Scene Report: Manchester November 2006
By: Gareth Roberts
Slightly later in the year than usual, the cream of the music industry descended on Manchester for the annual In The City convention, and as such every bar and restaurant in the area becomes full of triple A pass wearing A & R types. Reason enough, I'm sure you'll agree, to vacate the city on that particular weekend, however, I stuck around and caught a few bands.
The Saturday night began with a trip to the Roadhouse, where young upstarts Ephesus, Sandbox and Azure vied for that elusive deal, before later we paid a flying visit to the Night n' Day to catch part of the Noisettes set. We weren't disappointed, as Shingai and co more than confirmed their growing reputation.
As you have probably fathomed, ITC isn't all about new bands, it's also a chance to catch some of your favourite acts. On the Sunday I did just that, and headed to brand spanking new Manchester venue / casino / bar / restaurant 'Manchester 235'. The venue itself is as peculiar as it sounds, having signed in and made my way up a couple of floors, meandering between the roulette wheels, I eventually found the venue, or the room where the gig was as it were. I'd come for the Xfm 'competition winners only' showcase event. The presence of John Kennedy didn't do the evening's credos any harm, and all in all it was a good night, I enjoyed Battle and Larrikin Love, and endured Little Man Tate.
The highlight of the weekend came on the Monday at the Night n Day's acoustic afternoon, Ryna, Kathryn Edwards and Lucy & the Caterpillar were nothing short of mesmerising, however even they looked a tad amateurish when Karima Francis (pictured) took to the stage. The venue fell silent as a voice strong enough to knock the Magners out of my hand swept through the venue. Without a doubt she is a star in the ascendancy.
A few weeks later, and once again devoid of all the industry big-wigs, the city played host to the Transgressive roadshow. Taking place at the warehouse project in two gigantic, and otherwise inevitably soulless rooms, the bands on show still managed to whip the hoards (and I mean hoards, seriously, there were sh*t loads of people there) into a frenzy. Larrikin Love, The Young Knives and The Subways marked a successful year with what, barring festivals, were surely there biggest shows to date.
Finally, last night I went to watch Good Shoes, and yes, they were good. In fact they were ace. As were Xerox Teens, in a don't give a sh*t Fall-like kind of way. The coming month sees The Blood Arm, Brakes and the travelling freak show that is The Horrors roll into town. Whilst on the club front, Up the Racket host their very own masquerade ball. Wrap up warm.