A new music memorabilia shop filled with items created by the legendary design outfit Microdot has opened in Manchester.
For the uninitiated, Microdot – founded by industry icon Brian Cannon – was behind some of the world’s most famous album covers.
The studio created record sleeve artwork for every piece of music released by Oasis and Verve in the 1990s, from the living room of Definitely, Maybe to the sunken Rolls-Royce in a swimming pool for Be Here Now.
Unlike other music memorabilia stores, everything inside the new Microdot Manchester store has been created by the design outfit.
It’s all displayed on walls and rails like a museum – but just about everything is up for sale.
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One exception is a fireplace standing on one wall, which featured on Oasis’s Definitely, Maybe album cover and is currently on loan from Bonehead himself.
Microdot Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupMicrodot Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupMicrodot Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Particularly fascinating are the annotated sketches from Brian, where’s he’s revealed some behind-the-scenes insight into these legendary album covers.
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Like the familiar assortment of items around the pool on Be Here Now? Yeah, totally random stuff picked by Liam and Noel. No significance at all.
And that man with a moustache who pops up on three different Oasis covers, including the D’ You Know What I Mean artwork? It’s Brian’s dad…
You’ll also find walls covered in photo prints, from behind-the-scenes images to pictures of bands on tour, from the Gallagher brothers to John Cooper Clarke.
The shop is selling rare signed memorabilia dating back to the 1990s, alongside band t-shirts and prints.
Microdot founder Brian Cannon said: “We are very excited to be in Manchester, bringing with us a unique offering, friendly and knowledgable staff, and a great place to hang out.”
Operations manager Ben Mason added: “Manchester, for so long synonymous with musical heritage, is for us the perfect place to launch the new Microdot store.”
Microdot Manchester is located at 6 King Street and is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm, and on Sundays from 11am until 5pm.
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.
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.
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.
Daisy Jackson -
31st March 2023 
