There’s a lot to be said about those people in your life that show you new music. These are the best kind of people. Cherish them, they’re special. If you don’t know what I mean, now’s the time to look for new friends.
Jokes aside, there are other ways to discover music and club history. For example, through the imaginative new concept of Electronic Echoes.
It all involves the humble QR code. We’re all familiar with these by now (thanks Boris).
Four QR codes have been placed around the city centre, each next to an iconic Manchester club – Sankeys, Music Box, Roadhouse and SoundControl.
These beloved music venues might not exist anymore, but these buildings are steeped in history waiting to be rediscovered.
“Scanning a QR code will take you to a unique page, which will feature information about the club with pictures and music from some of the artists and club nights,” said James Montrose, Electronic Echoes founder.
“Each page will have an email subscription, where you will receive a track and information about the club.
“As the project grows, we’ve got people lined up to provide exclusive mixes and interviews that will support this and add different layers to the experience.”
To kick things off, four artists that represent a healthy mix of genres have been lined up to provide tracks and mixes. From the drum and bass of Nian Dub, to the hard techno of Slave to Society, James has got it covered.
The artists featured in Electronic Echoes
As for the clubs, they’ve been selected on a personal basis, in honour of some of James’s most memorable club nights. For instance, the monthly ‘Keep it Unreal’ night at Music Box, where he went spent his early clubbing years.
But these clubs are held dearly to a lot of Mancunians’ hearts too.
Famed for its industrial warehouse vibe, Sankeys is perhaps the most well-known venue on the list. Countless household names played at this former Ancoats club, including Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, Carl Cox and Swedish House Mafia.
Sankeys Manchester closed its doors for good in 2017. But not before taking the franchise all over the world. The most notorious being Sankeys Ibiza, which I hold dearly to my own heart!
Sankeys Manchester
That in mind, the Electronic Echoes project provides us with a nostalgic look back at happier times within the scene. A touch of 2020 escapism is exactly what we need, right? But there is plenty to be learnt about our city’s past at the same time.
James recognises this and wants to “reconnect us to physical space”: A profound request, but what does it mean?
It’s all about interacting with the city’s rich music history and clubs past and present.
“What we’re really trying to do here is create something that lets you engage with the social history, memories and hopefully encourage people to (safely) venture out and learn a little bit about some of Manchester’s clubs.”
Since the first lockdown in March, James has found his DJing friends out of work. Many have been severely impacted by the lack of government support, as much of the music industry has. With this project, he wants to give back.
Roadhouse Manchester / Wikimedia Commons
“The aim of this project is to not only support musicians but also anyone who has been affiliated with the night-time club scene. Sound engineers, photographers, promoters,” James said.
“Throughout the first lockdown, it really struck me how much we depend on music in our daily lives and how much I missed the community of a night out.
“This is a way that people can at least learn about the clubs, get some music and feel some connection to the nights that have now all but disappeared.”
From the ashes of a once thriving nightlife scene, Electronic Echoes gives artists some much needed exposure. But it’ll also teach us a thing or two about why Manchester’s music scene is so valued.
So, if you’re able to get out and about safely, head to one of the four QR codes and scan to see what you can find.
Beloved British boy band Five are BACK in FULL for the first time in 25 years
Danny Jones
No, your eyes don’t deceive you: all five members of the beloved British boy band Five are set to reunite for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Formed way back in 1997 and dominating the charts throughout the period in and around the millennium, the iconic pop group was the UK’s answer to the Backstreet Boys and NSNYC, as well as a much-needed replacement for Take That just after their split.
And they did exactly that for a number of years, with hit tracks like ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Keep On Movin”, ‘Everybody Get Up’, ‘If Ya Gettin’ Down’ and more still firmly stuck in our memories.
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, we still remember all the words and the dance moves to go along with them – and we’ll be able to prove it when the Five UK reunion tour comes to Manchester.
Although the London-formed group has reformed every now and again in different configurations over the years for special occasions, anniversary events, etc., this is the first time that the original lineup has been together for 25 whole years.
That’s right, Abz Love, J Brown, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon will all be reuniting on stage for a limited UK arena tour – because anything less simply wouldn’t be enough to mark this throwback celebration.
More importantly, if you don’t think every single one of these massive rooms is going to sell out in a flash, then you clearly can’t count to five.
