Behind the Scenes of Manchester’s Gig Scene: An Interview with Ade Dovey

‘Eclectic dark and moody music which puts goosebumps over your arms and tickles your eardrums a little’

Some of the most weird and wonderful, magical and mysterious gigs going take place right here in Manchester. Live bands inside a thousands-full Wesleyan Chapel on Peter Street, partying in a makeshift music hall in a Deaf Institute, and much more.

A man who knows about this well is Ade Dovey – Head of Programming at The Deaf Institute, Gorilla and The Albert Hall. That means he’s a key part in producing live music events and making decisions on bands, in Manchester venues known for their alternative edge.

Ade worked for a number of years in Brighton where he specialised working in tour management, venue programming and production. He's worked alongside companies such as One Inch Badge, Melting Vinyl, The Great Escape, ATP Festival and more before heading north to represent 3 award winning venues in Manchester for Mission Mars. HAUNT Manchester spoke to Ade about his current involvement in the city’s live scene:

Photo credits: Jack Kirwin Photography

Hello Ade! What does ‘Head of Programming’ entail and how long have you been in this position? 

“My role is relatively a fresh title and position which progressed from ‘Live Programming Manager’. For the last four years I have been managing a small team producing Live Music Events within three contemporary independent venues. At the end of 2017 an opportunity came my way to merge both the Live and Club Team together where I was to oversee the merge and develop the head of the programming role with a team of eight professionals managing bookings, ticketing and marketing. This ranged from Live Music and DJs to Comedy, Alternative Events and more. Now on average combined we produce and market 700 ticketed events a year.”

You work with notably historic and iconic venues. Do you feel this comes with a certain level of added pressure – and is the selection of acts often determined by their ‘suitability’ for the space? 

“Actually it can be the opposite! I’ve had some history myself booking unusual or historic spaces in the UK and it’s either been luck or just excellent location that drives the unique programming to the attention of the customer and culture. I have always found that you need to make sure you can operationally make the venue work not just for the talent but that the customer has a unique experience too.

“It can be dauting for a touring musician to produce their concert in your unique space if the rest of the tour is routed in ‘shoe box’ style venues, so to accommodate this you have to make sure you offer great production and a venue team who understand the main goal of what it is you’re trying to create. However, I have been on the other side where sadly you lose a couple of shows a year due to stage size or logistics that build an invisible barrier making you unable to produce a show you’ve been dreaming of booking. Luckily it’s only one to two a year out of the many others that do work.”

Is there a particular vibe or mood you are aiming for when programming i.e. a certain desired effect on the audience? 

“For me it’s always come organically in terms of who (over a period of time) heads to your venue and what management/band/booking agent outside of your own bubble sees what your venue is trying to do.

“I knew automatically what the Albert Hall could achieve in Year one, two and three. We have always been a home to interesting and diverse music in all our venues but staying true to independent music from day one. Whether it’s indie, post-rock, soul, house music, noise…it all works, magically!”

Considering our ‘vibe’ here at HAUNT Manchester is a particular interest in the Gothic – are there any spooky or unusual stories you have of working with these venues?

 “It’s always hard to define what’s true and fabricated these days. I think I’ve started to believe my own made up ghost stories which I always save for a new member of staff or a tour manager to get their hairs on their neck to stand up.

“For the first time ever the other day I was informed that the Green Room (now Gorilla) was considered a haunted theatre back in the 90s. However I’ve yet to see anything! Albert Hall has its fair few stories and some I can relate to myself. We’ve had strict atheist punks see old men seated at the bar, toilets locked and occupied with nobody in them but have replied saying “busy”. Great little stories, but considering it’s a venue that produces so much energy and vibe plus welcomes over 150,000 a year, you’d imagine there would be more stories! Only time will tell!”

What is your approach to music which is perhaps more dark and heavy – how do you co-ordinate music/events with significantly different moods? 

“We certainly need to welcome more heavy music in our venues. I must admit we are less ‘heavy metal’ and more ‘indie’ however dark and heavy can be weighed up in so many ways rather than denim and leather.

“We’ve been very lucky to accommodate the likes of Stephen O’Malley, Deafheaven, Boris, Earth, Ho99o9, Liturgy, Blanck Mass (to name a few) into our venues which have shaken the dust off the ceiling. For our venues we thrive to make sure we’re bringing in progressive and diverse, eclectic dark and moody music which puts goosebumps over your arms and tickles your eardrums a little.

“We try to make sure we have a few a month in our smaller venues and aim for some juggernauts when they’re ready to tour for the Albert Hall. We’ve been wishing to make the Albert Hall a home for bands like Neurosis, Sleep, Electric Wizard, SunnO))), My Bloody Valentine, Portishead etc for a long time. One day!”

Have there been any personal favourite moments/artists you would like to talk about?

“The two Sold Out concerts from Mogwai this year changed the game for me, as soon as we had the keys to the doors of the Albert Hall it was essential we booked this band for this room. Death From Above 1979 (I think now have scrapped the 1979!) at Gorilla when they reformed was legendary, still can’t believe that show happened! White Denim at The Deaf Institute raised the bar in great rock’n’roll and musicianship.

“Goblin performing Suspiria at the Dancehouse was surreal, especially with all the ballet classes happening! As for alternative events being able to produce the anniversary of Darkplace with special guests was a gamechanger in terms of Film and TV programming which opened the door for Ghostwatch, The Room and Alan Partridge Specials.

For more about the venues, you can visit The Deaf Institute, Gorilla, and The Albert Hall online to keep updated with events and listings.