23rd February 2024

Key Takeaways from Day 1 at the Night Time Economy Summit | GigPig

Escape from Freight Island in Manchester hosted the Night-Time Economy Summit, which brought together industry moguls from across the globe over two days. Through panellists and networking, the event aims to share information and knowledge, as well as, advice when navigating difficulties in the next few years.

The showcase provided invaluable information and details from different sectors that come together to create The Night Time Industries Association. Plans were laid out for the coming year

23rd February 2024

Key Takeaways from Day 2 at the Night Time Economy Summit | GigPig

Escape from Freight Island in Manchester hosted the Night-Time Economy Summit, which brought together industry moguls from across the globe over two days. Through panellists and networking, the event aims to share information and knowledge, as well as, advice when navigating difficulties in the next few years.‍


The showcase provided invaluable information and details from different sectors that come together to create The Night Time Industries Association. Plans were laid out for the coming y

23rd February 2024

The Key Challenges facing the Night-Time Economy | GigPig

This topic would always dominate the Night-Time Economy Summit when coming into the two-day event. Sacha Lord has recently been tirelessly campaigning to reduce the 20% VAT currently imposed on the hospitality business to 12.5%. But the significance of the issue was telling when the CEOs of the NTIA, UKHospitality, BBPA and IOH all unanimously agreed that the stubbornly high VAT is the biggest challenge the sector faces. All three Metro Mayors also agreed to reduce VAT, with Andy Burnham, Tracy

23rd February 2024

“We don’t forget here”: Andy Burnham comments on Sacha Lord’s billboard shaming the Conservative Party | GigPig

Whilst Manchester rolled out the red carpet for the Conservative Party Conference, Sacha Lord had other ideas.

‍Instead of extending a warm reception to the Conservative Leader, he chose to make a bold statement by featuring Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, adorned with red eyes, and plastered his face on the biggest billboard in Manchester.

Conveniently, it’s also right around the corner from Manchester Convention Complex Centre, where the party conference is taking place, as a constant reminder

Mancunian Matters • 7th December 2023

'You can't judge anyone': Volunteering with a Manchester homeless charity ahead of their busiest period

Homelessness charities have seen a rise in the number of people using their service over the past couple of years – and the winter months are bound to be the most testing time of the year. Finn Toal volunteered with a Manchester charity to find out more.

The clock has just hit five, and the queue of homeless people is already winding around the corner outside Strangeways Prison.

Coffee4Craig is a charity established in 2013, when Craig White, the brother of founder Risha Lancaster, died due to

GigPig • 21st September 2023

GigPig - 30 years of Britpop: Jake Shillingford's journey through music

This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of Britain’s most culturally significant music eras - Britpop, where frontman of My Life Story, Jake Shillingford, shares his insights from the period as he gears up to release new music.

This was kickstarted by Suede’s eponymous debut album, igniting a musical explosion, that would reverberate throughout the UK.

Over the next four years, the scene was dominated by Britpop’s big four: Suede, Pulp, Blur and Oasis, whose releases in that period instant

Mancunian Matters • 21st September 2023

James Bulger murderer Jon Venables’ lawyers received more than £100,000 for re-offences as parole hearing is granted

One of James Bulger’s killers, who has had his recent bid for parole accepted, has had more than £100,000 worth of legal aid granted since his initial release in 2001.

A freedom of information request to the Ministry of Justice revealed Jon Venables’ legal aid cost £100,735.10 in anonymity and civil representation, relating to his re-offences after the horrific murder of two-year-old James Bulger, for which he was released in 2001.

Venables’ case will not be heard in public and will last for t

GigPig • 11th September 2023

GigPig - Public confidence in political leaders plummets as pub closures soar

Soaring energy costs and lack of business support from the government have resulted in an increase in pubs forced to declare last orders as the backbone of the British culture is being threatened.

There is a significant lack of faith in political leaders to protect from closures as nearly half of the population doesn’t believe any political party has the pub’s best interests at heart.

