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Manc nightlife institution Matt and Phred’s is joining forces with Jimmy’s for a new live event series
Two of the GOATs doing their bit for local artists and the night time economy.
Two much-loved institutions in this city’s legendary music scene and Manchester’s nightlife culture as a whole are set to collide next month for a brand new live event series, throwing a big old party and supporting the industry in the process – who’s ready for Matt and Phred’s x Jimmy’s?
That’s right, two of the very best venues not only for live music but for booze and a bite to eat have recently announced a new collaboration which will see both Manchester city centre spots doing their bit to support local independent business as well as up-and-coming artists.
With the inaugural event in the new series set to take place at the popular jazz bar, gig venue and pizza spot Matt and Phred’s, the team over at Jimmy’s will be lending a hand to put on a great night of live music this May.
As two of the veritable tastemakers when it comes to the top tunes coming out of 0161, we can’t think of many better places to champion the Manchester music and hospitality crossover than these two.
Scheduled for 10 May, the Jimmy’s crew are set to work alongside Matt and Phred’s to deliver a mint night of music and Manc nightlife at its finest.
There’s always been a bit of debate as to when the former first opened (most have settled on 1998), but they pride themselves on being “the only true dedicated jazz venue in the North West”, with live performances pretty much every night for the week.
As for Jimmy’s, while they might have had to say goodbye to their original site on the edge of the Northern Quarter and their Liverpool location late last year too, they’ve done a good job of attracting new crowds at their current home on Cutting Room Square in Ancoats.
Hosting rising stars Denver County Council, who recently joined adopted Mancs The Blinders on their UK tour along with Wigan indie four-piece, The Stanleys, we can only hope this will be just the first in a long line of collabs between various local acts and venues.
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Not only are Denver County Council being tipped for big things, having recently got some airplay on the likes of XS Manchester, but the entire ethos of this new live series is something we can all get behind.
It might start with Jimmy’s x Matt and Phred’s, but backing nightlife and other independent businesses through spotlighting new artists has always been part of the very fabric of this city and the region as a whole, so we’re sure it won’t be long before more names get involved on both sides of the stage.
With tickets setting you back just a tenner, you’d be a muppet not to book this one in for a fun little Friday this April. You can grab yours HERE.
See you there.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — The Manc Eats/Denver County Club/Matt & Phred’s (via IG)
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James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, and has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of his run of arena shows.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad ‘You’re Beautiful’, is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour in Leeds next spring, before heading over for a night at the almighty Co-op Live in Manchester.
Then he’ll head to more cities including Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be ‘exhilarating’.
James has already released the first single, ‘Tastes Like Summer’, and ‘Weight Of It All’, with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who’ll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: “Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury.”
James Blunt will be at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 3 April, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
James Blunt UK and Ireland 2027 tour dates
- 26 March – Leeds
- 27 March – Birmingham
- 28 March – Newcastle
- 30 March – Dublin
- 31 March – Belfast
- 2 April – Glasgow
- 3 April – Manchester
- 4 April – London
- 6 April – Cardiff
- 7 April – Bournemouth
- 8 April – Brighton
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Featured image: Supplied
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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
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The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE
Featured Image: @samserved (via Instagram)
Danny Jones -
11th April 2024 
