Band on the Wall: Live-ish from fivefourstudios

Johnny James, Managing Editor

Book now

Band on the Wall: Live-ish from fivefourstudios

9-30 April 2021

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

Band on the Wall
Book now

While live music has been on pause, Band on the Wall have been busy working with a cohort of emerging artists from Manchester, recording full live sets over at fivefourstudios, Salford. These artists, who feature on Band on the Wall Recordings’ 2020 fundraiser compilation (available here), are billed as “the future sound of Manchester – an outstanding collection of musicians whose work spans neo-soul, jazz, afro-electronic and more”.

Over four consecutive Fridays in April, Band on the Wall are broadcasting a full set by a different artist. Following performances by singer-songwriters Mali Hayes and Yemi Bolatiwa, on 23rd April we look forward to hearing from Secret Night Gang, whose blend of soul, R&B, gospel and funk is turning a lot of heads. 2021 has already seen hugely positive movements for the Manchester band, having just signed to Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings and had their music feature on the latest Grand Theft Auto soundtrack. Listen to SNG’s latest single ‘The Sun’ for a taste of what to expect.

 

Live-ish streams are free to watch via Band on the Wall’s website, where you can also make donations to help support the musicians involved.

Where to go near Band on the Wall: Live-ish from fivefourstudios

Manchester
Restaurant
Sampa

Sampa’s underground space is the perfect place to learn about both her new mind-expanding dishes and vintage sherries, reimagined for the late 2020s.

Northern Quarter
Restaurant
Sicilian NQ

Busy backstreet Sicilian restaurant in the Northern Quarter, serving up traditional dishes with well-executed vegan versions that more than match up.

Manchester
Restaurant
Maki & Ramen

Japanese sushi and ramen restaurant on High Street, Northern Quarter, founded by Teddy Lee. House-made noodles, eight-hour broths, plus sushi, donburi and vegan options.

Restaurant Orme
Manchester
Restaurant
Restaurant Örme

A hidden gem in the suburbs of Greater Manchester, serving high-level British small plates to a soundtrack of indie rock and roll.

The Abbey
Manchester
Restaurant
The Abbey

Historic Hulme pub with a very good live gig space, brought to you by the very capable team behind YES, Gorilla, Now Wave and Manchester Psych Fest.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Pigeon Beer Wanderer

Pigeon Beer Wanderer brings wine-level ceremony to Manchester’s new “Beermuda Triangle”, courtesy of Joshua Lightfoot and his crack team of booze experts.

Image courtesy of Unitom.
Castlefield
Gallery
UNITOM Projects

The exhibition arm of Manchester indie bookshop UNITOM is a dedicated space for contemporary visual culture in the St John’s neighbourhood.

City Centre
Restaurant
Portfolio

Portfolio is a Champagne boutique on Manchester’s Bridge Street, offering a set menu of fine-dining small bites.

What's on: Music

Greg Freeman by Steve Gullick
MusicManchester
Greg Freeman at YES

Greg Freeman mines local history for character-driven tales of violence, loss and epiphany on his second album, Burnover.

From £18.00
Music
Kavari at The White Hotel

Fresh from one of the year’s most uncompromising EPs, Kavari brings her Aphex Twin-endorsed, hard-clipped sound to Salford.

From £11.00
Ora Cogan by Alexa Black.
MusicManchester
Ora Cogan at The Abbey

Gothic country ballads, psych-folk drones and pedal steel drawn long and slow. Ora Cogan brings her witchy country to Now Wave’s new (old) pub.

From £18.50
MusicManchester
Wednesday at The Ritz

Victory lapping the best album of their career so far, there hasn’t been a better moment yet to catch these North Carolina rockers.

From £29.95
MusicManchester
Manchester Psych Fest 2026

O2 Apollo becomes Pysch Fest’s main stage for the first time, with Billy Nomates and bdrmm heading the final wave.

From £44.80
Encounter Festival 2026
FestivalsLancashire
Encounter Festival in Preston

Preston comes alive with outdoor theatre, live music, dance and family-friendly creativity in one of the North West’s most joyful festivals.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Matt Spratt.
Music

Aphex Twin-endorsed electronica, an eight-hour organ marathon and the most exciting band in Ireland's current folk revival all feature this month.

Food and Drink in the North

Squeeze the most out of these final weeks of summer thanks to our mid-August guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre

From intimate dramas to spectacular outdoor festivals, discover the North West performances worth adding to your diary.

Exhibitions

Summer isn’t usually a high point in the exhibitions calendar, but Greater Manchester’s small galleries seem to have made a pact to change that this year.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.