Neuron: The dream team of AV specialists born out of Manchester’s underground scene
Behind the curtain of every great gig, there’s a team of people found a way to set the stage perfectly so that the magic could happen. And there’s one of those remarkable groups operating in Manchester right now: Neuron.
Some live shows are truly special. Not just in the moment. But for weeks, months, years, and decades afterwards. They’re destined to play out on a loop forever.
Stone Roses at Spike Island. Sex Pistols at Lesser Free Trade Hall. Oasis at Knebworth. Hacienda House Party on United We Stream. These live performances are still talked about and always will be. Not just because of who was on stage. But because during these shows – everything came together at exactly the right moment.
Behind the curtain of every great gig, there’s a team of people who’ve found a way to set the stage perfectly so that the magic could happen. And there’s one of those remarkable groups operating in Manchester right now: Neuron.
Starting out as a passion project for half a dozen DJs and musicians who just wanted to make memorable shows by pooling their resources, Neuron has expanded into a dream team of sound, lighting and video techs providing services that range from event production (including sound, lighting, staging) and management (set design, streaming) to installations (digital signage, home cinemas, AV integration).
Neuron offera a wide range of AV services
Specialists across the board in show production, Neuron rose up from the local underground scene back in 2010 – and the collective has since morphed into one of the leading AV solutions providers in the entire North West.
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Every year, they’ve gotten bigger. And after 10 years serving the city, Neuron’s portfolio now reads like a Who’s Who of Manchester’s big-name venues.
The brand has kitted out bars/restaurants such as One Eight Six and The Jane Eyre; setting the stage for club nights at Hidden and Yes; and did a little bit of everything for new venue The Blues Kitchen.
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Neuron’s team have also provided sonic experiences for juggernaut festivals like Glastonbury, Outlook and Dimensions; as well as taking the lead on live streaming virtual occasions as big as Digital Diwali.
The company has provided the platform for conferences, education projects and corporate occasions, too – including the stunning grade-II listed Rosso restaurant.
Jonny Wharton – one of the founding members of Neuron and now head of Event Production – said that the brand’s success ultimately boils down to a strong bond and shared love for what they do.
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“Neuron grew organically as a family,” he explains.
“It’s always been something we all actually care about rather than just a job. We care about the music and we care about the events.
“It’s a blessing for us, really.”
Neuron has become a leader in the live streaming sector
The events sector has taken a real wallop in recent times – and Neuron felt the blow just like everyone else. Indeed, the brand was predicated to enjoy its biggest year yet in 2020, but lockdowns scuppered what was all set to be a record-breaking business period.
Nonetheless, the Neuron team has stuck together – and so has the wider AV industry. Neuron actually worked alongside its competitors throughout the pandemic – swapping equipment and collaborating whenever it was clear one company could help the other.
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Neuron also did its bit to support its friends with the ‘We Make Events’ campaign – marching through Manchester city centre over summer as part of a day of action demanding better treatment for the events world.
The company eagerly endorsed the ‘Light It In Red’ campaign (where culturally significant buildings lying dormant were illuminated to highlight their status) and also stepped up to provide solutions for socially-distanced gigs during COVID.
When events weren’t happening, Neuron also did whatever it could to provide care homes with the necessary equipment they might need.
“We’re not sit around and do nothing people. We had to do something,” Jonny explains.
“Of course it’s been tough. The events side of the business has seen a 90% drop. And we’re still fighting to recover that. But luckily we have the installation service where we service venues with AV kit.
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“We were also a lucky recipient of the Cultural Recovery Fund – which has been a huge help.”
Neuron has provided services for venues right across Manchester – including YES
As restrictions came and went, and the performance industry tried to find a way to adapt to everything being so different, Neuron decided to become leaders.
The team threw itself head-first into the world of live streaming – mastering the art so their clients could put on immense high-quality productions even during a pandemic.
Neuron’s Trafford warehouse space was cleared and the team invested in building a brand new stage. It gave Neuron a means to turbocharge streaming and produce digital shows that gave viewers an experience as close to a live show as possible.
“[Mastering live streaming] allowed us to stay current in the community and produce virtual events that kept entertainment going,” Jonny explained.
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“Also, when we were allowed, we opened our doors to artists and musicians, facilitating live music with a skeleton crew.”
Neuron took care of its own people, too, during the pandemic – putting aside a pot of money for staff to take training courses at home if they desired.
“So many event workers and freelancers were just sat at home not knowing what to do or when work was going to come back,” Jonny recalls.
