When: 7.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011
Where: The Deaf Institute, 135 Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HE

We’re delighted to be bringing Jesca Hoop, one of our city’s most talented artists, back to our favourite venue, the Deaf Institute!

Hoop was born in Southern California to strict Mormon parents. She grew up singing traditional folk tunes in four-part harmony, but soon broke away from this background, becoming a homesteader in the wilderness areas of Northern California and Wyoming, and worked in the remote mountains of Arizona with a rehabilitation programme for children.

As a nanny for Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan’s three children, Hoop gained both musical experience and notoriety. Waits said of Hoop, ‘Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night’. Her contact with Waits led to her initial exposure, through Nic Harcourt at the Southern California radio station KCRW in 2003. Seed of Wonder became a fixture in KCRW’s top five requests for eight weeks straight – a station record.

In 2007, the Los Angeles Times announced Hoop as one of California’s most notable artists. Later the same year, she toured with Polyphonic Spree. In 2008, meanwhile, she supported Mark Knopfler on tour, and in 2009 she shared a bill with Andrew Bird and Elbow – with Guy Garvey also dueting with Hoop on her latest album Hunting My Dress. Her last Hey! Manchester show at Band on the Wall featured Guy joining her for the duet, and she has since supported the Eels at New York’s 3,000-capacity Terminal 5.

‘Hunting My Dress confirms her as one of alternative folk-pop’s most arresting recent arrivals, singing like an outcast angel and writing like a restless explorer’ – The Sunday Times

‘A sensual, eccentric and often frankly odd-sounding record, Hunting My Dress exudes oodles of charisma and originality, thanks mostly to Hoop’s delightfully freaky take on traditional folk convention’ – BBC Music

‘There’s a thin line between genuine eccentricity and precious affectation of weirdness, but Jesca Hoop walks it well’ – The Guardian

‘No doubt lazy journalists will lump her in with that one who plays the harp, but if you ask me they’re worlds apart, and equally brilliant. If you get the chance to see her live, go’ – Now Then

We’re delighted to confirm that another of our favourite Manchester artists will also be performing. Hailed by Iron & Wine’s Samuel Beam as ‘the master of the loop pedal’, multi-instrumentalist Marc Rigelsford – aka Magic Arm – will make a rare solo appearance.

‘Highlight of Glastonbury’ – Steve Lamacq

‘The most innovative and sparkling new musician in Manchester’ – Manchester Evening News

Tickets are available from the bar, Common (both no booking fee), Piccadilly Records,  Seetickets.com, WeGotTickets.com and on 0871 220 0260.

Attend on: Facebook | Last.fm