ONE PERCENT INSPIRATION, 99 PERCENT PERSPIRATION

Glasgow's 23 year-old Jackmaster will be playing at Contort Yourself next week. That's a good enough excuse to direct you towards the Dress 2 Sweat retrospective mix that he put together. Like here.


Tracklist

Rod Lee – Let Me See What You Workin’ With Rustie Remix (DTS008)
Kazey & Bulldog – Ballin’ (DTS010)
Rod Lee – Oh Yeah (DTS011)
Kazey & Bulldog – Big Truck (DTS004)
Kazey & Bulldog – Big Truck Pt. II (DTS010)
DJ Tameil – I Get Money (DTS003)
L-vis 1990 – Playing With Knives (We almost released this)
Kazey & Bulldog – Sweet Harmony (DTS004)
Bok Bok – Ripe Banana (DTS012)
L-vis 1990 – Hide (DTS012)
Dikulous – You Know What To Doo (DTS001)
Kazey & Bulldog – Snap Yo Balti (DTS004)
DJ Tameil – Back That Thang Up (DTS003)
Kazey & Bulldog – Fo Da Real G’s (DTS010)
Tactic – Can’t Juke Without Me (DTS-XXX)
Rod Lee – Understand (DTS002)
MOVES!!! – Promise (We almost released this)
Bok Bok – NNTF (DTS012)
Piddy Py – Prickly Rose (DTS007)
Piddy Py – Giggle Riddim (DTS007)
MOVES!!! – All Skate VIP w/ DZ Remix (Original mix appears on DTS009)
Rustie – Throw Some D’s (DTS001)
DJ Deeon – Like We Do (DTS006)
DJ Deeon – The Chase (Demo)
Pistol Pete – Knuck If You Buck (DTS001)
Rustie – Lean Wit It (DTS001)
DJ Deeon – Put It In Yo Mouth (DTS006)

PREVIEW

Oh yeah, and we're sitting on an interview with the amazing Doorly too. That should be up next week.

(The above is something called 'Henry Doorly Zoo', by the way. Probably a zoo, we'd guess.)

FAN-FAYRE

The excellent Greenmoney [Alex Phountzi, formerly of Bugz In The Attic and Leo Greenslade, one half of West London clubnight, yOyO] will be playing at The Warehouse Project this weekend. We should have an exclusive interview with them going up on the main site soon.

In the meantime, familiarise yourself with their sound here. It's a selection put together for Annie Mac [who presents the Saturday bill that also includes Major Lazer, DJ Zinc, Skream, Toddla T, Fake Blood and Buraka Som Sistema] and features Greenmoney's funky reworks of Kid Cudi, Trevor Loveys, Boy 8-Bit, Kid Sister, Aswad, William Orbit and more.

PILE-UP

It's been a bit quiet of late so here is something to noise things up a little.

NEVER MIND THE BUZZCOCKS?

SoundProof Magazine did a poll of the best Manchester albums of all time. Strangely - with votes coming from the likes of Alan McGee, Liam Frost, Cosmic Disco, Northern Comfort, Richard Cheetham of High Voltage/Night & Day, The Ruby Lounge's Jay Taylor and, yup, Northernights - the above long-player didn't make the Top 20. To read what did, go here.

SHUNT

Another collision of recent and not-so-recent noise can be found here.

Have a good weekend.

TAKE A BREAK

Breakspoll winner NAPT play Carry On 09/10/09. As a preview, help yourself to this mix.

CURVE APPEAL

Curve launches next month with Hyperdub's Cooly G and garage maverick Joy Orbison. As a little teaser, you can now get your grubby little hands all over this this very tasty, genre re-aligning mix by SwingTing's DJ Samrai.

