We recently popped our heads into the wittily named Withy Groove Records, the new vinyl exchange and all things music that quietly opened up its doors late last year but is now one of the latest hidden gems in the Northern Quarter.
Opening up on the edge of Shudehill on the edge of NQ and just down the road from the Withy Grove Stores buildings (hence the clever little name), the new basement record shop technically began trading in December 2023 but has only just had its front signage completed and the name put above the door.
We especially like the new striking Haçienda-inspired lettering, not that we’re biased towards black and yellow logos or anything…
But seriously though, this little den of old discs, vintage vinyl and music memorabilia is an absolute must-visit for any audiophiles out there.
From the moment you step inside to see the walls lined with countless circles of PVC, iconic album covers and old gig posters, you immediately feel like you’re walking into a player’s paradise and ready to discover a diamond in the rough.
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If you’re a regular vinyl collector, the experience will feel familiar and there isn’t necessarily any one thing that makes it feel different from other independent record shops other than the fact it is literally like a bunker built by someone who left society before the invention of the compact disc.
Founder Paul, who owns the unit situated just next door to Rambo’s — Manchester’s iconic and longest-running tattoo parlour — set up Withy Groove as nothing more than a passion project from one music lover to another, i.e. this city as a whole, and we fully expect Mancs to fall in love with this one too.
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Housing everything from 60s and 70s rock and roll classics, a healthy stock of psychedelia and genre-bending artists like Frank Zappa, to deep cuts throughout the Manchester music scene, a dedicated ‘rare and collector’s items’ section with some serious valuable issues and more, it’s a gold mine.
Beyond both lesser-known and legendary LPs, you’ll find plenty of 45sin the several boxes of seven-inch singles, books, frames, as well as t-shirts, merch and even an old pair of maracas that Bez would be proud to shake about with the best of them. There really is a bit of everything.
If you like those somewhat rough and ready spaces that don’t need a whole lot of bells and whistles to what they do best, which in this case is buy and sell records, then Withy Groove is a great place to gander the next time you’re feeling all muso and fancy some old fashioned analogue shopping.
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In fact, still in their early days, it couldn’t be any more old school in here as it’s strictly cash-only at the minute — but, once again, given the whole vibe of the shop, there’s something very nice and tangible about the physical music experience it taps back into.
If you’re heading out for a really good find on Record Store Day 2024, we definitely recommend you venture into here and, better still, there are some really good new releases and special prints on this year’s list.
The Northern Quarter’s newest record shop gets a thumbs up from us.
Global girl group Katseye add Manchester to huge new world tour
Daisy Jackson
Katseye have announced a major arena world tour for this year – and the global girl group are coming to Manchester for the first time.
The pop superstars will be performing at the Co-op Live as part of their WILDWORLD TOUR, which is taking them right across the UK, Europe and North America.
Katseye formed through The Debut: Dream Academy, which narrowed 120,000 applicants down to just six talented singers and dancers – though the group will be touring as a five-piece this time (Manon Bannerman has taken a hiatus from the band).
The Los Angeles-based global girl group, formed by HYBE and Geffen Records, merges K-pop dance training with Western pop sounds, with members hailing from across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond.
The group is currently made up of Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung.
Katseye have not yet released a full studio album but have achieved major commercial success with songs like Gabriella, Pinky Up, Gnarly, and Internet Girl.
The group have already performed a major slot at Coachella, as well as taking the stage at the GRAMMY Awards this year where they were also nominated for two awards (including Best New Artist).
Katseye will be releasing their third EP, WILD, this summer ahead of their world tour, which reaches Manchester in September.
Tickets will first be on sale via a Weverse Artist Presale from 11am on Wednesday 20 May, followed by the Katseye.World presale from 3pm.
Fans can also register for presale access by pre-ordering Katseye’s new EP WILD or by signing up – no purchase necessary.
General sale will begin at 3pm on Thursday 21 May HERE.
Katseye WILDWORLD Tour – UK and European dates
1 September – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
3 September – London, UK – The O2
6 September – Manchester, UK – Co-Op Live
9 September – Paris, France – Accor Arena
11 September – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
13 September – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
15 September – Antwerp, Belgium – AFAS Dome
17 September – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
Featured image: Publicity picture
Audio
Kacey Musgraves announces massive Manchester arena show early next year
Danny Jones
Country star Kacey Musgraves is returning to Manchester after what feels like forever away from the city, with a brand-new album and a run of live dates.
The female singer-songwriter is one of the most successful female musicians on the country scene, and after a little while away from the UK – barring a recent pre-album launch show down in Kingston – the Texan artist will be coming back to the North next year.
In support of her latest record, the sixth studio Kacey LP, the ‘Middle of Nowhere Tour’ will kick off in Glasgow, before Ms Musgraves makes her way to Manchester city centre.
One of just three British cities named as part of the leg, we can count ourselves lucky.
Hailing from the Southern US town of Golden, Middle of Nowhere, serves as the follow-up to 2024’s Deeper Well (DW), with the solo star now having won multiple Grammys and CMA Awards.
Speaking on this latest project, with finally dropped at the start of May and was immediately met with a positive reaction from fans, even after her lead single, ‘Dry Spell’, she said in a statement: “I started this record while still in the throes of DW after going through a pretty ridiculous breakup.
“The bulk of the record was made during the longest single period of my life, and I found that for the first time, it actually felt incredible being alone and existing in a space not defined by anyone else. I needed that period to really understand that I really don’t need someone to be happy.
“I became fascinated with the concept of liminal spaces, both geographical and emotional. We don’t linger in these spaces long enough. We rush to define where or whatever is next.
“I had a lot of time for reflection, clearing, and leaning into my roots in different ways […] heartbreak-soothing traditional Country music brought me comfort when I was sad.”
Coming to the AO not just for her venue debut but a very first arena slot here in Manchester, we CANNOT wait to hear these songs live for the first time.
Kacey goes on to add: “This album has a lot to do with borders. Unique things brush up against the edges of other things, and the way those melt together makes something new.
“My favourite artists are pretty genreless and have subtle infusions of so many things. But at the core of it, there’s a specific and linear feeling you get in your heart from it.”
Those looking for early access can do so by joining either her official mailing list or via the Arena’s specific venue presale window, which will open from 10am this Thursday, 14 May.
As for general admission, tickets to Kacey Musgraves here at AO Arena in Manchester in February 2027 will be available from the same time the following Friday (15 May). You can get ready to grab yours when go live right HERE.
Country really is having a huge moment right now, isn’t it?
Danny Jones -
16th March 2024 
