Courtney Barnett
Lots of indoor all-dayers around Manchester this month and Getintothis’ Steven Doherty tells us all about them.
August.
The month where a whole raft of the population can stop pretending that they really have any interest in other sports, such as golf and cricket, because the football’s back. Hurrah.
It was also the month that so used to be synonymous with ‘festival season’.
Many of us would have spent the middle two weekends in August, one at V in Staffordshire and the following at Leeds or Reading Festival.
Now V Festival is but a distant memory and Reading/Leeds, well, what on earth has happened there?
It used to attract the biggest alternative bands bar none, now, it is an absolute shadow of its former self.
Looking at this year’s line-up, surely there is no-one alive who hasn’t seen or would want to see the Foo Fighters headline
You can’t move on social media for posts showing the festivals posters of yesteryear, polls asking which was the greatest line-up.
This year though is not one that will live long in the memory, on paper, a massive disappointment to those of us who remember their halcyon days.
New 10,000 capacity venue and event space Depot set to be opened at Manchester Mayfield
Maybe the traditional big festival has had its day, and the smaller, intimate indoor all-dayers are the way to go.
Speaking of which, there’s a few of them happening round here this month.
Enjoy each and every one of them.
Prophets Of Rage
Prophets Of Rage: Academy, August 13
For those unaware, Prophets Of Rage are a rap- rock supergroup, made up of Chuck D and DJ Lord from Public Enemy along with members of Rage Against The Machine and Cypress Hill.
Their anger -fuelled rhetoric makes them an absolute must see live, and they are back over hear with their first new material since their 2017 self-titled debut album, new single Made With Hate.
For those agitated by the political situation on either side of the Atlantic, this will be some musical protest.
Just Mustard
Future Sounds: The White Hotel, August 17
Intriguing line-up this one, with a lot of up and comers rather than instant big names.
After the success of last year’s event, which saw Sports Team and The Blinders amongst others, this is becoming a welcome annual addition to the Manchester (well, Salford) bank of must-sees.
This year sees White Fence headline, with able company in the shape of The Intergalactic Republic of Kongo, Just Mustard, The Starlight Magic Hour, Krush Puppies and the very special Talk Show among others.
Organisers Strange Days are one of Manchester’s finer promoters, this will be one for the connoisseurs.
Dry Cleaning: Yes, August 23
This may be a new name to many, and a difficult one to google without being bombarded with shops rather than bands, but these upstarts are already making the right noises.
Their debut EP, entitled Sweet Princess is released the week before, and it’s lead song Magic Of Meaghan (a tribute to the Princess of kinda the same name) has been receiving some well earned airplay already on 6 Music.
One to catch before everyone else falls in love with them.
Cate Le Bon
Cate Le Bon: Gorilla, August 27
Acclaimed Welsh singer Cate Le Bon returns to Manchester, this time she’s at Gorilla following the release earlier this year of her fifth album Reward, which has just received a Mercury Prize nomination.
She has also turned her hand to producing the last Deerhunter album, and is supporting them later in the year.
Support for this one comes from Grimm Grimm and will be a busy one.
The Mercury Prize 2019 shortlist revealed featuring Idles, Anna Calvi, Little Simz and Foals
Pigs x 7
Manchester Psych Fest: Various Venues, August 30
Another all-dayer full of acts, some of whom you wouldn’t have down as really being that psych, but on the whole one of the most finely crafted bills this summer.
The cream of the crop of the day/night is surely the coup of having Courtney Barnett to headline, but quality runs through the whole event, like a bar of rock.
Taking place at Ritz, YES and Gorilla, you will also get to see Pigs x7, Goat Girl, Temples,Our Girl, Snapped Ankles, Working Men’s Club and the gorgeous, should be huge by now, The Lovely Eggs alongside others.
The Bluetones
Star Shaped Festival: Ritz, August 31
One for the 90’s kids, there won’t be many new songs getting an airing tonight.
But sometimes, that’s just what you need from an all-dayer.
It features Cast, Dodgy, Space, Geneva, Salad and others and while there have been mutterings that the bill is not as high quality as in it’s previous year, as it’s a star-shaped event, you’ll hear pretty much everything good from that era, either on stage or between bands.
No better place to celebrate Britpop.
The Beths
The Beths, Peaness: Gorilla, August 31
To close, two acts that are fit to headline for the price of one.
New Zealand four-piece The Beths are fresh from a sold-out US tour and both them and Chester’s very own Peaness are bringing their respective lovely strains of indie popness to Gorilla.
Both should be far more of a household name than they are, so go and see them and make that happen.
The Beths also do a fantastic breakfast related blog on their website, so worth checking them out if only for that.
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