Tracklist

Intro: Round One - I'm your brother (Chicago's Twisted Mix) (Main Street)
1. Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction (Instrumental) (Geffen)
2. Box of Yummies - Whena (Mystery Box) (Nervous Dog)
3. Donald 'O' - Deeper (Zach's Slamin Dub) (Music USA)
4. Pseudo - What are you gonna do (Mental Instrum Dub) (Smack Music Uk)
5. Alexander Hope - Keep Ya Happy (Blaze production) (Smack US)
6. Boiling Point - Expression (Nice and Ripe)
7. Da Mob ft. Jocelyn Brown - Fun (Todd Edwards cut up mix)
8. King Maurice - Time Travel (Present) (Strictly Rhythm)
9. Kode 9 - 2 far gone (Hyperdub)
10. Strickly Dubz - Rush (Strickly Dubz)
11. Son of Scientist - Theory Beats (Main Squeez)
12. Trever T - On Me (Mind, body and soul mix) (Firmhanded Records)
13. E.S. Dubs - Standard Hoodlum Issue (Zed Bias Mix 1)
14. El-B - Assassin (Ghost)
15. Oris Jay ft. Mc E-LL - Brand Nu Flava (Original Mix)
16. Dj Target - Poltergeist (Aim High)
17. L.A.S - V.I.P (Militant Beatz)
18. Mc Donaeo and Mc Versa - Artilla Pt.1 (White)
19. Dj Mondie (Shower) (Mondie)
20. Irv Gotti - Down 4U (D'n'D Conemelt Mix)
21. Dpm ft. Durrty Doogz - Look and Turn (DPM)
22. Ramadanman - Humber (Applepips)
23. 2000F and J.Kamata - You Don't Know What Love Is (Hyperdub)

HEARD IT THROUGH THE BASSLINE

More internet rave records shunted together here.

SUMMER LOVING

Boys Noize favourites Shadow Dancer created an epic if chilled mix for Palms Out Sounds' Sounds of Summer series. Obviously, we've not really had a summer over here but that doesn't mean that you should miss out on 150 minutes of music selected by the pair including tracks by Doves, DJ Krush, Boards of Canada, Squarepusher, Beck and Peter Gabriel. You can download it here.

Meantime, should you want to check out Shadow Dancer delivering a more peak-time club selection, the brothers play Audio Farm 22/08/09.

IT'S A FAIR COP

80's-themed synth outfit Futurecop will be appearing at Night & Day 04/09/09. The date sees them sharing a stage with Karoshi Bros, Jupiters Heroes and Egyptian Hip Hop. Anyway, we have an interview with Futurecop which should be going on the main site soon but, for now, help yourself to the following MP3s that they have so generously provided.

MP3: Futurecop feat. 3LW - 'Parents R Aliens'

MP3: Futurecop feat. T-Pain - 'Rich Kids'

THE MAGNIFICENT ONE

Ahead of its first birthday in October, the residents behind Cord session The Magnificent Dance have put together a 30 minute mini-mix which you can download here.


Track list

1) Atlantic Starr 'Circles'
2) Chaz Jankel 'Glad To Know You'
3) Marvin Gaye 'Sexual Healing'
4) Odyssey 'Inside Out'
5) John Carpenter 'The End'
6) Phoenix 'Lisztomania' (Classixx Mix)
7) Greg Wilson 'Dirty Lowdown'
8) Westbam 'And Party'
9) Al Wilson 'Earthquake'
10) Skatt Bros 'Walk The Night'
11) Chilly 'For Your Love'
12) James Curd 'We Just Don't Stop'
13) Human League 'Seconds'
14) Mujava 'Township Funk' (Crazy P Mix)
15) Four Below Zero 'My Baby's Got E.S.P.

SOME RECORDS

Collated here.

P IS FOR 'PROLIFIC' (AND 'PENIS')

Quick Crazy P news now as the disco troupe are issuing a new single - 'Caught Up/Reach Me' - through 2020 Vision 31/08/09.

In October, they're also delivering a mix album on the revived Seamless Recordings. Later by Crazy P is a collection of disco, groove and house cuts featuring some special material. The track list includes Those Norwegians' 'Dom B Sensi', Hot Toddy's 'Late Night Boogie' and an exclusive Crazy P remix of 'We Funked The Party' by Kiwi combo Tahuna Breaks.

PRIME CUTS

Keep an eye out for the first long-player from Trusme's Prime Numbers logo. The album from the excellent Linkwood - titled System - is ten tracks of Detroit techno, 80's boogie and deep soul including appearances from Fudge Fingers and Reggie Watts. It will be hitting the shops and download sites 28/09/09.

Meantime Trus'me will be playing alongside the Motor City's Patrice Scott at the Development & Meandyou party 29/08/09.

OUT OF CONTROL

Currently embarking on some US dates, D. Ramirez plays at Sankeys 31/10/09.

As a little preview of the kind of electrohouse the man's playing right now, there's a mix that you can point your mouse at here. It includes his large 'Downpipe' plus a re-jig of Joy Division's 'Control'. The latter being one to upset the purists, we suspect.

