Air Cav
The story of Air Cav begins in the jungles of Vietnam. Allan
receives a phone call from school friend Chris back home in Manchester.
Let’s start a band.
Sharing a passion for all things aurally uplifting; from sixties
garage to French sitar music, this was going to be an interesting
prospect. Mark liked what he heard and duly threw his melodic,
driving bass playing into the mix, as did folk violinist Sophie
who completed the band’s line-up in summer 2006. Since then,
the four have been inseparable, spending long, rainy, Mancunian
evenings writing songs, dreaming and performing the music they
love to people as much as they can.
Triumphant supports for the likes of We Are Scientists, The Young
Knives and Architecture in Helsinki followed. Steve Lamacq heard
an early version of "Alliance" and declared it one of
the "Five Hottest Records in the World Right Now". BBC
Manchester got excited about "grandious indie soundscapes
that will fill you with joy." By the time Manchester’s
annual In The City event came around, the tiny basement where
Air Cav were booked to headline was nowhere near enough to contain
this colossal sound – people clinging to the walls, flinging
their arms round each other down the front, heads cramming through
the spaces on the rammed staircase. Three weeks later they took
on Paris, headlining at the city’s coolest baroque indie
hangout La Fleche D’Or in front of a packed crowd of young
Parisians shouting along to every word.
Visit our shop
Plenty
Four boys from the South Manchester suburbs, managed by Phil
Saxe, Factory Records Head of A & R and former Happy Mondays manager.
Their star shone briefly but brightly on the cusp of the Madchester
music scene of the late eighties, early nineties. Despite other
promises and offers of recording deals, Plenty pinned their hopes
to the Factory Records mast aspiring to become part of the labels
legacy. Sadly it was not to be, the usual band infighting, musical
disagreements and the original Factory Records collapse conspired
against the band, resulting in the frustrated quartet's sad demise
It had started so well.
From numerous incarnations the band evolved into Plenty. Featuring
Finny (guitar/vocals), Andrew "Duke" Walker (Keyboards/vocals),
Andy "Whit" Whittaker (Bass) and Rick Payne (Drums). One fine
day, Duke (a hairdresser) had a customer come into his shop for
a haircut. That man was Phil Saxe. Thus after watching Plenty
rehearse he became the band's manager. The band went in the studio
and recorded tracks. They quickly received airplay on local radio,
Picadilly Key 103 and KFM. Under Phil's guidance the band went
from strength to strength.
Their melodic brand of indie pop, classic 3 minute tales of lost
love and teenage dreams being a winning formula, gaining a large
loyal following and receiving plaudits from Ian Broudie and Gary
Crowley amongst others. Plenty toured nationally and shared stages
with Bridewell Taxis, Northside, The Wendys, culminating in a
headline gig at the legendary Hacienda. History shows that Plenty
were the only unsigned band to headline the Hac, ever, a feat
they are still proud to hold to this day. The band's impressive
early achievments mean that Plenty should not be allowed to be
forgotten.
Fast forward to 2007. Boys are now grown men, each successful
in their own careers, but still having the odd backward glance
to their glorious Plenty days with a tinge of sadness and regret.
Unfinished business. New local Manchester record label, Surbia
Records know about the band's history and approached the band
with a view to adding another chapter in their story. Chris Corry
of Surbia reasons that their songs are "too good to remain unheard".
Surbia's ethos is of releasing music that may otherwise be ignored.
What better way to illustrate this, to finally release the music
of Plenty and help the band cement their place in the history
of Manchester Music. So if you yearn for classic melodic guitar
pop, desperate for powerful drum charged synths and appreciate
teenage lyrical tales of lost love ........ then you need Plenty.
Visit our shop
Hayley Faye
Hayley Faye is a unique talent with an excellent line in footwear.
Her immense charisma and exhilerating persona coupled with her
lyrical prowess bring intensity and passion to her instantly catchy
melodies leaving you searching for the deeper truths.
No hype required.
Visit our shop
Granby Row
Let us introduce to you the one and only Granby Row.
Starring Fash (Sean Tansey) - vocals/lead guitar, Tom Moran -
bass guitar,
and Dan Lewis - drums.
Hailing from Stockport near Manchester, most famous for its hats
and Sale Sharks Rugby team. Granby Row describe their music as
honest, energetic and melodic, the key essence is that you can
dance to it, delivered with great enthusiasm and a fresh outlook.
Influenced by amongst others Love, Elton John and Bloc Party,
their own repertoire is an eclectic mixing pot, each band member
contributing a different element to the music enabling the indie
pop of the bands past merge with a darker side culminating in
a sound veering from indie punk dance to dub with trippy narcissism.
The band describes their goal as 'just making music people enjoy'.
Fash says “I just want people to have a good time. If people get
the lyrics then it’s a bonus. It’s all about positive feelings
and positive emotions” Tom continues “if you listen to a tune
and you love it and it has a magical cord change and your belly
goes up, that’s all we want”. Dan nods his napper and agrees!
The Granby Row motto sums it all up perfectly “Have a good hat,
clean teeth and shiny balls”.
Visit our shop |
