In The City: Ones to watch

In The City, Manchester’s annual music conference and festival is dying. Struck down by advertising woes this year’s festival has been a last minute hatchet job proclaiming ‘we’re still here’ to any denizens curious at to what such an event could still offer.

For this reason the festival is suffering from an identity crisis; booking Dutch Uncles’ homecoming show and No Age is not the strategy of a progressive festival looking at tomorrow’s music - instead opting for identifiable, if not stagnant, artists to headline the event. Similarly, ‘missed the boat by four years’ panels such as ‘Blogging The USA’ and ‘The House That Dub Built’ are both unlikely to make for an educational trip t’up Narth.

Yet beyond these criticisms the event is a great opportunity to explore the city and check out local artists, something which takes a more central stage this year as part of the austerity drive.

New Manchester label Suffering Jukebox set up by Ruth and Jack (of the Deaf Institute and The Corner respectively) features heavily in the line-up, Mazes, Milk Maid, Brown Brogues and Former Bullies’ covers project Dinner Party will all draw in out of town interest. There’s also the fashionable D/R/U/G/S and the terminally underappreciated Plank! to showcase the region.

Beyond the music the Northern Quarter has welcomed some great new additions in the last 12 months. Creative hub MadLab (36-40 Edge St.) indie publishing outlet Good Grief (3rd floor Aflecks Palace) and new bric-a-brac store 5 Stevenson Sq (as named) whilst The Castle Hotel (66 Oldham St.), Soup Kitchen (30-33 Spear St.) and Dry Bar (28-30 Oldham St.) have all recently been revamped.

But who cares about eating or drinking? Who cares that there’s a highly successful literature festival taking place? Who cares if the Royal Exchange theatre is experiencing a purple patch? What we want to know is out of the 200 or so bands, who are the ones to watch?

Well obviously you’re already going to the Same Teens // Artrocker event (more details here) because all the bands are fantastic. Outside of that here’s my run-down of the cat’s pyjamas:

Planet Mu artist Ital Tek (22:20, Friday; Dry Bar) makes an In The City showcase. With it brings the hoards who, conscious of ‘Dubstep=dead’ calls, queue up behind this Brighton based DJ as if to say, ‘this genre’s still hip, look you show them Ital Tek!’ as they push his weedy frame into the melee of detractors.

Following oOoOO’s withdrawal from the festival, many will be seeking a Witch House (honestly, ‘Goth Crunk’ is a million times better, and what’s wrong with ‘Haunted House’?) replacement. For anyone nervous about working with speedballing SALEM whose latest release is looking like one of 2010’s success stories, New Yorkers White Ring (23:10, Thursday; Dry Bar) could provide the answer. Well worth a gander.

One of the most frustrating things about festivals adjoined to conferences is that they can be awash with stale mediocrity. Cave-in to another’s preference as you enter a lull in the listings and all of a sudden you’ve been sucked into this downward spiral of chancing singer-songwriters and prissy pop pesterers. Although the music of John Weise (23:10, Wednesday; Night&Day) maybe a little extreme for some, come Friday when you’re deaf from microphone feedback and the endless chatter of coke fuelled A&R men at least you’ll accept that your tinnitus will have been mostly self-inflicted.

For those who haven’t caught Leeds rockers Pulled Apart By Horses (10:50, Thursday; Night&Day) in the last 12 months prepare to be shocked. Having been on monstrous form the group are hammering out their riffs at an obscene rate. A combination of graft and endless touring have lead to the group play at the top of their game.

There is one band however that are head and shoulders better than anyone else on the bill, Factory Floor (21:30, Wednesday, Ruby Lounge) as their fast fast/slow modulations take hold I’m fearful that I wont be able to approach any subsequent act with the generosity and kindness which they may or may not deserve.

P.S. Ric Rawlins wanted me to mention O Children because he is a huge fan.