture means that it’s increasingly normal to spend the vast majority of our living and working time online, which is why it’s a contentious area. But for internet addicts the problem has become a pathological one. During conversations with Dr Bowden-Jones, Henrietta would describe clients who were unable to hold down jobs or relationships, had lost homes, become bankrupt and had totally family breakdown.” However, Beales says, “I don’t agree that this is a societal judgement – as many of these people (eventually) self-refer themselves as they are desperately unhappy.” ‘Desperately unhappy’: it is not a phrase with which I would usually choose to end an article. And actually, this show is full of possibilities and potential navigations and solutions rather than anything else. It explores how we, as stupid, sensitive, fallible humans, navigate the world and our place within it. And maybe everything will be okay. I mean, of course it will. It has to be. ...Right? Group Therapy: Mental Distress in a Digital Age opens 5 Mar at FACT Liverpool

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Carrying the Torch Channel One Sound System’s Mikey Dread shares his thoughts on the resilience of roots reggae, the sound system scene and fighting for his corner at last year’s Notting Hill Carnival Interview: Ronan Martin

henever a genuinely innovative form of music emanates from a particular subculture or national scene, there will always be some degree of appropriation by the wider culture. Specific musical elements are filtered and then branch off in seemingly infinite directions, sometimes leaving barely any trace of the foundations from which they emerged. This is certainly true of the impact of Jamaican reggae music in post-war Britain, from the decades following the peak in immigration from the Caribbean island in the 1950s. At first these new communities were fairly insulated, their shared culture and musical roots serving to hold them together amid new surroundings. But, as they became more integrated into British society, their positive influence on the UK music scene became abundantly clear – acts like The Clash and The Police, then Madness and Culture Club began to release music heavily indebted to reggae. Further down the road, much of the UK’s contemporary electronic music is dominated by a bass-driven sound that owes a great deal to reggae sound system culture – styles like rave, jungle, drum’n’bass, UK garage and dubstep have all reflected these roots to varying degrees. There’s good reason to welcome the proliferation of elements of reggae into other forms – music will always be somewhat derivative after all. Yet, thankfully, there are also those who remain unfazed by what they see as passing trends, and tirelessly champion Jamaican roots music alongside the Rastafarian traditions that serve as reggae’s unifying creed. Founded by selector Mikey Dread and his brother Trevor, Channel One Sound System have operated with clear devotion to their roots for over 35 years – a true testament to the enduring power of Jamaican music. “I think there’s a lasting vibe,” Mikey agrees. “No matter how you try with all these other forms of music coming along, you still can’t push reggae music down.” This buoyancy was evident in 2010 when Channel One was invited to contest the Red Bull Sound Clash in London. Pitted against contemporary bass music figures such as Skream, Benga and Goldie’s Metalheadz, Mikey and long-serving MC partner Ras Kayleb’s dedication to classic dub reggae sounds shone through, confirming the potency of their rich musical heritage. “They invented dubstep to try and take over reggae music,” Dread states with firm conviction. “That’s how I see it. They tried to basically kill reggae music and they couldn’t do it. Dubstep never had a foundation – never did and never will. Reggae music will always have a foundation; a base line to grow from. That is why reggae music will be here for the longest time, even after I’ve gone.” Whenever the time comes that Channel One depart from the landscape, the British reggae scene will certainly have lost a passionate and seasoned proponent. Dread has devoted his life to spreading the sound system culture which he and so many grew up with in London. “It was the family trade, really,” he explains. “Just like anything else, it gets passed down. Dad had it and my big brother had it, so it got passed down to me. You just carry on what your old man started many, many moons ago.” From those early days, characterised by familial customs and sound system parties in the neighbourhood, Mikey has stayed true to

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Photo: Nick Satta

the traditions which define sound system culture – including a strict DIY approach to setup. Nowadays, he says, people are happy to go and pick things up from a shop, whereas Channel One continues to modify and maintain their own system. “The whole idea is to build things with your hands; it’s like a trade. I’ve been doing it now for 40-odd years but there’s always something new to learn. The main thing is getting it over to the people. You could have the biggest sound system in the world but if the people don’t come to your dance, then it’s no good.” Channel One’s ability to bring people to their dance – and keep them dancing – is a trait which has been honed over decades thanks to Mikey’s experiences travelling to Jamaica in the 80s. He used to go there to cut dubplates at the famous Channel One studio on Maxfield Avenue, later naming his own venture in its honour. “There were a lot of sound systems from that time going backwards and forwards to Jamaica and we were no different. That’s how you do your homework. Different cultures and different countries came and started playing sound systems from that time and it progressed into what it is now.” Alongside Mikey, Ras Kayleb has been a part of the sound for 20 years as of 2015, and his commanding vocal presence is as intrinsic a factor as anything else. “A sound system will always need a mic man,” says Mikey. “That is a key element of sound system culture. You need a mic man to either introduce or MC to the music.” The chemistry between Mikey and Kayleb shares a similar dynamic with the early days of hip-hop, when DJs and MCs worked in tandem to

move the crowd, before rappers came to dominate and the DJ was pushed into the background. The notion of sharing musical knowledge is also a refreshing stance in an age when DJ culture is so often characterised by the use of ‘secret weapons’ or snobbishness around keeping things ‘underground.’ “A lot of people will go to a reggae dance and they don’t know what is being played. But if you have an MC there, he will tell you this is from a certain artist – Dennis Brown or Gregory Isaacs or whoever – so people will recognise it again somewhere along the line.”

“They invented dubstep to try and take over reggae music. That’s how I see it” Mikey Dread

Another parallel with early hip-hop music is the ultimately positive message. As with the emergence of gangster rap in the US, many of the modern forms have not echoed earlier lyrical themes of peace and unity. Whether through aggressive homophobia, crass misogyny or a generally violent attitude, some of these new scenes depart radically from reggae’s central messages. “We’re keeping the music fresh and keeping it

CLUBS

clean,” says Mikey. “We’re not into dancehall or things like that, which is about your woman, or your this or your that.” This commitment to positive vibes has perhaps been most evident in Channel One’s three-decade involvement with London’s Notting Hill Carnival – a tradition which was threatened last year when Westminster Council tried to have them moved away from the corner they have worked hard to make their own. Luckily, with the help of an online petition which garnered thousands of signatures, the council reversed their decision – much to Mikey’s relief. “The Channel One Sound System, as everybody says, is one of the cornerstones of Notting Hill because we’ve been there 32 years. Why stop something when nothing has gone wrong? We’ve been there, year in and year out, playing the same music. We were bringing people from all over the world into Notting Hill and bringing a good spirit to the corner.” Asked if he sees a long-term future in performing and touring the system around the world, Dread explains that he prefers to take things one year at a time. “Who knows? One day I might turn round and say ‘I’ve had enough; I think I’ve done my bit.’ But not at the moment.” “I’ve still got my strength, my energy and my health. As long as reggae music is there, we’ll keep going.” Channel One Sound System play Parklife, Heaton Park, Manchester, 7 Jun channelonesoundsystem.com

THE SKINNY

New York and LA might have greater claims when it comes to punk rock significance, but having given the world Bad Brains, Minor Threat and Dischord Records, DC’s disaffected youth were evidently no slouches. Check in on the new generation with three days of hardcore from around the world, including the full-pelt menace of Fucked Up affiliates Career Suicide. Taking place in a 500-capacity church in the city’s Columbia Heights district, this all-ages weekender certainly promises to be an intimate affair compared to other festivals on this list, but that suits this decidedly DIY scene just fine. Three-day pass $50, two-day pass $62; damaged-city.com

21-27 May NOS PRIMAVERA SOUND

4-6 Jun OPEN’ER FESTIVAL

Any festival that has counted Daphni and Half Japanese among its main acts is surely aiming for something a little more niche than yer average pile of buzzbands and crowd-pulling veterans, but Villette Sonique has been managing that very trick since 2003. As you may have deduced, the emphasis is on the esoteric, from experimental noise to the gnarliest IDM. Sun Kil Moon, Battles and Ought lead the charge for 2015’s announcements, divided between ticketed and free open-air shows – in true Parisian fashion, Villette Sonique is mysterious, intellectual and unfathomably cool. Tickets €20-22; villettesonique.com

Credit: Nick Bojdo

MELT! FESTIVAL

Can you really have too much of a good thing? Frankly, it’s about time we all stop propagating this fallacy, especially when everyone’s favourite hipster-bait gathering Primavera is prepared to do the sensible thing and duplicate itself in Porto. Fancy swooning to Caribou and Antony and the Johnsons while the Portuguese sun beats down? Of course you do. It’s also worth bearing in mind that all opportunities to see Patti Smith should, nay, must, be taken. See, this is exactly what we were talking about with all that ‘good things’ business earlier. Weekend ticket €90; nosprimaverasound.com

ATP ICELAND

Nils Frahm // Ferropolis, Germany

See theskinny.co.uk/festivals for the latest festival news and reviews from the UK and beyond

The world needs innovators. Pland-based Open’er’s claim to that particular source of fame may not be the most glamorous in festival history, but it’s certainly one of the most useful – the introduction of the wristband system originated here, giving organisers good reason for a peacock-like strut. This year’s line-up veers from the wildly successful (Faithless, Mumford & Sons) to those straddling the popular/cult divide (Modest Mouse, Swans), so if you’re looking for a reason to visit Poland this year, this should definitely be on your list of pros. Weekend tickets €131-150, day tickets €49; opener.pl

Keflavík, Iceland

Sure, All Tomorrow’s Parties may have irked their UK audience with a series of disappointments over the last few years, but nobody told their Icelandic counterparts. Held, fascinatingly, at a former NATO airbase in Keflavík, just outside the nation’s capital, it’s the usual mixture of indie rock veterans and sprightly up’n’comers, drawn from the weirder and wilder elements of alternative music. Belle & Sebastian and Godspeed You! Black Emperor top the bill, although ATP has always been at its best when knocking you sideways with obscure weirdo acts, so remember to thoroughly check the furthest reaches of the programme. Weekend tickets £87-110; atpfestival.com

ICELAND AIRWAVES

Look, it was only supposed to be a one-time party in an aeroplane hangar. We didn’t know it’d still be around years later, or that Rolling Stone’s eternally-quoted David Fricke would be calling it “the hippest long weekend on the annual music-festival calendar.” Sixteen years on from its inception, Iceland Airwaves still gathers the world’s great and good for five days of music and endless after-parties. Ariel Pink and BC Camplight are among the first to be announced for this year’s shebang, with plenty more to come – plus the beautiful city of Reykjavík offers as much to explore as the hectic schedule. Weekend wristbands 19.900 kr; icelandairwaves.is

MUSIC

15-19 Jul

Dour, Hainaut, Belgium

OK, the name makes it look like a dubious proposition through English-fluent eyes, but closer inspection – aye, that old chestnut – reveals Dour to be the name of the Belgian municipality hosting this five-day (!) shindig. Starting out as an all-dayer with a ‘Frenchlanguage bands only’ policy, it’s grown impressively over 26 years. Having picked up the European Festival Award for best medium-sized festival in 2010, this year sees them continuing to go from strength to strength – there’s always room for a festival bill with names like Deerhoof, Jon Hopkins and Mercury winners Young Fathers. Weekend tickets €110-130, day tickets €50-60; dourfestival.be

4-8 Nov LE GUESS WHO?

Flaming Lips // Reykjavík, Iceland

1-4 Jun

Gdynia, Poland

2-4 Jul DOUR FESTIVAL

15-19 Jul

If you’re gonna stage a festival anywhere, it may as well be in the grounds of an open-air museum of giant industrial equipment. Ferropolis is one such place, hosting one of the biggest electronic music events in Germany. Nils Frahm, Rødhåd and Erland Øye are all down to get the party going, with Alt-J waving hello to those of a more guitar-friendly disposition. Seriously though: 30-metrehigh machines! In a strip-mined desert! You, er, don’t get this at the Carling Weekend. Even if the line-up wasn’t killer, it’d be worth going for the spectacle alone. Weekend tickets €136; meltfestival.de

March 2015

Photo: Richard Manning

Belle & Sebastian // Porto, Portugal

Hookworms // Paris, France

Starting out as a four-act rock’n’pop gig in the north of Belgium, Meerhart's Groezrock has spent the last twenty years mutating into one of the biggest and most hotly anticipated punk festivals in Europe. Reformed firebrands Refused are among the biggest draws, with socially conscious sing-alongs from the likes of Against Me!, but ultimately it’s two days of booze, circle pits and fun with some of the best bands the genre has to offer. Our tip? Don’t miss Philadelphia newcomers Beach Slang, whose heartfelt hooks promise to be a highlight on their first venture outside of the US. Weekend tickets €110, day tickets €70; groezrock.be

Photo: Ross Gilmore

Words: Will Fitzpatrick

Meerhout, Belgium

Photo: Cerqueira Andréa

Washington DC, United States

1-2 May

19-22 Nov

Utrecht, Netherlands

Remember the time when indie rock was firmly buried underneath the mainstream? For better or worse, those days are long gone – nowadays it’s virtually impossible to research an amazing European city without discovering a ridiculously ace festival jam-packed with the stuff. Utrecht’s redoubtable Le Guess Who? usually takes place in November, so official line-up details may yet be some way off. Still, this year organisers are also handling a one-day event entitled One Night in Pandora, starring Pallbearer and garage rock titans Thee Oh Sees, so that should give you some idea of where their hearts lie. Unmissable? Just a tad. Full bill to be announced; One Day in Pandora tickets €29.50; leguesswho.nl

Photo: Gaelle Beri

Still trying to make sense of the vast array of festivals on offer around the globe this year? From punk fests to electro havens, allow The Skinny to guide you through ten of our more esoteric favourites

VILLETTE SONIQUE

10-12 Apr GROEZROCK

DAMAGED CITY FEST

Credit: Angela Owens

International Festivals 2015

#RBMAUKTour

redbullmusicacademy.com/uktour #RBMAUKTour

16 April Thursday

DR.ME’S JACKET

12pm @ The Soup Kitchen Special An exploration into the record sleeve artwork created by DR.ME

A CONVERSATION WITH SKEPTA

18 April Saturday

6:30pm @ The Studio Gorilla Lecture Hosted by Hattie Collins

April Friday

INDUSTRIAL CITY SOUNDS

10:30pm @ Sankeys Club Night Derrick May, Surgeon, Dana Ruh, Happa, Tin Man, Acre

DEEP SOUTH

11pm @ South Nightclub Club Night Omar-S, Doc Daneeka

SIMMERING FROM BENEATH

11pm @ Soup Kitchen Club Night Mount Kimbie (DJ Set), Synkro, Braiden, Dan Hampson

12pm @ The Soup Kitchen Live Broadcast Chunky, Danuka, Glowing Palms, Jon K, Jonny Dub, Krystal Klear, Meat Free Dj’s, Metrodome, Paleman, Swing Ting, Zed Bias, + More TBA

ZED BIAS & FRIENDS

11pm @ Antwerp Mansion Club Night

TROPICAL

10:30pm @ TheRitz Show Hosts on the Night: Skepta, JME, C4, Flowdan and friends Djs on the Night: Todd Edwards, Preditah, Plastician, Slimzee, Logan Sama

RBMA RADIO: LIVE IN MANCHESTER

Zed Bias Presents ‘Boss’, ∆kkord, Paleman, Illum Sphere, Levelz, Chimpo, Sivey, Biome, Jonny Dub b2b Metrodome b2b Rich Reason. Hosted By Chunky, Fox & T- Man

19 April Sunday

STUDIO SCIENCE: PRHYME

2pm @ NQ 2022 Workshop

PRhyme (Royce da 5’9” & DJ Premier)

WAX WORKS

6pm @ Beat Street Special Dj Jazzy Jeff, PRhyme (Royce Da 5’9” & Dj Premier), Todd Terry, Krystal Klear, Josey Rebelle

London Fashion Week: A/W 2015 From 70s flares to look-at-me 80s garish knits, we discuss the trends for the coming autumn/winter season emerging from the LFW A/W15 shows

Words: Ailsa Mullins

DAKS

t is the season that, living in our climate, is much more a day-to-day reality than spring/ summer dressing ever will be. As is usual in the A/W season, trends such as gothic romance and androgyny, as well as materials such as leather and fur, were seen throughout the shows. Awash with different trends, shapes and styles, this season saw designers’ collections take a vast array of inspirations including cinema, music and romance, but with each designer celebrating and staying true to their own unique style. After studying the autumn/winter 2015 shows, we were left asking not ‘What trends will you be following?’ but ‘What decade will you be wearing?’ Sixties Who to watch: DAKS, Orla Kiely, Jonathan Saunders, Mary Katrantzou God bless the 60s! The notorious decade that brought us the mini-skirt and Twiggy, it seems it will never truly go out of style. Autumn/winter 2015 has revamped the decade, however, adding a recognisable, modern twist – think lucid, rich colours, micro hemlines and knee boots. At DAKS the look was utility-inspired with a distinct nod to the mod; from the make-up look (the nude lips to the heavy-lined eyes) to the 60s-inspired baker boy caps. The collection featured bold prints, military-style elegant tailoring, belted woolen doublebreasted coats, A-line skirts and patent brogues – all in an intense colour palette of red, black, white and grey. Glaswegian designer Jonathan Saunders’ offering came in the form of psychedelic prints and colour blocking on garments with long sleeves, high necklines and A-line shapes typical of the swinging-60s look. However, when these pieces were paired with long, skin-tight

Lifestyle

lace-up boots it gave the collection a much more intriguing and sexy feel overall. Orla Kiely played with the idea of librarian chic – with pussy bow and high-neck blouses, checked, collared dresses, mini-skirts and prim pinafores. The muted colour palette continued the 60s theme with custard yellow, peachy pink, beige, green and cream. Brown patent Mary Jane T-bar shoes added to the look. Following on from last season, the cocoon and belted mac are favoured 60s-style coat shapes. However, unlike the spring/summer offerings, normcore’s simple neutral palette is taking a back seat to make way for bright prints – where bolder is better! Bonus point goes to Mary Katrantzou and her stunning studded pockets. Red, black, white and grey; over-the-knee boots prove that they are here to stay. If you still haven’t done so, this season is the time to invest in a pair (there is a style and shape for every taste and leg), be it long, black, classic or white peep-toe lace-ups. Seventies Who to watch: Burberry, Topshop Unique, Roksanda Ilincic The 70s trend has been on the peripheries of many collections for quite a few seasons now but in the A/W15 we see the 70s taking centre stage; from flares to fringing to folk embroidery and round sunglasses, the boho look has broken out the confines of spring/summer and cemented itself as a clear season-spanning trend. Burberry and Roksanda Ilincic offered up an array of peasant dresses that would be perfect to carry you from festival season into the wintery months. Paired, obviously, with fringed bags, boots, jackets – and possibly a signature Burberry poncho!

At Burberry, designer Christopher Bailey was evidently feeling crafty. There were fulllength fringed coats in brown and wine hues, mirrored embroidery and lace-adorned ponchos featuring in muted purple, navy, green and blue. Dresses were made from intricate paisley and folklore-like floral prints and were given lace or subtle cut-out details on the neckline. Even the brand’s signature trench coat was given the 70s treatment! Accessories came in the form of (amazing) thigh-high suede boots which were appliqué with coloured leather patches, pom-pom bracelets and bucket bags with layers of fringing – all adding to the extremely retro feel to the show. The rise of the 70s-inspired turtle neck also makes no intention of slowing down anytime soon. The cosy neckline was spotted across shows and across garment types (dresses, jumpers and tops – you name it). Topshop Unique’s sophisticated dandelion-floral-printed turtle necks were a particular favourite and were paired with blue high-waisted, wide flares or in dress form with a split to the thigh and knee-high leather boots. We saw other glimmers of the 70s look throughout with the colour combinations of brown, yellow and blue as well as in the fabric choice: a brown velvet jumpsuit and shaggy fur coats. Typical of the 70s colour palette, garments ranged from rich wine to plum along with subtle, gorgeous nudes and browns (we loved the orange with burgundy and rust at Roksanda Ilincic). As with the aforementioned 60s trend, there are jolts of bright colour details caught within surface patterns and furs.

Eighties Who to watch: Vivienne Westwood, Christopher Kane, J.W. Anderson A more surprising decade to crop up this season is the decade with the love of girl-boss dressing and the shoulder pad. If the flirtiness of the 60s or the floatiness of the 70s is just too soft for you, this is the runway inspiration that will get you noticed. Fast. Northern Irish designer JW Anderson’s collection was crammed full of 80s-inspired pieces; from the you-can’t-miss-me statement knit jumpers to the scarlet gathered, pointed boots and the geometric dangly earrings. There were circular belt-buckle details, oversized jumpers emblazoned with either large graphic strokes of bright yellow, red and black or kitschy animal motifs, emerald cord legging-trousers (we’re not quite sure) were paired with balloon-sleeved striped lurex tops and asymmetric fastenings. We wouldn’t expect anything less than a hint of 80s from grande dame of fashion Vivienne Westwood, whose models stalked down the runway with dramatic warrior-like red and black paint smeared across their faces, creating a strong, dramatic and sinister look. Chokers, safety pins and cuffs were staple accessories giving a (very large) nod to her punk roots. Westwood showed tiger-print outerwear, prom-like dresses and pieces in printed crushed velvet and (classic Westwood) tartan suits. J.W. Anderson and Westwood weren’t the only ones to be bringing the 80s back; there were even flashes throughout Scottish designer Christopher Kane’s collection, most notably an oversized coat in bright tangerine orange with black flocked lightning bolts zig-zagging across it. londonfashionweek.co.uk

FASHION

THE SKINNY

Jonathan Saunders

J.W. Anderson

March 2015

FASHION

Jonathan Saunders

J.W. Anderson

Lifestyle

Under the Thumb (2014)

Streaker (2014)

Go Joe! (2014)

The Game (2015)

SHOWCASE

THE SKINNY

Turnt Down (2014)

Joe Fletcher Orr W

hilst in discussion with Orr he revealed that he believed he made his best work at high school when he ate an apple from the stilllife table in art class. I am recounting this because I believe it is telling of the artist’s approach to making art, or rather his approach to being an artist. If we view this story as a performance realised in hindsight, one could say that Orr disrupted an institutionalised conception of art through intervention. This reading of the event is a perfect analogy for his creative practice. For his first solo exhibition (Under the Thumb, The International 3, 2014) Orr produced a series of sculptures, installations and performances that used humour as a means to undermine the authority of the art object. Material included a prank turd, personalised giant foam

March 2015

hands and the artist’s silhouette spray-tanned on to the wall – an ephemera of art commodities that poked fun at the seriousness of the contemporary art world and the expectations of the private-view-going public. Approaching his role as artist with a degree of self-reflexivity, Orr used the exhibition as a platform to explore the overlapping roles of comedian and artist. He played the role of ‘class clown’ in order to undermine formalities associated with art, thereby challenging its very definition. This inquiry into the role of the artist is further evidenced in Orr’s curatorial practice. After founding Cactus (his own art gallery located at The Royal Standard in Liverpool), he was invited to curate a number of group exhibitions. Most notable are END, an exhibition in a scale replica

of his own gallery in the gallery space at Toast, and I Dunno Shit at Rogue Project Space, for which he invited a group of artists to create objects for the exhibition opening party. Orr approaches curation as a creative act in itself. In treating it with humour and with such a sense of levity, he reveals just how overly academicised the role of ‘artist-curator’ has become. In his most recent work (The Game) this blurred distinction between his practice as an artist and as a curator becomes Orr’s main point of concern. Invited by Adam Carr to exhibit in the international group show SMALL Rome (Frutta, Rome, 2015), Orr in turn invited all of the participating artists to sign a football. Here, Orr equates contemporary artwork to a signature. He presents us with the ‘works’

SHOWCASE

of other artists selected by another curator, thereby negating his role as either. It is a work that functions as both self-contained artwork and meta-exhibition. It thus serves as a perfect metaphor for his creative practice. – Wilson and Wilson Fine Art Solutions. Upcoming shows: I refuse to participate in failure, SPREEZ, Munich (from 11 Apr) ; The Whole Wide World, The International 3, Manchester (17 Apr); Adventures in Clay, Bronze & Stone, Gallery TBC, Arezzo, Italy (30 May) joefletcherorr.co.uk cactusgallery.co.uk | @cactusliverpool international3.com Instagram: Orrgasm

Erotic Explorers Intrigued by BDSM but unsure where to begin? Fret not, you kinky ragamuffin – Deviance is here to enlighten us all on everything from munches to mantras, anal to zentai Words: Matthew Bobbu Illustration: Emily Tilzey

f you were introduced to BDSM recently, it could well have been through a really awful example of what kink can be. Fifty Shades of Grey, for example, is potentially one of the worst representations of kinky in existence. This begs the question – how can those intrigued by BDSM get involved without things getting fifty shades of rape-culture? Well, there are a few good places to start… The Internet If you’re looking to explore the world of kink, Fetlife.com is an ideal springboard. Hidden from Google and anyone who doesn’t have an account, it’s a front-runner for the kink community. It contains multitudes of groups discussing interests from anal sex to zentai, with events listings, photos and writings on varied topics. It also has incredibly inclusive profile settings, allowing people to specify across the gender spectrum, and display all kinds of relationships with multiple people. If you’re interested in BDSM then there will be somewhere on Fetlife where you feel comfortable.

V Is for Vagina Our writer discusses the costs of nudity-shaming and wonders why we can’t all just call a spade a... well, a vagina actually. This article features discussion of sexual abuse Words: Jessica Walsh Illustration: Emily Tilzey

t was difficult for me to describe to the police officer, sat opposite me in my living room, how I was abused. There was a lot of hand gesturing, blushing and reference to ‘thingies.’ At ten years old I still believed I had a ‘front bum’ and a ‘back bum.’ I wasn’t entirely sure where one began and the other ended. I shuddered to think about what came out of each. Now that I am a mother, I intend to ensure my daughter knows what lies beneath her clothing and between her legs. Once, a few years before I’d made my disclosure, I spent the day off sick from school. I recall my grandparents asking what I had been up to on my day off, and to their horror, my uncensored seven-year-old self responded that I had learned how babies were made. I’d been watching an educational TV show aimed at teenagers. “The man puts his penis into the woman’s vagina,” I began, and went on in great detail, colourfully describing erections, ejaculation and a sketchy journey through fertilisation. I’m sure that in some way they were glad I had been watching educational telly, but my diatribe collided with their Catholic modesty without warning. As soon as I took a breath, the subject was changed. It was an uncomfortable topic. It was an inappropriate topic. Though this televisual learning left me remarkably educated, I disassociated it from myself. Penises and vaginas were alien concepts which belonged to strangers. Meanwhile I, my friends and my family were endowed with ‘front bums’ and ‘willies,’ because they were the words I’d been taught, directly and indirectly, by my nearest and dearest. Needless to say, a few years later, when the policewoman told me that what I had described was sexual abuse, I thought her to be mistaken. How could that be? Surely I’d need a vagina for that to be the case? I have grown accustomed to nudity-shaming. Society has taught me I have ‘private parts’ that need covering up; not merely because they

Lifestyle

are private, but because they are shameful and ugly. Until I was in my early twenties I had no idea what the inside of a vagina consisted of, let alone what my own vagina looked like. I still try to find a quiet corner in the gym changing rooms in order to spare other people the sight of my pound of flesh. In retrospect, I have no doubt in my mind that had I been brought up in a culture that spoke openly and frankly about my sexual organs and intimate body parts, I would not have been as vulnerable a target to my abuser. My husband has admitted that initially he felt perturbed at the thought of hearing small children describing or naming their sexual organs. “Isn’t it sexualising them; telling them more than they need to know? Making them grow up too fast?” “Would you feel as perturbed if they were naming limbs? Their arms, or legs, or feet, for example? Even metatarsals or ribs?” I quizzed. The answer, as expected, was an outright no. As a preventative, safeguarding, and empowering process, I intend to only use correct physiological terminology around my daughter, wherever possible. The words she hears now at six months old may not mean anything, but they will become familiar, normal, nothing to be ashamed of. I explain to her that I am changing her nappy and do not shy away from naming her vulva, perineum, buttocks or vagina. Why should I use any other words? Do I solely refer to her eyes as ‘peepers’ or her hands as ‘grabbers’? To imagine my daughter coyly pointing to her mouth and reporting a ‘gnasher-ache’ is preposterous, so why do the innuendos remain elsewhere? My daughter has a vagina just as much as she has a face, feet, lungs and a heart. It is hoped that, in time, she not only feels comfortable having a vagina, but perhaps feels proud of hers in the same way she may take pride in any other part of herself.

Over a drink If you’ve explored online, chatted with interesting folks and discovered new things about yourself too, you may want to meet some fellow kinksters. Rather than meeting a virtual stranger in private, you should probably find a local munch – a social for kinky people, usually in a pub or cafe. Being casual events where people go to catch up with friends and meet new ones, you don’t have to worry about clothing or unusual customs. Most attendees are happy to help newbies. Some areas even have numerous munches – for example, the Manchester Munch,

DEVIANCE

an under-35s event (great for young ’uns new to kink), and Midweek Munch (various cities). If you’re willing to travel a bit, you will find a munch that suits you. The market Buying online cannot compare to feeling your toys before you use them. Luckily, there are events all around the country where you can buy sexy playthings, from whips and latex to vibrators and blindfolds. The Birmingham Bizarre Bazaar (BBB) is the UK’s biggest market event, though there are others too. Many offer demonstrations, and sometimes even places where you can play with your new toys. The club BDSM clubs are often regarded as sleazy venues full of creepers, but in reality there exists a wide variety of clubs, catering to all kinds of clientele. London’s Antichrist is one of the biggest events, host to debauchery of many flavours. Whether you want to dance, whip someone, get tied up, or dress sexy and chat, club nights can provide that in fine company and style. And finally – stay ‘SSC’ Most people you meet in the kink community will be respectful, following the mantra of ‘Safe, Sane and Consensual.’ It’s important that preferences are negotiated and boundaries are respected. Unfortunately, however, both inside and outside the kink community, there will always be those looking to cater to their own interests at the expense of another person. So play safe, have fun… and maybe give those Mr Grey figures a miss if you come across ’em.

THE SKINNY

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Choose Well As our resident agony uncle discovers, a new service helps you choose when to visit your doctor, the hospital or your local pharmacist

ith the wealth of information at your fingertips thanks to the smart phone, Google and internet crackpots, it can be difficult to know what type of medical care you should access – and easy to worry. This in turn can lead to a long waiting list at your local doctors for problems that may go away if you just stop watching so many episodes of House. With the NHS’s Choose Well campaign you can identify whether the level of treatment you require can be done in the privacy of your own home, if you can visit your local pharmacist before turning to your GP, or if you need to run to A&E faster than your legs can fall off. Here are a few problems our agony uncle has managed to solve using the Choose Well system… Hi there, I’ve just made a cheese toastie, and melted cheddar has broke forth from its breaded wall onto my forearm. It burns like the Dickens. What’s a boy to do? Firstly, stop talking like an eloquent chimney sweep. It’s ridiculous. Secondly, calm down and assess the situation: it’s time for some self-care. Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burnt area of skin. (However, don’t try to remove anything that is stuck to the burnt skin because this could cause more damage; it would also be quite gross.) Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm water for 10-30 minutes, ideally within 20 minutes of the injury occurring. Never use ice, iced water or any creams or greasy substances,

March 2015

such as butter, no matter how delicious that might sound. Cover the burn with cling film. Put the cling film in a layer over the burn, rather than wrapping it around a limb. If the pain is still too much, treat with paracetamol or ibuprofen (always follow the label for correct dosage). If you still require further medical treatment you can go to your local pharmacy to have the burn properly dressed in the privacy of the consultation room. I’ve had an eczema flare-up and have run out of cream for it – but my GP can’t see me for a week! It’s an emergency! Well, not an emergency, but you know what I mean! Well, first off that’s not a real emergency, it’s an irritation (both literally and figuratively), and thankfully it’s an easy fix as it’s thought that Manchester pharmacists can help with around one in five GP consultations for minor problems (as well as ongoing conditions and repeat prescriptions). Under the ‘Feel Better Fast’ scheme, patients already registered with a GP and suffering from common complaints like dermatitis, headaches and sore throats, can instead head to their local pharmacy for quick, confidential diagnosis. This eases the stress on the NHS and will soothe your own stressful situation – the scheme is thought to have saved more than 2000 appointments with the doctor, and you don’t need to pre-book, you can just call in.

irrit–t–d skin Doesn’t need A&E.

It’s currently 3am and I need to see my GP, not for an affair or anything. Though he is a dreamboat. That’s not the point. I just need to see him. You’re not allowed to ask why. We’re definitely not having an affair. There are myriad problems with having an affair with your GP, or just affairs in general. It always ends badly, so maybe take a step back and reassess the situation. Is he really that much of a dreamboat? On a scale of one to Christopher Walken, where does he rank? If you’re not having an affair (you totally are) and simply need medical advice that doesn’t require a trip to A&E then you’ll be happy to know that GPs and family doctors are available at all times, whether through Same-Day Access or doctors on call. Manchester’s Out of Hours GP service is provided by GO TO DOC, a local not-for-profit company. Following your call,

specialist clinical staff will arrange telephone advice, a treatment centre appointment or even a home visit if one is clinically necessary. You can call them direct on 0161 336 3252. I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but my stomach feels like I’ve swallowed a thousand knives. Sorry to bother you. Get thee to A&E. Sometimes an ailment can be such that there is no other option than to go straight to the hospital. If you’re unable to get there yourself then by all means call an ambulance. There is a time and a place for self care, but internal pains of this magnitude are best left to the professionals. Choose the right care: For more information, help and support go to www.thinkpharmacyfirst.org

LIVERPOOL: 10 MANESTY’S LANE MANCHESTER: 35 MARKET ST

“I STAND FOR KEEPING LIFE COLOURFUL.” SARAH SPARKLE

Something in the Water One of the founding members of new brewery Cloudwater Brew Co, Paul Jones talks seasonality, fermentation and one impressive kit

Food News

Interview: Jamie Faulkner Illustration: David McMillan

This month: the ampersand is back in, and Spanish behemoth Ibérica comes to town. Plus: an ‘arty’ cafe! Words: Jamie Faulkner

Photo: Bec Lupton

hether it’s plotting to do things with Burgundy barrels and Ardbeg casks or posting Vines of their beer-making process, Cloudwater Brew Co are already adding a sense of novelty to the disparate Manchester brewing scene. And no one’s even tried their beer yet. The Piccadilly-based brewery brings together some formidable vision and industry know-how: there’s enigmatic entrepreneur Paul Jones; James Campbell, former head brewer at Marble; Will France, who’s crafted beer for Summer Wine Brewery; and Al Wall, who’s done his time in Mancunian institutions from Sandbar to Port Street. Newest recruit Emma Cole – most recently BrewDog area manager – will be heading up their much-anticipated brewery tap, The Barrel Store. Yep, those are some mighty fine credentials. The Skinny: There are quite a few breweries, new and old, jostling for space in Manchester. Where does Cloudwater fit in? Paul Jones: The brewing scene in Manchester might never have been as vibrant as it is now, so it’s very exciting to join in alongside traditional and modern-leaning breweries. When we were conceptualising Cloudwater we did talk at some length about what other people’s concerns are, and what their aims might be, but other people are not us. So instead of figuring out how to stand out, we spend our time working out how to more fully be ourselves. We focus on what motivates, inspires, and delights us the most.

“I’d love us to work with anyone who makes delicious, beautiful things” Paul Jones

The team has some of Manchester’s best brewing alumni on board. The combined experience must be helpful? Have you guys found working together easy? There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a team effort. Each person’s strengths and experiences have got us to where we are today: well set up and brewing. No project like this is without its stresses, but the combination of personalities works well together. We all have our weaknesses, but those weaknesses are a great opportunity for the rest of us to play to our strengths!

Seasonality is at the heart of the brewery: where will you be sourcing ingredients from? And do you think this will have its constraints? Our malt is British, and the hops we have right now are from Germany, the UK, the USA, New Zealand, and Australia. The yeasts we will use are from all over the world, selected because of the style characteristics they offer us. Working seaThere’s a quotation on the brewery blog sonally will definitely have its constraints as we from Shunryū Suzuki: ‘In the beginner’s mind try to get the most out of what we have available there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s to us throughout the year, but producing a static there are few.’ Do you feel less constrained, be- core range would be restrictive too. ing a new brewery? Most definitely. Though we place a weight of Which ingredients or season are you most expectation upon ourselves, and have between looking forward to? us an incredible amount of experience in the Our spring range has a number of beers that industry, our newness gives us the chance to try we’re really excited about, but I think we’re all some progressive ideas that might not be so easy most looking forward to feeling thoroughly setto integrate into an older business. Most of our tled in and up to speed. We’ve got some great work is based on how to do things very well, and ideas for our summer and autumn ranges, but then even better, but also how to keep things the most exciting feature of our brewery is that open, so we’re free to experiment. things are as open as they can be – each season

March 2015

can be as exciting as we, the wholesalers, retailers, and beer lovers that support us, like.

et’s start with all this ‘and’ nonsense. Warning: this will get confusing! Hitting Manchester as part of its northern jaunt is Hunt & Darton, a pop-up cafe with a difference. Namely, it’s funded by Arts Council England Art and it fuses food and art to comic effect. Example: the aptly named ‘sexy day’ will encourage people to talk about sex, to a menu of phallic food. 8A Gateway House, Station Approach, Piccadilly, M1 2GH, 5-25 Mar, 12pm7.30pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), huntanddartoncafe.com Filter & Fox is Liverpool’s newest two-faced addition: coffee and small plates by day, cocktails and dreams by night. One’s the filter and one’s the fox, we’re guessing? If other cities/the world are anything to go by, there will never be enough coffee shops... (@FilterandFox) Tariff & Dale, the new bar from the folks behind Chorlton’s The Lead Station, plans to be open in March. It’s a bar/restaurant at the intersection of... no, actually, I’m not going to tell you where it is. (@TariffDale)

Your brewery tap, The Barrel Store, is going to be “devoted to the breadth of fermentation” – will we be seeing Cloudwater kimchi or Cloudwater sourdough any time soon? We’re just about to reach out to food producers and a few specialist retailers, who we’ll work with to provide some delicious food offerings at The Barrel Store. Long term, we’ll go with whichever option delivers the best quality, and most interesting food, whether that’s having someone in-house or developing partnerships with other businesses. There’s a lot of impressive-looking equipment on your Twitter feed. What’s the most specialist/most expensive piece of kit you’ve invested in for brewing? The most specialist piece of kit is our Premier Stainless Systems brewhouse – a 20 US BBL (or 2400 litres), three-vessel brewhouse with manifold, touchscreen, and steam jackets. Everything else, from the steam boiler to the pipework, to the cellar tanks and bottling line, is somewhat modular or ordered piece by piece. So who would you most like to collaborate with? A brewer? Maybe a coffee roaster, chef, or artist? I’d love us to maintain a very broad mind with regard to collaborations, and seek to work with anyone who makes delicious, beautiful things. Personally, I’d love to work with Junya Yamasaki (a chef from Koya in London), or Simon Rogan (another chef, of L’Enclume and Fera fame) to brew beers to complement their cuisines. And lastly, which beers will be seeing first? So far we have a Pale, a Session IPA, something special for our barrel store, and a spring twist on a wheat beer in tank, fermenting and conditioning away. Keep up with Cloudwater’s progress at: @cloudwaterbrew | @cwbarrelstore

FOOD AND DRINK

Ibérica

Affleck & Brown (@affleckandbrown), meanwhile, would appear to be named after the famous department store of the same name, the ‘Harrods of the North’. It’s a casual bar restaurant that does cocktails and paninis. Hello, 2004! If this is a new trend in restaurant and bar nomenclature, it suits me. Far harder to forget the names and locations of places I’ve been. Right, now a new place with one word: Myrtle Street’s Kabinett (@Kabinett_wmc) caught our attention with its matched wine evenings and neon sign. Fine wines, meat and cheese and cocktails will surely please the punters of the nearby Philharmonic Hall. There’s also a new pizzeria in Chorlton: Double Zero. It’s minimalist: there’s no sign and decor is spare. Service is, to be polite, haphazard and the pizza over-topped (I know, who ever complained about that!) but there’s promise in the dough. Hmm, that sounds like some weird mistranslated Italian proverb. Saving the best (maybe) ’til last: Ibérica will open on 4 Mar in Spinningfields. The restaurant alone is serious eye candy but the menu has been designed by three-Michelin-star chef Nacho Manzano to reflect traditional Spanish gastronomy. Tapas of course, but also larger plates like Asturian cachopo, which contains fried beef and cheese. What’s more, there’ll be a deli with one of the largest Spanish cheese and meat selections in the UK. Huminah huminah. (@IbericaMCR)

Lifestyle

The Hip Hop Wine Shop

rrrrr

Fine wine and hip-hop meet for perhaps the first time outside of Cristal-filled rap videos at a new kind of wine fair at Camp and Furnace The DJ’s just dropped A Day at the Races, from J5’s seminal Power in Numbers, and I’m pretty sure a guest speaker has mentioned grapes and fisting in the same sentence. Yes, this is most

Roja Pinchos

rrrrr

This pincho bar on Berry Street brings a traditional Spanish concept to Liverpool – but is it as cheap and cheerful as its foreign counterparts? Anyone who has visited Spain knows the importance of a good pincho. At a euro or two a pop, these morsels sit out on the countertops of bodegas and bars across the country. The idea: help yourself, keep your plates or cocktail sticks – pincho comes from the Spanish for ‘spike’ – as a record of what you’ve had, and pay an (ordinarily) small tab when you leave. From segments of tortilla and stuffed peppers to the teensy open sandwiches and croquetas, they can be elaborate or simple depending on the establishment. Head to San Sebastián and you’ll find that pintxos – as they’re called up there – have become an art form. But, wherever you end up, they always perform two very crucial functions: staving off premature drunkenness and dispensing with the relative formality of sitting down for a ‘proper’ meal.

