When: 7.30pm on Saturday 20 January 2024
Where: Low Four Studio, Deansgate Mews, Great Northern, Manchester M3 4EN

Gratis – our series of free entry shows – returns, with Chew Magna, celebrating the release of their debut album!

Manchester’s most uplifting cacophonous craftsmen Chew Magna are ready to unleash their blistering and diverse self titled debut. More than just an onslaught of decibel-destroying fuzz, the four-piece took inspiration from their vast record collections laying down an ambitious record that veers and lurches into Indie Rock, Krautrock, Post-Hardcore, Punk, Noise Rock and Shoegaze.

‘We wanted to create a really varied record that gives a nod to loads of our favourite bands from the 70s onwards and isn’t necessarily beholden to traditional, vocal lead song structures,’ explains singer Laurie.

After one listen through it’s obvious the band have succeed in their quest for variation. Opener and lead single Listless is full throttle krautrock punk. Stubbon Knots sees the quartet settle into a Fugazi-inspired groove. 4232 is a joyful song about being set free as it nods to Sonic Youth. Watching Paint Dry laments the Holocene extinction to a motorik beat. Pretty Loose explores the hopelessness of revenge, provoked by the film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Spat Out tips its hat to Broken Social Scene, Question Everything does the same to the Pumpkins. Elsewhere songs like Punk Dick see the band jamming three minutes of instrumental psych rock followed by one minute of ferocious hardcore punk – in contrast to Secrets, a poppy indie rock anthem buried under unyielding guitar squall.

Assembled after stepping back from their former musical outfits, guitarist Simon (Young British Artists), guitarist and vocalist Laurie (Songs For Walter), drummer Ben (Young British Artists) and bassist Joel (Jane Weaver, Francis Lung) have come together at no better time. Absorbing influences from the world around them as they navigate new sonic terrains (even Chew Magna’s own village-inspired band name aligns with the colourful vista depicted in the album artwork by talented landscape artist Josh Sowa), theirs is a melodic commotion with the thunder to lighten up even the greyest of skies.

Having previously played alongside acts such as Cloud Nothings, Empath and Mothers, Chew Magna are currently booking a UK tour to coincide with the release of their debut record. Stay tuned for more Magna news.

‘Restless and incendiary alt-rock with hints of ’90s slacker rock influences and backed up by motoring Krautrock… perfect for alternative and rock playlists, plus angsty contextual ones too, this blast of rock goodness is sure to please any ’90s rock fan, old or new!’ – Record Of The Day

Support comes from Severe Girls. Severe Girls is the solo moniker of North West musician Andrew Richardson: drummer-come-frontman making melodic alternative indie rock with his band of brothers.

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

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

This is a free entry show! All places are already reserved – but note that reservations are only valid until 8.30pm. Any space capacity left then will be used on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Attend on: Facebook