Manchester Gig Nights

Daniel Ashworth

@ashworth_mcr

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Right, sat here in the studio near the NQ with me ears still ringing from last night. This is where I actually go when I want a proper gig, not some sterile arena job with a tenner pint. Every one of these I've watched a band sweat through, necked a decent ale in, and usually sorted a kebab after. Order's rough — go by mood, not rank.

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Manchester Gig Nights — 10 items
Name	Address	City	My take
1Band on the Wall	25 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JZ	Manchester	Proper Manchester institution, this. Sound's always spot on and the booking's dead eclectic — jazz one night, dub the next.
2The Deaf Institute	135 Grosvenor Street, Manchester, M1 7HE	Manchester	Mad little Victorian room with a balcony, feels like watching a gig in a chapel that's had a few. Catch someone here before they get massive.
3Night & Day Café	26 Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JN	Manchester	Been going since I was a nipper practically. Bit scruffy round the edges but that's the charm — every band worth owt played here early doors.
4Gorilla	54 Whitworth Street West, Manchester, M1 5WW	Manchester	Sound engineer's dream, this one, acoustics are sorted properly. Good kitchen too if you need lining before the beers kick in.
5YES	38 Charles Street, Manchester, M1 7DB	Manchester	Four floors so you can dip between a gig downstairs and the rooftop for a breather and a pint. Handy when your ears need a rest.
6The Castle Hotel	66 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE	Manchester	Tiny back room but they pack in proper talent. Plus it's a cracking boozer in its own right, good ale on tap while you wait for doors.
7Manchester Academy	Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR	Manchester	Student union venue but don't let that put you off, some proper big names have come through here on the way up.
8Soup	31-33 Spear Street, Northern Quarter	Manchester	Still called Soup Kitchen in my head and always will be. Downstairs gets sweaty and loud, upstairs you can actually hear your mate order a pint. Sound's always been sorted here, no surprise given the ales on tap too.
9Matt & Phreds Jazz Club	64 Tib Street	Manchester	Jazz every night of the week, free pizza if you time your drinks right, what's not to love. Bit of a squeeze getting to the bar but that's half the charm. Proper NQ institution, not just a gimmick for tourists.
10The Peer Hat	14-16 Faraday Street	Manchester	Basement gig room hidden down an alley near Afflecks, exactly the kind of place you'd walk past a hundred times and never notice. Ales upstairs are solid and the record shop'll empty your wallet before the band even starts.

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