We like to pride ourselves on our love of all kinds of music here at Audio North and we genuinely think 2024 has been one of the truly great years for music, with so many albums released making it into our all-time best-of lists.
Described by many as the year ‘proper pop came back’, guitar music found its feet again and where contemporary electronic music enjoyed another strong spell in the mainstream spotlight, we’ve been like a pig in proverbial you know what in terms of finding new artists and favourite tunes.
With Audio North still in its infancy as TheManc Audio page enveloped our fellow audiophiles over at The Hoot and The Sheff to cover as much regional music as possible back in July, we intend to make 2025 our biggest year yet, so it’s a good job we had such a prolific 12 months of music to launch off.
Let’s look back on how we got here, shall we?
The best albums of the year, according to Audio North
Romance by Fontaines D.C. – EmJ
The Dublin group have taken their evolving sound to new heights with Romance: a forty-minute exploration of post-punk and shoegaze which marks a striking departure from their previous album, Skinty Fia.
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It’s gripping from start to finish; the album opens with the titular track ‘Romance’, leading listeners on an emotional journey with the Lana Del Rey-inspired tune, ‘In The Modern World’, before closing with on a high with the nostalgia-infused belter, ‘Favourite’.
Oftentimes, music – especially any music that falls vaguely under the rock umbrella – takes itself a bit too seriously, which is why I have been so utterly obsessed with Gary by Blossoms this year. Even the name is silly.
With songs inspired by a fibreglass gorilla, flares and 42s nightclub, this is indie music to shake your tail feather to, and it’s been my soundtrack to long drives, long shifts and just about everything else in 2024.
Add to that a strange sense of pride I feel to be watching a bunch of local lads hit such a wave of success (as if I had anything to do with it beyond a couple of dozen ticket sales), and Gary is easily my record of the year.
Próxima Parada have always tried to put introspection at the forefront of their music and this latest album is no different. Even their name translates to ‘next stop’ in Spanish.
A mix of laid-back indie tunes mixed with elements of spoken word make for a beautiful album perfect for self-reflection.
‘Anybody Can Sing’ is my personal highlight on the album, making my tram rides into work feel like a much more healing journey than most other commutes.
Picking one album as my favourite of the year is far too hard, so I’ve tried to narrow it down a bit.
I wanted to choose something different (hopefully) to the others on the list, and one that I genuinely listened to, front to back, a lot this year – and this ticks both those boxes.
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I also have a thing for 10-track albums, don’t ask why, I just do, and this ticks that box as well. Oh, and I’m a bit of a sucker for a concept album and a beat switch, so that’s yet another box ticked. Ended up being a fairly obvious choice after all because, as we all know, Billie is bloody brilliant.
Midas by Wunderhorse – Danny
It’s actually quite hard to verbalise just how much this album has come to mean for me personally but I’ll give it a go. Was already a Wunderhorse fan after seeing them support Sam Fender at Castlefield Bowl back in 2022 and quickly fell in love with their debut, Cub, but Midas has become a full-on obsession.
I typically try to avoid hyperbole but this is up there with the best guitar-driven album to come out of the country in god knows how long and Jacob Slater’s lyricism has genuinely changed my life by tapping into a mix of emotions that, as I’ve already mentioned, are hard to put into words – he somehow manages it.
There’s everything from grunge, post-punk, shoegaze and super digestible indie to stripped-back acoustic ballads on this record; ‘Arizona’ might just be their magnum opus and the whole project led to the single greatest gig of my life back in October.
It’s also been a joy watching them get bigger and bigger, people discovering their first-ever single ‘Teal’ and going on to turn it into a viral TikTok hit. You know that feeling of pure, communal and totally unselfish joy of getting your mate into a band? Yeah… that. Watch this pace, they’re going to be massive.
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In case you need a reminder of what happened last time…
Rumour has it @MancAcademy still hasn’t recovered. 😅
The Secret of Us is the perfect bedroom girlie-pop record. Period.
