When: 7.30pm on Friday 1 May 2026
Where: The Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham Street, Manchester M4 1LE

PLEASE NOTE: This show has now sold out!

We’re delighted to be working with MEMORIALS for the first time!

MEMORIALS draw inspiration from folk, dub, post punk, experimental tape music, 60s soul, garage rock and 70s spiritual jazz, twisting these influences into their own unmistakable sound.

The duo of Verity Susman and Matthew Simms (ex-Electrelane/WIRE) recently toured the USA opening for Stereolab and have been called ‘Stereolab’s evil twin’.

Their new limited edition 7” single Cut Glass Hammer is out on Fire Records on 3 December, with a new digital single, In The Weeds, released on the same day.

‘Kaleidoscopic art-pop and adventurous psych-rock with an immersive, experimental aura’ – KEXP

‘From baroque ’60s acid pop to Can-esque pounding krautrock to heavy psych… also very The Doors at times’ – Brooklyn Vegan

Special guest is Thorn Wych. Thorn Wych makes instruments from tree branches in her backyard workshop which she feeds through a chain of lofi effects machines, and she sings in tongues, creating atavistic hymns and hypnotic dances. For this tour she will be bringing her new Yew tree instrument series. The Yew tree symbolises renewal, rebirth and everlasting life; and with these she will usher in the new year and sing praise to Asherah the Eternal Mother of All.

Thorn Wych’s debut album Aesthesis was released on the label Hoodfaire in November 2024.

‘Haunted, sinister drones, glitched electronics and vocal incantations that reestablish the coordinates for England’s Hidden Reverse… sounds and song that pull post-industrial and traditional music into a ghostly, mesmerising fog that’s wholly unique’ – World of Echo

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When: 7.30pm on Friday 1 May 2026
Where: Gullivers, 109 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LW

PLEASE NOTE: This show has now sold out!

We’re excited to welcome Cat Clyde back – this time, to Gullivers!

Cat Clyde is a singer/songwriter based out of rural Ontario, Canada. A combination of driven, soulful blues and sweet, folk- tinged, dulcet tones that carry a particular sense of familiarity provide the structure on which she creates her unique sound.

With influences ranging from Patsy Cline and Lead Belly to Karen Dalton and Bobbie Gentry, this patchwork of musical significance, when stitched to her modern approach, fits like a well-tailored, corduroy-road cloth.

Cat is currently finishing up her next album to be released on Concord Records, with one song, Wild One, being released so far.

Local support comes from Harriet Dagnall. Combining elements of dream-pop and indie rock with soaring ethereal vocals, Harriet reluctantly categorises herself under the catch-all ‘alt-pop.’ Drawing influence from the likes of Fleetwood Mac, The War on Drugs, The Japanese House and Alvvays, Harriet’s narrative song writing style alongside intimate and personal lyricism bring to life her own unique stories, whilst connecting to universal experiences of love, friendship and, frequently, rage.

Book tickets now.

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When: 2pm until late on Sunday 3 May 2026
Where: St Philip’s Church, Encombe Place, Salford, M3 6FJ

Hey! Manchester teams up with Strange Days to curate a stage at this year’s Sounds From The Other City!

Celebrating the best emerging artists and genres from across the UK, SFTOC returns with an eclectic lineup curated by a diverse group of independent local promoters, selectors and tastemakers. The festival will once again take place in unconventional venues across Salford, with 17 stages around Chapel Street and The Crescent, from pubs and churches to concert halls and in-between spaces.

This year – our 16th year in a row – we return to a very special venue for us: St Philip’s Church! The building is one of Greater Manchester’s finest Georgian buildings, dating back to 1825, and its Greek style is unique in Salford.

Our stage’s line-up – booked in collaboration with fellow independent promoters Strange Days – features Blue Bendy, Hater, ashnymph, Pyncher and SLAG. Listen to them all via our stage’s playlist:

To find out more about Sounds From The Other City – and to buy tickets (giving access to all stages) – visit Soundsfromtheothercity.com.