FOX TROT

The Kitsune roadshow is going to be stopping off in Manchester again 22/10/09. Co-headliners are local lads Delphic and Northern Ireland's Two Door Cinema Club and you'll find them doing their respective things in Club Academy.

If you're a London reader, you might be more interested in the Kitsune Warehouse Party scheduled for Hallowe'en where Yuksek will be joining the line-up. You may also be familiar with 'The Tube' and 'The Oyster Card'.

Get you.

TOTALLY TROPICAL TASTE

Ahead of a DJ date from Hugo Mendez at Roots Before Branches, this weekend, you'll find a series of tropical funk mixes from the man's own Sofrito label here.

LEOPARD CAN'T CHANGE ITS SPOTS?

Bit late posting this [been busy, okay?] but this is well worth feeding your head with: Contort Yourself's Ben delivers a delicious squelchy, acidic discoid blend titled Panthers Love Disco Too.

It's downloadable here.

Tracklist

RMM Special Dub - Metro Area
Azul Blue - Toby Tobias
Acid Disco - Bottin
Couleurs (Jori Hulkkonnen Remix) - M83
Too Hot - Tigerskin
Far Away (Hercules & Love Affair Remix) - Cut Copy
Start Something (40 Thieves remix) - Morten Sorenson
Rolle Niva - Dahlback & Dahlback
Maximus - Beni
Wait a Minute (Arlo Mwambe Remix) - Osborne
Reality Check (Vincenzo Remix) - Audio Soul Project
Modern Romance - Bubba & T-Bone
Hungry For The Power - Zari & III
I Wanna Dancer (Disco Rock Dub Mix) - Faze Action
Dirt (C90s Remix) - Headman
Release the Beast - Den Haan

ONE LITTLE DUCK

Release number two from Development Music is available now.

Featuring Croatian vocalist Yannah Valdevit and with production by Atjazz and Domu, 'City Madness/Info People' represents the deep, soulful side of, Manchester club session, Development. It also boasts DJ support from the likes of Laurent Garnier, Danny Krivit, Osunlade and Ashley Beedle and you can buy it here and sample a preview here.

HANG THE DJ?

An unlikely partnership perhaps [Mr Maudlin goes Mariachi, anyone?], but here is Morrissey's 'When I Last Spoke to Carol' remixed by Mexican spinner Toy Selectah .

MERCI

New mix from S'il Vous Plait here. The night returns to Joshua Brooks this Friday.


Tracklist:

1. air france – introduction
2. whomadewho – keep me in my plane (the KDMS remix)
3. psyclops – where’s jasen’s k
4. fever ray – triangle (james Rutledge remix)
5. asobi seksu – strawberries (CSS remix)
6. the tough alliance – a new start (tanlines remix)
7. chew lips – solo
8. telepathe – chormes hoof (golden panda remix)
9. yacht – psychic city

HAVE A BREAK

Breaks figurehead Rennie Pilgrem will be bringing one of his explosive sets to Carry On this week. Meantime, you are allowed to download some of the TCR head-honcho's goodies here. You'll find them alongside a special Carry On promo mix too.

GOOD NEWS, BOPPERS

Yet another small round-up of internet distributed rave hits bashed together alongside one pretty old acid-funk favourite. Find it here.


Tracklist:

1. Boy 8-Bit - 'Baltic Pine'
2. Dre Skull - 'I Want You (Bok Bok remix)'
3. DJ Gant Man - 'Juke Dat Girl (Greenmoney remix)'
4. Ebony Bones - 'The Muzik (Aaron Lacrate remix)'
5. Oliver $ vs The Martin Brothers - 'Watcha Gonna Dum? (Northernights mash-up)'
6. Jesse Rose - 'Pop Yer Porn'
7. Lily Allen - 'Not Fair (Style of Eye remix)'
8. Jahcoozi - 'Watching You (Oliver $ remix)'
9. Christian Martin - 'Elephant Fight (Justin Martin Jungle remix)'
10. Hardfloor - 'Mahogany Roots'
11. AC Slater - 'Banger (Tittsworth remix)'
12. Daniel Haaksman - 'Pobum Coco'
13. Twizzle - 'Skydiving (Greenmoney remix)'
14. Foreign Beggars feat. Dubbledge & Kyza - 'Hit That Gash (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs mix)'
15. Schlachthofbronx - 'Belly Full of Pills (DJ Manaia remix)'
16. Radioclit - 'Secousse (Riva Starr remix)'
17. Major Lazer - 'Baby (FIGURE remix)'
18. Rye Rye feat. M.I.A. - 'Bang (Buraka Som Sistema remix)'

INEVITABLE (AND PERHAPS DUBIOUS) 'TRIBUTE'

Well, it does appear to be what you're supposed to do in these situations.