As for the Manchester crowd, fans will be welcomed inside the equally legendary AO Arena for the ‘KEEP ON MOVIN’ 2025’ Tour later this year and we can’t wait.
Fellow domestic DJ and producer Naughty Boy will also be joining them as the main support act. We’re rolling back all the memories this autumn.
You can see the rest of the tour dates below, including equally massive shows at The O2 in London, the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, a First Direct Arena date in Leeds and more.
We really can't wait to get back on stage together and see you all in person, it's gonna go OFF!! Let's goooooo! International fans, make sure to sign up there so we know where in the world you are too 👀
Scott says: “This has been a long time coming and it really does feel right for all of us now – 25 years on and we’re so ready for it. Reconnecting as a 5 over the last year has been special and I know I speak for all the boys when I say we can’t wait to do this all over again. Hope you’re ready!”
Another fifth of the throwback boy band, Abz, added: “We really can’t wait to get back on stage together & see the fans, it’s gonna go OFF! Buzzing to have Naughty Boy on tour with us too… 5 bad boys and a naughty boy, that sounds like a lot of fun. Let’s gooooo!”
General admission for Five’s 2025 UK reunion tour goes live on Friday, 7 March from 10am but die-hards can access the exclusive pre-sale window on Wednesday, 5 March by signing up for the mailing list.
2000s indie rock icons The Enemy continue comeback trail with must-not-miss UK tour
Danny Jones
For fans of old-school indie and noughties contemporary rock, you do not want to miss the one because The Enemy are not just back making music but they’re heading out on a pretty big UK tour and, of course, they’ll be stopping right here in Manchester.
The Enemy first reformed back in 2022 for a limited run of shows, but it turns out the Coventry-formed trio were satisfied with a one-off reunion and a fifth studio album officially being worked on, the fierce Brit rock throwbacks have announced a series of pretty large UK tour dates.
Following on from some hugely successful comeback performances at TRNSMT, Isle Of Wightand a headline slot at Godiva Festival 2023, not to mention the instantly hit ‘Indie Til I Die’ shows last year – including an absolute stormer at Victoria Warehouse – they returning for more.
One of the few bands to make their way back to the live music circuit fully intact, with all three members still performing together, nothing has changed other than a few more grey hairs.
If you weren’t there at the outset, The Enemy’s debut LP We’ll Live And Die In These Towns (2007) was one of the most seminal domestic releases of its time, with songs like ‘You’re Not Alone’ going on to become indie anthems of the era.
To be honest, we’d argue their sophomore outing Music For The People just two years later is the better album, with tracks such as ‘Be Somebody’, ‘Elephant Song’ and ‘No Time for Tears’ still in plenty of our playlists to this day – but, you know, each to their own.
The point is, we’re very glad these lads are back and having played with everyone from Oasis and The Killers to even The Rolling Stones, we’d wager lots of other music lovers are too.
Set to play New Century Hall in Manchester as well as the legendary Leadmill in Sheffield, Beckett Students’ Union in Leeds, Rock City in Nottingham and more, it’s going to be a big tour.
We're absolutely buzzing to be back on tour & in some of our all time favourite venues.
We'll be trying out new material for the first time in years ahead of the new album we're making, we're all really excited to try some new tunes and see what you think whilst we finish it!
Frontman Tom Clarke, who has put out two solo records of his own in past years, said of the announcement: “We’ve been working long days in the studio recording new material, so we’re really excited to get out on the road again.
“The plan is to experiment with some of the new tunes, maybe different ones on different shows to see how the crowds react and which ones connect with fans, and let that guide the track listing on the record which is nearing completion.”
Co-songwriter and bass player, Andy Hopkins, added: talking about the upcoming tour: “My favourite part of being in a band is having those nights with the fans where the atmosphere is electric – I think this tour is going to be really special for the 3 of us.
“It’ll be the first time we’ve been back to some of these cities in a long time, in venues we absolutely love and have been really important to us on the way up – Electric Ballroom was the first venue we ever played in London supporting The Fratellis, I drove us there with all the amps & guitars in my Fiesta!”
The Enemy come to New Century, one of our favourite live music venues in all of Greater Manchester, on Saturday, 1 November.
Pre-sale has already been snapped up in the blink of an eye, which is no surprise whatsoever, but general admission will go live from 10am this Friday, 28 February.
Hannah Starkie -
4th December 2020 