The survey conducted by Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) revealed the sobering statistics that 43% of those surve

GigPig • 25th August 2023

GigPig - Vaping bans at festivals: A new era of environmentally-friendly events

Whilst after drinking some warm tinnies or an overpriced Fosters, grabbing for your highlighter pen may have been the perfect solution to complete your festival experience, but now the ban is spreading among UK festivals.

And even though it is unpleasant and mildly inconsiderate for festival-goers to have a cloud of crème brûlée blown into their face whilst watching their favourite headliners, the decision to enforce the ban is primarily rooted in the environmental impacts posed by disposable v

GigPig • 23rd August 2023

GigPig - LAB Records is riding the wave of the rise of independent record labels

Genres which were previously deemed to be too niche or unconventional are now celebrated, and independent artists have been given a wider platform to produce and release their music, which is significantly altering the landscape of the industry, with a kaleidoscope of sounds now a part of the mainstream market.

The companies are birthed from a passion for music and a relentless pursuit of artistic authenticity, which has enabled musicians to explore their creative depths without fear of comprom

GigPig • 21st April 2023

GigPig - Off The Record - Record Store Day

Over the past few months, GigPig has been championing the best places for vinyl lovers to sift between crates within stores across the country to source some incredible physical music.

Now Record Store Day (RSD) has finally arrived for music enthusiasts which gives you the perfect opportunity to get down to your favourite record stores to revel with like-minded music connoisseurs and get your hands on some exclusive pressings, or to unearth those lost rarities that you’ve been craving to add to

GigPig • 11th April 2023

GigPig - The festival dream for emerging artists

Playing the stages of festivals is so coveted, which allows musicians to reach a wider fan base than what could have initially been possible than playing across their home city.

This allows festivals to champion upcoming talent which will inevitably shape the future of the music scene within the country, and provide a route for homegrown talent into the industry.

Now, festivals are putting prospective musicians on their posters more and more, as breaking onto the stages of the festival used to

8th March 2023

GigPig - How commission on merchandise is stifling gigging musicians

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) has urged venues not to charge commissions on artists as it attacks the touring ecosystem, an opinion which is shared by Nick Lewis, Head of Music at KOKO in Camden.

Touring costs are, at present, staggeringly inflated to the point where gigging is becoming more and more commercially unviable for musicians, leaving merchandise sitting on a tilting scale to whether artists make or lose money.

This ultimately means that venues take money away from sales of po

28th February 2023

GigPig - Does AI have a place in the modern music industry?

The opportunities which AI offers are endless, where the only limitations to the tool are the users themselves and what they ask the software to churn out.

It feels like in today's modern age, it is just something that cannot be escaped, where university exams can be passed by utilising it in a particular way and now it can be also be designed to make the next viral banger.

Taking data from algorithms allows the software to learn automatically from patterns or features in the data, meaning it

21st February 2023

GigPig - The Art of Busking

The one thing that binds buskers together is their pure love for music, which ensures that there is a huge variety of street performers showcasing their expertise.

It is the perfect opportunity to gain invaluable experience for those bidding to transform their performance space from the streets to the main stages at festivals.

Where this is epitomised by artists such as Ed Sheeran, Passenger and Rod Stewart, who all started their illustrious careers on the streets.

At GigPig we ensure that ou

Mancunian Matters • 16th January 2023

Culture Review: Episode 3 - Vinyl revival

In this third and final podcast episode, we will be shining a light on the resurgence of vinyls and record collections.

There is no better person to tell the story than a true Manc legend who has seen it all after operating his shop, Sifters Records, for over 40 years.

Peter Howard was immortalised as Mr Sifter in the Oasis song Shakermaker in 1993.

Mr Sifter shares his anecdotes from running his shop on Fog Lane, Burnage, and the story behind the vinyl revival.