Boys Noize - 'Eat It' MP3 [zSHARE]

LOVE MACHINE

Everyone's favourite dressed-up digital dance-pop session Clique has got Florence from Florence and the Machine on turntable duties 26/06/09. (This is just after she warms-up for Blur at the M.E.N. Arena.) Meantime you can get your mitts on a Summer Clique Mix that's been prepared by the night's Ian and Damien just by going where this word takes you.

YOUTHINKTHEYSAURUS?

This lot [who, by the way, have been snapped-up by Hot Chip's Greco Roman label] are playing Contort Yourself vs Now Wave 18/07/09. They're called Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

Meanwhile, my favourite dinosaur is/was Triceratops.

NO LAUGHING MATTER

A-Trak's pals Jokers of the Scene play The Chapel's summer closing party this weekend. To get you in the mood, here is a mix from the Fool's Gold signed Canadians.

NEXT WAVE

Championed by Herve, High Rankin has been turning out some of the most twisted, bass-heavy cuts around and - in anticipation of his date at Murkage Goes Balls Deep 12/06/09 - we've posted an interview with the Brighton talent on the main site.

In the meantime, here is a mix so that you can go and upset the neighbours.

Tracklist:

01. High Rankin - 'The Tale Of Clarence Baskerville'
02. High Rankin - 'No Money For Guns'
03. Chase & Status - 'Eastern Jam (High Rankin 100% Unofficial reeeeeemix)'
04. Shuttle - 'Tunnel (High Rankin remix)'
05. High Rankin - 'Corner Of Ya Block'
06. Dokkebi Q - 'Black Vomit (High Rankin Remix)'
07. High Rankin & Gyto - 'Mutant Garage'
08. High Rankin featuring Howard Marks - 'Who's Your User'
09. High Rankin - 'New Messiah'
10. High Rankin - 'Sulfur Tears'
11. High Rankin & Gyto - 'Bubble & Squeak'
12. Raiden - 'Sputnik (High Rankin Remix)'

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER?

Another quick survey of some of the rave hits that you may find elsewhere in this world wide web should be found here. We should have posted this so-called mix a couple of weeks ago but, well, we didn't.

ALL KILLER, NO FILLER

The clever B-Music team have got LA's amazing Gaslamp Killer to do a mixtape which mashes up the label's first twenty releases. It sounds a bit like this and is available from the Finders Keepers shop [it won't be available anywhere else until August] . There's also an accompanying, super limited 7" edit which will be sneaking out through the affiliated Twisted Nerve.

COVER UP

The Kitsune label rolls into town again for a party at The Deaf Institute 17/06/09. Alongside Beni and Chew Lips are the locally-rooted but London-based AutoKratz.

Before all that, you can sample an AutoKratz live favourite: their cover of Primal Scream's 'Swastika Eyes'. Get it here. The duo will also be unleashing their album, Animal, in June plus a single 'Always More' that comes with remixes from Shadow Dancer and Yuksek.

EURONOUNCEMENT

Northernights is closed for Eurovision.

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

In preparation for Elite Force's date at Carry On on 12th June, the night's promoters have been reminding people of this tech-funkin' mix. It should whet a fair few appetites.

SOUND & VISION

We don't normally cover cinema listings but this one is a bit different.

Urbis are screening Matt Wolf's compelling portrait of the seminal Arthur Russell 28/05/09. It's just a fiver and it starts at 7.30pm. Immediately after, there's a party at The Social with DJs from Naive Melody and El Diablo's.

What's not to like?

TSUNAMI DO

What you up to on Thursday night? Nothing? Well increase your nothing quota by not going to the opening of Common's new wall-daubing spectacular, A Wave Called Panic, by graphic designer type lad Chris Gray. It's all ticket you see, they might have sent out all the tickets, although maybe not, get on the blag and try your luck because it's going to be LOVE-ER-LY in there.

We're not sure if it's just the mural or a full exhibition, what we do know is that the walls were not finished on Saturday when NN was in there getting drunk in the sun.

After the opening party for this thing it's the super Stop Making Sense shindig, where they have cleverly booked blog-supremos 20JazzFunkGreats. 20JFG is probably the best music blog on that "world wide web" and therefore their DJ skills should be pretty good.

