Manchester-based, Berlin-born producer Mark Crawford – a.k.a. Macious – drops his brand-new single today. ‘Take My Light’ ft. F.A.R is an emotional reflection on the anxieties that the pandemic has caused. Sadly, that’s something we’re all too familiar with.
Like many DJs and producers, Macious spent the majority of 2020 writing and making new music. But being a visual artist too he even managed to squeeze in some projects with Camel Phat, Hot Since 82, Solomun and Solardo along the way.
But since moving to Manchester and working on his music productions, this release will be Macious’s first since 2019.
Inspiration for the new song came to him on a rainy train journey to Amsterdam from Berlin in the summer. It was a time when his head was full of COVID-19 stress and he was finding it hard to process the uncertain state the world was in. And so, the track is a defiant rejection of those negative emotions.
With an education in electronic music, Macious is a producer first and foremost. He prefers his music stripped back, falling neatly into melodic house and techno genres. With roots in Berlin – the techno Mecca of the world – he’s played some of Berlin’s most famed clubs before moving to the UK.
Now residing in Manchester, he’s taken the opportunity to develop the Macious brand. He’s performed some outstanding sets and mixes recently. But his tracks such as ‘Simmer Down’ and ‘Islands’ in particular have received loads of support from BBC Introducing and Radio 1.
Speaking about the song, Macious said:“I wanted to release some thoughts and tension and turn them into a sound which really replicated the energy that was building up in me.
“The song was already produced a few months before, but the lyrics came within seconds at this moment in thought. I intended to write the song to give the listener some energy to punch through their emotions and find a little clarity, or even just to groove out to the track.
“This has also shaped a new sound, which I have grown a big connection to over the last year and I hope this will with the audience too.”
So, we thought we’d mark the release with episode five of our Manc Mixtapes mix series – brought to you by Macious himself. It’s 30-minutes of vibey mellow beats to provide the ideal tonic to this crazy world we’re living in right now.
The mix series is designed to shine a light on Manchester’s up and coming DJs, producers and record labels. Previous episodes have featured the lads from Orange Records, drum and bass heavyhitter Boa and house DJ Liam Hyphen. Head over to our Mixcloud to catch up. Oh, and don’t forget to like, share and follow, whilst you’re at it!
‘Take My Light’ is out on 28 January and you can listen to episode five of Manc Mixtapes right here.
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Soft rock heroes Foreigner announce UK tour including big Manchester gig
Thomas Melia
Foreigner are bringing their soft rock classics over the waters and to the UK as they embark on a new tour which features a Manchester stop.
Formed in the 70’s, Foreigner are a British-American rock band known for their catalogue of soft rock, including hits like ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ and ‘Cold As Ice.’
These rockers have gained a newfound following of late thanks to their music making an appearance in an array of yet more contemporary TV shows like Stranger Things, Euphoria, Wednesday and more, having been heard in plenty of films over the years.
This UK tour marks the band’s return to Manchester after four years – and no, you’ve not got ‘Double Vision’: they are in fact revisiting the same iconic arena they played back in 2022, AO Arena.
The band may look a little different on their next visit as Kelly Hansen, former vocalist of Foreigner, has stepped down after 20 years and has handed the reins over to the equally impressive Luis Maldonado.
This newest gig announcement, set for 2026, will celebrate a landmark 50 years since the band formed back in 1976, and you can expect to hear all their greatest hits.
Foreigner are no strangers to the charts with a chart-topping album and single as well as five Top 40 hits and five Top 40 albums – I guess you could call them the ultimate ‘Juke Box Hero’.
The band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in 2024, and to celebrate, they played their timeless classic ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ with pop singer Kelly Clarkson performing alongside.
Whether you’re there for ‘Urgent’, ‘Double Vision’ or ‘Waiting For a Girl Like You’, the New York-formed rockers will be smashing out their variety of anthems at AO Arena next year.
Now, Foreigner are coming back to Manchester and the AO Arena on Thursday, 18 June, with tickets for the gig going on presale this Wednesday, 3 September at 10am GMT.
As for general admission tickets, they will be available from the same time on Friday, 5 September – you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.
They’re not the only rock legends booking big Manc arena gigs recently, either.
Featured Images — Press shot (supplied)/Jim Geuther (via Vinyl Records Gallery)
Audio
Aussie punk rockers and cult favourites Amyl and the Sniffers announced biggest Manchester gig yet
Danny Jones
Australian pub rockers and punk outfit Amyl and the Sniffers have announced their biggest Manchester headline show to date, and we CANNOT wait.
In case you hadn’t guessed, we’re pretty big fans here at The Manc Group.
The cult favourites have made a big splash on the music scene over the past couple of years, playing big festival slots at the likes of Glastonbury and R&L Fest 2025, winning over new fans in the process. We had a feeling they were bringing some big to our shores…
I mean, you could argue they made it fairly obvious where it was going to be held, but it was still a cool little teaser campaign, nevertheless.
That’s right, Amyl and the Sniffers have booked the O2 Victoria Warehouse – an ideal venue for any heavy gig – later this year, following the big poster going up outside the venue in Trafford Park last week.
Fronted by frenetic frontwoman Amy Taylor, they’ve grown a strong following outside of their home country of late, not only winning multiple Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards but picking up gongs from the NME, Kerrang and more since 2022.
They received plenty of accolades for their sophomore record, Comfort To Me, and collected even more for their latest album, Cartoon Darkness, which they’ve been touring pretty much ever since.
It’s that same project that they’re bringing to Victoria Warehouse this autumn, with the punchy ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ performers almost nailed on to sell out the 3,500 capacity venue.
Tipped as a ‘one-night only’ experience, with support from Floodlights and The Menstrual Cramps, this should be a tasty one.
Aussie rock and indie really is having a moment right now, with the likes of Spacey Jane and Royel Otis both set for big Manc gigs this year too.
The early access window opens from 10am this Wednesday, 3 September, with general admission tickets live from the same time the following Friday (5 Sep). Besides the sold-out Ally Pall show, this is their very LAST headline gig of the year, don’t miss it.
You can get ready to grab yours for 22 October right HERE.
In the meantime, why not watch the moment Amy joined Fred Again in the flesh for a live set over in Sheffield last month?
Hannah Starkie -
28th January 2021 
