Cold Comforts
Cold Comforts are an Alt/Singer-Songwriter band based in Manchester that formed after meeting at university at the RNCM. Put together by guitarist/vocalist Kieran Murphy in an attempt to escape from behind the drums and write his own songs for once, he is joined by James Cooke, Imogen Shortall and Jacob Bentley. The name Cold Comforts is coined by Imogen and drawn from the Stella Gibbons novel Cold Comfort Farm (1932), which parodies the romanticised accounts of rural life that were popular at the time.

Influence from artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Courtney Barnett and Car Seat Headrest as well as a DIY mentality and love of lo-fi has shaped the sound of the band to be something visceral and yet still serene.

Though many of the lyrical themes stem from dark places there is always a silver lining. These are stories of real life. It may suck now but it will always get better.

Sean Rogan
A collective of musicians all active within the Manchester Music scene, Sean Rogan’s new project is an amalgamation of influences from the likes of Pinegrove, Sharon Van Etten, Bombay Bicycle club and Sufjan Stevens. The compositions are formed from electronic nuclei and unpacked in a conventional band format, forcing instruments to switch roles to create a refreshing sonic palette. With roots in the singer-songwriter world, but framed in intricate arrangements featuring samples and a blend of synthetic and organic sounds, Sean’s vocals feature atypical rhythmic phrasing and quirky inflection, facilitated by the addition of alternatively soothing and soulful female secondary vocals. Sean’s songs are dreamed up between a refuge in the sleepy northern countryside, and the bustling centre of Manchester, and the introspective lyrics reflect this internal dichotomy and conflict.

Camilla Sky
Norwegian singer/songwriter Camilla Sky is often seen touring the acoustic scene of the North West, as a solo act accompanied by acoustic guitar or as a five-piece indie folk band.

Heavily influenced by the connection between artist and audience, the intimate culture of performing in crowded pubs with attentive listeners is reflected in her music.

Camilla Sky’s debut material is currently being recorded and co-produced by herself, aiming for release in 2019/20.

Louis Campbell
Louis Campbell grew up playing traditional folk music from the British Isles and America while gaining a love for experimental contemporary music by bands such as Radiohead and Bon Iver. He is a student of folk juggernaut Martin Simpson and has played to hugely varying audiences from Sidmouth Folk Week to Post-rock/Math-rock festival Arctangent. Joining Louis for the first time will be percussionist Gabriel Alexander (of Manchester band Cosmo Calling) and cellist Hoda Jahanpour.