Oh hello there. All calmed down from the Oasis chaos now, have we? Well good, because we’re back to celebrating newer and largely lesser-known local bands and artists – hopefully to the point that they become far too big to need round-ups like these.
Not that we’ll stop writing them, mind you.
Yes, after last month’s edition (wink wink, nudge nudge), we’ve got five more Manc born and bred or at the very least currently based somewhere in within boroughs bands and artists that Audio North has been enjoying of late.
We welcome all walks of tunage here, by the way; it’s the best way to be and if you don’t manage to find something there’s always next month or all the previous ones, for that matter. Let’s get into it.
Five Manc artists we’ve been listening to recently
1. Nia Archives
Kicking the September rundown in style, we’ve got the wonderful Nia Archives, who despite not hailing from Manchester originally has made a happy home here, playing countless stages around the city since she moved here when she was just 16 and now she’s well and truly shining.
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The 2022 BBC Introducing Artist of the Year is set to deliver her Up Ya Archives club night to The Warehouse Project for just the second time and if you’ve never heard her before, you’re really not ready for the breadth going on. Dance, electronic, D’n’B, jungle, neo-soul – she really does play with it all.
From Bradford, Leeds then to 0161, she’s got to be one of our favourite talents around right now. ‘Baiana’ is certainly one of her biggest tunes and her debut title track ‘Silence Is Loud’ is a certified banger, but we’re gonna shout out her remix of ‘leavemealone’ by Fred again… and Baby Keem.
From varied floor-fillers to another genre-bending outfit that we’re ashamed to confess we arrived far too late but are making up for it with some intense listening over the last 30 days. They started out as a trio nailing alternative synth-pop but things have got even more interesting and complex since then.
With roots in Wilmslow, Cheadle Hulme and various other spots around Greater Manchester, the band has grown in every sense of the word since their highly acclaimed 2019 debut, not only because they’re a five-piece these days but because their sound is oozing with so many sprawling influences.
One of the first tunes we heard from them is ‘High Pressure Days’ (it’s a cover but we don’t care), so that has to go in there as a potential starting point, but we’d also check out ‘Somebody Like’ before trying ‘Bloom and Fade’ off their upcoming third album, out 18 October, to see how much things have changed.
Next up is a much more familiar sound for us as Yasmin Coe has the shimmery, shoegaze-esque guitars that her sound is fitting right in with the 90s revival that’s currently thriving all over the country, not to mention a great display of versatility so early on in her career.
If you ask her, she’s self-proclaimed ‘girl power pop’, but there’s everything from Lana Del Rey, Mazzy Star, Wolf Alice and more going on here; safe to say we’re really excited to see where else she takes her music and we’ll definitely be buying a ticket to see her in person very soon.
Fortunately for you, Yasmin’s still pretty fresh so she only has four songs for you to get stuck into – ‘No Hope’, ‘Doubt’, ‘Promise Not To Care’ and her latest, ‘Linen’ – and you’ll get something different from all of them. We love artists like this, keep it up.
For a slightly heavier, more in-your-face entry at number four, our penultimate band has been enjoying the live setting for years but is slowly working its way onto people’s playlists – ours included.
There’s a lot more no-nonsense American rock to the very Mancunian-named Haciendas than there is Madchester or even Britpop, but that feels somewhat refreshing in amongst the mix of contemporary guitar-driven bands, and they also have the attitude to back it up. Think The Reytons but with more US-inflections and riffs and you’re part way there.
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This is music that doesn’t need over-intellectualising: it’s fast, fun and even if it does subscribe to somewhat formulaic chorus formats, they’re winning combos for a reason. Our top picks are ‘Overdose’, ‘Brighter Days’ and you can’t go wrong with ‘I’m Not In Control’.
5. Denver County Council
Last but not least, we’ve got Denver County Council: one of the best sounding and, in our opinion, best-dressed bands in Manchester – especially if you’re like us and you love early Kings of the Leon era or anything even remotely close to the country aesthetic. There’s a real mix of blues/old-school rock and roll vibe with an indie sensibility, what’s not to like?
These guys came on our radar around the time they landed a spot on AO Arena‘s stripped-back series last year and we’ve been enjoying them on and off ever since, to be honest. However, since we spotted them on the lineup for Neighbourhood 2024, they’ve been firmly back in the rotation.
These guys haven’t put out tonnes of much just yet either, however, if we had to play favourites amongst the few it would be ‘Grace’, ‘Flawd’ and Mad Love – but the strictly the live version that we can’t wait to hear for ourselves this weekend. Having said that they can also do lovely slower ones like this:
These guys are the real ‘DCC’ and they’re the fifth and final name of our Manc artists of the month.
Legendary funk and soul act Kool and the Gang are finally coming back to Manchester
Danny Jones
In case you hadn’t heard already, iconic funk, soul, and R’n’B artist Kool and the Gang are finally coming back to Manchester after far too long away from our musical city for a massive arena gig later this year.
Coming back to 0161 ‘For One Night Only’, the award-winning US supergroup and industry giants are set to make their first appearance here in over 15 years.
With a rich back catalogue and a career spanning six decades, not to mention multiple genres including funk, soul, disco, jazz (how they first began as an ensemble) and more, it’s only fitting they be given the top billing at the one and only AO Arena.
After Manc fans have had to wait for long, this is sure to be a night of ‘Summertime Madness’.
