subject: Experimental Manchester Bands [print this page] Manchester is well-known for its musicManchester is well-known for its music. Madchester and Hacienda and Factory records mean something to most music fans especially if you like dance music, or bands like Joy Division, New Order and The Fall. But Manchester - being apparently the third largest city in England and the second most important economy outside of London has a lot to offer for fans of experimental music too.
First we need to be clear what is meant by experimental music here. This can be subjective as what is experimental to some is just independent or creative music to others. What I define as experimental music here is music that toys with musical conventions such as song structure (verse, chorus, verse perhaps with a middle eight in there pop structure) and instrumentation (more varied than bass guitar, guitars, a drum kit and perhaps a vocalist). And some experimental music does away with these frameworks altogether. I am often accused of being very experimental myself why I do not always even sing but often prefer to deliver my vocals in a 'sprechstimme' more spoken word style. And I will select the musical style of a track from the many musical influences that inspire me from baroque classical to breakbeat and minimal techno styles.
So I am not so much addressing the classical experimental worlds here, but more independent bands that are active in Manchester. And for me when thinking of experimental Manchester bands, my first thought has to be Graham Massey best known for being an integral part of dance and electronic music pioneers 808 State. His more improvisatory band Toolshed involves over ten musicians with a wide blend of instrumentation. Then connected to Toolshed is the enchanting Seaming (now moved to London unfortunately) with her delightful stories and immaculate voice and musicality. The amazing Paddy Steer is a drummer, but not just a drummer that is for sure. He plays bass pedals (from an organ I believe), glockenspiel and synthesisers while he is drumming on a customised drum kit. Multi-tasking to the max.
Denis Jones is another talented Mancunian musician that experiments with the conventional singer songwriter approach. This comes across especially when playing live as he plays and records samples and loops to build up a track before adding guitar and vocals. And one cannot talk of experimental Manchester bands without mentioning the legendary Ed Barton and his baby men. This man is truly experimental, and essentially Dada-ist if I am not mistaken. His baby men band are three only just teenage boys that actually can play as well as many grown up bands. This band lots of fun to see live.
Finally I would like to include the Noise Upstairs in this quick fire snapshot of experimental music experiences in Manchester. The Noise Upstairs is a monthly night upstairs in the cosy red room of Fuel Bar in Withington and is essentially an experimental jam session. Anyone can join in, names are put into and pulled out of a hat. And noise is made with whatever instruments, toys or contraptions people bring to the evening. It has become a very popular event which has also taken off in Sheffield too.
So, this is only a snapshot of experimental Manchester bands and artists. I hope you thoroughly enjoy exploring these musical mavericks that dare to be rare. And maybe you will be lucky enough to happen across one of their live performances in Manchester or beyond. Manchester is a big enough city to cater for most musical tastes and leanings, even the more daring and creative music.
