The Charlatans’ Mark Collins (left) with Tim Burgess (right) and Getintothis’ Lewis Ridley
Manchester’s Off The Record returned with industry experts offering advice over aspiring audiences in the Central Methodist Hall, Getintothis’ Lewis Ridley reports before bunking into a Charlatans gig.
Manchester’s Off The Record returned for the second year with a day of talks and new music.
However, what Getintothis didn’t bargain for during our day trip to Manchester – was the bonus of a Charlatans secret gig.
The event is curated by the likes of Kendal Calling, Bluedot, The Inspiral Carpets‘ Clint Boon and Liverpool Sound City who collated guest speakers and bands to play around the city’s creative centre.
CEO of Ditto Music, Matt Parsons, kicked off the day with a presentation on how to get a job in the music industry, detailing passions, skills and the practicalities of making yourself known in music. A PR specialist panel was moderated by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Elizabeth Alker with an aim to help bands make the most of their social media and email opportunities.
Ditto Music – The little known company responsible for Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Stormzy
Meanwhile, on social media, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess was kicking up an online storm with the launch of a band app and announcing a live secret gig in the Northern Quarter at 3pm, the networking foyer was subsequently full of rumours as to where the gig would be.
The band have launched an app with all 49 of their singles as working icons brought to life with studio interviews, unseen footage and playlists from Tim Burgess and co.
The next panel was on ‘The Age of Streaming’, detailing the rise of online streaming services and what that means in a practical sense for bands and artists. The popularity of Amy MacDonald in Switzerland and how Spotify have never actually made a profit were just a couple of interesting points raised by the panel and audience.
The tales behind Tim Book Two – Tim Burgess talks to Getintothis
And so 3pm came, and in an office space above Hilton Street in North Manchester came a set that included North Country Boy, The Only One I Know and Just When You’re Thinking Things Over.
Tim Burgess and Mark Collins from The Charlatans were celebrating the launch of their new ‘app’ with Modern English, a creative company in the city.
https://twitter.com/GetintothisHQ/status/929006680041512960
With Paul Arthurs, more commonly known as Oasis‘ Bonehead in attendance, Tim and Mark also played Spinning Out from 2017’s Different Days before retreating to what is usually an office room to reflect on the launch of another creative initiative.
https://twitter.com/GetintothisHQ/status/929018359336833025
Off The Record culminated in an exhibition of new music across Northern Quarter venues where the likes of Pink Kink, The Snuts and The Blinders, fresh from signing with Modern Sky UK, featured.
