A woman's work is never done. In this instance, the never ending craft of churning out songs of love pangs, self discovery and social f*ups nags the desire to constantly un-cover the offsprings of Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, and Kate Bush.

In walks Stephanie McKay with pen and fight in hand - true fashion of those past musical heroines. On Stephanie's latest release "Tell it Like it Is" (Muthas of Invention) she takes the the honest song writing techniques of the 60s and places the 70s freedom for funk to create a vivid new album that has something bigger to say.  The album is packed with classic gems from the feel-good joy of lead single 'Jackson Avenue' which reminisces over the early days of hip-hop and life in the Bronx to the outrageously funky, horn-fired groove of 'Kinky.'

Karima Francis runs far away as possible from loose limb compositions with her mighty sonants. The Blackpool singer/songwriter began her career playing drums for numerous local punk and metallic bands, until a move a few years ago to Manchester unveiled a deeper aptness that even surprised the young twenty-something to much a veil. Karima's soulfully expressive, unique vocal style is utterly bewitching,  couple with a clutch of sensational songs and you would find it almost impossible to believe that she has only in fact been playing and writing seriously for a little over 3 years. Her debut album off of Kitchenware Records (home of Editors) is slated to be release the beginning of next year.

LIVE: STEPHANIE MCKAY + KARIMA FRANCIS

7-12

£8 adv, £10 on the door