Futureworks Review: Live at the Eagle Inn

Our indie record label Futureworks Music returned to the Eagle Inn, Salford for its End of Year Social on Friday, 3rd May. Showcasing regular gigs at The Eagle for over four years, Futureworks Music provides our musically-gifted students, staff, and graduates a platform to perform live at established music venues in the Northwest’s thriving live scene.

Owning the opening act was AIMEE soaring on stage at 8 pm to a raucous, red-hot welcome. Singing a mixture of pop, soul and R&B material, along with some covers set to a backing of self-composed produced beats and rhythm, Aimee set a high bar of pure rhythmic sounds and good vibes that laid a tuneful foundation for the second act of the night, the post-rock revolutionaries THE GREAT UNWASHED BAND.

THE GREAT UNWASHED BAND are a local 5-piece band comprised of Futureworks and Salford Uni musicians. Peppered with an essence of Psych and Post Rock and meticulously crafted into cerebral soundscapes that lifted and then crashed down in melodic waves taking the crowd on a powerful yet tender musical journey. Gaining serious traction from their live shows The Great Unwashed Band have headlined at The Jacarada Club and stormed the Mabgate Bleach in Leeds, NQ-Huddersfield and 4in1Ldn at the New Cross Inn in London.

Next up were PANMETRON a Soul and RnB Pop band fronted by Greek vocalist and keyboard player Catherine Theochari. Panmetron is comprised of a talent of musicians and graduate music producers and majestic musicianship was truly in the air at the Eagle. With rhythmic tunes gliding skilfully amidst the bombastic beats of live drums their sound came to life and swept over an enthusiast crowd.

Songsmith and rabble-rouser SHEP, was fourth on stage and fresh from a mass of live performances. Producing a commanding performance using only his incredible voice and an acoustic guitar his rhythmic tempos, using just one instrument, is astonishing to watch and astounding to hear. He effortlessly sang through a superb set of self-penned songs and to the delight of the crowd threw in a couple of well-known covers for good measure.

With the crowd now aurally lubricated through libation of four outstanding acts it was the turn of Manchester’s current live scene darlings the female-fronted alt-rock band 25th HOUR. Topping the bill with a gritty attitude, their high-energy, pounding basslines and melodic choruses complimented with catchy vocal hooks by lead singer, Jade shook the house. Their website states that “(our) music is like a party at your house, it’s loud, it’s fun, and you’ll probably want to take out some furniture” and I’d have to agree with that sentiment entirely!

Furniture intact, the party continued into the night with Grooveflow Unlimited’s DJ INCUPA 97. Riding the Eagle’s airwaves and triumphant from his recent sell-out gigs he raised the roof with his signature electronic beats. Overall, it was a resoundingly successful night, and huge thanks go out to all the acts and everyone involved in making it happen.

We’ll return to the Eagle for our Christmas blow-put, with hopefully the return of some of our previous star acts and more, including David Gorman, Tom Teez, and Malik Isaac to name but a few!

Thanks to @jos.a.krakowski for his superb photography that helped us capture this landmark event for Futureworks Music.

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