For 124 years, Star and Garter has stood tall at the edge of Manchester and earned itself quite the name for the punk scene both in Manchester and across the world as well as a beacon of resilience in an age of manchester bar culture and high rises, making it the perfect breeding ground for high octane musical power and full throttle history making punk antics from the only The Empty Page as they celebrated their gorgeously vulnerable new single ‘Where We Gonna Run’, brilliantly introduced by the heart pounding rock stylings of A Void (London/Paris) and hypnotic post punk of Steel (Liverpool).
Steel.
First to grace the stage was the powerhouse post-punk of Steel. From Liverpool, who made sure everyone they meant business with their first tracks of the set, ‘Nothing I Can Do’, ‘Plaform’ and ‘DFTTM’ (Don’t Fucking Talk To Me) which all emobodied a powerful musical delivery from bass and percussion heavy riffs that rattled to the bone, to subtle rage spoken word ominous vocals and raw tempo changes that had you on your feet faster than you could shout ‘Punk Aint Dead’, this wasn’t just a live set but an intimate musical conversation that you couldn’t help but feel drawn to, especially with the seamless blending between tracks and personality through between track comments.
One of the main highlights of the first half of their set was ‘Don’t You Fucking Talk To Me’, which delivered a subtle yet quiet rage in its vocal stylings parallel to its punky, gritty rock musicality, much to the enthusiasm of the packed Star and Garter Crowd. Having been unfamiliar with the band previously to this review, this was the track that solidified Steel as one to watch and a powerhouse with such a passionate potential for musical brilliance.
When it came to their latest single ‘P.A Bass’ there was a shift in tone but not a shift in power with a brilliantly haunting nature and beautifully vibrant bass and guitar, this track was a brilliant all consuming mystery.
Closing the bands set was ‘Kissmet’ (meaning Fate or Destiny), whose announcement as the last song of the set emitted genuine sadness from the crowd as Steel’s set was almost over, delivered high energy rock in the form of brilliant spiralling musical hypnoticism that would stick long after the final note was played, put into simple terms this was a masterclass in how to marry passion and power to create an experience that’ll last. The perfect way to leave it all on the Star and Garter Stage.
A VOID
After some well and truly powerhouse post-punk, it was time for the alt grunge brilliance of French UK-based A VOID, at what was to be their last UK show of the year before a mini tour across France for the rest of 2025. Before this set, this band was unfamiliar to us; however, once they took the stage and the lights of Star and Garter turned a vibrant red, there was an immediate sense in the air that something truly special was about to take place.
Starting off with ‘Do It Again’, A VOID made their presence abundantly clear with a powerful musical announcement of striking shrieking guitars and heart-pounding percussion, later complemented by passionate raw vocals provided by Camille, who could easily be defined as a punk rock snow white, packing passion and raw power in tandem. A passion that continued into their introduction post song:‘Thanks to the empty page, and to Steel. For FUCKING SMASHING IT’
Following this was the upcoming single ‘Fish In My Pocket’, whose high octane musical delivery graced every inch of the stage, a nd general powerful presence in the setlist and on QR posters for presaving across the venue walls had the band standing proudly in their values as a band towards Spotify’s funding of conflict and presaving on alternative platforms.
Following this, ‘Newspapers’ stood tall and delivered with stunning prowess through warm-toned bass, heart-racingly intense percussion and Camille’s signature bite with passionate vocals. This was the perfect balance of alt-rock and effortless showmanship, and really showcased A Void as stars in their own right, an understanding that was wholeheartedly appreciated by the crowd.
Before the crowd knew it the band had reached their powerhouse final curtain in the form of closing track ‘Stepping On Snails’ which was stunningly performed with admirable gusto and a layered passion that seemed to transmit through every part of the venue right the way to the mixing desk, this track on record is a playfully subtle rock powerhouse and it truly got its flowers on stage when it was played.
Whether it was their unwavering punk values through speeches between songs or the raw catharsis and passion on stage, A Void were anything but a void; they were a wholeheartedly dedicated musical package of brilliance and a testament to the Alt-rock scene in the UK, right down to their final track. This band is not to be missed for fans of theatricality and star power.
The Empty Page:
As soon as the band hit the stage and the first notes of ‘Cracks’ rang out, The Empty Page sprang to life, bringing infectiously vibrant electric musicality in abundance and prowess, to the delight of a captivated, swaying and bobbing crowd, with one particular crowd member enthusiastically shouting ‘THAT WAS WHAT WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR’.
The crowd’s passion only continued as the track met its head, embodying passion and effortless dedication in its raw form with cool-toned musicality and from-the-heart vocal stylings that seamlessly flowed into the second track of the set gorge‘The Gorge which began with a stunning honesty from lead singer Kel that would be present throughout the set. This musical moment really showcased that this band don’t just play music because they like it but they play it as a form of protest as well as a fostering of community.
As ‘Life Is A Wave’ began the tone in the air turned more reflective, as Kel gave a speech that was honestly raw and from the soul ‘It’s so crazy to think of the music we have here, and it’s so important what we’re doing here, this is the sort of thing that should be happening, music saves life and people, Manchester has made some of the best bands here…this next one goes out to Mani.’ This track was a beautiful moment of slowness, amongst the punk power of previous tracks in the set, which made it all the more impactful to play, especially mid-set.
As the set went on the band began to delve into a somewhat darker and more vulnerable side after with tracks such as ‘A Feminine Ending’ delving into the male gaze through well paced melodic guitars and powerful poetic lyricism, the track wonderfully embodied the rage that all women can relate to regardless of age in a modern world. This aforementioned track was by far one of our favourites with its admirable raw passion and impactful lyricism.
’Where We Gonna Run’ (which the show was hosted in celebration of) combined high energy melancholy with soul rattling musical backing that was made even more powerful with the crowds interaction of screaming along with encouragement from the band themselves, and making the message of the track (clinging to ideals of love while you lose yourself in a former familiar place) even more special.
‘When The Cloud Explodes’ (about creating art) was to be the band’s last offering of the night and from the get go, occupied the venue with a powerful joy from the band and crowd alike, with The Empty Page who throwing their all into every note and word with full throttle hopeful guitar solos to admirably raw vocals, as the crowd danced like no one was watching. This track was not only the perfect ending to a brilliant evening of music but also the perfect demonstration of what music should be about: community and authenticity. Music is truly in the best hands in Manchester at the moment.
Words: Jess Draper
Images: The Empty Page