Not a bad track on the album; each song is honest, organic and melancholic. Comfortably one of if not my absolute favourite albums of 2024 and perfectly relatable for all with topics such as heartbreak, love and personal growth.
Cannot wait to see where her career takes her next.
The Chicago airy-toned vocalist dropped her second studio album in 2024 and also paid Manchester a visit for the second time in November too. The R&B songstress’ latest record has it all, from some easy-listening favourites such as ‘Candy’ to the call-and-response classic, ‘Love Me Not’.
A huge highlight is the narrative track ‘One Wish’ which doubles as a heartfelt collaboration with Childish Gambino that has some of the most addictive guitar twangs ever.
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I’ve definitely spent many ‘Days’ listening to this record and will continue to do so well into next year – and most likely forever.
“I’m not a bitch, I’m just bitchy” – Charli XCX. Saturday, 7 June was not only the day the best album ever to bless our ears was released but the start of BRAT summer – a summer we will all never forget. Charli XCX shaped the whole year by being unapologetically ‘bratty’ and I will forever be here for it.
She encouraged everyone to interpret ‘BRAT’ differently; whether it was rocking up to the club with smudged mascara or just being generally bold, however you wanted to celebrate BRAT was allowed.
I’ve always been a huge Charli fan. CRASH is an album I still frequently listen to (possibly too often), so when number six was on the way I was gassed. From top to bottom, this album is absolutely phenomenal. With club bangers like ‘360’ and ‘Von Dutch’, Charli brought back the real meaning of dance-pop tunes.
If BRAT wasn’t enough Charli then went on to release a second collaborative version called Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still BRAT, where she collaborated with creators on every single track. I could go on forever but this is your sign to queue up both albums at top volume. BRAT summer, autumn, winter and spring — amen.
The debut album from Leeds legends English Teacher bagged them the coveted Mercury Music Prize in 2024 and I must have fantastic taste because it’s been the soundtrack to my life ever since it was released.
The post-punk four-piece blend inventive lyricism with twisted vocals, and their Northern charm really shines through.
My favourite track is the smash single ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’ is a certified banger and one that I will never skip every time it pops up on my Spotify.
Credit: Universal/Press Image (via Spotify)
Wicked: The Soundtrack by Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and more – Kris
I have only just discovered Wicked and now I’m fully obsessed. The music, the songs, the FEELINGS – it’s all just sensational.
Even if you don’t like musicals you can’t help but love it and, of course, we encourage you to go along and see the original theatre production as well as the movie adaptation.
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The only downside is it’s now seriously messing with my Spotify algorithm…
Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter – Amy
Being a radio girl myself, I have to admit I’m not usually a full album listener, but when you think of the biggest songs in 2024, you’d be mad to say Sabrina Carpenter isn’t up there.
From ‘Espresso’ and ‘Please Please Please’ to ‘Taste’, ‘Juno’ and more, this year is the one that saw the Short n’ Sweet pop princess completely take over – and I will always find myself singing along to them all, you can’t say you won’t find yourself swaying along too.
Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album is 100% one of if not, THE best album of 2024.
Inhale / Exhale by Rüfüs Du Sol – Will
It was a tough choice but I think I have my answer.
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Their music is unreal and always reminds me of summer – real on-the-beach vibes. Can’t wait to go see them at Manchester Academy 2 next year and witness the beauty of ‘Innerbloom’ live.
Sensational.
Early Twenties by Cat Burns – Belvie
Cat Burns‘ Early Twenties is my pick for album of the year 2024. Saw her at Boardmasters and she was absolutely brilliant.
Every time she comes on it just reminds me of being in a field, in the sun with a gin and tonic and just enjoying those festival vibes.
She’s even got a great gospelly cover of ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ too.
Celebrating 30 remarkable years of AO Arena – one of Manchester’s BIGGEST music hot spots
Thomas Melia
The AO Arena is the home of core memories in Manchester, and is about to celebrate a monumental 30 years of creating magical music moments.
Over the last three decades, the AO Arena has been pulling in massive acts across a variety of genres, scales, demographics and styles of entertainment.
