Finally, summer is here, the sun is actually shining fairly consistently, the pints, gigs and festivals are flowing like the Irwell and, as always, Manchester music is looking great on all fronts.
If this is your first time jumping on this monthly series, first of all, welcome and secondly, the premise is pretty simple: we spotlight all the best Manchester artists coming out of 0161, be they a new up-and-coming star, an unsung creative, or someone who is finally breaking through into more people’s playlists.
Better still, we cover things from all across the local scene and you’re in for a treat this time as we’ve got lots of genres in the mix because we’re nothing if not eclectic.
So, let’s not waste any more time chatting on – here are the five Manchester-based music artists we’ve been listening to throughout July.
The best new music coming out of Greater Manchester this month
1. manta
First up on our list this month is lesser-known solo artist and producer Manta but, trust us, his status as a well-kept secret won’t last much longer; this guy is blowing all over social media and TikTok, especially. Born in Japan, raised in Skipton and now based in 0161, he’s leading the rise of ‘bedroom pop’.
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The independent alt-pop singer-songwriter will strike a chord with anyone who enjoys the likes of Dominic Fike, Dijon, Easy Life, Kenny Beats, Matt Champion and Mk.Gee, also stunning viewers with the behind-the-scenes of his creative low-budget videos and his mix of indie, hip-hop, neo-soul and more.
Manta doesn’t have a song as catchy as ‘wishful thinking’ (see below), but his first song ‘Dream World’ from back in 2021 is still his most streamed song, and understandably so, but we also love ‘Clementine’ – plus, with just two EPs to get through, you can catch up on his discography before he blows up.
Next up is a name we’ve shown a lot of love for some time now and after seeing him live twice, we can confirm Seb Lowe and co. gives us the exact kind of energy you expect from any young artist/band looking to set themselves apart from the ever-saturated Manc music crowd.
Specialising not only in a unique blend of alt and punk-infused indie rock, the Oldham-born musician has all the poetic sociopolitical swagger of a modern Billy Bragg, only with more shades of John Cooper Clarke if he was on fast-forward, and all the aggression of ‘insert modern post-punk act here’.
As much as there are a lot of layers sonically – perhaps most notably the violin from Kate Couriel – he often shines most when it’s just him, his acoustic guitar and some emphatic world play front and centre. ‘Terms and Conditions’ is essential listening, ‘Kill him (he’s a Socialist)’ sums up his flare perfectly, and new single ‘5168 Days’ feels like a snapshot of the zeitgeist that you simply have to hear.
On to a much smoother sound on the ears, the R’n’B duo made up of twin sisters Hope and Millie Katana may have been born in Kenya but they were brought up right here in Manchester and have helped bring that culture right through to their music, earning the first-ever Mayor’s Artist of the Month last year.
From the East African influences laced throughout their drumbeats, the irresistible soul in their voices that saw them chosen by the one and only Janelle Monáe for her three-night residency at Aviva Studios, to the sheer style they exert in their fashion and stage presence, they’re the complete package.
Their 2021 sophomore album Resurgence may very be one of the chillest things you’ll ever listen to and we could genuinely recommend every track off it but, for the sake of variety, we’ll go with ‘Summer Never Dies’, ‘Can’t Stop It’ and ‘Smile’ – all incredible songs and equally good entry points.
There are some obvious comparisons to draw with the likes of Little Simz in the rapping, only with much more Northern familiarity, but there are flavours of fellow Brits R.A.E. and LayFullStop, American contemporaries like Lexa Gates in moments and even Misha B in certain singing sections.
With that distinct UK style of delivery, 24-year-old Manchester MC Meduulla regularly switches up the flow no matter how vibey and effortlessly laid-back the melody itself is, making for probably one of our favourites not just in the homegrown hip-hop space but among the female artists coming out of the city full stop.
