Course You Can Malcolm: Saturday, 1 October

When CYCM relaunched in the SMRE in September 2018, Scuttlers were the first band to play on Malcolmses’ new stage. The Middleton quartet shared the bill that day with MaD Theatre Company and Martin Buchan, no less. They went on to fill iconic Manchester venues like the Deaf Institute, attracting sizeable contingents from FC United as well as their own legion of followers from North Manchester and beyond.

After four years fronting Scuttlers, singer-guitarist Kaiden Nolan recently decided to go solo. He’ll be returning to the SMRE on Saturday. His brand new single, ‘Move,’ is something of a departure from Scuttlers’ anthems like ‘Leaders of a Lost Generation.’ As Tameside Radio’s Dave Sweetmore put it this week: Kaiden’s entered “a dance/rock phase, with a self-produced single that in his own words ‘marries the alternative sounds of Foals and The XX with 80s disco beats by Gino Soccio and Giorgio Moroder.’ The song tells the story of moving on, making difficult decisions, and learning to deal with difficult circumstances, alongside a Nolan-style disco groove. The song pretty much has everything. It’s cool, has good vibes, has a great beat, and is relatable.” Sounds spot-on to us. (For a minute there, we thought we were in for a Nolan Sisters-style disco groove, but you can’t have everything and we’ll be in the mood for dancing as it is.)

Read Nigel Carr’s ace interview with Kaiden on Louder Than War here: Kaiden Nolan - Single Launch - Preview/Interview (louderthanwar.com)

Before Kaiden’s set we’ll be hosting a Q&A with Adrian Seddon. Someone on the official forum suggested a while back that Q&As at CYCM might be a useful opportunity for dialogue between board members and members (not to mention other supporters, who haven’t signed up ahead of the forthcoming AGM). We couldn’t agree more. Sadly, we’ve not been able to locate a Talking Dog – Adrian’s favourite every Malcolmses turn – for Saturday so far, but we’re sure there’ll be yapping a-plenty nonetheless.

Rose is back from her hols, so there’ll be tater ‘ash and cheese pies this week, topped up with a loving spoonful from Stu from the Bay’s Pea Urn. Rumours are afoot of Alpine-scented muffins too, so bring your cowbells to make sure you’re herd as well as seen.

We can’t end this preview without another thank you to FC United volunteer, Dan Ford. After a successful experiment at the last CYCM, Dan’s planning to install permanent PA speakers in the middle classroom to ensure that future Q&As, quizzes and spoken word turns get the hearing they deserve. All being well, the speakers will be in place for Saturday.

As always, get down early. Timings are as follows:

1.00: turnstiles open

1.30: Baz kicks things off

1.45: Q&A with Adrian Seddon

2.15: Kaiden Nolan

3 o’clock: FC United go out to play.