Manchester Blog Meet

Pic Courtesy iamelliotsmith, Flickr

“I’ve learned 25 letters of the alphabet,” admits Alistair Quinn from Edwards Hoyle Solicitors in Cheshire. “I don’t know Y.”

I meet him for the first time at Manchester Blog Meet in Common Bar in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, over the road from the Manchester Digital Laboratory. It’s Tues 28^th August and I’m stood in a suit and Hawaiian shirt after having a “Tropical Tuesday” in work. I’m slowly getting steaming on Bullet bourbon whilst The Doors’ Light My Fire pumps out of the speakers, which are hidden amongst the pop culture paraphernalia including giant monochrome photographs of John Candy, Patrick Swayze and Steve Irwin. It isn’t clear if the chalk drawing of the lion is referencing thisweek’s alleged sightings of a big cat in Essex.

The Blog Meet attracts a crowd of the city’s bloggers, including:

Sarah Clare Conlon from Words and Fixtures covering literature events in the city. She also ghost blogs on numerous other sites. So if you want someone to help create content on your blog… WHO YA GONNA CALL?!

Pete, whose site Having a Party Without Me is a handy guide to Manchester’s gig scene, complete with interesting little doodles.

Fat Roland, who runs two blogs: Fat Roland on Electronica covers the world of Electronica music, and has been covering the niche since 2004; Italic Eyeball is an experimental fiction site which he set up much more recently.

Hayley Flynn, whose blog Skyliner, analysing city architecture, won at the Manchester Blog Awards last year. The site was also featured in The Guardian newspaper.

Matt, who blogs at The Fiction Stroker reviewing books, comics, TV, radio and live events.

Curator of the Manchizzle and Blog Meet organiser Kate Feld welcomes us all and, reminding us that the Blog North Awards, formerly the Manchester Blog Awards, are now open for nomination. The site will be taking suggestions until the 7^th of September, so if you can think of any blogs you’d like to nominate…

Check out the awards on Twitter and Facebook.

The Blog North Awards is now in association with Open Stories, “a Manchester-based arts organisation that develops digital literature and writing projects.” 

The Blog Meet is sponsored by the very trendy Revolve Boutique Manchester, ran by Sophia. Sophia ran a Clitheroe art gallery until running into financial problems. Taking a detour, she set up an online dress agency for women who don’t have time for Ebay. For a small fee, she will buy and sell clothes for you (provided you’re a woman, presumably), providing a photoshoot of the clothes and attractive Revolve packaging for the merchandise.

Thanks for the bar tab, Sophia!