Retro Bar, Sackville Street, Manchester
Laymar - ‘In Strange Lines and Distances’ to be released 2 June on TV Records
Manchester’s Laymar have been a long time honing their unique end product which is not an easily accessible sound but one that more and more are beginning to appreciate. Last year’s Glastonbury invitation seemed to give the band a boost in confidence that they needed and a realisation that their tense, atmospheric, blood soaked instrumentals are ready to be unleashed on the world at large. “A meticulous construction of layered synths over streaming guitars, punctuated by glorious programmed beats and ear splitting cymbals erupt in a monolithic apex of spine-tingling sound to tear the breath from your lungs and the words from your mouth” – AngryApe
www.myspace.com/laymarmusic
Iye
Are a seven piece post rock guitar orchestra from Stoke-on-Trent, although still relatively new to the gigging scene, they offer gob smackingly huge washes of layered guitar swirls which are sure to pull the heart strings of any Post Rock veteran. They are a band that tick all the right boxes when it comes to musical influences but best of all they put all these influences together in their onstage performances which just get better and better
www.myspace.com/iyemusic
Starla
This Manchester band hung up their guitars and decided to call it quits in 2004 but reformed earlier this year and with a new lease of life and a new direction. This band play intelligently structured post rock soundscapes that you would be proud to tell your mates about. Welcome back Starla!
www.myspace.com/starlauk
To Sophia
Described as “Acoustic drum’n’bass with vocals” but there’s far more to To Sophia than that. M.E.Ns David Sue – “There’s traces of Massive attack’s brooding claustrophobia, hints of Portishead’s sonic intricacy ….and vocals - soulful, potent, vaulting between seductress and antagonist, and delivering some awe-inspiring lyrics which are ‘literary’ in the best possible sense”. They have fun playing on stage and their excellent acoustic guitar, percussion work and vocals are as much at home at any festival as they are at the intimate setting of any cellar bar!
www.myspace.com/tosophia