There’s a lot to be said about those people in your life that show you new music. These are the best kind of people. Cherish them, they’re special. If you don’t know what I mean, now’s the time to look for new friends.
Jokes aside, there are other ways to discover music and club history. For example, through the imaginative new concept of Electronic Echoes.
It all involves the humble QR code. We’re all familiar with these by now (thanks Boris).
Four QR codes have been placed around the city centre, each next to an iconic Manchester club – Sankeys, Music Box, Roadhouse and SoundControl.
These beloved music venues might not exist anymore, but these buildings are steeped in history waiting to be rediscovered.
“Scanning a QR code will take you to a unique page, which will feature information about the club with pictures and music from some of the artists and club nights,” said James Montrose, Electronic Echoes founder.
“Each page will have an email subscription, where you will receive a track and information about the club.
“As the project grows, we’ve got people lined up to provide exclusive mixes and interviews that will support this and add different layers to the experience.”
To kick things off, four artists that represent a healthy mix of genres have been lined up to provide tracks and mixes. From the drum and bass of Nian Dub, to the hard techno of Slave to Society, James has got it covered.
The artists featured in Electronic Echoes
As for the clubs, they’ve been selected on a personal basis, in honour of some of James’s most memorable club nights. For instance, the monthly ‘Keep it Unreal’ night at Music Box, where he went spent his early clubbing years.
But these clubs are held dearly to a lot of Mancunians’ hearts too.
Famed for its industrial warehouse vibe, Sankeys is perhaps the most well-known venue on the list. Countless household names played at this former Ancoats club, including Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, Carl Cox and Swedish House Mafia.
Sankeys Manchester closed its doors for good in 2017. But not before taking the franchise all over the world. The most notorious being Sankeys Ibiza, which I hold dearly to my own heart!
Sankeys Manchester
That in mind, the Electronic Echoes project provides us with a nostalgic look back at happier times within the scene. A touch of 2020 escapism is exactly what we need, right? But there is plenty to be learnt about our city’s past at the same time.
James recognises this and wants to “reconnect us to physical space”: A profound request, but what does it mean?
It’s all about interacting with the city’s rich music history and clubs past and present.
“What we’re really trying to do here is create something that lets you engage with the social history, memories and hopefully encourage people to (safely) venture out and learn a little bit about some of Manchester’s clubs.”
Since the first lockdown in March, James has found his DJing friends out of work. Many have been severely impacted by the lack of government support, as much of the music industry has. With this project, he wants to give back.
Roadhouse Manchester / Wikimedia Commons
“The aim of this project is to not only support musicians but also anyone who has been affiliated with the night-time club scene. Sound engineers, photographers, promoters,” James said.
“Throughout the first lockdown, it really struck me how much we depend on music in our daily lives and how much I missed the community of a night out.
“This is a way that people can at least learn about the clubs, get some music and feel some connection to the nights that have now all but disappeared.”
From the ashes of a once thriving nightlife scene, Electronic Echoes gives artists some much needed exposure. But it’ll also teach us a thing or two about why Manchester’s music scene is so valued.
So, if you’re able to get out and about safely, head to one of the four QR codes and scan to see what you can find.
Bob Vylan dropped from Manchester music festival following Glastonbury controversy
Danny Jones
English punk rap duo Bob Vylan have been dropped from an upcoming music festival in Manchester following the recent controversy surrounding their set at Glastonbury 2025.
The media storm surrounding their much-talked-about and heavily televised Glasto appearance has seen them reportedly dropped by their agency and their US Visas cancelled, along with multiple concerts – one of those being right here in Greater Manchester.
Bob Vylan were scheduled to play RADAR Fest at Victoria Warehouse in Stretford this weekend, but now the organisers have informed gig-goers that the artists will not be performing in their planned slot on Saturday.
The alternative music event did provide any additional details, posting nothing but this image:
For anyone unaware, Vylan were heavily criticised for the pro-Palestine chants, which Glastonbury itself has deemed as having “crossed a line”, labelling the chants against the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) as antisemitic.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also commented on the situation.
In addition to RADAR, Vylan were also due to appear at Kave Fest in France the following Sunday, 6 July, but the music event has also decided not to host them.
The BBC also opted not to broadcast Northern Irish band Kneecap as part of their coverage this year, as the Belfast rap trio have also been outspoken on the issue, among many other musicians of late.
Responding to the decision on social media not long after the news broke, the act simply shared the post on their Instagram story along with the caption: “Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester, we will be back.”
Manchester crowned one of the world’s best cities for music lovers
Emily Sergeant
Manchester has been crowned one of the world’s best cities for music lovers, even beating out New York along the way.
If there’s one thing Manchester is known and loved for over anything else, it’s music.
From Oasis and Joy Division, to Happy Mondays, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, The 1975, and even more modern-day acts, there’s no end to the amount of talented artists this city has produced or been home to over the years, all contributing to Manchester being one of the most prestigious music cities there is.
The city’s live music scene has always been thriving, and that continues right through to this very day, as you’ll see big-name musicians including Manchester as a destination in their UK tour schedules more often than not.
This summer is all set to be a sensational celebration of sound, as not only is an immersive art trail, Music for the Senses, taking over the city from this week, but this year’s annual Manchester Day will be music-themed too, marking one of the biggest years for Manchester music in a long time.
Manchester has been named one of the best cities in the world for music lovers / Credit: Manchester City Council | Eldhose Kuryian (via Unsplash)
Oh, and there’s also the small matter of Oasis reforming for a UK tour, including a run of gigs at Heaton Park this month.
So it’s no surprise that Manchester has been named one of the best cities in the world for music lovers, especially as the IFPI Global Music Report has revealed that the UK has the third largest music market globally – with the music industry’s contribution to the UK economy being £6.7 billion on average.
Taking this recent report into consideration, the experts over at SeatPick have collated data to uncover the best UK cities for music lovers, analysing factors such as the number of concerts, homegrown talents, music businesses, and the total number of music venues, to reveal each city’s overall music score out of 10.
Coming in at second place with a music scene score of 8.97/10 is Manchester.
2025 is all set to be a sensational summer of sound in our city / Credit: Supplied
“Manchester remains one of the UK’s most iconic music cities and with 1,204 concerts between 2025-2026, 116 live music venues, and 380 homegrown acts, the city’s live music offering is as strong as ever,” SeatPick said of its findings.
“2025 is shaping up to be a historic year for Manchester, with Oasis reuniting for the first time in over a decade, with a massive comeback show at Heaton Park – the very spot where they played their last hometown gig in 2009.”
While Manchester may have missed out on the UK’s top spot, with that title going to London, in the global rankings, our city has claimed an impressive sixth place, beating out New York’s influential music scene.
Liverpool and Leeds are two of the other northern cities in the UK’s top 10, taking fifth and sixth place respectively.
“Cities which have a larger number of music businesses are key in creating the perfect city for music fans, as this impacts the city’s cultural, economic, and social vibrancy,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO of SeatPick.
“A thriving music scene within a city means it can provide more artistic expression, support a wider range of genres, and enrich the cultural landscape, as well as attracting creative talent.”
Hannah Starkie -
4th December 2020 
