Thundercat
As Manchester looks towards spring and loads of great live music, Getintothis’ Matt Yarwood has all the details.
Alright winter, you’ve overstayed your welcome.
Under your icy gaze, all kinds of nonsense has been going down. A spray tanned bigot has become the world’s most powerful man and is now systematically undermining the free media and judiciary whilst spouting off on twitter like a publicity starved D list celebrity. Russia, apparently responsible in part for his appointment, is exacerbating fears of global catastrophe by sending everyone SPAM and generally shuffling around in the shadows.
Further east, North Korea’s tubby man child is chucking medium range missiles into the sea off Japan whilst simultaneously settling family disputes with high grade nerve agent. In addition, you’ve presided over the passing of Princess Leia, Executive Officer Gilbert Kane and now Private William Hudson. Enough is enough. Go home, you’re drunk.
On your way out, let spring in. Its the least you can do. He bears gifts of fair weather, light evenings and enough great live music to lift the gloom you’ve left in your wake.
De La Soul, The Albert Hall, March 2
De La Soul
Time defying Long Island Hip-Hop heroes De La Soul get a great month at the Albert Hall off to a flyer as they visit the city as part of a limited UK tour to showcase their 9th long player And The Anonymous Nobody. Drop back to the same venue on March 12 and you can catch uber-talent Laura Marling before hard hitting, all conquering Hip-Hop duo Run The Jewels bring the curtain down on the month on the evening of March 31.
Bonobo (DJ Set), Gorilla, March 2
Bonobo
Ninja Tune’s LA based British musician, producer and DJ extraordinaire Bonobo visits Manchester for somewhat of a double header on March 2. Early in the evening, Bonobo plays the O2 Apollo in support of his outstanding 6th studio album Migration. Upon the set’s conclusion, he is due to hotfoot it across town to the more intimate setting of Gorilla for one of his famed DJ sets. Not to be missed.
The XX, O2 Apollo, March 5 & 6
The XX (Credit Artist Facebook page)
The XX provide the pick of the the big hitters selling out some of the city’s larger venues during March. London’s electro pop trio play two nights at the Apollo to support last years I See You (Young Turks), the bands third feature length release.
Also of note, local lads Elbow play four nights from the 18th – 21st, ably supported by the excellent C Duncan.
Dutch Uncles, Dancehouse Theatre, March 15
Dutch Uncles
Chorlton’s off-kilter pop foursome Dutch Uncles play the suitably quirky art deco confines of Oxford Road’s beautiful Dance House Theatre as mid-month rolls around. The band tour following the release of their 5th full length offering, Big Balloon released earlier this month on Memphis Industries.
Moon Duo, Band On The Wall, March 16
Moon Duo
Supernatural psych rock combo Moon Duo provide the pick of the acts gracing the Northern Quarter’s Band On the Wall during March. The twosome released the first half of a two part opus, Occult Architecture Vol.1 earlier this month on Sacred Bones. A spare and sinister brew of spiralling guitars and sharp keys, the new material will fit seamlessly in to their revered live shows.
Factory Floor, The White Hotel, March 17
Factory Floor
OK, so its actually in Salford and its not in anyway a Hotel, but just a short walk from the city centre, tucked away on an industrial estate this converted warehouse represents something of a hidden gem. Rather fittingly, post-industrial electro noise outfit Factory Floor are in town on March 17.
Horsebeach, Sacred Trinity Church, March 17
Horsebeach
Across Salford on the same evening, a rather different venue plays host to perhaps the stand out gig of the month. The beautiful and intimate Sacred Trinity Church, a tiny place of worship stood in stark contrast to its ever modernising surroundings, welcomes outstanding local dream pop quartet Horsebeach. Think the breezy, melodic guitar driven pop of Real Estate or Wild Nothing, shot through with just a hint of Mancunian misery, glorious.
Car Seat Headrest, Gorilla, March 24
Car Seat Headrest (Credit: Artist’s Facebook Page)
Touring following the release of last year’s outstanding Teens Of Denial (Matador), Seattle’s lo-fi rockers Car Seat Headrest provide one of a number of very good reasons to pop into Gorilla over the coming weeks. Expect introspective narratives of pain and regret played over driving, hook heavy guitar work. They’re also back later in the year following a couple of festival appearances and a few scattered dates across the UK at the Ritz on August 30
Just 24 hours before, you can catch bass wielding maestro Thundercat on the same stage, while the former Walkman crooner Hamilton Leithauser drops by on March 10.
Sinkane, Soup Kitchen, March 27
Sinkane (Photo Credit Jo Bongard)
Brooklyn-based Afro-pop multi-instrumentalist and all round cool cat Sinkane brings his unique blend of funk, soul, dance and jazz to Soup Kitchen as part of a limited run of UK gigs. Sinkane’s visit coincides with the release of his brilliant sixth studio offering, Life & Livin’ It, which landed on City Slang earlier this month.
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Hayley Bonar, Night and Day Cafe, March 29
Hayley Bonar (Credit: Artist Facebook Page)
Prolific Canadian-born songstress Hayley Bonar rounds the month off beautifully in the intimate surroundings of one of the city’s most enduring live music venues. Bonar’s latest offering, Impossible Dream (Memphis Industries) arrived mid last year to much acclaim, marrying catchy power pop with sharp, witty lyricism.
Upcoming:
Drinks
Post-March there’s a whole heap of gigs to look forward to.
Drink (aka Tim Presley and Cate LeBon) play the Deaf Institute on April 7 while Charlie Straw plays The Eagle Inn on April 11. The Parrots turn up at Soup Kitchen on 6 May and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard wig out at Albert Hall on June 14. And you can win tickets for all of these ace shows here!
Sun Ra Arkestra play the Band on the Wall on April 2 and Thor Harris (of SWANS) is, quite appropriately, at The Deaf Institute on 30 April. Ex-Can legend Damo Suzuki plays The White Hotel, Salford on 19 May.
Getintothis’ 2016 Album of the Year winners, Whitney, return to Manchester with Bill Ryder Jones in support, at The Ritz on June 4.
And a special treat lies ahead on September 2 as Getintothis favourites American Football play Albert Hall. You can be assured that this will not be the last time we’ll mention this gig!
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