13th January 2023

GigPig - The reality of the cost-of-living crisis’ impact on the music industry

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has had significant consequences on the music industry. Soaring prices have brought even more difficulties after the pandemic, which is now affecting artists' mental health.

The music industry severely suffered during the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, and following restrictions music venues were forced to shut for 18 months, on top of pressures to remain open and to keep staff employed.

The trades economy, therefore, shrank by 47% in 2020. However, the

Mancunian Matters • 19th December 2022

Gig Review: The Chameleons at Manchester Academy

Manchester post-punk band rolled back the years to deliver a masterful performance for their ‘resurrection’ tour, 22 years after performing at Manchester Academy.

The Chameleons, originating in Middleton in 1981, are known for their dark, atmospheric sound and introspective lyrics, as they took to the stage on Saturday, 17th December.

Lead singer, bassist and original member Mark Burgess were joined by the returning original guitarist Reg Smithies.

The punk pioneering band released six studio

Mancunian Matters • 13th December 2022

How the North West’s Michelin Star restaurants compare to the rest of the United Kingdom

The Michelin Star is the most coveted and prestigious accolade for restaurants to receive, and a North West restaurant has reached the highest achievement.

Introduced in 1900, the Michelin Guide grants the accolade, which is highly respected across the culinary scene, with the entitlement boasting excellence across the country.

Inspectors will rank the establishments on criteria such as quality of products, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, and the personality of the chef represented

Mancunian Matters • 18th November 2022

Adidas Originals announces footwear exhibition with SPEZIAL F.C and Manchester performances

Sportswear giant Adidas has announced an exhibition which will feature archival shoes celebrating the culture of football in partnership with END.

Sitting in Circle Square off Oxford Road hosts unreleased, samples, working prototypes and the archival Adidas shoes all with a nod to the beautiful game.

The event is in support of Manchester Young Community Champions, a non-profit company that aims to help and benefit young Mancs, with donations also encouraged.

Included in the collection are vin

Mancunian Matters • 8th October 2022

Manchester’s Exchange Square holds show for upcoming music groups

Music event Direct to Stage is taking place from 7 to 8 October – and on the 8th there is a pop-up show from upcoming indie, indie-rock and post-punk bands Dead Pony, The Royston Club and L’objectif at Exchange Square.

From 11:00 to 19:00, First Direct Bank will be providing a platform for smaller bands with an exciting future.

The digital bank is committed to levelling the playing field within the music industry, with the bands having been invited to the venue last month, where each performed

Mancunian Matters • 6th October 2022

Manchester’s Neighbourhood Festival: The best model for a festival?

Neighbourhood Festival took place on Saturday, October 1st across 13 venues all over Oxford Road, bringing new and established artists to the city of Manchester.

And what an excellent festival it was with the bands playing at an incredibly high level to an adoring Manchester crowd.

However, this unique style of event combines all the best aspects and eliminates all the worst aspects of your traditional field festival.

Rain dampening the mood? No problem all venues are inside.

Are portaloos n

Mancunian Matters • 30th September 2022

Suspected remains could link final missing Moors Murder victim

Greater Manchester Police were alerted to Saddleworth Moors with reports of human remains which could help find the last Moors Murder victim, Keith Bennett.

GMP was contacted yesterday lunchtime by the representative of an author who was researching the murder of Bennett.

Police are now restarting their search for Bennett as they are digging on the Moors after they closed their search in 2009.

The author disclosed to the police that he believed he discovered potential human remains in a remot

Mancunian Matters • 5th September 2022

Manchester performers at Edinburgh Fringe’s 75th Anniversary

Manchester acts who performed at the 75th anniversary of the Edinburgh Fringe 2022 expressed their excitement of the return to the event during this special video piece from Mancunian Matters.


The Edinburgh Fringe was fully opened to the public this year after COVID-19 cancelled the festival in 2020 and a heavily reduced event took place in 2021.

Only 21% of performers were live in Edinburgh last year, which is in comparison to the scale of performances this year.

However, 2022 saw the Fri