Unsigned Guide Pick Their Top Five Manchester Gigs For July

Photograph: M O N E Y

With so many gigs to choose from it can be a bit tricky to sift through them all and pick out the hottest must-sees can’t it? Well never fear, every month I’ll be bringing you my top 5 Manchester gigs. They might not be the glaringly obvious ones, they might not be acts you’ve even heard off but rest assured they come well recommended and guaranteed to put a smile on your face, just you wait and see!

TEMPLE SONGS

Band On The Wall, Saturday July 6th

A few years ago, Jolan Lewis recorded a self-titled EP, put it online and immediately moved to France. Whilst across the water he decided it would be worth turning the solo project into a band so moved back to Manchester, rallied his talented friends together and Temple Songs were born. And the four piece are now churning out infectious, blithely crafted psychedelic pop tunes.
Having already supported the likes of Temples, Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs, Egyptian Hip Hop and Palma Violets, word of Manchester’s best-kept lo-fi secret is spreading. With Beatles -esque melodies and blatant nods to The Beach Boys, they possess a sound that could easily soundtrack a hazy summer’s day and given the recent tempestuous weather, we need all the help we can get.

Listen: Temple Songs - Passed Caring (set for release this week)

TOKOLOSH

Chorlton Irish Club, Thursday July 11th

Taking their name from a naughty character in South African culture, TOKOLOSH are Manchester’s newest super group, comprising of singer-songwriter extraordinaire Liam Frost, Nathan Sudders of The Whip and The Earlies members Christian, Nicky and Richard. Despite having formed last year, there haven’t been many chances to catch the quintet live yet, which makes this one-off gig a must-see.

With elements of psychadelia and folk, their enigmatic sound is underpinned with throbbing bass, choral harmonies, arousing lyrics, and a very certain Manchester twang. Think along the lines of Wild Beasts and you’re on the right track. Offering up such a dreamy melting pot of sounds they’re refreshingly difficult to typecast, but one thing’s for sure, with such seasoned musicians at the helm, their gigs are sure to be an electric affair.

Watch: Check out the rather splendid video to new single ‘The Root’ below:

M O N E Y

Manchester International Festival, Friday July 12th & Saturday July 13th.

With the last year or so having seen them build up quite the mystique; regularly changing their name, releasing music only to hastily delete it and holding various exhibitions in obscure venues, the quartet have chosen Manchester International Festival to unleash their debut album with two very special shows. 

Seemingly ready to unmask themselves and set the ball rolling properly (they also recently signed to Bella Union), they’ve already caught the attention of many musical tastemakers and are now regulars on BBC6music. Their sound however is quite tricky to define. Poetic, romantic, provocative and epic, their odes are swathing and, all consuming with front man Jamie Lee’s falsetto, spine tingling. Awash with synths, hazy atmospherics and swelling melodies they take you on some sort a hypnologic dreamy journey. And with visuals and ambience playing a big part in their offerings the MIF dates are bound to be quite the spectacle.

Watch: Their video to recent single ‘Bluebell Fields’:

YOUTH LAGOON

Gorilla, Tuesday 16th July (Youth Lagoon Tickets)

American musician Trevor Powers heads to Manchester with his unique blend of hypnotic emanation ahead of his slot at Secret Garden Party. With a debut album that explored the complex themes of psychological dysphoria and mental distress, and a sophomore that was heavily informed with the metaphysical universe, you could be forgiven for thinking that a Youth Lagoon gig would be a pretty sombre soiree - wrong. It’s more an ethereal woozy affair that leaves you with a warm glow inside, disorientating pop at its best. Think daydreams, nostalgia, enchantment and happy endings.

Watch: Youth Lagoon - Dropla

FLUME

Gorilla, Thursday July 18th (Flume Tickets)

Flume is the moniker of Sydney’s hotly tipped electronic music maestro Harley Streten. Having made a pretty big name for himself down under he’s looking to make similar waves in the UK this summer with a string of live dates and a headline slot on one of this year’s Wireless stages.
Harley started producing at the tender age of 13, and his well honed signature sound is centred around intricate yet easily infiltrated production, bountiful string arrangements and driving vocal stems. His genius is in his ability to be thought provoking and astute whilst simultaneously appealing to the mainstream. Proving his live credentials with not one but two sell-out Australian tours, this Gorilla date provides his cardinal visit to the city. It’s definitely not to be missed if you like your beat making big.

Listen: The recent remix he did for Disclosure