Thursday night at SJQ’s basement stage carried the glow of something more than just another gig. Caught Me by Surprise – a three-band showcase leading up to Harry’s long-anticipated headline – felt like a reunion and a revelation rolled into one. Two radiant singers opened the night, weaving warmth into the room before handing it over to Harry Jowett, who marked the moment as both a celebration of past releases and a doorway into what’s next.

Describing her sound as “Indie pop soul”, Anna Lynch is a powerfully emotive voice that is shining through the Manchester music scene. Citing influences from Amy Winehouse and Laura Marling, Anna has spent the past few years making a name for herself in the local live scene by gigging at some of Manchester’s most renowned venues, including the iconic Blues Kitchen, where her live music career first began.

After years of hard work, Celeste’s highly anticipated second studio album Woman Of Faces will be released on November 14th on Polydor Records. The album features nine songs, including the previously released singles “On With The Show”, “This Is Who I Am” and her latest single, “Woman Of Faces”. 

I’ll be honest – Eileen Alister’s singles leading up to her debut album kept getting better and better, to the point where I started wondering: what could possibly be left for the full project?

Louis Tomlinson’s “Lemonade”: A New Era, A New Edge, and a Taste of Sun

The title comes from a Mancunian phrase: “Who’ve you come as?” — the kind of cheeky question you’d ask a friend who shows up dressed like a fever dream. For Balancing Act, it’s a playful but loaded provocation. Who are they now, after years of build-up, heartbreak gigs, and whispered buzz? This album doesn’t just ask that question — it tries to answer it in real time.