KONG // SOUND CONTROL // AIRSHIP // RUN TOTO RUN // THE FREEZING FOG // FAC251 // WITH THAT KNIFE // FOM 2010 // ARFICEDEN
With Delphic, Everything Everything and Hurts all being poised by the hype machine for big things this year, this week’s news harbours details of some of the bands waiting in the wings…
Manchester’s loudest noiseniks, Kong, have announced their next set of UK dates. Playing tomorrow with Future Of The Left at Ruby Lounge, they return to headline the venue on February 28th. Fast-forward to a gig at Sound Control on April 2nd, and then the masked ones are off on a European tour with Sheffield experimentalists, 65daysofstatic.
Airship are supporting Biffy Clyro at an XFM gig in London tonight. Expect more southern buzz about the chaps shortly after…
One of our favourite local bands are readying their next steps in 2010. Forward-thinking eclectics With That Knife are set to play a new night affiliated with Manchester’s BabyBoom Records and last Autumn’s Free For Arts festival at The Bayhorse in the Northern Quarter (Feb 18th). After that, they upport Canada’s DD/MM/YYYY at Ruby Lounge (Mar 1st) and somewhere along the way release their debut single of which we had a sneak pre-mastered listen this weekend. Tasty!
Groove-rockers The Freezing Fog haven’t let one of their member’s emmigration affect them too much. Their new EP came out last week. Entitled ‘Challenger’, it’s available on limited hand-screened CD format from here: www.thefreezingfog.com
North-west post-rockers Arifceden are going on a 3 week tour of the UK. The dangerously good trio have their first t-shirts to sell, and will be in Manchester on 27th (Retro Bar), 28th (Big Hands) and 31st (Satan’s Hollow) January. Fans of riffs have no excuse not to get to one of these three.
2009 was all about the emergence and high consistency of new venues The Ruby Lounge and The Deaf Institute. Now, in this new year we’ve got 2 more sizable live music grounds on the horizon.
- Sound Control, formerly the shop of the same name, had its invitation-only opening night before Christmas, and now the final stages are being completed ahead of their full launch at the end of the month. With a 450 capacity space for gigs above a bar and a 350-capacity basement club, Ben Taylor & co. are already busy booking bands from far and wide. For upcoming listings, head here:
- The other big talking point is the imminent opening of Fac251, the new project from New Order bassist Peter Hook. Apparently set to open on February 5th (although after catching a glimpse through their open side-doors, that may be looking a bit ambitious), the old Factory Records building on Princess Street is being converted into a 3-floor club and live music venue. With the nostalgia of Madchester and the Factory days inevitable, there’s still the promise to be contemporary and fresh. You can follow the renovation progress on YouTube :
Friends Of Manchester Festival 2010 is edging ever closer, and this is your last week to get early bird tickets. For your tenner you’ll get 14 hours of live music as over 70 bands take to the 4 stages. Talk about value. After this week they go up to £12.50, and will be £15 on the door.
Another of our tips for this year, Run Toto Run, will be playing the festival. And they’ve just publicised their first video to build momemtum ahead of their debut album out later this year. Watch and fall in love.
Run Toto Run – ‘Catch My Breath’
