The Waeve at Band on the Wall

Johnny James, Managing Editor
Band on the Wall

The Waeve at Band on the Wall, Manchester 20 March 2023 Tickets from £20 — Book now

Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall bring their new project, The Weave, to Band on the Wall on 20 March.

A nuanced exploration of dreamy, foreboding folk rock, the eponymous first record from The Waeve is not one you might expect from Coxon, a Britpop guitar hero, nor Dougall, a onetime ’50s girl-group revivalist. Not that anyone expected anything. They only met a couple of years ago, in that weird period immediately after lockdown when the country, with a kind of glassy-eyed bewilderment, toasted the grand arrival of ‘normality’. That was odd, wasn’t it?

Anyway, the pair met backstage at a show in London, swapped playlists and discovered their mutual love for British folk music. “Within a week we were recording”, says Coxon. “Our work was exploratory. Two people asked questions of each other, and as a consequence the void became less yawning. Music was created, and these two voices in the songs became two people: Rose and I.” Sidenote – that’s Rose, I, and the baby, now, if you’re interested…

While collaborative projects by real-life couples can easily fall into schmaltzy territory, this one’s mostly saved from that by the foreboding character of the music (helped by edgy orchestration from the Elysian Quartet). Not to mention the almost pagan lyrics, which draw on a long lineage of folk horror in British film and music, from The Wicker Man to The Incredible String Band. Think images of “jagged shores”, “ancient tides”, “silver moons” and you’re in the right ballpark.

As the captivating opening track ‘Can I Call You’ kicks in, first as a ballad and then as a krauty motorik trip, we notice the surprisingly sparse use of guitars, Coxon instead opting for often-very-dissonant saxophones – the instrument he played in his first ever band with Blur’s Damon Albarn back in the ’80s. Dougall, meanwhile, plays the piano and an ARP 2000 modular synth, which propels that opening track forward with the energy of some ecstatic ritual as the pair swap and then share vocal duties, their voices, though starkly different, perfectly complimenting one another (hers, strong, velvety, deep; his, twangy, faltering and vulnerable).

From the off, the chemistry between the two musicians is palpable and electric, and it continues through most of the record, whose heavy weather recalls the blustery folk rock of Sandy Denny or John & Beverly Martyn. Tracks like ‘Kill Me Again’ also lean on the ’70s rock of Kevin Ayers or Van der Graaf Generator, almost industrial in places, with Coxon’s saxophone squalls offering deranged commentary on Dougall’s brooding synth pulses. The vocal melodies on this one are wonderful, too. Childlike but somehow off-kilter… a little whisp of magic you can’t quite put your finger on…

The rest of the album weaves (yep) through an array of sounds and textures, from moody post punk to cinematic balladry, and yet it all exists within the same, disquietingly beautiful musical world the pair have so quickly created together.

Get it while it’s hot. The Waeve perform their first ever Manchester show at Band on the Wall on 20 March, and tickets probably won’t be around for too long.

The Waeve at Band on the Wall, Manchester 20 March 2023 Tickets from £20 Book now

What's on at Band on the Wall

ActivityManchester
Beyond the Music 2024

Hear directly from the people powering the music industry in both Manchester and the UK, as well as witnessing some of the North’s upcoming talent at Beyond the Music.

from £16.75
MusicManchester
Bar Italia at Band on the Wall

One of London’s most hyped bands of the moment, Bar Italia are playing Band on the Wall in support of their acclaimed 2023 album, The Twits.

from £15
MusicCity Centre
Fair Play Festival 2024

Following two sold out festivals, Fair Play is back to take over the Northern Quarter with a day of live music in all its ‘alternative’ forms.

from £15
MusicManchester
EXTC at Band on the Wall

Terry Chambers, the original drummer from XTC, brings the revered band’s classic songs to Band on the Wall this July.

Until
MusicManchester
Open Deck at Band on the Wall

Bring your records for a spin at our Open Deck session this Saturday! If you’ve bought some new vinyl from a local record shop this week, just show your receipt at the bar to get yourself a free 9” pizza!

Where to go near The Waeve at Band on the Wall

Manchester
Restaurant
Foundry Project

The Northern Quarter’s self-styled ‘happiest place in Manchester’, based at the old Bluu site.

Stray
Manchester
Restaurant
Stray

Stylish modern bar serving sophisticated cocktails in the Northern Quarter.

Ancoats
Restaurant
Ramona

If you haven’t heard of Ramona by now then where have you been? Taking Manchester by storm, Ramona is a Detroit Pizza restaurant, with a salty twist… Frozen margaritas!

Manchester
Restaurant
The Firehouse

The Firehouse serves up quality food and cabaret every Wednesday evening in the Northern Quarter.

Manchester
Restaurant
Mackie Mayor

A Grade II listed market building in the Northern Quarter, Mackie Mayor is a key fixture in the ever-growing Northern Quarter food and drink scene.

Fringe Bar in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Ancoats
Bar or Pub
Bar Fringe

No-frills bar on Manchester’s Swan Street. A wide selection of beers and ciders mixed with a great jukebox make this an ideal pre-Band on The Wall drinking spot.

Noi Quattro
Manchester
Restaurant
Noi Quattro

Noi Quattro is an independent pizzeria at the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

matt and phreds sign manchester music
Manchester
Music venue
Matt and Phred’s

New Orleans reaches Manchester with this dedicated jazz club in the Northern Quarter – a reliable choice for a good night out.

Ancoats
Restaurant
The Wayfarer

The Northern Quarter pub with Live-music, outdoor seating and friendly staff, making this venue a more than enjoyable visit.

What's on: Music

Until
ActivityManchester
DJ Gym at Hatch

Learn some DJ and production skills with DJ Gym Manchester, based in the culturally infused surrounds of Hatch.

from £269
Until
MusicManchester
Open Deck at Band on the Wall

Bring your records for a spin at our Open Deck session this Saturday! If you’ve bought some new vinyl from a local record shop this week, just show your receipt at the bar to get yourself a free 9” pizza!

MusicManchester
EXTC at Band on the Wall

Terry Chambers, the original drummer from XTC, brings the revered band’s classic songs to Band on the Wall this July.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in Manchester and the North

Affecting contemporary performances and fresh, relevant takes on enduring classics, we pick out shows that help us scrutinise the world we live in.

Teenage Dads
Music in Manchester and the North

Fresh concert seasons, forward-thinking festivals and a revolving door of amazing gigs. Things are looking bright as spring comes into view.