February was busy, wasn't it? Musically, the month started with Independent Venue Week, then we got the exciting announcement that the BBC Radio 6Music Festival is coming home for good in March.
That festival tops off an already jam-packed schedule, which the MEN team have picked through and selected their favourite shows from. We've got returning Mercury Prize winners, a reinvented Indie sleaze hero, and loads of talent on the come-up.
It's a testament to how strong Manchester's scene is, in spite of the cost-of-living crisis. That, in itself, is an excuse to get down to a show if you can.
READ MORE: Take a look inside Manchester Museum following £15 million transformation
Without venues, remember, there's no music. And without music, what's the point? Every single moment in your life could be improved upon with the right song behind it - from the lowest lows to the highest highs.
So step in, embrace the scene, and have fun. We need you, just as much as you need us.
Young Fathers — Albert Hall — March 7
Young Fathers are known for their intoxicating sound which is a blend of soul, pop, hip hop, and rock. The Scottish trio have returned with their fourth album Heavy Heavy, released in February this year which has received rave reviews.
Having won The Mercury Prize in 2014 for their debut album Dead, Young Fathers’ sound has gradually evolved over the past decade yet maintains the same DNA. Their latest album follows the format of their previous release with compact three-minute songs.
Don’t be fooled by this fact, though, as each song packs an energetic punch. There’s a sense of almost religious-like euphoria to their music, which hits particularly hard in songs such as ‘Ululation’.
Their Albert Hall show is already sold out, but try and get hold of a ticket if you can. With fast pacing, catchy hooks and rich layers of sound, you won’t be able to resist being swept up.
Orlando Weeks — Gorilla — March 11
Ex-Maccabees frontman Orlando Weeks has completed a novel story arc: Indie sleaze hero to children’s author and introspective dad producing one of the most interesting albums of 2022.
That effort was Hop Up, which followed 2020’s A Quickening. His sophomore record is full of jazz influences, carefully-crafted songwriting, and a compelling narrative.
It means that Weeks is all the more three-dimensional as he approaches his 40th birthday. He’ll be no stranger to a 500-person venue like Gorilla, but this time it won’t be full of sweaty teenagers.
Shame — New Century — March 11
The British rock outfit Shame has been very busy indeed. Releasing a third album Food for Worms on February 24, this Manchester date comes hot on the heels of an evolution from all talk post-punk to a more melodic phase.
Shame burst onto the scene five years ago with debut album Songs of Praise, laced with youthful frustration and lending itself to comparisons with other post-punk peers like Squid, Dry Cleaning, and Fontaines D.C. But where Squid's Ollie Judge hones in on the grubby dirt of life, making the listener itch with discomfort and agitation, Shame frontman Charlie Steen tends to look towards the skies.
Steen's latest efforts put friendship, togetherness and a much-needed sense of hope front and centre, no matter what your days have in store. shame is back in Manchester, but this time, they're a little bit more grown up.
Alexandra Kay - Night & Day - March 14
Alexandra Kay has been an independent artist for more than a decade, honing her craft in Waterloo, Illinois. The singer has topped the country music charts with sassy tunes and heartfelt, gentle melodies alike.
'Best Worst Ex,' a collaboration with country singer Julie Cole, features cutting lyrics and has clearly struck a chord with fans of the genre. The song has racked up more than 10 million streams on Spotify, and has gone viral on TikTok - which Alexandra herself has racked up more than three million followers on.
Alexandra, known affectionately as AK, has been on quite the journey to become the singer she is today, from appearing on American Idol as a teen to signing with an R&B and hiphop record label. She later decided to go indie and returned to her roots, crafting country music.
She soon moved to LA and was featured in the Netflix reality show Westside, which followed different musicians as they worked to establish themselves in the competitive world of music. Now, AK has cemented herself as an icon of her genre with a global fanbase.
Fuzz — Gorilla — March 16
The clue is in the name with Fuzz. Every song features their signature fuzzy guitar sound.
The trio from California are in some ways a rock supergroup with each of their members having worked on other musical projects, most notably multi-instrumentalist Ty Segall. Almost a decade after releasing their eponymous first LP, the band will be back in Manchester this March for the first time since releasing their third studio album III.
