Arguably a band who need little introduction, Glasgow post-rock monoliths Mogwai have been melting fans’ faces since their inception while simultaneously changing people’s perceptions about what instrumental music should sound like. Now 23 years and nine studio albums in to their career, the four-piece show no sign of slowing down, or indeed, even mellowing out.

With last year’s incendiary album Every Country’s Sun seeing the band’s focus shift from the soundtrack work they’d recently busied themselves with, back to the expansive sprawling post-rock of their best loved records it was clear that the uncompromising Mogwai they fell in love with were back.

It was also obvious that a tour was going to follow, and in a testament to the band’s enduring appeal, many of the shows have sold out in advance, including the first night at Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall; a venue ever bit as imposing as the band it will host this Friday and Sunday evening.

Tickets available here.

After their critically-acclaimed third album Sharpener, London’s brass juggernauts Hackney Colliery Band blaze back onto the scene with their first live album, released 12th May via Veki. With BBC Radio 2 describing them as “one of the best live bands we have in this country”, their live shows have become legendary, selling out venues across the UK and Europe, and playing main stage festival shows (Womad, Wilderness, Love Supreme, Field Day) to huge popular and critical acclaim.

Recorded over three shows in 2016 and early 2017, the recording captures the band on peak form. Playing largely original material from Sharpener and their second album Common Decency, they also dust off some crowd favourites including their unique mash up of Prodigy covers, rousing versions of Blackstreet’s ‘No Diggity’ and Nirvana’s ‘Heart-Shaped Box’, and concluding with an acoustic version of Toto’s Africa as they parade through the crowd at the end of the set.

To celebrate the release of this unique live record, Hackney Colliery Band are playing their biggest headline show to date when they hit the legendary KOKO in London on 26th May. With all of their recent London shows selling out months in advance, including the 800-capacity Village Underground, and a few surprises and tricks up their sleeve, their KOKO show will undoubtedly be a real highlight of 2017, and a chance for fans to hear the real thing in person in one of London’s most iconic venues.

Listen to ‘Gather Your Wits’ here