Lifestyle

definitely going to be a very different kind of wine festival. Only ten minutes in and Camp and Furnace’s Hip Hop Wine Shop is living up to its self-professed aim to eschew the usual stuffiness of oenological events and “spin the traditional wine festival on its head.” Already the door guy has said “we want people crawling out of here” and a graffiti mural is slowly coming together near the entrance, watched by a huddle of skateboarders.

Back to fisting. Joe Wadsack, BBC’s Food and Drink co-host and force of nature, is enthusiastically finishing up his first talk in front of a rapt but small audience. He’s talking about grapes in hot climates and how the grape’s surface can reach such temperatures that the skin caramelizes. Picking them from the vine in the day would be a painful endeavour, so it’s done under cover of darkness. Perhaps to protect the fists, I’m not sure. If I don’t hear this all that clearly, it’s because I’m in the queue to try some of local lads R&H Wines’ wares, a selection of biodynamic, low-sulphite wines. And I’m flanked on all sides by over-zealous – okay, inebriated and loud – punters. We manage to get a taste of the Domaine de la Sénéchalière ‘La Bohème’ (£14), a lively, lingering Muscadet that has something of a dry sherry quality about it. The man at the stand claims it’s good enough to be “illegal.” Indeed. The poor guy from WineTime at Scatchards, another Liverpool business, is pitched right next to a formidable bank of speakers, wearing a Bluetooth earpiece. He grimaces knowingly and pours us some ‘metal label’ Vermentino (£9.25) that is so deliciously intoxicating it actually manages to drown out the music for a second. Next we head to Albert Dock residents Vinea, where we’re taken by pretty much every white on offer, particularly a Torrontés-Riesling blend from Argentina, Amalaya (£9.99), perfumed and fresh, and an Austrian Grüner Veltliner, Federspiel (£12.99), that’s crying out for some seafood.

After a glass of Codorníu’s Blanc de Noirs – fancy-ass cava to you and me – it’s time for a talk. They’re all pleasantly succinct, perfect for an audience who’ve over-indulged on booze. We catch Dan Harwood, a freelance wine educator who has already wooed us with his knowledge at the Vinea stand, speaking about branding and pricing of wine. Describing British wine drinkers as very “price led,” he urges us to think about how much we’re actually paying for wine. If we’re paying a fiver, what’s left after the bottle, transport, duty and VAT are taken into account? Clue: it’s not a lot. “Always trade up” is Dan’s mantra. The other costs involved stay the same, so you’re only paying more for wine and inevitably a better product. It’d be fair to say, the wine industry is still battling preconceptions; it certainly hasn’t seen the kind of transformation that the beer scene has in recent years. But events like this help; apart from chatting to the better wine shop staff out there, this is the most comfortable I’ve felt discussing wine in a long time. All this and we’ve not even graduated to red. We don’t quite end up crawling out, but the case of wine we purchase makes us stagger. [Jamie Faulkner]

room-temperature plates. With no descriptions to guide us, we pick up ruffles of jamón, a cylinder of tortilla, peppers stuffed with what tastes like tuna mayo. On a second foray, there’s smoked salmon atop crab mayonnaise, nut-encrusted goats cheese balls, and manchego with quince. There’s nothing groundbreaking here. But it’s not as if I’d write home about most of the many bar snacks I’ve had in Spain. It’s about good produce (for the most part) and simplicity. The sea bass arrives well-cooked; the croquettes have a great crust and they’ve evidently sourced quality morcilla. The bravas are a small but forgivable letdown. A big shout-out to our waiter, however. He deals with a spilled glass of wine (a pleasant, food-friendly Sauvignon) without apparent irritation and humours our blatantly unoriginal, not to mention unsolicited, questions: “Why on earth did you move from Barcelona to Liverpool?!” There’s only one real quibble. And it’s not something over which Roja might have much

control. Pinchos just don’t feel like good value at the prices you’re likely to find in England. We come away with a bill slightly under £40 including two glasses of wine. Given the element of self-service and the fact that much of the food requires little in the way of preparation, criticism purely in value for money terms is foreseeable. Migrating this concept from a country with very different eating and drinking habits – and economy, for that matter – is not without its difficulties of course. But Roja is on the right track. [Jamie Faulkner]

If you liked The Hip Hop Wine Shop, try: Vinea, Liverpool The Kazimier Garden, Liverpool Reserve Wines, Manchester The Hip Hop Wine Shop took place 7 Feb at Camp and Furnace, Liverpool

Anyone who has visited Liverpool knows that the city has, in the likes of Lunya, Delifonseca and Neon Jamón, a fairly decent rep for Spanish cuisine. So it seems odd that nowhere has tried their hand at what some might term upmarket finger food. Spying a potential gap in the market, Roja Pinchos have swooped in with a helluva lot of wooden sticks and a penchant for red. Before we get down to things, a word of advice to would-be food reviewers everywhere: if you have the intention of reviewing somewhere after several glasses of wine, make sure it has a menu online to jog your memory. Or make notes. I say this because Roja does not have a menu, either online or offline. Hence you are to some degree at the whim of the kitchen, though it’s safe to assume they’ll be serving the same core range most days. If you absolutely have to know what’s on offer, you’ll need to be resourceful and ring them up on the day. Luckily for me, I have an infallible memory called an iPhone, which I use to document every last dish. After our waiter, a patient, smiling Barcelonian, reads out the hot specials (we plump for bravas, morcilla croquettes and a sea bass dish), we make a beeline for the

FOOD AND DRINK

If you liked Roja Pinchos, try: Neon Jamón, Liverpool Salt House Tapas, Liverpool Pinchjo’s, Manchester Roja Pinchos, 50 Berry St, Liverpool, L1 4JQ @RojaPinchos rojapinchos.co.uk

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Northern Greats: Grindsmith As part of our series meeting the creatives resident at Manchester’s Great Northern Warehouse, we catch up with Grindsmith coffee shop

hether you like pourover or Aeropress, flat whites or long blacks, Manchester’s coffee shop scene leaves the chain establishments eating, well, superior single origin coffeeflavoured dust. And in a great pool of talent, Grindsmith’s stellar trajectory – starting out as a cart and now occupying a permanent space in the Great Northern Warehouse – has been particularly noteworthy. We spoke to co-founder Peter Gibson about life in the Great Northern, his trike, and how a temporary situation can become a permanent one very quickly. The Skinny: From a cart to a pod to a full-blown shop, Grindsmith have really grown in the last two years – how has the transition been? Grindsmith: Fast, exciting and unbelievable. When we opened the pod in February we never imagined the position we would be in 12 months later. Our aim was to produce exceptional coffee and to present it in new and creative ways. The positive response we had from our humble beginnings on Greengate Square blew us away. The new shop has opened up numerous

opportunities and has taken Grindsmith from two men in a shed making brews to a company with 10 staff, two shops, a mobile trike and exciting plans for the coming year. What’s been the highlight of your time at the Great Northern so far? The new shop shares space with Central Working and the Barclays escalator. Access to the business space is through our shop and when they hosted their launch night last November, we had over 600 people come through to see the new space in Manchester. There couldn’t have been a better way to launch our new shop and it showed how exciting and vibrant this new venture would be. Do you often visit your American-focused neighbours like Almost Famous and All Star Lanes? It’s great to be in the same space as these successful and popular venues – we love being part of a community of original independent businesses.

What’s coming up for Grindsmith? Any collaborations or events we should know about? Currently our brains are buzzing with ideas for this year. We are trialling and experimenting with some new products and creations for summer but these are currently top secret!

What do you like most about your new home? It is a busy space involving creative, driven and interesting people. Each day is exciting and presents new opportunities. You really feel part of a community of businesses that are working together to create a new, vibrant and creative space in the centre of the city.

The new place looks great – what made you choose the space at the Great Northern? The events team at the Great Northern [Future Artists] approached us to use our trike for the Manchester Day Parade last year; the idea from there was to obtain a street traders’ licence and run the mobile unit on the corner of Quay Street and Deansgate. However, the premises we are in now – formerly Dwell Furniture – was dormant and we were offered it on a temporary three month contract, while the licence was applied for. After a successful three months and a few conversations with all the parties involved we were granted permission to convert it into a permanent coffee shop.

If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be? Creative. Passionate. Innovative. Grindsmith, 231-233 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN. Reach them on Twitter at @Grindsmiths grindsmith.com thegreatnorthern.com | @gnwarehouse

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Advertise in the Zap Need a last-minute boost to ticket sales? Talk to us about advertising in our weekly top ten events e-letter for timely, targeted exposure Audience network of 75,000+ every Thursday To find out more contact us on 0161 831 9590 or sales@theskinny.co.uk @TheSkinnyNW /TheSkinnyMag Illustration: Rachel Davey

March 2015

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Gig Highlights It’s a disparate but discerning month, taking in some truly singular women (Tune-Yards, Tinashe); a clutch of comebacks (Sleater-Kinney, Idlewild), and festivals both old and new (Carefully Planned, LadyFest)

Festival Watch

Words: Elle Rockwell

Behold, the return of our handselected guide to festivals both local and terrifyingly imminent

Words: Laura Swift

All-Dayer, which, after 25 editions, six years and hundreds upon hundreds of bands and artists, including early gigs for Alt-J and Everything Everything, hosts its final marathon at the Castle Hotel on 14 Mar. Don’t miss Liverpool’s beautifully bonkers a.P.A.t.T.. If the passing of Carefully Planned leaves a void deep inside where some local talent should be, fear not: on 16 Mar at Soup Kitchen, you can go and support two of the Northwest’s most dedicated young electronic artists in the form of Jozef K and Winter Son, who support the unveiling of Vessels’ new, dance-led sound (as showcased on upcoming third – and four years in the making – LP, Dilate). Fact fans, and indeed fans of sky-scanning electronica, will be interested to note that Winter Son is also known as one half of the duo Ghosting Season, who, after having retired it a long time ago, reanimate their old worriedaboutsatan moniker for a special show at Gullivers on 19 Mar in celebration of their first album in six years, Even Temper. Two shows in nearly as many days, then, marking the completion of long-gestating albums that, fittingly, stay long in the mind.

So: to those recently featured artists. Roddy Woomble and Rod Jones of Idlewild told us in our February edition about the band’s new lease of life on the eve of their 20th anniversary, with Jones commenting that “We’ve only just scratched the surface of where we can go with this new incarnation.” Those whose early teenagedoms were defined by The Remote Part – and newcomers via latest album Everything Ever Written alike – can assess the new lineup’s live chops for themselves at The Ritz on 12 Mar. If you get your kicks from intimate songwriting rather than stubbly Scottish anthemics then you may like to check out Saddleworth’s finest, Kiran Leonard, whose polyglot musicianship and ‘schizophrenic pop mini-operas’ had our interviewer transfixed last summer; he’s at Gullivers on 17 Mar and The Shipping Forecast on the 23rd. For something roughly inbetween – apart from the Scottish bit – you could do worse than give Bella Union success story BC Camplight a go: the Philadelphia troubadour brings the full-blooded splutter and brawling Beach Boys harmonies of comeback LP How to Die in the North to Leaf, Liverpool, on 11 Mar. All in all, it’s a disparate – but discerning – month.

Bass Clef

The month of March really belongs, however, to lost weekends in, um, ‘romantically’ cold seaside resorts. Headlined by Venetian Snares and Squarepusher, Bangface Weekender will leave Pontins Southport horribly alone on the mother of all comedowns after celebrating its 100th event across the weekend of 20-22 Mar: other bill highlights include Alec Empire fresh from his Low on Ice revival at FutureEverything and the gravity-defying oscillations of London trombonist Bass Clef; plus Scottish techno veteran Neil Landstrumm, acid royal Luke Vibert and a whole load of other Planet Mu compadres to help celebrate 20 years of the uncompromising label. For true holiday camp melancholia – and if you’ve yet forgiven them for that time in 2012 when you mooched back from the London Docklands to watch pilled up Germans dance on the Travelodge picnic tables instead of, y’know, loads of artists at a festival – you may want to take the trip southwest for Bloc Weekend, which returns with renewed gusto and a commitment to re-establishing what was a particularly successful brand – and, it has to be said, a familiarly flawless lineup. You can get the full lowdown over at theskinny.co.uk/clubs, but for now we’ll pick out Bristol bass unit Livity Sound, Hamburg’s analogue magus Helena Hauff, the unflappable Jeff Mills and the elliptical Dean Blunt.

Do Not Miss Young Fathers Number One Riverside, Rochdale, 14 Mar s part of a tour taking in libraries and less obvious venues, the incorrigible Young Fathers – last year’s refreshingly tight-lipped Mercury Prize winners – appear at Rochdale’s Number One Riverside for a show that’s more than worth crossing the Calder Valley for. “We have no shame in saying that we want to be huge,” the band’s Graham ‘G’ Hastings told The Skinny in January last year; and with new album White Men Are Black Men Too due out on Big Dada in April, the Edinburgh hip-hop trio – also comprising Alloysious Massaquoi and Kayus

March 2015

Bankole – look set to finally make good on a promise seeded years ago, when they secured a management deal shortly after they were out of their teens; and then waited five years to release that award-winning debut, Dead. Expect to hear cuts from said first LP in all its neon-fuzzed, steadily rousing glory, as well as previews of the new material – and if you can’t make the trip, they’re at Leeds Brudenell Social Club on 22 May; Manchester Gorilla on the 25th, and Liverpool Kazimier on 7 Jun. [Elle Rockwell]

Cosmosis Alternative Festival of Psychedelic Music & Arts, 14 Mar, Antwerp Mansion, Manchester, £28.50

Young Fathers

MUSIC

Photo: Daniel Harris

s thoroughly previewed overleaf, Liverpool’s grassroots Threshold Festival of Music & Arts returns to the Baltic Triangle for its fifth outing at the end of the month; expect more of its typically eclectic programming, with unknowns and local favourites among international acts; a true community feel, and, if you’re quick about it, cake (we’re told). There’s something in the air on 14 Mar in Manchester – as well as LadyFest and the very last Carefully Planned All-Dayer (previewed in Gig Highlights, left), there’s a full day of strung-out space jams at Antwerp Mansion in the form of Cosmosis Alternative Festival of Psychedelic Music & Arts. Flanked by live art installations and craft and food stalls is a heady lineup led by a couple of pretty big names in new psychedelia, Dead Meadow and The Oscillation – while electronic/ambient duo O>L>A and singer-songwriter John Ainsworth are just two of the local acts populating a programme assembled by promoters Interstellar Overdrive and Remake Remodel.

Bangface Weekender, Pontins Southport, 20-22 Mar, £165 per person in a chalet group, bangface.com Bloc Weekend, Butlins Minehead, 13-15 Mar, from £169 per person in a chalet group, blocweekend.com

Preview

Photo: Nick Bojdo

Tune-Yards

Photo: Gemma Burke

fter February’s smorgasbord, the gig calendar seems somewhat thinner on the ground in March – but there’s a strong showing of artists recently featured in these pages to make up for it, from Idlewild to BC Camplight via homegrown talent Kiran Leonard. But: let’s begin at the very beginning. If you somehow find yourself privy to methods whereby you may obtain a ticket to see Tinashe at Gorilla on 4 Mar, execute them immediately. The rising young Kentucky star has emerged from a child actor/teen model career with a unique brand of sad-sweet, sky-high R’n’B, dovetailing pop promise with the kind of mean, melancholy beat-work that’s as at home on a DIS Magazine mixtape as it is soundtracking lonely drives home through the Hollywood hills. Take the opportunity to hear songs from debut album Aquarius in as intimate a room – at least in relation to where she’ll probably be in a couple of years – as Gorilla. Cool. Public service announcement over. You’re welcome. The girls continue to be on top this month, with several singular bookings bringing inspiring, idiosyncratic women to the Northwest, from Tune-Yards to SleaterKinney via Jane Weaver (the latter’s gig at The Deaf Institute on 21 Mar is also, sadly – for us; we suppose happily for her – sold out, but again, keep your ear to the ground, erm, Facebook, for any last minute dropouts). Merrill Garbus aka Tune-Yards’ kaleidoscopic freak folk should provide a nice counterpoint to Liverpool Anglican Cathedral’s monumental – literally – seriousness, the New Englander’s live shows being known for their energy; her most recent record, Nikki Nack, no less so (6 Mar). Riot grrrl originals Sleater-Kinney, meanwhile, delivered Christmas early for fans back in December when No Cities to Love, their first album in ten years, leaked three weeks too soon; a sinewy, spacious return to form, they bring it to Manchester’s Albert Hall for one of only four UK dates (24 Mar). Crowning these proceedings nicely is a very welcome reincarnation of the spirit of LadyFest, at the beloved Klondyke Bowls Club in Levenshulme on 14 Mar; the first event from a new collective assuming the the historic LadyFest mantle and aiming to further ‘Manchester’s proud history of talented, creative and radical women,’ it features tipped local acts Locean and LIINES at the top of the bill, plus the awesomely named Power Frau DJs to marshal the mood. Elsewhere on the 14th there’ll be sniffles and sayonaras as Manchester’s indie scene prepares to say goodbye to the Carefully Planned

Across the Threshold As Threshold Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2015, we ask director Kaya Herstad Carney about its role in the local scene and its strong DIY ethos. Plus the acts you mustn’t miss

Interview: Chris Ogden

ideology and if there is more to come, she emphasises that Threshold’s mindset is very much spontaneous, with the festival still figuring out its mission statement. “I think we’ve managed to do a lot of things that we’re really proud of,” she says, “but what we set out to do… I suppose it’s a bit more organic than that.” Five to see: Nubiyan Twist With a variety of competing influences, 12-piece Nubiyan Twist could fall apart at any moment, but they manage to ride a gamut of styles from North American jazz strands, to soundsystem culture, without ever losing a deeply cohesive groove.

hen we speak with Threshold Festival cofounder Kaya Herstad Carney, she has just arrived back in Liverpool from work relating to her day job at the University of Chester, helping to plan an in-house music festival. Soon, she will face an evening discussion with Threshold’s head of artist liaison to discuss some lineup changes for the festival’s upcoming edition at the end of March. Taking over Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle for a weekend each year, Threshold is named after its home on the fringes of the city’s L1 postcode – and after its dedication to supporting emerging musicians and artists of all kinds. The festival came into being when Herstad Carney and her husband, Chris, running a themed cover night called Under the Influence, were commissioned to put on entertainment by the Contemporary Urban Centre. While the first festival was a success, six weeks before Threshold II the CUC closed down – something Herstad Carney admits was stressful. “The good thing about that is that we became independent,” she says. “We decided to go with Camp and Furnace, which wasn’t really open yet then. We’re not so much involved with Camp and Furnace [now] because we tend to go with the venues that are upcoming, to work more with our grassroots feel.” Although Threshold still has a room within Camp and Furnace – the Blade Factory – the festival has moved to two new locations this year, the larger Constellations and the Lantern Theatre. This variety allows space for Threshold’s array of artistic as well as musical programming – spanning visual art, dance and theatre. Herstad Carney hopes that Threshold has encouraged collaboration not only between local artists and venues but also between promoters. The festival involves Merseyside music events and promoters including Astral Coast Festival, Above the Beaten Track, Mellowtone and Liverpool Acoustic, conveniently placing them under one umbrella and showcasing their talent, and also boasts past ties with the Lomax club and Liverpool Sound City. “Sound City is fantastic for the music industry on an international [level],” Herstad

Preview

Carney comments. “We’re much more [about the] emerging local scene so it’s more of a step-up, rather than Sound City which is [about] the next big thing. Some of the artists that are playing Threshold won’t be the next big thing… Some of them will also play Sound City and also play the bigger festivals. It’s important for us to have room for those who might not be part of the trending scenes as well.” Threshold’s 2015 lineup certainly demonstrates a commitment to diversity, pairing artists like 17-year-old acoustic singer-songwriter Dominic Dunn with MOBO-winning hip-hop poet Akala and the Afrobeat band K.O.G & the Zongo Brigade. This eclecticism is encouraged by the festival’s open application process, which attracted a whopping 1780 applications this year. Only around 10% of artists performing are from outside the Northwest, fitting the festival’s community emphasis and its shoestring budget. Herstad Carney emphasises that this is a natural process for Threshold, with the festival very much artist-led. “We all have other full-time projects and most of us are musicians, DJs and performers,” she explains. Her own band, The Science of the Lamps, are due to play a slot on the festival’s traditionally experimental Friday night, “alongside other suitable acts that are not so conformative to the general pop world. We’re not four boys into Telecasters and playing indie music either!” she laughs. In response to the question of how Threshold will be honouring its fifth year, Herstad Carney’s reaction is surprisingly muted. “We were talking about whether it was time to call it quits and say, ‘Five is still a pretty good number,’ but I think we’re all too invested: Threshold people have become part of our extended family. I think we wouldn’t be allowed by the rest of the team if we said that it’s just time. “We’re probably going to do something in the festival launch that will be of a more celebratory kind. It’s [Manchester-based experimental artist] Paddy Steer’s 50th birthday on Saturday, when he’ll be playing at 24 Kitchen Street, so we’ll have a birthday cake there.”

“It’s important for us to have room for those who might not be part of the trending scenes” Kaya Herstad Carney

With the future already on the horizon, one of Herstad Carney’s hopes for next year is involvement with the new Warp warehouse due to open in L1, “if they’re interested.” Threshold is not necessarily rooted, she says, but it is clear that, to her, the festival’s home is in the Baltic. When asked whether this is central to its

MUSIC

Akala Initially in the shadows of older sister Ms Dynamite, Akala’s career has grown and grown, with the MOBO Award-winning rapper and poet constantly updating his influences – which range from his native London’s grime scene, to the experimental bents of soul and R’n’B explorers like Gil Scott-Heron. Paddy Steer Visually recalling the pioneering analogue synth musicians of the 60s and 70s, with all sort of odds and ends often splayed around him on stage, Paddy Steer’s shape-shifting mutant pop is anything but trad, constantly finding new nooks and crannies to slip between. DJ Rasp Among a generation of turntablists inspired by Scratch Perverts/mash-up culture’s hyper-accelerated cut and pastes of the early 00s, DJ Rasp’s selections are varied but always make sense, the DJ capable of pulling anything from The Temptations to Alex Metric together in twisted harmony. Threshold Festival of Music & Arts, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool, 27-29 Mar thresholdfestival.co.uk

No Vacancy at Threshold 2014

THE SKINNY

Photo: David Howarth

Natalie McCool/Drohne/Silent Cities Three of Merseyside’s brightest lights team up at Threshold, with Natalie McCool’s art-pop constructions fusing with the dark melancholia of new O Genesis signings Drohne, and Silent Cities’ more pared-down acoustic textures. Much intrigue promised.

Photo: Jordan Curtis Hughes

Leader of the Pack As they prepare to release their debut album, Ellie Rowsell tells The Skinny why Wolf Alice have little time for indie pop convention

“W

e’re not looking for instant success. With us, it’s more slow-burning. We’re taking small steps and that whole process will take – well, it will take as long it takes.” Ellie Rowsell doesn’t do ‘I want it all’ posturing. The Wolf Alice frontwoman is resolutely modest and, against the headline-grabbing grain for young emerging pop stars, spends much of our interview thoughtfully considering her responses. Seemingly devoid of ego, she’s an unassuming presence, keen to focus on her craft rather than commerce and the industry. “It might take us ten years to get where we want to be,” she continues. “We’re not going to try to secondguess it. If I think about it too much…” She tails off. “I just want to enjoy myself. Too many bands at our stage seem to spend too long trying to work it all out and we don’t want to make that mistake.” With their steadily growing profile set to take an upward turn in 2015, it’s easy to forget that they’ve been around longer than many ‘Where are they now?’ victims of the unthinking taste-makers. Formed in 2010 by Rowsell and guitarist Joff Oddie, Wolf Alice (the name comes from an Angela Carter short story) self-released their eponymous debut EP that year, but it wasn’t until drummer Joel Amey and bassist Theo Ellis joined in 2012 that they gave hint of their developing identity; an intense and wiry reworking of indie pop shapes with, as their increasingly forceful live shows began to confirm, more emphasis, ultimately, on rock than pop. A series of EPs followed, culminating in the wellreceived Creature Songs EP, released mid-2014. But it’s their live reputation that has travelled the most, which is perhaps why Alt-J booked the quartet as support for their biggest show to date at London’s cavernous O2 Arena. We speak as Rowsell breaks off from rehearsing for a gig that would send lesser acts racing for the comfort of your common Dog and Duck. “Mmm. It’s a big deal, for sure. Yeah, I mean it’s a support show so it doesn’t feel too scary,” she says. “It’s not our own show, sure, but it’s definitely going to be weird stepping into such a huge stage.”

March 2015

Interview: Gary Kaill

Their forthcoming UK tour will see them leap from the bars and clubs they’ve played seemingly non-stop for the past couple of years to the likes of Manchester’s Ritz (“Oh, that place is huge – I hope we can fill it…”) and London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Still, Rowsell is unbowed: “We’ll be fine. We can’t wait, actually. It’ll be good to show people just what we can do now as a live band.” If Wolf Alice do, as you suspect they will, catch a wave in early 2015, it could well be due as much to their seemingly sharp set of influences as that shortlisting on the BBC Music Sound of 2015 list (a curse, rather than a blessing, for a plethora of new acts in recent years). Older heads might draw a line back to the US alt. epoch and the early-90s underground crossover managed by the likes of Veruca Salt, Belly and The Breeders. Rowsell isn’t so sure. “I don’t know if we do have that kind of sound,” she says. “It’s certainly not a conscious thing. I know Jon, our drummer – he’s perhaps the biggest muso out of all of us – has been listening to lots of cool stuff since he was a kid. But for me, I listened to a lot of chart music, a lot of pop, until I was about 14.” We all do that, though, right? Pretend we listened to The Velvet Underground rather than Kylie when we were at primary school? “Absolutely! As a teenager, I started to listen to more, I don’t know, guitar-based stuff – Nirvana, Pixies, The White Stripes, The Strokes. But yeah, I think people sometimes pitch us as something that perhaps we’re not. People will say to us ‘Oh you must really like Belly…’” You really must. “Ha! Well, no. I don’t. Seriously, it must be a really unconsciousness thing, then, because I’ve never really heard them.” A lazy comparison? “Maybe not. I definitely do like that kind of stuff but I think maybe that it might not be so applicable any more, certainly once our album has come out.” Briefly, we touch on another large-scale booking for the band – in August, they return to the Reading and Leeds Festival and it seems likely they’ll benefit from elevated billing this year. Hopefully, they’ll make the main

stage, where a dearth of female and femalefronted acts has suggested the promoters have a sorry agenda at worst and cloth ears at best. Rowsell gets the criticism but is wary of plumping for an equally imbalanced solution. “I do think that that kind of billing should be addressed,” she agrees, “but I understand why it happens, I think. I mean, I don’t want to see a girl band, or a band with a girl in it, headline Reading just because of their sex. It’s not necessarily the fault of the promoters. Ultimately, at a base level, there needs to be more girls picking up guitars – you know, forming bands, writing, and just being good at what they do. The last thing I want to see is a poor girl band just to fill out a quota, you know?”

“Some bands record their albums exactly how they want to play them live, but that’s not us” Ellie Rowsell

We move on. There is an album all but complete and Rowsell speaks about it with a breathless enthusiasm. “We were ready, organised,” she says. “The songs were about 95% complete when we went into the studio to record. And some of the songs were really quite old – perhaps three years old, so we had a breadth of material, you know; a set of songs that represented who we were from the very early days up to now. Some were very new – just a couple of months old. So, yeah, it’s an interesting mix. I think you’ll be able to tell which ones are old songs and which are new. I guess I’m still trying to grasp it myself but

MUSIC

there’s definitely two sides to the record. There are songs on it that maybe, if you’ve followed us from the start and you know our sound, or think you do, will surprise you. “We gave a lot of thought to how we’d be able to play the songs live,” she continues. “You know, originally we were very guitar-based and heavy but now we’re kinda losing that. Right now we’re just writing what comes naturally to us and not worrying about whether we can play it live because we don’t have a hundred keyboards or what have you. It’s a much purer approach to the whole songwriting process, I think, and that will benefit the live show, too. The recording studio and the stage are two separate things but we’re really learning to understand the differences, and without it compromising who we are.” With Wolf Alice daring to venture beyond the accepted constraints of trad Brit indie both musically and lyrically – “Lyrically, I’m still trying to find my feet to be honest. It’s more like a stream of consciousness than a, um, Nick Cave narrative!” – the creative process must be increasingly fulfilling. “Yeah, it is, definitely. I find it immensely satisfying. I mean, I don’t know if it’s one of those things where I necessarily have to put it out there. I’m still not entirely sure you can be absolutely certain what, of your own stuff, is good and what is not so good. I mean, I have songs that I’m really proud of and some where I’m a bit more… mmm.” She pauses and laughs. Again, ego takes a hike: “Songs where I’m not so sure, to be honest. Once the album is out, well, I don’t know – let’s just see how it goes, I suppose. We’re just finishing the mixes now and we’re definitely trying to keep cool about the whole thing. It’s important, I think, not to have too many – well, not to have any, really – expectations. Certainly not until I’ve heard it myself!” Wolf Alice’s debut album My Love is Cool is due for release on 22 Jun via Dirty Hit Records Playing The Ritz, Manchester on 26 Mar wolfalice.co.uk

Preview

Album of the Month

Courtney Barnett

Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit [Milk! Records, 23 Mar]

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She's a smart one, Courtney Barnett. Like all the best observational lyricists, she can summon – or at least suggest – profundity in the most banal of subject matter, whether house-hunting in grim satellite towns (Depreston) or simply falling in love with a stranger at the swimming baths (Aqua Profunda!). Elevator Operator finds its existentially-bored hero forced into explaining himself as he heads to the top of a building: “I'm not suicidal, just idling insignificantly / I come up here for perception and clarity / I like to imagine I'm playing Sim City”. It's as touching as it is playful; the work of an artist captivated by the possibilities of the palette.

LoneLady

Shadow of the Sun [Sacred Bones, 2 Mar]

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Moon Duo take us back to the year 1972, a time where we find Roger Waters pummelling a gong in the ruins of the lost city of Pompeii. And while ’72-era Floyd were at the point where their psychedelic tendencies in the studio were gradually turning into fleshed-out prog epics on the stage (see A Saucerful of Secrets and Echoes), Shadow of the Sun goes further (chronologically speaking) – all the way to 79AD in fact – embracing the subterranean volatility that caused Mount Vesuvius to erupt. Despite the feeling that anything could happen, the album eschews chaos for structure. The guitars are distorted and the grooves repetitive, but they still carry a sense of propulsion and adventure. The addition of drummer John Jeffery and mix-master Jonas Verwijnen has manifested itself in a danceable, fuzzy freak-out of a record that alternates between the hypnotic Night Beat and the – whisper it – almost poppy Slow Down Low. Anchored in the past, but a welcome evolution. [Thomas Ingham] Playing Islington Mill, Salford on 8 Apr | moonduo.org

lonelady.co.uk

I Wasn't Born to Lose You [Cherry Red, 2 Mar]

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Some 18 years after protracted label dramas and a frosty reception to underrated fourth album 99th Dream saw Swervedriver quietly withdraw from the race, I Wasn't Born to Lose You plays out like a promise kept from the resurgent Oxford quartet. Although the Swervies' revival has been an understated cause since they dipped a toe back onstage at Coachella in 2008, their first recorded output since is a sure-footed return at a gentler pace. The dense, propulsive grooves and inspired Stooges-like sax freakouts that characterised their 1993 classic Mezcal Head have been traded in for a certain lightness of touch, but like the familiar growl of an old Harley, the likes of Last Rites, Deep Wound and Red Queen Arms Race arrive with a tasteful measure of distortion. Yet it's the shimmering Everso that scales new heights – spacious, slower, but still very much dreamy and built for the open road (like all their best work), Adam Franklin's gift for penning hypnotic, widescreen rock'n'roll keeps on giving. [Dave Kerr] Playing The Ruby Lounge, Manchester on 16 May and O2 Academy, Liverpool on 20 May | swervedriver.com

Fantasy Empire [Thrill Jockey, 23 Mar]

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Noise rock cognocenti of a volatile disposition might want to cover their eyes and ears: the unthinkable has happened. Yes, Lightning Bolt – that riff-happy, paradigm-shifting, four-legged behemoth from Rhode Island – have finally cleaned up their sound in a ‘proper' studio. Admittedly, ‘cleaning up' is a relative matter. Despite the higher fidelity, Brian Gibson's scuzzified bass still rattles in the red, while Brian Chippendale flails psychotically at the drums like a nail gun at warp speed. Truthfully, Fantasy Empire is an ear-splitting delight – Over The River And Through The Wood retains all their signature moves, shuddering rampantly through hi-octane thrills before a moshworthy second half. Teeth-chattering headcharges like Horsepower provide the purest (and dumbest) moments of euphoria, but concerns should be most satisfyingly addressed by epic closer Snow White (& The 7 Dwarves Fans), as the two Brians repeatedly deconstruct and reinvent their roles – musically and texturally, individually and collectively – over eleven scintillating minutes. [Will Fitzpatrick]

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Another Eternity [4AD, 2 Mar] Album artwork can speak a thousand words. Take the sleeve to debut Shrines, an eerie, dark cartoon: girl embraces sheep, ghostly hands paw at floating lungs. It aptly established Purity Ring's haunting, doll-like sound (and its smiling body-horror lyricism). Conversely, Another Eternity's cover gleams: suspended girl ascends to a pink supernova, as shiny as its production. Corin Roddick's processed beats again sound mechanistic, drawing on hip-hop and electronica for an otherworldly synthesis. But where Shrines felt grounded, reeking with earthy unease, Another Eternity's more procedural compositions form a sugar-frosted fortress in the clouds. And it suffers for it: the moments of poetry (Sea Castle, Dust Hymn) are outshone by the bling and cloying autotune (Push Pull, Repetition) cutting off the blood supply. Megan James' vocals once mixed cute ‘n' creepy, sweetly singing about cutting us open; her newfound android pallor is no longer fairytale-weird, but a cold pop mannequin with no heartbeat. [George Sully]

Playing Gigantic Indie All Dayer at Manchester Academy on 23 May gangoffour.co.uk

Playing Manchester Cathedral on 2 May | purityringthing.com

Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat

Errors

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The Most Important Place in the World [Chemikal Underground, 16 Mar]

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Playing The Kazimier, Liverpool on 21 Apr and The Wardrobe, Leeds on 23 Apr ofmontreal.net

Purity Ring

The departure of vocalist and arch-lyricist Jon King from Gang of Four in 2012 means many fans of the band will view What Happens Next with suspicion, regardless of its merits. Guitarist Andy Gill remains the only member from their Entertainment! post-punk glory days, and his decision to keep the band going – with the help of a variety of collaborators – is a brave one. But GOF were always keenly aware of the world changing around them, and the spirit of bringing in new faces has revitalised other bands. Alison Mosshart of The Kills deftly handles single Broken Talks, which has the right bass ’n’ drums groove to showcase Gill's famous choppy style of playing. But other tracks feel like they have been cut from a Gill side project. The lo-fi piano electro of The Dying Rays, featuring German musician Herbert Grönemeyer, is only really Gang of Four in name only. This is nevertheless a well-produced collection of modern guitar music, which deserves to rise above the cynicism. [Chris McCall]

Aureate Gloom [Polyvinyl, 2 Mar] In the past, of Montreal have seen myriad reincarnations but Aureate Gloom isn't worlds apart from the shambolic, hedonistic disco of 2013's Lousy With Sylvianbriar. True to past form, this – their thirteenth album – was conceived by Kevin Barnes working solo, with the lines coloured in later by the rest of the band. His verbose, awkwardly confessional lyrics are covered in glitter glue and sunshine, but this is painful catharsis rather than joyful celebration. Like a hall of mirrors, it makes for a confusing, disorientating experience: initially exhilarating but ultimately exhausting. Some tracks, like the unexpectedly political Bassem Sabry (full of morbid, ironic handclaps) feel fresh and purposeful but others (with names far too long to list) feel deliberately impenetrable and perhaps only for the ears of the die-hards who've been there since 1996. Barnes' troubling, colourful imagination isn't always easy to follow, but by now of Montreal fans should know what to expect from the territory. [Katie Hawthorne]

