Hailing from the musical capital of the world, Manchester, music has to be in Pale Waves’ blood, right?
Years and years-worth of bands have trodden the city’s stages and music venues before them, and yet this band is still pulling off something new, engaging and worthy of our attention – they really do tick a lot of boxes.
Making music within the indie-pop scene, the band are relatable on so many levels because personal lyrics and first-hand experiences often define the genre. And so, you’d be hard pressed to find a Pale Waves song that doesn’t resonate with you in some way.
So, keen to learn how the band do this so well and discover what we can expect for the year ahead, we caught up with lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie this week. From Neighbourhood Weekender, to album number three, there’s plenty to come.
Pale Waves will play Neighbourhood Weekender next May alongside other big Manchester names.
So, your music is really infectious and approachable, what do you think is the key to this?
I absolutely love big melodies so I think that may be one of the things that makes the songs quite instant. I just love pop music as well, so I think that feeds through to all of our music, even the more alternative tracks.
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What kind of themes and issues do you like to raise with your music?
We like to be very honest within our music so everything is written from a very personal perspective. Hopefully a lot of those experiences are shared with our fans and I like to think they can relate across the different subject matters. Whether that be love, loss, relationships, mental health, sexuality and anything else we are writing about.
Who and what have been your main inspirations over the years?
We really are influenced by a wide variety of artists. On album one we were very much influenced by a lot of 80’s artists, especially The Cure. But my love of the music I grew up listening to came to the fore more on album two, as well as artists I have discovered more recently like Liz Phair and Michelle Branch.
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We understand you’ve started work on your third album, what can you tell us about it?
We have! I have been writing it in LA for most of this year and we have just started recording with a great producer called Zakk Cervini. I won’t talk too much about the sound before it’s finished, but I love everything we have written so far and think they’re definitely the best Pale Waves songs to date. Really can’t wait for everyone to hear!
The band have started work on their third album.
After some time out for various reasons, the band are gigging once again. They already have a load of tour dates in the 2022.
Starting on February 11, they’ll embark on a 12-date UK tour, visiting all the major cities along the way, including London, Nottingham and Birmingham. But rounding the tour off in the biggest way, will be their headline gig at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse on March 1 – one that the band are really gearing up for.
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What can we expect from your big headline gig at Victoria Warehouse in March?
We really can’t wait to get back out playing to our fans. Our life as a band has been all about touring and playing hundreds and hundreds of shows, so it’s obviously been a super hard two years not being able to play at all. I think it will just be a real celebration if us and our people all being back in a room together and having an amazing collective experience.
You’re also playing Neighbourhood Weekender in May, of course.
Yes! We love festivals and are always so welcomed in the north. This will be our first festival back so we’ll try to make it a memorable one for everyone!
Neighbourhood Weekender will take over Warrington’s Victoria Park once again on 28 and 29 May, where Pale Waves will join the likes of Courteeners, Kasabian, Blossoms and DMA’s on an incredible lineup of talent.
The festival is located just 20 miles from the city centre and has plenty to offer on top of the music, too. From grabbing a pint down the local at the ‘Neighbourhood Inn’, to stocking up on festival essentials at the Corner Shop Rave, to silent discos in ‘The Library’, there’s so much to experience.
Tickets for the festival are on sale now and you can find loads of information here.
A much-loved Manc grassroots venue is hosting a live screening of The Traitors final
Danny Jones
A beloved grassroots venue here in Manchester city centre is holding a big screening of this year’s The Traitors final.
Consider already there with bells, whistles and a big hood on.
Yes, following the return of The Traitors mainline show this month, not to mention even more versions of the show landing on the BBC in 2026, we’re expecting record-breaking numbers of viewers for this year’s highly anticipated ‘Grand Final’.
With that in mind, Manc favourite arts and entertainment venue, Fairfield Social Club (FSC), will be playing The Traitors season four final on the big screen.
You do not want to miss this, and we don’t just mean the episode: we’re talking about the unparalleled and often unhinged vibes at Fairfield.
Having been to plenty of live events at FSC over the past 18 months or so, from live viewing parties and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia quizzes to nights out with other social clubs and community organisations, we can personally vouch for their hosting chops.
As for this particular watchalong, they’ve promised they’re “going all in for The Traitors Finale 2026, live on the FSC big screen with a full crowd, big reactions and plenty of drama.”
With the team set to deliver a full pre-show Traitors quiz with plenty of prizes up for grabs, and even free drinks for anyone who turns up in a cloak or top-notch Claudia Winkleman fancy dress, there are so many reasons to make this gaff the place you choose as your venue for the final.
We’ll also be making sure to attend their upcoming Lily Allen line-dancing show, because we’re still obsessed with West End Girl.
Like with The Traitors final, don’t worry, they’ve done this dance MANY times before.
Honestly, this place never disappoints when it comes to variety or enjoyment.
As if any of the above wasn’t already convincing enough for you, tickets are just a fiver, and they also include a welcome drink. Doors will open 6pm, and seating plans are simply first-come first first-served.
Not only is that a great deal across the board, but it’s also probably one of the cheapest drinks you’ll find in town these days…
If you fancy joining in the chaos and inevitable chorus of gasps when the Grand Final goes live, you can grab your tickets for the conclusion of this season’s Traitors at Fairfield Social Club right HERE – and we promise you that it will sell out fast.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (via BBC)/Fairfield Social Club (supplied)
Gigs & Nightlife
‘Big John’ is bringing his ‘BOSH’ bingo to Manchester
Danny Jones
Attention, all you ‘Big John’ lovers, the man himself is coming to Manchester this year for his very own ‘BOSH Bingo’ show.
Excessively large takeaway order not included*
That’s right, ‘Big John’ Fisher has gone from being a viral sensation famous for eating shedloads of Chinese and saying that one catchphrase to hosting his very own live bingo tour.
Even by his standards, his announcement video was an eye-catching one, to say the least – and we expect the event itself to be equally hilarious.
— big john the boshfather (@Johnfis08605918) January 7, 2026
For anyone somehow unfamiliar with ‘The Boshfather’, there isn’t a single sentence that isn’t completely accurate, and that doesn’t sum up pretty much everything you need to know about the man, the myth, the legend.
Besides his son, Johnny Fisher Jr., being an aspiring boxer and fellow influencer on the side, as well as having appeared on Newsnight to talk about the UK’s multiculturalism being what makes this ‘Great Britain’ (legend), his legacy will very much be written online and on the back of a take-out menu.
Or will it?…
Riding the back of his growing popularity and being quite literally the physical representation of a British bulldog, he’s now preparing to do live shows all over the country.
Set up at the start of the New Year, the 51-year-old will be heading to Manchester city centre and more throughout 2026 for his debut BOSH Bingo tour.
Visiting 12 locations in total, he is promising “rave intervals, on stage competitions, ‘bosh’ prizes and, of course, a sprinkle of chicken balls for good measure.”
Put simply, not only the chaos of everyone’s favourite Bongo’s, “This is not your average bingo night, it’s BOSH BINGO!”
Sounds ridiculous… We’re SO there.
Coming to The Grosvenor on Oxford Road on 21 February, before heading to the likes of Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield, just to name a few, you can grab your tickets right HERE.
Let’s just say there’s some very silly but nevertheless fun and fantastic stuff happening in town this year.
Hannah Starkie -
3rd November 2021 
