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]

There are some great gigs happening this week, so let’s get on with them…

Women – grungey types from Calgary – return for their first headlining show in Manchester, at Night & Day Cafe on Monday night. We reckon they sound like a throwback to the early nineties… in a good way. More info here.

On Tuesday, you’ve got a choice between Jagjaguar-signed Parts & Labor at the Star & Garter, Wild Beasts and Napoleon IIIrd at the Deaf Institute (a Bring on the Dancing Horses/Up the Racket co-promotion) and Canadians Wintersleep at the Roadhouse. We’d opt for a weeknight at the S&G, but don’t let that sway you.

Wednesday and it’s a Now Wave show at the Deaf Institute, featuring Black Lips and Crystal Stilts. This one’s already sold out so don’t get your hopes up.

On Thursday Manchester/London/Belfast indie-posters Help Stamp Out Loneliness are joined by the Empty Set (formerly of this parish), again at the Deaf Institute. It’s HSOL’s single launch and, as it’s also their Manchester debut, they’re promising a ‘VERY special guest’. More info here.

Then you can have a few days off! In fact, there isn’t much else going on until next week – so why not hop down to London for Owl Parliament on Saturday? It takes place and Union Chapel and features Jeffrey Lewis, Herman Dune, Laura Marling and Planet Earth. If you’re interested you’ll have to chance it on ebay.

Here‘s Andrew Bird performing unplugged – and unstaged – in Paris. It’s part of La Blogotheque‘s Concert a Emporter (aka Take Away Shows) series, which asks musicians to strip their songs down and wander the streets playing them busker style.

Bird’s are some of my favourites videos on there, though I’d recommend that you check out Okkervil River’s Will Sheff being a hippy, Jens Lekman taking advantage of a gymnasium’s echo, Casiotone For the Painfully Alone in a phonebooth, Grizzly Bear in the bath, Sufjan Stevens on a windy rooftop, Dirty Projectors freaking people out, Of Montreal just being themselves, Beirut being very Gallic, Final Fantasy being elven and Herman Dune simply being the best.

Searching the archive soon becomes highly addictive… like YouTube for alternative music fans. And if after that lot you still need more, check out London’s Black Cab Sessions for a distinctly British take on things.

Andrew Bird plays at Academy 3 again on 13 May. Don’t miss him.