Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd November saw Manchester's Victoria Warehouse play host to The Whisky sessions; a 2 day festival featuring a wide range of whiskies, along with a stellar line up of more than twenty acts, over two stages. Big name acts include I Am Kloot, Gomez and Badly Drawn Boy, but to name a few.
The event was hosted by Ingenius Events, who are part of the International Wine and Spirits Group (IWSC), with a view to bringing together two things which are loved the world over, whisky and music, by showcasing some of the world's finest whiskies, alongside some of the most talented musicians around.
Your ticket entitled you to complementary whisky tastings which were thoroughly enjoyed by all especially The John Paul collection of whisky got which got our vote as the stand out tastings of the weekend.
Rock and Indie music could be heard throughout the weekend, with I am Kloot headlining the Friday night, creating a great atmosphere and getting the crowd going, although John Bramwell did have to remind a few of the crowd “no talking at the back” during a lesser known track"
Gomez headlined on the Saturday and drew the biggest crowd. Well who wouldn’t turn out for whiskey and Gomez? The popularity of Gomez really did create a festival atmosphere, with the crowd singing along and providing the obligatory bouncing on the spot in lieu of dancing.
For extended interviews with the acts click below -
The Whisky Sessions; a truly amazing weekend with a great selection whisky to try and then to top it off an awesome selection of bands to play into the night. For festival highlights please click here.
A popular fixture on the restaurant scene in South Manchester and Cheshire, the launch of the first Gusto in Manchester city-centre was bound to cause a stir. Leading lights from Manchester’s acting, music, media and business world flocked to the stunning new restaurant to celebrate in style, when it launched on Thursday evening with a suitably lavish party.
Occupying the ground floor of the elegant Grade II listed Elliot House on the corner of Lloyd Street and Deansgate, the former Olive Restaurant has undergone a magnificent extension and transformation. Taking cues from the European grand cafes of the early 20th Century, such grand spaces often had large artworks and paintings depicting a place in time. So to illustrate this (quite literally!) the renowned Manchester artist Michael J Browne, was commissioned to develop a giant renaissance or `old masters` style painting, but with Manchester as the subject.
He was working on his masterpiece (which will be ready early January) throughout the party, fascinating onlookers curious about references to the city's history, landscape, architecture and heritage as well as it’s people; luminaries of literature and invention, as well as more recent characters from popular culture and the arts.
With bold and brassy live music from Manchester sensations, Twisted Tubes, famous faces in the crowd included Mani from the Stone Roses, Noddy Holder, BBC Breakfast Presenters Naga Munchetty, Charlie Stayt, Steph McGovern and Mike Bushell, Ian Puleston-Davies, Sair Kahn, Katie McGlynn, John Thomson, Rowetta, Clare Nasir, celebrated Manchester band the Courteneers, Ren Harvieu, Antony Cotton, James Redmond, Oliver Farnworth, George Bukhari, Kris Mochrie, Cat Simmons amongst others.
San Carlo Fumo, the eagerly awaited new Italian restaurant, cocktail and late lounge concept from the multi-award-winning San Carlo Group, has opened. The spectacular 5,500sq ft. venue, the fifth city site for the family owned group, occupies part of the ground and first floors at One St Peter’s Square in the city centre.
A spectacular feature bar headed up by Alessandro Distefano (son of Carlo and brother of Marcello) will offer a select range of wines, champagne, Prosecco and artisan beer and an original cocktail menu curated by Manchester’s drinks wizard Jamie Jones. ~ 11 Dec 2014
