Cool Manchester

Peter Hook And The Light -  Live At Christ Church Macclesfield 23rd June 2013 Review By Mick Aneworderfan

Having released two live albums of Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures last year, and the album of the concert of New Order's Movement and Power, Corruption & Lies earlier this year, Peter Hook returns to Joy Division for an extraordinary performance of both Unknown Pleasures and Closer recorded in Macclesfield, home town of Joy Division's legendary leader, Ian Curtis.

The audience is very warm and clearly enjoys Hooky's performance with his band The Light, from the opening Dead Souls it's apparent their personal yet respectful take of these classics works well. Andy Poole's keyboard embraces Nat Wason's abrasive guitar over Paul Kehoe's powerful drums, matched by the rhythm bass of Peter's son Jack. Hooky's voice is as close as you get to Ian's energy.

When New Order play those few Joy Division classics, they sound like New Order doing Joy Division. The Light's performance is emotional because it's much closer to what Joy Division actually sounded like though always leaving space to each member's interpretation. The following Digital and Disorder are rough enough to sound like Joy Division when they used to play these songs as they intended before Martin Hannett's work in the studio.

One of the most amazing tracks is the dark and powerful rendition of I Remember Nothing, almost eight minutes long. Then it's great to finally hear Closer's songs live after so many years. Twenty Four Hours, for example, has always been one of my favourite Joy Division tracks, its bass is probably the best in the whole of music history. The Eternal and Decades are two other dark and emotional masterpieces. Can they be played live after more than 30 years? Hooky can and does it with as much passion as possible, and the people can feel it. The ending of Decades especially is amazing, with the guitar and the melodica enhancing it. These songs need no introduction. There's no obscure B side or forgotten album track, anyone acquainted with Joy Division will know them and their importance, they're all classics (the album is closed by a killer sequence of Atmosphere ,Ceremony, Transmission and Love Will Tear Us Apart), so the only questions are if it still makes sense playing them and if Hooky still can take this responsibility with pride. And the answer to both is a fireproof "YES"! It would have been nice to hear songs like the early Warsaw (which is on last year's Unknown Pleasures live album anyway), Novelty or the forgotten punk gem You're No Good For Me, but I guess we have to be content with a concert of 25 tracks, hoping Hooky will dust off the most obscure ones in the future, like the underrated masterpiece At A Later Date. The good news is David Potts, his former singer and guitarist band mate inMonaco, has joined The Light, so the possibilities for this band are now virtually endless.

This and the other live albums by Peter Hook and The Light can be purchased at http://music.playconcert.com/

Over 40 entries demonstrate baking talent of Manchester's Gay Village.

The Great Village Bake Off hosted by Manchester's Village Bakers and long-term supporters The Molly House on Sunday 18^th August as part of the Manchester Pride Fringe Festival, was a truly spectacular event. The culmination of a huge amount of baking endeavour and talent, from tartiest tart to camp cupcakes and firmest buns. Not to mention the spectacularly colourful array of magnificent Rainbow Cakes.

Judging the event was baking expert and winner of the 2012 series of BBC2's The Great British Bake Off, Mr John Whaite, with actress and Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine and Manchester Pride Patron Claire Mooney, all keen to tickle their tastebuds with the fabulously creative edible entries.

John Whaite has had an obsession with baking and cooking since he was a tiny boy, and has developed this passion into a career. He was extremely excited to be leading the judging, and keen to share his baking knowledge with the Village Bakers and Manchester's LGBT community. Originally from Wigan, the local lad loved returning to his roots and supporting Manchester Pride, which is a cause close to his heart.

Manchester born-and-bred actress, comedian and owner of Annie’s restaurant in Manchester city centre, Jennie McAlpine joined John on the judging panel. She is best known for her long-running role as Fiona 'Fiz' Stape in ITV’s Coronation Street. Claire Mooney, foodie, singer-songwriter, and Patron of Manchester Pride completed the line-up.

The event attracted over 200 spectators, packed tightly into The Molly House Bar whilst the judges sampled and deliberated over 40 entries. The cakes themselves were truly awe-inspiring, thinking outside the box with a huge amount of effort from each competitor.

Kevin Sargent, chair of Village Bakers said 

The effort and ingenuity which had gone into the entries was immense. John Whaite, Jennie McAlpine & Claire Mooney were all extremely impressed with the quality and creativity involved. It was fantastic to see Manchester’s Gay Village come together from all walks of life to help raise money for Manchester Pride Fund.

Paul Duffy, a member of the Village Bakers and general manager of The Molly House continued

I was delighted that the first Great Village Bake Off was a tremendous success with a varied and astounding range of imaginative bakes on offer. The gay village demonstrated fantastic support and interest in this fundraising event, which showcased the work that The Village Bakers, as an inclusive community group, already do all year round . Roll on Great Village Bake Off 2014!

Manchester Pride chief executive John Stewart added

It was amazing to see so many people, and so much cake, squeezed in to the Molly House on Sunday.  I'm sure the Bake Off is going to become an established fixture on the Manchester Pride Fringe calendar.

 Entry categories and winners (winning prizes kindly donated by The Co-operative Food, The Co-operative Electricals, Stockport’s Little Underbank Tea Room and 151 products):

Best in Bake Off: Neill Duncan with an incredibly creative and technically challenging Stack of Rainbow Cake Polo Shirts.

