Fresh Thursday // La Tène + ANTONÍ
September 24 @ 19:00 - 22:00
Fresh Thursday is a weekly event where we serve you new and unusual live music alongside home cooked meal.
We created Fresh to encourage listeners to take a chance on artists they haven’t heard before & discover something completely new. You can expect great new & unusual music alongside a communal home-cooked meal in a relaxed, seated atmosphere with candles and board games. The programme spans a wide range of genres well suited to a chilled Thursday evening, with plenty of time to chat before and after performances. Occasionally there might be a little dancing at the edges! Lots of people come on their own and make friends and there is a choice of individual seats and communal tables.
“Soulful, sophisticated music that feels both timeless and completely contemporary” – Rolling Stone Australia
Arjuna Oakes is a New Zealand-born, London-based artist whose genre-fluid sound draws on soul, jazz, alternative rock, folk, electronic music, and contemporary classical. Backed by a formidable live band, his songs take on a different life on stage, emotionally charged, sonically expansive, and built around exceptional musicianship.
Arjuna has built a reputation as one of the most exciting acts currently emerging from London’s underground scene, selling out Ronnie Scott’s, performing at the Royal Albert Hall in the Elgar Room, Manchester Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, and packing out Brick Lane Jazz Festival in 2026. He has opened for Bilal, Jordan Rakei, Moonchild, and Allen Stone, while earning tastemaker support from Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, China Moses, Harvey Sutherland, Jazz FM, BBC Radio 6, KEXP, and Spotify Fresh Finds.
Ellen Beth Abdi uses live loops, pokey drums, undulating synths and quietly subversive lyrics to mould her unique sound. ‘Wonky soul-infused pop with a social conscience’.
Ellen’s enchanting and distinctive voice has gained her spots at Maida Vale, Radio 4’s Loose Ends, 6 Music Festival, We Out Here, Manchester O2 Apollo and support slots for Olivia Dean, Hollie Cooke, Ishmael Ensemble, Oscar Jerome and Allysha Joy. She was invited to collaborate live with music legend Angélique Kidjo, opening Aviva Studios for Manchester International Festival 2023 and was selected for Jazz North’s Northern Line programme in 2025.
‘One of Manchester’s finest’ – Craig Charles
These evenings are all about culture, community and making new music accessible. If you’re able to choose a Cobalt Supporter ticket, your extra contribution genuinely helps us continue to deliver these events.
Getting Here
On-street parking spaces are available to the front of the building and on surrounding streets, free after 6.30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.
By public transport:
The nearest Metro station is Manors (Yellow line), around 10 min walk away.
The closest bus stops are:
• Warwick Street-Stadium (services 1, 32, 32A), 4 min walk away
• New Bridge Street-Blackfriars (services 12, 22, 39, 40, 301), 5 min walk away
• New Bridge Street-St Dominics (services 22, 62, 63, 91, 301), 5 min walk away
Where possible we encourage people to walk or cycle to the venue.
Accessibility
We are here to welcome and care for everybody who enters this space.
If there is anything you need, please let us know on arrival.
There is step-free level access from the street and throughout the venue, with exception of three shallow steps up to the stage and steps up to the mezzanine.
Toilet facilities are gender-neutral, three cubicles in one room and two solo cubicles that exit directly into the corridor. There is one accessible toilet available. There is one toilet with changing facilities.
Many events are seated. When the main room is not seated, there is peripheral seating and you may request a chair from any member of staff.
Club nights and some livelier gigs will use sterile, safe, non-toxic, non-irritating water-based haze and we may use intermittent lazers and strobe lighting.
For detailed access information and to request a PA ticket, please see our Accessibility page.
Food
- The food is home-cooked from scratch, always plant based, sometimes with vegetarian additions & often organic.
- We will always have a gluten free/nut free & vegan option available; however please be aware nuts & gluten are used in our kitchen
- Please let us know if you have any other allergies
- The cooking style is seasonal, hearty & healthy with staples such as tacos, dhal, curry, chilli, falafel etc.
- This is a not-for-profit night & a ‘one meal fits all’ type situation, open minded eaters all welcome
- Food is only guaranteed with advance tickets, so booking early is recommended as we often sell out
- If you have arrived without a food ticket but change your mind, please ask is if there is any extra at the bar
- Our kitchen is small & our team is mainly voluntary – please be patient with us!
- We will usually bring the food to your seat but if it is very busy we may invite you to come up to the kitchen
- The music starts after everybody is fed
Refunds
Cobalt is a tiny team, due to the administration time required and the fact that we can’t always sell on last minute ticket returns we are unable to offer refunds or transfers unless it is an extreme circumstance.
Timings
Doors open at 7pm, we aim to get dinner ready by 8pm. Music starts from around 8pm, sometimes later if it’s a busy night for food. The event is generally finished by 10-10.15pm, in time for the last metro!
Age Restrictions
14+ can be admitted with an adult. For quieter gigs sleeping babes in arms are welcome. Any other ages please check with us.
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