Due for release in early 2019, ‘Then Lightning’ is Mano’s second solo album. Using intimate home recordings as a foundation, Mano has been joined by drummer and producer Tim Thomas and bass player Gary Hadfield to add lush harmonies alongside banjo, clarinet, harmonica, omnichord and mellotron. This is an album full of warmth, wit, and humanity, produced with unassuming subtlety and charm. 

“He has a witty, easy natural style of writing, as likely to make you laugh as it is to cry. It doesn’t come more authentic than Mano McLaughlin, his songs are sad but dryly funny, the English pop sensibility of Ray Davies meets the introspective folk of Elliott Smith. His imagery is simple but unexpected, and delivered with irresistible musical phrasing. An effortless knack for words and tunes; what more can you ask for?” Guy Garvey.

☁️ I romanticise everything 🔮

Blending the moody intimacy of Lana Del Rey with the raw emotion of Mitski. GRACiE is a pianist and singer-songwriter crafting indie-tinged songs that hit you right in the feels. Her smooth, crooner voice carries nostalgic lyrics born from a need to capture honest emotions and real moments. You might’ve caught GRACiE's music on BBC 6 Music, UK BBC stations, or even seen her perform at the BBC Introducing concert at the Regal Theatre, which later aired on BBC iPlayer. GRACiE's new single, ‘The Big Bang' is a cosmic love story, a metaphor for that explosive moment when love sparks life into being.

Bio:
I spent most of my childhood travelling Europe with a Big Band. This introduced me to a lot of live music mainly centred around jazz and swing. From this I taught myself piano and joined the band when I was old enough. I also grew up with a healthy dose of glam rock due to my dad being a drummer. From this I decided to create music somewhere in-between, making indie music sprinkled with jazz. I've been called 'moody' and 'serious' when I perform but really i'm lost in the moment and the lyrics. Currently I work with Vibe studios in Manchester where we're continuing to record my upcoming EP. 

Spotify,  iTunes, Youtube

Life-affirming Mancunian electro-pop"
-  Tom Robinson BBC 6Music
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"That has Manchester's musical heritage running right through it like the writing in rock"
-  Guy Garvey (Elbow)  BBC 6Music

"Lush"
-  John Kennedy  Radio X

Test Card Girl is a solo project by new Manchester indie singer-songwriter Catherine Burgis. Having grown increasingly frustrated with an admin-based existence, and wishing to conquer a life-long fear of singing in public, Catherine embarked on a country-wide tour as a musical comedian in 2018 complete with novelty miniature keyboard. Winning awards (North West Comedian of the Year, Frog and Bucket 2018, Funny Women Semi-Finalist 2019, Beat the Gong Winner, The Arc, Stockton 2019) and growing in confidence as a singer, she performed her first (and last) gig as solo synth-folk artist Test Card Girl in February 2020, with all subsequent gigs immediately being cancelled due to the dawning of a global pandemic.
 
With live performance not possible, Catherine turned her attention to recording and released her first single 'Holds Me Down' in 2020. The single was picked up by BBC 6Music, Radio X, Absolute Radio and XS Manchester and she was named Steve Lamacq's BBC 6 Music 'One to Watch' in January 2021. Catherine was awarded an Arts Council grant to make a further 3 singles in 2021 and is currently working on her debut EP 'Fly' with producer Seadna McPhail at Airtight Studios, Manchester.  The EP is due for release in Spring 2022 and will feature guest performances from drummer Andy Hargreaves (I Am Kloot) and bass player Nathan Sudders (Miles Kane, Guy Garvey, Nadine Shah). Test Card Girl's music ranges from lo-fi bedroom pop to simple indiefolk songs, influenced in equal parts by the standard-issue musical taste of a 90's Manchester teenager; an obsession with the MIDI sounds of childhood keyboards past and finger-picking folk songs of old. In January 2022 Catherine was announced as one of 10 Manchester International Festival MIF Sounds artists​ and will be performing live throughout 2022 (dates TBC).

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