A new mini documentary will take a deep dive into the personal experiences and stories of Manchester’s musicians over the past 50 years – putting focus on one particular musical instrument.
Each musician taking part in the Manchester’s Guitar Project movie is being invited to play a track using the custom-made one-of-a-kind guitar as they share their stories – and there are already some huge names involved.
Peter Hook, Buzzcocks’ guitarist Steve Diggle, Badly Drawn Boy, Happy Mondays’ Rowetta, Slow Readers Club and The Stone Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim have all played a tune with the strings whilst being interviewed.
Co-founder of Joy Division and New Order, Peter Hook, playing the custom-made guitar for the project. Image: Trust A Fox
The project’s manager, Dan Pinder, told Audio: “It’s been great working with some of the legends from the Manchester music scene – and we’ve been amazed by the support we have received to help put this project together.
“Many of these legends have been interviewed by Phil Brennan from our team and the stories that have been told give a great insight to their backgrounds and what has shaped them into the people they are today.
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“There will also be plenty of great music included and a very special cover of an iconic Manchester song to close the documentary.”
The guitar itself has been hand crafted by Martyn Heeks using six different types of wood and has taken more than 300 hours to put together. It was then donated to the project by Graham at the Manchester Scooter Centre – there’s even a silhouette of a scooter on the back of the guitar, too!
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Badly Drawn Boy being interviewed for the documentary. Image: Trust A Fox
Following the documentary’s release, the guitar will be given back to Manchester for museum display as a token of the music scene.
The whole project is in aid of n:gl, a not-for-profit community organisation based in Stockport which works with vulnerable teenagers and young adults who have fallen through the cracks in the system.
n;gl provide support, advice and mentorship to young people, and with facilities like a martial arts centre, recording studio, photography studio and a gym, they’re offering a fresh start for youngsters with the opportunity to develop new skills and discover a new hobby.
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The aim is to open up a n:gl centre in each of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs. This’ll mean the whole city can benefit from the great things the charity does.
People are also being invited to donate whatever they can through the n:gl’s donation page where proceeds go directly to charity.
Whilst there’s no release date for the documentary yet as it’s still a working progress, you’ll be able to catch snippets of it so far at the vinyl fair that they’ll be hosting. This’ll take place at Factory on July 18. Plus, you’ll be able to see the guitar up close and personal there too!
Head to Manchester’s Guitar Project’s Instagram to find out more.
Featured image by Trust A Fox.
Music
All-girl K-pop powerhouse aespa book MASSIVE Manchester arena show
Danny Jones
All-girl K-pop group, ‘aespa’, are coming to Manchester for some of their largest performances to date as part of a new global tour.
If you know anything about the K-pop scene, you’ll know that most acts are even bigger than you could ever imagine.
Manchester has gained a steady supply of gigs from artists within the genre over the past year or so, and now aespa are the latest to book the AO Arena for a headline show.
Rest assured, these tickets will fly…
aespa SYNK : COMPLæXITY
Catch the LIVE TOUR in Manchester at @AOArena on Thu 14th January 2027!
Register by [Wed 29 Apr at 6AM PT / 8PM CT / 9AM ET] for access to the artist presale: https://t.co/JuWFFMCE8Q
Dubbed the ‘SYNK : Complæxity World Tour’, this follows on from their last live iteration, ‘æXIS LINE’ shows, which began back in August 2025 and, technically, have only just ended this April.
As per an official press release, “Produced by Live Nation, the tour will bring aespa’s acclaimed live production and immersive performance experience to arenas across Asia, North America, Latin America, the UK, and Europe.”
There are actually just two shows in the entirety of Britain (the other being down in the capital), and Manchester has the good fortune of kicking off not only being the first of both, but the inaugural date of the entire European leg.
Consider us honoured.
Made up of a talented quartet – Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning, the rising South Korean stars – this female-led phenomenon is arguably one of the fastest rising acts in the world of K-pop.
Having now been to a couple of these shows for ourselves, we’re starting to understand that these artists might have some of the most passionate followings on the planet.
Kicking off the latest run of performances back in their home country’s capital of Seoul, they’ll hit multiple continents before wrapping things up in Paris.
aespa EU tour dates 2027
14 January – AO Arena, Manchester
16 Jan – London
19 Jan – Amsterdam
22 Jan – Stockholm
24 Jan – Copenhagen
26 Jan – Berlin
29 Jan – Milan
31 Jan – Barcelona
2 February – Paris
If you’re a fan or are interested in throwing your hat in the ring for a first K-pop gig experience, you can register by signing up for their exclusive pre-sale window.
As for general admission, tickets to see aespa at the AO Arena in Manchester will go live at 3pm on Wednesday, 6 May; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
Music industry rallies around pub and music venue as it’s hit with ‘malicious’ noise complaints
Daisy Jackson
A much-loved pub and live music venue is struggling with a series of ‘malicious’ noise complaints, prompting a huge outpouring of support from music industry insiders.
The Golden Lion over in Todmorden is facing uncertainty amidst the complaints from ‘some random’.
Matthanee ‘Gig’ Nilavongse, who runs the venue and its live music offering, said he’s ‘had enough’ and believes The Golden Lion is being targeted, The Hoot reports.
It echoes a similar situation in Manchester city centre several years ago, when Night & Day Cafe faced closures based on noise complaints from a resident in a nearby flat.
Gig stressed that nothing in the venue – the sound system, sound proofing, or anything else in its set-up – has changed since the noise complaints started.
He also added that people have been travelling from across the UK and even further afield to attend its events, benefitting the wider community of businesses and local economy.
He added: “Bank holiday next weekend and I’II not tolerate the threat from anyone.”
Hundreds of people, including industry names like Sacha Lord, Luke Cowdrey, and Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, have voiced their support for the grassroots venue.
Sacha Lord offered his help fighting the complaints, then added: “I’m sick to death of these NIMBYS who threaten businesses and jobs.”
Chelsea Teesdale, head of marketing for the Warehouse Project and Parklife, said: “Sorry you’re going through this. The golden lion means so much to many. I go to all kinds of gigs and venues, nothing is quite like the magic of your home.”
And Nite School Manchester wrote: “So sorry to hear you’re going through this. What you’ve built at The Golden Lion for the people of Tod (& far beyond!) is a guiding star to us Gig, and we’ll be doing everything we can to support you & the team.”
Following on from this heartwarming display of affection for the venue, Gig added: “Thank you for all supports near and far, you’re close to my heart.
“The show must go on, I’m not back down until the door is close.”
Hannah Starkie -
8th June 2021 
