Culture, Entertainment, Manchester, Music, News

Membranes and Friends Festival to return to Manchester this May

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By Emily Oldfield


Want a line-up of bands you can get stuck into – serving up plenty of punkish attitude along with weird films and one of the most interesting uses of a choir you’ll probably ever see? Well this festival is for you. On Saturday 5th May from 4pm to 10pm, this is a line-up featuring Manchester DIY and punk inspired rockers The Membranes plus a 20 piece BIMM choir and deep nature film show.

Special guests include a smashing line-up of Evil Blizzard, The Lovely Eggs, The Cravats, One Sided Horse and Sink Ya Teeth – all bands that are increasingly making their provocative, powerful mark on contemporary culture.

According to The Membranes bassist and Manchester music legend John Robb (who Humanity Hallows in the latest print edition – out now):

“After the success of the 2017 Membranes & Friends event at the 1500 capacity Manchester Ritz, it was clear early on that we were going to have to make this an annual occasion.

“The Membranes will perform alongside the 20-piece BIMM Choir debuting songs from the band forthcoming new double album which they are reworking right now! (Scheduled September 2018).

“This is a double album about the beauty and violence of nature with sex, love and death and the mystical heart of England entwined in its rampant lyrical shrubbery.”

And shrubbery certainly does seem to be the case, as Robb added:

“There’s even a track with Chris Packham doing a spoken word vocal,” and in terms of the experience he adds: “We are starting in the studio in the mythical hills of dark Yorkshire tapping into the great god pan and the satanic mills on moor tops: recording really varied styles from bass driven post punk and spine tingling spook choir to  grinding wonk gronk and neo classical darkness. Some really epic moments…”

What can we expect from the other bands on the line-up?

“The Lovely Eggs have just completed a sold out tour of the UK that sees the Lancaster duo on the edge of a big breakthrough whilst Evil Blizzard’s rubber masked psych drone impresses.  The Cravats are legendary John Peel faves who recently returned with their best album yet, whilst Sink Ya Teeth are a stunning new Norwich two piece of jagged sparse ruffs and electronic darkness.”

Sounds impressive to us.

For more information and to book tickets visit: louderthanwar.com

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