Music in the North
Johnny James, Managing EditorManchester’s starting the new year with a run of gigs from some of the country’s best underground exports. Bar Italia return with a sharpened sound, Sorry bring their shape-shifting new record to Gorilla, Manchester’s own Westside Cowboy present their much-hyped debut EP, and the ever-enigmatic Mark William Lewis is back at The White Hotel.
Ibibio Sound Machine turn away from sun-kissed festival bounce and towards the sweatier pulse of a club at Band on the Wall, and Legowelt brings vintage machines, sci-fi dreams and 30 years of restless invention to deepest darkest Salford. Further down the line, we’re eyeing up a few summer highlights, including a rare open-air show from Neil Young, and a festival that sees The White Hotel decamp to… Blackpool.