SCRUFF OF THE NECK X BEAVERTOWN: MANCHESTER NQ TAKEOVER | LIVE REVIEW

Last Friday (16th August) saw the union of Manchester’s newest and greatest musicians across selected venues around the Northern Quarter, brought together by Scruff of the Neck and Beavertown to showcase the city’s up-and-coming talent. With the choice of seven local music venues, in addition to a further thirteen ‘fringe’ venues offering free music-related entertainment, it was set to be an amazing day festival and one to remember for Manchester’s music fans!

Uno Mas kicked off the night’s music in the Lost Cat with a fun, upbeat indie-rock set. Despite it being early on in the night, the band brought an energy to the stage that very quickly rubbed off on the crowd. As each verse drew you in and each chorus rose into a satisfying, energetic musical explosion, it was impossible for the audience to keep still. The room bounced and swayed in time with each catchy guitar riff and lively drum beat, while the band’s honest and relatable songwriting had us hanging onto each word.

After a quick break just long enough to order a yummy cocktail from the Lost Cat’s drinks menu downstairs, it was time for Neeve Zahra to take the stage. With a gentle yet commanding stage presence, Neeve quickly had the crowd wrapped around her finger with her set list of warm country ballads, and was met with an uproar of enthusiastic applause after each song. Neeve delivered soft, delicate lows as well as powerful highs, while the band conjured up a warm, summery atmosphere with bright guitars and dynamic percussion which complimented the peaks and troughs of each track. In addition to her own original songs, she also put her own spin on a classic with her entrancing cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Rhiannon, which had everyone up on their feet in an instant. 

A short walk across the road from the Lost Cat would take you to Gullivers, another location participating in Scruff of the Neck’s takeover that night. While the performance room filled with anticipation as a crowd began to form in front of the stage, a handful of powerful alternative bands readied themselves backstage for a night to remember. 

Beam Noir took to the stage with an instant gravity, engulfing the room with their signature electro-alt sound. Despite technical difficulties delaying their set, they made it worth the wait and, from the very first drum beat and baseline, gave a performance full of dark synths, powerful vocals and catchy guitar riffs. Every moment on that stage was taken as an opportunity to get the crowd hyped, even inviting the audience to ‘blow the ceiling off’ during the last song. And while the roof of the Gullivers may have remained intact, it seems only inevitable that the energy and power of Beam Noir won’t be able to stay contained within the walls of these small venues for much longer, and it is only a matter of time before they explode from Manchester’s local bars to take on much bigger stages. 

Closing the night of music in the Gullivers were headliners Pavé, who performed an exciting set to their largest and loudest crowd yet. A unique blend of heavy alt-rock and hints of shoegaze, Pavé delivered a mesmerising sound full of atmosphere and dimension, establishing their signature sound while also showing immense versatility. While some songs leant towards a darker, haunting sound, these were contrasted with punchy, energetic areas of the set as the band unleashed their more angsty side and inspired several mosh pits within the crowd, keeping everyone on their toes and unable to look away. Led in by deep, crunching baselines and crashing drums, each track saw a captivating display of vocal gymnastics as well as the occasional guitar solo or breakdown, highlighting each individual’s talents as well as their unstoppable synergy when combined in this band.

Keep an eye out for our very special interview with Pavé, coming very soon!👀

FOLLOW PAVÉ – UNO MAS – NEEVE ZAHRA – BEAM NOIR