We’re back on the airwaves this Monday, 11pm-1am, on AllFm.org, and on 96.9FM across Manchester. Ursula and I are presenting the Unsigned Show — so we’ll be featuring loads of tracks by new unsigned artists from Manchester, the UK and worldwide. We’ve also got two live sessions taking place during the show. More details on those shortly! You can tune in on allfm.org, from 11pm-1am tomorrow!

Tom

Hi everyone,

I’ve simplified the layout of the blog… Going to be re-designing it soon! Also added a couple of relevant advertising bits to the right… that’s mainly because certain parts of the site get loads of hits, for example the gig ticket swap page so it’s good to point people in the direction of sites that are more geared up to that! And then my really ancient article on getting a record cut.. I was asked to write that years ago, and have never actually cut a record myself yet…I get loads of enquiries about this, and most of the time I have to say “sorry, I don’t know” and then point people towards a vinyl cutting house!

Anyway… I’m going to be making the blog look better over the next few days – but for the time being, it’s simple, and has all the stuff on it, which is the main thing!

Tom

There’s a great gig tonight at Kro Bar, Manchester (Saturday 13th). The bands playing are:

Run, Toto, Run
The Jessie Rose Trip
Help Stamp Out Loneliness

I’ll be doing the sound engineering tonight. Really looking forward to the show! I think doors are 8pm…. just rushing off to load the equipment in now…

Tom

Just got an email from Ben, who’s looking for a band or solo act to play at the Sir Ralph Abercromby (Bootle St, Manchester) this Sunday, 14th June). Can anyone make it? Let me know in the comments!

T

I’m playing a show tonight (Saturday 6th June 09) in Birmingham, with Heroes of Cartography. It’s £3 in, and includes a copy of their EP.

Eventful page

Facebook event page

I’m on stage about 9pm

View Larger Map

Party back in Manchester afterwards from 1am. Drop me a Facebook message, or a comment on this blog post, for details!

Tom

There’s going to be a really nice little gig this Sunday at the Bay Horse. I’m playing around 6.45pm. and there’’s a barbecue – which is always a good thing at a gig:

BBQ!! 3.30-4.15 (at least)
Doors 4.30-5.00
Thom Stone 5.15-5.45
Andy Needham 6.00-6.30
Tom Kerswill 6.45-7.00
SRGents 7.15-7.45
Charnock & Russell 8.00-8.30
Kamal Arafa 8.45-9.15
BBKC 9.30-10.00
The Bedlam Six 10.15-10.45

Just got back from doing sound at the “Hi, How are You?” Night at Fuel, promoted by Phil from Mushaboom. It was a really lovely night, despite headliner Jose Vanders cancelling. Mia Vigar, Deaf to Van Gogh’s Ear and Thom Stone all did excelent performances, and it was a great atmosphere, as always with Fuel. The chocolate brownies and coconut cake were especially good!

Hi, How Are You? Night at Fuel, WIthington

Hi

Two really good events happening tonight (I’ll be going to the one at Fuel):

For Folk’s Sake is at Cup, from 6pm-9pm, Featuring Tom Kitching and Gren Bartley.

Hi, How Are You?, from the people behind Mushaboom Folk, is happening at Fuel tonight. Featuring Mia Vigar, and Deaf to Van Gogh’s Ear

Tom

Hi – I’ve updated the Manchester open mic guide for June 2009. Let me know if you have any feedback on it, or know of other open mics in the Manchester area. I also have guides for Liverpool open mics and Lancaster…

Tom

Yesterday I dropped into Uluru, in Chorlton, to check out a new open mic they’ve got there. Weirdly, the venue has open mics on a Sunday (run by Ricky) and on a Monday (run by Mike). I dropped in pretty early, and it was very quiet there. It was a nice atmosphere though. I bumped into Kamal Arafa (who’s a well-known Manchester musician, and recently played a live session on our All Fm radio show), and also managed to catch a set by Ollie Smith, who played some really great songs.

Ollie used to be in the Deadheads, and also co-runs the open mic at Trof in the Northern Quarter on Sundays.

Definitely worth checking the Uluru open mics out… It seems pretty quiet for now, but I imagine it’ll build up. It’s always a nice vibe in Ulruru, too. I’ll be back to check it out (when I’m not rushing off to do a radio show…)

Tom

I hosted the Deaf Institute open mic on Sunday. I was standing in for Phil, who normally runs things. It’s the first time I’d made it to the open mic night there (I’m usually running the one at the Northern Quarter Trof on Sundays)… And I really enjoyed it.

Things get going there around about 9pm, and in this case it went on till after 12am, though I think things usually would wrap up at 11. It was one of those nights where, just as things were drawing to a close, another musician or band would walk into the venue with guitars, and we’d start again.

One of the highlights was a set by Optional Wallace — who then went on to take part in a jam at the end of the night.

I’d recommend it as a good Sunday open mic – together with the other nights on a Sunday (recommended open mics on a Sunday include: Trof Northern Quarter, Uluru, Bar Brau and Joshua Brooks).

