A homecoming gig for one of Manchesters best-loved singer-songwriters. Two intimate shows.

With support from Ishango Bone (acoustic set). 

As Badly Drawn Boy, Damon Gough puts a fresh spin on the traditions of Nick Drake, Harry Nilsson, John Lennon, and other classic singer/songwriters. When he emerged in the late '90s, his intricate, lilting melodies, quirky but heartfelt lyrics, and offbeat production touches fit in with the experimental pop fringe of artists like Scott 4 and the Beta Band, but Gough soon defined himself as a remarkable talent with 2000's The Hour of Bewilderbeast, his Mercury Prizewinning debut album. He struck gold again with the 2002 soundtrack About a Boy, which polished the charm of his songwriting while avoiding sentimentality. Later, he embellished his sound with ornate production, as on 2002's Have You Fed the Fish? and 2006's Born in the U.K., then returned to the relatively stripped-down sound of his earlier work on 2010's It's What I'm Thinking, Pt. 1: Photographing Snowflakes. With 2020's Banana Skin Shoes, Gough returned from a lengthy hiatus with an even-handed mix of adventurous pop and poignant ballads.

PRICE: £25