They impress immensely and threaten to over shadow the performance of the main platter, Simon Aldred, aka Cherry Ghost. He takes the stage to a packed out and expectant venue who, like me, are here to see whether he can step away from his acoustic bubble and thrill us all with the addition of his band.  | | The Answering Machine |
It’s hard to say who he sounds like. Yes, there’s a heavy dose of Willie Mason in there, as well as a dash of Johnny Cash, but there’s also something extra. His songs have that same intensity that you get from Ryan Adams, in that they allow you to drift away to a far more pleasant place than the sweatbox that is Night and Day. His lyrics are mesmerising, with offerings like Dead Man’s Suit and Mathematics a perfect example of his way with words. All in all, he totally justifies all the praise aimed in his direction during the past few months. Nights like tonight act as a reminder that Manchester is a hub of talented and varied music, with The Answering Machine and Cherry Ghost being great examples of why today’s Mancunian music scene is such a smorgasbord of tasty treats. | 
