Up and Coming Manchester Artists to Keep An Eye On

Manchester is the city known for many things throughout history to modern day, including industrialisation, football, and its beloved Coronation Street. But the city is also known for having produced a vast range of legendary musicians, from Oasis to The Smiths, and inspired the ‘Madchester’ Movement – this was an indie rock, dance and rave scene in the ‘80s and ‘90s that led to the domination of British bands at the time, like Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses. The city is also known for Factory Records, the famous record label established in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus that took on several big names, including Joy Division. Manchester has always been a hugely prominent place for the birth and growth of new musicians, something that is still relevant to this day. Let’s take a look at the freshest up and coming Manchester based artists to keep an eye on in 2022...

Witch Fever

This modern punk-rock Mancunian quartet is made up of Amy, Alex, Alisha and Anabelle. Witch Fever are defying expectations in the punk-rock scene with their debut album release, Congregation, introducing a new era of the genre with limitless boundaries. The album was appropriately released 10 days before Halloween… Amy was first inspired to create the band when she broke out from her religious upbringing and deigned to harness the influence religion holds over many people's lives, as well as the strict patriarchal lifestyle it can press on you. The band’s name is a reference to the witchcraze, a period in which countless women were charged with witchcraft and suffered as a result of patriarchal rule, and how this hugely unequal lifestyle continues in many places today. Pretty inspiring, if you ask us. Check out their track ‘Congregation’ from their album below…

Phoebe Green

Manchester singer-songwriter Phoebe Green gave the world a unique take on electro-pop with her vibrant debut album released in August of this year, titled ‘Lucky Me’. The album addresses topics from heartbreak to privilege to mental health, referencing dark periods the singer has experienced herself. Green has had ‘Lucky Me’ tattooed on the back of her right hand as a reminder of the two words that had been used against her and haunted her for years in a way that would downplay any struggles she faced in her personal life – she now uses this permanent inking as a reminder of what she has battled through and survived, something which keeps her grounded and present today. Have a listen to her epic track ‘Make It Easy’ from her debut album ‘Lucky Me’...

Slap Rash

Manchester-based duo Slap Rash have been turning heads and holding our attention since entering the city’s music scene. The duo delivers captivating live performances with ferocious drumwork interspersed with intense bass. Slap Rash sold out their debut headliner at the Eagle Inn and Castle Hotel in Manchester, and something tells us they’ve got a whole lot more to give to the industry, and we should be seeing much more of them in time to come. Have a listen to their latest release, single ‘Holy Smoke’, below…

Sugarstone

A new-wave rock band based in Manchester, Sugarstone brings us nothing less than a well polished, modern take on the genre with their unique sound. The band is made up of Joe, George, Brandon and Ben, and they take inspiration for their sound from the ‘80s new romantic era, which you can hear heavily featured in their tracks. Sugarstone described their track ‘Tiger, Reach Out!’, as being one of their best songs to date – this was proven by becoming one of their most popular releases across streaming platforms. With lyrics that are dreamy and optimistic, the band wanted to incorporate this into their lyric video with neon graphics that echo a light show – in short, they wanted the video to look just as good in a dark room at 4am…check this out for yourself below!

DEAFDEAFDEAF

Describing themselves as a ‘post-something band from Greater Manchester’, DEAFDEAFDEAF’s latest release came out this year, an EP titled ‘Millsbeek Live Sessions’. The band’s sound is dark and melancholic with a vast range of dynamic levels executed at just the right time to deliver the perfect intensity to their tracks. DEAFDEAFDEAF’s single ‘Nothingness’ reached almost half a million streams on Spotify…have a listen to this epic track below.

Ruby Joyce

Aged only 19, Manchester-based Ruby Joyce is an Indie singer-songwriter who released her first track when she was just 15. Having started out songwriting at such a young age has allowed Ruby plenty of time to experiment with her sound and develop a personal and unique style that fits her aesthetic perfectly. Growing with You, Ruby's most current song to date, has an uplifting rhythm and soothing indie tones that transport you back to lazy summers that are carefree yet also full of angst, two opposing sentiments you'd think couldn't be combined into one song. Have a watch of the live performance of this track below… Ruby’s single ‘California’ also sends you on dreamy summer travels, reminiscing about the beaches and oceans — but if you listen closely, the song is intertwined with a devastating love story that brings a twist to the upbeat nature of the track.

Geoblu

Now based in Manchester, Geoblu has been making waves in the industry since his recent move to the city. Best known for the hit 2021 release ‘Greaze’, that reached almost 200,000 streams on Spotify alone, Geoblu has featured across countless top Spotify playlists. Starting songwriting from aged only 13, Geoblue is passionate about poetry and infuses this into his writing. He first put himself on the map with the release of track ‘Set That Pace’ at aged 14. Geoblu’s music takes inspiration from old school hip hop and grime, to produce fast-paced dancing rhythms to keep you on your feet all night. Have a listen to Geoblu’s track 'Greaze' featuring Songer, below...

Loose Articles

The melodic post-punk all-female quartet, Loose Articles, are a hardcore band centered around female empowerment and politics. With a rough and ragged sound, the band’s takeaway message from the majority of their tracks encompasses feminism, as well as encouraging listeners to vote for the Labour government. Check out ‘Kick Like A Girl’ below!

Porij

Having met in university halls when studying popular music at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, Mancunian foursome Porij (pronounced ‘porridge’) produce feel-good dance anthems blended with house and lo-fi pop that will keep you on your feet all night. Have a watch of their latest music video for track ‘Outlines’ below…

Who did we miss? Know any Manchester acts that deserve to be on the list? Let us know on social media - find us at @auxdotapp on all channels.