Gang of Four

What Happens Next [Membran, 2 Mar]

of Montreal

Review

Lightning Bolt

laserbeast.com

Swervedriver

Playing Brudenell Social Club, Leeds on 29 Mar and Gorilla, Manchester on 3 Apr courtneybarnett.com.au

Moon Duo

Hinterland [Warp Records, 23 Mar] Writing his Manifesto of Futurism in 1909, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti stated his desire to sing the virtues of railway stations, factories, bridges, and an unhealthy amount of smoke. Manchester native Julie Campbell's second album shows the aftermath of this idea, a tense and eclectic exploration from the margins of her post-industrial city, pooling inspiration from post-punk, 80s dance and funk. Hinterland sees her reaching for a richer, more playful sound this time, mashing cello stabs with Stevie Wonder-inflected bass in the title track and gradually ramping up Groove It Out from its percussive opening into a joyous, mesmerising six-minute techno thump with burbling synths. Flee! is a real outlier, a spare elegy pervaded by clanks and a sickly cello drone. “Remember,” she cries, but it's clear that the engines have long burnt out, a feeling only reinforced by the nervy Red Scrap, which finds Campbell reflecting on ghost trains and corrugated iron. The points of reference on Hinterland may be remnants now, but Campbell's still singing of them, reviving them in her own way. [Chris Ogden]

Still, all this detailed wordsmithery would mean little if Barnett didn't have the tunes to back it up, and this debut album is full to the brim with irresistible shuffles and subtle left turns. Her first two EPs drew comparisons to Stephen Malkmus and Jeffrey Lewis, but the execution is pure Lou Reed, especially in her deadpan speak-sing delivery and effortless capacity for psych-soaked, glorious choruses. Bathe in the internal rhymes and scattered themes of the ironicallytitled Pedestrian At Best, and let yourself be dazzled by such casual brilliance. This one's a keeper. [Will Fitzpatrick]

Lease of Life [Rock Action Records, 23 Mar]

It's twenty years since Arab Strap first enabled Aidan Moffat to demonstrate his talent for extracting sage poetry from the seediest of situations, providing a cracked mirror to the parochial cocaine jauntiness of London-centric Britpop. The band have long since disintegrated, but that pervy barfly eye still finds grace in decay, and this second collaboration with wandering muse Bill Wells is particularly reflective. With Moffat providing the narrative, it's easy to see this as a lyricist's record, but to do so would be a gross injustice to Wells. No mere foil, his jazz-inflected crescendos adroitly frame the boozey ranting of The Unseen Man's squalid flaneur; likewise the pounding tension of Lock Up Your Lambs feels thrillingly, dangerously volatile. Best are the moments of bruised tenderness, however: “I feel awkward, fat and grey / In any other mirror but you,” sighs the singer against simple piano chords, and in that moment, all this battered wisdom feels beautifully hard-earned. Just magnificent. [Will Fitzpatrick]

It can be all too easy to let an album's artwork inform your appreciation of the music in imaginary ways, like some kind of reverse Rorschach ink blot. Yet it's difficult to see the pot plant at the centre of Errors' fourth album and not feel that it's indicative of a slightly more natural approach from the Glaswegian trio. Lease of Life is hardly Errors picking up the acoustic guitars and panpipes – it's still very much an uplifting fusion of electro with indie rock sensibilities – but it certainly comes across as a more organic sound overall. The liberal use of vocals, something that has been slowly evolving with previous records, is certainly part of this, yet rather than burying them so deep within the mix that they become almost another instrument as before, Lease of Life is instead flush with straight-cut melodies to complement the shimmering 80s breeze of Slow Rotor, or the kinetic pulse of Genuflection. Errors' collective heart has always been evident, but on Lease of Life, it beats that little bit louder. [Darren Carle]

chemikal.co.uk

weareerrors.com

RECORDS

THE SKINNY

Karin Park

Ghostpoet

Matthew E. White

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Apocalypse Pop [State of the Eye, 2 Mar] Karin Park, Norwegian queen of goth-pop, returns darker than ever – as the menacing title of new album Apocalypse Pop attests. But although Park proffers a lyrical dystopia, shiny production and handfuls of hookladen choruses render this one enjoyably kitsch apocalypse. It's satisfying to see the original version of Shine on the album, showcasing Park at her best. Creepy, calm-waters vocals drip over industrial beats, and, somewhere along the way, the track metamorphosises into a grand-scale, exuberant pop song. This ethos, proven successful, lays the foundations for Apocalypse Pop on the whole. Lead single Look What You've Done is freaky, yes, but defiantly radio friendly. Closer Hurricane sees Park team with Pandora Drive (aka Thomas Knights and Nick Sheldon) to create a shaded, nightmarish worldscape that's still more glitter ball than it is 28 Days Later. [Katie Hawthorne]

Shedding Skin [Play It Again Sam, 2 Mar] Having grown out of Some Say I So I Say Light's late night lounging with dim sum and dial tones, Ghostpoet is stepping outside. London-based rapper Obara Ejimiwe's third album is a more direct, day-lit account of urban anxieties than previous efforts. Despite this he relinquishes none of his idiosyncratic drawl, shuffling onto the street with pacy lead single Off Peak Dreams and the morose duet X Marks The Spot, Nadine Shah one of several guest vocalists. The risk Ejimiwe takes in trading out drowsy electronica for driving drumbeats and serrated guitars is that his conversational tales no longer have an aura of shadow to hide their occasional. This rawness creeps into the final third with the over-sludgy Better Not Butter and the pretty though pat piano closer Nothing In The Way. All in all though, a satisfying evolution. [Chris Ogden] ghostpoet.co.uk

soundcloud.com/karin-park

Liturgy

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Dilate [Bias, 2 Mar]

Liturgy faced both praise and ridicule back in 2011 with the publicity surrounding Aesthetica, an LP that strengthened the quartet's hyper-intense fusion of black metal and math rock, but also gave way to band founder Hunter Hunt-Hendrix's dubious philosophy of ‘transcendental black metal’. Now billing themselves as a “21st century total work of art,” Liturgy return with a sonically muddled effort which tones down their Scandanavian influences in favour of an icier blueprint; Fanfare opens with a singular MIDI horn which mutates and multiplies, whereas Follow awkwardly juggles urgent tremolo-picked guitars and flat vocal chants – much more fit for purpose within the context of Survival, Hunt-Hendrix's other project. The album hits its stride with an impressive couplet (Quetzalcoatl and Father Vorizen, both of which build through strong riffs and blissful repetition), but the intensity and raw power of previous releases is oddly absent. There's a notable lack of peaks here – odd for a band who once specialised in perpetual climax. [Ross Watson]

Playing Soup Kitchen, Manchester on 16 Mar | vesselsband.com

thrilljockey.com/thrill/Liturgy

The Monochrome Set

The injustices wrought by the fallout of the UK's post-punk explosion are infamous and many. While mavericks such as Wire and The Fall secured a loyal audience, and acts more easily quantifiable (The Cure, Killing Joke) found mainstream success, the left-field struggled to gain a lasting foothold. The Sound, arguably the scene's finest, are barely remembered and The Monochrome Set might have skulked quietly away years ago, their ornate chamber pop ever a cause for critical rather than commercial success. But here they are again with studio album number twelve. A showcase for the low-key narratives of enigmatic leader Bid, Spaces Everywhere is an unhurried work, whose outward cheeriness tells only half the story. Nigh on impossible to dislike and, at its best (the pointed intimacies of A Little Village), a vibrant reminder that the young ‘uns don't know everything, money only makes you miserable and music – as ever – is its own reward. [Gary Kaill] Playing Band on the Wall, Manchester on 17 Apr | emonochromeset.co.uk

The Cribs

The Ark Work [Thrill Jockey, 23 Mar]

Vessels take a turn for the colossal with third album Dilate. The Leeds five-piece swap their postrock trappings for a taste of techno, crafting an immaculately balanced monster of a record. If ever there was a case to do away with the shuffle button, this album is it: on Dilate, context is king. The tracks could seem disparate, from the frosted sheen and panning tick of Echo In to the club-ready, distant subwoofer of Glass Lake – but together they establish a frame of reference, setting you in precisely the right place for when those glacial vocals pierce through on As You Are. Brooding and swollen, Attica rattles into view. A hulking beast of a track, it feels as much a vision of a future world as the backdrop to dramatic industrial decay. Maybe it could even soundtrack a particularly dramatic Arctic episode from the National Geographic? However your imagination works, it's immeasurably vast. The whole album is. Surgical and metallic, this is a listening experience that demands submission then softens and folds as soon as you sink below the surface. Bask in Dilate, play it loud and in full. [Katie Hawthorne]

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With 50 Shades still filling cinemas, “let me sleep in your tent tonight” is far from the most salacious request you might hear this month, but posed between the feathery caress of lilting flutes and a cooing gospel choir on Fresh Blood's third track, it's emblematic of an attitude towards love and sexuality on Matthew E. White's sophomore release that's sub versive by today's standards. White preaches love as salvation. Distilling classic soul, blues and rock stylings into a homely amalgam of southern sounds that's distinctly spiritual Fresh Blood offers a doctrine-free sermon in the transcendent power of love – be it the ecstatic brass crescendo that follows White's assurance that “there's nothing healing like the human touch” on the opener, or the angelic strings that disperse the cloudy peels of feedback on Tranquility. An old-fashioned message and a vintage sound, Fresh Blood is nonetheless a revitalising listen. [Andrew Gordon] matthewewhite.tumblr.com

Vessels

Spaces Everywhere [Tapete Records, 16 Mar]

Fresh Blood [Domino, 9 Mar]

For All My Sisters [Sonic Blew/Sony Red, 23 Mar]

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They've never shirked from the big, difficult issues in their lyrics but it felt like a real darkness had enveloped the post-Marr Cribs for their dense last album In the Belly of the Brazen Bull. Mercifully the Wakefield siblings have recovered a lightness of touch for latest offering For All My Sisters, and they wear it well. The tone is set early doors with the harmony-propelled salvo of Finally Free, Different Angle and Burning For No One, each track fitting snugly alongside the Jarmans' previous poppy high points. The band still sound like they listen to an awful lot of US college radio which means few stylistic variations across these 12 tracks and, in truth, beyond the jagged City Storms, the quality dips a little after the high bar set by a powerful opening. Simple Story at least offers something more delicate and lovelorn, but the wait for a 100% classic Cribs album frustratingly continues. [Stu Lewis] Playing HMV Arndale, Manchester on 23 Mar thecribs.com

Modest Mouse

Heems

Strangers to Ourselves [Epic, 16 Mar]

Eat, Pray, Thug [Greedhead Music, 9 Mar]

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Eight years, eh? Modest Mouse finally return, unscathed – indeed, unMarred – by lineup changes and relocations, and the inclusion of some electronic bleeps'n'bloops aside, it sounds like they never went away. The pensive croak of the title track sounds wearier than previous efforts (“How often we become susceptible to regret,” laments Isaac Brock) but also relieved somehow, and as reintroductions go, it's pretty close to perfect. In fact, there's much to love throughout Strangers To Ourselves – the stellar grooves of drummer Jeremiah Green, Brock's unique way with words, that familiar knack for off-kilter melody (Lampshades On Fire is an earworm to rival 2004's mighty Float On)… It's a long time now since they swapped the anarchic sprawl of yesteryear for neatly elliptical pop songs, but The Ground Walks and Pups To Dust show the mastery of their craft in full effect: graceful, volatile and frantically brilliant. Despite some plodding missteps, Modest Mouse's welcome return manages to maintain an impressive stride. [Will Fitzpatrick]

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Known for his wily mix of social criticism with silly referential humour as part of defunct rap outfit Das Racist, Himanshu Suri manages to crack the odd joke on his debut solo effort but it's clear he has very little to smile about. Dealing with the aftermath of a messy break-up and his experience growing up amid the heightened racial paranoia of post-9/11 NYC, the laughs on Thug are the strained, bewildered sort to which one resorts in utterly hopeless situations. Departing from the disaffected ironic distance of his previous output, Thug marks a change in tone that Heems' slovenly vocal style is well suited to deliver, imbuing dour scenes from his past (“and from then on they called us all Osama”) with a wrenching sense of woe. His political material far outshines the comparatively blunt relationship post-mortems but both are buoyed by an idiosyncratic, Bollywoodinflected production which, along with Heems' affable character, shines throughout. [Andrew Gordon] twitter.com/himanshu

modestmouse.com

Evans the Death

The Go! Team

Expect Delays [Fortuna POP!, 2 Mar]

The Scene Between [Memphis Industries, 23 Mar]

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The classic indie pop juggernaut gathers pace. Evans the Death share lineage with a host of C86influenced acts, most of whom give the lie to the notion that the previous generation's methods were little more than jangle and fey posturing. Alongside the likes of Allo Darlin' and Desperate Journalist, the London-based four piece revisit with a curious eye and advanced chops. Whilst the original scene had its fair share of bandwagonjumpers, the new breed aim high. Plus, Evans the Death have a trump card and a half – a singer who can sing. Katherine Whitaker brings soul and gravitas to the likes of Enabler (Sonic Youth playing nice) and the fractured folk of Intrinsic Grey. Their barrelling riffola and way with a tune further define their headlong ambition, but it's Whitaker who centres the whole. Expect Delays is sensational; a beguiling enigma, as street-tough as it is sophisticated. [Gary Kaill] facebook.com/evansthedeath

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Ian Parton began The Go! Team as a home studio project – he recorded 2004 debut Thunder, Lightning, Strike in his parent's kitchen – and transformed it into a dazzling six-piece pop band, producing two further memorable albums along the way. Five years on, and Parton is back where he started; with the group's other members off pursuing various musical projects, he took the opportunity to retry the working practices that made The Go! Team stand out first time around. Title track The Scene Between is a perfect example of Parton's songwriting skill; a joyous, chaotic song with a childlike vocal breezing over grunge guitars, crashing live drums and a piano sample that will stick in your head for weeks. Unlike other previous GT releases, the samples are treated like instruments and never dominate. Despite the sometimes dense instrumentation, this remains sugar-sweet pop that some will find a bit sickly. But many will love the taste of its fizz. [Chris McCall]

The Top Five 1

2 3 4 5

Courtney Barnett

Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

LoneLady

Hinterland

Matthew E. White

Fresh Blood

Lightning Bolt Fantasy Empire

Errors

Lease of Life

thegoteam.co.uk

March 2015

RECORDS

Review

Soup Kitchen, 12 Feb

Kate Tempest

The Kazimier, 18 Feb

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“It’s rammo in the main room,” Mike Skinner once said, which The Kazimier definitely is; he also said that he was backing Kate Tempest to win the Mercury. She did not, but she commands the stage like a winner. From the second she walks out until several minutes after she’s left, the London native has everyone in attendance transfixed. Those who came for a gig instead experienced one of those defining moments where you realise you’ll never be lucky enough to witness this for the first time ever again. Over the next hour or so, the 29-year-old draws upon material from debut album Everybody Down; there is poetry, and even a few excerpts from her unmistakeable epic, Brand New Ancients. When it comes to words, tonight none of them are wasted in idle conversation. She

Photo: Stuart Moulding

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It’s bubblegum but, oh, what bubblegum. The Ex Hex formula might be sweet but it’s a lack of artificial additives that makes it so nourishing, and a sold-out UK tour confirms Mary Timony’s ongoing appeal post-Wild Flag, Helium and a series of sharp solo adventures. Any old chancer could swap two decades of left-field explorations for high-gloss streamlining, but debut album Rips’ songcraft and legacy-respecting wry humour suggest a wandering muse (still) engaged beyond dollar-chasing and novelty. It’s certainly no cynical about-face, despite its collar-grabbing immediacy, and the sudden realisation that you can sing The Cars’ Best Friend’s Girl over a handful of tracks is as thrilling as it is alarming. Stuffed with melody, the Ex Hex

mentions how “We’re in a state of national fucking emergency” and that community is needed – which is fitting, as rarely does a room full of strangers feel this together. The choice to bring in material of different formats could run the risk of the show feeling off-kilter and without purpose, but Tempest’s set is balanced and paced sublimely. The energy and white-hot wit of album tracks like Lonely Daze and Circles, backed by her strikingly noisy live band and paired with the power and delivery of her speeches, means there’s no time to catch your breath. There are moments when she questions herself, as though she is fighting with self-doubt, but as far as this absorbed, encapsulated audience are concerned, Kate Tempest is an inarguable figurehead for how powerful music can be – even if she doesn’t know it herself. [Matthew Cooper]

Ex Hex

Viet Cong

The Deaf Institute, 5 Feb

Photo: Sam Huddleston

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D'Angelo

song book lifts shamelessly from 80s drive-time America. Manchester’s grimiest basement can be a difficult room to fully capture but tonight it simply swoons and folds. Timony bounces and grins throughout, a blur of power chords and glitter, buoyed by the wallop of Betsy Wright (bass) and Laura Harris (drums) alongside. Enough hooks to give Moby Dick a coronary: the wiry jitterbug of Don’t Wanna Lose; Beast driven to an extended, crushing wig-out; the silky groove of Waste Your Time. Subjecting such very uncool influences to their indie aesthetic could have been an unforgivably cheap trick, but this riveting live show confirms Ex Hex are no fools. And despite the name, the return of their mercurial leader to the fore is more blessing than curse. Even at this stage, a second round is surely a no-brainer. Hey, Mary – this one’s a keeper, right? [Gary Kaill]

Viet Cong’s live presence is a startling remove from the unremitting, blunt force of their debut album. That eponymous opening shot, a hardboiled and unsweetened deconstruction of the submissive, errant state of alternative guitar pop, secures its claims for greatness via a fullblooded, generous performance. Ignore the commentators keen to spout where they first heard Matt Flegel’s implacable bass or Scott Munro’s chiming 12-string; Viet Cong are in thrall, nor debt, to anybody. Flegel, a wry and cheery presence, disarms any such accusations with a mid-set admission. “So cool to be in Manchester,” he says, “the home of so many of the bands we’ve been ripping off.” On several levels the Canadian four-piece

Photo: Sam Huddleston

Ex Hex

(built largely from the debris of Flegel and drummer Mike Wallace’s previous band, Women) surprise and unseat. They open with three non-album tracks, each one brighter and more immediate than the bulk of the album. But already there are crowd favourites (and for once, here’s an audience fully locked-on and contributing beyond the entrance fee): there are cheers as Munro attacks the descending intro to Continental Shelf; a savage Bunker Buster scours the room and the floor responds. As on record, they save the best till last with an epic exploration of Death, the eleven minute album closer, spun out here to twice its recorded length; it’s the bruising epitome of their full metal racket. No encore: both audience and band exit bloodied and spent. Sign up before it’s too late – as statements of intent go, this one feels like a declaration of war. [Gary Kaill]

D’Angelo

flow of his band The Vanguards’ slick rhythmic nuances, he acts as a lightning rod for the likes of rrrrr Ain’t That Easy’s spitting funk and Sugah Daddy’s The more you think about it, the more D’Angelo’s dizzying piano hop-scotch. decision to effectively opt out of the commerMarvin Gaye – a regular visitor to the teencial success his 14-years-in-the-making third LP, age D’Angelo’s dreams – remains a spectre in his Black Messiah, would’ve surely brought, by rush vocals, which caress pre-Millennial favourites releasing it in the no-man’s land of December in Brown Sugar and Lady with the same molten seresponse to the mounting Ferguson unrest, was ductiveness they ever did; indeed tonight’s show a statement of some integrity. Unwavering in the eschews the progression of his studio work in self-belief that his simmering, futurist soul relieu of a demonstration in old-school soul showmains a voice for black America, such conviction manship, even the aisles up in the circle becomis revitalising at a time when the West’s maining corridors of motion by its end. stream has suffered a collective loss of cojones. Finishing with Untitled (How Does It Feel?), A tonic on record, however, becomes a force a song whose accompanying video in 2000 inin the flesh; belying his 5’7 frame, D’Angelo towers famously led to insecurities over his body and over us tonight. Arms outstretched angelically, a subsequent fall into drugs and depression, he murmurs a snatch of the Lord’s Prayer before D’Angelo repeats the parenthetical question to breaking off into recent jam Prayer as people us over and over again. Each repetition becomes surge towards the stage in delirium. Relentless cathartic, a completion in the rehabilitation for over two hours, jumping between guitar and of a man who tonight stands before us reborn. keys when not losing his limbs to the ebb and [Simon Jay Catling]

Review

MUSIC

Viet Cong

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Photo: Sam Huddleston

O2 Apollo, 18 Feb

Guest Selector: Mr. Tophat & Art Alfie The Karlovak duo go halves on eight choice LPs ahead of the ninth instalment in their mesmerising KVK series

Mr. Tophat (Rudolf) picks: Plastikman – Musik [Plus 8] This was the album that really drove me into the minimal techno scene. I remember when I heard the album for the first time, it totally blew me away, especially Plastique and Ethnik. The two 606s that are running along the bassline and melody made with the 303s is when minimalism is pretty much at its best. Ethnik is cool since it has a kind of long arrangement, it takes a while before the different parts go in; also very beautiful minimalism. A lot of feeling in this and, for me, it produces an image of a cold warehouse at some point in the 90s. I like it a lot! The Prodigy – The Fat of the Land [XL] Doc Martens, neon clothes and asking, “Where is the rave?” That was my motto during the time I listened to this album. For me, the golden nuggets here are Breath, Smack My Bitch Up and Firestarter. So much energy, quite aggressive and typical of The Prodigy’s ethos. Jan Johansson – Jazz På Svenska [Megafon] I listened a lot to this album when I was around ten years old – the name literally translates as Jazz in Swedish. As you’d expect, it’s very typical of Swedish jazz from the 60s. It’s melancholic to start with and it only gets more melancholic

once you know what happened to Jan Johansson. He died in a traffic accident in 1968 at the age of 37, leaving two small boys and a family behind. This is his most famous album and a lot of the tracks are actually different Swedish folksongs, re-created in a jazz arrangement. The Doors – The Doors [Elektra] This is a nostalgic album for me, I remember when I was small and my family listened to this album when we drove around with the car during the summers at our countryside home in the north of Sweden. We’d sit in the car and just look across all the pines, fir trees and the big forests that never end. You could really feel the mysticism. Nice psychedelic, organic and a lot of ‘troll’ vibes. Art Alfie (Oscar) picks: Ebba Grön – 1978-1982 [Mistlur] This is classic Swedish punk rock. I bought this record when I was around ten years old and it’s probably one of most influential experiences I’ve ever had, maybe more politically than music-wise. It has some sort of raw energy and urgency. I mean, I still like it. A lot of the band members have kept on doing great stuff. The drummer actually lived in the house next to mine in Midsommarkransen, a Stockholm suburb, and

had some beef with a guy in my house. Their dogs didn’t get along apparently. One track in particular, Staten & Kapitalet, is just as valid today as back then. The Roots – Illadelph Halflife [Geffen] I loved this album so much at the time, I actually bought it twice. I traded my first copy for a Shorty’s hoodie with a dude in my school. I missed it so much I had to buy it again. The sounds are dark and warm and all the drums are, of course, super funky. I recommend checking out the whole album. Lost Boyz – Legal Drug Money [Uptown] I wanted to have a record from the 90s New York hip-hop scene because this has to be my fave time and place for hip-hop. It showed once again that expression and bounce often goes a lot further than slick, technical musicianship.

I love the grit, the bounce and the attitude in these tracks. I was thinking of picking Wu Tang’s first album, Enter the Wu-Tang, but I choose this in the end. I used to listen to these tracks into my twenties and I feel that it’s a little bit overlooked. I have to highlight two tracks here: 1, 2, 3 Thousand Problems, and Reneé. Killa B and Mika – Kya Bamba Mix CD #1 I never really knew anything about this mixtape until recently, just now actually. I just had a burned CD that I got from my friend Ronny. Me and my friends used to listen to that tape over and over, at the party, at the after-party and the morning after. Couldn’t find the whole thing online unfortunately. KVK900 is out 9 Mar on Karlovak Records karlovak.com

DJ Chart: Samuel Deep Sylvestro Tjon Sack Kie, maker of hard-hitting house via garage and grime and founder of Utrecht-based SlapFunk Records, gives us ten of his current favourites Herbert – UK Spring [Phono] He is without a doubt one of the best and most diverse electronic music producers this world knows. I bought this record a while ago and it almost never leaves my bag. I’m all over the open vibes on this one with such a heavy and raw rhythm. It always gets me in the mood. James Duncan – Voices 2 [Playground] Latest James Duncan on the deep house label Playground. It came out one month ago and it’s pretty much sold out everywhere. Such heavy vibes in this track. Play it on a big soundsystem and the crowd goes mad. Been following him for seven years now; he’s released some proper house music in that time. You should check his back catalogue if you like this. Chris Carrier – True Step Locomotion [SlapFunk] One of the best producers out there, Chris Carrier, on our own label, SlapFunk. I’ve been following him for a long time and so we ended up asking him if he wanted to do a release on our label, and he said yeah. When he sent over the tracks we were that impressed that we decided to make an LP instead. So we did that and this is the result. I totally love his style and I think his sound matches ours, which makes this a good

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combo. It’s only for sale on discogs now. Digital will follow later on... Malin Génie – Sense Of Swing [Oscillat] The title says it all – Malin Génie’s sense of swing. This track is a dancefloor killer! I don’t know any producer like him. He can make any type of music and it’s still on point. Rollin’ on top of the scene right now, he’s doing some good business with Mandar (Lazare Hoche, S.A.M and Malin) and their own imprint, Oscillat Music. Expect some heavy stuff! Julian Alexander – Hustlin’ [Dungeon Meat] My little brother on Dungeon Meat. This is such a strong first release by him. You almost never see guys on that age so passionate about their music. It makes me extra motivated to do my thing! Tuff Jam – Key Dub [i!] Absolute classic by Tuff Jam! I play a lot of garage stuff, been listening to it since I was 14. I think this genre has got something really special going on. Those beats are always killing me with their fat basslines and chunky rhythms. UK garage is definitely one of my top genres in electronic music. If there was a record store in Holland with big crates of garage I would spend all day there diggin’.

Plasticman – Section 7 [Southside Dubstars] People think most of the time that I’m only playing house and garage but I love grime. Unfortunately we don’t have a proper grime scene here in the Netherlands but I like it a lot. Always good to discover some heavy dubplates on the internet. Dizzee Rascal – Wheel [Dirtee Stank] Another grime track. This Dizzee beat is off the hook. He made some killer beats back in the days and this is just one of them. Quasimoto – The Unseen [Stones Throw] Lord Quas! I played this album over and over again; crazy beats and lyrics all over it. If you

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hear me playing you can recognise the hip-hop and breakbeat in it. Those styles inspire me a lot. They keep me going. Malin Génie – Four Drops [SlapFunk] I told you before that Malin Génie can make whatever he wants and it’s still on point. Here is an example of a hip-hop track from him. We released it on our SlapFunk Records. This track is on vinyl-only, straight for the headz. Everytime I listen to this track I go mental! Playing Sankeys, Manchester for Music is Love with Leon Vynehall, Paul Woolford and more, 27 Mar

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Clubbing Highlights Pisces rejoice: seemingly every night in the Northwest is celebrating their birthday this month, and a range of dignitaries from the house and techno illuminati will grace our dingy basements to toast them Words: Thomas Short Illustration: Callum Scott-Dyson

estivities commence in Manchester on 5 Mar as Endless City celebrate their first birthday at Mint Lounge, with Mind on Fire’s Dan Nation and Brownswood’s Heather Wall spinning some eclectic and soulful selections (£2.50). The following day sees Midland and Krysko play Zutekh’s impromptu party at Joshua Brooks; the former’s wide-ranging sets pack a hefty emotional punch, more than enough for the special crowd which this night attracts (£12.50, and nearly sold out, so get on this one quickly). On the same night a lucky few will be able to witness bass music royalty as Loefah returns to Blackdog’s new venue, Xolo. The poodle-haired Swamp 81 head honcho and dubstep progenitor’s sine-wave-laden productions provide a timeless visceral thrill, but don’t go expecting a 140-bpm set: his position at the fore of one of the UK’s most forward-thinking labels means that his sets are defiantly unpredictable, filled with bangers in genres that we will probably never have names for. Unmissable (and nearly sold out; £10). For some more unashamedly retro thrills, check out BPM’s fifth birthday, a UKFunky themed fete with Roska, genre stalwarts

Funkystepz, lady-of-the moment Madam X and er, free cake (£5; the Roadhouse). Across the Mersey on 6 Mar, Abandon Silence come up with the goods, booking Levon Vincent for the latest instalment of their neverending birthday bash at The Kazimier. The New York DJ’s idiosyncratic blend of loft-party euphoria and darker, more dissonant moods has to be seen to be believed. Check out his recently released debut album, available as a free download, or better still his Fabric mix, if you want to get an idea of what’s in store (£14). (Abandon Silence also take part in Chibuku's 15th birthday celebrations on 14 Mar, which span the Arts Club, Camp & Furnace and The Magnet, include Ben UFO and Four Tet, and run all day and into the night.) On 7 Mar, recent Skinny interviewee Romare makes his Liverpool debut with Kolours at Constellations. Inspired by African-American art and music in all its forms, the producer’s work may carry academic airs, yet it’s all underpinned by his penchant for nagging hooks and glorious grooves. No drifting off at the back, then (£5 adv). Back in the (really) rainy city, you

could do a lot worse than head to 1 Primrose Street to catch the Scandinavian tag-team of DJ Fett Burger and Telephones, who will provide the deep cosmic (house, techno, disco, dub, you name it) vibes which their irritatingly talented nation seems to specialise in, and will be ably supported by our kid Jon K (£8/10 OTD). After a few fallow days, Wednesday the 11th is a bumper date. Project 13 celebrate 20 years of Dance Mania, the classic ghetto house label, with its pioneer DJ Funk playing a two-hour set at Soup Kitchen. He is joined by esteemed local boy Acre, who will be exploring the genre’s 160bpm side. Expect raw, booty-shaking basslines, and some very saucy samples (£4/£5). On the same night you can also catch a team up between Lord of the Tings and London promoters Mute, who have managed to bag the ever-underrated bass wizards Murlo and Deadboy for a special dancehall b2b set, with more grimey fare from their residents (£5 standard tings). Back in the ’pool, grime is also on the agenda as Jamz takeover 24 Kitchen Street, with Novelist in tow. The prodigal MC is a mesmerising watch, equally at home dominating a cappella battles or carving his way through the labyrinthine, spaceage constructions of bleeding-edge producers Mumdance and Slackk. More announcements on the lineup to come, so keep an eye on this one (£8 advance discount, £10 advance). If you haven’t ODed on cake and thumping bass by this point, grab your party hat and head to Sankeys on the same night, where Mvson have arranged a killer line up for their second anniversary. Scuba, Ryan Elliott and Tom Demac have got the big room house/techno vibes covered, but it’s the promise of an all-night set from the inimitable Space Dimension Controller that’s got us quivering with excitement (£10 students, £12 first release, £15 second release). If all these festivities have left you feeling somewhat high and dry (unlikely, this being Manchester), get yourself over to our favourite sweatbox The Roadhouse on the 14th, where

March 2015

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High Hoops have bagged none other than Marshall Jefferson. A set from one of house music’s godfathers should remind you why you contort your corpse into various shapes in front of strangers, surely (£12, only final release tickets now available). The same night also sees one of the genre’s strongest current innovators, Floating Points, plays at a secret location at the first of a series of parties from Troupe and Below the Surface; as evidenced by the fact that this one is very nearly sold out, the Eglo records co-founder and frequent host of the much missed Plastic People somehow manages to be defiantly avant-garde with a very obvious mainstream appeal (£15 final release). The following Friday (20 Mar) sees Drop the Mustard celebrate their sixth birthday at Sankeys with the usual suspects George Fitzgerald, Krysko and others providing some trusty tech house and techno. Those looking for something a bit more special should get themselves to Liverpool the next day by hook or crook to check out Hustle’s latest offering: UK house hero Joey Negro and Studio 54 legend John Morales play The Magnet. Both of these guys are legends in their fields, with enough hits and curveballs in their sets to please both the ordinary punters and Disco Stus in the crowd (£16 second release, £18 third release). Rounding off another stupidly jam-packed month for clubnights, expert curators Music Is Love come up trumps again with another stellar lineup at Sankeys on the 27th: Leon Vynehall, Roy Davis Jr and Paul Woolford are all on top of their game right now, their careers providing the perfect blend of Anglo-American house in its old and new guises (£10 early bird, £12 first release, £15 second release). Anyone still standing should try and catch a rare visit from the Ostgut Ton crew to Liverpool on 28 Mar, with Steffi, Ryan Elliot and Baumecker all bringing their brand of teutonic elegance to New Bird Street Warehouse (£15 adv) ...phew!

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March Film Events Liverpool welcomes The Godfather in style, while it gets a bit dusty in this event column as Cornerhouse delivers its final film season, That’s a Wrap! Words: Simon Bland Mommy

Mommy

Still Alice

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Director: Xavier Dolan Starring: Anne Dorval, Suzanne Clément, Antoine-Olivier Pilon Released: 20 Mar Certificate: 15 Xavier Dolan’s fifth feature, Mommy, could be viewed as a companion piece to his debut I Killed My Mother, with a comparison between the two films highlighting how his filmmaking has advanced in the intervening five years. He remains a stylistically bold director – shooting Mommy in a 1:1 aspect ratio and filling the tight frame beautifully – but what’s most impressive about his latest work is the confidence with which he chases euphoric highs and shattering lows. Mommy is an unabashed melodrama that’s constantly swinging for the fences, and the emotional force of the picture is irresistible, with Dolan nailing a series of bold and emotionally wrenching sequences, and even finding unexpected textures in a number of familiar pop songs. He also draws extraordinary work from his actors, with Antoine-Olivier Pilon’s lively and unpredictable presence as a volatile teen and Suzanne Clément providing touching support as a mousy neighbour. Meanwhile Anne Dorval’s performance as embattled single mother Diane (Pilon plays her son) is simultaneously hilarious and devastating, and as brilliant a piece of acting as you’ll see anywhere this year. [Philip Concannon]

Life of Riley

Director: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland Starring: Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart Released: 6 Mar Certificate: 12A

Still Alice deviates from most dramas concerned with Alzheimer’s in adopting the point of view of the sufferer, rather than devastated loved ones. Julianne Moore plays Alice, a 50-year-old linguistics professor diagnosed with inheritable early-onset Alzheimer’s. Big fans of Moore’s brand of damaged women might find traces of her career cornerstones – the likes of Safe – in Still Alice. It’s a mesmerising performance, quietly devastating rather than showy. At times her work’s subtleties feel like a rebellion against the potentially cheesy directions taken by the screenplay, such as one speech to the Alzheimer’s Association which could so easily feel like awards showreel-bait in the hands of a less assertive performer. Indeed, it’s the surrounding filmmaking that lets Still Alice down somewhat. Some script issues aside, its directors never really apply a distinctive visual scheme to convey Alice’s increasing incapacity, with the aesthetic often akin to how a Channel 5 TV-movie version might play. Moore allows it to still remain moving, but it never becomes a great film about illness. [Josh Slater-Williams]

Appropriate Behaviour

Director: Alain Resnais Starring: Sabine Azéma, Sandrine Kiberlain, Caroline Sihol Released: 6 Mar Certificate: 12A

Director: Desiree Akhavan Starring: Desiree Akhavan, Rebecca Henderson, Halley Feiffer Released: 6 Mar Certificate: 15

Alain Resnais’s final film, Life of Riley, premiered just three weeks before the director’s passing. An adaptation of Alan Ayckbourn’s play of the same name, Resnais’s reworking gives new meaning to staying faithful to your roots – it’s filmed exclusively in front of hand-painted theatre sets. Ayckbourn’s quintessentially British tale of death and infidelity in rural Yorkshire translates surprisingly well into Resnais’s auteurist form, making for a delightful postmodern experiment in the intertextuality of art. Imbuing the levity of Ayckbourn’s prose with Resnais’s lifelong obsession with time and memory (although not to the same monumental effect as perhaps Hiroshima Mon Amour), this delightfully droll comedy feels a little too safe and conventional in its approach to achieve the heights of Resnais’s previous output. However, the film’s overall message that death is best approached with a lightness of touch makes for a fittingly playful adieu to one of cinema’s great visionaries. [Patrick Gamble]

As an Iranian-American bisexual woman living in New York, Shirin deals with a lot on a daily basis. There’s the dissonance between the culture she descends from and the one she lives amongst, the difficulties inherent to her much misunderstood sexual identity, and of course the ever-looming spectre of sexism. The combined pitfalls of life as an ethnic minority, a member of the LGBT community and a woman don’t leave a whole lot of safe ground to stand on. As writer, director and star of Appropriate Behaviour, Desiree Akhavan mines each of these areas of Shirin’s life for humour, gifting her lead character with a compelling mix of total social inelegance and deadpan wit. Mostly though, Shirin’s problems don’t come from trying to live as an Iranian, a bisexual or a woman in particular. Her skin colour, sexual orientation and her gender are the surface, but the core of Akhavan’s stunning debut is the universally identifiable drive to figure out who we are and who we want to be. [Ross McIndoe]

Dreamcatcher

Wild Tales (Relatos salvajes)

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Director: Kim Longinotto Starring: Brenda Myers-Powell Released: 6 Mar Certificate: 15 Globe-trotting documentarian Kim Longinotto hits the streets of Chicago for Dreamcatcher, the study of Brenda Myers-Powell, a former prostitute who now counsels streetwalkers and schoolchildren on how to stay safe and put themselves on better paths. The contrast between the current Brenda, full of warmth and composure, and her history, whose lows involve shocking abuse and violence, is extraordinary, and the fact that she knows the traps for poor young women and has no ego about her salvation helps her gain the trust of others. Longinotto is profoundly talented at getting us in unlikely rooms, and here we witness an inspiring example of personal transformation and notice the eerie similarities in individual experiences that lead different people into lives of sexual exploitation. There’s no way to describe the subject matter of Dreamcatcher without making it sound either grim or schmaltzy, but it’s a surprising, unlikely record of the peaks, troughs and specificity of being human. [Ian Mantgani]

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Director: Damián Szifrón Starring: Liliana Ackerman, Luis Manuel Altamirano García Released: 27 Mar Certificate: tbc Cosmic airline coincidence begets claustrophobic violence begets matrimonial mayhem in this portmanteau feature from Damián Szifrón. Coproduced by the Almodóvar brothers, each episode is equal parts hilarious, unnerving and horrifying. The six shorts that comprise Wild Tales are linked only by their theme of violence and retribution. Watching two hours of six individual acts of revenge may sound maniacal to some, but you really shouldn’t dismiss this film as ‘not your sort of thing.’ This is your sort of thing! Whether wishing to enact revenge on an unfaithful lover, jobsworthy parking attendants or essentially everyone who’s ever wronged you – we’re all familiar with those thoughts. The nuances are perfectly articulated, the observations expertly perceived and the tragedies heart-wrenchingly realised. Nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year and in the running for the 2015 Academy Award for best foreign language film, this really is a feat of storytelling and narrative cinema, full of wit and cruelty. [David McGinty]

FILM

pring’s just around the corner but before we’re all lured into booze-soaked festival fields, there’re still plenty of reasons to head to the cinema. In fact, Cornerhouse Manchester are bringing the festival fun indoors with ¡Viva! Spanish and Latin American Film Festival’s 21st birthday party (5-9 Mar). Boasting the very best in international cinema, ¡Viva! will be celebrating in style with exclusive screenings, director Q&As and post-movie drinks. Dark comedy and opening gala feature Who Killed Bambi? (5 Mar) and award-winning tearjerker María and Spider (9 Mar) are just two of our picks, with Cornerhouse extending the fun into their new home, er, HOME, with two more ¡Viva! events throughout the year. Keep your eyes peeled for June’s Mexican Weekender and a Spanish cinema fiesta in autumn. Over at the Central Library, David Fincher’s Fight Club (26 Mar) fittingly kicks off a new Retro and Dangerous season celebrating films based on the works of cutting-edge contemporary authors, while The Italian Club in Liverpool host a Godfather double-bill with a difference. They’ll be showing parts one (2 Mar) and two (3 Mar) complete with a pre-screening twocourse meal and glass of wine that’s ‘to die for.’ Also in Liverpool, Toxteth’s pop-up cinema (at Toxteth’s Town Hall, 21 Mar) will be offering free screenings of ace animation A Cat in Paris, Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs The World and the quirky Submarine.

