This week’s gig picks featuring a homecoming show for Suave Martyrs, Plato at Aatma and more.

Plato | Aatma | Tue 10 Dec | 7:30pm | £4 | Tue 10 Dec | 7.30pm | £4

Alternative rock four-piece Plato headline Aatma to promote the release of their new single ‘The Edge’ (out 13 Dec). The Manchester-based band, who take their name from the Greek philosopher, seem eager to follow up on the success of last track ‘Why You’re Tired’ – their sound is ‘foals meets radiohead’, but with a charm all of their own. Support comes from There Is Colour Here.

Aatma, 1st Floor, 14-16 Faraday St, Manchester, M1 1BE
COUNTERFEIT | Deaf Institute | Tue 10 Dec | 7pm | £16.50 | Tue 10 Dec | 7pm | £16.50

Punk-rock outfit COUNTERFEIT return to Deaf Institute for another high energy and hot-blooded performance. Fronted by Jamie Campbell-Bower, the band combine poetry, punk, sweat, spit and confidence into their sound. Latest release ‘It Gets Better’ gives us just a teaser of their next LP.

The Deaf Institute, 135 Grosvenor Street, Manchester, M1 7HE, Tel: 0161 276 9350
The Shivas | Night People & The Twisted Wheel Club | Tue 10 Dec | 7pm | £8 | Tue 10 Dec | 7pm | £8

Rock n roll from Portland, Oregon – The Shivas play Night People this week. For over a decade, the band have given us a pretty prolific release schedule – including this year’s album ‘Dark Thoughts’. With a blurry mix of surf influences and punk, The Shiva’s live shows are noted for being explosive, energetic as well as pretty damn sweaty! They are joined by local acts The 99 Degree & The Be Positives.

Night People, 105 Princess St, Manchester M1 6DD, Tel: 0161 236 9266
Jesse Marchant | The Castle Hotel | Thu 12 Dec | 7pm | £9 | Thu 12 Dec | 7pm | £9

A slice of indie-folk comes to the Northern Quarter in the form of multi-instrumentalist Jesse Marchant. After the release of last year’s LP ‘Illusion of Love’, New York-based Marchant headlines an intimate gig at The Castle Hotel this week.

The Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE, Tel: 0161 237 9485
Suave Martyrs | Manchester Academy 3 | Fri 13 Dec | 7:30pm | £8 | Fri 13 Dec | 7:30pm | £8

Manchester’s own Suave Martyrs mix indie-drenched guitars with 60s psychedelia as they headline the Academy 3. Hot on the heels of their release ‘Gimme a Reason’ last month, the four-piece definitely give us a reason to dance. Support comes from Reardon Love, JCK and The Bines.

Manchester Academy 3, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR, Tel: 0161 275 2930
Gathering of Strangers | Soup Kitchen | Sat 14 Dec | 7pm | £9 | Sat 14 Dec | 7pm | £9

Hometown favourites, Gathering of Strangers play their biggest headline gig yet at Soup Kitchen. Fresh from supporting Electric Six on their UK tour – the lads round off the year with this Manchester date – bringing us rousing riffs, anthemic vocals and an undeniable emotive sound.

Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Manchester, M1 1DF, Tel: 0161 236 5100
Tue 10 Dec - Sat 14 Dec
Words:
Cat Allan
Published on:
Fri 6 Dec 2019