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: The Unthanks in Winter... Simon Joyner... Jim Moray... Josh Rouse... John Craigie... Julian Taylor... Emily Barker... Gratis: Sophie Jamieson... Anna B Savage... C Duncan... Dustin O’Halloran... Chuck Prophet... The Ocelots... Sean Rowe... Jim Ghedi... Fionn Regan... The Weather Station... Beans on Toast... Joshua Burnside... The Loft... Martin Kohlstedt... Nadia Reid... Danny & the Champions of the World... The Delines... Helena Deland... Chris Brain... Heather Nova... Mark Eitzel... Jeffrey Martin... Federico Albanese... Amelia Coburn... Hayden Thorpe & Propellor Ensemble... Jerron Paxton... Throwing Muses...

When: 7.30pm on Wednesday 5 December 2012
Where: Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Manchester M1 1DF

We’re delighted to be working with one of the country’s most exciting young alternative jazz bands, recent Mercury Prize nominees, Roller Trio.

Roller Trio’s music is a fresh, visceral stew of conventional and experimental sounds that features stonking riffs, thrashy noise, evocative songs and electronic soundscapes. Incubated in mammoth improvisation sessions and honed in local gigs, their music is delivered with a captivating swagger and greedy energy that is utterly beguiling and packs a hook-laden punch.

Roller Trio are James Mainwairing on tenor sax and electronics, Luke Wynter on guitar and Luke Reddin-Williams on drums. Still in their early 20s, they met while studying at Leeds College of Music. Influenced by a wide range of music from Tim Berne, Chris Potter and Anthony Braxton to Queens of the Stone Age, Soundgarden, Slum Village, J Dilla and Flying Lotus as well as the vibrant Leeds scene they also name check contemporary bands such as Heernt, Trio VD, Animals as Leaders and Siriusmo. But their invigorating mix of rock riffs, angular drums, electronic loops and James’ powerful tone, use of circular breathing and multiphonics mark them out as a powerful new band in their own right, while their use of electronics gives their music a muscular sonic edge and febrile funkiness that makes this music for the heart, head and feet.

In September, Roller Trio were nominated for the 2012 Mercury Prize, alongside Michael Kiwanuka, Lianne La Havas, Alt-J and Field Music.

‘Dark, menacing, bass heavy – the new sound of UK jazz!’ – Gilles Peterson, BBC 6 Music

‘Each piece evolves intriguingly – raw noises swap with cool melodies; glowering, Spanish-sounding pieces unleash tenor-sax whirls; blurting stop-start motifs ease in and out of swing grooves – and the trio’s formidable playing and composing power suggest a very bright future’ – John Fordham, The Guardian, ****

‘Epic rock-edge riffs, angular sax explorations, brooding beats and haunting dub-step style electronics’ – Jazzwise

Support comes from Kerfuffle, a Manchester-based trio formed in February 2011, with the members’ aim to challenge themselves as musicians. The compositions are mainly instrumental, grounded in the jazz-fusion style, mixed with resonances of their members’ different cultural backgrounds; a mixture of Western sounds with some Eastern European and Mediterranean vibes. Live audiences are attracted to the music’s blend of electric and acoustic instruments, combined with the group’s energetic performances. Their debut album is set to release at the end of 2012.

Buy tickets now. Tickets are also available from Common (no booking fee), Piccadilly Records, Vinyl Exchange, Seetickets.comWeGotTickets.comTicketline.co.uk and on 0871 220 0260.

Attend on: Facebook | Last.fm



All shows are 18+ unless otherwise stated.