One of Manchester’s newest and best-loved record stores has announced its closure this week.
Wilderness Record Store, which also acted as a gig venue, events space, cafe and bar, will officially close its doors on Record Store Day this weekend.
The Withington venue first opened in 2019 – also on Record Store Day – and has become a popular neighbourhood hangout.
In a post on Instagram, Wildnerness told its followers that it was ‘gutted’ to be losing ‘what is a sanctuary in the heart of Withington’.
Wilderness Record Store in Withington. Credit: Instagram @wildernessrecs
The statement also thanked the many musicians and DJs who have performed there over the last three years, as well as the customers who kept it going when live music was banned by restrictions.
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Wildnerness Record Store wrote: “It’s with a very heavy heart that we have to announce that Wilderness is closing down. Record Store Day this Saturday 23rd April will be our last day open.
“Thank you to all of the artists and bands who have played here & all of the DJs who have spun records.
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Wilderness Record Store in Withington. Credit: Instagram @wildernessrecs
“A massive thank you also goes out to every single customer who has supported us ever since we opened back in 2019, who packed themselves in like a tin of sardines to watch gigs, who kept us going throughout a global pandemic, who bought toasties when that was the only way we could reopen, and who continued to come back when the rules subsided.
“And on top of that, thank you to all of our incredible members of staff who have made the shop what it is, we know they’re a big part of why so many of you keep coming back.
“We are all gutted to be losing what is a sanctuary in the heart of Withington, but we have made amazing friends and loved sharing our music and fun times with you all! Come for one last night out with us this Saturday and buy us a drink or two, we need it.”
London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Footballer and Manchester City star Nathan Aké has donated a piano to an iconic city centre grassroots venue in Manchester.
To celebrate ‘International Piano Day’, the Dutch defender has teamed up with legendary instrument-makers Casio by donating a state-of-the-art piano in one very lucky music venue.
Aké and Casio are donating pianos across the UK through their joint project titled ‘Playing For Change’.
The iconic grassroots venue that’s receiving this prestigious instrument is none other than Band on the Wall, which has been pumping out live music under this name since 1975.
Processed with VSCO with kp5 presetProcessed with VSCO with kp5 presetCredit: Supplied
This new addition will help the venue as a whole, but more importantly, it will come in very handy for their Saturday Music Club.
Running every weekend, this session helps young people discover music and develop their skills, now via the fantastic PX-S7000 Casio piano.
Band on the Wall is a much-loved and adored Manchester city centremusic institution, and they aren’t the only place benefitting from the Manchester city star and Casio.
So far, 12 disadvantaged schools in the UK have benefitted from this joint effort from Aké and Casio, all of which were surprised with their very own digital piano.
This newest partnership won’t come as a surprise to fans of the Man City centre-back, as he’s been known to play the piano since teaching himself in 2020, and now he’s spreading his love of music to communities nationwide.
Neil Evans, Head of Casio EMI, commented:“It’s exciting for us to support Band on the Wall with a gift of a brand new Privia piano.”
“We’re hoping it’s used often and inspires people into learning the piano and increasing their access to the joys of music, which is at the core of Playing For Change.”
As for Aké, while he might be sidelined for the foreseeable following surgery on a fractured foot, the Netherlands international will hopefully be able to get lots of practice playing those keys.
Daisy Jackson -
21st April 2022 
