In The City Unsigned 2009 is the 3 day music festival in Manchester that the_content(showcases new music and is literally swarming with A&R guys,label scouts and generally all the big guns of the music industry sniffing around for the next big thing. It takes place on 18th, 19th and 20th October 2009 at The Midland hotel and throughout the venues and bars of Manchester, England.)

If you’re ready to be snapped up by a major and live the rock star dream, then you can apply to be part of In The City 2009 by visiting: www.inthecity.co.uk/applytoplay and providing a link to your online music, a 300 word biography and a photo of yourself. Full application details are in the ‘apply to play’ section of the In The City website, along with postal details should you prefer to send a CD and info.

Esteemed users of ilovemanchestermusic.co.uk and internet personas everywhere, most probably, armed with sanctimonious opinions and devoid of all social skills: please spare the premature hyperbole but, as ‘local music’ and I have had a colossal falling out over the last few years or so (unequivocally due to the fact that my hapless ears have been confronted with absolute gash everywhere I seem to turn), attending this little gem of a shindig has started me back on the long and rocky road to be becoming a ‘glass is half full’ kinda guy.

This was the launch party for The Freezing Fog’s second outing of prog-influenced, huge riff-rock bastardness which, in itself, is an event to be much celebrated. With all due respect though, the night was much more than that.

All three bands (three most definitely being the magic number when it comes to a line-up of bands spraying out loud rock music from every orifice) were on top form and entertaining the faces right off the sizable crowd in attendance. Respectful bonus nods of appreciation must also go in the direction of whosoever was manning the sound desk – a man most certainly with his priorities all present and correct. The balance of guitars and vocals meant that both soared right to the back of the room whilst the instruments belonging to each rhythm section pounded the rib cage with just the right amount of force.

Humanfly opened up and set to bombard me with unremitting but very organised noise for what seemed like a very long time. The much welcome and sometimes pensive and intermittently calm pockets of quietness were nourished with lightly tapped cymbals and clean guitars and sat well with the seemingly randomised vocal spurts, sans audible lyrics disappointingly lost elsewhere.

Thanks to this last lot, the synapses connecting the ‘I’m having a bloody great time’ parts of my brain were sufficiently warmed up, with the next lot pushing the poor little buggers right up to firing on all fucking cylinders. The Plight had my cheeks aching due to the grinning, my neck aching due to the involuntary head movements and, most gratifying of all, my ears aching due to the sheer raw energy emanating from the stage area. If you’re the kind of person who feels like they have been unfairly stripped of their God-given right to musical enjoyment because you happened to have been born in the wrong decade, I urge you to see this band live in order to receive the restoration of the justice you so rightly deserve.
This point leads me nicely on to the final band of the night.

I’ve seen The Freezing Fog a few times now – always tight, always loud and always rockin’ on top form. Tonight was a big slice of this formula served up on a nicely warmed, no-frills retro platter. Shit metaphors aside, this band have clearly met and connected on a mutual musical level, ticking boxes for groove, authentic 70’s guitar tone, heavy low-end and hard as fuck, vest wearing ,drum shenanigans.

I’ve purposely been vague in my description of the night’s events (having nothing at all to do with the fact that I was steaming drunk by the end of it), but hopefully, just vague enough to influence that aching need you may have inside you to get off on genuinely decent hard rock music next time any of these bands play a dark ‘n’ sweaty venue near you.

Manchester International Festival is the world’s first festival of original, new work and special events and takes place biennially, in Manchester.

The Festival launched in 2007 as an artist-led, commissioning festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, music, visual arts and popular culture.

This year’s festival runs from 2nd-19th July 2009 and we recommend this event:
‘It Felt Like a Kiss’ which is a walk-through production that tells the story of America’s rise to power in the golden age of pop, and the unforeseen consequences it had on the world and in our minds. This daring production unfolds across five floors, blending music with documentary and the disorientating whirl of a fairground ghost train with original music composed by Damon Albarn. Tickets are £25 and available on 0844 815 4961.

See the website for the full list of events www.mif.co.uk

What we say: They play a really good mix of old school punk like The Descendants alongside melodic hardcore (think Jawbreaker) and singalong pop punk like Weezer but are great at getting most requests played. The cheap doubles are deadly and with danceable punk blasting out and a friendly atmosphere, you’ll be sure to leave with a few new friends. One of our favourite clubnights in Manchester.

The eclectic music festival based in and around Salford is back and after the success of 2008, this year is tipped to showcase the hottest bands around

2009’s line up will sees local promoters Lamb & Wolf, Bad Uncle, Terrorist, Mind on Fire, Hoya:Hoya,

Bring on the Dancing Horses, Your Mama’s Cookin’, Comfortable on a Tightrope, Golden Lab, and not so local Radio 1’s Huw Stephens each taking on a different venue with its own fantastic lineup.

Bands playing include: Gnod, The Skaters, Todd, Vinny and the Curse, LA77, Lexie Mountain Boys, Plugs, Gallops and Legowelt.

It’s all happening on Bank Holiday Sunday 3rd May, 3pm til late with tickets on sale (a £12.50 all venue wristband) at Piccadilly Records or from the website. There’s also a full line-up and venue information on www.soundsfromtheothercity.com

Tickets available from www.wegottickets.com