Idle Hands Coffee
This coffee shop opened on the same day as the first Manchester Punk Festival, on Piccadilly Approach, and has since moved to a temporary-soon-to-be-permanent home on Dale Street. Owned by Dave & Lucy Wolinski, you’ll always hear a great soundtrack in here from Spraynard to Strike Anywhere to Tina Tuner. Dave used to play in Calvinball when they existed - RIP Calvinball.
V-REV
V-REV started its life as a vegan record store on Oldham Street and has since moved to Edge Street and opened as a fully fledged vegan junk food diner that is incredibly popular!
Gullivers
Located on Oldham Street, Gullivers is a cracking boozer with a great jukebox, reasonably priced tasty beer and two rooms they hire out for a range of great shows. Some of my favourite punk rock gigs in Manchester have been in Gullivers.
The Star & Garter
The legendary venue, soon to be choked to death by the HS2 rail expansion, goes back decades and has been home to many, many a fantastic punk rock show. My first gig since moving to Manchester was Paint It Black & Ceremony at The Star & Garter. I knew Manchester was the place for me.
No.1 Watson Street
Don’t be fooled by its Ikea showroom look – the folks working there are all punk rockers in one way or another. Few places in Manchester can you sip some delicious beers while the likes of Iron Chic, Taking Back Sunday and Calvinball blare out the speakers in amongst a crowd of office workers and more tolerable folks.
Salford Lads Club
It’s a staple really isn’t it? I’ve never visited personally because I don’t care for The Smiths/Morrissey but apparently 100% of touring bands do and it’s always nice to see them get excited and get their photos outside.
Clampdown Records
This record store is hidden just off the main path to Piccadilly train station. I’d seen the sign a lot and never went in but eventually did and picked up some real treats like Rancid – Life Won’t Wait and a bootleg copy of The 101’ers which was Joe Strummer’s first band. Worth checking out!
Grub
This is held at Alphabet Brewery and is an outside/inside streetfood market and taproom. It combines amazing streetfood from all over the country and delicious beers - what more do you need? It’s on every Saturday!
FC United of Manchester
The fan-owned football club that currently plays in the Conference North division and at our home of Broadhurst Park. Every member of the club is a co-owner with equal voting rights. It’s great to own part of a football club, particularly in the current climate of outright commercialism and obscene money in the higher divisions. Punk football.
Manchester Punk Festival
I couldn’t leave MPF out, could I? The multi-venue festival that’s now in its third year, bringing the best punk rock bands from around the world to our brilliant city for the best weekend of the year. All the venues are within spitting distance of each other making it the best city to host something like this, make sure you get tickets!
You can order the Throwing Stuff album from https://www.tnsrecords.co.uk/?product=throwing-stuff-fit-fine-well-bundle and stream their songs here: throwingstuff.bandcamp.com
Manchester Punk Festival is happening 20-22 April 2017, keep up to date at: manchesterpunkfestival.co.uk
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