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Inside the new ‘love letter to live music’ dive bar in Stockport
A new dive bar along Stockport’s Old Town cobbled backstreet will boast liquor, draught beer, cocktails and live music.
Amp, which has been inspired as a ‘love letter’ to the town’s music heritage, promises to champion local bands and upcoming artists.
The self-confessed venue – opened on 12 May – has seen inspirational legend Clint Boon and Stone Roses legend Mani make a DJing appearance, including performances Crème Brûlée- a nod to the League of Gentleman- and Black Cats Blues.
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Aiming to bring the ‘best scene in town’, synonymous with Manchester, the pop-punk bar has a host of events filling up, with shows from Ten Eyed Man, Blind Tiger and new local band The Rays.
Stockport-born manager, Aaron Davies, 34, is a hospitality professional with over a decade of experience in the town’s bar management, he is hoping Amp will spotlight the borough’s rich musical heritage.
“I’m massively proud of Stockport,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “The town has given us so much fantastic musical history, from Blossoms to 10cc, Strawberry Studios, Elton John and David Bowe played in Stockport. Amp is a love letter to the town’s major source of pride and its people.
“We’re looking to add to that, by giving local artists and bands somewhere to perform with a good live music bar. We want Amp to be the recommendation to end your night out here, not in the city [centre] – we want to give Stockport the night out it deserves.”
Featuring a rustic interior, thick concrete floors, dimmed lights, neon signs, high seating and murals commissioned from local street artists, the open space which holds 300 people is perfect for socialising with friends and belting ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’.
As well as music, entertainment will foreground with bi-weekly comedy nights, hosted by stand-up comedian Aaron Wood, featuring acts seen live at the Apollo, the stand-up sketch show, Comedy Central and more.
Amp has already seen appearances from Britain’s Got Talent star Callum Oakley, and headliner Harry Stachini, who performed a sold-out solo debut at Edinburgh Festival in 2019.
Upcoming this week (7 June) is comedian Kathryn Mather, and headliner Josh Jones, who’s made appearances on 8 out of 10 Cats and made finalist in the BBC New Comedy Award.
The grungy light night bar – giving Manchester’s Northern Quarter vibes – accompanies a host of choices from classic draught beers, vegan and gluten-free beers, craft ales, a variety of spirits, gins, and cocktails.
The venue is also open to ‘recommendations’, as Amp strives to put its customers first. They’ll be offering anti-spiking drinks and free sanitary products to customers who might need them, and each pack bought will be matched to a mother and baby group in Altrincham.
Amp has gigs lined up in the coming months which include ticketed events, and the bar hopes to welcome a kitchen serving street food before 2024.
Aaron said: “Amp stands for art, music, and people – our ethos is being community focused and giving Stockport what it wants as well as creating a welcoming and safe atmosphere. We’re working with OmniMusic to make the bar inclusive to performers as well, who are the foundation of the venue.”
Amp is found at 11 Market Place, Stockport, SK1 1EW
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