Gigraphy Galleries - Big Special, Deaf Institute Manchester, 18/05/2024

The Midlands emerging punk powerhouse descended upon The Deaf Institute. Big Special brough their debut album POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES to Manchester, to showcase their blend of blends poetry, punk rock, and the beating heart of the Black Country. Friedberg with Anna Wappel kicked the night off, with the Berlin/London connection bolstering the evenings punk vibes while fusion it with some pop undertones and, best of all, glorious, glorious cowbells.

On a more serious note, this show zigged and zagged away beyond our expectations all night long, which we mean as a great compliment. Big Special featured powerful drumming, strong lyrics and buckets of bravado. The Brummy duo feel so topical and on the pulse for the current UK climate. Birmingham and Manchester rarely see eye to eye, but on this night the audience absorbed the message of discontent with the country's state of affairs wholeheartedly. While clearly a very thoughtful show and musical style, it’s not for the faint of heart either.

One of the marvellous aspects of Deaf Institute as one of Manchester's key venues is it lets the music do the talking. Joe Kichlen and Callum Mallony rocked a minimalist setup on stage as they romped through key tracks like Desperate Breakfast and Shithouse, the lafter of which was especially favourite amongst the crowd. The night as a whole centred on dark, powerful, angry and strong messages, Hicklin’s vocals perfectly balanced punk aggression and catchiness - something very unique they bring to the table. The duo just ooze confidence and originality, their Mickey Mouse/Shithouse rhyme was one we never thought we’d hear in a song - that’s for sure!

If bands like IDLES, Sleaford Mods and possibly Rag ‘n’ Bone Man are on your Spotify – then Big Special is one you should check out too. See what our Photographer Christina captured here.

Big Special

Friedberg