Sound Control opens its doors
It doesn’t happen that often, so when a new gig venue opens up in Manchester, it draws in the (nosy) crowds. So it was that half the city’s music scene was in attendance at the unveiling of Sound Control, enjoying their free drink and getting a first glimpse of the reinvented former music store.
It didn’t bode well that I’d seen builders still streaming in and out of the place five days before, and, as we entered the venue last Wednesday into the smallish ground level bar area, I wasn’t too hopeful of Sound Control’s prospects. Sure, the bouncers looking spiffy in their white jackets and red bow ties, but, that aside, this just looked like any other fairly unremarkable venue.
A quick glance down the stairs to what will eventually be the basement bar reveals that the builders still haven’t quite finished – there’s planks of wood piled up by the half finished stairs, and that floors entirely closed off for tonight. Plus the whole place is FREEZING.
However, heading to the first floor to what is the main gig space, I discover Sound Control’s trump card. The open plan, fuss-free room is disarmingly spacious with high ceilings and no pillars or such like to obscure your view of the stage. As The Switch and later Kid British take to the stage, it soon becomes clear that the PA is pretty fantastic too.
This ‘sneak peak’ night was perhaps a bit previous, but I’m sure Sound Control will soon establish a reputation as a sterling venue (long as they get the heating sorted out, that is).
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