As summer draws to a close and our holidays away to warmer pastures must once again be put on hold, it’s the turn of our northern cities to once again live up to their legacies of hosting some of the best events in the country. Starting this September, we’ll be showcasing what our favourite three cities of the North (Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield) have to offer us in the form of musical entertainment.
From ongoing weekly jazz nights down the cobbled streets of Liverpool to guaranteed sell out shows, it’s all right here for you to pick from along with ticket links and every last inch of information you could hope for… Why would you go anywhere else?
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Mantra Warehouse, Manchester (3rd Sept)
It’s not often the New York duo most famous for Hip Hop’s most beautiful elegy; “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y)”, make it over to the UK as a pair. It was only last year that the legendary Pete Rock, renowned for his unparalleled ability to fuse jazz with hip hop, cancelled his show with no public reasoning given… bigger plans must have been lurkin’!
With the duo boasting some flawless records between them, and with Pete Rock historically working with heavyweights such as A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr, the producer stands out as arguably one of the greatest Hip Hop icons of all time.
So, given that there’s no indications of a “no show” so far, we’d recommend getting on this one quick!
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club - Camp & Furnace, Liverpool (10th Sept)
Back again after his sell-out boxing day affair, Craig Charles: every young adult’s favourite robot wars host turned head melting (and I mean his own head…) funk and soul DJ, returns to Liverpool. If you’ve ever made it over to Charles’ monthly affair at Band on the Wall in Manchester you’ll know that the man tears the roof off with his insane selections.
In addition to his exploits as a dance floor king, Craig Charles represents the start of a great Saturday night out for funk enthusiasts up and down the country with his infamous and outrageous weekly slot on BBC Radio 2. If your unsure, just tune in this Saturday and all your problems will be solved.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
For more info head over to FACEBOOK.
Banana Hill w/ Marcellus Pittman - The Soup Kitchen (10th Sept)
Originating in Sheffield, Banana Hill has grown to be a leading night of the north. Now also killing it in Manchester with lineups showcasing legends of the game Mr Scruff and Gilles Peterson, upcoming talents such as Jayda G, as well as sounds from afar with booking such as Awesome Tapes From Africa: Banana Hill parties undoubtedly span through as many genres as you can imagine.
For all the Manchester heads - Banana Hill’s latest instalment brings Detroit born and bread, paradoxical fourth member of the three chairs, Marcellus Pittman to the city. A legendary producer, Pittman has worked with anyone and everyone worth working with, rising to acclaim in 1999 through his collaborations with Theo Parrish on his personal imprint: Sound Signature.
With the track record of both Banana Hill and their main man for this show Marcellus Pittman, it’s a no brainer where you should be on September 10th…
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
For more info head over to FACEBOOK.
Xam Volo - The Magnet, Liverpool (20th Sept)
London born neo-soul artist Xam Volo comes back to Liverpool after providing the city with “dark jazz” through his time here at University. Volo, discovered his love for music while studying and made the firm decision to follow it as a career through his final years. After appearing on BBC Radio 1, the London based soul singer has blown up and is definitely one to watch out for. Previously appearing at the Sefton Park Palm House for the Liverpool Internation Music Festival, Xam Volo has found acclaim through hard graft and self organised gigs.
We’re exited to welcome him back to where his career all started with an intimate gig at one of Liverpool’s most well known after hours venues; The Magnet. With a new EP on the horizon, Chirality, and no previews in site, it’s definitely the place to be if you want to hear an exclusive premier of his new material. We recommend getting a ticket for this one, due to the limited capacity on this space.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Jazz Con Fusion - The Grapes, Liverpool (Every Sunday)
Whether you’re tuned into the jazz frequencies or are just looking for something different, The Grapes on a Sunday night is Liverpool’s best (or worst) kept secret. Down the backstreets of the cobbled Georgian Quarter, The Grapes, a tiny (and we mean tiny) pub is home to one of Liverpool’s finest latin jazz nights every Sunday. Kicking off at 9pm and lasting around two hours, this is your perfect introduction to the Liverpool jazz scene. With ever-changing band members and the occasional show-up soloist, Sunday night basks in the jazz scene’s spontaneous legacy with jazz standards turning into vivacious solos passed around every member of the band.
While it is only a Sunday night, we do recommend getting down early for a drink before everything kicks off as practically every week it’s a total lock-out and you’ll be struggling to even make it in the back door if you’re even 10 minutes late. Best of all, as with most of the acclaimed jazz spots in Liverpool, it doesn’t cost a dime. When Luther Vandross sang that the best things in life are free, he couldn’t have been more right with this one.
More information can be found HERE.
Constellations Summer Gathering - Constellations, Liverpool (25th Sept)
To mark the end of Summer, Constellations are pulling out all the stops with an all-star local lineup (including ourselves) pulling together one last summer party inside without a doubt the best beer garden in Liverpool. With its award winning architechture, mouth melting BBQ food and beautifully hidden away garden, the team down at Constellations have had an absolutely roaring summer with most weekends being locked out for open events that no other venue could dream of hosting in Liverpool.
Starting from midday, DJ inputs come from Hustle, Down To Funk, Hold It Down, 303, Sessions Faction, Macooza, Something Global, Melodic Distraction & Radio Exotica. Guaranteed your best pick of this weekend. We’ll be spinning records in the lobby… See you there.
Ciu Ciu - Buyers Club, Liverpool (29th Sept)
With Buyers Club moving into their second year of operations, the venue is fast becoming known as one of Liverpool’s hippest spots to be. With that, it’s only right that the team behind this thriving venue bring new programming to the table - this time in the form of a “selectors” night. The club’s newest party: Ciu Ciu attacks the midweek scene as they open their doors to a Liverpool-first label showcase on September 29th. This new monthly affair looks into some of the finest labels and selectors from across the globe, inviting them to the intimate setting that is the Buyers Club loft. First up, Rhythm Section: Peckham’s finest independent record label run by none other than Bradley Zero.
With the venue receiving a refurb over the summer months, it is sure to be the perfect opportunity to see the new space for yourself and listen to some truly amazing selections from the Rhythm Section crew while engaging with like-minded music lovers. Where else would you rather be on a Thursday night….
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
For more info head over to FACEBOOK.
