Manc music icons Courtneers have finally announced their long-awaited seventh studio album along with revealing the new debut single and music video to boot.
Christmas come early.
It’s been four long years since the beloved indie band from Middleton last released new music in the form of More. Again. Forever., and while the local lads have been playing plenty of shows in that time, including a number of solo performances from frontman Liam Fray himself, it’s felt like an eternity.
Now though, Courteeners can not only celebrate the fact that the new record is on its way at long last but that they can already get stuck into the first song from it too. Without further ado, ‘Solitude Of The Night Bus’:
Offering a first glimpse at what the new album, entitled Pink Cactus Café, will sound like, the new Courteeners song has been described as a “luminous fusion of euphoric electronic pop, framed within the familiar architecture of their indie origins, and embellished with an infectious whistle that lingers long after the last note fades.”
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Hard agree.
Centring around that oh-so-familiar late-night motif of the last bus out of town, the band were looking to capture “the poignant dualities of solitude and expectation, exploring the soul’s quest for clarity amidst loneliness.” We can confirm we’ve done some of our most existential thinking on the bus home.
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Reflecting on the track himself, lead songwriter Fray said: “This came at a time of real questioning. Things weren’t going particularly well. No confidence. No direction. I think that’s why – whisper it – it’s on the fun side. This is the new us. I’d previously worked with Ola [Modupe Ojo of Bipolar Sunshine] on ‘Hanging Off Your Cloud’ and, like then, there was just a magic in the room that was irresistible.
“It’s a summer breeze. But it’s a winter’s night. Either way, sometimes you have to block out the noise. My late Uncle Pat loved a whistle so it’s a bit of a homage to him. Get on the bus; headphones in; go your own way. It’s the feel-good, imposter syndrome hit of the summer.”
The new single and album artwork for Courteeners’ forthcoming 2024 record.
Hinting at the further eclecticism of the new album, it features collaboration and co-production from a number of artists that Fray describes as his “Indie Rolodex”.
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Names involved in the latest project include Aussie outfit DMA’S, rising Scottish star Brooke Combe, James and Ian Skelly (The Coral), Ormskirk singer-songwriter Pixey; the aforementioned Ola, Theo Hutchcraft of Hurts and Blossoms‘ Charlie Salt, just to name a few.
Pink Cactus Café is set to be released via Ignition Records on 25 October and after seeing their 2008 debut album St. Jude go straight back to number one for its 15th anniversary at the start of 2023, we expect the new record to achieve similar success.
With a full summer of festival slots still left to play, including TRNSMT, Boardmasters, Victorious Fest and Liam Gallagher’s massive Malta Weekender, it’s going to be a big few months for the Manchester heavyweights.
You can pre-order/pre-order Courteeners’ new album HERE and judging by the scenes at Lytham, they haven’t skipped a beat when it comes to live performances.
Manchester’s new aesthetics clinic with a budget-friendly tiered pricing model
The Manc
There’s a new medically–led aesthetics clinic in the heart of Manchester, which offers a tiered pricing model that will get you the right treatment at a price that suits your budget.
The Academy Clinic has opened up on Quay Street, specialising in natural, balanced results with a massive range of injectable and cosmetic dermatology treatments
The clinic was founded by Dr Tristan Mehta, Dr Emily Mehta, and Dr Marcus Mehta, who want to raise the standards of injectable and cosmetic dermatology treatments across the UK.
It’s part of Harley Academy, the UK’s leading provider of postgraduate training in aesthetic medicine.
And that’s what sets it apart from a lot of other clinics in the UK, and makes it a stand-out in an industry that is largely unregulated – at The Academy Clinic you won’t ever be treated by non-medics or anyone without formal medical training.
It means that you are always in the hands of a registered medical professional – whether it be practitioner or trainee, and doctor, nurse, dentist or clinical pharmacist – who would be able to manage complications, so you can feel confident you’re in the best hands.
The Academy Clinic in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
And the tiered treatment model really does suit every patient’s budget and preferences – you can take a more affordable treatment option, where qualified medical professionals are learning and being upskilled with expert supervision during your treatment; or you can opt for a fully private experience with a senior practitioner and no training elements involved.
There’s a wide range of treatments available, including popular injectable skin treatments such as Profhilo® and Profhilo Structura®, polynucleotides, dermal fillers, microneedling, HydraFacial and more, all designed to deliver natural-looking, confidence-boosting results.
Beyond patient care, The Academy Clinic’s clinical team also trains and mentors medical professionals through its GMC-registered aesthetics training academy, Harley Academy.
Dr Tristan Mehta, Founder & CEO of The Academy Clinic and Harley Academy, said: “Our mission has always been to raise standards in aesthetics. By combining education with patient care, we can ensure treatments are delivered safely, ethically, and with natural results.
Treatments include HydraFacials
“Bringing The Academy Clinic to Manchester means more people can access medically-led aesthetics with confidence.”
The Academy Clinic is now open at St John’s Court on Quay Street in Manchester, having acquired SkinViva last October.
To keep up to date with the latest news and promotions, you can follow The Academy Clinic on Instagram @theacademyclinic. For bookings or enquiries, call 0161 865 1141, visit theacademyclinic.co.uk or email [email protected].
Exclusive offer for The Manc readers: Use code MANC25 at the time of booking or when in clinic for 25% off any treatments excluding wrinkle reduction treatments.
Wigan favourites Stanleys release first single ahead of debut album next year
Danny Jones
Fast-rising Wigan band Stanleys have dropped the lead single from their debut album, which is finally on its way and will be coming sometime next year.
Entitled ‘Pass The Time’, the Stanleys’ latest outing arrived on Friday, 20 February, and while there’s still no specific release date for the first-ever full-length LP, we do know it’s coming at some point in 2027.
To simply label it as more catchy indie would be a disservice to the craft and graft these lads have put in: this is definitely a step forward and in a slightly different direction, with an even more guitar-driven feel and an extra bit of gruff about it compared to previous Stanleys material.
Our only minor complaint is that we wish it lasted a little longer – we want MORE.
An energetic two-and-a-half-minute track that we can already see becoming a fan favourite, it’s one we’re looking forward to hearing in the flesh.
We’ve caught the Stanleys boys live a few times now, both here in Manchester city centre and at their sold-out show in Wigan as part of The Monaco relaunch, as well as at the likes of Kendal Calling festival in recent years.
Safe to say, they never disappoint, and neither do their growing crowd of die-hards.
With lyrics touching on not just the passing of time but also that sense of youthful ambition and how it fluctuates with age, it feels like one of those defiant indie rallying cries we grew up listening to in our own adolescence, and it definitely has plenty of energy to it.
Both The Manc and our wider Audio North team had the pleasure of chatting with them back in November 2024, and you can tell they have big plans to take on not just the local music scene but the UK and beyond.
The release of ‘Pass The Time’ comes almost a year on from their last song, ‘Out the Door’: a similarly fast-run song, albeit with a different vibe.
Positioned as part of Wigan’s next generation of new bands and artists, Stanleys are clearly looking to keep developing as musicians, and if tunes like these are anything to go by, then we can’t wait for their first full record.
They’re also going to be playing a night here in Manchester city centre and beloved grassroots venue, Night and Day, this April; you can grab tickets HERE.
So get adding it to your Spotify playlists, watching the music video, and maybe we’ll see you at the gig.
Danny Jones -
9th July 2024 
