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In this month’s music guide, you’ll find some of the most creative and forward-thinking artists that 2019 has to offer. Top of the list is GAIKA, whose magnetic blend of gothic dancehall and industrial electronics will bring the fire to YES. Similarly nuanced, Max Cooper’s latest IDM-meets-classical album will be presented with immersive 270 visuals at Gorilla. The darkly enchanting music of Adriaan de Roover, meanwhile, finds an intriguing home at Chorlton’s Barbecue as part of Novus, a new night by First Light Records. And over at The Peer Hat, Werkha tops the bill of Foot Therapy’s latest fundraiser, Love To the World. Oh, and we just had to shout about the huge line-up at Sounds From The Other City, which features unhinged math-rockers Black Midi, Belgian punks Cocaine Piss, and laid-back rap maestro Barney Artist.
That’s not all we’ve got in our sights, though. Scroll down for much more, including the latest word on both Manchester Jazz Festival and Birmingham’s Supersonic Festival, as well as the lowdown on turntablist Shiva Feshareki’s exciting performance at Sheffield’s Chamber Music Festival. We’ve also selected five top picks from the RNCM Summer Season 2019, which features some real treasures this year.
Here are our picks
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1. Moon Duo & Emmanuel Biard Present Stardust Highway: Experiments in Stoner Disco
Photo credit Eleonora Collini - Post Art Credit Jasmine Pasquill Moon Duo & Emmanuel Biard Present Stardust Highway: Experiments in Stoner Disco at Unit 3, Regents Trading Estate, Manchester, 26 April 2019, from £15 - Book now
The culminating performance of the 14th Samarbeta residency premieres a collaboration between synth-led psych band Moon Duo and AV artist Emmanuel Biard.
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2. Foot Therapy presents: Love to the World w/ Werkha and more at The Peer Hat
Werkha Foot Therapy presents Love to the World w/ Werkha at The Peer Hat, Manchester, 26 April 2019, from £5 - Find Out More
This fundraising party at The Peer Hat features Werkha, Mola Mola, Hermanito and more. All proceeds go to the amazing Gaskell Garden Project.
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3. Stealing Sheep at YES
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4. Falling Light at Leeds Corn Exchange
Falling Light at Leeds Corn Exchange, 2–11 May 2019, from £15 - Book now
A key event in Leeds International Festival, Falling Light is an immersive art installation created by design studio Flat-e with original music by electronic musician Daniel Avery.
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5. First Light presents: Novus w/ Adriaan de Roover
Adriaan de Roover / Oaktree First Light Presents: Novus w/ Adriaan de Roover at Barbecue Coffee Manchester, Chorlton, 4 May 2019, from £5 - Book now
Presented by Manchester-based label and arts platform First Light Records, Adriaan de Roover headlines brand new electronic and audio-visual night Novus, intriguingly held at Chorlton’s Barbecue.
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6. Sounds From The Other City Quindecennial
Sounds From The Other City 2018 - Jody Hartley Sounds From the Other City 2019 at Unit 3, Regents Trading Estate, Manchester, 5 May 2019, from £27.75 - Book now
In celebration of Sounds From The Other City’s 15th anniversary, organisers have something unique in store for this year’s event.
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7. Rakhi Singh and Vessel/Singh Quartet: Written in Fire at RNCM
Christalla Fannon Rakhi Singh and Vessel/Singh Quartet: Written in Fire at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 7 May 2019, from £18 - Book now
Inspired by Janáček’s wonderful Intimate Letters string quartet, violinist Rakhi Singh and producer Vessel unite in a thrilling collaboration at the RNCM.
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8. Studio Lates: Shiva Feshareki at Sheffield Crucible
Rupert Earl Studio Lates: Shiva Feshareki at Sheffield Crucible, Sheffield, 11 May 2019, from £5 - Book now
Turntablist Shiva Feshareki fuses contemporary club and classical soundtracks into new forms using only the original vinyl material.