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Her song with Sakara entitled ‘Silly’ sounds like SZA meets PinkPantheress with a touch of modern afrobeats, the version of ‘Night Trip’ with angelic harmonies from Manc vocalist Prima always hits our ear right, but you simply have to start with ‘Mish Muulla’. We also can’t get enough of her whole visual aesthetic – exhibit A:
Btw there will be a free drinks tab so don’t be late n bring a date x https://t.co/8GzM5IGWYM
And in one of those moments we always love, our fifth and final pick for rising Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month, we stumbled across local hip-hop collective and production crew The Mouse Outfit simply through hearing their tune with Meduulla, ‘Limbo’ – one of their many collaborators.
One of her best-loved tracks to date, it’s just the top of the iceberg when it comes to this lot, who have been rather quietly putting out some of the best, most nostalgic and varied beats on the scene since 2011. We put these guys in the category of once you hear them you can’t help but deep dive.
You could literally chime with any one of their musical multitudes that might tickle your brain just right. We won’t pretend to be complete experts as relatively new fans, but we’d kick off with ‘Step Steadier’, then the jazz-heavy ‘Know My Face’ before trying ‘Feeling High’, featuring two more Manchester-based artists in king of the underground, KinKai, and Lisbon-born rising star IAMDDB.
They can give you garage flavours like this one minute and then something completely different the next – and that’s why we love them.
We hope you get these into your rotation soon and feel free to thank us later, as always.
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Of course, we urge you to go back through previous editions if you’re looking to spice up your go-to artists even more and we’ll even last month’s down below for sake of ease.
The legendary Hulme community pub The Old Abbey Taphouse has been reborn
Daisy Jackson
The closure of The Old Abbey Taphouse was a real blow for Hulme and the surrounding university district area; the community pub was a bit of a local institution thanks to its grassroots music and inclusive atmosphere.
But now it appears that the spirit of the venue lives on, under the new name of The Abbey.
Some of the city’s most experienced independent operators – who have been behind venues like YES and The Deaf Institute, and music promoters Now Wave – will be the new custodians of this beloved local landmark.
The pub, which closed early last year, has now been carefully and lovingly restored ahead of its big relaunch, which will start in true Manc vision with an exclusive opening night gig.
The Abbey is reborn. (Credit: The Manc Group)
The vision for its new chapter will be ‘Old Pub, New Music’, creating a new home for grassroots live music and emerging artists.
There’s also affordable, hearty pub grub, including Pieminister pies, and a huge range of beers from local breweries and beyond.
Bringing The Abbey back to life are a core team of four: Ruth Hemmingfield, Wesley Jones, Jonathan Wickstead and Gareth Butterworth.
Ruth, Jon and Wesley are co-owners of YES; Ruth previously launched and programmed landmark Manc venues including The Deaf Institute, Gorilla and Albert Hall; while Wesley and Jonathan, through Now Wave, promote hundreds of independent gigs and live events each year.
As for Gareth, he’s the founder of the multi-venue festival Manchester Psych Fest, meaning that all of them have plenty of hospitality, late-night, live music and events experience between them.
The team behind The Abbey pub. Credit: Piran Aston
The rear of the site of The Old Abbey Taphouse will be extended to create a new dedicated live music and events venue, while the cherished beer garden is given a facelift with new decking and its own bar.
The Abbey has stood in Hulme since the 1890s, playing an important role in the area’s heritage – this is where activist Len Johnson managed to overturn the shameful ‘colour bar’ policies of the 1940s.
Its restoration and relaunch are part of the flourishing Manchester Science Park development.
Matthew Pazos, Senior Retail Commercial Manager at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Ruth, Wesley and Jonathan are the perfect custodians to breathe new life into The Abbey.
“Their reputation for running independent spaces in Manchester, alongside their live music expertise, will ensure this much-valued pub once again becomes a beating heart for Hulme and the wider neighbourhood.
“The reopening of The Abbey will create an inclusive new hub that welcomes everyone – from the Hulme locals who have looked after the pub over the years, to the Manchester Science Park community, university students, and the many residents and workers across the Oxford Road Corridor.
“We are delighted that such a culturally significant and important pub is set to open its doors once again.”
