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‘We ran out of road’ – Manchester’s hidden late-night piano bar Sonata announces closure

'Venues are facing near-impossible challenges in the current climate'

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 29th January 2024

Sonata, a late-night piano and jazz bar tucked down an alleyway in the heart of Manchester, has announced its immediate closure.

The hidden gem live music venue opened just 18 months ago in the summer of 2022, brought to life by Dale Bassett, a former theatrical and musical entertainer who used to perform on the London scene.

It was built in a basement unit just off Cross Street, down the alleyway that runs beside Mr Thomas’s Chop House.

With an entrance that was marked with a glowing sign and a lightbulb, it felt like a real local secret.

And despite building up a loyal following through its New York-style live music nights, Sonata has announced that it has shut down with immediate effect.

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The charming venue said that it has done ‘absolutely everything’ to try and stay afloat in the current economic climate.

They also thanked the community that has grown around the venue since its opening.

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Sonata, a jazz and piano bar in Manchester, has announced its closure. Credit: The Manc Group
Sonata, a jazz and piano bar in Manchester, has announced its closure. Credit: The Manc Group

Sonata’s full statement reads: “With a very heavy heart, we’re sorry to announce that Sonata has had to close its doors for the last time.

“Venues are facing near-impossible challenges in the current climate. We’ve done absolutely everything we could to keep going but, in the end, we ran out of road.

“Customers with bookings: we’ll be in touch regarding deposits in due course.

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“Thank you to our loyal supporters, our fantastic artists and our incredible team for being part of the wonderful community we’ve built together over the past 18 months.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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‘Please help me’ – Video shows domestic violence perpetrator screaming as police dog brings him down

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson GMP police dog PD Kip assisted in an arrest yesterday

Greater Manchester Police has released a video of a police dog assisting in the arrest of a high-risk domestic violence perpetrator.

In the video, the 26-year-old suspect can be heard screaming and pleading for help as PD Kyp bites down on his thigh.

GMP says that the man had already been arrested for a serious assault on his partner yesterday morning (Thursday 7 November).

He had been handcuffed but managed to resist and escape officers, and the police dog and his handler were deployed to track him down in the nearby woodland.

The suspect had been kicking PD Kyp in the head and body, leading to the police dog biting his leg and taking him to the floor while officers caught up.

In the bodycam footage, the suspect screams ‘please help me’ and ‘he’s bitten my leg’.

District officers also discovered a large quantity of Class A drugs and weapons at the property in Hyde.

Watch a GMP police dog assist in the arrest of a domestic violence suspect (WARNING footage may be distressing)

The man was arrested on suspicion of serious assault, possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possession of offensive weapons (zombie knifes and machetes).

Following the chase with PD Kyp, the man was then further arrested on suspicion of escaping from lawful custody. He has been remanded into custody.

Superintendent Paul Walker, of GMP’s Specialist Operations Branch, said: “As he was wanted for serious offences and made off into the woodland area, PD Kyp was deployed to chase and detain the man.

“PD Kyp captured him within seconds and on doing so, the man kicked Kyp in the head and body several times.

“This resulted in PD Kyp biting the man around the thigh and taking him to the floor, waiting for his handler to arrive.

“This is a great example of the type of work our officers are doing every day – arresting a dangerous domestic abuse suspect quickly. One third of all GMP arrests are made in relation to domestic abuse related offences.

“We have also managed to take a number of dangerous weapons off the streets and away from .

“Sometimes we will have to use specialist resources to detain dangerous offenders, as was done in this instance. Using a Police Dog is just one of the many resources we have at our disposal.”

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Support Available

If you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic abuse or sexual assault, don’t suffer in silence and report it to the police by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.

You can also report information and crimes on the GMP website (www.gmp.police.uk).

Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There are also lots of organisations and support agencies available across Greater Manchester and nationally that can help and provide support for you.

For more information and to find the support services available to you, visit the GMP support pages.

Featured image: GMP

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Girls Aloud to release ‘Sarah’s Version’ of ‘I’ll Stand By You’ for BBC Children In Need 2024

Danny Jones Danny Jones Girls Aloud to release Sarah's Version for Children In Need 2024

Pop royalty Girls Aloud are set to release a special edition of their 2004 song ‘I’ll Stand By You’, simply dubbed ‘Sarah’s Version’, for this year’s Children In Need broadcast.

The iconic British girl group returned earlier this year with a huge comeback nationwide tour which obviously sold out and they also won over crowds with their touching on-stage tributes to late singer Sarah Harding during their live performances.

Harding, 39, sadly passed away back in 2021 following a battle with breast cancer and was mourned across the country, especially here in the North, with a commemorative plaque and large mural of the Stockport-born songstress thrown up in her hometown back in May.

And now, as a way to help raise money for the annual BBC telethon and honour her once again, Girls Aloud will be re-releasing the well-known ballad.

Originally a cover of the 1997 track by The Pretenders and given that they were still so early into their career, the Noughties hitmakers naturally did multiple takes before landing on their final edit.

That being said, a version that has been rediscovered in digging through the archived recording sessions features Sarah Harding on lead vocals and now the band are set to let her voice shine through.

Airing for the first time on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Wednesday, 6 November, ‘Sarah’s Version’ has already gone down an instant hit 20 years from its release, with the emotional punch of hearing Harding’s clearly hitting listeners hard.

‘I’ll Stand By You’ went straight to the top of the UK Singles Chart when it was first released and was their second-ever number one. We have a very strong feeling that the importance of this re-release will see it do exactly the same – just in time for Christmas, no less.

Fans were left spellbound during what was casually referred to as ‘Sarah’s moment’ on the Girls Aloud reunion tour, where they truly did allow her singing to become the star of the show:

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As if the charity single wasn’t a tear-jerking enough prospect already, ‘I’ll Stand By You – Sarah’s Version’ is also set to be released on 15 November, just two days before what would have been Harding’s 43rd birthday. We’re not crying, you are.

In aid of The Christie and the Sarah Harding Legacy Project, more than £1 million has been raised in the Stopfordian’s memory and for breast cancer awareness through initiatives like the creation of the mural and members of the hospital doing charity runs, bike rides, swims and more.

Speaking on social media, the band added: “The track played a key part in our ‘The Girls Aloud Show’ arena tour this summer & was an emotional moment for us all.”

BBC Children in Need 2024 takes place next Friday (15 November) and highlights from their reunion tour, where ‘Sarah’s Version’ was first heard by the masses, will be shown on ITV at 8pm the following Sunday.

Credit: BBC/The Christie

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Featured Images — BBC Children In Need/The Christie

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