I’ve just returned from presenting the EXR Unsigned show on All Fm. It’s been a great show this week, with Lorelei Loveridge and Glyn Bailey coming in with their bands to do live sessions and chat. Here’s the complete track listing:

# Jason Dunkley and That Girl Sue – Reason
# Leo Brazil – Take it East
# Chuck Farthing – Prettiest Faces
# Defunkles – Bomanta
# Lorelei Loveridge – I need to Go (Live Session)
# Lorelei Loveridge – You Live (Live Session)
# Lorelei Loveridge – 30 Seconds to save your Life (Live Session)
# Kate Rogers – Silent Movie
# Jake Flowers – Track 1
# Tea for One – Still Don’t Feel Right
# NCA – Miscible
# Glyn Bailey and the Many Splendid Things – Moonwalkers (Live)
# Glyn Bailey and the Many Splendid Things – School Reunion (Live)
# Glyn Bailey and the Many Splendid Things -Beautiful Corpse (Live)
# Kamal Arafa – When It Comes to Money

Driving home from the studio, I tuned into Jon Kenedy’s XFM Xposure show. Heard some really great tracks on there too. Have resolved to tune in more often!

Tom

Currently at Ruby Lounge for the Handsome Family gig. Liz Green, support, was great. Her stuff is growing on me with every performance. It was a really lovely set. It’s probably over a year since I last saw her play (as I remember, that was at the End of the Road festival in Dorset).

I’m enjoying the Handsome Family, who’ve just come on stage. It’s a great atmosphere here at the Ruby Lounge – it’s become one of the best sub-academy 2 places to catch gigs… it’s overtaken the Night and Day cafe in that respect.

I’ll be back with a full review after the show – and we’ll be discussing it on the next All FM radio show on 1st June. 11pm-1am, where we’ll also have two live guests – Lorelei Loveridge and Glyn Bailey.

Tom

Hey – today, throughout Manchester, there will be musicians busking at various locations… Starting from midday. Here’s the official press release. I’m busking inside (strangely!) at the Castle Hotel, Oldham St, Manchester, from 1.30pm today.. Then I’ll be joining everyone else, watching other buskers playing during the afternoon. Here’s the official press release:

This Friday 15th May sees over 20 Manchester musicians hit the city centre streets, playing an eclectic series of impromptu gigs in a variety of secret, unauthorised locations, from the very public to the very hidden. Organised by local music collective Single Cell, and taking place as part of the Futuresonic 2009 festival, the gigs, running from midday until 8pm, will feature a diverse range of artists such as John Robb, John Fairhurst and poet Mike Garry, representing everything from african drumming to heavy metal and acoustic folk.

Although secret, locations and times will be revealed on the day via the Single Cell website, Twitter and a mobile phone number. Supported by Refugee Action the gigs will raise money and awareness on the issue of destitute refugees.

“Asylum seekers appealing decisions made by refugee courts are left without benefits or the ability to earn a living. These busking performances are taking place without permission in marginalised locations or hidden in very public places, mirroring the status of these destitute refugees.”

All proceeds from the gigs will go to destitute refugee campaigns and all acts are playing free of charge.

More information:
http://www.singlecell.co.uk
http://twitter.com/single_cell

Hi all you Facebookers! I’ve begun addiing notes from my blog directly onto Facebook… so if you just saw a load of notes from me in your news streams, then that’s why!

On another note – I’ve just created a Facebook Musician Page. More info will be added on that soon.

And finally – I’m running an event tomorrow (Thursday) at St. Ninian’s church in Chorlton. We have five excellent bands playing: To Sophia, Sam and the Plants, Pablo’s Finest Hour, Kamal Arafa and Butler Williams. It starts at 7.30pm and is £4 on the door.

Hi

I’m playing in Manchester, at the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub (Bootle Street) tomorrow night – Sunday 10th. It’s Ben Taylor’s “Sunday Roast” night. Also on the bill is the excellent Dan Melrose. Show starts 8pm, and I’m on around 9 or 10…

Tom

I’ve been hearing various rumours around Manchester, that Pleasure Bar in Withington is to reopen. Or maybe even has reopened. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I was at Fuel doing sound for the Mushaboom last night and didn’t hear anyone saying it’s reopened yet… it used to be a Withington institution…

But today, Mat has posted a comment on my guide to Manchester open mics suggesting that it’s reopened and there’s now an open mic on Mondays again. Could this be true? Or just the MEN getting their wires crossed? Who knows… If there’s anyone with any comments or info, please post below!

The Deaf Institute opened in 2008. Downstairs, it’s a really pleasant bar, with some crazy wallpaper. Upstairs, it’s a purpose-built music hall, with a lovely sound system and a reputation for putting on some really good shows.

There’s also a moody basement bar, which is used as the green room for the bigger shows.

It has two sister venues, both called Trof…. in the centre of Manchester is Trof Northern Quarter… then in South Manchester is the originalTrof Fallowfield.

Both the Deaf Institute and the Trof Northern Quarter venues have open mic nights on a Sunday night.

It’s always interesting to see people using this site, and the posts they find on Google. For example, somebody has just found my post on swapping gig tickets… which actually just mentions another gig swapping site… but people are using the blog to look for people to swap tickets with. (In this case, the excellent Gomez…) and the Manchester open mics guide is still getting a load of traffic from people wanting to play in Manchester UK!

Tonight (Thursday, 26th March 2009) at Kro Bar in Manchester, Ghost Bees are playing, supported by Sophie’s Pigeons (on the Red Deer Club Label). It looks like a really good gig. Beginning 8.30pm and promoted by “Last Night Was a Disaster”. More info here:
http://www.last.fm/event/969440
Maybe see you there!