Issue 8: Reece Ritchie of Night & Day Cafe
Welcome to The Band Bible! I’m truly glad to have you here. If you’re a new reader, purpose of this newsletter is to address, break down, and shine a light on the business of being in a band. Each issue, we do this by interviewing (and celebrating!) someone who is making waves through their incredible work with or for independent artists. Learning the business of being in a band is something that is often inaccessible or shrouded in mystery, and it shouldn’t be, so I hope The Band Bible is able to play even a small role in helping to change that.
In this issue, we’re scrapping the usual format in order to shine a light on the ongoing situation regarding the noise abatement notice Manchester’s beloved Night & Day Cafe was served. The Northern Quarter venue is hardly a local secret, with its reputation for championing a multitude of artists being well-known nationwide. That said, the sheer existence of Night & Day is not only a cultural asset to Manchester, but to the UK at large. Especially as the music industry continues to grapple with the simultaneous effects of multiple lockdowns and the cost of living crisis, the role played by independent venues is particularly imperative now more than ever.
However, the abatement notice Manchester City Council served Night & Day has placed its future in jeopardy. This acutely illustrates the devastating consequences that can stem from the construction of residential areas around live entertainment venues — venues that, crucially, were there first.
I spoke to Night & Day’s in-house promoter, Reece Ritchie. Here, Reece speaks on his relationship with the venue, its cultural impact, how the noise abatement situation has made him feel, what people outside Manchester can do to help, and more.
But! Before you scroll further, please take a moment to sign the petition to have Night & Day’s noise abatement notice removed. We all know how important independent venues are, and one with an impact and legacy of such breadth cannot afford to be lost.
How did you come to be a part of Night & Day, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I’ve a long personal history with the venue, that I only share because I believe everyone that steps through the doors has a very similar personal experience of the cafe.
I’ve been visiting Manchester and Northern Quarter since I was 15 with my stepfather who came to university here, it was one off his favourite place during university. When I finished school and was looking at a degree I visited Manchester with him, it was inside the cafe itself I decided that the uni I went too wasn’t important - only that I was in Manchester and able to experience and involve myself in its music scene. From there I started music journalism, becoming the music editor for the largest student publication in Europe, The Mancunion, whilst studying a BA (hons) at the university of Manchester in economics and politics.
Going on to add gig photography, presenting, interviewing and finally show repping to my repertoire before securing my first job in music at the record label Scruff of The Neck. I left there earlier this year to finish my dissertation and shortly after graduating and meeting the owners themselves whilst repping a show, they’d seen a piece I’d written for The Mancunion regarding the noise abatement notice when initially put in place and enquired about my experience running shows. I was hired the following week. Throughout this entire journey I was constantly in and out of the cafe, working or discussing shows - it’s had an effect on every area of my life.
There's no question that Night & Day has made a huge impact on countless artists and music lovers. Which aspect(s) of that impact are you most proud of?
There’s a few aspects I think worth mentioning - the community that the venue develops, bringing together artists, creatives and people from all across the city to celebrate live music and to forge new collaborations. We’ve had a vital part to play in the development of local artistes into national touring acts and have seen sets from everyone from Everything Everything, to My Chemical Romance, Elbow and back again. We’ve always been on the forefront of live music and take great pride in supporting developing talent.
Here, I'd love to get your thoughts on how the presence of independent and grassroots venues can benefit communities.
Independent and grassroots live music does far more for communities than one might first believe, especially to someone outside of the industry itself. When we host a show fans don’t come straight to the doors, and go straight home afterwards. They stay in hotels, eat locally, and drink at bars when we’re closed for soundcheck. The artists we platform shop at local music stores, stocking their first releases in local record shops. Crew, staff, artists and fans all develop on from grassroots independent venues onto national academy tours and there simply isn’t a way to skip this step in the musical ecosystem. We’re also more than just a venue, we’re a gallery hosting local artists, a meeting place for ideas and creatives - a hub for people from all walks of life. Our doors are open everyday for people to meet and enjoy the cafe, and hopefully it’s able to continue to inspire the next generation of musical talent and bring the people of Manchester and beyond together.
How has the noise abatement situation made you feel?
The imposition of the noise abatement notice on us has obviously caused great stress for everyone at the venue. The owner, Jen, graciously has kept the best majority of the dealings with the NAN to herself, allowing the bar staff and myself to continue to work as hard as possible to put on great shows.
However, it bears saying despite us all at the venue being confident that we won’t have to go to court to appeal the notice that it does impose great stress on us and increases my own workload especially by an exponential amount. Theses extra hours are time I only wish I could spend putting on more gigs and bringing together more fans and artists at the cafe. It certainly is not an enjoyable feeling for anyone here at the venue, but the support from the local community, artists, fans, regulars, staff and crew alike has been incredibly heartening and we are incredibly appreciative of it.
Lastly, what can folks who live outside of Manchester do to help?
The best thing that people outside of Manchester can do is to continue to share and sign our petition to have the noise abatement notice removed. You can find it on all of our socials, continue to press the issues, and if possible write to both the leader of Manchester City Council and the Mayor Andy Burnham. However you choose to support us, we can’t thank you enough!
A huge thank you goes out to Reece for taking the time to answer each question so thoughtfully. Be sure to connect with Night & Day on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Click here for the contact form to reach Andy Burnham, and here to message Manchester City Council via Twitter.