With Halloween, that most terrifying of holidays, looming on the horizon, Hey! Manchester will celebrate by hosting a bone-rattling night filled with short horror flicks and fancy dress. Efterklang will be providing a live theme tune. Scared? You probably shouldn’t be, because Efterklang are more beautiful (both physically and musically) than they are beastly. It will be up to us (and you!) to bring the fear and dread then – but for now we bring you an interview with Efterklang’s Rasmus Stolberg (third from the left) to whet your appetite.

You’re coming to Manchester on Halloween! Which horror character do you hope to see in the audience?

We have always been big fans of Arnold’s Terminator character – but I’m not sure he qualifies as horror. Maybe Willem Defoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg in their Antichrist roles?

And which tracks should be on our Halloween playlist?

I guess some of the later Scott Walker material would be quite effectful. In general I think industrial music is pretty scary – that and greatest hits by Smokie, which they always re-release in Denmark this time of year.

Continue reading »

We like local folkies Tim and Sam’s Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam, despite their silly name. In fact, they don’t know it yet but we’re going to ask them to support Múm for us on 16 August. But before then, they’ve pulled together a great-looking bill at the Deaf Institute tonight:

One of the most exciting line-ups of Manchester artists in a long while. Celebrating the launch of Tim and the Sam Band’s single launch on Static Caravan, a very cool band… and a very cool label.

Opening the night is the jaw-dropping talent of Denis Jones, then there’s Liz Green, Humble Soul veteran and writer for some of the loveliest folk songs to come out of Manchester.

Spokes are the main support and having been working on material for their debut long player on Counter Records they promise to show what an exciting prospect they are too.

Doors open at 7pm, with Denis on at 8pm. It’s £7 in and there’s promise of a raffle, cakes and a DJ set by Pull Yourself Together.

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.