A few bits and pieces this week – namely…

Mr Elvis Costello performing with the Brodsky Quartet at the Bridgewater Hall on Monday night. They’ll be playing their collaboration, the Juliet Letters, plus Costello’s newly written songs for voice and quartet, and some rearranged songs from his back catalogue. More info and tickets.

Or for something completely different on Monday night, try Music for One, a Canadian who will ‘warm the ears of fans of John Fahey, Robbie Basho and John Renbourn’, plus Serfs, Darren Adcocks and The Royal House of Choke. This one’s at Kro Bar, opposite the Union, and costs £3. Contact Of The Making Ilk for more information.

Then there’s nothing! Until Saturday at least, when the impressive Deaf to Van Gogh’s Ear are launching their EP, We Call Them Accidents Because We Don’t Want Them To Happen. This one’s also at Kro Bar and is free. The Empty Set are among the support acts.

At least that’s what someone is claiming on the ILoveManchesterMusic forum. Here’s one response (by Selina from Lamb & Wolf) to the suggestion:

I don’t know anything about this, but aren’t weekend gigs at roadhouse early doors anyway? So if the 1990s are playing the blur gig could be happening afterwards? (unless they have a clubnight on)

But… tickets for a show like that probably wouldn’t be available to just anyone. Blur have always played tiny shows like this even at the height of their popularity and people were always informed of them via the fanclub.

Faktion is scheduled to happen after the gig, so this seems highly unlikely – but everyone loves a good rumour.

Salford’s only new music festival is back! Or is it in fact Salford’s only music festival? Either way, Sounds From The Other City returns for its fifth outing on Bank Holiday Sunday, 3 May. We’ll be there supporting what is one of (Greater) Manchester’s best one-day events – assuming we can get tickets before it inevitably sells.

This year there are 10 promoters involved, with Terrorist, Hoya:Hoya, Your Mama’s Cookin, Bad Uncle and Huw Stephens among them. Here’s how their various stages are lining up…

LAMB AND WOLF @ THE KINGS ARMS

Sleeping States
Chops
Mazes
Wulf Wulf
Banjo or Freakout
+++++++++++

YOUR MAMA’S COOKIN @ THE SALFORD ARMS

Earnie’s Rhythm Section
Vinny and The Curse
JD Smith
Tom Attah
Zacc Rogers
Jack Pudding & Hans Abattoir

+ Rockabilly Bingo, Doo Wop Raffle, Jump-blues Bake-off, Vintage Stalls and more…

+++++++++++

MIND ON FIRE & HOYA:HOYA @ THE MARK ADDY

Live artwork by SKETCH CITY artists
Focused Lights Installation by VJ CYCLOPTIC
YouTube AV set by NORVUN DEVOLUTION
Illum Sphere (Fat City / Hoya:Hoya)
LA77 (live – Timbreland / Mind on Fire)
Mind on Fire House Band (live)

Resident DJs from Mind on Fire & Hoya:Hoya
JONNY DUB / RYAN HUNN / WOLI WOLS / LOGA / ZOIR

+++++++++++

BAD UNCLE @ UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

Fonik (Performing to Ghosts)
Gnod (Performing to The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda)
Sam and the Plants (live improvisation to animation)
A Middle Sex (performing live to Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Lodger)
SoPhIeS pIgEoNS (live set)
David A Jaycock

+++++++++++

COMFORTABLE ON A TIGHTROPE @ SALFORD RESTORATION OFFICE

Lexie Mountain Boys
Former Bullies
Sir Yes Sir

+++++++++++

GOLDEN LAB @ FROM SPACE

The Skaters
OAWRE
Bridget Hayden
Serfs

+++++++++++

BRING ON THE DANCING HORSES @ ROVERS RETURN

Plugs
Cats in Paris
The Invisible
Young British Artists
Hot Knives
+++++++++++

SWN @ SACRED TRINITY CHURCH

Marina and the Diamonds
Gallops!
Peggy Sue
Sweet Baboo
The Tombots
Nia Morgan

Jakokoyak DJ set
Huw Stephens DJ set

+++++++++++

TERRORIST UPSTAIRS @ BLACK LION

Legowelt
Digitonal
Dorian Wood
Troubleshooter
Mark Jones
English Electric
GordonTinnitus

Our picks from the lineup so far are Sleeping States, Mazes, Young British Artists, Banjo or Freakout, Sam and the Plant, Gnod, Cats in Paris and Former Bullies.

The day runs from 3pm until late and tickets are just £12.50 from QuayTickets.com and Piccadilly Records on Oldham Street.

Five good gigs this week, all feautring completely different types of music…

Tonight we’re promoting Chicago’s Casiotone for the Painfully Alone at the Deaf Institute. Owen’s new album, Vs Children, is one of our favourites this year, and we hear that this tour he’s playing half solo, half with a band. Support comes from brother Gordon – aka Concern – and Table, a local band we highly rate. Tickets are £8.50 in advance and £10 on the door, and it kicks off at 7.30pm.

Then on Wednesday, probably the loudest band we’ve put on – LA’s HEALTH – play a Now Wave night, also at the Deaf Institute. It’s a great lineup, with Banjo Or Freakout and Young British Artists also playing. This one’s £7 in advance – more info here.

Or there’s Glasgow’s 60s pop throwbacks Camera Obscura at Club Academy. That one’s £10 in advance, with tickets available here.

On Thursday 65DaysofStatic are joined by Amusement Parks on Fire, again at the Deaf Institute (notice a trend developing here?). We hear that this one’s sold out, which is unsurprising really!

And on Friday 60s legends The Zombies are at the Bridgewater Hall. It’s billed as ‘the finale’ tour for Odessey and Oracle, which is a cracking album… check it out if you haven’t already done so. Tickets for this are £24.

We hear that one of Manchester’s most established venues, Music Box on Oxford Street, had a bit of trouble last week. The outcome: it won’t be hosting any more gigs.

The place has hosted its share of good bands over the years: High Voltage brought the likes of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mystery Jets and Forward Russia to the venue for starters. We’ve only put three gigs on – Herman Dune, A Hawk and Hacksaw and Band of Horses – but they went well enough. And though it’s considered primarily a rock and punk venue, it was a handy option to have when you’re hoping for 300+ people.

One show that was due to happen at Music Box – Melt-Banana with Kong and Ergon Carousel on 13 May – has already been moved to the equally suitable Satan’s Hollow. We’re told, however, that it will continue to host club nights such as Mr Scruff’s Keep it Unreal, which celebrates its 10th year in June.

[Photo: Band of Horses at Music Box @ Rick and Mindy of The Indie Credential]