Sunday 6 Jul 2025, 10:38pm
Hello,
My name is Harry, I'm a guitarist and singer/songwriter who has been active in the Manchester music scene since 2021. In this time, mostly spent playing as part of an indie/alternative band, I have amassed a wide-array of connections and relationships, both with promoters and venues, as well as other artists and creatives within the scene.
I have been gigging as a solo act since September 2024, finding my footing with the songs I wrote to be performed outside the band, and gauging crowd reception/feedback, all of which I have greatly appreciated. The problem is, I write these songs on guitar but cannot accurately reflect the vision for them with just my guitar and voice. They are still good songs, but they are not the songs I want them to be; I also find myself massively missing the collaborative style of writing songs alongside other people, bouncing ideas off of one-another and ultimately reaching a whole greater than the sum of any parts I could craft alone.
Essentially, I am looking to slowly build out a band which incorporates most of the above and more, to help me write and perform a diverse array of music to the people of Manchester; from jazz rock to guitar and synth pop, blues to neo-soul, bombastic orchestral rock to funk, I want us to write it all and have a damn good time playing it. Lots of sections in certain songs for improvisation and solos on all instruments, no hard-nos when it comes to composition and style, I just want to play great music with great people.
The fundamental sell is that, unless you want to, I do not expect you to get involved with any of the stuff that bogs down and makes music harder to be a part of; social media, photoshoots, media interviews, promotion. You are more than welcome to get involved, but I only really care about your commitment to making fantastic bops. Think Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. The E Street Band are amazing, well-known and consistent, with great rapport on-stage, but they don't really have to provide any media duties or be the face of the act.
So what instruments am I looking for? Well, in all honesty, if this sounds like something you'd want to entertain, then there is not a single instrument I wouldn't experiment with, so please reach out no matter what you play if you're interested.
Fundamentally, I'm looking for: keyboard/synth, violin/viola, cello, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, double bass, electric bass, mandolin, flute or clarinet, drummer (jazz background appreciated but not essential) and guitars.
It's important to state that I am not expecting to get even half of these, nor would I be waiting to have the whole lot before beginning. We will start working as soon as we have met and had a chat in-person, and build the band as it goes. Also, if you know someone else who might be interested, please tell them to reach out or send them this link!
It's sort of difficult to list the influences when I want to do so many different things, so I will list my personal favourite per genre I mentioned above just as a frame-of-reference:
Jazz Rock: The mighty Steely Dan (of course) or Weather Report (cannot decide, sorry)
Guitar Pop: Radiohead (unfortunately Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood are massive zionists, so this is a bit of a tainted favourite but all the greats would be here)
Synth Pop: Tears For Fears
Blues: BB King or John Lee Hooker
Neo-soul: Erykah Badu
Bombastic orchestral rock: ELO (but also a way to simply include Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, the finest bombastic orchestral rock song of all time)
Funk: To pick between George Clinton and Sly Stone is not a choice I would wish upon anybody, and certainly not one I will make here
Singer/songwriters: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Elliot Smith, David Bowie
Electronic/experimental (?): Bjork, LCD Soundsystem, Aphex Twin
I miss live music and want to play/sing in a big, beautiful band. If you're interested or even just want clarity/more details, reply to this post or drop me a message on WhatsApp: 07795272804
Looking forward to playing with you!