THE WITCH WAY RAVE

The X43 is an epic bus route that takes you from Manchester to Burnley, via Rawtenstall. I have had much fun on it before, as have others, and it's popularity has now manifested itself into the form of an actual real life record label.

X43 records is having a sort of launch party tonight at Odd Bar, Thomas Street. The people behind this are from the same quorum as Detroit Public Radio and Chump Magazine, so expect some maxx-ace music from the former, and some maxx-ace fanzines and artwork from the latter.

We especially like the X43 sleeves, produced by Adam O'Bern - the records and CDs will be available to buy at the party, which is lucky.

LET'S BE HAVING YOU

We understand that the boys behind the wonderful disco de bosh Prostitutes and Policeman are launching a regular mid-weeker in the Autumn at our current fave nightspot Joshua Brooks.

Expect plenty of wonky dancing action in the arched club, more details to follow, well, it doesn't start until September so ...

Yeah.

THEY'RE GRRRRREAT

The people behind Barely Legal have done a mix. You can download it here.

The music, if described using words, would take this appearance:

not so pretty (feed me remix)- rogues
true romance- golden silvers
rich girls (la castle vania remix)- the virgins
bulletproof- la roux
work it out (the shoes remix)- esser
vision- frYars feat dave gahan
1901- phoenix
no kind words- the maccabees
stuck on repeat- little boots
heads will roll- yeah yeah yeahs
orange shirt- discovery

HOUNDS OF LOVE

NN has learnt that the re-opening of the North/Isobar site under Afflecks for the Delphic party was not a one-off.

Apparantloid, the owners of the Purple Pussycat have their paws on the site currently monikered Blink. The club will operate for 3 months as is, with the Northern Quarter basement due for a Gok Wan-esque facelift in the late summer.

Sadly, the new place won't be a club as such, more a late night drinking den. We hear that one of the latest linceses in the city is being sorted, allowing punters to, well, drink until sunrise. We have also heard there will be a pool table presence in the establishment.

Oh, and the name of this new gin palace?

The Black Dog Ballroom.

RIP KML

Anyone else see this?

***************************

REUTERS 0943 27-04-2009 : Manchester's pointy shoed denizens and fur coat clad fe-clubbers were in mourning today as it was announced that Keys, Money, Lipstick will be closing after a final show-down on the 29th May. A source close to the club told us "it's up with the anglez now".

The discoteque - which spawned the useful acronym KML to describe three potential items found in ladies purses - will be giving up their odd-Friday night spot to new twee-mageddon promoters Asparagus Next Left. The swap in night ironically representing the loss of the infamous old adage no nostalgia, no throwbacks with the replacement of, literally, nostagia and throwbacks.

***************************

Yep.

WISSEN DIE SPRACHE

If you were wondering, it's;

SEAHORSE
UNTIRING
FUCK

See you on the floor.

DIVINE INTERVENTION

The promoters of Eat My Beat vs Sex With Robots have had to cancel an event that was due to take place at The Chapel 24/04/09. Basically it's due to licensing problems. This means that A1 Bassline and L-Vis 1990 won't be making a trip to Manchester. We actually have an interview with the latter which was set to go up on the site today today too. Oh well.

A1 Bassline will now be making his debut in the city later in June at the Mad Ferret Festival.

TOUCAN PLAY THAT GAME

Toucan Rave residents Scarecrow Audio - a.k.a. Justin Culkin and Joe Gabbitas - have done a new mix that you can download here.

Also keep your eye out for an exclusive series of mixes that I Am Sam is currently coordinating for Northernights. These upcoming sets should demonstrate the calibre of local DJ talent and provide a bit more insight into some of those nights that we bang on about all the time.

THAT IS THEIR NAME

Ever since The Ting Tings did that ill-advised "collaboration" with Estelle at The Brits, some of us have been regretting ever having said those three little words: Next, Big, Thing.

But now there's current Next Big Thing Delphic - a Manchester band that came to the attention of resurrected Belgian techno label R&S. And they actually appear quite unlikely to ruin what could be a half-decent performance of 'American Boy'. Check them out. Especially as the current single 'Counterpoint' is produced by the lovely Ewan Pearson [who I Am Sam has just interviewed for an upcoming special on the main site, btw]. Meantime that particular single also comes with remixes by the likes of Paul Woolford and The Chain.

