We enjoyed another night at Castlefield Bowl on Thursday evening and Sounds of the City 2024 continues to impress, as the almighty Jungle took to the stage for one of the smoothest all-round performances we’ve seen in a long time.
The modern dance icons have been flying the flag for the disco renaissance over the past decade and, pound for pound, have become one of Britain’s very best live acts.
The coolest customers within a 20-mile radius, Jungle did have an opening DJ set to help warm the crowd up a little but, to be honest, it’s not like they needed it. The Bowl was read.
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From the moment we heard that instantly recognisable and ever-so-unique synthy and almost kazoo-ey intro to ‘Busy Earnin”, the funk was very much in full swing and it quickly became apparent that those in attendance were going to dance all night long until the very last note. And that’s exactly what they did.
That might sound pretty standard for a gig, but to actually get that many people properly grooving non-stop for more than two hours on a muggy Thursday night in Manchester, when most people are still knackered from the celebrations from the footy, is quite the statement.
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And we’re not just talking casual two-stepping: one of the things that we loved the most about this show was how many people fully threw themselves into the pure disco of it all. Us Mancs can dance, trust us; we spotted Aljaž from Strictly in the crowd and he looked impressed too.
Pretty sure we saw a 10 scorecard go up and one point, hard to say…
Jungle got a very warm welcome as they walked out into Castlefield Bowl (Credit: The Manc Audio)
But seriously though, the set was bop after bop, be it long-standing favourites ‘Time’, ‘The Heat’, ‘Heavy California’ and ‘Happy Man’, or other radio hits like ‘Romeo’, ‘Keep Moving’ and, of course, Volcano bangers such as ‘Us Against the World’ and ‘Candle Flame’.
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And yes, we did get to see a few people pull out the ‘Back on 74’ dance and yes, it was wonderful.
Honestly, the list goes on and on when it comes to these lot and one of the highest compliments we can pay the dance music collective is that they also managed to bring some of those album tracks that we’ve never been as fussed about to life on the stage in a way that we now can’t get them out of our heads.
If that isn’t the hallmark of a good live band then when we don’t know what it is. We also don’t think you’ll find many live acts where the whole team and touring crew of musicians feel just as big a part of the core group as its frontmen.
The main duo might be the geniuses that are Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland but where they excel is in spotlighting all of these various individual performers in moments and celebrating the ensemble – something that has always been at the heart of dance music as a genre.
Petition to make orange the official colour of Jungle and all good disco music? Just feels right, doesn’t it?
We might not have been able to get tickets for Glasto (literally the one act we would have been fighting through the crowds to see) but, for now, we’ll happily relish having seen Jungle on our home turf and simply watching as they turned Castlefield Bowl into a dancefloor.
With the Manics and Suede, as well as Hacienda Classical still set to play this weekend, we’ve got a couple more days to sign off this year’s festival in the best style possible.
Fast-rising alt-rock cult favourites Keo announce Manchester gig on new UK tour
Danny Jones
Up-and-coming alternative rock band Keo have just announced a new UK tour and “most ambitious chapter yet” in terms of live performances, including a Manchester gig that we CANNOT wait for.
Combining the likes of post-grunge, garage rock and more, Keo are one of the most exciting and fast-emerging new acts in the space right now, having seen their recent run of half a dozen domestic shows sell out completely.
Pulling influences from artists of The Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden, as well as most notably fellow contemporaries and former tour partner, Wunderhorse, they’re well-positioned at the front of the guitar-driven revival and are bound for big things. We’re by no means the only ones banking on it either…
Having been described as “already that band” by Dork and delivering “a sound that has given UK guitar its biggest kick up the fretboard in years” by Rolling Stone, you can bet tickets for these shows will be snapped up in seconds, too.
UK and Europe spring 2026. Pre-sale: 03 Nov 2025 10AM GMT On Sale: 05 Nov 2025 10AM GMT pic.twitter.com/Xz1km0Z93O
Set to play their biggest Manchester venue to date, Keo will be playing the O2 Ritz on Whitworth Street next spring, and let us tell you, that sprung floor is not ready…
Co-fronted by two brothers, Finn and Conor Keogh (originally from Devon before ultimately getting their music careers underway in the capital), the now London-based group make quite a racket for just the four of them.