The three-piece were supposed to play at Gorilla two years ago. After many Covid-related delays and a temporary venue change, the heavy metal adjacent somewhat psychedelic collective will finally be performing on the city centre stage this month - fingers crossed.
PleasureInc — Gullivers — March 17
PleasureInc are something of an unknown quantity, with the duo only releasing three bona fide singles thus far. What we do know is that the two-some are made up of brothers Jesse and Louis Baker.
The pair, from Norwich, have teased fans with a variety of sounds. There’s influences from Beastie Boys, and Blur, to name a couple.
So you don’t know what you’ll get in Gullivers on St Patrick’s Day, but it’s worth a punt. Enjoy.
Nia Archives — New Century — March 18
Bradford-born rising star Nia Archives returns this month to Manchester where she moved to at the age of 16. Now based in London, the lo-fi jungle music maker who grew up in Leeds is certifiably one to watch in 2023.
Heavily influenced by soundsystem culture, this junglist's music is rooted in her Jamaican heritage. A series of singles released last year peaked with 'Baianá', a track which beautifully samples a traditional Brazilian choir backed by her contemporary drum and bass beats.
Following a string of summer festivals, raves and carnivals, the proud young British black woman is now taking her UP YA ARCHIVES tour around the UK. The sold-out Manchester leg - a Warehouse Project show at New Century Hall - promises to be a special one.
Wunderhorse — Deaf Institute — March 19
The new project of former Dead Pretties frontman, Wunderhorse is a welcome change of pace for Jacob Slater from a hedonistic punk outfit, gone in the blink of an eye, to an Americana-laced alt-rock. The debut album Cub has been on heavy rotation since its release at the end of 2022, it went on to land Wunderhorse some serious critical acclaim, spots opening for sold-out Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender last year and an upcoming slot on Pixies' tour this spring.
Cub showcased a skillfully balanced collection of intricate indie riffs and sensitive lyrics in the likes of 'Teal' and 'Butterflies', marrying a chaotic past and addiction struggles with rose-tinted but, crucially, self-aware nostalgia. The album rounds out with the whispering 'Epilogue', which falls out halfway through to reveal a bombastic finisher that will undoubtedly be a crowd-pleaser.
In March, Slater is heading out on tour with a series of Wunderhorse headliners. Get in early to get a load of some genuinely exciting and superbly-executed musical promise.
Biig Piig — Gorilla — March 20
Biig Piig was the soundtrack to a lot of people’s lockdown summer, in 2020, with the Irish singer’s tune ‘Feels Right’ racking up the streams. Since then, Jessica Smyth has released an album, called Bubblegum.
Her work is full of pop hooks, catchy lyrics, and lyrics focusing on life in your early-to-mid-20s. It’s uncomplicated, but joyous.
Gorilla therefore presents the perfect opportunity for Biig Piig to get some serious momentum behind her. A good tour here can seriously put her on the same path as the likes of Self Esteem.
Brand New Legs — Night & Day — March 21
It's safe to say Brand New Legs are excited to be headlining Night & Day. Described on the Northern Quarter venue's website as "a little four piece band from Manchester", the group guaranteed their followers on Instagram that the gig "is gonna be groovy baby".
The foursome which formed a few years ago are no strangers to the Mancunian music scene, having already played Deaf Institute at the beginning of 2023. This performance in March follows the release of their third single 'Porcelain'.
Listening to their limited recorded repertoire, you get a feel for how fun this punky rock band will be live. They have all the makings of a Manchester band that will find a loyal following.
Iceage — YES (The Pink Room) — March 29
Coming from Copenhagen, Danish post-punk outfit Iceage first formed in 2008. Since then, they've released five studio albums.
Their latest release Shake the Feeling is a compilation of outtakes and rarities from the band's back catalogue featuring 2020 track 'Lockdown Blues'. Somehow, even this lyrically on-the-nose song serves as an example of the quartet's captivating musical qualities.
You could easily imagine seeing this ever evolving-band on a bigger stage — but their style seems to suit smaller settings best. Returning to Europe from a US tour in the autumn, The Pink Room at YES will host one of the band's eight shows in England.
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