“So, we thought we could help by paying for them to learn a new skill – which might be a positive thing to do.”
Neuron has played a role in putting on huge festivals – including Glastonbury
Whilst Neuron’s ‘best year yet’ has been put on ice, there’s intense optimism among the staff for the future of the business.
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The company has secured a 10-year lease on its current home in Trafford Park – and there’s lots of work on the horizon now that COVID restrictions are due to be removed.
Experts are predicting a new Roaring Twenties at the rear end of the pandemic – with a period of “intense social interaction” expected over the next few years. And a smart bet would be that Neuron will be there behind the scenes – enabling many of these massive events to go ahead.
The brand is best-placed to serve the biggest chapter in recent history for promoters because it offers everything any venue could need.
Jonny states: “People are appreciative of one-stop shop in terms of events production. It’s not ideal to have to deal with three to four different suppliers. Dealing with one person makes things a lot easier
“Our original name had ‘pro audio’, but we dropped that as part of a rebrand to signify that we do offer a full range of services for events and venues. We wanted the brand to reflect growth and maturity.”
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Alex Morgan, Director of Venues & Installations at Neuron, added: “We can provide solutions for music venues, clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, schools and unis – it’s all bespoke.
“We’re a solutions-oriented company. Most people using this AV equipment aren’t techies – so we’re focused on making it easy.
“We’re also really easy and fun to work with. What we say is if you’re looking for something, just come down and have a chat.
“At the very least, we’ll have some useful ideas for you.”
Neuron understands the events world – because that’s exactly where it came from. The team was brought together by Manchester’s underground culture – and now they’re trying to help the industry bounce back; bigger and better than ever.
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It’s been a dismal few months for live performances, there’s no doubt about it. But it does mean we’re sure to see some historic shows take place over the coming months: The comeback gigs that will be remembered forever as launching a new era.
And Neuron will be there. Setting the stage.
Neuron-av.com
Audio
Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | March 2025
Danny Jones
Oh, hello there. Did you think we’d forgotten to do our Manchester artists round-up for March? Don’t be daft, it was just a joke – a silly little April Fool’s joke.
This is, without a doubt, one of our favourite times of the month because we get to look back at our music habits in more bitesize pieces rather than feeling like we have to defend a whole year’s worth every time Spotify Wrapped rolls around.
If you don’t know the drill by now, for one, where have you been? Secondly, welcome to the listening party: it’s the period we set aside to spotlight the best up-and-coming, underrated and veteran musicians from Greater Manchester alike – so long as they’re good, we’re happy.
Let’s get into it then, yeah?
Manchester bands and artists we’ve been listening to this month
1. Lusaint
First up on our list for March is a very talented woman by the name of Lusaint – real name Lucy Hopkins, but trust us, this is a stage name set for stardom as far we’re concerned. Manc born and bred, she has the voice and vibe of an old soul with all the talent and style to go up against the biggest around today.
She started gaining followers through her stunning covers of everyone from Kings of Leon and Whitney Houston to Fleetwood Mac, Jason Mraz and many more. That being said, her pop-forward original solo material is hitting our ‘Sweet Tooth’ and then some, so we tried to keep it cool when we met her recently.
If you’re looking for where to start, her latest single ‘Neon Lights’ has an almost laid-back, neo-soul vibe; ‘Sober’ has a bit of Winehouse and Bailey Rae to it, but the best way to sum her up is soulful R’n’B with plenty of jazz and contralto moments sprinkled in there. The piano version of ‘Dark Horse’… Oof.
You’re damn right we’re putting them back amongst our Manc artists of the month list because not only have we’ve been listening to their new album non-stop but, in case you hadn’t heard, it’s just gone to number one – their second to date!
Leigh’s very own Lottery Winners need no introduction at this point: they’re becoming an increasingly big name in the indie, pop and Northern scene in general, but they also might just be up there with the hardest working bands going right now.
We could recommend tonnes of songs to kick off with but we’d like to give a big shout to ‘Superpower’, a real bit of genre whiplash that really works, ‘You Again’ with Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers because it’s just a banger and ‘Turn Around’ because same and it has the cutest music video ever.
Now, this next one pains us slightly because Push Baby, as eclectic and interesting as they, are currently inactive as of 2022 following the release of their second full LP, Wow, That’s What I Call Push Baby!, which is brilliant subversion of modern mainstream music.
Made up of lead vocalist Jake Roche, the son of British household names, Coleen Nolan and Shane Richie, as well as multi-instrumentalist Charley Bagnall – both formerly of the boyband Rixton too – this alternative duo were pushing plenty of boundaries before they took a pause to pursue other projects.
