When: 7.30pm on Saturday 6 July 2024
Where: Low Four Studio, Deansgate Mews, Great Northern, Manchester M3 4EN

Gratis – our series of free entry shows – continues with Makushin plus Hannah Ashcroft!

Makushin is the new band formed by singer Nancy Elizabeth, double bassist Jon Thorne and guitarist Peter Philipson, in which they explore the intersection between folk, jazz and ambient music. Their sublime debut album Move Into the Luminous was released via the Blackford Hill label in October 2023, where the trio lead an inspiring, richly layered and immersive collaboration involving several additional guest instrumentalists.

The whole album has a natural, unforced aesthetic and the lyrical themes deal with subjects such as the illumination of the moon, the observation of nature and attempting to slow the course of time. The varied musical influences range from the early 1970s recordings of John Martyn with Danny Thompson, the ambient albums made by David Sylvian & Holger Czukay, inspirational records by Joni Mitchell and Beth Gibbons, and the musical spirit of ECM Records.

The band have had their music played numerous times on BBC 6 Music (Gideon Coe, Radcliffe & Maconie, Zakia Sewell) and by Hannah Peel on Night Tracks on BBC Radio 3.

The band name refers to Mount Makushin, an active volcano in Alaska and this was taken from the book The Cruise of the Corwin by Scottish-born American naturalist John Muir, where he vividly described Makushin as the ‘most noble volcano’ he saw on an Alaskan expedition in 1881.

‘The variety and depth on show here is breath taking. Makushin have fashioned an engrossing collection of ten perfect miniatures, each of which plays out like something much longer. They are ambient epics packaged as pop songs, delicate folk latticeworks enmeshed with impassioned jazz. It’s a stunning achievement’ – Thomas Blake / Folk Radio

‘An album that’s rich, absorbing and delicate to the touch. Nancy Elizabeth’s voice is a marvel’ – Tim Cumming / Songlines Magazine

‘This spacious folk/jazz/ambient record is really quite something… Be sure to give this special album a listen’ – Gareth James / CLASH

Special guest is Hannah Ashcroft. Hailing from somewhere between Manchester and Liverpool, with a brief stint in Melbourne, Hannah Ashcroft is a self-producing singer, songwriter and guitarist. Nowadays, she can be found wandering between and occasionally nose diving into the realms of indie, psych and folk, with wonky guitar riffs, distinctive vocals and offbeat lyrics.

Her releases have attracted the attention of tastemakers at BBC 6 Music, Amazing Radio and Clash magazine, with her latest EP HUSK earning her a spot on the Glastonbury Emerging Artist list. Fresh from the tour bus, she has spent the past year playing shows across the UK & EU with critically acclaimed US artist Lissie and has previously collaborated with Mercury nominated artist Beth Orton.

This show takes place at Low Four – a recording studio situated on Deansgate Mews in the Great Northern warehouse. This intimate venue features a Cloudwater bar.

This is a 14+ show. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

This is a free entry show! Click here to reserve a place now. Any spare capacity on the night will be used on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Attend on: Facebook