Shadow Palace smash it at Aatma

Emerging North Live

Emerging North Live showcase at Aatma

I MAY be guilty of offering a hint of bias in this Chronicle review, but I wasn't alone in believing Oldham's Shadow Palace smashed the latest Emerging North Live showcase night at Manchester city centre's atmospheric Aatma venue.

Chadderton-based promoter Danny Seal is doing a great job of pulling together some terrific EN Live bills of late, and this latest offering made sure the punters lapped up some mega talent banging out brilliant tune after brilliant tune.

Two rather lesser-known bands, Weekend Wars and Ghosts of Social Networks, kicked proceedings off impressively at this latest four-band showpiece, but once chief support Shadow Palace hit the stage, the blue touchpaper was well and truly lit.

In Harry Lavin, Ben Warwick, Dan Gaunt and Will Brooks, Shadow Palace give off a truly energetic and at times almost anthemic sound, and they worked their way superbly through a captivating set which will surely set heartbeats racing at future gigs this summer.

Put Out The Fire - although slightly hindered by a technical issue - Incompetent Man, Stormy Shelter and Black and Blue are all high-octane tracks which had the crowd bouncing. Tribe and forthcoming single Speak My Mind complemented a storming set, while the inclusion of Joy Division/New Order classic cover Transmission was something of a master stroke.

This wasn't necessarily a night for covers, but this solitary copy from Shadow Palace was bang on.

There was still time for confident Manchester prospects the Claremonts to also smash out a terrific set to round the night off - their new track Another Day is a corker.

However, this had to be about Shadow Palace for me, and they proved once again that exciting times would appear to beckon for the four affable Oldham lads.