OFF THE RECORD is set to be off the hook.
Friday 10th November; Off The Record (Thursday networking reception).
The innovative conference day and hot gigs night is all happening in the heart of Manchester's Northern Quarter. It's a festival that is "all about discovering innovative music” (The Independent).
Launched by premiere independent festivals; Kendal Calling, Sound City and Bluedot plus Britain's top alternative rock music site and magazine, Louder Than War, #OTRMCR17 is about innovative ideas, new music and emerging artists.
The event is rippling with excitement already, tickets were flying, even before Friday night's full bill was announced.
“We’ve got to keep celebrating new music, because it needs to be valued” says artist and BBC 6Music Radio presenter, Guy Garvey, about Off The Record.
He means it. TheZineUK were recently at Venues Day, which was rounded off beautifully with the news from Music Venue Trust that his band, Elbow, are behind their campaign to save the spaces that new music needs to flourish.
Some of these locations are, indeed, celebrated at Off The Record which will be thronged with industry insiders and loaded with information.
For instance, pointers to creating live #MusicWithoutBarriers (Learn about the simple, free changes that all event organisers can implement to maximise inclusivity at their shows; Attitude Is Everything) plus further informative discussions covering many things that need to be said, Including 'Love For Grime', 'What Happens On Tour No Longer Stays On Tour' and 'How To Get A Job In The Music Industry'.
The full-on day sessions include biz success life hacks and exclusive conversations with up and coming talents.
"It's an absolute honour to be invited to talk and play at Off the Record" say rising rockers, False Heads, who along with political punk heroes, CABBAGE, are in conversation.
Both bands are stars of TheZineUK's documenting of woven music tales. What a time to believe that guitar bands are NOT dead.
CABBAGE, a BBC Sound of 2017 choice, will impart knowledge on doing their own thing. They've achieved much already, among scenes of chaotic adoration, and have just finished their 'Healing Brexit Towns Experiment' tour. People are coming from all over to Manchester on 10th November. Get in the mood with this CABBAGE RATS (CABBAGE x more local legends, The Picadilly Rats) video of 'Kevin' (Skeleton Key Mix)
Read on for more from False Heads, Friday is deservedly extra big new for the band. Such is the calibre of credible talent involved. Mind you, this IS Manchester after all. A city with a globally acknowledged history and future where music is concerned. That itinerary, in full;
Thursday 9th November
1900hrs until late – Delegates networking reception at Night & Day Cafe, One of the newest small venues.
Friday 10th November
0930 - Registration begins
1000-1630 – Conference at Methodist Central Hall
1630-1800 - Ticketline Delegate Party at Night & Day (Network and discuss gig plans for the night ahead)
1800-late - OTRMCR Music Showcase (all events are 18+ only) at Night & Day, Gullivers, The Castle Hotel, Jimmy's, AATMA, The Peer Hat, and Soup Kitchen - all within five minutes walking distance of each other.
Be(e) here now; Discounted Early Bird Gig and Conference Pass via otrmcr.co.uk - Once early bird tickets have sold out, entry passes are £45 for Gig/Conference, £30 Conference or £20 Gig. Student discounts available). Last year's inaugural event (which included our beloved (and recently repping the UK for MTV Global) faves, Nova Twins, sold out, so advances are advised.
Many of this year's artists are already on a trajectory to higher public profile. Take False Heads (image by Luke Marcus Nugent) who are one of the key bands in the vanguard of Britain's rock renaissance that is already flavouring 2018. "It's an absolute honour to be invited to talk and play at Off the Record. I hope we don't bore the shit out of everyone sitting there" (at the conversation panel, let TheZineUK posse assure you, they won't!).
Singer, Luke Griffiths, adds; "We wanna say a special thank you to Joanne from Off the Record and Sound City for having us and supporting us. Joanne really has done nothing but believe in us and support our band, so we're grateful. "
Off The Record kicks off the next step for the hard rocking trio; "We've had a mad 2017, playing Reading, Isle of Wight, Sound City and all the major festivals in between. We've toured, and supporting the Libertines, so it's going to be nice to ease out of 2017 and make Off the Record our final hurrah to the festival circuit this year. Having said that, you wait until we unveil what is happening in 2018. It will blow your fucking mind."
You better believe him. Iggy Pop, has been an early doors supporter. On OTRMCR17 evening, Iggy will give their next release, 'Retina' a world exclusive spin on his BBC Radio 6 Music show, Iggy Confidential (7-9pm). A world exclusive, before is released. On 25th November they appear with Gary Powell/Carl Barat of The Libertines, Frank Turner, Gaz Coombes and more in London. When you consider that Off The Record has 30 live shows by artists buzzing this much, then the tickets are even more of a bargain.
Rock's underground's vanguard are raking renaissance. In the video teaserof the 2017 line up, OTCMCR17 has pulled the deadly dynamic Doncaster double with BANG BANG ROMEO and The Blinders on the bill.
You're in for a treat.
BANG BANG ROMEO (image by Ben Bentley) - a band that John Giddings (Isle Of Wight Festival) has a glowing opinion of;
“In all my years of doing this, I have never seen a more charismatic or powerful vocalist than Stars from Bang Bang Romeo.
They are destined to become a global sensation”.
Audibly and visibly getting there, they have spent summer gracing many of the nation's major festivals, autumn making history with This Feeling's alive tour road show (also appearing on This Feeling TV), have played an exclusive NME event, and have tour/label offers piling up from those in the know.
Not to be under estimated, their latest raw souled pop anthem, 'Natural Born Astronaut' (sufficiently stellar to get attention from NASA) is an exciting preview from the debut album they're working on. Music fans are advised to get as close to this band as possible, while you still can...
The same goes for another recommendation spotted on the above teaser video, punkadelic ring leaders, The Blinders.
(Image; supporting CABBAGE in July at Manchester Ritz, by am Crowston).
A torrent of spluttering superlatives from word of mouth, artistic peers and independent press reviews alike, have grown since The Blinders released 'Swine' as a single just over a year ago. With new songs and plans for 2018, they play their biggest tour to date in February.
Their tour date at the Deaf Institute is sold out, so Off The Record is a chance for Manchester to witness what the excitement is about.
The event curators are also trailblazers.
Bringing the party while being essential to the R'n'B scene's growth, Jamz Supernova (pictured) is one of them. An impressive taste maker, DJ, event promoter and radio presenter - with a knack for showcasing the next wave of artists, producers and genres.
Other curators include artist, Brix Smith, Phil Taggart of Radio 1, Chris Hawkins of BBC Radio 6Music, Mike Walsh of Radio X and another favourite from this story, David Borrie of Pirate Studios (who will be creating live streams on the day).
Manchester's Northern Quarter is gonna be wall to wall with faces, on and off stage. There is something for everybody excited by what's coming next in music, at OCRMCR17.
Not only is Friday 10th November Band T-shirt Day for BBC Radio 6Music (what are you wearing? Show us your #StageStyle) but it's also the tenth anniversary of national Mushy Pea Day'(!) If you're there, have a great time! Love and peas.
Comments