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: 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... Robbie Cavanagh... Memorial... His Lordship... Florry... Bad Bad Hats... Dana Gavanski... Caoilfhionn Rose... The Lovely Eggs... James Yorkston... Rain Parade... Matthew and the Atlas... Gratis: Makushin... Lightheaded + Mt. Misery... Jake Xerxes Fussell... Andrew Wasylyk & Tommy Perman... Charlie Parr... Mock Tudors... Ryley Walker... Terry Reid... Tusks... Kris Drever... Erland Cooper... Pokey LaFarge... Skinny Lister...

When: 7.30pm on Thursday 16 May 2024
Where: The Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham Street, Manchester M4 1LE

We’re delighted to be working with Robbie Cavanagh once again – with special guest St. Catherine’s Child!

Award-winning artist Robbie Cavanagh released Tough Love – his much-anticipated third record – in May 2023, and in the months since has been touring prolifically as a headline artist, as well as in support of American trio The Wood Brothers.

Tough Love has seen Robbie perform at The Long Road Festival, The British Country Music Festival, Celtic Connections, Your Roots are Showing and as an official showcase artist at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City.

2024 continues to look positive for Robbie as he embarks on more UK headline dates including a live album recording at London’s prestigious Pizza Express Live venue.

Whereas Robbie’s previous record To Leave/To Be Left (2017) grappled with emotions of loss and self-pity from leaving or being left behind, Tough Love comes as an invigorating reality check. It’s a grittier and stronger-minded letter to himself and to anybody else who may be in need of a heavy dose of tough love. Written over the course of the past give years, each track explores a new perspective on the record’s overarching theme and documents Robbie’s own journey of self-reflection and maturity, both as a person and as a songwriter.

Whispering Bob Harris selected Robbie as his Emerging Artist Award at the Americana Music Association UK Awards, describing him as ‘one of my absolute favourite grass roots artists’.

Robbie’s live performances have been well received from fans and critics alike, with W21 describing Robbie’s performance as ‘definitely a superior country sound’ and Music Talkers mentioning his ‘outstanding performance’. The record itself was described as ‘a slick, mature and intense foray into the murky world of human emotions’ and ‘an album designed for late nights and whiskey’.

Special guest is St. Catherine’s Child. St. Catherine’s Child is the pet project of transatlantic singer-songwriter Ilana Zsigmond. Born in England to musical parents, Ilana spent the majority of her childhood in New Haven, Connecticut, bouncing back and forth between continents as her parents toured.

After settling back in the UK in 2015, she has formed a band that reflects the Americana aesthetic that surrounded her throughout her childhood with the articulation and dry-wit of her British sensibilities. Named for the patron saint of eloquent women, her vocal strength and poetic songwriting shines at the heart of St. Catherine’s Child.

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All shows are 18+ unless otherwise stated.