It’s hosted some of the world’s biggest tours and been a nurturing place for homegrown talent to perform their first-ever arena-level shows.
From head spinning and record breaking performances in 2008 with the company ofKylie Minogue to hundreds of comedy shows (a hundred of them courtesy ofPeter Kay alone) this live music space really has welcomed some golden moments and continues to do to this day.
Manchester has been a pioneer city for the Northern music scene, and there’s no denying AO Arena has played a major part in transporting this scene to some unreal heights.
To celebrate the venue’s 30th birthday, we chatted with director of operations Miriam Stone, and although her name may not be familiar to a lot of you, we wouldn’t have the incredible memories we hold so dearly without her.
Interview with Miriam Stone, Director of Operations at AO Arena
There have been lots of acts who have made AO Arena their home for the night or for a couple of nights with their various tours and shows, who’s been your favourite to see live?
That is the question that people ask a lot. If you imagine over 130 shows a year, for 18 years, that’s a lot of shows. Tina Turner always stands out as being one of the most incredible events that we ever did, partly because you look at the stage and go, that’s Tina Turner. She had these big, massive heels, and went striding out to the audience, incredible!
Prince was the one that made me cry. We had three weeks notice that we were doing Prince’s concerts, and because of my age and where he sat in my life, that made me cry. That was amazing. Those two shows just make me sit back and take a breath.
Kylie Minogue has played more than 30 shows at AO Arena. Credit: Supplied
Living legends and rock royalty alike have stepped out and played shows here over the years, have there been any pinch me moments in your career that still leave you feeling starstruck to this day?
Billy Bragg. He was always one that made me laugh and made him laugh, I suppose it’s who you grew up listening to, isn’t it? Spice Girls were an interesting one too, because I was too old for the Spice Girls, when they were first around and but when they had their reunion tour, and I stepped out again and had a listen, there was just that swooping moment.
It’s the audiences, almost as much, if not more, than the artists, because when you have that many people all singing all at the same time its magical. When Coldplay did an arena tour I’d never seen seats behind the screen and stage sold before. That’s how much people wanted to be in that room and that crowd, because they all wanted to sing their heart out.
Spice Girls at AO Arena. Credit: Supplied
I had my first ever concert experience here at AO Arena, my first ever show was Ariana Grande all the way back in 2014, who was the first artist you saw play here?
The first concert I worked here was Richard Ashcroft in 2006 followed very quickly by Christina Aguilera, two massive shows!
What are some of the strangest requests the team have received from a performer?
Most of those requests go to the promoter. We’ve had artists install doors and temporary walls to cut off certain parts of the room. We have a we have a wire that runs around the dressing room walls, because some artists like to style the dressing rooms the same everywhere they go. Most artists have a curtain that they then would normally bring a framework to hang things on to make the room more homely but in our venue, they don’t need to. They can just clip it around the walls. Whatever it is that makes the artists feel the most comfortable, we’ll do it.
What’s the most surprising event that you’ve ever held here?
The World Taekwondo championships, Disney on Ice the day after, and then, Cirque du Soleil was coming in the day after that, Oh my God!
We had to start building ice which we then covered up with wood, carpet and plastic so that we could then build the Taekwondo mats all on top of that, we did the Taekwondo on top of the ice. As soon as the event finished, we whipped it all out, carried on making the ice, did the ice show, brought in mini diggers, to break the ice up,and then loaded in Cirque du Soleil. I suppose those back-to-back days showed a really good range of the of the kind of events that we do.
David Haye at AO Arena, highlighting just the range of events this entertainment space can do. Credit: Supplied
We’re only in the first few weeks of 2025 but I know music lovers like myself will be buzzing to fill up their concert calendars, what artists can we expect to see at the arena so far this year?
We’ve got, again, that range of things, from James Blunt to Toto to Sean Paul and Ashanti. Olly Murs, The Lumineers, Twenty One Pilots, Busted head to head with McFly, Lynnyrd Skynnyrd, Parkway Drive and Deacon Blue.
As Director of Operations for AO Arena, you will have spoken to plenty of attendees that have walked through the door and into this incredible live entertainment arena, which seat/view have people said is the best?
