In a touching bit of news that just goes to show the power of the grassroots music community here in Greater Manchester, a local band has successfully raised enough money to finally buy a tour van, all thanks to donations from fans like you.
You just love to see it.
The group in question is Spangled, who we’ve been following for some time over on our Audio North page, and they’ve featured as one of Artists of the Month.
More importantly, however, just a few weeks after setting up a fundraiser to help pay for a proper touring vehicle, they’ve smashed their target and then some, meaning they’ll be back hitting the road in no time.
Setting a £10,000 target when they first created the GoFundMe at the end of May, they breached the halfway point on 23 June, and now, just over a fortnight later, they’ve amassed £10,455 and counting.
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Incredible stuff.
Writing an emotional post following the conclusion of ‘Project Vangled’, the post-punk rockers wrote: “You lot fucking did it. Somehow we’ve smashed our £10k target for the van, meaning we’re in a phenomenal position to go and buy one as soon as we can over the next few weeks.
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“Special thank you to Robert Mitchell – who donated an outrageous £4.5k. We’re truly speechless and blown away. Robert, you are the man. Please drop us a message or an email, as we’d love to do something special for ya in return.
“The next Spangled chapter is upon us. And it’s all down to you, the people. LGFS.”
We’re sure you guys can figure out that final acronym all on your own, but if you’ve even been lucky enough to be at a Spangled gig, you’ll know exactly what it means; at the very least, if you haven’t listened to their stuff yet, you really need to.
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Have you checked our first monthly listening round-up of the year? 🎧
Our inaugural cover stars of 2026 are the incredible @Spangledband – or rather the great bit of artwork for their latest single is. 👌
It’s also been great to see the reactions to the news on social media, with fellow industry peers such as promoters This Feeling and music outlet RGM Magazine both popping up in the comments to pass on the congratulations to the lads.
Oh, and big Rob Mitchell, whoever you are, you’re an absolute legend.
We just love hearing stories like this, especially when it involves up-and-coming artists that we know and love, not to mention truly believe can go all the way if given the right kind of access and a helping hand every now and again.
So to all those who have, give YOURSELVES a hand, and continue to show your support for the rising stars of the future like, well, these guys…
Oasis release trailer for Don’t Look Back In Anger documentary – watch it here
Daisy Jackson
A new trailer for the upcoming Oasis documentary, ‘Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger’, has been released today.
The highly anticipated documentary follows the iconic Manchester rock band as they reunited for a series of epic comeback gigs last summer.
The Gallagher brothers broke up the band 15 years prior to the Live ’25 shows, then returned in spectacular fashion for gigs including five sold-out nights at Heaton Park in Manchester.
The band were followed throughout their triumphant comeback tour by film crews, for the documentary film ‘Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger’.
Fans will see never-before-seen snippets of rehearsal, backstage, and onstage, as well as the first joint interview with Liam and Noel in more than 20 years.
It will also explores the profound impact that the reunion had on fans, and chart the global phenomenon that was Oasis Live ’25.
One of the people behind the new documentary is Steven Knight, of Peaky Blinders fame.
Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger will be released in the UK on Wednesday 9 September and you can book tickets HERE.
Watch the full trailer for Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger below:
Elbow get behind campaign to save Jodrell Bank from closure
Danny Jones
Manc band Elbow are among the latest to get behind the campaign to save Jodrell Bank Observatory from closing permanently.
The Greater Manchester natives famously played a sold-out gig at the important scientific and cultural landmark for a very special live album recording well over a decade ago, and know all too well the site’s national and, indeed, global heritage.
Choosing the Observatory and the rare chance to perform a show in the shadow of the world-renowned James Lovell Telescope, it probably remains one of their most significant standalone UK date ever.
With that in mind, the local lads have been left just as worried by the news of its impending closure as everyone else, and have therefore issued a fresh appeal to help keep it open.
Posting a timely statement on social media, the group wrote: “Jodrell Bank has long been close to elbow’s heart. In 2012, the band played beneath the Lovell Telescope for one of the most memorable shows in our history.
“The recent news that funding for the e-MERLIN radio telescope network is set to end in 2028 puts the future of the scientific work at Jodrell Bank under serious threat. It is a remarkable place, with an extraordinary history, and one that continues to play an important role in science, culture and education.”
In addition to reliving clips and images from the historic live set all the years later, they also pointed people towards their ‘elbow – Live at Jodrell Bank‘ album documentary, which has now been made available online for the very first time as part of wider efforts to raise awareness around the cause.
Directing people to key online resources shared by the institution and astrophysics centre itself following their unfortunate update late last month, the push to not only find the funding but sustain support for the facility continues to ramp up throughout the world of science, arts and industry.
For anyone who somehow missed the news – 2028 being the current deadline handed down as per budget cuts across the sector – concerned parties here in the North West and all over the country have since started petitioning to save Jodrell Bank Observatory from shutting down for good.
In addition to being described as a “huge blow” to the field by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), some have even gone so far as to describe the decision as a form of “vandalism” when it comes to research and British culture as a whole.
Having also served as the host venue for the annual bluedot Festival since 2016, the multi-genre science and arts celebration could soon be forced to find a new home.
The battle is far from over yet, and the community has time to rescue Jodrell Bank Observatory from its fate, but it will take lots of money and more notable public figures to make it happen.
Once again, you can do your bit by signing the petition mentioned above right HERE.
Danny Jones -
9th July 2026 