HOWEVER

Delphic are also offering the parts of that track as mp3 and wav files so that you can rework it in any way you fancy before uploading it, calling yourself 'flavour of the month' and taking an Ibiza residency or whatever it is those people do these days. Get them here.

AND

Delphic play at Blink 25/04/09.

HAC ABOUT THAT THEN

This is what the Haçienda looked like, if you were wondering.

Famously designed by Ben Kelly in 198 ... something, it is easy for us to laugh at the Hooky owned parody of the the club these days, but when it was built it must've been like a spaceship landing on Whitworth Street.

To quote Kelly himself;

"Within a cooled-down space (painted in blue and grey tones) the emphasis was diagonal and vertical, with brightly clad balcony supports and diagonal stripes painted on columns setting-up various “journeys” through the building. Siting the stage to one side, and using fly bars for theatre lights, made the space both flexible and dynamic — visual compositions of colour and texture were everywhere. Directional and warning markings created an inside/outside tension — bollards and cats-eyes delineated the dance-floor — a city within a city, of pathways, plazas and bars, which acted as intimate refuge amid the cavernous space."

Beyond the bastardised, Voodoo Ray soundtracked, mad for it aesthetic was a very beautiful collection of contemporary design. Oh well, we've got the Printworks and Deansgate Locks now, so all is not lost, eh kids?

AA MEETING

Couple of days late with this post, but if you're clever and shift the frame of reference 48 hours backwards then you'll see where we're coming from.

Here is an Easter mix from the beaux garcons at Akoustic Anarkhy. This selection of laptop-folk is mixed by resident DJ slash promoter Lego ... you see now, easter, lego ... yeah?

If you're still on a come down from the weekend, this mix is the audio equivalent of a mug of hot honey and lemon like your Mum used to make when you lied about having a hangover.

Sounds like this infact;

THE LOW ANTHEM - TO OHIO
MV & EE - THE BEST IT EVER WAS
STAX DEMPSEY - MONET SKY
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - BLUSH
YELLOW MOON BAND - FOCUSSED
THE PHANTOM BAND - THROWING BONES
ONO & LENNON - HOW DO YOU SLEEP
THE SUPERIMPOSERS - DON'T LETCHA
BRIAN WILSON - VEGETABLES
THE POLICE - SPIRITS
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - MY GIRLS
INSTRUMENTS OF RAPTURE - DO IT TO THE MAX
KENNY LYNCH - HALF THE DAYS GONE
JAMES PANTS - WE'RE THROUGH

Woooooooooh capital letters.

Download here.

MOVING HOUSE

Known for his material on 2020 Vision, local lad Danny Ward has got his latest Moodymanc cut now coming out on Steve Bug's very tasty Dessous label. Release information is to be found here.

LOCAL TALENT

We've been nominated in the Best of Manchester Awards within the music category. This is good. But as it's a reflection of the city and also includes prizes for innovation in fashion and art, we thought that we should further their call for entries. Only competition - particularly when related to creative endeavour - is a very wonderful thing. Last year Rich from High Voltage/Night & Day scooped a prize. This made us happy.

Anyway, here's the message:



MANCHESTER’S ART, MUSIC & FASHION AWARDS – FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES - ENTER NOW

They’re open - but not for much longer. The Best of Manchester Awards are accepting entries until 1 May, as it searches for the artists, musicians and designers whose boundary-breaking work deserves the Best of Manchester crown.

Organised by Urbis, the annual awards celebrate innovation in art, music and fashion. Anyone working within the fields of music, art and fashion, and who lives or works in Greater Manchester, can enter.

Looking for original and imaginative work throughout the field of music, from up-and-coming guitar-based bands and live acts to electronic music and sound art, (including performers, producers and promoters) are: Luke Bainbridge (Observer Music Monthly), Justin Crawford (DJ, producer and Director of Electriks Ltd.), Caroline Elleray (Head of A&R at Universal Music Publishing), Yvette Livesey (In The City), Dan Parrott (Channel M), Miranda Sawyer, DJ Semtex (BBC Radio 1Xtra), and Tim Thomas (Blueprint Studios).

The Best of Manchester Awards are more than a pat on the back from the industry. They’re about more than the winners’ £2,000 cheque and a major exhibition at Urbis. The awards are a chance for the winners to kick-start their career with the kind of contacts and professional development that money can’t buy.

The awards are open for entries until Midnight on 1 May 2009. Entry is online, at www.urbis.org.uk/thebestofmanchester