Amy Griffiths’ ‘Words on the Wind’ is soothing; the song invites her hearer to open up. Amy hadn’t decided whether her second song should be called ‘Lover’ or ‘Lover, Lover, Lover’; it was a fun number. ‘Unfolds’ celebrates an emotion over time. Amy created a warm and humorous connection with her crowd – Tuesday night, The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 26.02.2019
Alx Green‘s ‘Downhill From Here’ is healing. Worries and strife realign in the music. Feel the relief. His finger-tapping, guitar slapping is mesmerising – like watching a fire. ‘Hollow’ sought honest answers– Tuesday night, The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 26.02.2019 {‘Morning’, listened to today, is a breath of fresh air}
Caitlin Gilligan’s ‘Fly Me to the Sun’ filled The Whiskey Jar’s silence and emanated. When it plays, I’m somewhere else, in the same place – Tuesday night, The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 05.02.2019 {‘Fly Me to the Sun’ will be on Caitlin’s upcoming EP ‘Wild Sunset Wind’. Along with her banjo, Caitlin plays guitar and harmonium}
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(Permission to write about an artist’s creation was granted by artists. Permission to take and use photographs was granted by bar managers, event organisers and artists)
Alistair Dickie’s ‘Two Of You’ is a gorgeous song that explores the reality of another and their relationship – Monday night, downstairs in The Patron, Oldham Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 03.12.2018
Cara Mellor’s ‘Northern Skies’ was one of the most haunting and beautiful songs I have ever heard – Tuesday night, The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 04.12.2018
(I was assured by two people, including a member of the band, that this jazz jam band… doesn’t even have a name) – Monday night, Matt and Phreds, Tib Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 03.12.2018 – 04.12.2018
Fairy lights are common enough at this time of year but they make a wonderful backdrop for Lucas Marks and the Glorious Unknown. They played guitar, a bass ukulele and a five string fiddle. Charlie Corradine tells me that his extra lower string allows him to play down in the viola register (as “the tune or song requires”) – Tuesday night, The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 27.11.2018
Joe Bagpipes (left), a kind of Scottish Jools Holland, introduces Jon Coley (right) – a man who has met John Peel in Abby Road Studios! Joe and Jon have music coming out of their hands, mouths and hair. Jon digitally cleaned up soundtracks and tapes for Abbey Road. In his correspondence he writes “I had a bit of an knack for it and they used to give me problem cases.” Jon’s clear howling voice goes well with Joe’s more gravelly song. I love when they’re singing of America. Near the end of an evening, Jon told us that he’d created a song over the previous four hours – ever since he’d walked through the door; he called it ‘The Scar I Choose’ . (Jon) “It’s a reference to something a friend said to me; that tattoos are simply scars we choose, and a reference to Joni Mitchell’s track ‘Blue’ which talks about songs being like tattoos” – Monday night, downstairs in The Patron, Oldham Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 03.12.2018
I found Al Swettenham towards the back of The Whiskey Jar celebrating the last night of his thirty-second year. Al aka Geek Boy makes and produces dance music. He’s recently been producing J and K-Pop. If he hadn’t invited me out, then this blog would not exist – 27.11.2018
Oliver Newall’s ‘Out of Line’ was very memorable – Tuesday night, The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 04.12.2018 The Whiskey Jar’s Tuesday night open mic night is thought to be one of the best in the country thanks to Joe Bagpipes’ librarian like insistence that its crowd are to be quiet during performances. The crowd get to chat in-between the songs. The atmosphere attracts quality acts who appreciate being listened to. Joe sometimes joins in with performances; he encourages artists to play together.
Jess Rich told us she was going to sing sad songs, ‘The Church Song’ was one of my favourites – Monday night, downstairs in The Patron, Oldham Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 03.12.2018
Jamie Ferguson smashes into his guitar, turning it into a percussion instrument along-side his strings – Tuesday night, The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 04.12.2018
Shape of Water’s ‘Perfect Love’ was very catchy – Monday night, downstairs in The Patron, Oldham Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 03.12.2018
Junior Dayvis singing the beautifully intense lyrics of ‘She Cried Her Eyes Out’ – Tuesday night, The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 04.12.2018
Al Morris. Al tells me that he doesn’t tend to sing about love. The songs that I heard revolved around characters striving. Lyrics from Al’s ‘Hold Tight’ got stuck in my mind – Monday night, downstairs in The Patron, Oldham Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 03.12.2018 {I often find myself singing Al’s lyrics. Al’s strong voice is well worth a listen}
Lauren McGlashan singing about seeing the sunshine in another person’s hair – Monday night, downstairs in The Patron, Manchester, United Kingdom, 03.12.2018
Ben Hennessy (left) and Teddy White (right) have created the beautiful strumming song ‘Earth on Heaven’. It propelled my mind into some kind of open garden – Monday night, Downstairs in The Patron, Oldham Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 03.12.2018
Callum Sperncer’s poignant lyrics and a warm guitar, accompanied by Jon Coley – Monday night, downstairs in The Patron, Oldham Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 03.12.2018
Walking into The Whiskey Jar with Jacob Neverhill and drummer Ben playing ‘Under the Stars’ was as welcoming as the crowd, Guitarist Ben Krinks encouraged us to tell the past exactly what we thought of it, Max Hollander-Eberly sang booming challenges and stories, Johari Music played some melting funk, George Fell played a slide-guitar waltz, Jon Coley sang of America, – Tuesday night, The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, 27.11.2018
*** (Permission to quote was granted by artists, Permission to take and use photographs was granted by bar managers, event organisers and artists).
*** A special thanks to Maxim, who came up with the name ‘Music Town’.
Music Town 