BEYOND THE MUSIC 2023: A TRIUMPHANT FESTIVAL DEBUT
Spanning four days of industry talks and an eclectic live music lineup, VOCAL GIRLS went to Manchester’s brand new festival for a packed weekend in one of the north’s most vibrant cities.
Pictured - The Orielles. Photo credit - Omara Balaa
From the punk rock revolution of the 1970s to the ‘Madchester’ era of the 80s and early 90s, Manchester has a history of being a hotbed of legendary bands, pioneering musical and social movements and fresh talent. It might come as a surprise, then, that a festival like Beyond The Music is only now making its debut. The event took place for the first time last week, spanning four days of crucial industry conferences discussing the past, present and future of music, alongside a live lineup peppered with some of the most exciting new and established acts. Prospective punters were spoiled for choice, and VOCAL GIRLS ventured to the vibrant northern metropolis to experience it all firsthand.
Making our way down the bustling thoroughfare of Manchester’s Oldham Street, we kicked off Thursday evening by watching Blossom Caldarone at the Night & Day Cafe - one of the many iconic music venues involved in the festival, with a strong historical connection to the local scene and a stage which many a musical legend has graced. Donned in a cosy pink sweater vest and bathed in warm ambient lights, Blossom’s beautiful piano and string-led set made for an intimate and homey introduction to the weekend.
Next, we braved the wintery chill of the evening a mere few minutes down the road to Gulliver’s, where we caught Saloon Dion - the DIY Bristol band whose electric set was as witty and entertaining as their ingeniously punned name might have predicted. Their high-octane scorchers had the crowd dancing away, and the band gleefully grinned as they encouraged everyone to get down to their raucous mixture of punk, new wave and surf rock.
Not only was it a celebration of grassroots talent; the festival’s aim to confront and discuss the ever-evolving challenges faced by and within the music industry…
The fun continued as we traced our steps back to Night & Day Cafe, where post-punk trio Alien Chicks were delivering their hardcore musical madness, before setting back off again into the night to Aatma - a venue which felt like a secret almost too well kept. Hidden in an alleyway and up a narrow red-painted stairwell, we opened the door to be drenched by a waterfall of shoegaze as four-piece cruush’s symphony of soaring guitars enveloped all corners of the room.
The night ended at The Peer Hat –one of the most active venues in the city celebrating grassroots musicians – where The Faux Faux (the solo project of Faith Vern from legendary Manchester punk band PINS) were playing in the basement. The dive bar-esque vibe - low ceilinged, fairy lit, and intimate - created the perfect ambience for Faith’s glossy electronica and post-punk catalogue and saw our first evening out with a wash of glamour.
Friday’s offerings were a particular highlight. We kicked off the afternoon by returning to Aatma to catch Junodream, who delivered a groove-laden set despite an unfortunate bout of technical issues. We then ended up in Band on the Wall, a 2-in-1 venue with both a smaller stage near the bar and a larger performance space. Committed to spending the rest of the night here, we hopped between the two stages, uncovering a treasure trove of musical gems.
First was Human Interest, whose buoyant, scuzzy, and feel-good collection - including groovers ‘Step On’ and ‘Cool Cats’ - earned a real buzz from the crowd. Then splint took to the stage, which entailed vocalist Jake Bogacki (a founding member of Working Men’s Club) reading handwritten lyrics from a somewhat battered-looking journal as the band filled the room with their impressively heavy, raw and industrial sound.
Pictured - Human Interest. Photo credit: Omar Balaa
Later, it was a dance party with Downtown Kyoto, before hopping back to the bar stage to watch the cacophonous cowboyy thrash through their defiant set of punk belters and almost incomprehensible guitar solos. The wonderful Porij rounded off our night on the larger stage with high energy, swirling electronic grooves, which also included an impressive synthy cover of Radiohead’s ‘Everything In Its Right Place’.
Saturday saw us seeking refuge from incessant rainy downpours, but this didn’t dampen our spirits. After bopping to the tunes of Viji, Moreish Idols, and The Orielles, we revived ourselves by staking our claim next to the jukebox at The Castle Hotel. The grand finale was a boogie-down session at Speedy Wunderground’s afterparty. The night left us tending to our slightly sore heads with a comforting brunch at Feel Good Club the following morning, before hopping on a train home feeling a little jaded, but joyful.
Wandering through the vibrant streets of the Northern Quarter, we spent our time in Manchester like moths to a flame - flitting from one musical glow to the next. The city is a special place, and perfect for a festival like Beyond The Music. Not only was it a celebration of grassroots talent; the festival’s aim to confront and discuss the ever-evolving challenges faced by and within the music industry is one that is necessary and hugely important. Ta-ra, Beyond The Music - until next year.