Hey! Manchester promotes gigs by folk, Americana and experimental bands from around the world in Manchester, England. Read more here, see below for our latest shows, check out our previous shows, contact us, or join our mailing list, above.

Upcoming shows: Daudi Matsiko... Jolie Holland... Christof van der Ven + Niamh Regan... Ariel Sharratt & Mathias Kom... Giant Sand... Melanie Baker... Sophie Hutchings... Jerron Paxton... Ghostly Kisses... Sounds From The Other City 2024... Francis of Delirium... The Buffalo Skinners... The Handsome Family... Memorial... His Lordship... Florry... Bad Bad Hats... Dana Gavanski... Caoilfhionn Rose... The Lovely Eggs... Rain Parade... Charlie Parr... Ryley Walker... Erland Cooper...

When: 7.30pm on Saturday 12 May 2018
Where: The Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham Street, Manchester M4 1LE

PLEASE NOTE: This show now takes place at the Castle Hotel. All other details remain the same and original tickets remain valid.

We’re delighted to be working with Pete Astor for the first time – plus guests Ski Saigon!

‘Time passes. Life happens. People arrive and people leave. Songs celebrate, songs grieve, look at yesterday and smile towards tomorrow; and everywhere, ghosts.
One evening, when I was enjoying my favourite red wine, I decided to go for an extra glass for people and times past. Soon it became a tradition, the name of a song and then album: One for the Ghost.’

This is a record born through time; seasoned and erudite indie auteur, ex leader of Creation Records‘ favourites The Loft and The Weather Prophets, Pete Astor brings together strands and tributaries in his work over the years, mining timeless guitar pop to frame lyrical insights and melodic hooks, making music for today, with a true line from the past and an eye to the future.

Having released Spilled Milk (Fortuna Pop!) in 2016 to overwhelmingly positive response, Astor continues the musical spirit of that album with James Hoare (Ultimate Painting, Proper Ornaments, Veronica Falls) remaining a mainstay on guitar. He is now joined by The Wave Pictures‘ rhythm section of Franic Rozycki on bass and Jonny Helm on drums, plus Pam Berry of Withered Hand and Black Tambourine.

One for the Ghost‘s day psychedelia maintains Astor’s commitment with relevant and contemporary worlds; from the mordant wit of the title track (‘It’s the wallpaper or said you’ve got to go / said Oscar Wilde / and then he died’), to the London-based outsider ache of Walker (‘Walking the Arnold Circus – All the Way to Marble Arch), via the ageless love song of Water Tower and its paean to rural modernism (‘Meet my by the water tower / it’s my favourite concrete flower’).

Bruised but very much alive, Astor and One for the Ghost face the future with a smile and hungry heart.

One for the Ghost is released on 16 February via Pete’s new label Tapete Records, where soulmates such as Robert Forster, Lloyd Cole and Martin Carr frolic, just to name a few.

‘The master of less is more’ – The Guardian

Support comes from London’s Ski Saigon. Inspired by a fictional ski resort in Vietnam, Ski Saigon has grown from the solo bedroom project of Rhys Griffiths into a full band featuring members and former members of Mooncreatures, Tigercats and Grubs. With a debut EP out via Art is Hard Records, and recent singles receiving support from Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and DIY Magazine, the London five-piece combine the mood and charm of Deerhunter and Hookworms with the guitar pop melodies and fuzz of Sparklehorse and Real Estate.

PLEASE NOTE: This show now takes place at the Castle Hotel. All other details remain the same and original tickets remain valid.

Buy tickets now. Tickets are available from the bar (no booking fee), Vinyl Exchange, WeGotTickets.comTicketline.co.uk and on 0871 220 0260.

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All shows are 18+ unless otherwise stated.