With some time left until we can enjoy live music in Manchester again, Marylebone Records is supplying a fresh livestream series to keep us going – featuring the city’s best rising urban music stars.
The label, which is responsible for some of Manchester’s finest up-and-coming talent in rap and R&B, is launching a live urban music showcase tomorrow (Thursday 6 May).
The first event in the series will feature an impressive selection of artists, including a special guest performance from Tays. The Moston-born rapper is known for his cheeky lyrics and strong Manc accent and has rubbed shoulders with long-time best pal Aitch for years.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CG7_Wp2nUtX/
Tays will be debuting a brand-new track during his exclusive performance. His most recent release ‘Day 1’ with fellow Manc SVMI, released on Marylebone, has received tonnes of attention over the past few weeks.
August III is also set to perform. The Marylebone Records alumni is originally from Leeds but is a firm fave in the Manchester scene. Following the success of his tracks ‘Do My Dance’ and ‘Paaji’, the R&B and trap artist is ready to drop his EP ‘Hospital Talk’ at the end of the month.
ADVERTISEMENT
R&B singer Francesca will also provide some soulful vibes for the event. Her song ‘Easy’ features on our ‘Sounds from the Rainy City’ Spotify playlist – check it out here for a little taster.
But it’ll be Ragoloco who’ll be heading up the evening. The rapper was part of the winning Manchester team for Redbull’s Grime-A-Side clash a few years ago and he’s been killing it ever since.
ADVERTISEMENT
https://www.instagram.com/p/COQJUuIB-UU/
Marylebone Records, which also has Tyreezy and Shalamar Baker on the roster, prides itself on an artist development programme which supports up-and-coming talent in particular – providing local musicians with a state-of-the-art recording facility at their Northern home in Hulme.
The stream starts at 7pm and the link will be posted on Marylebone’s socials in the next few days. So, keep an eye out here.
James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, and has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of his run of arena shows.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad ‘You’re Beautiful’, is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour in Leeds next spring, before heading over for a night at the almighty Co-op Live in Manchester.
Then he’ll head to more cities including Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be ‘exhilarating’.
James has already released the first single, ‘Tastes Like Summer’, and ‘Weight Of It All’, with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who’ll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: “Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury.”
James Blunt will be at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 3 April, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Hannah Starkie -
5th May 2021 