That being said, they also do quiet moments well, too, as seen in several of the ‘calm before the storm’ breakouts in songs like ‘Thorn’, ‘Fly’, ‘Crow’ and many more.
If you like anything close to grunge or even just shoegazey riffs, trust us, they’ll be right up your street.
One of the most exciting parts about this lot is how feverishly their fans have packed out their audiences all over the country, somehow learning every single word to every song before most of the material had even been released on any kind of platform. They’ve led with their live reputation – and it shows.
Case and point – the crowd at The Key Club in Leeds, where our mates over at The Hoot got to witness them up close and personal as the entire room erupted in a chorus of screams about a girl called Amber:
“To be playing venues like these with only five songs out still feels surreal”, says lead singer Finn Keogh. “We always imagined we’d reach this level after years of supporting other bands, but somehow we’ve skipped that step.
“It’s mad, come March, our biggest indoor shows will have been our own. Electric Ballroom [in London] is a special one for me personally; I’ve seen some life-changing gigs there. To be on that stage this time around is going to feel unreal.”
Listing a total of 16 live show dates up and down the country throughout March and April of 2026, it’s fair to say we Mancs are excited to see them playing their biggest room in our city to date, having absolutely smashed Gorilla this past October.
Tickets for Keo at the O2 Ritz in Manchester go on sale next Wednesday, 5 November at 10am; you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.
The debut release from Keo has delighted fans and critics alike, and their Manchester gig is sure to be a stormer.
IDLES frontman Joe Talbot set for ’10 Songs That Made Me’ interview at AO Arena
Danny Jones
Cult favourite frontman Joe Talbot of IDLES fame is set to for an eye-opening sit-down interview as part of AO Arena’s ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series.
The lead singer of the politically-charged post-punk band will be joining the in-conversation event opposite BBC 6 Music host and popular radio host, full stop, Chris Hawkins.
Having often drifted into hardcore, art rock and even spoken word at times, Joe Talbot and co. have become known for the cutting lyricism and insightful songwriting in general, so we can only assume that diving into his own musical influences will be just as riveting.
Joining his fellow audophile on stage at the city’s legendary live music and entertainment venue this November, Talbot and Hawkins will be running through the tracks that quite literally helped create the musician we know today.
According to the AO, the arena will host an in-depth chat with the provocative 41-year-old artist as he walks Chris Hawkins through “the most important musical chapters of his life, his stunning musical journey from resident DJ at one of Bristol’s hottest clubs, through to headlining Glastonbury festival.”
It is quite the career he’s had when you break it down.
They go on to promise “raw honesty and trademark wit” as Joe reflects on the record, acts and cultural moments that shaped him as a young performer before breaking onto the scene with IDLES.
As for the ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series itself, it may be what it says on the tin, but most interestingly, being in the crowd and hearing it from each different group/individual changes the experience entirely.
“More than a story of success—it’s a journey of resilience, passion, and community”, they go on to add. “Expect an evening of candid conversation, unexpected anecdotes, and deep dives into the music that has not only defined Joe’s career but also resonated with millions around the world.
If you’re fans of the band or Talbot, in particular, you’ll already know they’re great orators; plus, if you caught even a small clip from his own fledgling Oh Gatekeeper podcast, you’ll know he loves nothing more than diving deep into tunes that shape not just the audio landscape but people at their core.
Just casually getting the lead singer of The Strokes on for in the first season, as you do…
On a personal note, we’ve watched the IDLES x Grammy Museum interview on multiple ocassions at this point, and know how much artistry there is behind everything they do.
The same goes for Talbot, specifically – there’s no doubt about that.
If you’re interested in being part of the audience for Joe Talbot’s in conversation event with Chris Hawkins as part of ’10 Songs That Made Me’, tickets for the date at AO Arena on Tuesday, 25 November are live now, and you can grab yours via Skiddle right HERE.
Last but not least, special mention goes to the interviewing expert himself, whose recent chat with Tim Burgess about The Charlatans getting back into the studio is also well worth a listen.
Tune in to 6 Music from 1pm today, @Tim_Burgess is my very special guest and rumour has it that we might get to hear a brand new Charlatans track… pic.twitter.com/vzoGDnvS7G
Danny Jones -
12th July 2024 
