A mid week gig is always a treat, especially one featuring acts of this calibre. In preparation for their headline show at Gorilla in May, Mossley natives Proletariat arranged a special, one off intimate acoustic performance at the Rose and Monkey.
Support came from Leon the Pig Farmer, another Mossley chap who is certainly making waves in Manchester and beyond, not only with his spoken word, but his brand new side venture The Dirt which has seen him join forces with guitarist Sachiko Wakizaka. Leon delivered a raw and emotive series of spoken word, each littered with penetrating verse and provocative parables, with themes ranging from experiences of war and trauma to more lighthearted content including the graffiti on the walls of the infamous Peer Hat. It is fair to say that The Farmer is on the rise!
“I never thought I’d be stood on stage wearing a turtle neck and playing an acoustic guitar” proclaimed lead singer James Cummings prior to the bands stripped back, but no less impactful 45-minute set. It was a very different show to the one I saw back in December at Manchester Academy. The venue was perfect for a quieter set, and it was good to see the bands more vulnerable side, particularly in the slower tempo number ‘Man on the run’. Mid set we were treated to an outstanding cover of the Rolling Stones ‘Sympathy for the Devil’, which suited Cumming’s distinct vocals and was well adapted to the stripped-back instrumental.
The band used this opportunity to play their new single ‘what do we call this place?’ a top track with melodic guitars and haunting vocals. The band concluded the evening with a personal favourite ‘losing control is a beautiful thing’. Tickets are on sale now for the bands headliner at Gorilla, be quick as just like this evening’s show, I predict it will sell out very soon.
📸 Words and Pictures by Helen Millington
