Elbow & Co-op Live Donate To Manchester’s Grassroots Venues

Almost a year since their inaugural May 14, 2024 performance at Manchester’s Co-op Live, elbow have teamed up with the arena to gift a combination of sound equipment to a selection of iconic grassroots music venues in the city’s renowned Northern Quarter.

Donated by Co-op Live to further improve the city’s vibrant music scene, the funds will see Manchester’s Night & Day Café, Matt and Phreds, Aatma, SOUP, Peer Hat, and The Castle Hotel benefit from the band’s ties to the East Manchester arena, which has been celebrated for its incredible sound, with some artists, including Liam Gallagher, Take That’s Gary Barlow, Eagles’ Don Henley, and Trivium’s Matt Heafy, commenting on the stellar sound on stage during their past performances.

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Curated by Night & Day Café, the donations bring together elbow’s prestigious career as one of Manchester’s most celebrated artists with Co-op Live’s commitment to supporting new music across the city.

The funds will be used to purchase a combination of new PA equipment, instruments, backline technology, and more, all dependent on individual requirements by the venues.

Speaking of the initiative, elbow lead vocalist and guitarist Guy Garvey commented, “Playing Co-op Live’s opening night will stay with us for a lifetime, not least because of how incredible the room sounded. When the venue donated funds in our name to support the city we love, it made complete sense to carry that through to the Northern Quarter, and to venues that have meant so much to my bandmates and I throughout our career.”

Co-op Live’s senior vice president and general manager, Guy Dunstan, added, “In the past year, I have been proud to see Co-op Live become an integral part of such an incredible city. Teaming up with elbow to directly support the venues that first put Manchester on the map, and to share something so intrinsic to us as venues – proper sound – is something truly special.”

Jennifer Smithson, owner of the Night & Day Café, said, “Live music is a careful ecosystem, and everyone has an important role to play. It’s wonderful to see Co-op Live recognize the local and national impact of venues such as ours, and we are thankful to elbow for working with the arena to help strengthen what we are offering to artists and fans coming through our doors. Manchester has always been famous for our sound, and we are delighted to come together to extend our legacy in 2025 and beyond.”

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According to a press release, “the donation to mark elbow’s opening performance forms part of Co-op Live’s commitment to people and planet, and arrives in addition to the donation of at least £1 million annually to the Co-op Foundation, Co-op Live’s official charity partner and the charitable arm of naming rights partner, Co-op.”

Other artist-led initiatives Co-op Live has been donating to include Happy Doggo as selected by Liam Gallagher, and Eric Clapton’s addiction recovery centre, Crossroads.

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