CityLife

Must see: Gruff Rhys

Gruff Rhys

Whitworth Art Gallery - November 22, 2010

Is there anything that Gruff Rhys can’t do?

Form several internationally successful bands, including Super Furry Animals and Neon Neon? Check. Release a pile of critically acclaimed solo records? Check. Make a movie? Check. Become the collaborator that every modern band and performer puts at the top of their tick list, and then wind up on countless amazing albums as a result? Check, and check.

And to celebrate the release of his third solo record, Hotel Shampoo, Gruff is also venturing into some unusual spaces. For Manchester, this means a gig at the Whitworth Art Gallery and a rare sneak peak at the new songs way ahead of its release on Valentine’s Day next year.

The venue choice may well be because Gruff (right) has recently added ‘artist’ to his list of talents after creating an installation for Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff made from bathroom items picked up at hotels during tours.

The piece is, says Gruff, ‘an act of revenge against the colonisation’ of his own house, which he admits is crammed with freebies from hotel rooms from ‘every continent... except Antarctica’ after a rush of kleptomania.

Whatever the inspiration, CityLife can’t help but think that this is probably one of the essential gigs of 2010.

SOLD OUT.