Low Four Studio celebrates tenth birthday with a week of special shows

Manchester’s Low Four Studio celebrates its tenth birthday this week, marking the occasion with six days of shows, live recordings, special events and collaborations.

Running from Tue 23 Jun – Sun 28 Jun, the programme will showcase the artists, communities and organisations helping shape the future of grassroots music in the city.

Originally launched in 2016 at Old Granada Studios with a special performance by Everything Everything, Low Four was created as a hybrid recording studio, live music platform, and creative space.

In 2021, the venue moved to its current home on Deansgate Mews, where it has continued to expand its programme of live recordings, artist development opportunities and creative partnerships. 

The week-long anniversary celebrations are set to span a range of genres, with performances covering rap, indie psych and more. All shows (barring a very special headline event with Manchester’s own Westside Cowboy) will be free to attend.

The festivities open with Raise The Bar, Low Four’s ongoing collaboration with Manchester’s rap and hip-hop community. Blending live performances, interviews, games and audience interaction, the series reimagines the traditional music TV format for a new generation of artists and audiences. The anniversary edition will feature performances from Superlative and Luca Zuccotti.

City Lights, a new series created in partnership with Cloudwater, is spread across three evenings and will feature performances from Manchester artists The Slow Country, Cruush, Scania, Rollups, Pyncher and Mleko. To mark the occasion, long-term partner Cloudwater has even produced a special limited-edition beer, Still Transmitting.

On Sat 27 Jun, Low Four will host its sold-out headline event: a special recording with Westside Cowboy, presented in partnership with Music Venue Trust’s Everywhere At Once Festival. The show arrives amidst a remarkable year for the group, which has included the signing of a major record deal, tours with Geese, a recent appearance on Later… with Jools Holland and the announcement of a sold-out headline show at Albert Hall.

The week concludes with a Sour Grapes TV all-dayer on Sun 28 Jun, marking the fourth series of Low Four’s collaboration with the acclaimed psych and garage label Sour Grapes Records, featuring Gold Cup, Hungry, Bruise Control, Gaol Bird and The Bear Around Your Neck.

Dan Parrott, Co-Director of Low Four, said: “Ten years ago we set out to build a space where artists could create something lasting. The audience might only be in the room for one night, but the recording can travel around the world. Everything we do starts with that idea.

“What began as an experiment has grown into a platform that has worked with hundreds of artists, supported emerging talent and built an incredible community around live music. We’re proud to have reached this milestone and grateful to everyone who has helped make Low Four what it is.

This week is a celebration of those people: the artists, audiences, partners, volunteers and crew who have been part of the journey. We’re particularly excited to launch City Lights with Cloudwater, a series that begins in Manchester before shining a light on artists and communities across the North West. We’re looking forward to raising a glass of Still Transmitting and welcoming Westside Cowboy for what promises to be a very special night.”

You can find out more about all of Low Four Studio’s tenth anniversary shows here.