Thirty-five years. That’s how long it’s taken Manchester’s Northside to return with new music. One of the original architects of the Madchester movement, the Factory Records favourites are back with Hey! Mr Brown, opening a remarkable new chapter in a story that many believed had ended decades ago.
Emerging from Manchester’s thriving music scene in the late 1980s, Northside carved out their own identity with a distinctive fusion of psychedelic indie rock, infectious melodies and dance-inspired rhythms. Their 1991 debut album, Chicken Rhythms, became a defining part of the Madchester era, but the collapse of Factory Records the following year brought their momentum to an abrupt halt.
Now, more than three decades later, Northside are ready to pick up where they left off.
Hey! Mr Brown captures the carefree spirit of their formative years, embracing the melodic warmth and rhythmic energy that helped establish their reputation.
The track’s soundscape is characterised by bright, chiming guitar textures, an infectious groove and a distinctly psychedelic undercurrent. There’s an appealing looseness to the arrangement, with the interplay between the guitars and rhythm section creating an uplifting, almost hypnotic atmosphere.
Frontman Warren ‘Dermo’ Dermody’s distinctive vocal character provides another connection to the band’s musical heritage, complementing the track’s laid-back energy and melodic charm.
What makes this comeback particularly intriguing is the prospect of what comes next.
‘Hey! Mr Brown’ serves as the lead single from Welcome to the Carnival, Northside’s long-awaited second studio album, scheduled for release in spring 2027. Arriving 36 years after Chicken Rhythms, it represents the continuation of a musical journey interrupted just as the band appeared destined for greater things.
For a generation who grew up with ‘Shall We Take A Trip?’ and ‘My Rising Star’, the return of Northside is undoubtedly something to celebrate. For younger listeners discovering the band for the first time, it’s an opportunity to experience a group whose influence remains woven into Manchester’s extraordinary musical heritage.
Thirty-five years might have passed, but Northside’s return is about more than revisiting the past. It’s about finally getting the chance to write the next chapter.
And with Welcome to the Carnival on the horizon, that next chapter promises to be worth waiting for.
Hey! Mr Brown is released on Friday 30th October and can be pre-saved here
Northside Socials
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