Submarine

Meanwhile, the Grimm Up North team continue their Stephen King season at Manchester’s Dancehouse with suburban vampire tale Salem’s Lot (12 Mar). Directed by horror giant Tobe Hooper – originally as a mini-series – this bumper feature-film edition is based on King’s second novel and marks the second time his work was brought to the screen. The Grimm gang also celebrate Friday the 13th of March with a slasher double-bill at Gorilla featuring 80s classics Prom Night and – you guessed it – Friday the 13th. Influential and controversial (at the time at least), these blade-wielding bloodfests redefined the horror genre and gave us a brand new one: teen. What better way to spend the creepiest day of the year? And finally, it’s almost a wrap for Cornerhouse, as the iconic venue prepares to shut shop and move down the road to their aforementioned fancy new location. To celebrate, they’ll be hosting That’s a Wrap! (13 Mar-2 Apr), a season of farewell films chosen by the public. The programme’s still to be announced at the time of writing. We hope you all chose well – see Cornerhouse’s website closer to the event for full details (cornerhouse.org).

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Man of the West

Director: Anthony Mann Starring: Gary Cooper, Julie London Released: 23 Mar Certificate: 12

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This late-career Western from Anthony Mann doesn’t quite stand shoulder to shoulder with his classics of the genre (The Naked Spur, Winchester ’73), but Man of the West does showcase the director’s prowess in balancing light and dark, both literally and metaphorically. The tale is pretty standard Western fare, with a reformed outlaw (Gary Cooper) getting robbed on his way to hire a schoolteacher and being sucked back into his criminal ways when he stumbles across his old gang in hiding. Cooper’s performance may be a little formulaic at times but the same cannot be said of the superb Lee J. Cobb, whose drunken gang leader is a master class in bitterness. Shot in CinemaScope, it also has a scenic grandeur that’s finely captured on this new transfer. Despite its flaws, Man of the West remains a must-have for Western buffs; also included is a 15-minute documentary narrated by noted film historian Douglas Pye. [Chris High]

Maidan

Director: Sergei Loznitsa Released: 13 Apr Certificate: E

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Sergei Loznitsa’s Maidan is a film that achieves a visceral sense of immediacy by keeping its distance. Shooting from judiciously chosen vantage points, the director presents us with images of the 2013 Ukraine revolution, capturing the protestors as they gather in Maidan Nezalezhnosti, build barricades, sing and make speeches and, finally, fight and die for their cause. Shot in a series of static takes, Loznitsa gives us little context to elucidate what we are seeing, instead allowing us time to let our eyes scan the packed frame and finding telling details – if you can settle into its methodical rhythm then it grows into an immersive and rewarding experience. There’s one scene in which Loznitsa’s camera moves under duress (a moment comparable to Medium Cool’s “Look out, Haskell – it’s real!” incident) but for the most part the director simply presents this conflict in the clearest terms possible, and asks us to bear witness. [Philip Concannon]

Wild River

Director: Elia Kazan Starring: Montgomery Clift, Lee Remick Released: Out now Certificate: PG

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Elia Kazan didn’t want Montgomery Clift for Wild River – even delaying in the hope of luring Brando – but the troubled star gives a moving performance in this undervalued masterwork. He’s the Tennessee official sent to procure the last piece of land required for the damming of the river, but he gets drawn into a battle of wills with a stubborn matriarch (Van Fleet) while falling for her widowed daughter (Remick). Kazan’s control of the film’s emotional register is absolute, and Paul Osborn’s skilfully constructed screenplay questions the value of ‘progress’ if things of longstanding value have to be sacrificed in its name. It’s an expansive work, distinguished by exceptional location photography, but, as ever, his focus is on complex interpersonal relationships. The thorny battle between Clift and the formidable Van Fleet is compelling, but Remick gradually emerges as Wild River ’s greatest asset. [Philip Concannon]

Pictures of the Old World

Pride

White Bird in a Blizzard

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Director: Dušan Hanák Starring: Released: Out now Certificate: E Dušan Hanák’s award-winning documentary, available with English subtitles for the first time, examines the lives of elderly villagers in northern Slovakia, each of them out of step with the modern world. Taking inspiration from photographer Martin Martincek’s striking portraits, he returns to the subjects and gives them an opportunity to talk about their experiences, their faith and their view of the world. Flowing between staged photography and candid interview footage, he both preserves the concept of them as living pieces of art and transcends the format by resisting easy sentimentality and labels. Hanák presents them simply as they are: human, with all their complications and contradictions. Given that they’re living in extreme poverty, much of it is heartbreaking but there’s an undeniable warmth and sensitivity to Hanák’s approach. At a little over 60 minutes it’s over too quickly, but the villagers’ stories are fascinating and beautifully presented. An exceptional work. [Scott McKellar]

March 2015

Director: Matthew Warchus Starring: Ben Schnetzer, George MacKay Released: 2 Mar Certificate: 15 Doing for the LGBT community what The Help did for African Americans, Pride conspires toward a feel-good conclusion by affirming the human spirit’s tenacity in the face of bigotry. Like the aforementioned civil rights crowd-pleaser, however, it’s guilty of sanitising the struggles to which it pays its respects. Director Matthew Warchus, the man who brought Ghost: The Musical to Broadway, is adept at manipulating his audience’s emotions. We cheer as Dominic West’s gay bookshop proprietor wins over homophobes with flamboyant dance moves and curse the men who subject his partner to a hate crime, but these are merely kneejerk responses. The unlikely union forged between homosexuals and striking miners during the 80s is interesting enough to withstand Warchus’s paint-by-numbers filmmaking, but to have talent of Bill Nighy’s and Paddy Considine’s calibre go to waste in twodimensional supporting roles lends this sassy hit an air of missed opportunity. [Lewis Porteous]

DVD

Director: Gregg Araki Starring: Shailene Woodley, Eva Green Released: 6 Mar Certificate: 15 Closer in spirit to his Mysterious Skin than The Doom Generation, White Bird in a Blizzard sees Gregg Araki adapting a Laura Kasischke novel and applying his trademark gifts for depicting both the sweet and the sour of adolescence. Beginning in the late 80s, it sees 17-year-old Kat (Woodley) going through a sexual awakening while reckoning with the sudden disappearance of her mother, Eve, which follows years of increasingly strange behaviour towards both her husband (Meloni) and Kat. Eve is played, predominantly in flashback, by Eva Green on an acting register suggesting Faye Dunaway dropped into a Douglas Sirk melodrama, but not always as compelling as that sounds. Woodley leaves a better impression, but, like Kat describes her stoner boyfriend, what’s behind the surface of Araki’s film is just more surface. Little of its psychological explorations hold great weight and its mystery elements are fumbled by Araki’s louder directorial instincts. [Josh Slater-Williams]

Review

In Good Company: Front Row Theatre Photo: David Compton

A company spearheaded by graduates of UCLan hopes to offer a platform for emerging talent, as well as produce plays with a social conscience Interview: Lauren O’Hara

sk any university-trained aspiring actor and they’ll tell you that job opportunities are often few and far between. This is not helped by the fact that graduates of renowned (and affluent) drama schools are often given preference in the industry. This is just one of the many issues surrounding modern-day theatre that is tackled by Front Row Theatre Company. Established in 2014 by graduates of the University of Central Lancashire’s Acting course, Front Row creates opportunities for the university’s emerging creative talent. Mike Coombes, one of the company’s directors (currently to be seen in Channel 4’s Cucumber), explains how one of the driving forces behind Front Row’s conception was the founders’ shared belief that Preston has just as much to offer the Northwest arts scene as larger cities such as Liverpool or Manchester. The company’s ethos is to challenge the association

of theatre with a limited section of society: “We want to try and create relevant, significant theatre that deals with real people and real situations,” says Coombes. “Whether that is political, whether that is social, or whether that is to do with relationships.” Despite most of their members coming from working class backgrounds, Coombes insists that Front Row aims to make theatre that is inclusive rather than politically charged: “A lot of people who have come to our show have said ‘It’s a lot happier than I thought it would be!’” he laughs. It’s easy to understand the preconception. Front Row’s first production, Food for Thought, explores a politician’s attempt to close down a town’s food bank in order to open a fracking site; weighty themes indeed, but the play chooses to concentrate on showcasing the human stories rather than the sombre context. How do the

events impact on the day-to-day lives of the food bank volunteers? Front Row have certainly hit upon a subject that is becoming increasingly relevant in the UK today. “People who are going to food banks now are people that have full-time jobs and families,” explains Coombes. “We struggled to get our head around that… this could happen to anybody at any time.” Staying true to their values of community engagement, the company have toured their production around community centres and theatres located close to food banks. This is in keeping with their desire to produce stories that have a sense of relevance, but also serves to promote the location of food banks within communities. What about the future of Front Row; will they establish a permanent venue somewhere in Preston? “That’s the dream really,” Coombes responds. “There are a lot of buildings being

shut in Preston. Who knows? In 20 or 30 years’ time we might have our own theatre. Before that, in the near future, we just want to carry on producing theatre experiences. We’re trying to get people into the theatre: rather than going to conventional theatre venues, let’s take it to community centres, let’s use churches. It’s about getting rid of the stigma of walking into a theatre and thinking you’re getting judged or that you won’t understand what’s going on.” With ever-decreasing funding and fewer opportunities for young people from less privileged backgrounds to access professional actor training, Front Row has arrived at a turbulent moment in the arts. Change is on the horizon, and it is companies such as this that will lead us in the right direction. frontrowtheatrecompany.co.uk

Anna Karenina Jumping Puddles

Anna Karenina

Royal Exchange Theatre The Royal Exchange kicks off its 2015 season with a brand new adaptation of Anna Karenina. After rave reviews and record sales for Maxine Peake’s Hamlet, the production has a hard act to follow, yet under the direction of award-winner Ellen McDougall, Tolstoy’s epic tragedy has little reason to feel nervous. Set in the glamorous swirl of Imperial Russia, the book has a dual narrative that follows the tale of newlyweds Kitty and Levin as they make a simple and happy life together. Meanwhile, on a visit to her brother, Anna’s fate is sealed when she meets the mercurial and wellheeled Count Vronsky and embarks upon a passionate and forbidden love affair. Upon discovery the couple become the target of scorn, and the romance begins a heartbreaking trajectory. Anna Karenina is a masterpiece not only because of the unforgettable woman at its

Preview

core and the stark drama of her fate, but also because it explores and illuminates the deepest questions about how to live a fulfilled life. The challenge of Anna Karenina is that Tolstoy’s monster of a novel is more than just large: it is comprehensive. Writer Jo Clifford is left with little option but to cut liberally from the text and it will be interesting to see what her sharp eye focuses on to capture the tour de force of Tolstoy’s original. McDougall is confident: “Working on this play feels like escaping into a complete world fraught with betrayal, passion, and pain – in the same way reading the novel can. This is a play that asks questions about survival in a world contained and restricted by social prejudice.” Should the play reach the emotional and intellectual heights of its 19th-century stimulus, you may be leaving the theatre feeling as though you have been hit by a train. [Emma Nuttall] Runs 19 Mar-2 May (£7.50-£15). The production then transfers to the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, 9 May-13 Jun (£12-£28)

Jumping Puddles

Everyman Theatre

Anybody working in the arts will testify that ‘collaboration’ is a buzzword at the moment – not only because of the shared financial risk, but also due to the high artistic quality of the resulting work. It is thus exciting to see female Northeast collective Open Clasp and renowned physical theatre company Frantic Assembly begin a national tour of their first collaboration, Jumping Puddles. Directly informed by 162 young women from the Northeast and Liverpool, Jumping Puddles examines the turbulent relationship of Grace and Anna – sisters at war. As the autumn nights draw in and the rain falls, Grace and Anna find themselves trying to stay afloat as they jump from one puddle of emotion to another – but the puddle is in danger of becoming a river and Anna fears Grace will be taken by the tide.

THEATRE

The production boasts a long lead: Open Clasp have been actively working with groups of young women for over a year, their aim being to create a performance that speaks for them. It is this ethos that characterises the work of the company: rooted in the belief that theatre changes lives, Open Clasp are dedicated to vocalising the hitherto unheard voices of women, providing a performative platform for their lived experiences. Frantic Assembly have enjoyed recent success with their colourful, imaginative Othello and while Jumping Puddles offers a more muted tone, the company are on something of a roll. If that’s still not enough to tempt you, the lure of the Everyman might just do it, or – ahem – the bistro. [Alecia Marshall] Runs 5-7 Mar (£5)

THE SKINNY

Book Highlights This month: some anarchic spoken word, an interactive storytelling experience and the return of a great novelist Words: Holly Rimmer-Tagoe Illustration: Bethany Thompson

azuo Ishiguro is frequently referred to as a literary jack-of-all-trades (and master of many of them too) – it’s pretty rare to find a great writer with the ability to seamlessly flit between English country house drama and biological dystopia. Diverse works such as The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go have sold more than a million copies each, helped by successful Hollywood adaptations. Ishiguro will be talking about his new novel The Buried Giant – described by publisher Faber as a story of ‘love, revenge and war’ – at Manchester Central Library on 4 Mar. Elsewhere, as part of SICK! Festival 2015, a group of authors – ranging from writers of memoir, comic books, academic texts and novels – will explore why literature and books are so often the only outlet for the unspeakable

BOOK OF THE MONTH The Well

questions of society. At the Anthony Burgess Foundation on 15 Mar, panellists including Katie Green and Damian Barr will discuss what makes narratives of abuse and anorexia sell, and will ask why readers seem so interested in tales of pain and anguish. The team behind First Draft relocate to the neo-Gothic surroundings of the John Rylands Library for Vaults, an evening of fiction, comedy and poetry on 19 Mar. A few First Draft favourites like Nija Dalal-Small and David Hartley will be performing on the night. Expect the usually tranquil and peaceful atmosphere of the John Rylands to get a bit raucous. Meanwhile, spoken-word talent takes centre stage in Liverpool this month. In the city of the Mersey poets with a reputation for direct expression, the Dead Good Poets’ Society

follows in the Liverpudlian storytelling tradition by introducing a number of up-and-coming poets at Blackburne House on 4 Mar. Also, Storm and Golden Sky invite Maggie O’Sullivan and Chris McCabe to The Caledonia, nestled in heart of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter, on 27 Mar. Chris McCabe’s poetry is noted for its experimental blend of peculiar imagery and pop culture references; Maggie O’Sullivan is regarded as a figure of the British Poetry Revival – providing a Modernist reaction to the conservative elements of British poetry – and her work often deals in paradox and contradiction. Go along for a night of great poetry. Finally, there is a chance to explore Manchester’s waterways, hidden lives and historic buildings with Tales from the Towpath. Having premiered at 2014’s Manchester

Ghettoside

By Jill Leovy

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The Well opens with a woman under house arrest. Ruth, our protagonist and narrator, is restricted to her farm in Wales. Named The Well, it is beautiful, lonely, and one of the few places left on earth to still feel rain. This is a world after ours, steeped in loss. The rain has gone, as has optimism and any planning beyond survival. The state is self-imploding, and disparate new religions are springing up. It’s sci-fi, but with a very soft accent on the sci – nobody knows why the world is drying up, yet this drought is not just window dressing, but thematically crucial. A thirst for connection, revenge, and for answers haunts this world, this farm and our cast. Catherine Chanter’s debut is superb: frighteningly assured, its themes are deftly tied together and it manages to maintain real suspense within a story which could easily have faltered. Its treatment of grief and anger – at a world dying, at the vicious dissolution of a marriage – and of the fear of one’s own inner darkness is so realistically drawn that it would threaten to overwhelm without the focus that Chanter brings. Chiefly we find this focus within the central mystery, the solving of which could help alleviate Ruth’s loss. Imprisoned as Ruth is, though, her memories become the landscape of this dark and haunting detective story. [Chris Lynch] Out 5 Mar, published by Canongate, RRP £12.99

Ghettoside, that wonderful neologism, forms the title of this dark and murderous LA noir. The only problem being that it’s 100% real. LA Times reporter Jill Leovy spent over a decade embedded within the LAPD, investigating a murder epidemic involving young black males. The killings seem senseless and juvenile – not only in relation to the tragedy of the victims’ ages (many in their early teens), but also the incidents’ origins, bruised egos, territorial disputes. Leovy refuses to condescend, aspiring instead to understand by combining what is basically urban conflict reportage with historical framing and scientific grounding. She discovers a twilight society which holds no trust in American justice and so extracts its own terrible version on the streets of Watts – which are policed heavily and microscopically, on all aspects bar murder, by an establishment “obsessed with nuisance crime, and lax” [with regards to] “answering for black lives.” These cops and crims are finely fleshed out – the boys in blue hagiographically at times – and this true-life tale builds the narrative steam of the finest thriller. Ghettoside is an exceptional and dedicated piece of work which sits alongside William Shaw’s Westsiders and Randall Sullivan’s Labyrinth in exposing the ground floor of a twotier city, a place of perpetual fear and mourning where age, zip code and most importantly skin colour dictate which young lives must live in the crosshairs. [Alan Bett]

An evening with Kazuo Ishiguro, Central Library, Manchester, Wed 4 Mar, 7pm, £5, librarylive.co.uk Baring the Scars, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester, Sun 15 Mar, 3pm, £8 (£5), sickfestival.com Vaults, John Rylands Library, Manchester, Thu 19 Mar, 6.30pm, free, firstdraftmcr.wordpress.com Storm and Golden Sky, The Caledonia, Liverpool, Fri 27 Mar, 7pm, £5, stormandgoldensky.tumblr.com Dead Good Poets’ Society, Blackburne House, Liverpool, Wed 4 Mar, £2 (£1), blackburnehouse.co.uk Tales from the Towpath, talesfromthetowpath.net

The Adventure of the Busts of Eva Perón

Signs Preceding the End of the World

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By Carlos Gamerro

By Catherine Chanter

Literature Festival, the storytrail is an interactive writing experience, which uses microprojections to transform the familiar sites of Manchester. Head online and put yourself in the story and watch the space around you transform.

Ernesto Marroné is a corporate warrior, a sales samurai who takes How to Win Friends and Influence People as his Bushido code. Even as his countrymen are rising up to reject capitalism all across the land, Ernesto remains a devout follower. His good books tell him how to get ahead and he zealously recites their mantras, performs their creativity exercises and preaches their word to all who’ll listen, unshakeable in his faith that his efforts will one day be rewarded with the divine bounty of a Vice President position. The Adventure of the Busts of Eva Perón is a Salman Rushdie-style retelling of a nation’s history from the recollections of an oddball individual, as Carlos Gamerro delves back into a vital passage of Argentina’s past from the skewed perspective of a man fundamentally unsuited to his own time. Devoid of political ideas of any kind, and unconcerned with the plight of any working man below the ‘Executive Class’, Ernesto bumbles right into the middle of history and does his best to survive it. The result is a comically charged and slyly satirical tale that strips away the high rhetoric of history and politics, and reveals the squabbling egos underneath. [Ross McIndoe] Out 24 Mar, published by And Other Stories, RRP £10.00

By Yuri Herrera

This is a gorgeous, crisp little thing. And although Signs is no epic – accounting for chapter breaks it clocks in at under 100 short pages – Herrera has managed to achieve such extraordinary scope, of space and meaning, without any sense of hurry or clutter. Makina works the switchboard in remote small-town Mexico, mediating lovers’ sweet nothings and less savoury transactions. She’s a polyglot, flitting between the native tongue, Spanish, and the north-of-the-border Anglo-Latin hybrid. She also ‘knows how to keep quiet in all three.’ Cora, her mother, ushers Makina off to the US with a message for her brother. To gain passage she requires the help of the local ‘top dogs’, Messrs Double-U, Aitch and Q. What follows is a vaguely Pynchon-esque quest through tundras rural and urban. On her way Makina absorbs the refashioned identity and language of fellow border crossers, whose ‘gestures and tastes reveal both ancient memory and the wonderment of new people’. Herrera distils near enough every gram of that spirit into these few pages. Signs is an important work, given the tenor of the immigration debate in the US and internationally. Herrera and Makina make a mockery of old-order American patriotism, which is easy to do but tough to actually pull off. The whole book is in fact a tiny exercise in bold and clever writing done with verve. [Angus Sutherland] Out 3 Mar, published by And Other Stories, RRP £8.99

Out 5 Mar, published by Bodley Head, RRP £16.99

March 2015

BOOKS

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Spotlight: Sam & Tom Crashing kids’ parties and ready to face a folkloric cannibal half-beast in battle, these guys are the most eager new beavers on the scene Interview: John Stansfield Illustration: Lottie Pencheon

hen Sheffield’s favourite sketchers Staple/face called it a day last August after another successful appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe, their show’s title of ‘Staple/ face are Going Down Fighting’ made a lot more sense. Rising almost immediately from the ashes were two thirds of the group, Sam Nicoresti and Tom Burgess (or, to delaborate, Sam & Tom). They were chosen by January’s kingmakers Gein’s Family Giftshop as ones to watch this year, and have impressed with their early gigs as ex-child stars stuck in an arrested development that threatens to subsume them. The writing is tight, and the pair share an ease with each other that often boils to furiously polite rage – and may lead to this comedy editor’s demise. First gig: “A shop’s un-safe basement. There were mainly children and we made them cry by riding over their party balloons with our sweet BMX. But then we made them laugh, and to celebrate we gave a four-year-old a bottle of sherry. Later we were told we’d broken licensing laws but we didn’t care, we’d been paid £20 (which Sam immediately lost).” Best gig: “Oh, there have been hundreds. Hundreds. Huuuunnnndrrreeeeedssss… are we still on this question? Don’t know, lad! Make one up. That

one where everyone laughed at all the jokes and then clapped loudly at the end for 20 minutes, no rest, with hands red raw ribbons of flesh by the end.” Worst gig: “Probably one of those weird ones where you have to sit on each other’s faces in a dark room while strangers put dollar bills in your lingerie. We don’t even know where to exchange dollars. Tom keeps jamming them into ATMs, but all that’s led to is our debit cards being declined in most HMVs.” Circuit favourites in the Northwest: “In the Northwest? Nah. Southeast is where it’s at. You guys ought to do more on LDN. There’s loads going on down there. If we were forced on this NW issue – like, really pushed – we’d maybe volunteer Lee Fenwick and Peter Slater. But we really don’t see why you’d even have a ‘culture’ magazine for the NW. What do you review – collieries? Greggs? Pulp?” Favourite venue: “3MT in Manchester. It’s hidden down Affleck’s Arcade on Oldham Street. They have SOS TV LIVE on the first Friday of every month and we always wet ourselves (either through laughing or lack of forethought).”

Best heckle: “A publication in your position should know better than to perpetuate the myth of heckle culture. By celebrating it, you legitimise a custom that makes comedians feel uncomfortable and intimidated. You make us sick. F*ck you. #firetheskinnyscomedyeditor” Aspirations: “We want to be famous and well loved by our peers. We want a feast. We want a bean feast. We just want to rap good and not sell breadsticks. Wewantanycar.com [This has gone off the rails. Please tighten it up with some GIFs].” What would you be doing if you weren’t doing standup? “Kissing ladies, all day every day. Probably sometimes even kissing each other by accident in the heady whirl of lip-to-lip saliva swapping. The best way to kiss a lady is to say ‘Keeezing’ while

lurching forward, lips-first. [Fact-check this before print.]” If you could be haunted by anyone, who would it be and why? “The individual careers of Blazin’ Squad. It would be scary to be haunted, so if you have a choice you should choose something you can easily understand.” What’s the largest animal you think you could beat in a fight? No weapons. “A wendigo, at Dance Dance Revolution. Not in a fight though. It’d eat you alive (literally), but it probably can’t keep to a simple beat. At the end of the day, that’ll be what it comes down to, the dance is all there is.” Sam & Tom play Sh!ts & G!ggles at Hirst's Yard, Leeds, 4 Mar; Matchbox Comedy at the Lantern Theatre, Liverpool, 11 Mar; XS Malarkey at The Pub/Zoo , Manchester, 24 Mar, and Comedy Cask at The Crowd at Favours, Leeds, 30 Apr

Win £200 to spend at Win a pair of VIP Cass Art in Liverpool! tickets to Parklife!

Cass Art is now open in Liverpool. To celebrate creativity in the city, Cass Art has teamed up with The Skinny to bring you an exclusive prize draw! The prize consists of £200 to spend on your favourite art materials in store at Cass Art, 18 School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BT, or online at cassart.co.uk.

currently have five shops in London, one in Kingston, one in Glasgow and one in Bristol. The launch of their shop on School Lane is their first shop to open in the Northwest and the next step in opening affordable art shops across the country. With thousands of creative products, selected from the world’s top brands available, what will you create?

For your chance to win, head along to theskinny.co.uk/competitions and follow the links.

Competition closes midnight Sunday 29 March. Entrants must be 18 or over. Winners will be notified via email within two working days of closing and will be required to respond within 48 hours or the prize will be offered to another entrant. Our Ts&Cs can be found at theskinny.co.uk/about/terms

Mark Cass opened his first shop in 1984, next to the National Gallery in London, and they

Cass Art Liverpool, 18 School Lane, L1 3BT

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The Skinny are giving away two pairs of VIP weekend tickets to this year's Parklife Festival, taking place at Manchester's Heaton Park on 6 and 7 June 2015. Showcasing an incredible selection of the best chart-topping live acts and world leading DJs, confirmed acts include Disclosure, Ben Howard, Rudimental, Nas, George Ezra, Fatboy Slim, Grace Jones, Wu-Tang Clan, Caribou, Metronomy, Mark Ronson and Jessie Ware – all of whom will cater to over 140,000 music fans across the two days. For your chance to win a pair, simply head along to theskinny.co.uk/competitions and correctly answer the following question:

What band headlined Parklife Festival 2014? a) Foals b) Fawns c) Lambs Competition closes midnight Monday 6 April. Under 16s are not permitted to Parklife Festival. 16 or 17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult, up to a ratio of four 16/17 year olds to one adult (18 or over). Please note winners will be sent e-tickets, and Parklife will require a charity donation. Winners will be notified via email within two working days of closing and will be required to respond within 48 hours or the prize will be offered to another entrant. Our Ts&Cs can be found at theskinny.co.uk/about/terms parklife.uk.com

cassart.co.uk

COMEDY / COMPETITIONS

THE SKINNY

Manchester Music Tue 03 Mar KATHERINE JENKINS

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £29.50

Perhaps Wales most famous opera singer, returning with tracks old and new. ADMIRAL FALLOW

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:00–22:15, £6

Louis Abbott and his merry six-piece stage their usual rousing collective rabble of a thing.

NIGHT & DAY’S LOCAL SHOWCASE (THE 86’D + THE SCARLETTS + ADAM WALSH + DANNY PAGE) NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £5

Live music showcase, giving a stage to local up-and-coming performers.

STUART MCCALLUM RESIDENCY

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

Cinematic Orchestra guitarist trying out new material in the realm of beats, electronica, classical orchestration and jazz. RNCM OPERA SCENES

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 18:00–20:00, FREE

The RNCM singers perform classic opera staples. TUESDAY LIVE (THE EYRES FLY + CASUAL RIME + SUSPEX + TIERNEY BOOTH)

LOCK 91, 20:00–01:00, £4

A host of local talent take to the stage for Lock 91’s new music night.

WITHINGTON GIRLS’ SCHOOL 125TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CONCERT

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £10

They’re looking well for 125! The School’s musicians tackle Gershwin, Copland and Holt, among others. GUSTER

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–22:30, £12.50

The four-piece bring the muscular riffs of their fourth album Evermotion to the UK.

Wed 04 Mar COVENANT

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, 19:30–23:00, £17

Swedish-based electronic fourpiece formed way back in 1986, which means they sound quite a lot like The Human League and Depeche Mode.

NIGHT & DAY’S LOCAL SHOWCASE (PUSHERS + DIRTY FLOWERS + HUNTERS COVE + WARES) NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £5

Live music showcase, giving a stage to local up-and-coming performers. SAMUEL C LEES

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

Gypsy guitar playing, emerging as one of the leaders in the UK scene, playing a blend of originals and covers of modern classics. JONATHAN SCOTT

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 13:10–15:00, £10.50 (£8.50)

Associate Artist Jonathan Scott returns for a new season of his ever popular lunchtime organ concerts. DEATH DTA

MANCHESTER CLUB ACADEMY, 18:30–22:00, £18.50

The 1983-founded metallers formerly going as simply Death. Regarded as a pioneering force in death metal. TINASHE

GORILLA, 19:30–23:00, £11

Tinashe tours in support of her debut LP Aquarius, a blend of R’n’B, roots and hip-hop. BEN WILLIAMS

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:00–23:00, £3.50

The local solo artist celebrates the launch of his new album.

Thu 05 Mar THIS IS THE KIT

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:30–22:30, £9.50

Musical project of Kate Stables and pals, layering primal and hushed electric textures onto songs of unaffected beauty. THE SCRIPT

MANCHESTER ARENA, 18:00–22:30, FROM £27.50

The Irish “alternative” rockers take head out on another UK arena tour.

March 2015

GLASS ANIMALS

PSAPPHA

GORILLA, 19:30–23:00, £10

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 19:30–22:00, FROM £5

Baroque folk trio with distinct pop(ish) influences, still riding the wave of their debut LP, ZABA. MAN & THE ECHO (LUCKY T. JACKSON + JAMES SULLIVAN)

GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £5

Contemporary classical music group formed at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation. RADKEY

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £9

Warrington group based around a vocalist who sounds not unlike Jarvis Cocker or Paul Heaton.

Punk trio made up of three brothers, Dee, Isiah and Solomon from Missouri.

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:30–01:00, £5

TOM GREEN SEPTET

The London-based trombonist, composer and arranger brings his band to Liverpool with him.

WALTER CARROLL LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES (LEAH STUTTARD)

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 13:00–14:00, FREE

The latest in the Martin Harris Centre lunchtime series, which sees students and guests take on the classical canon from past to contemporary. RNCM GUITARS

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–14:00, FREE

The RNCM classical guitarists pluck their way through a number of compositions. NORMAN GEORGE VIOLIN SCHOLARSHIP

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £7

A battle to the death! (Or, a scholarship) as RNCM violinists go up against each other. GILAD ATZMON AND THE ORIENT HOUSE ENSEMBLE

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £18

The maverick, award-winning saxophonist Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble are back in the UK after an extensive world tour.

ROYAL LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £11

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic turn 175 and make a trip down the Ship Canal as part of their celebrations. ALEX G

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:30–22:15, £7

Pennsylvania native (aka Alex Giannascoli) making bruised and melodic guitar pop. STREETS OF LAREDO

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £6

Brooklyn-based indie-folk lot out on their European tour. LOUIE LOUIE (INDIGO JONES + OLD HOUSE PLAYGROUND)

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £4

Skinny Dog presents the halfBritish/half-Portuguese rock ‘n’ roll band. THE CHARLATANS

ALBERT HALL, 19:00–23:00, £32.50

The Mancunian indie-rock survivors play a duo of consecutive Manchester dates, touring in support of their first new LP in four years, Modern Nature.

Fri 06 Mar

STEEL PANTHER (SKINDRED)

O2 APOLLO, 19:00–23:00, £21.50

LA quartet churning out the tongue-in-cheek glam metal tunes to a happy bunch of dedicated followers. THE CHARLATANS

ALBERT HALL, 19:00–23:00, £32.50

THE LAZY RIVER JAZZ BAND

Dixieland swing music influenced by the sounds of the 20s, 30s and 40s. FRIDAY CHAMBER SERIES

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–14:00, FREE

For those who like some classical music with their lunch (bring your own lunch.) MANCHESTER PLG YOUNG ARTISTS FESTIVAL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–15:15, £7

In a new partnership with Park Lane Group, the RNCM collaborates to create a programme focusing on British composers and the music of our time. MANCHESTER PLG YOUNG ARTISTS FESTIVAL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–21:30, £7

In a new partnership with Park Lane Group, the RNCM collaborates to create a programme focusing on British composers and the music of our time. TAI MURRAY VIOLIN RECITAL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £20

The vibrato violinist performs works by Mendelssohn and Schumann. SUNSET SONS

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:30–22:30, £8

UK and Australia-straddling rockers out and touring their new EP. ALIAS KID

SOUND CONTROL, 19:00–22:00, £5

The Manchester outfit bring their fusions of 60s style anthems up Scotland-way. VISION FORTUNE (BLOOD SPORT + ALANA BONDI)

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:00–22:15, £6

Expect machinist rhythms and gaseous drones from ATP Records’ newest signings. KAZO

BAND ON THE WALL, 19:30–22:30, £6

The Stockport four-piece celebrate the release of their new EP, influenced by Led Zeppelin and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. FLOWERS (GULF)

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £6

The Fortuna POP!-signed, Bernard Butler-produced trio are joined by hot Liverpool tips Gulf. GLASS TIDES

GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £7

The Manchester four-piece celebrate the launch of their new EP. MUGSTAR + HEY COLOSSUS

ISLINGTON MILL, 20:00–00:00, £8

Formidable night of noise rock with psych veterans Mugstar and “London-based tinnitus machine” Hey Colossus joined by Middlesbrough’s Drunk In Hell and local art rockers Ten Mouth Electron.

Sat 07 Mar

STEEL PANTHER (SKINDRED)

The Mancunian indie-rock survivors play a duo of consecutive Manchester dates, touring in support of their first new LP in four years, Modern Nature.

LA quartet churning out the tongue-in-cheek glam metal tunes to a happy bunch of dedicated followers.

MANCHESTER ARENA, 18:00–22:30, FROM £27.50

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:30–01:00, £5

THE SCRIPT

The Irish “alternative” rockers take head out on another UK arena tour. JAWS

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, 19:30–23:00, £10

Brummy four-piece making carefree, breezy music. And not a shark in sight. DISTRACTFOLD ENSEMBLE

INTERNATIONAL ANTHONY BURGESS FOUNDATION, 19:00–21:00, £7

Contemporary instrumental and electro-acoustic music from a dynamic group of musicians.

O2 APOLLO, 19:00–23:00, £21.50

TERRI SHALTIEL

Terri Shaltiel returns to Manchester with her powerful and soulful voice, offering original 60s and 70s inspired sounds in the realm of Etta James and Roberta Flack. THE HOTSPUR PRESS (NAVAJO + MADDY STORM + REDROOMS)

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £5

Local acoustic-based rock. THE OLD DANCE SCHOOL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £12

Expansive landscapes of earbending contemporary folk, taking in duelling fiddles and soaring brass crescendos.

BBC PHILHARMONIC (ELGAR + DVORKA + TCHAIKOVSKY) BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £10

The BBC Philharmonic’s new year schedule sees Auntie’s finest orchestra explore classical mainstays and more leftfield compositions. KANTEEN

KRAAK, 19:00–22:00, £6

90’s grunge influenced types formed in South Manchester, late 2013.

MANCHESTER PLG YOUNG ARTISTS FESTIVAL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–15:15, £7

In a new partnership with Park Lane Group, the RNCM collaborates to create a programme focusing on British composers and the music of our time. MANCHESTER PLG YOUNG ARTISTS FESTIVAL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–21:30, £7

In a new partnership with Park Lane Group, the RNCM collaborates to create a programme focusing on British composers and the music of our time.

THE NEXT BIG THING – GRAND FINAL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:00–22:00, £12.50

20 young ‘uns compete to become The Next Big Thing. ST GEORGE’S SINGERS

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £15

The singers team up with the Northern Baroque Orchestra to perform selections from Bach and Buxtehude. CORROSION OF CONFORMITY

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2, 19:30–23:00, £17.50

American heavy metal veterans return in support of their suitably punishing ninth album IX. JOAN SHELLEY

GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £6

Kentucky singer/songwriter using modest observations as the basis for big and bold arrangements.

THE MAGNETIC MIND (LITTLE GYPSY + THE MIND AT LARGE) ROADHOUSE, 19:30–22:30, £5

London-formed group taking inspiration from the likes of Shocking Blue, Los Brincos, The Seeds and The United States of America.

MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY WIND AND STRING ORCHESTRA

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 19:30–22:00, FROM £3

The University’s Wind and String Orchestras combine to play Sibelius and Handel among others. LIVVO (JOLANGA + LAZY EYE + KASHMERE)

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 19:30–23:00, £7

Having spent his tentative years playing under real name David Liversidge, LiVVO returns with his newly adopted moniker to launch his new sound. WEEDEATER

SOUND CONTROL, 16:00–21:00, £15

The Southern Lord-signed metal trio return to the UK.

THE BOX MOBILE STUDIO PRESENTS: THE YOSSARIANS + TEN MOUTH ELECTRON + LOCEAN

THE STAR AND GARTER, 20:00–02:00, £5

The Box Studio presents three of Manchester’s most beguiling leftfield rock bands, with Yossarians’ debut LP also being previewed in the downstairs bar. MONOTONY (SPOILERS + DENIM AND LEATHER + GUT MODEL)

BIG HANDS, 20:30–23:00, £3

The noisier, thrashier alter-ego of Sauna Youth call into Manchester with a raucous supporting bill in tow.

THE SILVER DONKEY BRIDGEWATER HALL, 15:00–17:00, £7

A family performance based on the novel by Sonya Hartnett. Presented by The Bridgewater Hall and Chetham’s School of Music by Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank. THE VERONICAS

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2, 19:00–22:30, £14

The Italian-Australian duo return to UK shores in support of their self-titled new album. COLLIE BUDZ

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, 19:00–22:30, £14.50

American/Bermudian reggae chap of the designer stubble and smouldering stares variety. LUCY & THE CATERPILLAR

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £5

The eccentric solo artist from Hebden Bridge comes in from the cold with her new EP Coming Back Home. ARTFUL VOICES + FRIENDS CHOIR CONCERT

WATERSIDE ARTS CENTRE, 19:30–22:00, £10 (£8)

Sale’s newest choir take on everything from 1940s swing to Stevie Wonder.

