Well, how now music fans!? We’re back again for February with five more Greater Manchester-based artists, be they new, old or already high-flying, that we’ve been listening to over the past 28 days in this case.
And believe us, this month’s a corker.
If you’re new to the series this year, it’s pretty self-explanatory: every month we round up five up-and-coming or just downright entertaining artists from around the region to spotlight and remind ourselves why our hometown is the absolute best place for music in Britain – nay, the planet.
Hyperbole? Maybe. Do we care? Nah, so let’s waste any more time and introduce to to some Manchester artists that might be new to you.
Greater Manchester artists of the month
1. Bou
First up on our list new Manchester music you need to be listening to is, rather fittingly, Bou. We didn’t plan for that to rhyme, but what we can tell you is that the 25-year-old producer and DJ is making some serious waves.
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Having just announced a tour of the USA and Canada this spring into summer, the Algerian-British beatmaker’s name could soon go stratospheric as our friends across the pond continue to immerse themselves in more UK dance and electronic music, as well as grime and DnB.
Bou made a big name for himself in 2023 after hopping on ‘Baddadan’ with the legendary Chase and Status; he’s just dropped a big new track with Aitch too but he’s actually been grinding since 2015. He’s only getting better but we’d say start with ‘Raving In The Studio’, ‘Wicked & Dark’ and ‘Streetside’.
From the EDM side of things to indie excellence from over Wigan way and one of the most promising bands to have come out of Greater Manchester—sorry, Lancashire* (they were insistent on that) and that is, of course, The Lathums.
We’ve made no secret of our love for these lads over the last few years in which they’ve seen a meteoric rise and now their third studio album, Matter Does Not Define, has officially dropped, we were more than willing to dive back in. Interview dropping on socials soon, by the way, so keep your eyes peeled…
You’ll get more of those charming folk vibes with plenty of swaggering guitars, trotting drums and more of their trademark “dark Western” approach intros and riffs, but the decibels, rock feel and vocals have been dialled up a notch. ‘Leave No Stone Unturned’, ‘No Direction’ and ‘Long Shadows’. You’re welcome.
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TRUCK FESTIVALLLL!!!🚛🎪
We are absolutely buzzing to announce we’re back at @TruckFestival this year🔥
We cannot wait for this, gonna be one to remember 🫡 (vid is from last year😮💨) pic.twitter.com/cVOxS8dMhI
Now this one is for all the moshers, throwback rock and pop punk fans, as well as anyone who loves it when British rock bands aim to recreate that unmistakably American sound – only this stuff is contemporary.
Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but we’re pretty confident if you regularly tuned into the likes of Kerrang TV, NME and Scuzz back in their heyday, not only would you instantly fall in love with them but they’d already be massive now.
We saw these local lads live and Night and Day recently and not only were they brilliant but their unapologetic frontman was great value. They’ve just released their debut EP Northern Blood, on which you can see the Manchester skyline and hear ‘Can’t Get Over It’, ‘Principles’ and ‘Remember His Name’.
As far as new Manchester music goes, we’re glad the city is pumping out stuff like this.
4. Oceans on Mars
Next up is another band we saw that very same random weeknight on a whim and also managed to get us very excited. Opening up for All Now were fellow Manc rockers Oceans on Mars, who provided everything from Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains to Nirvana, hints of Soundgarden, Deftones and more.
It felt rather fitting that we got all these vibes before the headliners finished with a cover of ‘Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)’, but it’s also rare that you get a night full of growly-guitar, gravelly-throated grunge like this in 2025. Not that we were complaining. It was ace.
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The intro to ‘Mousetrap’ makes us instantly think of ‘All Apologies’ only instead of Kurt Cobain you get Haydyn Biddle’s voice and it certainly sticks with you. ‘Let Me Know’ is another catchy track and third place goes to ‘Mirror’, which kicked off the post-2020 era with their new frontman. Give them a go.
