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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.”
Hundreds of people have responded with sadness to the news of Wilderness Record Store’s closure.
Local DJ Pasta Paul wrote: “It’s always sad to see the closure of a record shop not just for the music/vinyl lovers but the community too.”
The official Record Store Day account said: “Such a shame to hear this, but we home RSD22 means you go out with a bang.”
Someone else wrote: “My fav for a takeaway coffee and discovering new tunes, genuinely gutted to see you go.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Wildnerness Record Store’s last day will be on Saturday 23 April.
Featured image: Instagram, WildernessRecs
Audio
One of the world’s greatest music photographers to exhibit at Manchester Art Fair this month
Emily Sergeant
One of the world’s greatest music photographers is set to make her debut appearance at this year’s Manchester Art Fair.
Having grown up in the music industry alongside her father, Led Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy Page, legendary photographer Scarlet Page is definitely no stranger to life on the road, and has travelled across the US with bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, The Beastie Boys, and more throughout her illustrious career.
Her photography has also featured in album artwork for iconic Manchester band The Verve, and she’s also had the pleasure of shooting some of the biggest music names in recent times like The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Lady Gaga, and Foo Fighters.
Manchester Art Fair arrives in the city centre for 2024 next weekend / Credit: Supplied
But now, in a first for the North of England, Page’s work – which has featured in Kerrang!, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Mojo, The Times, and many more publications – will be available to see exclusively at Manchester Art Fair next weekend.
Set to be presented by The Art Hound Gallery, Page will unveil a number of exclusive fine art photographs for sale.
Expect to see her iconic stills of people like Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, and Keith Richards, alongside a selection of carefully-curated and completely-unseen new releases, including Courtney Love, Public Enemy, and more.
If all of that wasn’t brilliant enough as it is, Page will also be leading an artist talk at the Fair on Saturday 16 November from 1pm.
“I am deeply honoured to showcase my work, hosted by The Art Hound Gallery, alongside such extraordinary artists at Manchester Art Fair,” Scarlet Page said ahead of this year’s event.
“Celebrating 30 years as a photographer, it’s a privilege to reflect on the intimate moments I’ve captured of some of the world’s greatest musicians.”
Legendary music photographer Scarlet Page will be exhibiting exclusive works / Credit: Supplied
Sophie Helm, who is the Director of Manchester Art Fair, added: “Scarlet is widely-recognised as one of the greatest music photographers of all time, and we are immensely proud to have her join us at this year’s Manchester Art Fair to provide art and music enthusiasts with the opportunity to hear from Scarlet on some of her most memorable photoshoots and collaborations of the last three decades.”
Manchester Art Fair 2024 will take over Manchester Central on Friday 15 November from 5pm until Sunday 17 November.
Wunderhorse toast stellar year with their biggest headline shows yet – including a massive Manchester gig
Danny Jones
Riding side-by-side with the likes of Fontaines D.C., Wunderhorse are arguably one of the biggest bands on the planet at the moment, and as a huge 2024 for them is drawing towards a close, they have just announced more dates next May – including a truly massive Manchester gig.
Wunderhorse smashed their Manchester Academy only last month – a concert which we dubbed “one of the best of our lives” – and were just announced as the support act yet again for Sam Fender’s huge arena shows this December, as well as landing some huge festival slots this year.
A landmark show at Alexandra Palace in London had already been announced earlier this year after all of the 2024 UK tour dates had sold out but now the Newquay-formed band have added four more huge dates which will be their “biggest headline shows” to date.
Still only a few short years into their career under the Wunderhorse moniker and they’re now set to play the O2 Victoria Warehouse right here in Manchester.
If you’ve ever been to a proper rock show inside the iconic and former Warehouse Project space, you’ll know it’s guaranteed to be a rager, especially with a band like this playing.
Having recently landed significant PR spots on the likes of online show Track Star* and even The Late Show with Stephen Colbert over on US TV, the modern rock, indie, alternative and post-punk outfit is really riding a wave of growing fandom right now.
The four-piece went on the road with fellow high-flying contemporaries Fontaines on their recent European tour and are set to join them again for their Oceania dates in Japan, Australia and New Zealand next year, and their increasing profile has also seen them land a sizeable US tour of their own.
Known for loud, in-your-face, grungey guitars as well as powerful vocals, the energy – and especially on-stage antics from lead singer Jacob Slater – at their live shows has seen them go viral on social media on numerous occasions and made them an instant hit across multiple generations of gig-goers.
Tickets go live at 10am HERE but you can access a pre-sale code by registering via the mailing list on their website and O2 customers can get priority access this Wednesday from the same time.
Be warned, this show will sell out in a flash so you best be quick if you want to see scenes like this…
Daisy Jackson -
21st April 2022 
