Description

Join Mr Ben & The Bens as they embark on the their fourth headline UK tour after the release of their critically acclaimed new album Who Knows Jenny Jones?.

Born as a recording project in a barn in Northern Lancashire in 2012, Ben Hall recorded and self-released 10 albums under the guise of a naively drawn character 'Mr Ben'. After releasing the sellout split EP on Bingo Records in 2017, the side project now turned live outfit with their first gig actually happening live on BBC 6 Music.

After releasing two more sell out records with Bingo and doing numerous UK tours, the four-piece are known for their captivating, costume clad, joyous, pop performances. Mr Ben & The Bens sound like they were baptised in water from the church of indie classics, the songs of the Lancaster polymath echoing Belle & Sebastian, Teleman and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci in his genuinely original modern songwriting.

'Upbeat, psychedelia-tinged pop' - Secret Meeting

'An intoxicating mix of perfectly fitting melodies and vocal strafes' - Clash Magazine

Main support comes from Manchester's own Ivan Campo. Ivan Campo's story began in 2000 when the band met whilst studying Contemporary Music at UCLAN. After graduating, they put together their first EP, Clippings 2, which was self-released in 2004. Since then they have performed at a variety of venues and festivals throughout the UK and have played three tours around Spain. Their collection of laid back songs tell tales; inspired by life, love and literature. Having been on hiatus throughout 2019, the band have been busy writing material for their 10th album which will start to be showcased to audiences from February 2020.

Opening the show are Family Selection Box - a northern roasted blend of DIY indie.

Description

Located on Oldham Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Gullivers is an iconic, lively and bustling bar with a long history dating all the way back to 1865.
Gullivers has had many different guises over the years. It was originally a Wilson’s house called The Albert Hotel, then The Grenadier before J.W. Lees brewery bought the pub in the 1970s. They renamed it Gullivers and it has existed in its current form to this day.
But there’s much more to Gullivers than just the busy bar; it also houses two distinct yet complementary live music and performance spaces; the upstairs Ballroom – a 100 capacity gig venue with a raised stage and the downstairs Lounge – an intimate, 40 capacity space ideal for acoustic or low-key performances.
As well as working with established and longstanding promoters from Manchester and beyond, Gullivers prides itself on being a welcoming, supportive space and a creative hub for the city’s grassroots artistic communities; with many now successful bands, artists, performers and promoters cutting their teeth within its walls.
This rare combination of space, location and ethos allows Gullivers to boast a busy calendar of live music, spoken word, comedy, theatre, film screenings, exhibitions and much more on almost every night of the week.

109 Oldham Street,

Manchester,

Greater Manchester,

England,

M4 1LW.

0161 839 4064