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When: 7.30pm on Wednesday 6 May 2026
Where: Gullivers, 109 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LW

PLEASE NOTE: This show has now sold out!

We’re excited to welcome Chris Brain back to Gullivers!

Chris Brain is a Yorkshire-based folk singer-songwriter whose work sits firmly in the British pastoral tradition, shaped by close attention to place, memory and emotional nuance. His fourth album, Red Sun Rising (2026), is a quietly powerful collection of songs centred on yearning, restlessness and the desire for change.

Rooted in acoustic textures and intimate storytelling, Red Sun Rising feels like a record made in motion: landscapes shifting, seasons turning, inner lives gently unsettled. Brain’s songwriting balances melody and restraint.

A familiar voice on BBC 6 Music and the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show, Chris has shared the stage with iconic acts like Robert Plant, Jacqui McShee and Martin Simpson. Golden Days, the first single from his debut album Steady Away, is prominently featured in the A24 film We Live In Time, starring Oscar-nominated actors Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.

In Spring 2025, Chris embarked on a near sell-out UK/Ireland solo tour including a packed hometown show at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club. He rounded off the year with a sold-out seven-date tour of Japan and a headline performance at the iconic Union Chapel, accompanied by Lockeland Strings.

In 2026, Chris performs a headline show at The Tron Theatre, Glasgow as part of Celtic Connections and a 17-date UK and Ireland tour is planned to mark the release of Red Sun Rising.

‘Devotees of Bryter Layter and Bert Jansch’s Fresh As A Sweet Sunday Morning will find cause for boundless optimism here, with Chris Brain’s astute fingerpicking and sepia-toned vocals’ – MOJO

‘There are shades of the master Ralph McTell here and I can think of no greater compliment than that, I love it’ – Mark Radcliffe, BBC 2 Folk Show

‘Yorkshire singer songwriter Brain consistently impresses with his third album’ – Daily Express

‘Contemporary folk song at its finest’ – Songlines Magazine

Support comes from Marnie Glum.

Book tickets now.

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When: 7.30pm on Friday 8 May 2026
Where: The Eagle Inn, 19 Collier Street, Salford, M3 7DW

PLEASE NOTE: This show has already sold out! But watch this space for a big follow-up show, to be announced soon.

We’re delighted to be working with Gustaffson again!

Gustaffson host an intimate live show at The Eagle Inn, Salford. This will be the bands first live performance of 2026, playing music from their critically acclaimed debut album Black & White Movie –plus a chance for their audience to hear brand new material.

The Eagle is favourite venue of the northern five-piece, which has been a staple in their musical journey so far – a back drop for music videos and post studio drinks.

‘Best Five Artists of October 2025’ – The Manc & Audio North

‘Blurring the boundaries between music and film’ – ITV Granada

‘Gigs of the year 2025’ – RGM Magazine

They will be supported by Manchester folk acoustic artist Mark Kelly.

Book tickets now.

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When: 7.30pm on Friday 8 May 2025
Where: Hallé at St Michael’s, 36-38 George Leigh Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5DG

PLEASE NOTE: Due to demand, this show has been upgraded to Hallé at St Michael’s. All details remain the same, except doors are now 7.30pm. Original tickets remain valid and more tickets have been released.

We’re delighted to welcome Belle Chen back to Manchester!

Notes fall like raindrops, quickening pace as the clouds gather. The piano melody splish-sploshes into the electronic soundscape; the trees become denser, the journey more profound. Belle Chen‘s album Ravel In The Forest, released on the Platoon label, leads the listener through ancient woodland, quiet clearings and tropical canopies. We’re accompanied by birds, a chameleon, a dragonfly – the wonder of the natural world is imbued into this imaginary space.

Receiving a standing ovation at her EFG London Jazz Festival debut in 2024, Belle is praised as an artist who is ‘original and provocative… feels like the sense of discovery’ by Brian Eno. The Australian Music Prize-nominated artist’s latest album charted at No 7 on UK Official Chart (Specialist Classical) and No 15 on Australia’s ARIA Chart (Classical).