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9. Alfa Mist at Gorilla
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10. Manchester Jazz Festival 2019 – MJF19
Werkha Manchester Jazz Festival 2019 at St Ann’s Square, City Centre, 23–27 May 2019, from £5.00 - Book now
MJF returns with a fresh new look, a new festival hub location and more venues across the city than ever before.
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11. Max Cooper at Gorilla
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12. GAIKA at YES
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13. RNCM Summer Season 2019
RNCM Summer Season 2019 at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 13 June–6 July 2019, from £12 - Book now
The RNCM’s Summer Season is just around the corner, and there’s a whole lot to look forward to. Read our picks for the months ahead.
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14. MIF19: The Anvil at The Bridgewater Hall
The Anvil at The Bridgewater Hall at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 7 July 2019, from £10 - Book now
Manchester International Festival has announced that it will be marking the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre with an extraordinary day of theatre, poetry and music.
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15. Supersonic Festival, Birmingham
Supersonic at The Custard Factory, Birmingham, 19–21 July 2019, from £40 - Find Out More
Forever sidestepping uniformity, Supersonic is an internationally-renowned experimental music and arts festival held in Birmingham. Neurosis, Anna Von Hausswolff and Godflesh top this year’s excellent line-up.
More in Music
BBC Philharmonic 2018/19 Concert Season
Millions of listeners enjoy BBC Philharmonic concerts on Radio 3, recorded or broadcast live from the outstanding acoustic of The Bridgewater Hall, making this orchestra one of the most widely heard in the country.
The Hallé 2018-19 Season
We look forward to a truly exciting season of concerts from the Hallé, whose 2018-19 is filled with music that pinpoints vital moments in our cultural history, from Stravinsky’s ‘The Rite of Spring’ to Janáček’s ‘The Glagolitic Mass’.
Striking Gold Piano Series at The Stoller Hall
This year-long celebration of outstanding pianists marks Chetham’s School of Music’s golden jubilee year.
The Stoller Hall Spring Season
It looks like 2019 is going to be a great year for The Stoller Hall, with some wonderful concerts coming up in its Spring Season.
Sibelius | Tippett | Stravinsky at The Bridgewater Hall
Steven Osborne made the definitive recording of Tippett’s masterpiece several years ago – and tonight, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, he joins the BBC Philharmonic to perform it live. Also on the programme, two symphonies by 20th-century pioneers: Sibelius’s brilliant Sixth, and a vital work written by Stravinsky ‘to the glory of God’.
Leeds International Festival 2019
Leeds International Festival, the UK’s leading metropolitan festival of new ideas and innovation, is back for its second year, this time featuring more than 45 events over 11 days.
My First Protest Song at People’s History Museum
Throughout history people have used songs to help express their ideas. Join singer/songwriter Matt Hill (Quiet Loner) for this multi-sensory workshop full of toe tapping tunes from times of change. M
James MacMillan | Britten | Tippett at The Bridgewater Hall
Either side of Sophie Bevan’s performance, conducted by English National Opera’s Music Director Martyn Brabbins, two epic fourth symphonies by great Britons, each a single movement: James MacMillan’s kaleidoscopic masterpiece, premiered at the 2015 BBC Proms to huge acclaim, and Michael Tippett’s punch-packing odyssey from birth through life to our inevitable end.
Both Sides Now with Gwenno
Applications are now open for an opportunity to collaborate with songwriter and vocalist Gwenno. Emerging female musicians from Merseyside and the Wirral will have the chance to work collaboratively, writing new music to be performed at Sound City Festival.
Culture Guides
Exhibitions
Not an exhibition but a narrow, soot-stained Georgian terrace earns its place at the top of our list this month.
Literature
There’s a real international feel to our poetry and prose scene as we head summerwards – from Saskatchewan to South Africa, guest readers have you covered.
Food and Drink in Manchester and the North
Discover the best food and drink that the North has to offer in our expert guide to food and drink in Manchester and beyond.
Tours and Activities
As spring emerges we highlight tours from Manchester’s heritage sites, with a mixture of well known civic treasures as well as some hidden gems.
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