On Saturday 17th January 2026, Awesome Friends will feature an array of rising artists with Florentenes, Cherryholt and The North at Manchester’s iconic The Deaf Institute.
The Deaf Institute is home to early performances from some of the UK’s most successful acts such as The 1975, Charli XCX, Wolf Alice, Florence & The Machine, HAIM, Wunderhorse, Johnny Marr plus many more.
Awesome Friends brings the next wave of future success stories to this legendary stage.
No stranger from finding new talent, Chris Hawkins has a standout show on BBC 6 Music championing alternative anthems and fresh sounds. Chris was an early supporter of emerging acts Sam Fender, Wet Leg and The Lathums, now all headline performers.
Chris says: “Awesome Friends is all about discovering the best new acts and supporting them on their journey to main stages. The night is an amazing opportunity for music fans to get up close with incredible emerging artists and fall in love with new favourite bands. Manchester’s music scene is fantastic shape and introducing the next generations on stage is a massive thrill.”
Serving as a platform for the emerging, grass roots acts and those destined to be our future musical heavyweights, Awesome Friends has the potential to be the next Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall in ‘76, Glasgow’s King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in ‘93 or The Grapes Pub Sheffield in ‘03 – and you’ll be able to say you were there when it all began.
Meet the line-up:
Florentenes –
Florentenes are a powerhouse four-piece making waves in the UK music scene, having already hit the road with Jamie Webster, The Royston Club, and Sundara Karma. Known for their electrifying blend of Arctic Monkeys’ grit, Pink Floyd’s conceptual qualities, and The Kooks’ indie charm, the band is fronted by the magnetic William Smith, alongside guitarist Luke Holding, bassist Harry Stubbs, and drummer Liam Fiddy. After a sold-out headline show in Manchester and recent Spotify editorial support, Florentenes are poised for a massive year in 2025, with key appearances lined up at Neighbourhood Weekender and Liverpool Sound City. Working with acclaimed producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers), their upcoming EP dives deep into the raw emotions of fractured relationships, delivering soaring, guitar-driven anthems layered with haunting melodies.
Cherryholt –
Cherryholt are a band from Stamford, Lincolnshire. With music compared to the likes of The La’s and The Kooks, Cherryholt’s songs have a nostalgic early noughties indie-pop feel, coupled with explosive guitar solos and breakdowns comparable to experimental-rock. They also take influence from climactic rock-ballads, heavily driven by technically impressive vocals, amalgamating all these styles to create a unique, yet relatable catalogue of repertoire. Fully formed September 2024 by a set of twins and school friends, Cherryholt quickly burst onto the scene amassing a following of nearly 20,000 on all our social media platforms following the success of their viral song ‘irresistible’. Now having relocated to Leeds, expect more explosive shows and captivating tunes from this exciting, up-and-coming indie outfit.
The North –
“youthfully scrappy, beautifully distressed”.
The North are sonically painted with indie and Midwest emo influences like The Cribs and Title Fight booted forward with introspective lyricism and colourful melodies reminiscent of Dinosaur Jr.
Their live show feels like the pilot of a series you instantly love. Soaring highs, raw emotion, and garage band attitude all collide onstage. Never a dull moment.
Tickets will be available from Friday 31st of October at 10am via www.gigsandtours.com. Keep an eye out for further locations and dates to be added soon.