Though they need no real introduction if you know your music history, specifically African-American and Black music culture, Kool and the Gang are arguably one of the most influential acts to ever make it.
Having performed together longer than other R’n’B outfit on the planet, stood as one of the most sampled artists of all time and released a staggering 34 studio albums to date, they’re nothing short of foundational.
While, sadly, there is only founding member Robert ‘Kool’ Bell left from the original lineup formed back in 1964, the various iterations of the surviving live band have captured that same effortless cool, charisma, and effortless control of a crowd on the road that made the OG Gang such a toue de force.
As well as touring with everyone from Elton John and the Dave Matthews Band to The Roots and even a 50-city tour alongside equally legendary rock group, Van Halen, they have no shortage of accolades to their name.
How does two Grammys, seven American Music Awards (AMAs), a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a place in the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine top ten hits in the pop charts, as well as 31 gold and platinum albums, strike you?
— Melodies & Masterpieces (@SVG__Collection) May 27, 2025
Best known for beloved tracks like ‘Celebration’, ‘Get Down On It’, ‘Cherish’ and ‘Jungle Boogie’, just to name a very small few (again, their discography is huge), you’ve most likely heard their songs or at least one of their serially sampled beats more times than its possible to count.
Yep, if there’s anyone that deserves the ‘icon’ moniker, it’s these lot.
Kool and the Gang come to the AO Arena in Manchester next month on Friday, 11 July and will have fellow British soul counterparts, The Real Thing, who looked to mirror their success throughout the ’70s, along for the ride.
General admission tickets are already on sale as we speak – you can grab yours HERE.
Every bit of live entertainment coming to Haydock Park Racecourse this summer | The Jockey Club Live 2025
Danny Jones
With festival season officially underway and a music-filled summer approaching faster than Stone Folca down the final furlong, we’ll take any chance to sing and dance under the sun we can get, so it’s a good job that what’s on at Haydock Park Racecourse this year is great and there’s plenty of it.
That’s right, The Jockey Club Live experience at Haydock Park is back for 2025, and there’s another incredible lineup of acts joining the punters over the next few months.
Having already seen the likes of Craig David, Busted and the Sugababes, as well as rather fittingly named local band, Red Rum Club, most recently, we’ve had some ruddy good times soaking up The Jockey Club festivities and libations, and this year is already off to a storming start.
You can catch a glimpse of our latest visit to the races down below for a taster. In short, it was a blast.
As you can see, not only are the spirits high and free-flowing (if you catch our drift) at Haydock Park, but there’s more than just racing and betting slips when it comes to what’s on there during the summer.
In addition to plenty of food and drink, every year as part of their Music Night programme, The Jockey Club well and truly puts the Live in ‘live entertainment’ with a whole host of big names.
For instance, here’s who is coming up at Haydock this summer…
What’s on at Haydock Park Racecourse this summer?
Tom Jones – Friday, 4 July
Perhaps the biggest name on the bill this year is the legendary Welsh soul singer and pop veteran SIR Tom Jones; that’s right, you could be in the presence of a real knight this July.
The 85-year-old who has enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades on stage clearly couldn’t get enough the first time around, as Mr ‘Sex Bomb’ himself is coming back to the racecourse for a full headline slot as part of his ‘Defy Explanation’ tour.
Speaking ahead of another visit, he said: “Performing live is the centre of my life and I’m really pleased to be returning to Haydock Park Racecourse to play to such a welcoming audience. The Jockey Club Live shows are exciting dates in my calendar – the fans really enjoy the day, so [they] are always sensational.”
‘I can’t wait to spend a Summer’s evening with everyone this July.’ (Credit: Raph_PH via Flickr)
Becky Hill – Friday, 8 August
A month later, you can catch a contemporary pop queen and fellow British chart favourite, as solo star Becky Hill will be heading to Haydock for a headline performance of her own.
The Bewdley-born singer-songwriter and regular dance track feature artist already has 22 top 40 songs to her name and is pushing even further into the electronic music scene of late, with one of her newest hits, Swim’, becoming another big hit.
Jockey Club said of her date: “We’re so excited to be welcoming Becky and her phenomenal live show to Haydock Park. Tickets start from just £40, continuing our reputation for providing value-for-money entertainment destination for the region and beyond.”
‘With thousands of tickets for Red Rum Club sold in the presale alone, we’re urging fans to secure their spot for next summer soon to avoid disappointment.’ (Credit: Press shot supplied via Chuff Media)
Next up: Jamie Webster – 21 June
But before both of these big British names is a local Merseyside legend, as indie guitarist and Liverpool-fan anthem specialist Jamie Webster will be heading down the road for what is sure to be a very popular night on home turf.
The ‘Weekend In Paradise’ and ‘This Place’ singer may have got his break performing to supporters around Anfield, but his music journey since then has been nothing short of remarkable – a real Northern, working-class success story in action.
Our Audio North team spoke to Webster ahead of his Haydock Park show on Saturday, 21 June and let’s just say we’re now more invested than ever in hearing Jamie play his third studio album, 10 For The People, for… well – you get it.
Better still, the party doesn’t stop once the summer is over, as The Jockey Club Live will be holding a number of other events throughout the rest of the year, not to mention all the usual horse-racing action at Haydock Park.
You can find out more information on the above and everything else on at the racecourse, as well as grab tickets to any of the dates that take your fancy right HERE.
Danny Jones -
30th September 2024 
