Small venues and big bands are always going to be a recipe for success….. and tonight was right up there, in one of the most intimate and ridiculously raucous gig experiences ever.

It has been six months since my last visit to the fantastic venue of Social in Hull and once again, I am seeing the mighty Noasis, who continue to bring all the swagger and attitude you would hope to expect from a Tribute band paying homage to arguably the biggest British Rock band in the last 30 years.

Nothing but Thieves have seen a spectacular rise in the last year or so. Having followed them from many years back in the early album phase, the popularity and scale of the following, coupled with the size of venues along with the sheer number of gigs they are playing.

Having booked tickets to Emofest a little while back, I was pretty much unsure of what I was expecting. What seemed like a well backed social media campaign for the event, I went ahead and duly bought tickets anyway and kept an interest in the media posts, which clearly looked like it was looking to be some night…. and ultimately went on to sell out.

I am not one of those people who are sceptical of seeing a tribute act and I know many can get hung up on the band not sounding exactly the same as the original, don’t look the same or just aren’t as good. For me however, that is pretty obvious that may not be the case…… but on this occasion, Noasis were by far one of the best tribute acts I have seen, performing a show befitting of the mighty Mancunian brothers. They excellently power though anthem after anthem and give me and those in attendance a night to remember.

Back at University, all the way back in 2004, me and my newly acquainted Uni digs friends ventured down Oxford Road to visit Manchester Academy 3 (Hop and Grape) to see a band called Stellastarr. Having little knowledge of the band having only heard one song and only a friend’s persistent recommendation that they were superb……. expectations were low, but open to be fulfilled on what was a rare venture across the water from the NEW York arty indie band.

I have previously used this space to write reviews of gigs that I have been to…. although having followed this band for a fair while and built upon numerous weeks of anticipation and ultimately listening to their new track on repeat this morning …. “Time to Let Things Go” by the Skylights has dropped…. and I am inspired to share my views on what is a truly brilliant track.

For a band who first released their debut album The Back Room 18 years ago, the Editors continue to rejuvenate their sound and direction, releasing The Weight of your Love just before this gig, but still continue to provide a live experience unlike many other.

To write something about this band has proved to be harder than most. Since starting to write reviews this year, I have followed the notion of writing about a single event I have visited…. a small portion of time when I witnessed something in person and thus creating a small capture of a moment…. a collection of a memory that transcribes into a permanent reflection of that said time.

Local “legendary” nightclub, the Welly was the fitting host of Scottish indie rockers – Twin Atlantic, bringing them with them all the nostalgia of their 15 year back catalogue and a sprinkling of new music – on date 9 of their 12 date intimate tour of the UK.

It was a night that two of the most talked about “local” bands effectively joined forces and sold out the impressive Manchester Academy. Nine Black Alps and The Longcut, both formed in Manchester and therefore, now affectionately adopted as one of their own.

Adam Nutter and Experiment 637 both gave a masterclass in innovative, creative and truly beautiful music, mesmerising and captivating throughout and giving those present a night to remember.