MANC MUSIC SHOWCASE /

A terrific line-up of solo alternative talent, as curated by the folks behind Manc music institution A Carefully

Planned Festival. Expect sets from Rachel

Rimmer, Eugene The Oceanographer, Charlotte

Cannon, Rosalie 23, Juffrage and CityLife folkpop faves The Gildings.

Fallow Cafe / fallowcafe. com / 0161 224 0467 / Friday

August 14, 7pm / £4

IF you’re going to have your prayers answered, you may as well have it done inside a church – as in the case of Britrock newcomers Man & The Echo.

The Warrington-based quartet, who once rehearsed inside their local church, secured their coveted contract with indie label 1965 Records in that special place of worship.

“Our rehearsal space was basically the church altar – we had a good arrangement going with the priest,” recalls Man & The Echo bass player Joe Forshaw.

“James, our label boss, came up from London to see us there. He was sat in one of the pews watching; then he suddenly jumped up and said, ‘let’s make records!’”.

In truth, however, it’s not so much spiritual as rather more earth-bound forces which have propelled these rock ’n’ roll renegades to their current position as one of Britain’s most hotlytipped new bands.

As proven by debut single, Honeysucker, released in April, this north west four-piece – Forshaw, joined by singer/guitarist Gareth Roberts, drummer Joe Bennett and keyboardist Chris Gallagher – firmly reinstate British rock ’n’ roll to its once favoured position of acerbic social commentator.

Raw, uncompromising and very deliberately released around the General Election, their debut single unleashed

‘IT’S MORE ABOUT PERSPECTIVE

THAN POLITICS’