Mike Concrete

SOMETHING MAGICAL happened back in 2004 when Mike and Sarah set up Concrete, made their way to Glastonbury for the festival’s unsigned bands’ final, and get stuck in God damn traffic on the way back only to become inspired to produce a compilation of all the finalists. The team at Glasto was hugely supportive, The Subways were overall winners and going from strength to strength and the double CD sold like hotcakes at the festie and beyond, giving those unknown bands a bit of attention and making a few quid for The Fair Trade Foundation too.At the same time something was a-brewing a little closer to home. From the coolest corners of our very own City ‘Ten From Ten’ was in conception. The creator - Steve Adj, ex Tour Manager with The Stone Roses and well-known face of Manchester. The formula - ten new bands performing ten of the city’s classics all wrapped up with some John Squire artwork on the sleeve. Names such as Sam Hammond and Blood Red Bird (Simon Aldred of Cherry Ghost) appeared to mark the moment, a good ten years or so from Manchester’s last musical high as if to prove that art, like trade, the seasons, and life itself ebbs and flows in booms and slumps in this merry-go-round world in which we live. Released later that September on CD and numbered vinyl it was a collector’s dream.So then came Glastonbury again: the double compilation was this time in aid of Shelter and our on site location now included a venue with Oxfam called ‘Late N Live’ which saw a team of 13 of us work through the rain and mud to bring you the newest of music well into the wee small hours. Overall winners of the competition were The Deadbeats, who graced The Other and The Acoustic stages with their own country rocking charm. So 3 albums down the line a single was born. It seemed fitting that this should be from The Manchester based Deadbeats and true to Concrete foundations the ‘Back Door Honey’ video saw wrecking ball fun.The next twelve months held regular nights at the traditional music hole of ‘Night & Day’ as well as Manchester’s inaugural Danish ‘Kro Bar’ where we hosted a New Year to remember as we welcomed in 2006. And who should appear at this but one of a band of 3 not yet known in these parts…it was the beginning of something a little bit amazing. Come March the 3 collectively called ‘Orphan Boy’ had signed to Concrete following their move from coastal Cleethorpes and the real journey began.'Late N Live 2007' in association with 'Sustrans' was a whopping great success not least on account of the wonderful Kro bar feeding the crowds with their Danish delights whilt the music played on. All the winners of the 2007 Emerging Talent competition Liz Green, The Epstein, Dr Meaker, Feluka and the Grim Northern Social played Late N Live and we were priviledged also to have; Small White Light, Glastonbury 2006 finalist and Epic's latest signing Scouting For Girls, The Whip, Gravenhurst and the Mighty Liam Frost to name a few. Thanks to all of you who came and found our crazy corner of Glasto, danced by the flashing cow, took a risk and took home something new.Once again we've teamed up with Blowout to run 'That Manchester' in the unlikely surroundings of the World Irish Heritage Centre on October 6th 2007. It will bring a selection of Manchester's finest (with a couple of Glasto guests we just couldn't resist) in an all day long musical extravaganza. Gonna show the Irish how its done and again drink that bar dry of guinness? Check out the line-up and come on down;) www.myspace.com/thatmanchesterWe would love to see you there.X