BBC 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins will host a new music showcase named ‘Awesome Friends’ in Manchester, with the first event taking place at the iconic Night & Day venue on Thursday 22nd January 2026. The night is dedicated to discovering and championing the next generation of headliners, with a line-up featuring rising artists The Kowloons, Permanent (Joy) and The Cheap Thrills. Tickets for the event go on sale on Friday 14th November at 10am.
The ‘Awesome Friends’ showcase aims to provide a platform for emerging, grassroots acts, with Chris Hawkins, a long-time supporter of new music, personally curating the line-up. Hawkins, known for his show on BBC 6 Music, has a track record of championing acts like Sam Fender, Wet Leg and The Lathums before they became household names. He describes the event as an “amazing opportunity for music fans to get up close with incredible emerging artists and fall in love with new favourite bands.”
The line-up for the Manchester event includes three Liverpool-based bands. The Kowloons, a Britpop-inspired band formed by twin brothers, have been building a following with their jangly guitars and danceable rhythms. Permanent (Joy), a new project from the songwriters behind Blondes, have already enjoyed support from major radio stations and have supported acts like Blossoms and Franz Ferdinand. Rounding out the bill are The Cheap Thrills, who have built a reputation for their energetic live shows and have already sold out major Liverpool venues.
Chris Hawkins added: “Manchester’s music scene is in fantastic shape and introducing the next generations on stage is a massive thrill.” The event is being presented with the ambition of it becoming a legendary night in music history, in the vein of the Sex Pistols’ Lesser Free Trade Hall gig in Manchester in 1976. Further ‘Awesome Friends’ events in other locations are expected to be announced soon.
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