Mon 09 Mar THE ANSWER

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, 19:00–22:30, £15

Geordie/Northern Ireland foursome sounding pretty much like what you get when you cross classic, hard and blues rock together. NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS

MANCHESTER ARENA, 18:00–22:30, FROM £35

Noel Gallagher and his new band of warriors tour in support of their latest LP, Chasing Yesterday. MODESTEP

GORILLA, 19:00–23:00, £13

London dubstep-styled rockers out and touring some new tunes. FOZZY (THE DIRTY YOUTH)

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:00–22:00, £15

The most interesting thing about Fozzy is that WWE wrestler Chris Jericho is their front man. Why need know anymore? COVES (LUSTS)

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £7

Spacey Leamington Spa-hailing duo made up of John Ridgard and Beck Wood. MONDAY RECITAL SERIES

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–14:00, FREE

The lunchtime concert series continues with a trawl through some of classical music’s most respected composers. ENSEMBLE DENOTE

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £14

The chamber ensemble play a selection of Viennese quartets, including work by Mozart, Hummel and Beethoven. ALL WE ARE

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–23:00, £8

Liverpudlian psychedelic boogiemeisters, self-described as ‘The Bee Gees on diazepam’.

CREDENCE PRESENTS (SOBI + IMOGEN HOYLE + SOME KIND OF ILLNESS + CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL)

BAND ON THE WALL, 18:00–22:00, £3

Local showcase.

Tue 10 Mar

ARCHITECTS (EVERY TIME I DIE + BLESS THE FALL + COUNTERPARTS)

THE RITZ, 19:00–23:00, £15

Hardcore Brighton foursome, mixing a pummeling concoction of post-metalcore, metal and progressive to suitably headmangling effect.

Sun 08 Mar

TUESDAY LIVE (THE 256, DILIGENT FINGERS, CAROLINE EVE, KATIE O MALLEY)

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:30–23:00, £10

LOCK 91, 20:00 - 01:00, £4

TO KILL A KING

Leeds/London quartet fronted by the brooding vocals and denselycrafted songwriting of Ralph Pelleymounter.

TUNE UP & BE HEARD (ATLAS EYES + ETERNAL TEENAGE SYNDROME + RED SPEKTOR) ANTWERP MANSION, 19:00–00:00, FREE

An always surprising mix of local and touring bands. SALE CHORAL SOCIETY

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £17

Roderick Barrand performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 17 in celebration of 30 years with Sale Choral Society.

A host of local talent take to the stage for lock 91's new music night.

NIGHT & DAY’S LOCAL SHOWCASE

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £5

Live music showcase, giving a stage to local up-and-coming performers. ROOM 94

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, 19:30–23:00, £10

North London band of brothers – made up of Kieran, Dean and Sean Lemon, joined by Kit Tanton on bass – doing their pop-meetsrock thing.

LONELY THE BRAVE (HANNAH LOU CLARK) THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:00–22:00, £10

Self-described ‘epic-rock’ fourpiece from Cambridge. THE QEMISTS

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:30–22:15, £10

Brighton-based electronic tinkerers signed to the inimitable Ninja Tune imprint. KIM CHURCHILL

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–23:00, £7.50

Australian singer/songwriter matching his lyrical artistry with fierce vocals. THE BOOGIE WILLIAMS TRIO

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

Boogie Williams is joined by Alan ‘The Hat’ Whitham on bass and Richard young on drums, playing soul jazz, boogie and 60s groove.

Wed 11 Mar CLAUDIA BRUCKEN

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:30–22:30, £20

German singer who fronted synthpop groups Propaganda and Act, providing one of the most distinctive female voices of the mid-80s.

IDLEWILD

EUROPE + BLACK STAR RIDERS

THE RITZ, 19:00–23:00, £20

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £26

After having their bonces emblazoned across the cover of Scotland’s February issue, Idlewild give new LP – Everything Ever Written – the full live treatment.

Swedish hard rock ensemble Europe take to the road with the latest incarnation of Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders, for twice the noise.

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £18.50

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £10

YELLOWCARD + LESS THAN JAKE

Florida indie-rock lot Yellowcard hit the road with fellow Floridian ska-pop dudes Less Than Jake. RNCM SAXOPHONE ORCHESTRA

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–14:15, FREE

The saxophone orchestra are led by Rob Buckland and Andy Scott through a versatile programme. SPECIAL VIRTUOSI SPRINGTIME MUSIC

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £7

FELIX NIËL

The Dutch flautist takes part in the final International Artist Diploma recital of the term, performing Escher, Prokofiev, Quantz and more. TOMMY SCOTT (STEPHEN LANGSTAFF)

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £10

The lead singer of Space goes solo. EASTERN EXCHANGES PART I

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 13:10–14:00, FREE

Special Virtuosi musicians perform orchestral and solo pieces in this Spring term concert.

Eastern Exchanges presents music by living Western composers who absorb aspects of East Asia in their works.

BAND ON THE WALL, 19:30–22:30, £8 EARLYBIRD (£10 THEREAFTER)

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 19:30–22:00, FROM 3

SPOEK MATHAMBO’S FANTASMA

EASTERN EXCHANGES PART II

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £12.50

Unique take on electronic music, with Spoek infusing his original brand of futurism with a strong sense of his native Africa.

Eastern Exchanges presents music by living Western composers who absorb aspects of East Asia in their works.

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £5

KRAAK, 19:00–22:00, £6

CLEAN BANDIT (JESS GLYNNE)

Goodbye Chanel bring their cinematic post-pop to The Castle.

MARTIN HARLEY BAND

Acoustic guitar singer/songwriter taking in ageless blues and roots soundscapes, now with added band. O2 APOLLO, 19:00–23:00, £21.50

Eccentric young pups from London, building their sound on the instrumental core of bass, drums and strings, bolstered by a variety of budding vocalists. THE UNTHANKS

THE RITZ, 19:00–23:00, £18

The former Mercury Prize nominees return after a couple of years doing their own thing, set to unleash their dark Northern folk on the stage again.

GOODBYE CHANEL

Fri 13 Mar LITTLE COMETS

MANCHESTER CLUB ACADEMY, 19:00–22:30, £12

DISCORDIAN

The riff-fueled, slightly insane heavy metal rockers take to the Kraak stage.

Sat 14 Mar STIFF LITTLE FINGERS

THE RITZ, 18:30–22:00, £18.50

Kitchen sink-styled indie-rock quartet led by the dynamic Robert Coles.

70s punk-pop foursome par excellence, on the go now for a ridiculous amount of years.

BAND ON THE WALL, 20:00–02:00, £13 EARLYBIRD (£15 THEREAFTER)

NUMBER ONE RIVERSIDE, 20:00–22:30, £8

DJ YODA

YOUNG FATHERS

The Scottish hip-hop trio return with their rather glorious line in DIY rap and synchronised dance moves.

THE ELIZABETH HARWOOD MEMORIAL AWARD FOR SINGERS

The sampler extraordinaire presents both his live band Breakfast of Champions, as well as a solo AV DJ set.

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £10

ALBERT HALL, 19:00 - 23:00, £28.50

Alternative indie up-and-comers who describe their sound as ‘music to fuck you in the heart’, which is nice.

PEACE

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:00–22:00, £8

This special award was founded in memory of the much-loved Yorkshire soprano and provides support for an outstanding final year singer. THE MANOUCHETONE’S

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

The latest collaboration between Micky Dunne and Karl Webb, performing a mixture of Reinhardt and Grappelli classics as a trio. FLESH + COLD OCEAN LIES (TROJAN HORSE)

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £5

Local double headlining gig.

Thu 12 Mar PLACEBO

O2 APOLLO, 19:00–23:00, £29.50

With six studio albums and more than 12 million records sales, Brian Molko and his band of alternative rockers continue to ride the wave of their newest LP, Loud Like Love. PEACE

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–23:00, £12.50

Alternative indie up-and-comers who describe their sound as ‘music to fuck you in the heart’, which is nice. JOAN ARMATRADING

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £27.50

The longstanding British singer/ songwriter plays a selection of newer songs and older classics.

CRYWANK (PURPLE MERLIN + THIRD THUMB)

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £5

Manc chap James Clayton’s antifolk alter ego, going by the touching moniker of, er, Crywank. CITY OF LIGHTS

KRAAK, 19:00–22:00, £6

Crafty Yorkshire tunesmiths influenced by Biffy Clyro, Coldplay and the like. THE GELATOS

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:30, FREE

High energy trio traversing the 40s and 50s with their blend of piano, double bass, sax, clarinet and vocals, joined on the night by drummer, Mark Warburton.

WALTER CARROLL LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES (PHILIP THOMAS)

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 13:10–14:00, FREE

The latest in the Martin Harris Centre lunchtime series, which sees students and guests take on the classical canon from past to contemporary.

UNDERWORLD

The British electronic mainstays perform their 1994 release, dubnobasswithmyheadman, live and in its entirety. THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–23:00, £12.50

Alternative indie up-and-comers who describe their sound as ‘music to fuck you in the heart’, which is nice.

CLINIC (NAKED (ON DRUGS) + BLACK LUNG)

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £11

The veteran Liverpool experimental rockers come to Night & Day to make up for their illness-enforced cancellation at last year’s Manchester Psych Fest.

ACOUSTIC AMNESTY (JOHN MACKIE + IAN TILL + THE YOUNG VANISH + MORE)

SACRED TRINITY CHURCH, 19:30–22:30, £8

Singers and poets unite for this Amnesty Manchester charity event. HOBBIE STUART (EZ STONE)

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:00–22:00, £8

Roberto Stuart da Cunha Lima, aka Hobbie Stuart – which is less brain breaking to spell – takes his YouTube-famous singer/songwriter thing on the road. THE BIG EASY

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:30–00:30, £5

Swing quintet, playing all the classics from Louis Prima to Nina Simone.

PEACE

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–23:00, £12.50

ORPHAN BOY (NO HOT ASHES)

Local lad rockers still doing their post-Oasis thing. KING KING (LAWRENCE JONES)

BAND ON THE WALL, 19:30–22:30, £15

British bluesbreakers and multiaward winners at the British Blues Awards. ALLIGATOR GUMBO

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:30–01:00, £5

Leeds-based jazz musicians playing a mix of styles inspired by early jazz/swing music in New Orleans – which has surprisingly little to do with large reptilian-based stew. RAGLANS

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:30–23:00, £6

Dublin-based quartet formed in a festival tent back in 2010, riding along on muscular new wave guitars, gritty pop melodies and indie-folk arrangements. THE PREATURES

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:00–22:00, £9

Sydney-hailing rock’n’roll quintet combining classic songwriting with raw, infectious delivery. COSMOSIS (DEAD MEADOW + THE BLACK RYDER + SINGAPORE SLING + THE VACANT LOTS + MORE)

ANTWERP MANSION, 13:30–03:00, £28.50

SOUND CONTROL, 19:00–22:00, £9.50

A one day festival of psychedelia, taking over Antwerp Mansion with a stellar line-up of live music, DJ sets, mind-bending visuals, clothing stalls, food, arts and crafts, and even a deep space observatory.

FLAMINGODS (NISKALA + YERBA MANSA)

O2 APOLLO, 19:00–23:00, £15

KINGSLAND ROAD

X Factor breakthrough act (but not winners) who’ve been co-writing with McFly’s songsmiths. SOUP KITCHEN, 19:30–22:15, £6

Rhythm-driven psychedelic pop five-piece back in the UK for just a week and playing their only Northern date. TERRY CHRISTIAN’S MAD MANC CABARET

THE DANCEHOUSE, 20:30–23:30, £15

Terry Christian translates his 80’s music show The Word onto the stage. GORGEOUS BULLY

FALLOW CAFE, 20:00–00:00, £4

Noisey local garage rock types headline the night Family Tree night.

HALESTORM

Hard rockin’ American quartet led by feisty vocalist and guitarist Lzzy Hale. SPANDAU BALLET

MANCHESTER ARENA, 18:00–22:30, FROM £40

The 70s-formed new wave ensemble ride the wave of their twilight years. RNCM STRINGS FESTIVAL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 10:00–21:30, PRICES VARY

A host of events based around classical and contemporary string compositions.

AN EVENING WITH STEVEN WILSON

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:00–22:00, FROM £22.50

The Porcupine Tree frontman takes to the road solo, accompanied by his live band.

Listings

Manchester Music JOSE GONZALEZ

RNCM STRINGS FESTIVAL

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2, 19:30–23:00, £SOLD OUT

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 10:15–20:45, PRICES VARY

You know the fella, did that cover of The Knife’s Heartbeats a few years ago, continues to be all acoustic and dreamy. HARDCORE SUPERSTAR

MANCHESTER CLUB ACADEMY, 19:30–23:00, £14

Gothenburg hard rockers and multiple Swedig Grammy Award winners back on UK soil. DELS

ROADHOUSE, 19:30–22:30, £8

London hip-hop artist building his tunes on a bed of unique musical innovation and surreal lyrics.

CAREFULLY PLANNED ALL-DAYER (A.P.A.T.T + ONIONS + BEAT THE RADAR + SEIZE THE CHAIR + MORE) THE CASTLE HOTEL, 13:00–23:00, £5

After 25 editions, Carefully Planned hosts its final all-dayer. Bring tissues. MUMS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND ENSEMBLES

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 19:30–22:00, FROM £3

Sophie Smith plays Rosauro’s Concerto for Marimba. LOFTHOUSE

SOUND CONTROL, 19:00–22:00, £5

Bolton-based indie-rock group who’re only a year old.

Sun 15 Mar THE AFTERPARTY

SOUND CONTROL, 19:30–22:30, £6

The London alternative rockers make a Manchester stop-off. PAPA ROACH

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £SOLD OUT

The Californian rockers bring the nu-metal nostalgia, as bloody per – playing tracks offa their new LP, F.E.A.R. ANDY JORDAN

GORILLA, 19:00–23:00, £11

The Made In Chelsea star embarks on his UK mini tour, we’ll do the hiding.

A host of events based around classical and contemporary string compositions. F.L.O.B MUSIC SHOWCASE

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 19:00–00:00, FREE

Fresh Loaf of Bread present another host of home-grown talent. BRUISING (MARY JOANNA + FRUIT BOMB)

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–22:30, £5

Hooting and Howling presents a new music showcase, with Leeds lo-fi rockers Bruising making their bow across the Pennines.

Mon 16 Mar RUSTIE

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:30–23:00, £10

The Glasgow-based man of the moment, in the world of dance music anyway, plays as part of his Green Language world tour. VESSELS (JOSEF K + WINTER SON)

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:30–22:15, £7

Impressive Leeds quintet who’ve traded in their siren guitars for pulsing techno. MONDAY RECITAL SERIES

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–14:00, FREE

The lunchtime concert series continues with a trawl through some of classical music’s most respected composers. SOL3 MIO

THE LOWRY: QUAYS THEATRE, 19:30–22:00, £SOLD OUT

Operatic trio made up of two tenor brothers, Pene and Amitai Pati, and their baritone cousin Moses Mackay. ANDY TIMMONS BAND

BAND ON THE WALL, 19:00–22:00, £14.50 EARLYBIRD (£16.50 THEREAFTER)

The American guitarist (also of Danger Danger and Pawn Kings) plays with his touring band.

Metropolis Music by arrangement with Primary Talent International present

TOM WILLIAMS GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £7

CHAMPS THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £7

The alternative duo from Isle of Wight tour in support of latest record Down Like Gold. THE FUREYS

OPERA HOUSE, 19:30–22:00, £22.90

Formerly Tom Williams & The Boat, the singer songwriter comes to land for his latest tour.

The longstanding folk-based outfit play a selection of classics spanning their 35-year career.

SOUND CONTROL, 19:00–22:30, £10

Wed 18 Mar

HIRAX

Early 80’s formed rockers who grew from supporting the likes of Metallica and Slayer to forge a hugely successful career of their own.

Tue 17 Mar

NIGHT & DAY’S LOCAL SHOWCASE

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £5

Live music showcase, giving a stage to local up-and-coming performers.

TUESDAY LIVE (CLOCKWORK RADIO, MRE, ALESSA'S NOWHERE, ADAM YOUNG)

LOCK 91, 20:00 - 01:00, £4

A host of local talent take to the stage for lock 91's new music night. THE HIGH KINGS

THE LOWRY: QUAYS THEATRE, 20:00–22:00, £16

WILKO JOHNSON

THE RITZ, 19:00–23:00, £22.50

The inimitable guitarist and founding member of Dr. Feelgood returns to the live circuit for his ‘Still Kickin’ Tour’, following his (not actually) farewell tour after his diagnosis with terminal cancer. NIGHT & DAY’S LOCAL SHOWCASE

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £5

Live music showcase, giving a stage to local up-and-coming performers. PSAPPHA (FACADE)

INTERNATIONAL ANTHONY BURGESS FOUNDATION, 18:00–19:00, £10 (£8)

Contemporary classical music group formed at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation. PSAPPHA (FACADE)

INTERNATIONAL ANTHONY BURGESS FOUNDATION, 20:00–21:00, £10 (£8)

Irish folk quintet, dazzling audiences with their multi-instrumental skills racking up a total of 13 instruments between ‘em.

Contemporary classical music group formed at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation.

GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £7

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

KIRAN LEONARD

Experimental singer-songwriter hailing from Oldham, still riding the wave of his debut LP, Bowler Hat Soup. THREE STEP MANOEUVRE

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

A new organ trio of young musicians David Ferris on organ, Ben Lee on guitar and Oscar Reynolds on drums, specialising in hardgrooving funk music. SLEEPMAKESWAVES

ROADHOUSE, 19:00–22:00, £12

The Australian post-rockers return to the UK now some nine years since forming. Where does the time go?

STUART MCCALLUM RESIDENCY

Cinematic Orchestra guitarist trying out new material in the realm of beats, electronica, classical orchestration and jazz. SIVU

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:30–22:15, £8

The Cambridge-born, Finnishnamed singer/songwriter does his tremulous quaver of a thing. CHOPIN PRIZE

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £7

RNCM pianists and students from Chetham’s School of Music compete for this prestigious annual prize, adjudicated this year by Martin Roscoe.

MANCHESTER MID-DAY CONCERTS SOCIETY (TASMIN LITTLE + MARTIN ROSCOE) BRIDGEWATER HALL, 13:10–15:00, £9.50 (£7.50)

The Mid-Morning Concert Society welcomes another unique talent, delving into classical and contemporary composition. FLATBUSH ZOMBIES & THE UNDERACHIEVERS

GORILLA, 19:30–23:00, £14

After uniting as Clockwork Indigo for their Clockwork Indigo EP, Brooklyn rap groups Flatbush ZombiesandThe Underachievers hit the road together. SEAFRET

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £6

The fast-rising acoustic duo tour in support of new EP Oceans. CLOUD CASTLE LAKE

GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £7

Dublin-based pop trio touring in support of debut EP Dandelion. THE PARADES

SOUND CONTROL, 19:00–22:00, £6

Trio from Reading who combine funk, indie pop and soul.

Thu 19 Mar DROPKICK MURPHYS

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £19.50

Boston rockers who started playing in the basement of a friend’s barbershop back in the 90s, blending the musical influences they grew up with – punk-rock, Irish folk and hardcore – into one chaotic whole. KIESZA

ALBERT HALL, 19:00 - 23:00, £14

Canadian singer/songwriter best known for her single Hideaway. SAM SMITH

O2 APOLLO, 19:00–23:00, £22.50

British soul singer best known for crooning single, Stay With Me. THE HALLÉ (SHOSTAKOVICH + MAHLER)

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £11

The Hallé’s new year schedule sees the renowned orchestra go through some of the finest pieces of the classical canon. THE TOM SEALS BAND

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

Horses 1975 _ 2015

Patti Smith and her band perform Horses

Talented young pianist from Liverpool, touring with his debut album, Ace.

POLAR STATES (THE REVERES + ONE FREE RIDE + CHEMISTRY LANE)

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £5

The latest in the Martin Harris Centre lunchtime series, which sees students and guests take on the classical canon from past to contemporary. RNCM HARP ENSEMBLE

Some of the RNCM’s past students return to work their way through the classics. ABDOMINAL AND THE OBLIQUES

ROADHOUSE, 19:30–22:30, £10

Return of hip-hop legend Abdominal, playing a live set with instrumental duo The Obliques. THE SLOW REVOLT

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £5

The London-based vocalist and producer aka Joe Mirza brings his digital manipulations to Manchester.

WORRIEDABOUTSATAN (RUSSELL.M.HARMON + O>L>A) GULLIVERS, 20:00–23:00, £4

The dark electronica duo celebrate the launch of their first LP in six years.

MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY BIG BAND

Listings

pattismith.net

Contemporary instrumental and electro-acoustic music from a dynamic group of musicians. THE HOUGHTON WEAVERS

WATERSIDE ARTS CENTRE, 19:30–22:00, £14.50 (£13)

A comedy folk band, keeping audiences amused with their family friendly anecdotes. SAM SMITH

O2 APOLLO, 19:00–23:00, £22.50

British soul singer best known for crooning single, Stay With Me. RAG N BONE MAN

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–22:30, £8.50

One-man brutal trash blues noise machine, on drums, harmonica, guitar and expletives. LOUIS LOUIS LOUIS

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:30–01:00, £5

Toe-tapping classic swing outfit playing the music of Louis Prima and Ray Charles. NATHAN CARTER

THE LOWRY: QUAYS THEATRE, 20:00–22:00, £22.50

Twinkly-eyed young Irish country singer. BBC PHILHARMONIC (VAUGHAN WILLIAMS)

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £10

The BBC Philharmonic’s new year schedule sees Auntie’s finest orchestra explore classical mainstays and more leftfield compositions.

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 19:30–22:00, FROM £3

The University Big Band return with what’s sure to be a high energy show. REAL FRIENDS

SOUND CONTROL, 18:30–22:00, £12

American pop punkers from Illinois signed to Fearless Records.

THE STRANGLERS

MCBUSTED

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £23

MANCHESTER ARENA, 18:00–22:30, FROM £37.50

The long-standing punk-rockers take to the road once more, marking some 40+ years and still standing. THE HANDSOME FAMILY

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 19:30–22:00, £15

Musical collaboration between husband and wife duo Brett and Rennie Sparks – still making lovely Americana-styled alternative folk tunes after some 20 years together. ANTHROPROPHH

ROADHOUSE, 19:30–22:30, £6

Solo project of The Heads frontman, Paul Allen, moving in the realm of psyche space rock with analogue electronics. THE HYENA KILL

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:00–22:15, £7

Manchester-based duo, made up of Steven Dobb and Lorna Blundell, fond of riffs and grooves. REEF

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2, 19:30–22:30, £18.50

The Gary Stringer-led 90s rockers still marvelling with their continual ability to somehow attract large crowds. DELAMERE (SCARLET + FROM CARBON + CIRCUS WOLVES)

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £7

Anthemic Stoke four-piece. POSTCARDS FROM JEFF

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 20:00–23:00, £5

Alternative dream-pop meanderings of Joss Worthington, crafting a cinematic experience with his multi-layered experimentation. MCBUSTED

MANCHESTER ARENA, 18:00–22:30, FROM £37.50

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, 19:30–23:00, £19

You know that nightmare you had about Busted and McFly touring as one? Well it was real. Run for the hills!

RNCM ALUMNI RECITAL SERIES

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:30–22:30, £8

AMARANTHE

Swedish hard rock unit with a trio of vocalists at the helm.

JANE WEAVER

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 17:00–19:00, FREE

The Piccadilly Records’ album of the year artist brings her krautinfluenced psychedelic sounds to an intimate setting.

RNCM BIG BAND WITH TINA MAY AND NIKKI ILES

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 17:00–19:00, FREE

Some of the RNCM’s past students return to work their way through the classics.

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, FROM £15

The in-house big band play some classic selections. JAMES ATKIN

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:00–22:00, £10

The ex-EMF man (You know, Unbelievable etc. etc.) goes solo for his new album A Country Mile.

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 13:10–14:00, FREE

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 16:00–18:00, FREE

ticketmaster.co.uk

DISTRACTFOLD ENSEMBLE

INTERNATIONAL ANTHONY BURGESS FOUNDATION, 19:00–21:00, £7

The Ritz host a new music showcase with talent drawn from region-wide.

RNCM ALUMNI RECITAL SERIES

gigsandtours.com

ROADHOUSE, 19:30–22:30, £20

South African rockers who have achieved multi-platinum status in their own country, go them.

THE RITZ: NEW MUSIC (CONQUER RIO + CULTURES + SCARLA + NEWDAY)

WALTER CARROLL LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES (GAMELAN DEGUNG)

A 13 piece harp ensemble of RNCM students and alumni performs Bill Connor’s Songs of Love and Remembering.

O2 Apollo Manchester

THE PARLOTONES

New band straight outta Toxteth who’ve already worked with Grammy Award-winning producers n’ the like.

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–14:00, FREE

Monday 8 June 2015

Fri 20 Mar

THE RITZ, 18:30–22:00, £7

TRISTAN FT. HESTON (DJ COLIN CURTIS)

BAND ON THE WALL, 20:00–23:00, £12 EARLYBIRD (£14 THEREAFTER)

Dutch jazz and soul outfit touring in support of last year’s Full Power LP. NED DOHENY

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:30–22:15, £20

The Don Henley and Glenn Freycollaborating singer songwriter performs and intimate show at Soup. EASY KILL (CAMP STAG)

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £4

The fast-rising acoustic duo tour in support of new EP Oceans. FIGMO (THE MADDING CROWD + KIERA LAWLOR)

GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £5

Manchester group promising face melting rock ‘n’ roll. Bring towels. UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER CHAMBER CHOIR

MARTIN HARRIS CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND DRAMA, 19:30–22:00, FROM £3

RNCM ALUMNI RECITAL SERIES

Some of the RNCM’s past students return to work their way through the classics. PRAVIN GODKHINDI

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 13:00–15:00, £12 (£10)

This highly acclaimed flautist plays both northern and southern classical Indian music, fused with Western jazz and folk influences.

JOHN COOPER CLARKE

O2 APOLLO, 19:00–23:00, FROM £27.50

RNCM ALUMNI RECITAL SERIES

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 14:00–16:00, FREE

Some of the RNCM’s past students return to work their way through the classics. RNCM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS (MAHLER 2)

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 17:00–20:00, £10

The RNCM Symphony Orchestra tackle Mahler’s epic second, which took six years to complete and questions the essential elements of humanity. COURTNEY PINE

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 20:00–22:00, £20

The saxophone veteran is joined by MOBO Award winning pianist Zoe Rahman for a stripped back tour for a set spanning his nearly 30 years. FOUR YEAR STRONG

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2, 19:00–22:30, £14

The US punk rock quartet return to Scotland as part of their Pure Noise Records UK tour. NATHAN GRISDALE

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, 19:00–22:30, £14.50

A new tour for the viral pop singer known to pretty much no-one as ‘Grizzly Nat Grisdale’. SUN RA ARKESTRA

GORILLA, 19:30–23:00, £25

The revered Arkestra return for another tour, more than 50 years after they founded and flung styles the world over together in glorious free-form. JAZZ FOUNDATIONS SPRING 2015

BAND ON THE WALL, 19:00–22:00, FREE

The Jazz Foundation students present their latest work. RITA PAYNE

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £8

The acoustic foot stompers return in support of their new album We’re Getting There Aren’t We? PORT ERIN

GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £TBC

ALBERT HALL, 19:00 - 23:00, £16

WARPAINT

In a departure from the norm, the revered orchestra visit some film soundtrack classics, taken from A Space Odyssey, Driving Miss Daisy and more.

Having topped our 2014 Album of The Year list, the psychedelic LA indie-rockers return to our shores as part of their biggest UK tour to date.

SOUND CONTROL, 19:00–22:00, £10

SOUND CONTROL, 19:00–23:00, £10

HUNTER & THE BEAR

They supported Eric Clapton once, which is perhaps the most remarkable thing about this industrious folk-rock four-piece. THE DEVIL MAKES THREE

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:00–22:00, £8

American blues revivalists now 13 years on the go. THE BOOM YEH

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:30–01:00, £5

Rootsy jazz-funk with a nod to Fela Kuti.

THE RITZ: NEW MUSIC (JACK THE RAPPER + SOME KIND OF ILLNESS + JOSEY MARINA + TRIP KINGS)

THE RITZ, 18:30–22:00, £7

The Ritz host a new music showcase with talent drawn from region-wide.

More groove-infused blues from the experimental foursome, with Chris Turpin on dust-bowl howlin’ duties.

More satirical and biting political verse, delivered in Cooper Clarke’s trademark rapid-fire performance style – taking in anecdotes of Northern life, interspersed with some of his best poems.

Intimate you say? What’s Russell going to let us to with him? Probably just sit around and listen to him sing we’d imagine.

THE HALLÉ MOVIE CLASSICS

SOUND CONTROL, 18:00–22:00, £16

Sat 21 Mar

THE LOWRY: LYRIC THEATRE, 19:30–22:00, FROM £31

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £17

Sun 22 Mar

“Otep Shamaya’s music is formed from the poetic marrow of creative intercourse” apparently. Means he likes playing with other people innit.

AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH RUSSELL WATSON

The West Country post-punk head back out on the road.

Ad Solem join the Chamber Choir for Mozart’s Requiem. OTEP

You know that nightmare you had about Busted and McFly touring as one? Well it was real. Run for the hills!

KILL IT KID

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–23:00, £10

BILLY LOCKETT (MEGAN WASHINGTON)

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:00–22:00, £11

Northampton singer/songwriter skilled on the ol’ piano, which he taught himself to play in a basement, aged eight, as you do.

DORJE

The UK-based progressive hard rockers head out on tour.

Mon 23 Mar

ALASDAIR ROBERTS (QUINCEY MAY BROWN)

BAND ON THE WALL, 19:00–22:00, £8 EARLYBIRD (£10 THEREAFTER)

The inimitable folk musician and songwriter plays tracks from his self-titled new LP. NICK MULVEY

ALBERT HALL, 19:00 - 23:00, £15

The founding member of Portico Quartet does his solo singer/songwriter thing.

KRISTYNA MYLES (PHILIPPA HANNA + JULES RENDELL + LILY-JO) THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:30–22:30, £7

The MOBO Award-nominated singer returns to Manchester. THE SOLID SILVER 60S SHOW

PALACE THEATRE, 19:30–22:00, FROM £28.40

The UK’s first 60s show marks 29 years, with a tribute night jammed full of 60s hits. MONDAY RECITAL SERIES

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–14:00, FREE

The lunchtime concert series continues with a trawl through some of classical music’s most respected composers. USHER

MANCHESTER ARENA, 18:00–22:30, FROM £35

Pop ya collar y’all, it’s only ruddy Usher!

THE SKINNY

ENDELLION QUARTET

THE BLACKOUT

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £25

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2, 19:30–23:00, £13

The quartet perform Schubert, Webern and Bartok. WARD THOMAS

GORILLA, 19:00–23:00, £12.50

The folk duo return for a headlining tour of their own, after sharing billing with The Shires in 2014.

Tue 24 Mar THE SUBWAYS

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, 19:30–23:00, £14

Alternative indie-rock trio now 10 years and four albums down the line. LUCY ROSE

GORILLA, 19:30–23:00, £14

Singer/songwriter who has contributed vocals to Bombay Bicycle Club tracks, now striking out on her lonesome. SLEATER-KINNEY

ALBERT HALL, 19:00 - 23:00, £22.50

The Washington Riot Grrrl trio return to a live setting with their (secretly recorded) new LP, No Cities to love, emerging seven years after they began their 'extended hiatus'. BLIND MONK TRIO

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

Three Northwest musicians putting a fresh spin on the classic, chordless jazz trio format. TUESDAY LIVE (FEED THE KID, HAYDN FUNK PROJECT, ORCHID HUNTERS, HARLEE)

LOCK 91, 20:00 - 01:00, £4

A host of local talent take to the stage for lock 91's new music night. KARNIVOOL (MONUMENTS)

THE RITZ, 19:00–23:00, £14

The Australian progressive rock lot take to the road to celebrate the release of their back catalogue on vinyl. RNCM COMPOSERS CONCERT

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £7

Adam Gorb, RNCM Head of Composition, introduces this concert of new and recently premièred works, written by RNCM composers and performed by their fellow students. CHEADLE HULME SCHOOL SPRING CONCERT

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £7

The Spring Concert features the school’s choirs, orchestra and bands along with solo and chamber items in a varied evening of music making. SARAH CONNOLLY

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £12

A recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s 2012 Singer Award, Sarah Connolly brings her renowned mezzo soprano to the Bridgewater. LOGIC

MANCHESTER CLUB ACADEMY, 19:30–23:00, £12.50

The Maryland rapper, who also goes by the name Sir Robert Bryson Hall II (strange, we can’t recall his name in the New Year’s honours list.) CHIC FT. NILE RODGERS

O2 APOLLO, 19:00–23:00, £40

The disco veterans and pop hit factory return, imploring everyone to just ‘Dance Dance Dance’. HANNI EL KHATBI

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–22:30, £8.50

El Khatib brings his third album Moonlight to the UK, a mix of everything from italo-disco to fuzz pop.

WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE?...THIS IS (BONE-BOX)

THE KING’S ARMS, 20:30–23:00, £7 (£4)

The latest WTA? Night, which promises to reject corporate pop and revel in true independence.

Wed 25 Mar SOKO

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:30–22:30, £12

LA-based, French singer-cumactress SoKo (aka Stephanie Sokolinski) comes to the UK armed with her new LP, as lyrically whimsical as ever. LAGWAGON

MANCHESTER CLUB ACADEMY, 20:00–23:00, £18

Santa Barbara power-punk outfit formed in the small town of Goleta back in’t 1990.

March 2015

The Welsh post-hardcore unit bring the high energy rock soundscapes for the last ever time. Time to get weepy. KYLA BROX

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

UK-based blues and soul singer/ songwriter, redefining her sound as a duo performance, joined by Danny Blomeley on guitar. THE HALLÉ (TCHAIKOVSKY + PROKOFIEV + SIBELIUS)

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 14:15–16:15, FROM £11

JOSHUA CAVANAGH-BRIERLEY + SPLIT MILK MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:00–00:00, FREE

Cavanagh brings two of his bands to Matt & Phred’s in the form of trio Spilt Milk and his own ninepiece band.

NUBIYAN TWIST (IN THE LOOP DJS)

BAND ON THE WALL, 19:00–22:00, £8 EARLYBIRD (£10 THEREAFTER)

The 12-piece Leeds/London outfit squeeze onto the BOTW stage, taking their cues from Fela Kuti, King Tubby, J Dilla and Herbie Hancock. MUSICAL BITES

THE DANCEHOUSE, 19:30–22:30, £12 (£8)

The Hallé’s new year schedule sees the renowned orchestra go through some of the finest pieces of the classical canon.

Jazzgalore serves up a smorgasbord of classics from the worlds of Broadway and Pop.

SOUND CONTROL, 19:00–22:00, £10

Witty indie-pop from the Philadelphia-based four-piece.

Catalan folk-poppers basing their songs around short stories and simple melodies.

BAND ON THE WALL, 19:00–22:00, FREE

Fri 27 Mar

MODERN BASEBALL

SING CITY WRITES SPRING 2015

Band On The Wall’s first under 18’s night, allowing Sing City participants to showcase their material. PASCAL ROGÉ

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, FROM £14

The French pianist returns to the RNCM to play Debussy, Ravel and Poulenc. THE JONES & MARURI DUO

INSTITUTO CERVANTES, 18:30–21:00, FREE

Spanish guitarist Agustin Maruri and the British cellist Michael Kevin Jones present their latest album Arpeggione, featuring a series of classical reworkings, including Schubert’s Sonata. LOGIC

GORILLA, 19:00–23:00, £SOLD OUT

The Maryland rapper, who also goes by the name Sir Robert Bryson Hall II (strange, we can’t recall his name in the New Year’s honours list.) JESSICA BURROUGHS + CHERYL LAW

WATERSIDE ARTS CENTRE, 19:30–22:00, £14 (£7)

The string soloists present works by Bach and Kodaly.

ELS AMICS DE LES ARTS

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £18

YOUNG REBEL SET (KING KARTEL + MAYFLOWER)

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £7

Stockton’s Young Rebel Set make their touring return, bringing the folkish indie-rock with ‘em. DUTCH UNCLES

THE RITZ, 18:30–22:00, £12.50

Manc indie-pop five-piece, known for their use of atypical time signatures within a distinctly poppy context. GUN

MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, 19:30–23:00, £14

Rock’n’roll outfit formed by the Gizzi brothers in the mid-80s, taking to a live setting to play their debut LP – Taking on the World – live and in its entirety. CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £SOLD OUT

Indie rock’n’roll quintet full of guitars and songs about love an’ that. HEATHER PEACE

ST PHILIP’S CHURCH, 19:00–22:00, £22.50

The Lea Emmery-formed group with love from BBC 6music and Xfm recently signed to Heavenly Records.

The Lip Service actress does that other thing wot she does: setting soaring vocals to jazz-soaked piano and pop guitar riffs, touring on the back of her second LP, The Thin Line.

Thu 26 Mar

GORILLA, 19:00–22:00, £12.50

KID WAVE

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–23:00, £6

TRAIN

MANCHESTER ARENA, 18:00–22:30, £26.50

The San Franciscoan pop-rockers do their Grammy Award-winning thing, showcasing new material alongside old faves. THE CORONAS

JON GOMM

The Blackpool native – best known for stacking up over four million views on his Passionflower video on YouTube – does his Beatles, Radiohead and John Coltraneinspired thing.

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–23:00, £9

BAD GRAMMAR (VIOLET VIOLET + ELAPHANTINE)

HOODIE ALLEN

Riffy, fuzzy pop songs from the Manchester-based duo, Ben Forrester and Lucy Brown.

Irish indie-rockers led by Danny O’Reilly, who started penning tunes at the tender age of 13. GORILLA, 19:00–23:00, £14

New York-based rapper and songwriter with a knack for candid storytelling and witty punchlines. THE HALLÉ (TCHAIKOVSKY + PROKOFIEV + SIBELIUS)

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £11

The Hallé’s new year schedule sees the renowned orchestra go through some of the finest pieces of the classical canon. CYPHER16

SOUND CONTROL, 19:00–22:00, £7

Alt metal trio Cypher16 blend their individual electronic and metal influences into one industrialsounding whole. RNCM FIRST YEAR STRING AND WIND ORCHESTRAS

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 13:15–14:15, FREE

The first years perform Stravinsky, Hindemith and Wiren. THE MANCHESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £6

A varied programme of instrumental and vocal music featuring the work of the larger music ensembles which rehearse regularly at The Manchester Grammar School. MANCHESTER MID-DAY CONCERTS SOCIETY (STEVEN OSBORNE)

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 13:10–15:00, £9.50 (£7.50)

The Mid-Morning Concert Society welcomes another unique talent, delving into classical and contemporary composition.