In her live shows, Belle takes a quirky, yet tender approach to musical storytelling. With the unmistakable influences of Maurice Ravel, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Joe Hisaishi’s melodic sweetness shining through, Belle blends sonic synth explorations, classical virtuosity, and free flowing improvisations that feel equally at home on jazz or experimental stages.

This is a solo performance that is not to be missed, with Belle performing tunes from her Ravel In The Forest album and new material.

This concert takes place in Hallé at St Michael’s – a former Roman Catholic church, which was founded in 1859 and became the heart of the Little Italy Community in Ancoats.

This is a 14+ show. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Book tickets now.

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When: 7.30pm on Saturday 9 May 2026
Where: The Strines Nightingale, 105 Strines Rd, Strines, Marple, Stockport SK6 7GE

We’re excited to welcoming Kaïa Kater to the Strines Nightingale for an intimate show – with special guest Gabriel Minnikin!

Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian Kaïa Kater‘s jazz-fuelled voice and deft songcraft have garnered acclaim from NPR’s Tiny Desk, the Guardian, Rolling Stone and No Depression. Through her artful banjo playing and lush songwriting, Kater draws on influences rooted in Quebec, the Caribbean, and Appalachia, all of which reflect the diversity of her background; her ties to the Canadian folk music scene; her college years spent soaking up Appalachian music in West Virginia, her father’s experience growing up in Grenada, and her recent work in film composition.

Kater’s new JUNO-winning album, Strange Medicine, celebrates the power of women and oppressed people throughout history, while also sharing deep self-reflection, reinvention, and meditations on her own life. Taking the helm as co-producer, alongside Joe Grass (Elisapie, Barr Brothers), the album finds Kater expanding her creative scope with cinematic arrangements, and working with guest artists such as Taj Mahal, Allison Russell and Aoife O’Donovan. Its release has provided her the foundation for touring across North America, the UK, and Europe with notable performances at Reeperbahn, Junofest, Celtic Connections, Newport Folk Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, the legendary Cayamo Cruise, and many more.

Kater released her first EP Old Soul (2013) when she was just out of high school. Since then, she’s gone on to release several albums, Sorrow Bound (2015), Nine Pin (2016), Grenades (2018) and Strange Medicine (May 2024). For the JUNO-nominated and Polaris Music Prize long-listed Grenades, Kater leaned into a wide array of sounds and styles in order to convey a broad range of emotions and topics, most notably her Caribbean ancestry and her father’s experience as a refugee in Canada.

In 2020, Kater took part in the Slaight Music Residency at the Canadian Film Center, leading her to write original music for The Porter (BET+ 2022), for which she garnered a Canadian Screen Award. She also wrote and performed music for the new film, My Dead Friend Zoe (March 2024).

‘You want some authenticity in your folk music or bluegrass – I give you Kaïa Kater’ – No Depression

Special guest is Gabriel Minnikin. Critically acclaimed Nova Scotia artist Gabriel Minnikin is a mainstay in the international music scene. At a young age the multi-instrumentalist became a sought-after session musician and songwriter internationally. He has toured Canada, America, UK, and the EU extensively. In 2024 Minnikin released his sixth studio album, Anne Lorraine, which has been turning heads as he continues to intrigue listeners with his unique brand of Canadiana.

This show takes place at the Strines Nightingale – a lovely country pub, formerly called the Sportsman, which re-opened in autumn 2022. Strines is on the Piccadilly-Sheffield train line, and on the 358 bus route from Stockport to Hayfield. This show will run until 10.30pm at the latest.

Book tickets now.

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When: 6.30pm on Sunday 10 May 2026
Where: New Century, Mayes Street, Manchester M60 4ES

We’re excited to host the Manchester leg of the Cowboy Junkies – Celebrating 40 Years and Beyond tour!

An evening with Cowboy Junkies promises a career-spanning show, including songs from their recent album, Such Ferocious Beauty, which was released in 2023, to universal critical acclaim.

