Indie club night of the week: Friends Of Mine
BIRTHDAY TREAT: Delphic
FRIENDS Of Mine - bit of a Manc indie institution aren't they?
They sure are. Celebrating their fourth birthday on Friday night, Friends of Mine are a one-way ticket to indie bacchanalia, the Manc indie party to end all Manc indie parties. But that's no surprise – the night is run by Mr Pierre Hall, the singer of indie-loons The Lead Balloons and self-styled professional Manc scenester.
And if you were wondering, the name 'Friends Of Mine' is taken from an album by American songwriter Adam Green, a man who Pierre admits to having 'stalked' on many an occasion.
So what's the music policy?
Guitar-based indie with a firm eye on the dancefloor. The bands can vary from Manc locals to NME-tipped indie darlings, whilst the DJ setlist is all about casting aside your inhibitions and letting it all hang loose on the beer-encrusted dancefloor. As Pierre Hall explains: "Pretty much anything goes at Friends Of Mine! No snobbery. Everyone should be allowed to play and get their 15 minutes of fame. But personally, I'm very much into my indie 'schmindie' , C86 stuff and bands with something a bit different to say. And also any bands with fit girl singers."
They're well known for being great talent spotters aren't they?
Very much so. Liam Fray – bigmouth singer of The Courteeners – was playing solo acoustic shows at Friends Of Mine as far back as 2005, way before he even formed The Courteeners. Other Manc acts who got their first 'big breaks' at Friends Of Mine include Gideon Conn, Liam Frost and The Answering Machine. Most excitingly, the Friends of Mine empire is expanding; they've recently started hosting nights in London and Liverpool.
So it's all quiet, respectable fun then?
Ahhh, far from it. With all those rock star egos, all that excessive alcohol, and Pierre Hall playing the unhinged party host, Friends of Mine nights are always incident-packed affairs. Pierre has been ejected from his own night by doorstaff for being "too inebriated"; and most famously, at an unforgettable Courteeners gig two years ago, Pierre recalls: "A massive fight broke out on the dancefloor... it was ironic to see this huge ruckus going down underneath a massive banner saying 'Friends of Mine'."
So when can I join the party?
On Friday night, actually. Celebrating four years (yes, it has been that long), Friends Of Mine are pulling out all the stops with an epic birthday fest at Deaf Institute, featuring sets from Delphic, Lucy and the Caterpillar, Gideon Conn, and Little Comets. Happy birthday Friends of Mine, and you'll only have yourselves to blame for those epic hangovers in the morning.
Friends of Mine takes place on Friday, October 31. Deaf Institute, £5. For more info visit – www.myspace.com/friendsofminelive.
Published: Wed, 29 October, 2008
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