Hey! Manchester promotes gigs by folk, Americana and experimental bands from around the world in Manchester, England. Read more here, see below for our latest shows, check out our previous shows, contact us, or join our mailing list, above.

Upcoming shows: Simon Joyner... Jim Moray... Josh Rouse... John Craigie... Julian Taylor... Emily Barker... Gratis: Sophie Jamieson... Anna B Savage... C Duncan... Dustin O’Halloran... Chuck Prophet... The Ocelots... Sean Rowe... Jim Ghedi... Fionn Regan... The Weather Station... Beans on Toast... Joshua Burnside... The Loft... Martin Kohlstedt... Nadia Reid... Danny & the Champions of the World... The Delines... Helena Deland... Chris Brain... Heather Nova... Mark Eitzel... Jeffrey Martin... Federico Albanese... Amelia Coburn... Hayden Thorpe & Propellor Ensemble... Jerron Paxton... Throwing Muses... Lael Neale...

When: 7.30pm on Wednesday 20 March 2024
Where: The Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham Street, Manchester M4 1LE

We’re delighted to welcome Chris Brain to The Castle Hotel!

Chris Brain emerged out of Leeds’ vibrant folk scene in 2022 with his debut, critically acclaimed and widely distributed album, Bound to Rise, reaching #22 in the UK Folk Charts.

His much-anticipated second album (out now), Steady Away, moves inward and takes on a more self-reflective quality, whilst retaining glimmers of soaring figures and pastoral imagery.

Brain’s distinctive warm vocal and finger-picked guitar style are sustained alongside expansive strings and delicate piano arrangements, taking shape through evolving and introspective impressions on tenderness, loss, pain and awe in nature.

Steady Away further embeds Chris Brain within the contemporary folk scene, whilst gesturing towards the folk tradition. His commitment to folk is only deepened by the two folk clubs and folk festival in Leeds that Chris founded and runs, attracting a wide range of audiences and musicians alike.

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

’New sounds from Chris Brain, I’m certainly enjoying it’ – Cerys Matthews, BBC 6 Music

Local support comes from Séamus Óg. Based in Manchester, Séamus Óg is an Irish singer songwriter hailing from Carrickfergus. His quartet, formed from port towns in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, each draw from their own celtic origins and stories. Together creating a beautiful blend of instruments intertwined in rich harmonies, and stories full of heart, that will have you swept into a dream state and lingering on adventures taken, and mapping those to come.

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All shows are 18+ unless otherwise stated.