I mean that changes depending on your taste. When it comes to tennis some people want to be on the net line in 103 and 114. 108 and 109 are just brilliant, if you’re struggling for tickets, the front rows of the upper tiers are brilliant with a great view. The good thing about the front rows of of 102, 103, 114 and 115 is that you can feel like you’re part of the standing floor, but you still get your own seat.
You’ve worked in the music industry for more than a decade so you will be more than aware of how much planning goes into events and concerts, but if you could pick three individuals to play a special one night only show at AO Arena who would you choose?
If I could have David Bowie here, then, then that I could end my career! Billy Connolly, I have never laughed so much as I have watching him, people talk about crying laughing, I was almost sobbing laughing. And finally, The Dalai Lama, I’ve got this photo of him holding my hand, if they could come back and I could do that again, that’s a once in a lifetime, opportunity.
Another living legend, Madonna performed at AO Arena, opening her European leg of her ‘Invention World Tour’. Credit: Supplied
AO Arena turns 30 on 15 July 2025 and to celebrate they want you to submit your favourite pictures and memories in return for a chance to win free tickets, more info HERE.
Bask founder announces latest music and events venue in Stockport
Danny Jones
The man behind the beloved Bask bar in Stockport has just announced details of his latest live music venue and events project in the town centre.
Local entrepreneur Benji Taylor set up the immensely popular Bask back in 2022 and since then what could have been just another bar and cafe has turned into one of SK’s busiest food and drink spots, not to mention its leading music venue and late-night destination.
With a background in music promotion, the live scene and gigs have always been a big part of Benji’s vision, so it’s no real surprise that his latest venture is even more in that wheelhouse than ever.
After a series of social media teasers in recent weeks and months, the popular local figure has now officially revealed the name of his next venue – and it couldn’t be more fitting.
We’re bringing in a heavy PA, incredible lights and one beautiful stage. It’s really going to be something.
The bar will be stocked with the finest worldwide and local beers, spirits, wines, AF tackle and some pretty tasty fresh ground coffee.
That’s right, taking direct inspiration from the historic old town district that has a character all of its own, ‘The Underbank’ is about to take on a whole new meaning in Stockport.
Replacing the former Syndikat site on the corner of Great Underbank, in close proximity not only to the recently renovated White Lion but also the likes of SK1 Records, it’s a perfect location to catch the footfall and overspill on those big street party nights and Foodie Fridays.
The announcement post goes on to add: “Need you all to get behind us on this, please give us a follow and join the journey. The UK needs more venues, and we’re here to stay. We’ll be announcing the first set of events next week. Some absolute belters.
“See you for the opening party very soon.”
Benji actually opened a spin-off site simply named Bask Live over Wigan way back in August 2024, but the idea didn’t quite work out (ultimately reopening as an Irish bar), he and his team have now pivoted to another music-first venue in a locale where they already have a strong following.
Speaking to The Manc, Benji explained that the new gig and live events space is a complete rebrand and re-fit of Syndikat, with existing owner Des O’Malley – who also runs Nook in Heaton Moor – still on board as an operational and creative partner.
Credit: Syndikat (via Facebook)Credit: Benji Taylor (via X)Stockport is set for a new live music venue and arts space from the brains behind Bask.
The hope is no doubt to bring over some of that glowing Bask reputation with them, even if Benji did recently step away from the business.
Having taken some well-deserved time out after being signed off sick last summer, we’re glad to see him back up and running and sinking his passions into something new.
“I’m excited to pick up where I left off with the other place, but taking it up a notch”, he told us. “So many exciting plans that’ll all be announced over the next few weeks.”
Although it’s still early days, The Underbank is promising “more big artists, who haven’t played Stockport before, all the best in upcoming artists, a brand new comedy showcase” and, “of course, we’ll be going heavy on Stockport County match days”, says Benji.
Better yet, you won’t have to wait too long to see how it all turns out, as The Underbank is looking to open at the start of March.
Danny Jones -
27th December 2024 
