Manchester music promotors Open Beat have revealed the details for their first round of shows taking place later this year – and they’ve got a whole host of emerging Manchester-based talent to showcase.
Born from a love of the city’s music and everything it has to offer, Open Beat have spent two years developing a brand-new platform for up-and-coming musicians from in and around Manchester to play live and get their music heard.
Their inaugural series of events, ‘Open Beat Presents’ kicks off in August, with four initial dates taking us through to the end of the year.
The first, on Friday 20 August, will see The A.V. Club, The Demo and Rivet City take to the stage at the legendary Night & Day Café.
Warrington band The A.V. Club take inspiration from the soundtrack from hit Netflix show Stranger Things to create their own blend of modern indie-pop. Whilst the indie-rock sounds of The Demo and Rivet City will provide some variety to the night.
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Some of Manchester’s biggest bands came through the Night & Day Café in their early years. So much so, the iconic venue has become somewhat of a rite of passage for new bands nowadays, making it the ideal venue for an Open Beat evening.
Next up, on August bank holiday Monday, will be a specially curated lineup from Manta at another iconic Manchester venue. This time, it’s Oldham Street’s The Castle Hotel that will open up its intimate setting for an evening of live music where you can really get behind these amazing new artists.
The Manta & Friends showcase will feature a selection of the best emerging artists from international music college BIMM Institute. Newcomers Sweets, Sam Brockett and Bluloom will join Manta for an exciting mix of music styles.
On Saturday 30 October, a Halloween special will take over Northern Quarter venue Off The Square.
The all-Manc lineup will see a headline set from Kosmonauts. Since their debut release in 2017, Kosmonauts have become known for their energetic style and honest “real-talk” song writing.
Pre-COVID, they had a strong run of sold-out shows and landed supporting slots for some big bands. Now, it’s their time to shine again.
Foxglove. Image: @ianthe.w/IG
They’ll have support on the night from Foxglove, a quirky four-piece who have already proven to be breath of fresh air, alongside Kestrel Palace, who will complete the bill with his thought-provoking lyrics and Oasis-inspired vibe.
The fourth gig remains under wraps for now. But we can tell you it’ll be held Gorilla in December. Organisers are promising a huge headliner for this one to close this first round of gigs, though. Keep your eyes peeled for another announcement very soon.
However, alongside their Open Beat Presents series, they will also be putting a special freshers all-dayer edition at Hatch on Thursday 23 September, in association with BIMM Institute.
There’ll be loads of live music from artists who are set to play in the Open Beat series. So, expect the return of Manta, The Demo and Foxglove. Plus, Minerva Daisy and Kid Blue will also appear, with music from Unity Radio and BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ Jermaine Lee throughout the day, too.
All the usual independent Hatch food and drink vendors will be on hand to keep you topped up throughout the day. Tickets for this one are on sale here.
Head over to Open Beat’s Instagram here to stay up to date.
Featured image: Graham Binns
Gigs & Nightlife
One giant house party – Ne-Yo and Akon at Co-op Live, Manchester
Hollie Wells
‘So Sick’ of seeing pilates and matcha; when all you need is a messy naughties night out? Iconic duo Ne-Yo and Akon can, apparently, take you there.
Imagine the best house party of the 2010s with 20,000 of your favourite guests on perfect form, and you know what Co-op Live has been like for the last two nights for R&B royalty Ne-Yo and Akon.
Hosting a collaborative catalogue of bangers from both the stars, the atmosphere was buzzing with nostalgia and a readiness to have the ‘Time of Our Lives.’
Not only were we treated to two icons, they shared the stage with amazingly talented dancers, performing on the ground and in the sky, and perfectly embodying the showmanship of Ne-Yo and AKON and amplifying the party atmosphere.
It feels like there are endless group numbers, and if that wasn’t enough, these dancers start hanging on aerial silks from the rafters of Co-op Live by one foot and dropping into the splits on Ne-Yo’s lap. Casual.
This is a night for screaming timeless heartbreak anthems like ‘Angel’ and ‘Lonely’, throwing some ‘Dangerous’ dance moves, and throwing your arms around your best pal while copious amounts of confetti fall over you.
Not only did we get the classics, the packed audience of party people were presented with a dance-battle style compilation of tunes that the singer-songwriters were involved with.
And of course, they had a plethora of perfect numbers, including Rhianna’s ‘Hate that I Love You’, Gwen Stefani’s ‘The Sweet Escape’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Irreplaceable.’ A triad of divas, and these songs never get old.
With a running time of two hours and forty minutes, it is clear that these two are not short on hits.
Needing an interval at a gig is a flex and I would confidently say this Manchester crowd would have parted all night long, particularly the three lucky ladies who were called on stage to two-step with Ne-Yo. The office wont believe that on Monday.
If you’re craving a time-hop to 2010 and a setlist with zero flops, you’re in safe hands with Ne-Yo and Akon.
Rare picture of David Bowie’s legendary one-off gig in Stockport unearthed
Danny Jones
A rare picture taken from the night of the late, great David Bowie’s legendary one-off gig in Stockport has been unearthed by a local whilst digging through his loft.
Imagine having that kind of history just squirrelled away in an attic…
As revealed by Stockport Music Story, after being supplied with the image by David Maynard, the snap was shared more than half a century on from the much-mythologised moment in Greater Manchester music history.
In fact, it was put on display and posted on social media quite literally 56 years to the day since Bowie played his only Stopfordian set on 27 April, 1970.
Maynard himself is featured in the newly discovered photograph (second from the left) and was one of the select and lucky few who were in the room for that very special show.
Organised by a group of teens on behalf of the Stockport Schools’ Students’ Union, the performance took place at the long-gone Poco a Poco music venue and club over in Heaton Chapel.
The storied space hosted many big names over the years – Gerry Marsden, Freddie Starr, Hank Marvin and more – but sadly closed in May of 1987 following a fire.
It went on to become the popular Hinds Head pub, which still serves punters to this day, but once had the honour of hosting a true artistic great and British icon.
For anyone wondering, this is indeed the same night on which David Robert Jones (yes, that’s Bowie‘s full birth name) missed his train home and had to sleep on the railway platform.
Here’s a BBC segment covering the tale back on its 55th anniversary in April 2025.
It may be a small and somewhat curious claim to fame, but native love the legend of it all nonetheless.
As for the other individuals pictured alongside him, Stockport Music Story (SMS) said: “The names of the people we know are David Maynard (2nd left), Roz Wood (3rd left), David Bowie, Bill Frost (2nd right), Stewart Rigby (right).”
They go on to add: “It would be amazing to find out who the other people in the photograph are and what they remember from that night.” We sincerely hope they do.
You can now see the plaque up close and personal at Stockport Station for yourselves and as for SMS’s growing archive of the region’s creative culture, you can find out tonnes more about other pieces of SK heritage right HERE.
Hannah Starkie -
10th June 2021 
