The Wants

Formed in Brooklyn in 2016 around the songwriting partnership of singer/guitarist Madison Velding-VanDam and drummer Jason Gates, The Wants build confrontational, melodic music out of Anglophilic post-punk, the relentless rhythms of industrial and techno, and a streak of Rust Belt grit. Signed to Council Records, the band released their debut album Container on March 13, 2020, to strong critical notices, following it with the 2025 record Bastard. Working within the stripped-back framework of post-punk, the band thread the hypnotic pulse of Detroit techno into pop songcraft, with Velding-VanDam's vocal delivery shifting between earnest romanticism and deadpan detachment. Expect a set that's as danceable as it is dissonant - motorik rhythms, needling guitar, and synth-driven tension pulled tight. Manchester is one of only 3 UK dates on this tour (Glasgow and London being the others) 10pm Curfew if you need to catch a train/bus. Plenty late night venues around if you are staying out! Support to be announced.