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £5

RADIO 2 YOUNG BRASS AWARD – THE FINAL

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 20:00–22:30, FREE

Ken Bruce is on hand to present some of the finest young brass bands from around the country. Lovely stuff. AMERIIE

MANCHESTER CLUB ACADEMY, 19:30–23:00, £17.50

Best known perhaps for her hit 1 Thing, Ameriie returns with a new album in tow, BILI. THE BAD MAN CLAN

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:30–01:00, £5

Five-piece electric blues band playing original and cover material. JOHN RENBOURN + WIZZ JONES

BAND ON THE WALL, 19:00–22:00, £13 EARLYBIRD (£15 THEREAFTER)

Luminary acoustic guitarist and songwriter John Renbourn, joins forces with Wizz Jones to present an evening of classic Acoustic folk and Blues.

Sat 28 Mar THE LOVELY EGGS

SOUP KITCHEN, 19:30–22:15, £8

The Lancaster duo of Holly Ross and David Blackwell do their purebread punk thing, sung in Ross’ unmistakably northern lilt. THE BLUESWATER

MATT AND PHRED’S JAZZ CLUB, 21:30–02:00, £5

Rockin’ Edinburgh 11-piece, resplendent with an old-school R’n’B vibe and a three-horn brass section.

THIS FEELING (TIJUANA BIBLES + JAMES HOLT + BLOSSOMS DJS + THIS FEELING DJS)

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 20:00–03:00, £5

The London rock’n’roll night takes a trip north with a selection of live bands taking to the stage. PATTERNS

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–22:30, £8

The Manc melody makers to the tune of a drone pop muddle of guitars, vocals and intelligent samples present a special one-off AV show. BLOSSOMS

GORILLA, 18:30–22:00, £8

Manc mosaic-like five piece mixing pop nous with psychedelic blurriness, to everybody’s pleasure. THE ENEMY + THE TWANG

THE RITZ, 18:00–22:00, £20

Twa sets of once-much hyped indie rock types off on an indie rock lad tour together. SALFORD CHORAL SOCIETY

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £19

RNCM soloists join Salford Choral Society in this première performance of Luigi Gatti’s recently re-discovered Requiem, conducted by Matthew Hamilton. FUSE ODG

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, 18:30–22:30, £SOLD OUT

London-born Ghanian muso with a fondness for baseball caps worn backwards. Ain’t we all. SPECTACULAR CLASSICS

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £14.50

The Manchester Concert Orchestra play the classics, from Sibelius’ Finalndia to Elgar’s Nimrod and more inbetween. AN EVENING WITH ARTHUR BROWN

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:30–22:00, £15

The self-styled ‘God of Hellfire’ continues to bring his psychedelic prog to the world. SEX SWING (ILL + IRMA VEP + THE COLD FUCKS)

ROADHOUSE, 19:30–22:30, £6

The first north west date for Sex Swing, featuring members of Part Chimp, Mugstar and Dethscalator. MUSICAL BITES

THE DANCEHOUSE, 14:30–17:30, £12 (£8)

Jazzgalore serves up a smorgasbord of classics from the worlds of Broadway and Pop. MUSICAL BITES

THE DANCEHOUSE, 19:30–22:30, £12 (£8)

Jazzgalore serves up a smorgasbord of classics from the worlds of Broadway and Pop. WALL MARKET RACKETEERS

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 19:30–23:00, £TBC

New Manchester group inspired by Bright Eyes, Radiohead and the Manics among others. FORMES (EUCHRID EUCROW + BROTHER EARTH)

GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £7

Taking a vaguely psych rock blueprint and making it heavier, Formes cross the Pennines from Dewsbury in Yorkshire.

Sun 29 Mar ROBIN TROWER

THE LOWRY: QUAYS THEATRE, 20:00–22:00, £22.50

Rock’n’roll guitarist.

THE HALLÉ (TCHAIKOVSKY + PROKOFIEV + SIBELIUS)

BRIDGEWATER HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £11

THE DANCEHOUSE, 19:30–22:30, £12 (£8)

The Hallé’s new year schedule sees the renowned orchestra go through some of the finest pieces of the classical canon.

MOVING MOSCOW (RED NINE)

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 19:30–22:00, £14

MUSICAL BITES

Jazzgalore serves up a smorgasbord of classics from the worlds of Broadway and Pop. GULLIVERS, 19:30–23:00, £TBC

The six-piece with Jamie Oliver on drums! (Not that one.) TOMORROW WE SAIL

KRAAK, 19:30–22:30, £5

The cinematic seven-piece from Yorkshire come to Manchester.

OLDHAM CHORAL SOCIETY

Conducted by Nigel Wilkinson, Oldham Choral Society are joined by RNCM alumni soloists Linda Richardson, Kathleen Wilkinson and Dean Robinson to play Wood, Elgar and Vaughan Williams.

THE HALLÉ YOUTH ENSEMBLES BRIDGEWATER HALL, 15:00–17:00, £10 (£7.50)

The Orchestra and Choir combine to take on Horowitz and Kodaly. MIC LOWRY

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:30–22:30, £10

Liverpool R’n’B heroes fast on the rise. WALKING CARTS + PORT ISLA

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 19:00–23:00, £8

A double headline show courtesy of Kooks and The Script touring buddies Walking On Cars and Norwich group Port Isla.

Mon 30 Mar LEE SCRATCH PERRY

BAND ON THE WALL, 20:00–23:00, £22.50 EARLYBIRD (£24.50 THEREAFTER)

Liverpool Music A CURIOUS LIFE & LEVELLERS LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:30, FROM £20

Socialist punk veterans the Levellers play a special acoustic set following the screening of their new documentary. TUNE-YARDS

LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL, 19:30–22:00, £15

Liverpool Music Tue 03 Mar SLEAFORD MODS

THE KAZIMIER, 20:00–23:00, £10

Punk electronics and spoken word hip-hop fusion from the Nottingham-hailing duo, touring in support of their latest album, Austerity Dogs – released on the Harbinger Sound label. RHODES

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–22:30, £7

Singer/songwriter hailing from Hitchin, with two EPs now under his belt.

Wed 04 Mar NEIL CAMPBELL

THE KAZIMIER, 20:00–23:00, £6

The unsung Liverpool-based guitar virtuoso launches his 16th album Emergence, bringing to the fore his unique compositional guitar work once again. PETRENKO’S TCHAIKOVSKY I

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–21:30, FROM £13

The Philharmonic take on part one of the Russian great’s epic Fourth Symphony.

Thu 05 Mar

VISUAL PIANO: FRANCESCO DI FIORE

THE CAPSTONE, 19:30–21:30, £11.50 (£6.50)

A shape-shifting project where piano music and visuals meet and interact.

THE SHIPPING FORECAST, 20:00–23:00, £6

ARTS CLUB, 19:30–00:00, £4

SIMMER

MAGUIRE’S PIZZA BAR, 19:30–22:30, £TBC

Cheshire-based ambient-punk, which seems like an oxymoron to us.

Sat 07 Mar LENE LOVICH

THE ZANZIBAR CLUB , 19:30–23:00, £15

Detroit-born legendary post-punk pop singer Lene Lovich leads a live band outing. ROYZY (LUNAR C)

THE KAZIMIER, 20:00–23:00, FROM £10

It’s only taken him 16 years, but the energetic rapper is finally ready to release his debut LP Only Child. PUSSY WHIPPED

THE MAGNET , 19:00–05:00, £4

Tue 10 Mar With six studio albums and more than 12 million records sales, Brian Molko and his band of alternative rockers continue to ride the wave of their newest LP, Loud Like Love. THE FUREYS

THE BRINDLEY, 19:30–21:30, £18.50

The longstanding folk-based outfit play a selection of classics spanning their 35-year career.

Wed 11 Mar BC CAMPLIGHT

LEAF, 20:00–23:00, £8

The Bella Union-signed songwriter completes his ascension from being down and out in Philadelphia to riding critical acclaim, for the skewed pop of new album How to Die In The North. LUCY ROSE (HALF EARTH)

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £13

Singer/songwriter who has contributed vocals to Bombay Bicycle Club tracks, now striking out on her lonesome.

With International Women’s Day looming, the Magnet host a night in homage to the Riot Grrrl movement.

Thu 12 Mar

ECHO ARENA, 19:30–23:00, £65

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £17

SPANDAU BALLET

The 70s-formed new wave ensemble ride the wave of their twilight years. BARBARA DICKSON

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:30, FROM £26

The folk songstress-cum-actor performs songs from her latest LP, Winter, alongside a selection of classics.

OUTLINES (JUST FRANCIS + TRAUMA SYSTEM + FARAWAY VOICES + OBSIDIAN)

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £6

Local showcase.

MORE THAN CONQUERORS

BLADE FACTORY, 20:00–23:00, £5

Belfast-based indie four-piece who describe themselves as honest, raw and loud we can’t argue with that.

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC: CELEBRATING 175 YEARS

To celebrate an incredible 175th birthday of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Vasily Petrenko will be conducting Mendelssohn’s Die erste Walpurgisnacht as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

Fri 13 Mar LEO STEEL

THE ZANZIBAR CLUB , 19:30–23:00, £4

Liverpool trio currently in the midst of recording their latest EP in the Motor Museum Studio. GLASS ANIMALS

THE KAZIMIER, 19:30–23:00, £10

Baroque folk trio with distinct pop(ish) influences, still riding the wave of their debut LP, ZABA. LIONEL RICHIE

ECHO ARENA, 20:00–23:00, FROM £40

DISTRICT, 20:00–03:00, £12.50

Mr Smooth himself plays songs from his vast back catalogue, all night long, all night (see what we did there?).

ROMARE

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £16

AZYMUTH

Jazz/funk from over Brazil way, touring with their latest album, Light as a Feather. CONSTELLATIONS, 21:00 - 4:00, FROM £5

DUKE SPECIAL (PAUL COOK & THE CHRONICLES)

The chameleonic Ninja Tune producer calls in with cuts from his latest LP Projections.

Belfast piano-based folk songwriter with a distinctly accented voice and some even more distinctive dreadlocks.

LIPA fundraiser show. THE SCRIPT

Sun 08 Mar

Sat 14 Mar

ECHO ARENA, 19:30–23:00, £35

ECHO ARENA, 19:30–23:00, FROM £30

IN AID OF ALEX HUME

THE MAGNET , 19:30–00:00, £3

The Irish “alternative” rockers take head out on another UK arena tour.

MAN IN THE DARK (DOUBLE ECHO + ZED & MYRA)

MAGUIRE’S PIZZA BAR, 19:30–22:30, £3

Local post-industrial psych rockers.

Fri 06 Mar

GREASE WEASELS (THE BARMINES + DAISY VALENTINE + THE STAMP + MORE) THE ZANZIBAR CLUB , 19:30–23:00, £5

THE X FACTOR LIVE TOUR

The stars (we use the term loosely) from X Factor 2015 take to the stage for their obligatory tour and – for most – a farewell to household recognition. PETRENKO’S TCHAIKOVSKY II

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 14:30–16:30, FROM £13

The Philharmonic take on part two of the Russian great’s epic fourth symphony. NORTHERN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

THE BRINDLEY, 15:00–17:00, £15

Local lot promising loud guitars and, well, not a lot else really.

The Orchestra take on work by Hardn, Mozart, Roscoe and Janacek.

THE BLUECOAT, 19:30–21:00, £10 (£5)

Mon 09 Mar

THE LIVERPOOL STRING QUARTET

The Quartet play a chronological programme of music through the medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, modern and contemporary periods. TOMMY SCOTT

LEAF, 20:00–23:00, £10

The lead singer of Space goes solo.

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra take a journey through some of the world’s best-loved pieces.

Mon 16 Mar

Local showcase.

The Baltimore singer-songwriter heads up a night of troubadouring.

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC YOUTH ORCHESTRA

PLACEBO

her headline debut appearance in Manchester.

ANTHONY JAMES (CHRIS STRINGER + MOUNTAIN SONG)

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £25

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 14:30–16:30, £9

DR JOHN & THE NITE TRIPPERS

Sun 15 Mar

LIVERPOOL GUILD OF STUDENTS, 19:00–23:00, £29.50

THE SONIC REVOLVERS (NOVICE MATHMATIC + BLACK NEON KNIGHTS ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, + THE SIX THIRTIES + ATLAS EYES 19:30–22:00, £20 The popular sporting soprano makes + MORE)

THE CASTLE HOTEL, 20:00–23:00, FREE

Local DIY show.

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £14

MARTHA TILSTON

LAURA WRIGHT

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 19:30–22:30, £6

The long-standing punk-rockers take to the road once more, marking some 40+ years and still standing.

The six-time Grammy Awardwinning pianist drops in with a new album in tow.

The English folk-based singersongwriter calls into the Arts Club.

The garage rockers return for a second taste of UK life after a hyped Autumn tour last year.

RASH DECISION (THE RUN-UP) MAGUIRE’S PIZZA BAR, 19:30–22:30, £TBC

Merrill Garbus’ charming lo-fi pop project, inventively bursting with distorted ukulele, horns, bass, drums and whispered/scatrapped vocals.

Hugely influential reggae and dub producer who was behind Bob Marley’s early studio output.

DEMOB HAPPY (PURPLE)

THE STRANGLERS O2 ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £23

ROOM 94

O2 ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £10

North London band of brothers – made up of Kieran, Dean and Sean Lemon, joined by Kit Tanton on bass – doing their pop-meetsrock thing.

FAMILIAR LOOKING STRANGERS (XANDER & THE PEACE PIRATES + THE STERLINGS + THE POLYVELDTS + SMILING RILEY) THE ZANZIBAR CLUB , 19:30–23:00, £5

A night of diverse styles from an array of local and touring talent. DAMIEN DEMPSEY (IAN PROWSE)

O2 ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £18.50

Favourited Irish singer/songwriter bringing his mighty voice to bear on topics both local and global. LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC: CELEBRATING 175 YEARS

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £17

To celebrate an incredible 175th birthday of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Vasily Petrenko will be conducting Mendelssohn’s Die erste Walpurgisnacht as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £11

More rolling drums, big guitars and massive effing finales from the WWPJ gang, dipping heavily into their new LP, Unravelling.

HANG THE BASTARD

Five-piece metal band hailing from London, although currently based in Hell, if their Facebook page is anything to go by.

Tue 17 Mar DALLAHAN

LEAF, 20:00–23:00, FREE

Edinburgh-based ensemble bringing a fresh new sound to the world of Celtic music. THE ANSWER

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £15

Geordie/Northern Ireland foursome sounding pretty much like what you get when you cross classic, hard and blues rock together.

Wed 18 Mar PEER GYNT

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–21:30, FROM £13

Featuring Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Sibelius’ Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique.

Thu 19 Mar

READYMADES (MOGULS + SENSORITES) LEAF, 20:00–23:00, £4

Another Mellowtone showcase featuring a wealth of up and coming talent. PEER GYNT

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–21:30, FROM £13

Featuring Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Sibelius’ Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique. THE SELECTER (THE TUTS)

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–23:00, £17

2-tone ska revival band formed in Coventry back in 1979, now back on’t live circuit celebrating 35+ years of being. MILES & ERICA OF THE WONDER STUFF

ARTS CLUB, 19:30–23:00, £11

The Wonder Stuff duo take their side-project out on the road, building on their album Not An Exit.

Fri 20 Mar REEF

O2 ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £18.50

The Gary Stringer-led 90s rockers still marvelling with their continual ability to somehow attract large crowds. LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL

UNITY THEATRE, 17:30–23:30, £14 (£32 WEEKEND)

A two day festival celebrating acoustic music from Liverpool and further afield, with workshops, seminars, keynote speakers, stalls, Q&A sessions, a record fair, and of course, live music. THE HANDSOME FAMILY

LEAF, 20:00–23:00, £15

Musical collaboration between husband and wife duo Brett and Rennie Sparks – still making lovely Americana-styled alternative folk tunes after some 20 years together. ST MARY’S COLLEGE FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:00, £12 (£6)

For the 17th year, St. Mary’s College, Crosby presents another showcase of the musical talents of its pupils with over 250 musicians from a range of different musical ensembles. HUNTER & THE BEAR

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–23:00, £10

They supported Eric Clapton once, which is perhaps the most remarkable thing about these industrious folk-rock four-piece.

Listings

Liverpool Music Sat 21 Mar

THE SONGBOOK SESSIONS (THE HARRY FRANCISCO BAND + JESSICA’S GHOST + THE UNDERCOVER HIPPY + LEAFBLADE + MORE) THE ZANZIBAR CLUB , 19:30–23:00, £5

A showcase event for new and upcoming songwriters in Liverpool and the surrounding areas. LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL

UNITY THEATRE, 14:30–23:30, £22 (£32 WEEKEND)

WALKER ART GALLERY, 14:30–15:30, FREE

The guitarist traverses a range of styles from the 19th century classical to contemporary.

DUBABUSE (MACKA B & THE ROOTS RAGGA BAND)

ARTS CLUB, 23:00–04:00, £10

Dub, reggae and roots night.

Sun 22 Mar

IKE WILLIS (JEFF HOLLIE + ZAPPATIKA)

THE ZANZIBAR CLUB , 19:30–23:00, £12.50

Best known as a member of Frank Zappa’s studio and touring bands between 1978 and 1988, Willis steps out with his own group for some similarly hair-brained jams. SCOUTS

MAGUIRE’S PIZZA BAR, 19:30-22:30, £5

The Liverpool grunge-influenced guitar group pop back home as part of their UK tour. GRIMETHORPE COLLIERY BAND

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 15:00–17:00, FROM £19.50

The real stars of the hit movie Brassed Off return to Liverpool in no-less demand than they were nearly 20 years ago.

Mon 23 Mar KIRAN LEONARD

THE SHIPPING FORECAST, 20:00–23:00, £7

Experimental singer/songwriter hailing from Oldham, still riding the wave of his debut LP, Bowler Hat Soup. JOAN ARMATRADING

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £27.50

The longstanding British singer/ songwriter plays a selection of newer songs and older classics.

Tue 24 Mar PURLING HISS

THE SHIPPING FORECAST, 19:30–23:00, £7

Philly experimentalists who started life as the fuzzed-out solo side-project of Mike Polizze. THE LOVELY EGGS

THE MAGNET , 19:00–23:00, £6

The Lancaster duo of Holly Ross and David Blackwell do their purebread punk thing, sung in Ross’ unmistakably northern lilt. PALOMA FAITH

ECHO ARENA, 19:30–23:00, FROM £28.50

The British singer/songwritercum-actress does her glossy, retro-referencing soul-meetspop thing. GOULD PIANO TRIO

ST GEORGE’S HALL, 19:30–22:00, £25

The widely acclaimed piano trio perform selections from Dvorak, MacMillan and Tchaikovsky’s canon.

Wed 25 Mar JOHNNY MARR

ARTS CLUB, 19:00–23:00, £SOLD OUT

JON GOMM LEAF, 20:00–23:00, £12

The Blackpool native – best known for stacking up over four million views on his Passionflower video on YouTube – does his Beatles, Radiohead and John Coltraneinspired thing. TONY GOFF

THE MAGNET , 19:30–23:00, £5

Local solo artist.

Fri 27 Mar

INTOXICATED (NIGHTTIME REVOLUTION)

O2 ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £15

A co-headline tour between the Tyketto frontman and the acclaimed funk guitarist.

Listings

STUDENT HOUSE

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £3

LEAF, 19:30–22:30, £15

THRESHOLD FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND ARTS

All party, no bullshit night of everything from classic hip-hop to disco and funk.

VARIOUS VENUES, 12:00–00:00, PRICES VARY

Thu 05 Mar

The self-styled ‘God of Hellfire’ continues to bring his psychedelic prog to the world.

The music strand of Threshold Festival sees a host of local talent from an array of different genres take to stages around the Baltic Triangle, including District and 24 Kitchen Street.

Sat 28 Mar STEPHEN LANGSTAFF

LEAF, 20:00–23:00, £10

Liverpool-based singer/songwriter playing a much-anticipated hometown gig. SKELETON KEY RECORDS

THE MAGNET , 19:30–23:00, £5

Former Coral man James Skelly presents a showcase of the best of his Skeleton Key label. NOISE & SPACE

ECHO ARENA, 19:30–22:00, £5

Merseyside Youth Association (MYA) present a local showcase of young musicians, to take place in the Arena auditorium. MUSIC FOR EASTER

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £13

The Liverpool Philharmonic perform new work by James MacMillan, as well as classics from Beethoven and Wagner. MIC LOWRY

ARTS CLUB, 18:30–22:00, £10

Liverpool R’n’B heroes fast on the rise. JACKOBINS

ARTS CLUB, 19:30–23:00, £6

Local rockers with nods to Pearl Jam, The Stone and The Verve, among others.

JUICY

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–03:00, £1.50

MURKAGE

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £3

House, hip-hop, grime and garage from the Murkage residents. F//CK

FACTORY 251, 22:30–05:00, 99P BEFORE MIDNIGHT (£5 AFTER)

Student Thursday-nighter, with resident DJs Steve Davies, Bill Murray’s Rock n Soul club, and Nicola Bear serving up anything from retro classics to electro mash ups across three rooms. ENDLESS CITY

MINT LOUNGE, 22:00–04:00, £2.50

Beats, rhymes and cosmic visuals courtesy of the leftfield hip hop night, Endless City, who celebrate their first birthday tonight. CACTUS DJS

WALRUS, 20:30–01:00, FREE

CactusMCR DJs delve into their collections to serve up some audio yet untold, with a mish mash of genres taking over the bar area. STUART RICHARDS

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NWS, 22:00–04:00, FREE

High Jinx resident Stuart Richards brings his trademark style to the bar every Thursday, offering a night of disco, funk and house. JACOB COID

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NQ, 22:00–04:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

Black Dog Ballroom’s latest resident.

OASY (MAX WYATT + SWIFT + BLACKBURN + MORE)

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–04:00, £4

THRESHOLD FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND ARTS

Launch night for the newly formed techno label.

VARIOUS VENUES, 12:00–00:00, PRICES VARY

Fri 06 Mar

The music strand of Threshold Festival sees a host of local talent from an array of different genres take to stages around the Baltic Triangle, including District and 24 Kitchen Street.

Sun 29 Mar RIVAL SONS

O2 ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £17

Long Beach-hailin’ Californian band of heavyweight rock’n’rollers. GRETCHEN PETERS

EPSTEIN THEATRE, 18:30–22:00, £21.50

The honey-toned American singer/ songwriter does her countrified folk thing. THRESHOLD FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND ARTS

VARIOUS VENUES, 12:00–00:00, PRICES VARY

The music strand of Threshold Festival sees a host of local talent from an array of different genres take to stages around the Baltic Triangle, including District and 24 Kitchen Street.

More groove-infused blues from the experimental foursome, with Chris Turpin on dust-bowl howlin’ duties.

DAN REED + DANNY VAUGHN

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 22:00–03:00, £4.50

Legendary weekly mixed-bag night, often invites use of the term ‘carnage’.

Wed 04 Mar

AN EVENING WITH ARTHUR BROWN

Thu 26 Mar Tender pop singer/songwriter originally from the fields of Suffolk, who, asides from music, claims to enjoy bike rides, real ale and cowboys.

GOLD TEETH

Three-piece Liverpool-based acoustic act.

Mon 30 Mar

LOTTE MULLAN

Tue 03 Mar

The weekly student house and techno night returns to South, keeping you on the dancefloor till the early hours.

THE ZANZIBAR CLUB , 19:30–23:00, £4

The former Smiths guitarist keeps it intimate in this sold out ages ago show.

THE ZANZIBAR CLUB , 19:30–23:00, £7

Manchester Clubs

KILL IT KID

O2 ACADEMY, 19:00–23:00, £10

ZUTEKH (MIDLAND + KRYSKO)

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–04:00, £12.50

Zutekh head to JB’s for a one-off special with special guest Midland. WELL FUTURE

COMMON, 21:00–01:00, FREE (£2 AFTER 10PM)

Guest DJs on the decks, bringing you music from the past, present, and well, future. TOP OF THE POPS

MINT LOUNGE, 22:00–04:00, £3

Get your weekend off to a great start with this healthy mix of dancefloor fillers and guilty pleasures served up by residents and guest DJs. FRI251

FACTORY 251, 22:30–04:00, 99P BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Student Friday-nighter, with mashups in room one, indie, funk and Motown in room two, and electro house in room three. DJ SI FORESTERIO

WALRUS, 20:30–23:00, FREE

Unity Radio’s Si Foresterio serves up a mix of funk, soul, disco and classic hip hop. STUART RICHARDS

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NQ, 22:00–04:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

High Jinx resident Stuart Richards brings his trademark style to the bar every Thursday, offering a night of disco, funk and house.

TRIBAL SESSIONS (DARIUS SYROSSIAN + IDA ENGBERG + JOZEF K + ADAM SAVILLE + MORE)

SANKEYS, 22:30–05:30, £15 (£10)

The legendary Tribal Sessions are back, featuring the usual selection of world-renowned spinners across all genres.

JACOB COID

THE BURLESQUE BALL TOUR

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NWS, 22:00–04:00, FREE

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 20:00–22:30, £SOLD OUT

Black Dog Ballroom’s latest resident. VOODOO ROCK

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 23:00–04:00, £4 BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Alternative rock and metal night that’s been seen at Download and Sonisphere. SCOOT ‘N’ SCOOP NORTHERN SOUL NIGHT

THE HORSE AND JOCKEY, 19:00–01:00, FREE

Well-kent burlesque producer Chaz Royal puts on a spread of sparkle-packed burlesque guests for your general pleasure. POP BUBBLE ROCK!

JOSHUA BROOKS, 22:30–04:00, £5

Get ready for an old skool prom, with the PBR house band playing cover songs in tuxedos and a photo studio and pizza parlour to-hand. BEAVER

Northern Soul DJs Harry Nightingale, Dennis Campbell and Ken Waghorn will be your soul connoisseurs for the night.

A special International Women’s Day Beaver clubnight, with DJ Hazel manning the decks.

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 23:00–03:00, £3

Mon 09 Mar

FAM*

Disco, funk, 80s and 90s. ETHER E

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 23:00–03:00, FREE

Local resident Ether E plays a mix of funk, soul and disco.

CHOW DOWN X BOXED (OIL GANG + MR MITCH + SLACKK + FINN + MORE)

SOUP KITCHEN, 23:00–04:00, £5

A packed line-up descends on Soup Kitchen for Chow Down’s second collaboration with Boxed. EVERYTHING’S GONE GREEN (STEVE THORPE + DAVE WITCHDOKTOR + JOHN TREE + MORE)

TRIBECA BAR, 19:30–02:00, £5

REMAKE REMODEL

SOUP KITCHEN, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3)

A night of alternative rock’n’roll shenanigans.

Tue 10 Mar GOLD TEETH

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 22:00–03:00, £4.50

Legendary weekly mixed-bag night, often invites use of the term ‘carnage’. STUDENT HOUSE

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £3

A fundraising rave up for the Green Party.

The weekly student house and techno night returns to South, keeping you on the dancefloor till the early hours.

SOUTH, 22:00–06:00, FROM £10

Wed 11 Mar

SOUND CONTROL, 23:00–04:00, £5

ILLUMINATI

Rising star Arum Verone helps Illuminati re-launch at South nightclub. THE CHARLATANS OFFICIAL AFTERSHOW

ALBERT HALL, 22:30 – 03:00, £5

JUICY

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–03:00, £1.50

All party, no bullshit night of everything from classic hip-hop to disco and funk. DJ FUNK

The Charlies' Tim Burgess gets behind the decks for his own aftershow party, joined by Clint Boon.

The veteran presents 20 years of his label Dance Mania.

Sat 07 Mar

Thu 12 Mar

REMAKE REMODEL

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 23:00–04:00, £5 (£3)

A night of alternative rock’n’roll shenanigans. GIRLS ON FILM

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 23:00–03:00, £4.50

Pink lady cocktails, disco balls, glitz and glamour – a monthly club night where you’re free to let your inner 80s child loose. FUNKADEMIA

MINT LOUNGE, 22:30–04:00, £5

Mancunian nightclub institution, delivering a chronological history of soul on a weekly basis, courtesy of their DJ collective. CLINT BOON

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £5

Mixed-bag night from local DJ ledge Clint Boon. FRIENDS IN COMMON

COMMON, 21:00–01:00, FREE (£2 AFTER 10PM)

Common invite their buddies to take over the decks. MR SCRUFF KEEP IT UNREAL

BAND ON THE WALL, 22:00–03:00, £12

DJ set from the musical mastermind, known for mixing a junkshop bag of sounds and bringing his beats to life with squiggly, scribbled animations. FACTORY SATURDAYS

FACTORY 251, 22:30–04:00, £2 BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Three rooms of commercial dance, indie and deep house, powered by funktion one sound.

DANCERS WANTED (BRADLEY ZERO + RUFF DUG) SOUP KITCHEN, 23:00–04:00, FROM £4

Ruf Kutz label head, Ruf Dug branches out on his lonesome to pioneer his Dancers Wanted clubnight, serving up lush Balearic vibes to help y’all get a sweat on. PATRICK TOPPING

GORILLA, 23:00–04:00, £15

Fast rising Hot Creations star Patrick Topping plays a headline set, having notched up an Ibiza residency at Paradise, DC10 last year. WITCH*UNT (ALLY SEEDY)

KRAAK, 23:00–04:00, £5

Female fronted Hip Hop, House + Electro club night ETHER E

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 23:00–03:00, FREE

Local resident Ether E plays a mix of funk, soul and disco.

SOUP KITCHEN, 23:00–03:00, £4

MURKAGE

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £3

House, hip-hop, grime and garage from the Murkage residents. F//CK

FACTORY 251, 22:30–05:00, 99P BEFORE MIDNIGHT (£5 AFTER)

Student Thursday-nighter, with resident DJs Steve Davies, Bill Murray’s Rock n Soul club, and Nicola Bear serving up anything from retro classics to electro mash ups across three rooms. CACTUS DJS

WALRUS, 20:30–01:00, FREE

TOP OF THE POPS

KEYS MONEYS LIPSTICK

MINT LOUNGE, 22:00–04:00, £3

THE STAR AND GARTER, 22:00–03:00, £DONATIONS

Get your weekend off to a great start with this healthy mix of dancefloor fillers and guilty pleasures served up by residents and guest DJs. FRI251

FACTORY 251, 22:30–04:00, 99P BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Student Friday-nighter, with mashups in room one, indie, funk and Motown in room two, and electro house in room three. HIGHER GROUND

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 23:00–03:00, £4.50

The sounds of the 60’s from Motown to rock ‘n’ roll. DJ SI FORESTERIO

Black Dog Ballroom’s latest resident.

DUB PHIZIX + STRATEGY’S WELL GOOD DO (MALA AND COKI + CHIMPO AND FOX)

STUART RICHARDS

Mon 16 Mar SOUP KITCHEN, 23:00–03:00, £4 (£3)

High Jinx resident Stuart Richards brings his trademark style to the bar every Thursday, offering a night of disco, funk and house. JACOB COID

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NWS, 22:00–04:00, FREE

Black Dog Ballroom’s latest resident. OPERATIVE

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 23:00–04:00, £4 (£3)

The latest instalment of the audio visual electronic music party.

SANKEYS (SCUBA + TOM DEMAC + ANGUS JEFFORD B2B RIKKI HUMPHREY + FLIC + MORE) SANKEYS, 22:30–05:30, FROM £12

Some of the biggest DJs around dropping to the long-running club for a spin. OJ RECORDS DJS

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 23:00–03:00, FREE

Playing modern and vintage psychedelia, forgotten pop, and rhythm & blues gems.

PLASMA MANCHESTER (RED JERRY + ANDREA RIBECA + BEN LOST + TERRY POINTON + MORE) SOUTH, 22:00–05:00, £12

Plasma Future return with their biggest underground club night to date featuring 4 guest DJs, 3 Plasma Future debuts and 2 UK/ World exclusives.

Sat 14 Mar GOO

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 23:00–03:00, £4.50

Monthly club night tribute to 90s indie – expect Pulp, Nirvana, Suede, Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies and more. FUNKADEMIA

MINT LOUNGE, 22:30–04:00, £5

CLINT BOON

Mixed-bag night from local DJ ledge Clint Boon. FACTORY SATURDAYS

FACTORY 251, 22:30–04:00, £2 BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Three rooms of commercial dance, indie and deep house, powered by funktion one sound. ANTICS (PEACE DJS)

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 22:00–03:00, £5

NME front-page smothers Peace take to the decks.

MINT LOUNGE, 22:00–03:30, £5

COVERT (SECOND CITY + ADANA TWINS + SOLARIS + JUST JORGE + MORE)

BITLORD

The latest Covert night pitches up to Sankeys, with a heavy line-up in tow.

Another huge Dub Phizix do for a cheaper price than a weekly travelcard. SOUND CONTROL, 23:00–04:00, £1

Gaming meets clubbing for this new club night with Gore Tech heading proceedings. ILLUSTRATED VERSE PRESENTS PARKNIGHT

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–03:00, £3

Local fundraising house night with all entry fee proceeds go to Parkinson’s Equip.

Fri 13 Mar CHERRY

SOUND CONTROL, 23:00–04:00, £5

Celebrating all things naughty from the noughties, with a music policy that spans 2000’s pop and houseparty anthems. MEAT FREE (CAROLO RIBEIRO + FIONNTAN COOPER)

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–04:00, £DONATIONS

A pay-what-you-want Meat Free event featuring Audio Borderline DJ Ribeiro.

THE AFTERPARTY

High Jinx resident Stuart Richards brings his trademark style to the bar every Thursday, offering a night of disco, funk and house.

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NQ, 22:00–04:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £5

JACOB COID

Sun 15 Mar

STUART RICHARDS

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NQ, 22:00–04:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

House, techno and bass from the Transmission Funk residents and a host of special guests.

Unity Radio’s Si Foresterio serves up a mix of funk, soul, disco and classic hip hop.

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NWS, 22:00–04:00, FREE

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NQ, 22:00–04:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

The English DJ/producer and co-founder of RAM Records mans the decks for the evening — the entire evening that is....

Josh from Lucky T Jackson digs into his vinyl collection playing plenty of classic rock and soul staples.

TRANSMISSION FUNK (TRUSS + CLOUDS + J.TIJN)

Mancunian nightclub institution, delivering a chronological history of soul on a weekly basis, courtesy of their DJ collective.

High Jinx resident Stuart Richards brings his trademark style to the bar every Thursday, offering a night of disco, funk and house.

ANDY C

ALBERT HALL, 22:00 - 04:00, FROM £15

WAX SESSIONS

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 23:00–03:00, FREE

SOUND CONTROL, 19:30–22:30, £6

WALRUS, 20:30–23:00, FREE

CactusMCR DJs delve into their collections to serve up some audio yet untold, with a mish mash of genres taking over the bar area. STUART RICHARDS

One of the most-loved clubnights in studentland during its three year run between 2006 and 2009, KML returns for a one-off special in support of the Star and Garter, as they fight against closure by National Rail.

DJ SI FORESTERIO WALRUS, 20:30–23:00, FREE

Unity Radio’s Si Foresterio serves up a mix of funk, soul, disco and classic hip hop.

SANKEYS, 22:30–05:30, £15 (£10)

GERMAN BRIGANTE + CRISTOPHE

GORILLA, 23:00–04:00, FROM £8

Double headlining tech-house night. HIGH HOOPS FEAT. MARSHALL JEFFERSON

ROADHOUSE, 23:00–04:00, FROM £8

The London alternative rockers make a Scottish stop-off. REMAKE REMODEL

A night of alternative rock’n’roll shenanigans.

Tue 17 Mar GOLD TEETH

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 22:00–03:00, £4.50

Legendary weekly mixed-bag night, often invites use of the term ‘carnage’. STUDENT HOUSE

Counting Carl Cox and Luciano among his fans, house DJ Ninetoes drops into the Jbs basement.

The 10th Apoco Sessions moves to Roadhouse, the bass, grime and techno night featuring a hardhitting double header.

Wed 18 Mar JUICY

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–03:00, £1.50

All party, no bullshit night of everything from classic hip-hop to disco and funk.

Thu 19 Mar MURKAGE

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £3

House, hip-hop, grime and garage from the Murkage residents. F//CK

FACTORY 251, 22:30–05:00, 99P BEFORE MIDNIGHT (£5 AFTER)

Student Thursday-nighter, with resident DJs Steve Davies, Bill Murray’s Rock n Soul club, and Nicola Bear serving up anything from retro classics to electro mash ups across three rooms. CACTUS DJS

WALRUS, 20:30–01:00, FREE

CactusMCR DJs delve into their collections to serve up some audio yet untold, with a mish mash of genres taking over the bar area. STUART RICHARDS

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NWS, 22:00–04:00, FREE

SANKEYS, 22:30–05:30, FROM £12

Sat 21 Mar FUNKADEMIA

MINT LOUNGE, 22:30–04:00, £5

Mancunian nightclub institution, delivering a chronological history of soul on a weekly basis, courtesy of their DJ collective. CLINT BOON

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £5

Mixed-bag night from local DJ ledge Clint Boon.

REDLIGHT (B.TRAITS + MELLA DEE + BENTON + MORE)

SANKEYS, 22:30–05:30, FROM £12.50

The Bristol-based chappie brings the eclectic party soundscapes, pitched somewhere between house, breakbeats and dubstep. FACTORY SATURDAYS

FACTORY 251, 22:30–04:00, £2 BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Three rooms of commercial dance, indie and deep house, powered by funktion one sound. BARE BONES

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 23:00–03:00, £4.50

High Jinx resident Stuart Richards brings his trademark style to the bar every Thursday, offering a night of disco, funk and house.

Three floor club night touting indie/electro, classic rock’n’roll and punk/rock.

MINT LOUNGE, 23:00–03:00, £3

BAND ON THE WALL, 23:00–03:00, £10

SOULJAM

The best in soul, funk and boogie. JACOB COID

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NQ, 22:00–04:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

Black Dog Ballroom’s latest resident.

Fri 20 Mar

THE TIME MACHINE (MARK XTC + SLIPMATT + RATPACK + MARK ARCHER + MORE) THE RITZ, 22:30–03:30, £13

The first in a series of events showcasing the best old skool DJs from around the UK and Europe. TOP OF THE POPS

MINT LOUNGE, 22:00–04:00, £3

SOUL GARDEN (GILES THORPE + RUSS RUSSELL + BASEZONE)

New skool soul night playing modern soul and contemporary RnB with a splash of reggae and some soul classics too. ETHER E

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 23:00–03:00, FREE

Local resident Ether E plays a mix of funk, soul and disco. LOCA NOCHE

XOLO, 20:00–04:00, £6

Loca Noche bring their own brand of crazy with their specialist Greek night.&nbsp; With special guest singers and DJs. SNAKEHIPS

GORILLA, 23:00–04:00, £12.50

Get your weekend off to a great start with this healthy mix of dancefloor fillers and guilty pleasures served up by residents and guest DJs.