Ruth from the new Abbey team commented: “We love a good pub. With The Abbey, we’re excited about bringing a brilliant old pub back to life, protecting what people loved about it, and creating something special: a great local, alongside a vital grassroots music venue for the area.
“We’re honouring the pub’s history while building its future.”
Gig review | Lola Young’s Manchester comeback – A joyous return to stage at the O2 Apollo Manchester
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston
The excitement in the air is palpable in the O2 Apollo Manchester, the crowd is itching for her to make her way onto stage and is chanting her name – Manchester has missed you, Lola Young.
After an extended hiatus since she collapsed at the All Things Go festival in New York last September, Lola is back on a short tour to find her feet again. Whilst Manchester isn’t officially the first show, it is the headline performance for her comeback.
Lola’s break had come at a pivotal moment, with her third studio album, I’m Only F***ing Myself (2025), earning huge acclaim, performances across the globe, and endorsements from the likes of Elton John for her talent.
After cancelling all of her shows ‘for the foreseeable future’, Lola asked fans for their forgiveness, writing in an emotional statement: “I really hope you’ll give me a second chance once I’ve had some time to work on myself and come back stronger.”
Tough to handle for anyone, let alone a young rising artist.
It was clear to everyone that her hard work on herself had paid off, as this was a different Lola Young from the one I saw at Glastonbury last year: there was a calmness to her – she seemed more centred and more confident.
That calmness, however, did not mean a lacklustre performance: she is still a powerhouse; her stage presence is just magnetic, and it is clear to see how loved she is by her fans. The energy in the room didn’t falter the entire time she was on stage.
She kicked things off with ‘Sad Sob Story’, a song about moving on from a toxic relationship, which seemed fitting as she steps away from the drama and difficulties of last year into a fresh start. A wall-shaking opening number that set the scene for what was to follow with the rest of the show.
As part of her healing journey, Young stated that she has decided to write something special and specific for each show to tell herself if she’s worried or doubting her ability.
She shared her Manchester mantra with us: “When you are connected, when you express what you feel is true to you, when you open yourself up and share your very unique experience, remember you are electric… Those who want to listen will lean in, no matter your volume.”
Although she was clearly introspecting, she was also speaking to her audience, her fans, and expressing gratitude for them still being there. Shouts of support echoed out through the venue, her fans truly loving and supporting her as they have since day one, perhaps more so than ever.
Her performances of songs like ‘Big Brown Eyes’, ‘Not Like That Anymore’ and ‘Conceited’, showed just how much fun Lola was having on stage, being back and being surrounded by people who truly loved her.
At times, the crowd were singing along so loudly and passionately that she laughed and told the audience, “I can’t even hear myself in my own ears.” She had to occasionally take moments to step back and take it all in, seemingly overwhelmed with joy at the outpouring of love being reflected back to her.
Her band were also a stand-out, sharing in her energy and passion. It is clear that Young and her band could easily fill huge arenas with their talent and fervour, but this more intimate venue just seemed correct.
Lola continued to prove throughout the night why she was so deserving of her BRIT Award for ‘Breakthrough Artist of the Year’, and her Grammy nominations for ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Best Pop Solo Performance’.
Her vocal talent, emotional depth and electric stage presence were showcased in songs like ‘why do i feel better when i hurt you?’, ‘Post Sex Clarity’ and the incredible ‘You Noticed’, showing an extremely vulnerable side to her that had many audience members tearing up.
We saw all sides of Young during this show, with her iconic songs ‘One Thing’, ‘d£aler’ and ‘Messy’ practically blasting the roof off of the O2 Apollo Manchester.
The fans could hardly contain themselves, screaming the lyrics back at her – it was truly a night to remember for everyone.
With another night in Manchester due to popular demand, Lola promised to be back soon. Could it be a bigger tour, bigger venues, new music?
Who knows, but for now we’re just glad to see her healthy and have her back in our lives again.
Danny Jones -
30th July 2024 