In 1988, Cowboy Junkies proved that there was an audience waiting for something quiet, beautiful and reflective. The Trinity Session was like a whisper that cut through the noise — and it was compelling. Since its release, they have enjoyed an enduring career in which they have stayed their course, maintaining a low-impact excavation of melody and evocative language delivered sotto voce in singer Margo Timmins’ feathery alto.

Formed in Toronto in 1985, Margo was joined by siblings Michael Timmins on guitar, Peter Timmins on drums, and Michael’s lifelong friend Alan Anton on bass to begin a journey that has evolved over 29 albums. There’s an appreciation of each other that keeps them constantly working. ‘It’s that intimacy and understanding of what each one of us brings to the table,’ says Michael.

‘Taking their influences from classic blues and folk but also the punk of their youth, the band roamed across a wide musical terrain, overlaying their songs with a hushed intricacy. This was beautiful’ – The Telegraph

‘As this show demonstrated beyond any doubt, whether their own or their version of songs by others, Cowboy Junkies are an incredibly diverse band. Vocally, musically, together and individually theirs was a performance of total absorption’ – Americana UK

‘Cowboy Junkies remain at the top of their craft as they continue to define new territories for their unique sound to explore’ – Lonesome Highway

This show – a co-promotion with Edge Street Events – will be fully seated. This show is for ages 14+.

Book tickets now. 

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When: 7.30pm on Thursday 21 May 2026
Where: Hallé St Peter’s, 40 Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BF

We’re excited to be working with Jerron Paxton again!

Growing up in Los Angeles, Jerron Paxton would sit with an ear by the radio, eagerly absorbing the nuances and history of Black American traditional music that connect him to his ancestral roots in the South.

A songwriter, inheritor of tradition, and a walking, talking jukebox, Paxton approaches his craft with equal part wit and reverence, with a knack for leg-pulling and cracking wise. Things Done Changed (Smithsonian Folkways) is an album of original songs that sound beamed in from nearly a century ago, when jazz and blues were performed as a means of both personal and cultural survival.

Lick by lick, Paxton builds a bridge between generations gone and generations to come, singing the heartaches and joys of the past and present.

This is a 14+ show. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

This is an unreserved seating show.

Book tickets now.

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When: 7pm on Friday 22 May 2026
Where: Low Four Studio, Deansgate Mews, Great Northern, Manchester M3 4EN

We’re excited to present a free entry show at Low Four featuring Tulpa and more!

Tulpa are an indie rock band from Leeds. Their sound contrasts detuned and lo-fi guitar textures with hyper-melodic vocals, creating songs with emotional warmth and sonic intrigue. The group consists of Josie Kirk, Daniel Hyndman, Myles Kirk and Mike Ainsley. They have recently supported Throwing Muses, Pale Blue Eyes and The Bug Club and have recorded a live session for Marc Riley and Gideon Coe on BBC 6 Music.

In the creative hotbeds of the UK’s DIY festivals and indie venues Tulpa have already gathered a loyal following. Live, their songs lean into texture and tone, creating a dreamy atmosphere and distortion that feels like a big hug. The songs meander from catchy hooks into tangents of musical experimentation and guitar wizardry. The lyrics are sometimes abstract, sometimes mysterious, but always direct and powerful expressions of universal human emotion.

Tulpa’s debut album Monster of the Week was be released by Skep Wax Records in November. It was recorded by Jamie Lockhart (The Cribs, Mush, Drahla). The record is the first ever album to be produced at Jamie’s new studio at Lamigo Bay, a picturesque and remote region of the Highlands.

FFO: Breeders, Pavement, Yo La Tengo etc.

Joining Tulpa is new band Scania, who blend digital with analogue; samples with live instruments; New Wave with electronica and Transpenine travel.

And opening the show are DDHP – four people from Manchester who own many cats and who all believe Matt was the most important member of Weezer. FFO: The Replacements, Pixies and The Rentals.

This free entry show is part of Mews Fest 2026 – no need to book in advance, just turn up on the night!

This show takes place at Low Four – a recording studio situated on Deansgate Mews in the Great Northern warehouse. This intimate venue features a fully stocked Cloudwater bar.

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