What To Do This Week : 22nd-28th Feb

We had an email this week from Marvin Gaye asking ‘What’s Going On?’. Well, we’ll tell you, Marvin…Here’s our pick of what to do this next 7 days.

MONDAY 22ND FEBRUARY

COOL AS FOLK @ ODDER

A brand new night slap bang on Oxford Road, Cool As Folk recognises the amount of folk-drenched music suddenly entering public consumption, and the inspiration that the oft-overlooked genre is having on the industry’s output today. Remember when literally everyone was falling over themselves to talk about Fleet Foxes 18 months ago? Or the sales surge of folk-pop act Florence And The Machine’s debut that followed the Brit Awards last week? Well, the genre’s as big as ever, and what better way to celebrate than to unwind or let loose in the lounge-like comforts of Odder with “the snazziest selection of nu-folk, indie-folk and folktronica”? Facebook event here.

TUESDAY 23TH FEBRUARY

OPTIONAL WALLACE/BEAT THE RADAR/MOTHER BLACK CAPS @SOUND CONTROL

Our pick for Tuesday again, Sound Control Presents… would appear to be herding great line-ups to play on these gloomy evenings. Missing last week’s showcase due to the football, there’s no real excuse not to be at this one (I don’t have a ticket and it’s not on the telly). Big-sounding post-punks Optional Wallace headline – expect dark indie-rock a la Interpol and The Fall. Support comes from the band behind one of our favourite albums of last year, Beat The Radar. Pure indie-pop goodness with all the hooks and singalong choruses that your heart could desire. Lastly (but on first), Mother Black Caps are more local post-punk that we’re looking forward to catching for the first time. Throw in free entry to hot new student indie night, Control with XFM’s Gareth Brooks, and that’s a fiver well spent. 7.30pm onwards. Facebook event here.

WEDNESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY

BUSK @ THE GARRATT

Open mic nights tend to be pretty godawful. A pub half-empty, and those that are present are probably more interested in their next pint. Busk, however, breaks the norm. Running for over 5 years now, they book a couple of local acts (The Courteeners, Dutch Uncles, George Borowski and Liam Frost have all taken to the stage) and even those from further afield. For the rest of the time the mic is available for budding musicians, bands and of course, the occassional busker to get up and play their stuff to the unsuspecting and usually-packed Garratt. We’d advise getting in touch in advance to secure a slot though, such is the growing popularity of the night. DJs play a nice range of music inbetween, and entry is totally free! Always on the last Wednesday of the month, tonight’s monster line-up includes Mount Fabric, an acoustic set from Liverpool’s Major Major, Gib Lyn, Sarah Hingham, Gasoline Alley, Dave Cleal-Hill, Eleanor Lou, Optional Wallace and more to be confirmed. Phew! 9pm-1am, free entry. Facebook event here.

THURSDAY 25TH FEBRUARY

CRACK YR SKULL @ THE CORNER, FALLOWFIELD

Recently relocated, the future for alternative party night Crack Yr Skull seems to be at the cosy Corner venue in studentsville, Fallowfield – for the short-term at least. We had a rather boozey outing at CYS before Christmas and from what we can recall, it was pretty bloody good! No bands on this time, but guest DJs from twee-pop night Scrapbook, as well as the residents playing everything from Animal Collective and Minus The Bear to Rival Schools and Andrew WK. Party hard indeed! 9pm onwards, £3 entry, or £2 with a ticket stub for Japandroids (playing that night at Deaf Institute). Facebook event here.

FRIDAY 26TH FEBRUARY

PERFORMANCE @ DEAF INSTITUTE

Only announced at the turn of the month, this has come round rather fast. Yes, electro-popsters, Performance are back and ready to get us all grooving again. With a second album being wrapped up for release sometime soon, this is the first chance to see what the band have been up to since late 2008. Support comes from Futurecop, I Am Blackbird and Nowhere Again, and DJs from the fabulous Pogo, S’il Vous Plait and High Voltage will keep this one going well into the early hours. £5 advance tickets via Ticketline or in person at the venue. 8pm-3am. Facebook event here.

SATURDAY 27TH FEBRUARY

URBIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING @ URBIS

Ok, if you get the chance to go to this before Saturday, then do it. Failing that, heed this final roll call and get yourself down to “that pointy funny-looking building”. Urbis, the first Marmite structure of Manchester’s modern architecture will soon become the new home of the National Football Museum. Which means that the art exhibition centre will no longer serve its initial purpose. Closing its doors at the end of trade on Saturday, this is your last chance to check out Urbis Has Left the Building: Six Years of the Best Exhibitions in Pop Culture. Urbis has been understated in its short existence, but it has consistently been at the contemporary culture forefront in the city. A perfect send-off, and the ideal time to go if you’re amongst the many who’ve always intended on popping in, but never got round to it. Facebook event here.

SUNDAY 28th FEBRUARY

KONG @ RUBY LOUNGE

We here at SC bloody love Kong. We could enthuse about just how dirty and sinister their music is, but there’s a time and a place for that (probably the live review of this gig). Basically, if you’re not familiar with the deranged mask-sporters from Chorley, then imagine the noise Fugazi and Shellac would make in a small room together. On the grand Leeds-based Brew Records, last year’s ‘Snake Magnet’ LP never fails to put us in a mischieviously good mood. Support comes from labelmates Castrovalva, as well as local loudness from Trojan Horse and Apes Fight Back. 7.30pm onwards, £6 advance tickets. Facebook event here.