Joe Goggins

A collection of songs as soulless as the arenas they’re destined to fill.

“I feel like I’ve broken through as a pop artist. I didn’t ever want to be an indie artist.”

“Some bands make magazine covers right from the start – we’ve never been that type of band.”

As one of the world’s great music cities, Manchester is packed with great venues. Here’s five of our favourites…

The Cribs can be anthemic without needing to have the audience jumping and screaming as one.

If only the band had paid a little more heed to what their loyal, paying followers wanted to hear.

They rarely deviate from their own tried-and-true formula but when the live performances are this exhilarating, it’s difficult to care.

This is about as blistering a live show as you’re going to find in 2012.

It’s nice to hear from a band that are capable of putting their own stamp on current trends rather than merely diluting them.

Wale has the potential to provide one of the slickest live hip hop experiences on the circuit.

Venues like the Apollo are where Feist now belongs, as much as she might want us to think otherwise.

Winner of the BBC’s Sound of 2012, Michael Kiwanuka, takes to the stage at Ruby Lounge.

Musically they’re an acquired taste, lyrically they’re completely absurd, but Pulled Apart by Horses are riotously good fun.

It’s impossible not to raise questions about how ‘live’ a performance from 2 men with computers and decks really is.

This particular supergroup surpass expectations and play a blinder of a Manchester debut show.

Based on tonight’s performance, it’s impossible to recommend The Maccabees’ March tour highly enough.

Both band and venue remain amongst the live circuit’s best-kept secrets. On tonight’s evidence though, they surely won’t be secrets for much longer.

Thurston Moore’s new album, Demolished Thoughts, has been lost somewhat in the live translation.

Strikingly-named Bass Drum of Death play in one of the more unlikely Manchester venues.

Two 4 star reviews of Corgan and co. Just because.