Best Business Award Winner: The Molly House, presenting a tea-pot inspired Rainbow Cake by Molly House baker Robert Burgess.

Best Rainbow Cake: Neill Duncan (as above).

Campest Cupcakes: Scrumptious Pink Fizz Cupcakes by Lisa Duddington.

Tartiest Tart: Paul Dempsey with very tasty Chocolate Surprise Tart topped with leopard print 

Firmest Buns: Stephen Squires with light and fluffy Apple & Caramel Chelsea Buns.

The Great Village Bake Off raised in excess of £370 from ticket sales and collection buckets, all in aid of the Manchester Pride Community Fund, helping local LGBT charities and community groups.

Hot Vestry EP Review
By Kelvin Knight

Shit man how can you NOT like a band who remind you of DELTA 5 ? The vital bass and drums and wonderful guitar of VARNISH take me back to the days of Delta 5 and the the Au Pairs...........I love this band "Where all ends meet" has a killer bass line and Delta 5/Au Pairs 1980 meets 2013 and with wonderful results....

"waterfall" is a great song but then  "Dead ocean" with its swirling guitars is magnificent the more you listen the more HOT VESTRY draw you in..."Lakeof the moon" has that bass/drum hook you can't resist.....

"Commiserations" closes a great record I recommend it highly and not just because the first track reminds me of Delta 5....

Excellent 

You can listen to the EP here-

https://soundcloud.com/hotvestrymusic

& It's available from the Shedhead Records website on Vinyl Replica CD here-

www.shedheadrecords.com

LIVE AT FULFORD ARMS YORK

Gareth Icke Band Supported by Sam Moran

Review By Kelvin Knight

Lovely warm summer night - great intimate venue, free entry. First up was Sam Moran a young singer songwriter who plays with admirable passion as the blood splatters on his acoustic guitar body testifies. Its a crowded market Sam’s in but he stands out for me, great songs and great confidence and belief. Great misheard lyrics what I thought was "cat on a bus" was kid on a bus.......Made Sam laugh after anyway.

Sam Moran

And so to Gareth Icke and band - first thing to say is this was only the second gig with his new band but you'd never know they sound like they've been touring for years. Secondly its a low ceiling at The Arms and Gareth is a tall chap there was about an inch of headroom, I remember thinking "don't go on tippy toes mate you'll get wedged in !!

They tear through songs from Gareth's second album "A brand new battle" with the rhythm section of Kev (drums) and Dom (bass) tight as the proverbial ducks arse.

'Remember who you are' is as catchy (sic) a song as you'll hear and the new single 'Beat up' wonderful.....

Gareth Icke

Occasionally Gareth will introduce a song with a brief explanation "this ones about a messy break up" and "y'know when you're drinking so much you feel your sanity slipping away" (I paraphrase) followed by "cheerful; fucker aren't I" !!!

"What's love without meaning" closes an excellent set of songs with more hooks than a fishing shop.

Those that were there loved it "best gig I've seen this year" was one comment.....

I have one problem with Gareth... He's very, very talented, good looking (so my female friends inform me) and sickeningly he is a really nice, witty guy....Bastard !!!!!

Seriously if he's playing near you go I promise you'll love it.....

Oh yeah and his Dad played in goal for Coventry City.

Gareth Icke and his Band are performing at the Salford Music Festival

On the 26.09.13 check his website for details

http://garethicke.com/

Christopher Biggins swapped the stage and TV studios for a tram stop to celebrate Metrolink’s partnership with Manchester Pride 2013.

The partnership, which is in its second year, showcases Metrolink’s commitment to Manchester’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, as well as its support of Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend and its significant charitable contributions to LGBT organisations.

To celebrate the partnership and to enhance this year’s event, Metrolink is providing free City Zone travel for wristband holders to promote safe travel around the city centre during Pride. Pride wristband wearers travelling outside the city centre can also purchase a Weekend Travelcard, which has been specially extended for them to include free travel on Bank Holiday Monday*.

Metrolink enlisted the help of Manchester Pride Patron, Christopher Biggins, to promote the free City Zone travel offer for wristband holders.

Biggins was ever the professional. He donned a Metrolink uniform to prepare for his role as a Passenger Services Representative (PSR) in training for the Big Weekend. He proved to be a dab hand at checking Pride wristbands across the City Zone.

Christopher Biggins said: 

Visitors to Manchester Pride will be thrilled. Metrolink is a fabulous, fun and safe way to travel across the city, so take the weight off those heels, wave those wristbands and hop on board!

Peter Cushing, Metrolink Director for Transport for Greater Manchester, said 

It is wonderful news that we have renewed our partnership with Manchester Pride, supporting Manchester’s LGBT community not only with secure travel during Pride but also its impressive charitable contributions.

It was a pleasure working with Manchester Pride Patron Christopher Biggins, who did a great job shadowing Metrolink team members on the tram stops.

For further information on Metrolink and please visit www.metrolink.co.uk.

*The free travel offer to Pride wristband holders is within Metrolink’s City Zone which incorporates Deansgate Castlefield, St Peter’s Square, Piccadilly Gardens, Piccadilly, Market Street, Shudehill and Victoria, with the wristband making it quick and easy to get to city centre hotels or transport connections to get home safely.

 The Weekend Travelcard priced at £5.50, offers unlimited travel on the Metrolink network from 6pm Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday. So buy your Pride wristband, buy a Metrolink Weekend Travelcard and make the most of Bank Holiday Monday at no extra charge.