One of Manchester’s most iconic gig venues has been shortlisted in the prestigious Music Venue Week Awards.
The Northern Quarter’s Night & Day Cafe has had a tough of time of it this last year as it battles a Noise Abatement Notice, despite having been a fixture of the city centre’s music scene for over thirty years.
But through adversity comes strength. And apparently, a bit of good luck, because the venue has just been shortlisted for a big award – and is up against big names from across the UK.
The intimate venue on Oldham Street is hoping to cinch the title of Grassroots Venue 2023, going up against the likes of Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, The Windmill in Brixton, Leadmill in Sheffield and The Globe in Newcastle.
Night & Day. Credit: Supplied
Supported by the Music Venue Trust, the awards celebrate and recognise the achievements of the entire music industry across 25 different categories.
ADVERTISEMENT
The awards will champion the country’s best marketing teams, retailers, promoters, record labels, venues, radio shows, ticketing companies and more.
“We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for the Music Venue Week Grassroots Venue 2023 award. It’s an absolute honour for Night & Day to be recognised amongst some of the very best grassroots venues in the UK” says Ben Smithson of Night & Day Cafe.
Smithson continued: “The award comes at a time when live music and grassroots venues continue to face challenging times.
“In addition to this, Night & Day still remarkably has a Noise Abatement Notice served upon us. We’re currently working with Manchester City Council and hope that things will get sorted very soon.”
“It’s great to be recognised and for us to be shouting about the positive things that we do and have done for the past 31 years.
“We’re up against some amazing iconic venues so we’ll need every one of your votes please!”
The winner will be announced live on stage at the Music Week Awards ceremony, London in May. Voting is now open until the end of March at the Music Week Awards website here
Feature image – Supplied
News
Andy Burnham wants to bring the ‘Greater Manchester way’ to Westminster
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has set out his vision for the country if he is to become Prime Minister.
In case you need brining up to speed first, after it was announced earlier this month that Andy Burnham had clinched the victory in the crucial Makerfield by-election, winning 24,927 votes (54.8% vote share) and a majority of 9,231, he then went onto announce his intention to run for Labour Party leader, and therefore Prime Minister, after Keir Starmer confirmed he would be stepping down.
And this week, Mr Burnham has now delivered his first speech as part of his ongoing campaign, addressing how he plans to give the country a ‘new direction’.
Burnham says that he wants to bring the ‘Greater Manchester way’ to Westminster.
A lot has been discussed and reported on when it comes to Burnham’s intentions to create a so-called Number 10 North here in Manchester, but what exactly does it mean to take the ‘Greater Manchester way’ to the capital?
“The Greater Manchester way is based on strong partnership between all sectors: public, private, community, voluntary, academic, faith, and our trade unions,” Burnham said in his speech.
He continued: “When I started as Mayor in 2017, we set about building a new approach, a new politics based on the exact opposite of the Westminster approach.
“Place-first, not party-first. Problem-solving, not point-scoring. Long-term, not short-term.
“A decade on, it’s incredible how much we’ve been able to achieve by working together instead of fighting against one another.”
Burnham said he feels the truth is that the country spends ‘too much time arguing and not enough time doing’ and that for Britain to get back where it ‘should be’, his Government would ask everyone to ‘face the same way’ and then ‘pull in that same direction together’.
He declared that No 10 North will be the ‘nerve centre’ for a rewired Britain.
“It will be the conduit through which we redistribute power and resources across the UK,” he concluded. “It will coordinate all parts of Government, at national and local level, to agree a long-term economic strategy and help all places set new growth ambitions.”
Featured Image – GMCA
News
Body of missing 15-year-old boy recovered from water at Salford country park
Emily Sergeant
The body of a missing 15-year-old boy has sadly been recovered from the water at a country park in Salford.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to reports of a teenager getting in to difficulty in the water at Clifton Country Park in Salford at around 4:51pm this past Saturday (27 June).
Since then, emergency services – including partners from Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) – have been working together to locate the missing boy.
But despite their best efforts, a body was, unfortunately, located in the water yesterday (29 June).
The body was recovered from the water by specialists at North West Under Water Search and Marine Unit, GMP confirmed.
Formal identification is yet to take place, but police are supporting the family of the missing boy in the meantime.
“Saturday’s incident is truly heartbreaking,” commented Detective Inspector Dave Ogden, from the Salford CID.
“My thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of the young boy who has so tragically lost his life. While we are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances, this incident is an incredibly upsetting reminder of the serious risks associated with open water.
“We understand people want to make the most of the warm weather, but we would urge everyone to stay safe and avoid entering reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds.
“Please take care and enjoy the weather in a safe way.”
Georgina Pellant -
8th March 2023 
