Smashing Single Parenthood

Friday 4th October 2024

From the dreamy candlelight of the Cathedral … to a community pub in Hulme!

Autumn weekends; they have been kinda fun! Be it the liberating empty-nester effect or the fabulous change to a four-day week, something has given me a welcome boost of energy and put me in the mood the step out and soak up the city.

So when my nephew posts his band’s latest gig on Social Media, I call one of my favourite people and we set out to track it down. Thank the Lord that my companion has a great sense of directions because, left to my own devices, I am not sure that I would every have found the pub, hidden in the depths of the Science Park!

There is a quite a crowd and, having dashed into town at the end of a very busy day, only time for a couple of (very tasty) IPA before the bank strike up. Gosh, I love it, the music is ‘right up my street’, old style jazz and swing, richly orchestrated and played with oodles of heart and soul. In some numbers, there is a singer and she is just, top-drawer-amazing with terrific tone, timing and timbre. I find myself wishing my dad was still around as he would also have really enjoyed this!

Eventually, three sets later, we bid farewell and head back into the city centre for some late night food.

‘We are playing Band on the Wall in January’, my nephew reminds me.

Well, count us in, say I. Live music; be it classical, jazz or good old rock and roll…you just can’t beat it!