The duo tour in support of their new EP Forever (Pt. II) following a whirlwind 2014.

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 23:00–03:00, £3

Legendary weekly mixed-bag night, often invites use of the term ‘carnage’.

ELECTRIC JUG

GORILLA, 23:00–04:00, £15

NINETOES

APOCO SESSIONS (WEN + BRUNKS)

ROADHOUSE, 23:00–04:00, FROM £5

Drop The Mustard celebrates its sixth birthday like only it knows how, mixing it up with some of the finest DJs worldwide and their ever-knowledgeable roster of residents.

SOUP KITCHEN, 23:00–04:00, £5

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–04:00, FROM £8

Black Dog Ballroom’s latest resident.

DROP THE MUSTARD 6TH BIRTHDAY (GEORGE FITZGERALD + KRYSKO + HACKETT + ED NORRIS + MORE)

Serving up the best of the 60s, ranging from psych and ska to britpop and funk.

Spooky takes his all night, all vinyl set for Jamz on the roads for the first time.

JACOB COID

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NWS, 22:00–04:00, FREE

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £3

The weekly student house and techno night returns to South, keeping you on the dancefloor till the early hours.

The prolific Marshall Jefferson headlines the latest High Hoops fun. JAMZ MCR (SPOOKY)

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–04:00, £12

SKREAM

Kaluki bring the Croydon-based DJ, Olly Jones, aka Skream to Manchester best known for his tastemaking spot on Radio 1 alongside Benga. FRI251

FACTORY 251, 22:30–04:00, 99P BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Student Friday-nighter, with mashups in room one, indie, funk and Motown in room two, and electro house in room three.

Tue 24 Mar GOLD TEETH

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 22:00–03:00, £4.50

STUDENT HOUSE

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £3

The weekly student house and techno night returns to South, keeping you on the dancefloor till the early hours.

Thu 26 Mar MURKAGE

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £3

House, hip-hop, grime and garage from the Murkage residents.

THE SKINNY

March 2015

Listings

Manchester Clubs F//CK FACTORY 251, 22:30–05:00, 99P BEFORE MIDNIGHT (£5 AFTER)

Student Thursday-nighter, with resident DJs Steve Davies, Bill Murray’s Rock n Soul club, and Nicola Bear serving up anything from retro classics to electro mash ups across three rooms. CACTUS DJS

WALRUS, 20:30–01:00, FREE

CactusMCR DJs delve into their collections to serve up some audio yet untold, with a mish mash of genres taking over the bar area. STUART RICHARDS

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NWS, 22:00–04:00, FREE

High Jinx resident Stuart Richards brings his trademark style to the bar every Thursday, offering a night of disco, funk and house. JACOB COID

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NQ, 22:00–04:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

Black Dog Ballroom’s latest resident.

Fri 27 Mar

JUST SKANK (YOUNGSTA + J:KENZO)

JOSHUA BROOKS, 23:00–04:00, £10 (£8)

Just Skank once again hi-jack the Void Soundsystem for another bass-heavy party. UPTOWN

THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 23:00–03:00, £3

The best in disco, funk, boogie and party classics. TOP OF THE POPS

MINT LOUNGE, 22:00–04:00, £3

Get your weekend off to a great start with this healthy mix of dancefloor fillers and guilty pleasures served up by residents and guest DJs. FRI251

FACTORY 251, 22:30–04:00, 99P BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Student Friday-nighter, with mashups in room one, indie, funk and Motown in room two, and electro house in room three.

MUSIC IS LOVE (LEON VYNEHALL + ROY DAVIS JR + INGI VISIONS + SAMUEL DEEP & JULIAN ALEXANDER + MORE)

FACTORY SATURDAYS FACTORY 251, 22:30–04:00, £2 BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Three rooms of commercial dance, indie and deep house, powered by funktion one sound. CRAIG CHARLES FUNK ‘N’ SOUL CLUB (SPEEDOMETER)

BAND ON THE WALL, 21:00–03:00, £14 EARLYBIRD (£16 THEREAFTER)

DJ and actor Craig Charles will be manning the decks until 3am, playing his picks of funk and soul, with an array of guest spinners and live acts joining him. ULTIMATE ANTHEMS

THE RUBY LOUNGE, 22:30–03:30, £6

The sister of Ultimate Power with more of the same classic pop and rock ballads. XOLO LOCO

XOLO, 20:00–04:00, FREE BEFORE 1AM (£3 AFTER)

The very best in pop, hip hop, funk, disco and dance courtesy of resident Jimi Suarez. SANKEYS (HUXLEY + EJECA + DOORLY + OLI FURNESS + MORE)

SANKEYS, 22:30–05:30, £15 (£10)

Some of the biggest DJs around dropping to the long-running club for a spin. DANIEL AVERY

SOUP KITCHEN, 23:00–04:00, £SOLD OUT

The Phantasy Sound man headlines this long sold-out party.

Liverpool Clubs Thu 05 Mar SUPER RAD

BUMPER, 22:00–05:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

A night of classic rad sounds spanning indie, rock, crunk and disco, with free gin and juice for the first 100 guests. NOTORIOUS

ARTS CLUB, 23:00–04:00, £3

All the 2000s hip hop, pop and r&b you could ask for. TIME SQUARE

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:00–04:00, £2

Staple student night with a mix of music across the three floors (think: rock, indie, alternative, dance and a sprinkling of cheese). GOSSIP

GARLANDS, 22:00–04:00, £4

A typically big night of house from the Music Is Love crew.

Student night with 5 rooms of music spread over 2 floors and occasional theme nights.

WALRUS, 20:30–23:00, FREE

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

SANKEYS, 22:30–05:30, FROM £10

DJ SI FORESTERIO

Unity Radio’s Si Foresterio serves up a mix of funk, soul, disco and classic hip hop. PACEMAKER

NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, 23:00–03:00, FREE

Monthly rock’n’roll club night hosted by Two Weeks Running. STUART RICHARDS

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NQ, 22:00–04:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

High Jinx resident Stuart Richards brings his trademark style to the bar every Thursday, offering a night of disco, funk and house.

THE CHAMPIONS OF LOVERS ROCK (JANET KAY + BARRY BIGGS + CARROLL THOMPSON + PETER HUNNIGALE + MORE) THE RITZ, 22:30–03:30, £22.50

A reggae showcase for rock fans. JACOB COID

BLACK DOG BALLROOM NWS, 22:00–04:00, FREE

Black Dog Ballroom’s latest resident.

Sat 28 Mar HEIDI'S JACKATHON: TIGA + RICHY AHMED

ALBERT HALL, 21:00-5:00, FROM £22.50

Queen of the Jackathon, Heidi brings her genre-smashing party of house, techno, disco and more to Transmission, with Hot Creations' Richy Ahmed in tow. POP THE DEAF INSTITUTE, 23:00–03:00, £4.50

The biggest hits from the last 40 years of popular music. FUNKADEMIA

MINT LOUNGE, 22:30–04:00, £5

Mancunian nightclub institution, delivering a chronological history of soul on a weekly basis, courtesy of their DJ collective. CLINT BOON

SOUTH, 23:00–04:00, £5

Mixed-bag night from local DJ ledge Clint Boon.

Listings

VIBE THURSDAYS

R’n’b, hip-hop and urban floorfillers.

Fri 06 Mar

ABANDON SILENCE 5.4 (LEVON VINCENT)

THE KAZIMIER, 22:00–04:00, £14

NYC spinner Levon Vincent (“a scientist working in the field of ass-shakery”) headlines the latest instalment of Abandon Silence’s fifth anniversary celebrations. RAWKUS

ARTS CLUB, 23:00–04:00, £3 BEFORE MIDNIGHT (£4 THEREAFTER)

Liverpool’s biggest pop-punk, hardcore and alternative party. AMBUSH!

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:30–04:00, £TBC

Friday night capers at Liverpool’s gnarliest rock club. TREND FRIDAYS

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £2 (£3 AFTER 12:30AM)

Everything from R ‘n’ B to old skool garage, hip-hop and deep house.

Sat 07 Mar

MODU:LAR 1ST BIRTHDAY (FUMIYA TAMAKA + ION LUDWIG)

CAMP AND FURNACE, 22:00–06:00, FROM £15

Aiming to broaden the horizons of an already burgeoning electronic music scene for a year now, MODU:LAR pitch up with their latest event - welcoming Fumiya Tanaka (Sundance/ Perlon) among others. LESS EFFECT (BENNY HILL)

THE SHIPPING FORECAST, 23:00–03:00, FROM £4

Hard-hitting night of bassline, dubstep, house and techno.

Liverpool Clubs CREAM (ERICK MORILLO + SANDER VAN DOORN + SUNNERY JAMES + FERRY CORSTEN) NATION, 22:00–06:00, £27.50

The long-running club night hosts another night of wall-to-wall DJ celebrity. RAGE

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:00–06:00, £3

Mixed-bag night spread out over all three floors, serving up indie, rock, alternative and dance tunes. BEDLAM

GARLANDS, 22:00–04:00, £10 (£5 AFTER 2AM)

Extravagant and flamboyant club night complete with resident entertainers, including Foxy Grunt and Barbie. PAGODA (AL DOBSON JR)

FREEZE 10TH ANNIVERSARY (DANNY HOWELLS + PAOLO MOJO + ROB CASSON + ANDY CURRIE + MORE) THE LEMON LOUNGE, 20:00–04:00, £18

The Freeze crew celebrate the first of several events to mark their 10th anniversary, with a heavy hitting line-up descending on the fabled Lemon Lounge.

Mon 16 Mar UNIBAR MONDAYS

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

The self-proclaimed longest running student night in Liverpool.

Thu 19 Mar SUPER RAD

BUMPER, 22:00–05:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

AMBUSH! THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:30–04:00, £TBC

Friday night capers at Liverpool’s gnarliest rock club. TREND FRIDAYS

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £2 (£3 AFTER 12:30AM)

Everything from R ‘n’ B to old skool garage, hip-hop and deep house.

Sat 28 Mar

CHEW DISCO VOL. 13 (SHIFT WORK + APOSTILLE + HAPPY MEALS + MORE)

THE KAZIMIER, 21:00–04:00, £5

Chew Disco returns for their 13th outing, this time inviting Optimo’s Shift Work, electro-punk Apostille and more for a night of DIY discotheque. RAWKUS

Al Dobson Jr from Rhythm Section makes his Liverpool debut at the rather ace club night.

A night of classic rad sounds spanning indie, rock, crunk and disco, with free gin and juice for the first 100 guests.

Liverpool’s biggest pop-punk, hardcore and alternative party.

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:00–04:00, £2

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:00–06:00, £3

24 KITCHEN STREET, 22:00–04:00, £3

PURE SATURDAYS

TIME SQUARE

Mon 09 Mar

Staple student night with a mix of music across the three floors (think: rock, indie, alternative, dance and a sprinkling of cheese).

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

GARLANDS, 22:00–04:00, £4

Smoonth RnB and urban floor fillers. UNIBAR MONDAYS

The self-proclaimed longest running student night in Liverpool.

Thu 12 Mar SUPER RAD

BUMPER, 22:00–05:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

A night of classic rad sounds spanning indie, rock, crunk and disco, with free gin and juice for the first 100 guests. TIME SQUARE

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:00–04:00, £2

Staple student night with a mix of music across the three floors (think: rock, indie, alternative, dance and a sprinkling of cheese). GOSSIP

GARLANDS, 22:00–04:00, £4

Student night with 5 rooms of music spread over 2 floors and occasional theme nights. VIBE THURSDAYS

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

GOSSIP

Student night with 5 rooms of music spread over 2 floors and occasional theme nights. VIBE THURSDAYS

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

R’n’b, hip-hop and urban floorfillers.

Fri 20 Mar RAWKUS

ARTS CLUB, 23:00–04:00, £3 BEFORE MIDNIGHT (£4 THEREAFTER)

Liverpool’s biggest pop-punk, hardcore and alternative party. AMBUSH!

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:30–04:00, £TBC

Friday night capers at Liverpool’s gnarliest rock club. TREND FRIDAYS

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £2 (£3 AFTER 12:30AM)

Everything from R ‘n’ B to old skool garage, hip-hop and deep house.

R’n’b, hip-hop and urban floorfillers.

Sat 21 Mar

Fri 13 Mar

THE MAGNET , 22:00–05:00, FROM £16

STATK (FOSKY + JIMMY ALLEN)

THE SHIPPING FORECAST, 22:00–03:00, £8

Statk host their opening party with rising talent Fosky joining them on the ones and twos. RAWKUS

ARTS CLUB, 23:00–04:00, £3 BEFORE MIDNIGHT (£4 THEREAFTER)

Liverpool’s biggest pop-punk, hardcore and alternative party. AMBUSH!

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:30–04:00, £TBC

Friday night capers at Liverpool’s gnarliest rock club.

MELODIC DISTRACTION (HACKMAN + ART OF TONES)

CONSTELLATIONS, 22:00–03:00, FROM £7

HUSTLE

Joey Negro (Z Records) and John Morales (Studio 54 / M&M Productions / BBE) headline the latest Hustle fun. RAGE

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:00–06:00, £3

Mixed-bag night spread out over all three floors, serving up indie, rock, alternative and dance tunes. BEDLAM

GARLANDS, 22:00–04:00, £10 (£5 AFTER 2AM)

Extravagant and flamboyant club night complete with resident entertainers, including Foxy Grunt and Barbie. PURE SATURDAYS

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

Jazzy house and sultry grooves, headlined by London producer and DJ Hackman.

Smoonth RnB and urban floor fillers.

24 KITCHEN STREET, 22:00–04:00

Mon 23 Mar

TREND FRIDAYS

The self-proclaimed longest running student night in Liverpool.

JAMZ LIVERPOOL (NOVELIST)

Featuring the ascendant grime artist Novelist, fresh from a BBC Soundlist nomination. CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £2 (£3 AFTER 12:30AM)

Everything from R ‘n’ B to old skool garage, hip-hop and deep house.

Sat 14 Mar

CHIBUKU 15TH BIRTHDAY PARTY ( ANDY C + ANNIE MAC + BEN UFO + BENJI B) CAMP AND FURNACE, 14:00–23:00, £12

A huge line-up comes together to celebrate the long-running club promoters’ 15th birthday. RAGE

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:00–06:00, £3

Mixed-bag night spread out over all three floors, serving up indie, rock, alternative and dance tunes.

UNIBAR MONDAYS

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

Thu 26 Mar SUPER RAD

BUMPER, 22:00–05:00, FREE BEFORE 11PM

A night of classic rad sounds spanning indie, rock, crunk and disco, with free gin and juice for the first 100 guests. TIME SQUARE

THE KRAZY HOUSE, 22:00–04:00, £2

Staple student night with a mix of music across the three floors (think: rock, indie, alternative, dance and a sprinkling of cheese). GOSSIP

GARLANDS, 22:00–04:00, £4

BEDLAM

Student night with 5 rooms of music spread over 2 floors and occasional theme nights.

GARLANDS, 22:00–04:00, £10 (£5 AFTER 2AM)

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

VIBE THURSDAYS

Extravagant and flamboyant club night complete with resident entertainers, including Foxy Grunt and Barbie.

R’n’b, hip-hop and urban floorfillers.

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

THE SHIPPING FORECAST, 23:00–03:00, FROM £4

PURE SATURDAYS

Smoonth RnB and urban floor fillers.

Fri 27 Mar

LESS EFFECT (DEADBOY)

Hard-hitting night of bassline, dubstep, house and techno.

ARTS CLUB, 23:00–04:00, £3 BEFORE MIDNIGHT (£4 THEREAFTER)

RAGE

Mixed-bag night spread out over all three floors, serving up indie, rock, alternative and dance tunes. BEDLAM

GARLANDS, 22:00–04:00, £10 (£5 AFTER 2AM)

Extravagant and flamboyant club night complete with resident entertainers, including Foxy Grunt and Barbie.

Theatre Manchester

Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama MACBETH

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 6 MAR AND 26 MAR, TIMES VARY, PRICES VARY

Black Box Theatre present their take on the Shakespeare classic.

Octagon Theatre PRIVATE LIVES

26 MAR – 18 APR, TIMES VARY, FROM £10

All-new reworking of Noël Coward’s 1933 play, in which divorced couple Elyot and Amanda, while honeymooning with their new spouses, discover that they are staying in adjacent rooms at the same hotel. Matinee performances also available. HINDLE WAKES

19 FEB – 21 MAR, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, FROM £10

Famous great Northern play which takes place in the fictional town of Hindle and looks at the lives and loves of the area’s Mill workers.

Opera House THE MEAT LOAF STORY

25 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, FROM £25.90

Smoonth RnB and urban floor fillers.

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

Steven Steinman – famous for stepping into Meat Loaf’s shoes on an episode of Stars In Their Eyes 20 years ago – presents his full live show.

Mon 30 Mar

20 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, £23.40

PURE SATURDAYS

MOONSHINE (COLLECTORS CLUB + HIGH TYDE + VYNCE + WHITECLIFF)

ARTS CLUB, 20:00–02:00, £3

Moonshine present another band night with talent drawn from around the country. UNIBAR MONDAYS

CAMEL CLUB, 21:00–04:00, £TBC

The self-proclaimed longest running student night in Liverpool.

Manchester Theatre Central Methodist Hall SICK! FESTIVAL: PRURIENCE

4 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, PRICES VARY

An invite to join a fictional selfhelp group for self-confessed porn-addicts in a performance that confronts the ease of access we all have to pornography.

Contact

SICK! FESTIVAL: SO YOU CAN FEEL

3 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £10 (£8)

Pieter Ampe’s presents a new solo dancework exploring sensuality and perception. Part of SICK! Festival. SICK! FESTIVAL: UNDER THE COVERS

4–7 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £9 (£6)

New theatre examining young people’s contemporary attitudes to sex, questioning myths and breaking down taboos. ATTITUDE PROJECT

10 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, FREE

Fast-paced interactive showcase of mcing, poetry, digital arts, drama and visual arts. SICK! FESTIVAL: NIRBHAYA

14–15 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £10 (£8)

Based on the performers’ real life experiences a opening a window on women whose lives have been shattered by violence. SICK! FESTIVAL: TELL ME LOVE IS REAL

18 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £10 (£8)

The story of Zachary Oberzan, who survived and Xanax overdose in winter 2012, at the same time Whitney Houston did not. SICK! FESTIVAL: WOE

21 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £10 (£8)

A play about abuse, what happens in the brain during it and how people cope. TURN 2015

27–28 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £9 (£5)

A two day celebration of dance featuring some of the most promising talent in Manchester.

BEYOND THE BARRICADE

A selection of West End/Broadway tunes, brought to the stage in a variety-style performance. BRENDAN COLE: A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

8 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, PRICES VARY

The Strictly Come Dancing choreographer takes his latest theatre show on the road, with an ensemble cast of musicians and dancers taking audiences on a journey through ballroom and Latin dance. CIRCUS OF HORRORS

9 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, FROM £19.90

Prepare thyself for a whirlwind of contortionists, flying aerialists, demon dwarfs, sword swallowers, and any other weird thing you can think of – yep, it could only be The Circus of Horrors. SING-A-LONG-A SOUND OF MUSIC

15 MAR, 7:00PM – 9:00PM, £16.90

All the Sound of Music classics in one long concert. ELLEN KENT’S RIGOLETTO

21 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, PRICES VARY

Favourited Italian opera telling the story of the court jester Rigoletto and his beautiful daughter Gilda, sung in English with Italian subtitles.

ELLEN KENT’S MADAMA BUTTERFLY

22 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, PRICES VARY

Ellen Kent’s take on Puccini’s classic Italian opera, as lavishlycostumed as ever. MCB GISELLE

26 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, FROM £22.90

The Moscow City Ballet present their take on the 19th century Romantic ballet – one of the few to survive intact. MCB SWAN LAKE

27–28 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £22.90

The Moscow City Ballet present their take on the classic opera piece.

Palace Theatre

THE PRODUCERS 16–28 MAR, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, PRICES VARY

TURNING TIDES

Royal Exchange Theatre

An exploration into the gap between our dreams and realities.

5 FEB – 7 MAR, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, FROM £15

Five interweaving stories, five small worlds, five very different journeys.

SCUTTLERS

Inspired by the 2011 Manchester riots Rona Munro’s new play explores the city’s gangs dating back to the 19th century, realising that the stories around them will repeat on themselves over and over again... YEN

VARIOUS DATES UNTIL 7 MAR, TIMES VARY, £12 (£10)

2013 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting winner Anna Jordan’s play explores a childhood lived without boundaries and the consequences of being forced to grow up on your own. ANNA KARENINA

19 MAR – 2 MAY, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, FROM £15

A fresh take on the Tolstoy novel of love and betrayal in St. Petersburg, with two characters plotting their own doomed paths after news of Karenina’s affair breaks out. BRINK

26–29 MAR, TIMES VARY, £8 (£6)

A world premiere by writer Jackie Kay and director Matthew Xia exploring what it is that sends us to the brink.

Royal Northern College of Music A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

19-29 MAR, 7:00PM – 10:00PM, FROM £21

The Benjamin Britten opera adaptation of Peter Pears Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The King’s Arms ME AND MY FRIEND

9–13 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £10 (£8)

A black comedy, the play explores the relationship between two “odd” couples thrown prematurely from psyhciatric care.

An adult contemporary community dance company, Ad Hoc Dance strives to create and present cutting edge community dance. THE LIFE & LOVES OF A NOBODY

26–27 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12

SMALL WORLDS

29 MAR, TIMES VARY, £8.50

SICK! FESTIVAL: THE ERADICATION OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

11–12 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12 (£10)

Critically acclaimed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014, this new work from Ridiculusmus is a dual family drama about recovery from schizophrenia.

The Lowry: Lyric Theatre LA TRAVIATA

11-13 MAR, TIMES VARY, PRICES VARY

Opera North present Verdi’s interpretation of one of the most popular love stories of the 19th century, La Dame aux Camelias. THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

10-14 MAR, 7:00PM – 10:30PM, FROM £17.50

It’s Figaro’s wedding day, and to add to the usual worries, Figaro learns that his philandering master, the Count, is out to bed his bride-to-be Susanna. Classic tale adapted by Opera North. TWELVE ANGRY MEN

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 23-28 MAR, TIMES VARY, PRICES VARY

Fresh from its West End run, Tom Conti heads up the cast in this taut retelling of the 1957 three-time Academy Award nominated film. SINGALONGA FROZEN

7 MAR, 8 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £8.50

The massively popular animation presented complete with singalong lyrics, like some sort of mass karaoke/brainwash. COPPELIA

4–7 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £12

Birmingham Royal Ballet take on the classic comedy of errors, set in a creepy doll-maker’s workshop. OKLAHOMA!

18-21 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £16

Hard-hitting play by Stephen Dodwell, about Tom and Sarah, who have differing views on how their disabled daughter should face the end of her life.

Royal & Derngate Northampton present a retelling of the Rodgers and Hammerstein smash hit set in a Western Indian territory in 1906, providing the colourful backdrop against which Curly and Laurey’s love story plays out.

The Lowry Studio

The Lowry: Quays Theatre

5-6 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 10 MAR AND 11 MAR, 7:00PM – 10:00PM, £10

VALEDICTORY

25 MAR, 26 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £6 (£5)

WITHIN THIS DUST

Hauntingly programme of three live dance works, film and animation exploring the events surrounding 9/11. BEATING MCENROE

28 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12

A play about rivalry, love and tennis – telling the tale of Bjorn Borg and his bitter on-court rivalry with John McEnroe – it’s theatre with balls (boom, boom). SICK! FESTIVAL: HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY

13 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12

24–28 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £20.90

14 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12

Set in the Wild West outpost of Deadwood City in 1876, sharp shootin’ tomboy Calamity Jane tries to help the local saloon owner by promising to fetch a music hall star from Chicago – much singing ensues.

A double header from NT Connections, with Drama Baby by Jamie Brittain followed up by Sarah Solemani’s The Crazy Sexy Cool Girls’ Fan Club. 16 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £6

The favourited musical tale of separated-at-birth twins who grow up on opposite sides of the tracks. CALAMITY JANE

9–10 MAR, 7:00PM – 9:00PM, £8

New adaptation of the Broadway musical comedy (based on Mel Brooks’ Academy Award-winning movie), starring Jason Manford as Leo Bloom, Phill Jupitus as Franz Liebkind and Louie Spence as Carmen Ghia.

Award-winning lighting designer and storyteller Itai Erdal draws on a life lived between his birthplace, Jerusalem, and home in Vancouver as he reflects on the year 2000 and being told his mother had nine months to live.

BLOOD BROTHERS

2–14 MAR, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, FROM £12.90

NT CONNECTIONS HOME PERFORMANCE

STANDBY FOR TAPE BACK-UP

Ross Sutherland attempts a daring experiment in synchronicity. Using nothing but found-footage from one of his granddad’s old videotapes, Ross attempts to draw out his entire life story. SICK! FESTIVAL: FALLING IN LOVE WITH FRIDA

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 12 AUG AND 20 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12

SALFORD DANCE EXPLOSION

A three day festival of dance returning for its seventh year, inviting 500 children from schools and dance groups to present their work. SICK! FESTIVAL: LIPPY

24-25 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £14

Fresh from winning three awards at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014, Dead Centre's Lippy arrives at The Lowry, offering a haunting investigation into why we tell stories in the face of tragedy. PARK

3 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £16

The talented bunch at Jasmin Vardimon Company tell the story of a decaying urban park under threat of development, performed by an ensemble cast of eight contemporary dancers. THE PICTURE OF DOREEN GRAY

4–7 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £15

The renowned Lip Service bring their latest smash to the Lowry, with Doreen Gray hitting 50 and finding her career as a drivetime radio show host and lifestyle programme TV presenter doesn’t mean as much to her bosses as her age.

As part of SICK! Festival, Falling in Love with Frida is an intimate and enticing performance that explores the life, loves and legacy of painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954).

THE SKINNY

WHAT THE BODY DOES NOT REMEMBER 13–14 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, FROM £15

Wim Vandekeybus’ first piece of choreography heads out on another world tour 28 years on from wowing dance crowds. SCL SCHOOL OF DANCE SHOWCASE

15 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £5

The SCL School of Dance present their latest work, with dancers from as young as 2 years old performing. THE TIGER LILLIES

18 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £19

The Grammy-nominated Godfathers of alternative cabaret are back on tour with a show celebrating 25 years of dark and deviant theatrics. U.DANCE

21–22 MAR, 7:45PM – 10:00PM, £9

Join NorthWest Dance as they host the Regional Young People’s Dance Festival. STRIKE!

28 MAR, TIMES VARY, £14

Delve into the Kafka-like world of STRIKE! where man breaks free from bureaucracy and the constraints of work.

The Plaza Stockport HAIRSPRAY

10–21 MAR, NOT 15, 16, 17, 18, TIMES VARY, PRICES VARY

Toe-tapping musical based on the film by John Waters, following the tale of a girl with big hair and an even bigger heart. THE WEDDING SINGER

20–21 MAR, TIMES VARY, £9.25 (£6.25)

Stage adaptation of the Adam Sandler-starring film about the New Jersey wedding singer, Robbie Hart who loses his love of matrimony after being left at the alter... RIGOLETTO

4 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, FROM £18.70

Favourited Italian opera telling the story of the court jester Rigoletto and his beautiful daughter Gilda, streamed live from the ancient Taormina Theatre in Greece. A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING

25 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, FROM £20.90

All the hits from from the popular musical. THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF VARIETY

26 MAR, 2:30PM – 5:00PM, FROM £13.75

Local variety show.

BROADWAY THROUGH THE DECADES

28 MAR, TIMES VARY, £10(£8)

The Sophie Dee School of Dance presents choreography to some Broadway’s finest moments.

The Ritz

THE TIME MACHINE

27 JUN, 28 JUN, 29 JUN, 30 JAN, 20 MAR, 10:30PM – 3:30AM, £13

The first in a series of events showcasing the best old skool DJs from around the UK and Europe.

Waterside Arts Centre FIDDLESTICKS

9 AUG, 7 MAR, 11:30AM – 12:30PM, £8 (£6)

Everything from the songs of Pooh to the Ballets of Tchaikovsky in this family friendly show. BROKE

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 30 JUL AND 10 MAR, 7:30PM – 8:30PM, £12 (£10)

Multi-award winners The Paper Birds explore the front line of poverty and debt in the UK. WHERE CATERPILLARS GO

11 OCT, 29 OCT, 30 OCT, 8 MAR, TIMES VARY, £8 (£6)

Follow an inquisitive caterpillar into a wild, magical paper garden.

Whitworth Art Gallery

SICK! FESTIVAL: LAUGHING HOLE

12 MAR, 4:00PM – 10:00PM, FREE

A six-hour performance piece that confronts themes of sexuality, abuse and suicide. SICK! FESTIVAL: SLAPTALK

19 MAR, 3:00PM – 9:00PM, FREE

Inspired by self-aggrandising boxers, Slaptalk is a six-hour piece that sees an autocue scroll a continuous barrage of passive aggressive violence.

Z Arts RULE 35

28 MAR, TIMES VARY, £5.50 (£3.50)

Community Arts North West and the Boaz Trust present a new, provocative show taking you to the heart of the British detention system. Created and performed by refugee and asylum seeker women, many of whom have experienced detention. SICK! FESTIVAL: WHAT TAMMY NEEDS TO KNOW

6 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £10 (£8)

Tammy WhyNot is in town and she’s on a mission to ask all the difficult questions, talk to those who really know and find out the truth about sex, and all its associations. SICK! FESTIVAL: CAN I START AGAIN PLEASE

16 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £10 (£8)

A new performance piece by Sue MacLaine that pleas for articulacy and comprehension.

Liverpool Theatre Echo Arena

DISNEY ON ICE: MAGICAL ICE FESTIVAL

18–22 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £15.50

Ice is pretty magical, and Disney are here to tell you why in this grand spectacle of a show.

Epstein Theatre THE MIKADO

4–7 MAR, TIMES VARY, £16 (£8)

Gilbert & Sullivan play set in the town of Titipu with three little maids, two lovers, one executioner and absolutely no flirting. TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY

10–28 MAR, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, £15.50

Helen Forrester’s famous tale returns as a straight play, following a successful run as a musical.

Everyman Theatre EDUCATING RITA

6 FEB – 7 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £12

Reworking of Willy Russel’s stage comedy set entirely in the office of an Open University lecturer, starring Leanne Best and Con O’Neill. THE BOY STRIPPED IN PYJAMAS

30 MAR – 4 APR, NOT 3 APR, TIMES VARY, FROM £12.50

Based on the best-selling novel by John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a heart-wrenching tale of an unlikely friendship between two innocent boys. THE ABSENCE OF WAR

24–28 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £12

Headlong present this timely play about a fictional Labour Party leader and his charge for the big job at Number 10. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

21 MAR – 18 APR, NOT 3 APR, 6 APR, TIMES VARY, FROM £12

An inviting riot of mischief and wonder awaits as Associate Director Nick Bagnall delves deep into the darkness of the Bard’s classic take on the delirium of love. THE THREE LIONS

16–21 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £12

In something a play absolutely did not need to be made about, David Cameron, David Beckham and Prince William’s role in the buildup to England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup is explored via fictional evening in a Swiss hotel the night before decision day. JUMPING PUDDLES

5–7 MAR, 8:00PM – 9:15PM, £5

A story about two sisters fasttracked to adulthood as they discover it’s hard being a girl but harder still when faced with the harsh reality and fragility of life.

Liverpool Empire

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

23–28 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £10

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary rock classic returns to the stage. ANYTHING GOES

16–21 MAR, TIMES VARY, FROM £10

Classic Broadway musical telling the story of an evangelist turned nightclub singer Reno Sweeney as she boards a cruise liner for song, dance and romance.

March 2015

Theatre

Liverpool MAMMA MIA!

20 FEB – 14 MAR, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, FROM £10

One of the biggest grossing musical of ever comes to the Northwest, regaling the life, times and songs of everyone’s favourite Swedish pop group, Abba. SEX IN SUBURBIA

30 MAR, 31 MAR, TIMES VARY, PRICES VARY

Claire Sweeney stars in and co-writes in a new comedy about dating, men and finding Mr Right. Riveting, we’re sure.

JB BARRINGTON 25 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, £10.50

The poet and comedian brings his award-winning show Woodchip Anaglypta and Nicotined Artex Ceilings to the Lantern. MERSEYSIDE ACADEMY OF DRAMA SHOWCASE

26 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, £5.50

Merseyside Academy of Drama presents their end of term showcase with work from advanced and intermediate acting and musical theatre students

Museum of Liverpool

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

15 MAR, 2:00PM – 4:00PM, FREE

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 5-7 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £8 (£4)

GEORGE FERGUSON SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE

The Museum of Liverpool welcomes the George Ferguson School of Irish Dance for a special performance as we approach Saint Patrick’s Day.

Southport Theatre CIRQUE BESERK

9–11 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, £16.90

Combining contemporary “cirque” style skills with stunt action, Cirque Berserk calls into the northwest as part of a UK tour.

St George’s Hall A DREAM OF WILFRED OWEN

13 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:30PM, £10

A play about the life of the war poet Wilfred Owen, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.

The Brindley WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND

4–7 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £15

Based on the novel by Mary Hayley Bell and the subsequently, the late Richard Attenborough produced film, Whitle Down the Widn follows the fortunes of a fugitive caught between the prejudice of adults and the innocence of the young. I, ZOMBIE

21 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £10

Zombie play with the living coming face to face with the dead.

The Capstone DONNA DISCO

17 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £11.50 (£9.50)

Lee Mattinson play surrounding the trials and tribulations of a 14 year-old. NEXT STAGE

11 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £10.50 (£8.50)

MDI present an evening of graduate company work,with visiting company Verve, from Northern Contemporary Dance School, Leeds also premiering their new touring pieces. LIZ AGGISS IS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL

12 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £10.50 (£8.50)

The story of a career forged in the heady waters of dance, performance art and film.

The Kazimier HAPPILY EVER AFTER

21–22 MAR, 1:00PM – 10:35PM, FROM £15

A mammoth two-day improv session, with the Kazimier transformed into a magical woodland for the occasion.

The Lantern Theatre MACBETH

12-13 MAR, TIMES VARY, PRICES VARY

Black Box Theatre present their take on the Shakespeare classic. DRACULA

19-21 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, £8.50 (£6.50)

The Liverpool Network Theatre present their take on the Bram Stoker classic. BROKEN BISCUITS

5-6 MAR, 7:30PM – 10:00PM, £10.50 (£8.50)

Back by popular demand. A moving tale of two best friends who are torn apart when Rita’s son James takes a fatal bullet in Afghanistan saving Maggie’s son Paul.

COMPANY

Stephen Sondheim’s musical comedy set in 70s New York, following bachelor Bobby on his 35th birthday as he looks at the five couples around him and finds the source of his inability to commit. HAY FEVER

12–14 MAR, 7:30PM – 9:30PM, £8 (£4)

Noel Coward’s classic 20th century comedy follows the Bliss family and their eccentric behaviour.

Unity Theatre KRAPP’S LAST TAPE

10–14 MAR, TIMES VARY, £14 (£12)

Tale of the tragically funny and hilariously sad Krapp, 69, reviewing recordings made every year on his birthday. A show about ambition, sacrifice and growing old. R.I.O.T

4–5 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12 (£10)

Four performers playing superheroes are caught in a series of conflicts which are both personal, and intricately political. NURSING LIVES

17–18 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12 (£10)

Comedy

Manchester Thu 05 Mar

THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE (DAN NIGHTINGALE + COKEY FALKOW + DARREN HARRIOT + VIKKI STONE + MC TOBY HADOKE)

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£7)

Start your weekend early at the Frog and Bucket with a host of top notch comedians.

STAND UP THURSDAY (JOE LYCETT + ADAM BLOOM + MC JOHN FORTHERGILL) THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £12

Cheat life and get that Friday feeling one day early with a night of comedic delight from some circuit funny folk. SHAM BODIE (TOM LITTLE + NINA GILLIGAN)

KRAAK, 19:30–22:30, £5

Sham Bodie returns with another rib-tickling evening of music and sketch show comedy. ALL OUR FRIENDS OUR DEAD

THE KING’S ARMS, 19:00–21:00, £6

An evening of dark, surreal and anarchic sketch comedy with Katie Norris and Sinead Parker.

Fri 06 Mar

BARREL OF LAUGHS (DAN NIGHTINGALE + MIKE NEWALL + VIKI STONE + MC TOBY HADOKE)

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £16 (£8)

Three top-notch comics, a sprinkling of Frog compere funnies and a late night disco courtesy of the resident DJ.

THE BEST IN STAND UP (JOE LYCETT + ADAM BLOOM + ANDREW RYAN + JOE ROWNTREE + MC JOHN FORTHERGILL) THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £18

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians. COMIC FX (SEYMOUR MACE)

A love story set in the early 1980s that takes us back to the hard working, heart breaking, swing dancing world of the UK’s wartime hospitals.

An evening of free stand up comedy, with this edition bringing Seymour Mace to the stage.&nbsp;

24 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12 (£10)

THE KING’S ARMS, 19:00–21:00, £6

I IS AN OTHER

ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE, 18:00–19:00, FREE

ALL OUR FRIENDS OUR DEAD

Arno Schuitemaker’s work fuses movements, images, voice and sound in this new dance piece.

An evening of dark, surreal and anarchic sketch comedy with Katie Norris and Sinead Parker.

26 MAR, 8:00PM – 10:00PM, £12 (£10)

Sat 07 Mar

DEPWOFONDIS

Choreographer Max Diakok combines Guadeloupean Gwoka dance and Hip Hop to question our modern society and its alienations. TRADITIONAL HAN CHINESE CULTURE SHOW

28 MAR, TIMES VARY, £13 (£11)

Han ethnic Chinese culture is explored in this mix of music, martial arts, tai chi, calligraphy, dance and poetry.

Manchester Comedy Tue 03 Mar

XS MALARKEY (FIN TAYLOR + JULIET MEYERS + TOM LITTLE + CARL CROSSE + MC TOBY HADOKE)

PUB/ZOO, 19:00–22:00, £5 (£3)

The rather ace comedy night continues with the usual Tuesday night shenanigans.

BARREL OF LAUGHS (DAN NIGHTINGALE + MIKE NEWALL + VIKI STONE + MC TOBY HADOKE)

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £17 (£10)

Three top-notch comics, a sprinkling of Frog compere funnies and a late night disco courtesy of the resident DJ.

THE BEST IN STAND UP (JOE LYCETT + ADAM BLOOM + ANDREW RYAN + JOE ROWNTREE + MC JOHN FORTHERGILL) THE COMEDY STORE, 19:00–21:00, £22

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians.

