Afro Celt Sound System at Manchester Folk Festival

Chris Horkan

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Afro Celt Sound System

The Ritz, Manchester
20 October 2017

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Afro Celt Sound System by Tom Oldham
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A ground-breaking group of musicians, drawing inspiration from Irish and West African folk traditions, Afro Celt Sound System headline the largest show at this year’s Manchester Folk Festival.

The innovative collective – formed in 1995 by producer-guitarist Simon Emmerson – celebrated their 20th anniversary with The Source, their most ambitious record to date, and one described as ‘a colossus of an album’.

Live, long-term members Emmerson, N’Faly Kouyaté and Johnny Kalsi are joined by new core member Griogair – plus a host of talented folk musicians. With Robert Plant, Sinead O’Connor and Peter Gabriel among Afro Celt Sound System’s previous collaborators, the group’s strength is evidently in its eclecticism.

Support on the night comes from The Nightjar – who have drawn comparisons to Midlake and Simon & Garfunkel – and Sound of Sirens, aka Exeter-based singer-songwriters Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood.

Where to go near Afro Celt Sound System at Manchester Folk Festival

Rain Bar pub in Manchester
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Rain Bar

This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

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Peveril Of The Peak

Iconic Manchester pub adorned with the sorts of bottle green, yellow and brown Victorian tiles that are a reclamation yard’s dream – this gem of a boozer is named after Sir Walter Scott’s novel of the same name and was a favourite hang-out of Eric Cantona.

HOME Manchester
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HOME Manchester

Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

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The Briton’s Protection

Standing on the corner of a junction opposite The Bridgewater Hall, The Briton’s Protection is Manchester’s oldest pub. It has occupied the same spot since 1795, going under the equally

Manchester
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Burgess Cafe Bar
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Small but perfectly-formed café – which also serves as the in-house bookstore, stocking all manner of Burgess-related works, along with recordings of his music. It’s a welcoming space, with huge glass windows making for a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

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Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

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The Temple

Originally called The Temple of Convenience owing to its former life as a public toilet block, this is a tiny bar with some of the finest bathroom graffiti in town.

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