The saying goes that May flowers will follow April showers - and we've certainly had a lot of rain in Manchester over the last month.
But, just as precipitation leads to beauty in the horticultural world, the same principle applies musically. In April, Manchester has been showered with brilliant small acts and festivals.
That will pave the way for a blooming of the city's scene in May, just before the whole circus goes on to various fields and farms across Britain for the summer festival season. May, in some ways, is the end of the annual opening season of gigs - with another run from September to November.
