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The former guitarist for The Stone Roses has opened up about his memories of partying in Jersey and the repression of the underground music scene ahead of his solo performance at the Blue Note Bar this weekend.
Aziz Ibrahim – known for his work as guitarist with Simply Red, The Stone Roses and their frontman Ian Brown – is set to take to the stage at the Blue Note Bar on Saturday evening.
The Manchester-born guitarist said audiences can expect an entertaining, unique and spontaneous performance.
"My objective is to entertain," he said. "I want to give you value for money."
Pictured: Aziz Ibrahim, who has shaped the sound of bands like The Stone Roses, Ian Brown, and Simply Red, is set to perform at the Blue Note Bar on 13 July.
Unlike traditional gigs where artists perform a rehearsed set, Mr Ibrahim said he plans to adopt a more dynamic approach, akin to a DJ reading the crowd.
He explained that he will tailor his setlist based on the energy and preferences of the audience, reading the room and playing what fits best – potentially including Stone Roses tunes, Ian Brown songs he co-wrote, as well as his original material.
"I've learned to do a different kind of show recently," he said. "I don't want the night to be the same every time I play."
This won't be Mr Ibrahim's first time performing in Jersey.
He recalled three previous visits to the island – once with 1970s band Hot Chocolate, once with the Stone Roses frontman, and once as a solo artist.
Pictured: Aziz Ibrahim performing at Glastonbury.
He recalled: "Every time I was over, it was just like party atmosphere, because everyone's just wild.
"After the shows, everybody would be like, 'Hey, coming out, hanging out with us? You want to come out here? We'll take you there.'
"I don't think I got to use the hotel, because I just didn't go to bed every night!
"All I remember is three nights of party – that's my memories of Jersey."
Born and raised in Manchester in the 1960s, Mr Ibrahim said his musical influences were intertwined with the city's culture as well as his Pakistani heritage.
Reflecting on his formative years, he described the city's music scene as "incredible" and "exciting".
Pictured: After having replaced John Squire in The Stone Roses in 1996, Aziz Ibrahim subsequently co-wrote and recorded records with Ian Brown (pictured right), including 'My Star', 'Corpses in Their Mouth', 'Golden gaze' and 'Solarized'.
He said the scene was characterised by its diversity and the sense of discovery that permeated it – from reggae sound systems in Moss Side to the acid house movement across Manchester's network of nightclubs and underground raves.
Speaking about his musical journey from reggae to hip-hop, soul, and eventually to rock, Mr Ibrahim said that he worked with Jamaican artists like Barrington Levy, Freddie MacGregor, and Dennis Brown before joining The Stone Roses in 1996.
"People get the wrong idea about me because they only see The Roses, Or Ian Brown or Paul Weller," he said.
"So people think of me in that way, but they have no idea that I spent 10-15 years in reggae bands, learning the disciplines of raga, dancehall and lovers rock."
Speaking about the changes in Manchester's music scene, the musician said he had noticed an increased level of policing and the repression of the underground scene.
"Now we're policed so much," he said. "There's no way young people are getting away with what we got away with in the 60s and 70s and the 80s."
"We've got the biggest student population in the whole of Europe...It's a great scene to be on. You've got the food, the arts, the sports, you name it.
"But saying that, we've got more cameras than we've ever had. We've got more laws and rules, and everything is policed so much."
Pictured: Aziz Ibrahim was born in Longsite, Manchester to Pakistani parents in 1964.
Mr Ibrahim also spoke about the struggle for grassroots venues to survive and the closure of pubs and clubs, emphasising the importance of preserving spaces for young people to express themselves creatively – which is having an impact on the city's cultural life.
He said: "Development and real estate is far more important than this kind of music culture and youth culture and going out and enjoying themselves.
"I think that spaces for young people should be there for them to enjoy themselves. If you don't provide the habitat for young people, then they will leave."
Mr Ibrahim's work extends beyond the stage.
He also mentors in prisons, plays at homeless shelters, and for hospice patients – saying that music can provide comfort for these people in challenging times.
Pictured: The musician also mentors in prisons, plays at homeless shelters, and performs for hospice patients.
"I started to understand music better," he explained.
"I saw the relationship between what music really is, or the arts in a broader sense, and people.
"The true value of music is far beyond performing and is so powerful.
"The smiles, the feelings, I can see it, I can feel it, you know? I can feel it in a person."
Mr Ibrahim said that he now sees music as a universal language, allowing him to communicate with people from all walks of life.
He said: "You could be from Libya. You could be a council estate in Toxteth, but you could talk about, I don't know, Kendrick Lamar or something, and it's something you got in common."
Pictured: Aziz Ibrahim has performed across Europe, North America, South America, India, Pakistan, Libya, and Syria.
The musician said his work in hospices with terminally ill children has been particularly impactful on a personal level.
"There's no words. What can you say to comfort them?" he said. "The only way to communicate is to enjoy something together.
"Music doesn't talk... It goes straight to the brain. It goes straight to the soul."
Doors open at The Blue Note on Saturday 13 July at 19:30.
Tickets can be bought for £15 HERE.
In this episode of Bailiwick Podcasts, Express sat down with Aziz Ibrahim to talk about his upcoming gig in Jersey, his rich musical journey, and the evolving music scene in Manchester and beyond.
Here, Mr Ibrahim reminisces about his memories of partying in Jersey and his diverse musical background, from reggae to soul to his experiences from playing with iconic bands like The Stone Roses.
He also spoke about Manchester's music scene across the years, the impact of digital transformation on the music industry, and his community work with hospice patients, prisoners and homeless people.
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