Sounds From The Other City @ Various Venues, Salford

It’s a sell out year for Manchester promoters’ annual excursion across the Irwell. There’s no doubt that it’s stronger – if not bigger - than ever. This year’s event was so good it could be used as propaganda for the area. It flattered the region.

Yet the hottest ticket in town by which point wasn’t WU LYF (who cancelled anyway) nor Damon & Naomi headlining a church, it was a raffle ticket for a phonebox so important it required its own bouncer.

Various artists (including Andrew WK) were performing down the line to lucky winners. As intrepid as Artrocker reporters are, rigging raffle prizes is not part of the training so ‘The Telephone Showbox’ events eluded me along with many others. However, from observing a few prize-winners it didn’t look like they’d all got the artist of their choice, but then what facial expression are you meant to wear when TuneYards is playing down the phone?



For gigs that at least have a queue to get in, Comfortable On A Tightrope fail to attract the biggest numbers despite booking the best bands. As close as Manchester will get to Upset The Rhythm, the line-up in the Angel Centre (think canteen in a Doctor’s surgery) included Talk Normal and Girl Mountain alongside “Is that a real band” bands like Maria & The Gay and No Womb.

The room’s filled with homely paraphernalia, zines (courtesy of Salford Zine Library), a sandwich bar and cheaper-than-Primark tees are on sale. There’s no need to leave. It’s such a creative playground that the wristband attendant on the door is a magazine editor, also Manchester based reverb exponents Klaus Kinski are knocking around providing some sweet conversation.

Once the bands are over it’s into the Kings Arms for Naïve Melody, who’ve managed to fit in more amplifiers than this beautifully furnished boozer could possibly take. Points for trying at least.

Out the back of the pub, festival co-ordinator and Red Deer Club founder Duncan is smiling – as ever – but this is the kind of smile you see a promoter sparsely break. The kind of smile you make when things have gone a little too well. The kind of smile the Pull Yourself Together team were making over cupcakes almost 12 hours earlier.

PHONE BOX PHOTO: JP DALY