Song wise, ‘WHAT YOU GONNA DO?’ is the closest thing to a new NSYNC track as you’ll find, ‘thenineteenseventyfive’ genuinely feels like it could fit on Notes On A Conditional Form if you just swapped out the vocals, and you simply have to start with the first song we ever heard from them: ‘thor’
You get a much different level of production on the studio version than this equally beautiful live recording. We hope they come back.
4. Tim Burgess
Our penultimate pick for this month is a Manc music legend whose music we’ve been exposed to most of our lives, but it pains us to confess were relative latecomers to his solo stuff. The Charlatans frontman had such a large body of work but we’ve finally cracked into properly for the first time.
It won’t surprise you whatsoever to learn the Salfordian icon’s own singer-songwriter records are just brilliant asd everything else he’s done in his career and we’ll feel daft to have waited this long to dive deep. There’s plenty to get through, put it that way.
Everyone’s heard ‘OH My Corazon’ (in fact, we’d wager you’ve heard even more Burgess than you realise), but we’d grown a particular soft spot for ‘Sure Enough – Eyedress Remix’, ‘White’ and ‘Empathy For The Devil’ where he voices go real Ian Brown-esque. We’ll keep digging and get back to you.
Yet more evidence that he deserves your attention and respect for what he’s done/doing for Manc music
5. Dirty Blonde
Last but certainly not least is another duo that unlike Push Baby aren’t just active but are absolutely rip-roaring through the infancy of their alt rock story already and have all ferocity of a pair of Manc music pioneers that are going to go far – Spill The Sound seem to think so too.
Modern girl rock that kicks you in the face with punchy riffs, catchy hooks, great vocals and plenty of confidence and all-round swagger that makes you think they’re made for this business. You could probably draw all manner of comparisons to contemporaries, but put simply they just sound sick.
There’s not absolute reams to get through yet as the two are ones for the future, but we’ve particular enjoyed ‘Rush’, ‘Run (When I Tell You)’ and you’d be a fool not to take a look at their new single ‘Adore Me’ which achieves exactly what the title says. Love ’em and we look forward to hearing more.
And we’re sorry to say that’s all she wrote for another month and we apologise to any of you die-hard readers for being a day late to it this time around, we promise we won’t make a habit of it.
In the meantime, you can always go back listen to our Manc music favourite from February to keep your playlists feeling refreshed – and all the other lists prior, come to think of it.
The funds will help improve the already incredible music scene in Manchester, benefitting staples likes Night and Day Café, Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club, SOUP and more.
All of the donations will be distributed across six independent music venues and will be used for various instruments, PA equipment, backline technology and other necessities depending on the requirements of each site.
Elbow have teamed up with Co-op Live in aid of supporting Manchester grassroots venues.Credit: Supplied
This initiative has been keeping Manchester’s Northern Quarter in the forefront of people’s minds when it comes to live music as well as the impressive Co-op Live.
Alongside providing vital resources for these local institutions, Elbow teaming up with Co-op Live also helps cement the North West as one of the main powerhouses in relation to live music.
The latest efforts from the largest indoor arena in Manchester fall in line with celebrating one year of bringing some of the best live music to the city, being officially open for 12 months in May.
Co-op Live have made a commitment to the people and the planet, promising to donate £1 million annually to the Co-op Foundation.
The stunning Co-op Live venue, Manchester’s largest indoor arena.Elbow performing at Co-op Live, marking history as the first act to grace the venue.Credit: Audio North/Supplied
Manchester’s latest live music venue also contributed significantly to selected charities, including Happy Doggo – chosen by Liam Gallagher and Eric Clapton’s addiction recovery centre, Crossroads.
As Elbow teams up with Co-op Live, even more money is making its way to necessary resources, this time in the likes of crucial live music establishments.
Elbow front-person Guy Garvey says: “Playing Co-op Live’s opening night will stay with us for a lifetime, not least because of how incredible the room sounded.”
“When the venue donated funds in our name to support the city we love, it made complete sense to carry that through to the Northern Quarter and to venues that have meant so much to my bandmates and I throughout our career.”
Guy Dunstan, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Co-op Live, adds: “In the past year, I have been proud to see Co-op Live become an integral part of such an incredible city.”
“Teaming up with Elbow to directly support the venues that first put Manchester on the map, and to share something so intrinsic to us as venues – proper sound – is something truly special.”