The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has launched a brand new Artist of the Month scheme with BBC Radio Manchester to promote music from rising local artists.
Set up on Wednesday, 18 January, the new cultural initiative organised by the mayor and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority will see a new artist spotlighted every month on Radio Manchester, with the scheme open to any and all emerging Manc acts.
The Artist of the Month will be chosen by a panel assembled by Greater Manchester Music Commission and is made up of musicians, promoters, venues and industry leaders, with Burnham himself making the final decision.
Once all the submissions have been reviewed, the mayor will announce the winner at the end of the month during his weekly ‘Hot Seat’ phone-in on Mike Sweeney’s show, before introducing one of their tracks to close the show.
📣 Are you a musician looking to break through in Greater Manchester?
🎧 You could be chosen as the Mayor’s Artist of the Month, have your song played on @BBCRadioManc, and get the chance to perform at one of the country’s biggest venues in 2024.
The BBC Radio Manchester Artist of the Month will be promoted across both the station’s and the mayoral social media channels, with the aim of providing them with access to new opportunities like upcoming festivals and live events.
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For instance, winners will have the unique chance of performing to their growing fan base at the soon-to-be-completed Co-op Live, the UK’s biggest indoor venue, from 2024 onwards.
The combined GMCA and BBC scheme will also have a strong focus on representing the full diversity of backgrounds and genres that make up Greater Manchester’s iconic and ever-thriving music scene.
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Burnham’s love for music is plain to see; from his charity DJ sets to teaming up with The Courteeners to raise even more money for Manchester’s homeless population, he’s someone who clearly knows the power it has to bring people together. You absolutely love to see it.
Speaking in a statement on the GMCA’s website, Burnham said: “Everybody knows how rich our musical heritage is. But it didn’t happen by chance. Our city-region was lucky to have someone like Tony Wilson who relentlessly promoted our music and got it heard around the world.”
For anyone unaware of the important cultural figure, Wilson was not only a radio presenter for the BBC in the 70s and 80, but he was also the founder of Factory Records, responsible for producing Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays and more, as well as co-founder and manager of the legendary Haçienda.
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“We need to learn from Tony and do the same”, said Burnham. “There’s so much new music out there right now that deserves to be heard. I want to give emerging talent a platform but also make sure more established acts are getting the recognition they deserve. That’s what Artist of the Month is all about.”
Radio Manchester’s Executive Editor, Kate Squire, said, “we’re proud to be supporting this initiative of the Mayor’s in addition to our work promoting new bands through BBC Introducing in Manchester which has supported the likes of Blossoms, Aitch, Larkins … [there’s] so much talent in Greater Manchester we’re proud to showcase.”
The Chair of the Greater Manchester Music Commission, Jay Taylor, added: “More than ever we need to emphasize the connection between arena artists and the grassroots music venues they started in. This is a great opportunity to highlight and support the amazing talent we have playing on any given night in intimate venues across Greater Manchester”.
Nominations for January’s Artist of the Month are already open, so click HERE to find out more about the scheme and get voting for your favourite up-and-coming Mancunian artists.
Featured Image — Greater Manchester Combined Authority
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A candlelit Queen tribute concert is returning to Manchester
Danny Jones
Yes, you read that right: a candlelit tribute concert to the one and only Queen is coming to Manchester city centre.
In fact, it’s coming home, as this wonderful event started right here in 0161 back in 2021.
Concerts by Candlelight themselves host concerts up and down the country at various points throughout the year, but their much-loved ‘Queen by Candlelight‘ special knows all about lighting up Manc venues.
Having since gone on to become an internationally acclaimed live concert experience, we’re glad we still get to see the ‘Princes of the Universe’ on our doorstep.
Credit: Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)
With the likes of Bridgewater Hall and the magical Manchester Monastery all having played host to the promotion on many ocassions, this time Queen by Candlelight is coming to the legendary Manchester Opera House in the new year.
One of our most historic and legendary theatres, it’s only fitting, really, that they be chosen to welcome a night of equally iconic tunes.
But it’s worth reminding more casual fans that these aren’t just British rock and pop anthems; Queen‘s discography is one that still has global recognition to this day.
That’s why this specific show has been taken to virtually every corner of the world, with the incredibly talented cast of singers and musicians delighting audiences in Dubai, Australia, New Zealand and New York, to domestic crowds here in town and down in London’s West End.
‘Queenies’ or ‘Darlings’, as Freddie Mercury used to call them, can expect all the big hits, from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘We Are The Champions’, to ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’ and ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ and plenty more from the back catalogue.
Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store this coming January:
With tickets already flying out fast, we really would recommend securing your seats early before they inevitably sell out.
To quote the promoters themselves, “this spectacular celebration of Queen’s biggest hits is guaranteed to rock you.”
Coming to the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, 6 January, you can book your tickets for Queen by Candlelight right HERE.
And if you’ve never been to one of their candlelit events before, you only need to see how much of a ball we had at their country event earlier this year to find out how much fun they are…
Featured Images — Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)
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The Warehouse Project named one of the best nightclubs in the world
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester can add another big blue ribbon to its already richly adorned totem of music heritage, as The Warehouse Project has been named one of the best clubs in the entire world.
Not that we’re the least bit shocked, to be honest.
That’s right, our very own Warehouse Project – or WHP to use the more commonly thrown around shorthand – isn’t just the great successor to the likes of The Haçienda, Jilly’s Rockworld and many more Manc live music institutions, it’s become a raver’s rite of passage in its own right.
So it’s no surprise that it landed itself in the International NightLife Association’s best 100 clubs on the planet – but where exactly on the list did it land?
As you can see from the full NightLife International rankings for 2025, Warehouse Project didn’t just make it into the 100 club or even the top half; WHP broke into the best 30 clubs in the whole world.
Finishing in 27th position, specifically, Mayfield Depot‘s major tourist attraction was sandwiched between Ibiza’s Amnesia nightclub and the equally iconic Ministry of Sound in London.
Not bad company to keep, eh?
Writing in the caption, the organisation said: “From Ibiza to Singapore, Miami to Marrakech, and every nightlife capital in between, this year’s ranking showcases the venues that continue to elevate global nightlife with innovation, quality, and unforgettable experiences.”
“Cheers to all the clubs that made it onto the list”, they continued, thanking sponsors, artists and collaborators alike before adding, “Your commitment drives the industry forward.”
With the likes of Worried About Henry, Homobloc, Barry Can’t Swim, and the first-ever winter edition of Repercussion having already passed this year, the 2025 programme really has been electric.
But they’re not done yet; you can see the rest of what is on this year’s lineup down below.
One of the biggest dates on the current WHP calendar is, of course, their massive New Year’s Eve Party, which returns for 2025.
The team behind Warehouse is yet to respond to the prestigious international recognition, as they’re clearly still too busy putting on some of the best nights not just in town or the UK, but anywhere around the club.
You can get a closer look at the in-depth list of NightLife International’s top 100 clubs HERE.
Speaking of Manc nightlife, it’ll be interesting to see where a returning cult favourite will place itself on the leaderboard when it makes its full comeback very soon…
Danny Jones -
18th January 2023 
