Tag Archives: Manchester

In from the rain again – doubling up with Inspiral Carpets and The Rainkings

It’s a busy life for Stephen Holt, his day job in North Manchester supplemented by roles as the singer in two acclaimed bands. As well as Inspiral Carpets, the outfit he co-formed in 1983 and rejoined in 2011 after a … Continue reading

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Public Service Broadcasting / Smoke Fairies – The Ritz, Manchester

It’s ironic that the night we decided to do without the car and took the train to Manchester, my better half and I were let down by public transport. Not so much Public Service Broadcasting as Replacement Bus Service, cheated … Continue reading

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March on with The Stranglers – the Baz Warne interview

It’s not often a front-man is still regularly held up to scrutiny after 15 years with a band, but that’s how it often goes with Baz Warne. To put it mildly, The Stranglers’ founder member Hugh Cornwell was a hard … Continue reading

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Dances with Wolves, Belfast and Wigan – Introducing The Nouvelles

It seems odd that a band that recently recorded a song for the Northern Ireland football team’s Euro 2016 campaign should be based in Wigan. What’s more, this happening indie outfit are fronted by a singer who played a key … Continue reading

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When you comin’ back? The Gretchen Peters interview

Gretchen Peters is on the crest of a wave, and loving it. After all those years perfecting her songwriting craft, getting on for 20 of those as a solo artist, it seems like the critics have finally sat up and taken … Continue reading

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Sweet harmonies – introducing Finch and the Moon

It’s been a happening few months for Caitlin Gilligan and Lee Parry, collectively known as Finch and the Moon. The harmony-driven acoustic pairing recently headlined an event at Manchester’s Castle Hotel, helping spread the word about their From Sand to Sea four-track … Continue reading

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Judy Street refused UK entry, but hoping to return later this year

I don’t tend to do breaking news on the writewyattuk blog, but on the morning of Friday, May 16, it was announced that Judy Street – the subject of a feature and interview on this site last Saturday (May 10) … Continue reading

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Eardrums buzzing on a sweltering Preston night

Wire/Stranger Son – The New Continental, Preston THERE was a sense of life in the early 1980s on Friday night at happening Preston pub venue the New Continental. I’m not talking about some lame chart-busting tribute night, but the underground … Continue reading

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Three Poets Walk Into a Club …

IF YOU still reckon poetry’s all about stuffy old school textbooks or finger-in-the-ear performance nights upstairs at your local boozer, think on. For away from the quieter corners in Waterstone’s and uni lecture rooms, there’s evidence that this ancient art … Continue reading

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The Subways – Manchester, The Ritz (May 8th, 2012)

There’s always been something about the notion of a three-piece band and how unexpectedly powerful such a stripped-down unit can be. Forget all the added extras. All you really need is bass, guitar and drums. The Jam are an obvious … Continue reading

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