Last but not least is a reminder that not every new discovery necessarily has to be new; in this case, it can just be a rediscovery of an experimental genre-bending collection of musicians that were way ahead of many other Manchester artists of the time.
If you’ve never taken a deep dive into the world of Durutti Column, we will warn you that it can turn into a bit of a rabbit hole. In fact, beyond the most well-known tracks like ‘Otis’, ‘Jaqueline’ and so on, we’re not going to even recommend tracks this time: just immerse yourself in the incredible soundscapes that Vini Reilly and co. built over several decades.
Be it making a sandpaper LP sleeve that damaged other records stored around it (so nonchalantly punk), or their sheer amount of variety in the discography, we firmly believe they’re among the most overlooked artists in Manchester music history. They even featured in the soundtrack of the most recent series of The Bear, which gave us an immense amount of joy, especially with just how well they used it.
Oop! Would you look at that? Once again, we’re out of time already. Sad face.
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We hope you enjoyed digging into more Manchester music, both new and old, that you might not have heard before. Do go away and do your extra research on them too, that’s part of the fun.
In the meantime, you can find out our first picks of the year in our list of new Manchester bands and artists we were in January, but for now, we’ll catch you next time.
Oh, and don’t forget to keep it locked to Audio North for more round-ups, music news, gig guides and interviews like this one:
Featured Images — Press Shot (supplied)/@djenvert (via Flickr)/The Manc Group
Audio
The Stone Roses’ Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield has died aged 63
Daisy Jackson
Tributes are pouring in for Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, after it was announced that the Stone Roses legend has died at the age of 63.
The bassist, who was also part of Primal Scream, was born in Crumpsall and has been one of Manchester’s most beloved musical figures ever since finding fame in the 1980s.
Mani’s brother Greg broke the news this afternoon, writing on Facebook: “IT IS WITH THE HEAVIEST OF HEARTS THAT I HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THE SAD PASSING OF MY BROTHER GARY MANI MOUNFIELD. RIP RKID.”
Mani’s wife Imelda also passed away in late 2023 after a battle with bowel cancer, for which the pair had raised money and awareness since her diagnosis.
That included a huge star-studded fundraising party where Mani and Imelda raised more than £100k for The Christie and local NHS charities.
Mani and Imelda shared twin sons, who were born in 2012.
Tributes are now flooding in for Mani, especially from those who have also been a part of the Manchester music scene.
Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown posted on X: “REST IN PEACE MANi X”
Rowetta shared a photo with Mani and Imelda and wrote: “Back with your Imelda, Mani. Going to miss you so much. All my love to the boys, the family & all those who knew & loved him.”
Tim Burgess of The Charlatans fame said: “I shared this photo a week or so ago on Mani’s birthday. It never failed to bring a smile to my face – and that was exactly the same for the man himself.
“One of the absolute best in every way – such a beautiful friend. Love you Mani x x. Never to be forgotten”
Shaun Ryder wrote: “RIP Mani – my heartfelt condolences to his twin boys and all of his family X”
Reverend and the Makers shared: “My heart is broken. Found out this morning and just felt low as it gets all day.
“Mani was my musical hero and just a lovely genuine human. When my Dad died , he offered me the warmest and best advice. No fuss, privately, straight up and always available to everyone.
“I’m a bit ill myself at the minute and not ashamed to say I shed at tear at the news. See on the next one mate.
“A true legend of the game. RIP”
Echo and the Bunnymen wrote: “I’m absolutely gutted to hear the news about Mani, who I have always loved and always will love, deeply and forever. Like a brother.
“I am in shock to be honest. Please tell me I’m just having a bad, bad dream. My thoughts and feelings and Mani, love to all of his family from me. Mac Bunnyman Xxx”
Featured image: Paul Husband
Audio
Honey Dijon and Mix-stress on Homobloc, Manchester nightlife and more
Danny Jones
We sat down at Manchester’s iconic Star and Garter with the legendary Honey Dijon and Manchester’s own, Rebecca Swarray aka, Mix-Stress for an exclusive interview ahead of Homobloc 2025 to talk about all things queer culture, house music, and the future of clubbing.
