Croakheads North: an Interview with NRB
Q: What does the scene mean to you personally?
For me, the scene has always been a place where art and community combine and thrive, so as far as I’m concerned you really don’t need much more than that. Throw a bit of belief into the pot and you’re good to go.
Q: Which Northern grassroots venue shaped you the most, and why?
Gulliver’s holds a special place in my heart; I used to be in a band called ‘The Claremonts’ and that was the venue we hired out to put on our first proper headline show… and we sold it out, so that was special. Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Bag Factory - only just under a year old & it seems like they’re reviving Manchester’s underground single-handedly.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge facing grassroots venues in your area right now?
All art reflects reality, and unfortunately, right now it kind of feels like reality has a question mark over it. Thankfully, Manchester’s default response to times like this is simply to make art; there’s an overwhelming amount of collectives and up-and-coming artists doing their thing, and we’d have it no other way. Sadly though, Manchester’s almost fallen victim to its own history - the Oasis reunion certainly didn’t help, but since the early 2010s people have been basking in the glory of what happened 30 years ago. Everyone can play the blame game as much as they like, but regardless of the ever-growing list of challenges that face us, it will always be the responsibility of the artist, the collectives, the promoters and the labels to give the people hope. So, I think the biggest challenge lies at the feet of those most resilient and how much they’re willing to push the boundaries of creativity.
Q: What gives you hope for the future of Northern nightlife?
So many things… but the sheer amount of collectives, artists and labels about right now is nothing but hope-inducing, whether as a bit of healthy competition or just the fact that so many people are feeling the urge to take action - it's all good.
