Celebrating the wonderful Manchester artists set to rock BBC 6 Music Festival

BBC 6 Music Festival

Jasmine 4.t.

Manchester has such a rich musical heritage, has the city influenced your sound and approach to music in any way?

Yeah absolutely! I moved here shortly after coming out, when my life kind of fell apart, but in Manchester I found queer family which was a really healing experience for me and that is what my record is about. I also met all my bandmates here through the trans community

Are there any Manchester venues, artists, or moments that shaped your journey as an artist/artists?

My first show as an out trans woman was in the basement of The Peer Hat, an iconic pub that has been a favourite venue of mine since arriving here. My website is based on The Peer Hat. I’m also sat out the back of the pub in my “Elephant” music video. I put on a night there last year that was by and for transfem people. There’s so many rad bands and artists and DJs here – Phoebe Green, Lindsay Munroe, Ether Mech (who currently have Big Things Coming) and Bollibubbles are favs of mine.

The 6 Music Festival is a major celebration of alternative music—what does playing this event mean to you?

It’s a dream come true. 6 Music is such a cool radio station. They’ve been so supportive of me, they’ve really given me a voice. As have BBC introducing – so it’s really cool to be headlining the BBC introducing stage at 6 Music festival. At YES as well, which is such a sick venue.

If you could collaborate with any Manchester artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Ether Mech, because they’re like the coolest band ever.

Is there a Manchester hidden gem — whether it’s a record store, a venue, or a late-night spot — that you think more people need to know about?

I really like Highfield Park, it’s a beautiful nature reserve in Levenshulme near where I used to live. I wrote a song about it – wild that it’s now out in the world with backing vocals from Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker!

Renee Stormz

Manchester has such a rich musical heritage, has the city influenced your sound and approach to music in any way?

Manchester’s unique sound has definitely influenced my journey and sound as a musician greatly. I went through a time where I busked on the streets of Manchester with my guitar and cube amp for two years and people would always shout “play Wonderwall” which was funny as it was irritating haha, because from The Smiths to Oasis, Joy division to Simply Red, Manchester music and art has its own unique edge which is firmly rooted in being yourself as much as possible, unapologetically, loudly with now F’s to give. This is an ethos that has definitely become part of the fabric of my creative process, I’ve lived here for a decade and this has been the main way this city has influenced my art.

Are there any Manchester venues, artists, or moments that shaped your journey as an artist/artists?

Band on the wall, NIAMOS, The Blues Kitchen are three venues that have had an impact on myself and my music journey. I’ve seen some amazing shows and acts from Bilal to Greenteapeng, Mos Def (Yasin Bey) to Ghetts and Children of Zeus. All these experiences will stick in my mind because I remember witnessing each of these acts “flow states” which brought me closer to mine. My favourite venue and event I’ve performed at would definitely be the Fete of Britain at Factory international, with BlackJosh, Louie VI and Djsnuffone, that was a great experience.

The 6 Music Festival is a major celebration of alternative music—what does playing this event mean to you?

Playing at the 6 Music Festival is a great honour and step for myself personally. The 6 radio station has a habit over the last 15 years of playing some awesome artists and exposing them to wider audiences. I discovered bands like The Script on 6 radio before they were famous, so years later to be invited to play is a huge blessing.

If you could collaborate with any Manchester artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

If I could collaborate with any Manchester it would be the Misha B’s who I watched on X-factor then later met in the streets of Manchester randomly singing with a violin busker. She is the epitome for me of top level artistry.

Is there a Manchester hidden gem — whether it’s a record store, a venue, or a late-night spot — that you think more people need to know about?

This and That is the legendary scran/food spot in Manchester, so if you know you know and I hold a special place in my heart for the NIAMOS community arts centre in Hulme, that is a cheeky late night spot where you could see an orchestra doing renditions of Lauryn Hill’s catalogue or a bunch of old school Manchester musicians jamming it out as an open mic. 

You can get tickets for the BBC 6 Music Festival by clicking here