From Chicago to Manchester, the pair reflected on the roots of the scene, finding joy in dark times, and why the dancefloor remains a sacred space.
Put simply, it was fascinating to see the pair dive deep into the culture.
Sharing a drink in the historic Manchester city centre pub, here’s how the chat between Mix-Stress and Honey went down…
Mix-Stress meets Honey Dijon – the interview
‘Every time I play Manchester, it’s just always a vibe’
Mix-Stress (MS): Welcome toThe Star and Garter. Manchester and Homobloc obviously holds a special place, and you’ve played here a few times. Can you tell me about any sets that stand out that are staying with you over the times you’ve visited here?
Honey Dijon (HD): I always have a great time when I play Manchester. Every time I play Warehouse Project, it’s just always a vibe. The crowd is just so enthusiastic and so fun and just so up for it. And Manchester and Chicago have a long history with house music, so it’s always fun to come here and represent. It doesn’t matter where, when or how – all my sets here have been incredibly fun.
‘So much has changed over the years – it feels like a different century’
MS: This will be your fourth time playing Homobloc in December. You played in 2019 when it started, then two post-pandemic shows. What do you feel has evolved over the years, musically, spiritually or sonically?
HD: So much has changed over the years. I mean, pre-pandemic, it was such a different world. It feels like it was a different century, actually, and we had no idea what we were going into.
At that time, we were just coming from the MeToo movement and the lack of diversity in dance music, so there was all this political awareness around club culture, which was really great – because so many voices that started this global movement have been queer people, people of colour, a lot of women.
The funny thing about diversity is about who’s having that conversation, because my friends and what I grew up with have always been diverse. So it was a different landscape.
During lockdown, there was a shift. If you were like an 18-year-old kid, there were two or three years where you couldn’t experience anything except online. That’s when this major shift happened – things became much more corporate, much more sanitised, and more about metrics and numbers.
There was less focus on, in my opinion, the heart of it – and it became big business. What I try to do as an artist is remind people whose shoulders I stand on and where I learned my craft, and to bring people together from all walks of life. There’s a new generation coming through, but it always goes back to the house.
MS: We’ve seen dancefloors across the world put out safe spaces policies. What does a ‘safe space’ mean to you today, and how do you create that energy?
HD: I try to play music that uplifts and celebrates. I think, with just the artist that I am, I try to make everyone welcome. It’s about joy, celebration, and release. Dancefloors are sacred spaces in a lot of ways, and I think through the music vibrationally that I play and what I speak on, it attracts a certain crowd.
For me, safe spaces aren’t just about not being harassed – it’s about being able to show up as yourself without being judged.
A safe space is where all feel welcome, where people can be free and not judged or harassed based on gender or sexuality. Dancefloors do what government and religion can’t – they bring people together from all walks of life to celebrate through music.
As the world moves further right, these spaces are becoming more important than ever. None of us are free until all of us are free – so I try to do that through my work, through the music and what I speak on.
‘Look into the darkness, but don’t stare at it.’
MS: The world is heavy right now – historically and currently. Where do you find joy, and how do you filter that into what you do?
Honey Dijon always gives an insightful interview.
HD: Where do I find joy? Turn off the internet. Be aware. I love this quote from RuPaul: “Look into the darkness, but don’t stare at it.” That really resonates with me.
Music is powerful – that’s why far-right governments fear art and music, because there’s so much power in it. I find joy in love, in freedom of expression, and in self-autonomy. Those are the things I try to facilitate through my art and through my music.
‘If Homobloc was a fragrance…’
MS: IfHomobloc was a fragrance, what would be the concoction?
HD: Armpit, asshole, and lip gloss.
If that isn’t an advert for a memorable night at Depot Mayfield, then we don’t know what is.
You can see the full lineup for Homobloc 2025 and grab your tickets to see Honey Dijon in Manchester and plenty more rightHERE.
Danny Jones -
28th February 2025 
