Our merriest month yet

Hey everyone! I’m Grace from Same Teens, Jade really IS somewhere in New Zealand, venturing round in a camper van for a few weeks - she'll be back just to catch our busiest month ever.

I'll be making my DJ debut on the 10th at Sound Control where Detroit Social Club, Tiffany Page and Goldhawks will be gracing the stage. It’s 14+ and with three quality bands and us DJ-ing of course, you'll have to get yourselves down for an ace night.

Then on the 15th we’re off to Blackpool for donkey rides and candyfloss with The Charlatans for their show at the Empress Ballroom. Even though Same Teens go way back with The Charlatans and have worked with Tim Burgess loads, I’m yet to see them live. Everyone says how amazing they are and what a fantastic old venue it is. Bag a ticket and we'll meet you on the big one - it's the 20th anniversary of their debut album and they are playing it track by track before a set of their greatest hits.

Florence and the Machine are another band clearly fond of sandcastles and arcades. They are playing the Empress Ballroom too, a few days before The Charlatans though, on the 7th and the 9th. Both dates have sold out but if, like me, you were lucky enough to get tickets it’s sure to be another great gig from the flame haired Flo.

Tim Burgess is joining us again on the 27th, for a one-off night with Buzzcocks songs played by Smiths drummer Mike Joyce, Tim, JCC, The Whip, Dutch Uncles and The Answering Machine. And then when you thought it couldn’t get any better the aftershow party happens to be an ace new night called Muzzle at The Attic where Mat Horne (yes girls, Mat Horne) will be sharing the decks with us up into the early hours.

Airship and Dutch Uncles are both having single launches at the Deaf Institute on the 21st and 28th and as two of Manchester’s hot new bands a chance to catch them at a smaller venue like this could soon become a rarity - we'll be on the decks again and we expect to see you on the dancefloor.

After all this we should be nursing hangovers and spending the Bank Holiday quietly, but we’ve been asked to curate a venue for Eurocultured, a festival that brings together the hottest talent from around the world, well Europe, for an all day bonanza at various Manchester venues on 30th May. From Parisian rap-rock and electro-house Naive New Beat, to Bubbz there’s something for everyone.

Then there’s barely time to brush our teeth and have a power nap as the next day we’re catching up with Welsh indie rockers Los Campesinos! when they play Dot to Dot on the 31st; another day long festival in the city at venues like FAC251, the lovely Deaf Institute and Academy 1, 2 & 3. Los Camp! will be playing alongside our old pals the Mystery Jets and Twisted Wheel and new kids on the block Egyptian Hip Hop. All the Academy venues are 14+ so you’re bound not to be disappointed whatever your age... unless you’re under 14 that is.

May’s jam-packed and June looks set to be busier still as the festival season rears its head once again! With summer just around the corner it’s time to dig out your shorts and shades and get ready for an impromptu barbeque or two.