THE BEST IN STAND UP (JOE LYCETT + ADAM BLOOM + ANDREW RYAN + JOE ROWNTREE + MC JOHN FORTHERGILL) THE COMEDY STORE, 21:30–23:30, £22

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians. JOSIE LONG

GORILLA, 15:30–18:00, £SOLD OUT

ROMESH RANGANATHAN AND SUZI RUFFELL THE LOWRY STUDIO, 16:00–18:00, FROM £11

A comedy double bill, with 2013 Edinburgh Festival Best Newcomer winner Ranganathan joined by Alan Carr tour support Suzi Ruffell. ROMESH RANGANATHAN AND SUZI RUFFELL

THE LOWRY STUDIO, 20:00–22:00, FROM £11

A comedy double bill, with 2013 Edinburgh Festival Best Newcomer winner Ranganathan joined by Alan Carr tour support Suzi Ruffell. ALL OUR FRIENDS OUR DEAD

THE KING’S ARMS, 19:00–21:00, £6

An evening of dark, surreal and anarchic sketch comedy with Katie Norris and Sinead Parker.

Sun 08 Mar

NEW STUFF (MC TOBY HADOKE)

THE COMEDY STORE, 19:30–21:30, £4

A night of stand-up from some new and established names trying out new material – be nice. AL MURRAY

THE LOWRY: LYRIC THEATRE, 19:30–22:00, £26.50

Alastair James Belshaw once more dons his Pub Landlord persona, serving up ale-inspired acumen and bar-room buffoonery aplenty. DAVE SPIKEY

THE LOWRY: QUAYS THEATRE, 20:00–22:00, £19

Multi award-winning comic and 8 out of 10 Cats team captain serves up a night of hilarious observational comedy.

Mon 09 Mar

BEAT THE FROG (MC DANNY MCLOUGHLIN)

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £3

A ten-act long heckle-fest inviting a handful of amateurs to take to the stage and try to Beat the Frog, and the audience decides who stays – brutal!

Tue 10 Mar

XS MALARKEY (GEIN’S FAMILY GIFTSHOP + JONNY PELHAM + MARTIN CROSSER + RICHARD CAIN + MC TOBY HADOKE)

PUB/ZOO, 19:00–22:00, £5 (£3)

The rather ace comedy night continues with the usual Tuesday night shenanigans.

Wed 11 Mar

TWISTED COMEDY (TONY LAW + MC LOU CONRON)

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £5

The headliner creates three rules for their supports to follow each night. COMEDY BALLOON

APE AND APPLE, 20:30–23:00, FREE

Manchester’s oldest underground comedy club returns with a bang, continuing their quest to put fresh comedic talent in the spotlight.

Thu 12 Mar THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£7)

Start your weekend early at the Frog and Bucket with a host of top notch comedians.

STAND UP THURSDAY (DANNY MCLOUGHLIN + MARKUS BIRDMAN + MC MICK FERRY)

THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £12

Wed 04 Mar

The triple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and cult optimist is back with a new show about love and being outdoorsy as a bear.

Cheat life and get that Friday feeling one day early with a night of comedic delight from some circuit funny folk.

APE AND APPLE, 20:30–23:00, FREE

GORILLA, 19:00–22:00, £SOLD OUT

Fri 13 Mar

COMEDY BALLOON

Manchester’s oldest underground comedy club returns with a bang, continuing their quest to put fresh comedic talent in the spotlight. GARY DELANEY

THE LOWRY STUDIO, 20:00–22:00, £12

Writer and stand-up comic Gary Delaney continues with his quest to tell as many jokes as possible, because apparently most shows simply don’t contain enough for his liking. BETH VYSE

THE KING’S ARMS, 19:30–21:30, £8

Beth Vyse’s creation Olive Hands presents her number two in the morning, daytime show — she’s just a working class girl living the dream.

JOSIE LONG

The triple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and cult optimist is back with a new show about love and being outdoorsy as a bear. BEST OF BUZZ COMEDY (BARRY DODDS)

WATERSIDE ARTS CENTRE, 20:00–22:00, £12 (£10)

The Waterside’s regular comedy night, featuring one of the UK comedy circuit’s up and coming stars.

BARREL OF LAUGHS

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £16 (£8)

Three top-notch comics, a sprinkling of Frog compere funnies and a late night disco courtesy of the resident DJ. THE BEST IN STAND UP (DANNY MCLOUGHLIN + ZOE LYONS + MARKUS BIRDMAN + ANDREW BIRD + MC MICK FERRY) THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £18

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians.

OMID DJALILI

DYLAN MORAN

OPERA HOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £26.90

OPERA HOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £27.90

British-Iranian stand-up comic with a knack for picking apart stereotypes, on tour with his latest show.

3MT FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE ‘TIS PAKERS THREE MINUTE THEATRE, 19:00–23:00, £TBC

A panel of comedians take topical news stories to another level in a sort of Spitting Image/Have I Got News For You style comedy romp.

Sat 14 Mar BARREL OF LAUGHS

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £17 (£10)

Three top-notch comics, a sprinkling of Frog compere funnies and a late night disco courtesy of the resident DJ.

THE BEST IN STAND UP (DANNY MCLOUGHLIN + ZOE LYONS + MARKUS BIRDMAN + ANDREW BIRD + MC MICK FERRY) THE COMEDY STORE, 19:00–21:00, £22

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians.

THE BEST IN STAND UP (DANNY MCLOUGHLIN + ZOE LYONS + MARKUS BIRDMAN + ANDREW BIRD + MC MICK FERRY) THE COMEDY STORE, 21:30–23:30, £22

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians. OMID DJALILI

OPERA HOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £26.90

British-Iranian stand-up comic with a knack for picking apart stereotypes, on tour with his latest show. STANDBY FOR TAPE BACK-UP

THE LOWRY STUDIO, 20:00–22:00, £12

Still much loved for 00s comedy sitcom Black Books, Mr Moran returns with a new show, as sharpwitted as ever.

Fri 20 Mar BARREL OF LAUGHS

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £16 (£8)

Three top-notch comics, a sprinkling of Frog compere funnies and a late night disco courtesy of the resident DJ.

THE BEST IN STAND UP (IAN MOORE + CAREY MARX + STEVE WILLIAMS + ADDY VAN DER BORGH + KAI HUMPHREYS) THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £18

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians.

Sat 21 Mar BARREL OF LAUGHS

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £17 (£10)

Three top-notch comics, a sprinkling of Frog compere funnies and a late night disco courtesy of the resident DJ.

THE BEST IN STAND UP (IAN MOORE + CAREY MARX + STEVE WILLIAMS + ADDY VAN DER BORGH + KAI HUMPHREYS) THE COMEDY STORE, 19:00–21:00, £22

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians.

THE BEST IN STAND UP (IAN MOORE + CAREY MARX + STEVE WILLIAMS + ADDY VAN DER BORGH + KAI HUMPHREYS) THE COMEDY STORE, 21:30–23:30, £22

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians.

Ross Sutherland attempts a daring experiment in synchronicity. Using nothing but found-footage from one of his granddad’s old videotapes, Ross attempts to draw out his entire life story.

AURA STYLA’S COMEDYMANIA (SLIM + RUDI LICKWOOD + BABATUNDE + JUDY THOMAS + MC AURIE STYLA)

Sun 15 Mar

THE COMEDY STORE, 19:30–21:30, FROM £12

NEW COMEDIANS (MC ALEX BOARDMAN)

THE COMEDY STORE, 19:30–21:30, £4

Up and comers trying out their stuff before hitting the circuit. DYLAN MORAN

THE LOWRY: LYRIC THEATRE, 20:00–22:00, £24

Sun 22 Mar

Styla brings a host of comedy talent around the UK with him.

Mon 23 Mar BEAT THE FROG

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £3

Still much loved for 00s comedy sitcom Black Books, Mr Moran returns with a new show, as sharpwitted as ever.

A ten-act long heckle-fest inviting a handful of amateurs to take to the stage and try to Beat the Frog, and the audience decides who stays – brutal!

Mon 16 Mar

THE LOWRY STUDIO, 20:00–22:00, £8

BEAT THE FROG

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £3

A ten-act long heckle-fest inviting a handful of amateurs to take to the stage and try to Beat the Frog, and the audience decides who stays – brutal! SHAKE WITH LAUGHTER (JUSTIN MOORHOUSE + JOHNNY VEGAS + MICK FERRY + MC ROB DEERING)

THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £12

Johnny Vegas heads up a night of laughs in aid of Parkinson’s UK.

Tue 17 Mar

XS MALARKEY (DALISO CHAPONDA + MAT EWINS + DAVID STANIER + JACK EVANS + MC TOBY HADOKE) PUB/ZOO, 19:00–22:00, £5 (£3)

The rather ace comedy night continues with the usual Tuesday night shenanigans.

Wed 18 Mar COMEDY BALLOON

APE AND APPLE, 20:30–23:00, FREE

Manchester’s oldest underground comedy club returns with a bang, continuing their quest to put fresh comedic talent in the spotlight. PATRICK MONAHAN

THE LOWRY STUDIO, 20:00–22:00, £13

High-energy gags of the funnyman’s Irish/Iranian/Teeside heritage.

Thu 19 Mar THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£7)

Start your weekend early at the Frog and Bucket with a host of top notch comedians.

STAND UP THURSDAY (CAREY MARX + STEVE WILLIAMS + MC PHIL ELLIS) THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £12

SARAH MILLICAN

The self-effacing comic presents new work ahead of a full tour later in the year.

Tue 24 Mar

XS MALARKEY (SILKY + RICHARD TODD + RED REDMOND + SAM PLUS TOM + MC TOBY HADOKE)

PUB/ZOO, 19:00–22:00, £5 (£3)

The rather ace comedy night continues with the usual Tuesday night shenanigans.

Wed 25 Mar

STAND UP FOR MOOD SWINGS (ROS ROUSE + FELICITY WARD + HARRIET DYER + MC LOU CONRAN)

THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £15 (£12)

Comedy fundraiser for Manchester Based Charity Mood Swings. COMEDY BALLOON

APE AND APPLE, 20:30–23:00, FREE

Manchester’s oldest underground comedy club returns with a bang, continuing their quest to put fresh comedic talent in the spotlight.

Thu 26 Mar

STAND UP THURSDAY (JUSTIN MOORHOUSE + ROB ROUSE + MC JASON COOK)

THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £12

Cheat life and get that Friday feeling one day early with a night of comedic delight from some circuit funny folk. THE LAST PODCAST ON THE LEFT

THE LOWRY: QUAYS THEATRE, 19:30–22:00, £15

What do Charles Manson, gnomes and the “alien agenda” have in common? They comprise just a smattering of the myriad topics that NYC-based comedy podcast enjoys tackling.

Cheat life and get that Friday feeling one day early with a night of comedic delight from some circuit funny folk.

Listings

Manchester Comedy Fri 27 Mar

THE BEST IN STAND UP (JUSTIN MOORHOUSE + ROB ROUSE + MARLON DAVIS + JASON COOK + MC IMRAN YUSUF)

THE COMEDY STORE, 20:00–22:00, £18

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians.

Sat 28 Mar

THE BEST IN STAND UP (JUSTIN MOORHOUSE + ROB ROUSE + MARLON DAVIS + JASON COOK + MC IMRAN YUSUF)

THE COMEDY STORE, 19:00–21:00, £22

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians.

THE BEST IN STAND UP (JUSTIN MOORHOUSE + ROB ROUSE + MARLON DAVIS + JASON COOK + MC IMRAN YUSUF)

THE COMEDY STORE, 21:30–23:30, £22

Regular night of stand up with a line-up of five top circuit comedians.

Comedy Liverpool Sat 07 Mar

CHRIS TURNER (HOWARD READ + STEVE ROYLE + MC DAVE TWENTYMAN) COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £18

BBC New Comedy Award finalist presents a punchline-packed show about hip-hop. DALISO CHAPONDA (TANYALEE DAVIS + JIM SMALLMAN + MC NEIL FITZMAURICE)

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £17.50

The much-travelled comic heads up this triple bill. ELLIE TAYLOR

THE BRINDLEY, 19:30–21:30, £12

The ITV2 and Channel Four takes her new show Elliementary on tour. BOILING POINT (SEAN PERCIVAL + RICHARD LINDESAY + PAUL MCCAFFREY + MC PAUL SMITH)

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£5)

LAUGHING COWS (HOLLY BURNS + MANDY TOOTHILL + MC KERRY LEIGH)

New and established comics take to the stage (found upstairs at Holiday Inn, Lime Street), for an evening of chuckles with their resident compere leading the way.

THE FROG AND BUCKET COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £7

Sun 08 Mar

Sun 29 Mar

All-female line-up of comics from the Laughing Cow bunch; a group that has helped the likes of Sarah Milllican and Jo Brand launch their careers. NEW STUFF (MC TOBY HADOKE)

THE COMEDY STORE, 19:30–21:30, £4

A night of stand-up from some new and established names trying out new material – be nice.

Liverpool Comedy Wed 04 Mar THE LAUGHTER FACTOR

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £5 (£3)

A monthly event giving comics the chance to try out new material before the weekend shows – it helps if you think of yourself as a comedic guinea pig.

Thu 05 Mar

CHRIS TURNER (VIKKI STONE + JAMALI MADDIX + MC DAVE TWENTYMAN) COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £15

BBC New Comedy Award finalist presents a punchline-packed show about hip-hop. CHRIS CAIRNS

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £10 (£8)

The Slaughterhouse MC goes it alone for a headlining stint.

Fri 06 Mar

TANYALEE DAVIS (JIM SMALLMAN + DALISO CHAPONDA + MC NEIL FITZMAURICE) THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £15

3’6” Canadian comic – favourite at the Edinburgh Fringe and regular on the oh-so politically incorrect I’m Spazticus. BOILING POINT (ADAM RUSHTON + MC PAUL SMITH + MORE)

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£5)

New and established comics take to the stage (found upstairs at Holiday Inn, Lime Street), for an evening of chuckles with their resident compere leading the way.

LIVERPOOL COMEDY CELLAR (SIMON BLIGH + JONNY AWSUM + STEVE PORTER)

LIVERPOOL COMEDY CELLAR, 19:30–22:30, £12

The Liverpool Comedy Cellar brings you the cream of Stand Up from the international comedy circuit every Saturday.

TESTING THE WATER (BRADLEY KINSELLA + STEVE WRIGHT + DAMIEN RYAN + JOSH SMITH + MORE)

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £3 (£1.50)

Showcase night for up-andcomers and undiscovered stars, offering a great value night out if you don’t mind being a comedy guinea pig.

Thu 12 Mar

ALEX BOARDMAN (JUSTIN MOORHOUSE + BIG LOU + MC DAVID LONGLEY)

COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £15

One of the writers involved with John Bishop’s Britain on BBC1 headlines. KEITH CARTER AS NIGE

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £12 (£10)

Failed singer/musician and doomed to a life of temping, Keith Carter is now a professional character comedian, actor and writer. JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH

EVERYMAN THEATRE, 19:30–22:00, FROM £15

Planning to share fond memories of past weekends, a typo on the poster means that John Shuttleworth’s A Wee Ken To Remember now sees the comic paying homage to his next-door neighbour Ken Worthington. Foolish.

Fri 13 Mar

ALEX BOARDMAN (JUSTIN MOORHOUSE + DANNY SUTCLIFFE + MC DAVID LONGLEY)

COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £15

One of the writers involved with John Bishop’s Britain on BBC1 headlines.

DAMIAN CLARK (STEVE HARRIS + KEITH FARNAN + MC CHRIS CAIRNS)

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £15

The Aussie comic headlines a strong triple bill. COUNT ARTHUR STRONG

EVERYMAN THEATRE, 20:00–22:00, FROM £15

Fresh from donkeys years on his BBC Radio 4 series and BBC Two show, Count Arthur Strong gets back to doing what he does best. This show!

BOILING POINT (DANNY PENSIVE + MARIA SHEHATA + MC PAUL SMITH)

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£5)

New and established comics take to the stage (found upstairs at Holiday Inn, Lime Street), for an evening of chuckles with their resident compere leading the way. LIVERPOOL COMEDY CELLAR (SOL BERNSTEIN + KEVIN DEWSBURY + BRENDAN RILEY)

LIVERPOOL COMEDY CELLAR, 19:30–22:30, £12

The Liverpool Comedy Cellar brings you the cream of Stand Up from the international comedy circuit every Saturday.

Listings

GAR MURRAN (STE PORTER + SEYMOUR MACE + MC NEIL FITZMAURICE) THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £17.50

Sat 14 Mar

A triple-headlining night of comedy compèred by MC Neil Fitzmaurice.

COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £18

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£5)

ALEX BOARDMAN (JUSTIN MOORHOUSE + DANNY SUTCLIFFE + MC DAVID LONGLEY)

One of the writers involved with John Bishop’s Britain on BBC1 headlines.

KEITH FARNAN (STEVE HARRIS + DAMIAN CLARK + MC CHRIS CAIRNS)

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £17.50

Triple headline show with a delightfully hilarious line-up of circuit funny-folk.

BOILING POINT (ANDREW WATTS + MARIA SHEHATA + MC PAUL SMITH)

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£5)

New and established comics take to the stage (found upstairs at Holiday Inn, Lime Street), for an evening of chuckles with their resident compere leading the way.

Sun 15 Mar

TESTING THE WATER (TEDDY MURRAY + JAMES ROSS + ANDREW MARSH + JOSH PUGH)

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £3 (£1.50)

Showcase night for up-andcomers and undiscovered stars, offering a great value night out if you don’t mind being a comedy guinea pig.

Mon 16 Mar SIMON MASON

THE LANTERN THEATRE, 19:30–22:00, £7 (£6)

A one man mixture of comedy and theatre sees Simon Mason expand on his acclaimed memoir.

Tue 17 Mar SIMON MASON

THE LANTERN THEATRE, 19:30–22:00, £7 (£6)

A one man mixture of comedy and theatre sees Simon Mason expand on his acclaimed memoir.

Thu 19 Mar

PAUL TONKINSON (JOHN HASTINGS + FREDDIE FARRELL + MC CARL HUTCHINSON) COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £15

The Yorkshire chap – a former double award-winning Time Out Comedian of the Year – takes to the road. PATRICK MONAHAN

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £12

High-energy gags of the funnyman’s Irish/Iranian/Teeside heritage.

Fri 20 Mar

PAUL TONKINSON (JOHN HASTINGS + JONNY PELHAM + MC CARL HUTCHINSON) COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £15

The Yorkshire chap – a former double award-winning Time Out Comedian of the Year – takes to the road.

SEYMOUR MACE (STE PORTER + GAR MURRAN + MC NEIL FITZMAURICE)

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £15

A triple-headlining night of comedy led by MC Neil Fitzmaurice.

BOILING POINT (PHIL CHAPMAN + NICOLA WILKINSON + NOEL JAMES + MC PAUL SMITH)

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£5)

New and established comics take to the stage (found upstairs at Holiday Inn, Lime Street), for an evening of chuckles with their resident compere leading the way.

LIVERPOOL COMEDY CELLAR (JUNIOR SIMPSON + DAVE TWETYMAN + SAM AVERY)

LIVERPOOL COMEDY CELLAR, 19:30–22:30, £12

BOILING POINT (PHIL CHAPMAN + CHRIS PURCHASE + NOEL JAMES + MC PAUL SMITH)

New and established comics take to the stage (found upstairs at Holiday Inn, Lime Street), for an evening of chuckles with their resident compere leading the way.

Sun 22 Mar

DALISO CHAPONDA (JAMIE SUTHERLAND + SAM AVERY)

COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 19:00–22:00, £25

The much-travelled comic heads up this triple bill. TESTING THE WATER (MICHAEL HOLLINGWORTH + THOM WILLIAMS + MIRANDA KANE + ZAHRA BARRI + MORE) HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £3 (£1.50)

Showcase night for up-andcomers and undiscovered stars, offering a great value night out if you don’t mind being a comedy guinea pig.

Tue 24 Mar

ONE MAN BREAKING BAD

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £18.50

What do you reckon it’s going to be? A one-man ride through the popular television show of course!

Wed 25 Mar FASCINATING AIDA

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL, 19:30–22:00, FROM £20

Comedy cabaret trio, performing new numbers and a fair few old favourites (and, yes, Cheap Flights is a guarantee).

Thu 26 Mar

JOHN FOTHERGILL (STEVE SHANYASKI + LIAM PICKFORD + MC BARRY DODDS)

COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £15

Geordie John Fothergill headlines this triple bill, promising plenty of cocky insults and slick banter.

Fri 27 Mar

JOHN FOTHERGILL (STEVE SHANYASKI + JAMES MEEHAN + MC BARRY DODDS)

COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £15

Geordie John Fothergill headlines this triple bill, promising plenty of cocky insults and slick banter. JUSTIN MOORHOUSE (MARKUS BIRDMAN + JONNY AWSUM + MC CHRIS CAIRNS)

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £15

Triple headline show with a delightfully hilarious line-up of circuit funny-folk.

BOILING POINT (SAM GORE + GRAHAM MILTON + BENNY BOOT + MC PAUL SMITH)

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£5)

New and established comics take to the stage (found upstairs at Holiday Inn, Lime Street), for an evening of chuckles with their resident compere leading the way.

LIVERPOOL COMEDY CELLAR (STEVE GRIBBIN + DAN NIGHTINGALE + BRENDAN RILEY)

LIVERPOOL COMEDY CELLAR, 19:30–22:30, £12

The Liverpool Comedy Cellar brings you the cream of Stand Up from the international comedy circuit every Saturday.

Sat 28 Mar

MARKUS BIRDMAN (JUSTIN MOORHOUSE + JONNY AWSUM + MC CHRIS CAIRNS)

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, 20:00–22:00, £17.50

The Liverpool Comedy Cellar brings you the cream of Stand Up from the international comedy circuit every Saturday.

MC Chris Cairns compères a tripleheadlining night of comedy.

Sat 21 Mar

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £10 (£5)

PAUL TONKINSON (JOHN HASTINGS + JONNY PELHAM + MC CARL HUTCHINSON) COMEDY CENTRAL AT BABY BLUE, 18:00–22:00, £18

The Yorkshire chap – a former double award-winning Time Out Comedian of the Year – takes to the road.

BOILING POINT (SAM GORE + LIAM BOLTON + BENNY BOTT + MC PAUL SMITH)

New and established comics take to the stage (found upstairs at Holiday Inn, Lime Street), for an evening of chuckles with their resident compere leading the way.

Sun 29 Mar

TESTING THE WATER (LAUREN PATTISON + GARETH MUTCH + ALEXANDER OLIVER + MC PAUL SMITH + MORE)

HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB, 19:00–22:00, £3 (£1.50)

Showcase night for up-andcomers and undiscovered stars, offering a great value night out if you don’t mind being a comedy guinea pig.

Manchester Art Castlefield Gallery

SUPERIOR GOODS AND HOUSEHOLD GODS

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 6 MAR AND 19 APR, 1:00PM – 6:00PM, FREE

Responding to the pervasive nature of dominant ideologies and their effects on our desire, Sarah Hardacre’s co-curated group show offers a series of sculpture, collage, performance and video pieces.

Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art

SUN XUN: UNDEFINED REVOLUTION

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 18 DEC AND 21 MAR, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

The Hangzhou-based printmaking graduate showcases a UK premiere of his animation What Happened in the Year of the Dragon, along with some of previous animation and video works. CHRIS PAUL DANIELS: A TIGER’S SKIN

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 18 DEC AND 21 MAR, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

Using the 1972 Mao-commissioned (and subsequently banned) documentary Chung Kuo, Cina, by Michelangelo Antonioni as inspiration, Daniels explores how the image of China has changed in the eyes of the Western world and the notion of truth in documentary.

Contact

THE SPILL TAROT

29 JAN – 17 APR, WEEKDAYS ONLY, 10:00AM – 11:00PM, FREE

Inspired by the imagery of the tarot, The Spill Tarot is a vividly staged series of collaborations between photographer Manuel Vason and artists working in radical performance. Feat. Ron Athey, Harminder Singh Judge, Marisa Carnesky, Franko B and more.

PACITTI COMPANY: THE SPILL TAROT

29 JAN – 17 APR, WEEKDAYS ONLY, 10:00AM – 11:00PM, FREE

Inspired by the imagery of the tarot, this vividly staged series of collaborations sees photographer Manuel Vason work this radical performance artists including Ron Athey, Harminder Singh Judge, Marisa Carnesky and more.

Cornerhouse PLAYTIME

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 22 NOV AND 15 MAR, TIMES VARY, FREE

Art

Manchester Gallery of Costume SOMETHING BLUE

1 AUG – 15 MAR, TIMES VARY, FREE

Eighteen wedding dresses, worn by mill workers to woman serving in the air force as well as art world figures Kathleen Soriano and Maria Balshaw, are exhibited in a celebration of bridal fashion over the past 100 years.

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 28 FEB AND 11 APR, 11:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

Exhibition 15” Deep Pan Stuffed Crust Portuguese Man O’ War (Totaller’s Studio) takes Le Mur de l’Atelier d’André Breton as its point of departure, reconstructing the Surrealist work through collage.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery IMMORTAL LOVE FROM SHANGHAI

15 NOV – 15 MAR, TIMES VARY, FREE

Imperial War Museum North

27 AUG – 1 MAY, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

24 JAN – 26 APR, TIMES VARY, FREE

FROM STREET TO TRENCH: A WORLD WAR THAT SHAPED A REGION

An exhibition of over 200 objects, photographs, diaries, letters and artworks from the First World War, revealing the lives shaped by the conflict. Marking the centenary of WWI. WITHDRAW

21 FEB – 6 SEP, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

New works by leading reportage illustrator George Butler explore the impact of British and US armed forces leaving Afghanistan. Butler’s past work has featured in media outlets across the world.

Islington Mill NORTHERN ART CARBOOTY

8 MAR, 1:00PM – 5:00PM, FREE

A car boot with a twist, The Northern Art Carbooty returns to Ancoats for a day-long extravaganza of art, craft, live performance, and food and drink. There’ll be over twenty stalls of artworks from some of the region’s most promising artists.

Joshua Brooks ILLUSTRATED VERSE

12 MAR, 5:00PM – 8:00PM, FREE

Exhibition and auction of art created by Stockport BA Hons Illustration students in response to the book of poetry: Chapter and Illuminating Verse by Ray Wegrzyn.

MMU Special Collections

IMAGE AND WORD: THE JULIAN FRANCIS COLLECTION OF PRINTS AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS

13 FEB – 27 MAR, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, FREE

Prints, illustrated books and archive material by key figures in British art of the last 100 years including Edward Ardizzone, John Farleigh, Barnett Freedman, Lucian Freud, Eric Gill, Enid Marx, Agnes Miller Parker, John and Paul Nash and more.

Manchester Art Gallery COTTON COUTURE

19–14 JUN, TIMES VARY, FREE

A collection of designer dresses and suits donated by the Cotton Board, a Manchester-based organisation tasked with increasing the use of cotton in couture to bump up cotton exports.

NATURAL FORCES: ROMANTICISM & NATURE

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 19 FEB AND 2 APR, TIMES VARY, FREE

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 24 OCT AND 29 MAY, TIMES VARY, £4.50 (£3.50)

The final Cornerhouse Projects display sees the walls of the cafe handed over to the building’s invigalotors, a series of artists and creative who will presents a mixed medium interpretation of the building and its 30 year history.

PAPER #20: TOTALLER

A traditionally-slanted Chinese art exhibition, depicting the history and development of the Chinese Dragon, paintings showing symbols of wealth, love and friendship and traditional Chinese watercolour paintings.

Nine artists come together using comedy, space and sound to encourage exploration and play in the Cornerhouse for the final time before its 2015 move to HOME. Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Naomi Kashiwagi, Gabriel Lester and Jan St. Werner present new work. CORNERHOUSE PROJECTS: FULL STOP

Paper Gallery

12–12 JUL, TIMES VARY, FREE

A collection of early 1800s Romantic works focused on the idea of nature as a force.

Manchester Jewish Museum MADE IN MANCHESTER

The first retrospective on Manchester-based artist, teacher and writer Emmanuel Levy for 30 years, highlighting his Northern heritage.

Manchester Museum

DANCE OF THE BUTTERFLIES

14 FEB – 31 DEC, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

New art work by one of Africa’s foremost contemporary artists Romuald Hazoumè. It features swarms of multicoloured ‘butterflies’ which will take over the Museum’s Living Worlds gallery.

SALFORD ARTS CLUB ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2015

The annual Salford Art Club exhibition returns, presenting a mixture of landscapes, portrait and still life paintings from its members.

LEONORA CARRINGTON 6 MAR – 31 MAY, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, £8 (£6)

The exhibition explores the famous 20th century surrealist’s diverse creative practice, taking a selection of key paintings made throughout her career as its starting point.

The Atkinson

LS LOWRY AND THEODORE MAJOR: TWO LANCASHIRE PAINTERS

17 JAN – 29 MAR, TIMES VARY, FREE

An exhibition showcasing two very different Lancastrian artists, one eventually becoming a household name, the other lapsing into nearobscurity. THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

24 JAN – 26 APR, TIMES VARY, FREE

An exhibition that explores every age and culture’s perceptions of beauty through history.

The Bluecoat LISTENING

24 JAN – 29 MAR, 10:00AM – 6:00PM, FREE

14 FEB – 19 APR, TIMES VARY, FREE

Photography students from Eccles Sixth Form Centre muse on the theme A Sense of Place.

A Hayward touring exhibition curated by Sam Belinfante and examining the crossover between the visual and the sonic, with many of the selected artists in this group show working in the fields of both contemporary music and art.

The Lowry

The Brindley

24 JAN – 26 APR, TIMES VARY, FREE

28 FEB – 18 APR, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, FREE

MADE IN ECCLES

CASA TOMADA

A swarm of giant ants invade the gallery walls in this extraordinary installation by Colombian artist Rafael Gómezbarros from the Saatchi Gallery, London.

The Portico Library FORM AND LINE

4–30 MAR, NOT SUNDAYS, TIMES VARY, FREE

An exhibition of sculpture and drawings by the Edinburgh College of Art-trained artist Simon Manby.

Liverpool Art FACT

GROUP THERAPY: MENTAL DISTRESS IN A DIGITAL AGE

5 MAR – 17 MAY, TIMES VARY, FREE

Originating from FACT’s extensive work within mental health and wellbeing, the exhibition explores the complex relationship between technology, society, and mental health.

International Slavery Museum LIBERTY BOUND

29 OCT – 5 APR, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

An exhibition of artifacts from one of the most important archaeological finds of recent years, unveiling a recently discovered burial ground fro ‘liberated’ African’s in Rupert’s Valley, St Helena.

Open Eye Gallery

METAMORPHOSIS OF JAPAN AFTER THE WAR

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 22 JAN AND 26 APR, 10:30AM – 5:30PM, FREE

An exhibition focusing on the creative resurgence of Japan in the wake of the second World War, featuring over 100 photographs 11 post-war photographers including Yasuhiro Ishimoto, Shomei Tomatsu, Eikoh Hosoe and Ken Domon.

LIVING DATA

A new solo exhibition by the visual artist Michael Takeo Magruder that explores the creation of evolving virtual/physical artworks which are generated from the ubiquitous artefacts of the digital domain.

The Royal Standard

EXTERNAL MACHINES

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 14 MAR AND 3 MAY, 12:00PM – 5:00PM, FREE

An investigation into the tension between ideas of constriction and relief, whether they be theoretical, physical, self-imposed or out of necessity.

Victoria Gallery and Museum

NORTH WEST AND BEYOND: JAMES HAMILTON HAY

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 22 APR AND 29 AUG, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

An exhibition of drypoint prints by 19th century Merseyside etcher and painter, James Hamilton Hay, documenting his travels throughout the UK with his striking landscape prints. THE AUDOBON GALLERY

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 11 OCT AND 19 DEC, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

Permanent gallery of wildlife artist and naturalist John James Audubon. BRITISH ART

VARIOUS DATES BETWEEN 5 JAN AND 30 JUN, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

Permanent collection including work by Joseph Wright of Derby.

Walker Art Gallery ONLY IN ENGLAND

13 FEB – 7 JUN, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

An exhibition exploring the lasting influence of the British photographer Tony Ray-Jones on the development of British photography from the 1970s to the present day.

Tate Liverpool CATHY WILKES

6 MAR – 31 MAY, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, £8 (£6)

The largest display of work to date by the Turner Prize nominated artist, the Tate bring together more than a decade of Wilkes’ acclaimed work. GYÖRGY KEPES

6 MAR – 31 MAY, 10:00AM – 5:00PM, FREE

This is the first solo exhibition of the ground-breaking photography of artist, designer and educator György Kepes’ work in the UK.

THE SKINNY

Under the Influence: Jenny Lee Lindberg From Aphex to Siouxsie, Warpaint’s bass player goes rummaging through the record bag and tells a potted history of her musical education

2. Tears for Fears – Pale Shelter (from The Hurting, 1983) This is a throwback to my youth. I heard it at the time, thought it was nice enough, but then I was reintroduced to Tears for Fears a lot later on. We had the big chains like Tower Records and Sam Goodie in Reno, then there was Recycled Records which sold vinyl, that’s still there. We’d cruise on over to the mall and I’d have a wish list of records I wanted for my birthday or Christmas. When I was younger than that my mom would buy me tape singles and I’d listen to the radio a lot. When I was little I was all about the radio. I remember this song from those days. 3. The Sea and Cake – Bird and Flag (from The Fawn, 1997) This is another one our former drummer Davy introduced me to; he’s a DJ and has the most amazing collection. He pointed me towards Sea and Cake back when I was 19. To this day, that song never gets old, ever. I can and have listened to this over and over again on repeat. It’s just the prettiest song, and this is such a good record overall. Sea and Cake have been around for a long time and have a lot of albums; they’re kinda mellow but there’s some – I don’t want to say prog – but at times they can be a little mathy and kind of jazzy. Just beautiful. I haven’t seen them live. I only found out a couple of years ago while we were on tour that the drummer John McEntire also plays for Tortoise. I love ‘em both! Exciting trivia! 4. Siouxsie and the Banshees – Umbrella (from Tinderbox, 1986) One of my favourite voices of all time, guy or girl. I have a lot of respect for Siouxsie and she’s given me a lot of inspiration over the years. My sister and I used to listen to her a lot and just dance around. It’s all about the tone, there’s something about that band that’s pretty rare – something dark but also slightly poppy and accessible about their records. This is a song that my husband and I bonded over – we’d definitely heard it individually before, but one day we were

March 2015

just playing the album and that song stopped us in our tracks… played it on repeat for the whole night. I understand why some people can hear a little Siouxsie in what we do. I mean, when we started the band, everybody had grown up differently and we were coming from completely different musical backgrounds. Everybody brings in what they like, and although we may have similar tastes we’re all still coming from somewhere different. Hopefully we’re never considered strictly derivative of any one thing. 5. Sylvester – I Need Somebody to Love Tonight (from Stars, 1979) That’s just a jam. Always, whenever I DJ, this goes on. Devendra Banhart played this for me and turned me onto it. It’s sort of disco… but not quite in the prime of disco; his era was the late 70s and early 80s. Sylvester’s not around anymore, sadly he died of complications from HIV/ AIDS in 1988. He left a lot of great records – most famously You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – but there’s only a few of his songs I really love. This is his best in my opinion. It’s really funky, super dance-y, nice ’n’ long, and it just grooves.

“I understand why some people can hear a little Siouxsie in what we do” Jenny Lee Lindberg

6. Carly Simon – Why (from Soup for One OST, 1982) I love it. Bernard Edwards is one of my favourite bass players; that bass-line is super funky, there can’t be a better one. And of course this is written and produced by Nile Rodgers. It’s basically a Chic track with Carly Simon on vocals. I think she’s pretty amazing, but I’m not a huge fan. I’d always associated her with being kind of country, and a little soft pop – which is pretty – and had no idea she was capable of making music like this. It’s a totally different vocal style, on a whole new level. This song is incredible. 7. Art of Noise – Moments in Love (from Into Battle with the Art of Noise, 1983) Could listen to this on repeat forever and ever. It’s slightly nostalgic and melancholic but still really groovy. It doesn’t take me back to a specific memory but it does remind me of being a kid – there’s a warm fuzzy feeling that hits me when I hear this song. When I was growing up it was all about singles because that’s how my mom listened to music – she’d never buy the whole record. I guess that’s how I grew up. I’m just starting to get more into DJing and singles are pretty key to that. As of late, I’m listening to Sirius satellite radio, and there’s this channel

Photo: Marie Hazelwood

1.PiL – Theme (from Public Image: First Edition, 1978) We all lived in this house in Los Angeles when we first started the band. It was Shannyn [Sossamon], Emily [Kokal], Theresa [Wayman] and myself. David Orlando, who became our drummer years later, lived in the garage. I’d go over to practise and he’d play me records. I didn’t realise how much I loved Jah Wobble’s bass playing; he’s also on my list of all-time greats. That was over ten years ago and I’d already developed a style of playing by that point but I’d been told by a few people that I kind of reminded them of him – well, they called me Jen Wobble. I didn’t grow up listening to PiL or anything and wasn’t entirely familiar with his style before we lived in that space. I get the comparison now. When I was in high school I was a fan of the Pistols’ hits, but that was more to do with teenage rebellion. The Pistols were great, but PiL have the edge.

called 1st Wave that plays rarer new wave and dance songs – not just the hits. I’ve been using that to collect songs for my sets – the stuff that gets overlooked. Stuff like this. 8. Kraftwerk – Computer Love (from Computer Love, 1981) Loved this when I was a kid and love it more so now. My husband went to see them at their residency at the Tate Modern, but I missed out big time. They weren’t too huge in the states, but somehow, even growing up in Reno, Nevada, I got to hear them a little bit. This track is another that I’ve gotten to know more in recent years – one of those songs that was playing when I was getting to know my husband, on in the background while we were hanging out. 9. Aphex Twin – On (from On EP, 1993) Beautiful, it’s not played often enough. One of the places I’ve lived with Emily was this amazing house in Malibu, for like a year. There was a huge yard, big salt water pool – we had our own rehearsal space in one of the pool

MUSIC

houses and I lived in a trailer at the end of the property while she and John [Frusciante] lived in the main house. We used to put on Aphex at night. There was a big old deck and these speakers outside, and we would just dance in our underwear on the deck for hours. This was one of the songs we’d listen to over and over, all night. 10. Depeche Mode – Everything Counts (from 101, 1989) Live at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. That song has been on heavy rotation since before I’ve been in the band – the girls love this song as well. Almost every song on here I’ve either introduced to or shared with them, other than Aphex – Emily played me that for the first time. I’ve never seen Depeche Mode live, although I’ve seen Dave Gahan play a benefit gig with John and Josh [Klinghoffer] for MAPS – which is a music programme for addicts. As close to Depeche Mode as I ever got. Still rockin’, he’s still got the moves. This version beats the original – it just comes alive with masses of people singing at the end. Warpaint play Albert Hall, Manchester on 22 Mar warpaintwarpaint.com

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