A New York-style piano and cabaret bar has opened in Manchester. Tucked away on St Ann’s Alley, Sonata can be accessed through a ‘speakeasy’-style entrance via the passageway adjacent to Mr Thomas’s Chop House.
Visitors will discover a friendly basement bar with a cabaret club vibe at Sonata Piano & Cabaret Lounge. It’s the perfect place to drop in for a casual drink, or to enjoy a special evening with live music every night.
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Inspired by the cabaret clubs of New York and Berlin, Sonata's programme will showcase singers, pianists and cabaret artists from across the UK and beyond. Guests will experience everything from pop standards to Broadway ballads, from jazz classics to quirky cabaret.
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The venue promises a warm Manchester welcome, with the comfort and convenience of full table service for wine, fizz, cocktails and beer. Sonata will be open seven nights a week until the early hours, ideal for before or after dinner, or the theatre. Sonata doesn’t have a full food menu as such but will offer a small selection of cheese, charcuterie and light snacks to accompany drinks during the evening entertainment.
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The downstairs venue is now a relaxed space with low lighting, soft fabrics, tables, a bar, a state-of-the-art sound system and a stage complete with a baby grand piano. Quite a transformation from its former incarnation as a Boots storeroom.
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Behind the new independent venue is Dale Bassett, a trained singer and cabaret artist who went on to have a career in education and business. During the pandemic, Dale decided to return to his musical and theatrical roots. Sonata is the realisation of his dream of a venue inspired by the London cabaret scene, where he performed before moving to Manchester a decade ago.
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“I am so excited to be creating a unique addition to Manchester’s nightlife and legendar music scene, and in a completely new and custom-designed venue,” said Dale.
“Sonata is more than just a bar – it’s a special place to relax and feel at home while you enjoy the piano and song that take centre-stage. Whether you discover something new or enjoy an old favourite, I will be hand-picking our performers to make sure you have a memorable night.
“Sonata has been my lifelong dream, and to bring it to life in the city I love is such a privilege. I can’t wait to share my passion and our fantastically talented artists with our guests.”
International and award-winning artists will perform alongside renowned and emerging local musicians this summer. Sonata Piano & Cabaret Lounge has unveiled the first acts that will grace its stage, featuring a wealth of local, national and international talent in a highly eclectic programme.
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Acclaimed West End star Alex Young, cabaret icon Paulus and distinguished jazz pianist and vocalist Jeremy Sassoon are among those leading the bill.
The line-up also features outstanding local musicians including songstress The Chanteuse, soul singer and pianist Charlie Cooper and pop sensation Passmore, while husband and wife duo The Retrosettes will host a regular residency.
Olivier Award-winning composer Richard Thomas and comedian and singer Sooz Kempner will bring their original show ‘Wrong Songs’ to Sonata in July, while later in the year the venue will host ‘Dido’s Bar’, a reimagining of Virgil’s Aeneid – the epic story of migration and assimilation. The new work of immersive theatre and music is produced by Dash Arts, directed by Josephine Burton and written by Olivier-nominated Hattie Naylor, with original jazz and world music by Marouf Majidi.
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International talent will include Berlin-based cabaret sensation Jack Woodhead (returning to his hometown of Manchester to perform at Sonata), American piano-vocalist Andrew J Boyer and Canadian soprano and comedian Delea Shand.
The venue will present featured shows including ‘Voices & Lyrics’, a celebration of lesser-known musical theatre, and ‘Le Chat Noir’, a classical cabaret evoking Piaf, Dietrich and Brel, with timeless songs by the likes of Weill, Schoenberg and Debussy.
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“I am thrilled and privileged to be able to host such a wonderful selection of acts,” adds Dale. “Whether you want to see some of the world’s finest cabaret artists, the nation’s best pianists or the city’s most exciting new singer-songwriters, you will find it all at Sonata.”
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Budding singers can take to the stage at a regular open mic cabaret night, with accompaniment from a house pianist. Sonata will also showcase some of Manchester’s most exciting up and coming talent, including jazz fusion trio Outlier, singer-songwriters Adelaide Taylor and Daf Hughes, and BBC Introducing featured artist Rosita.
The full programme and table reservations will be available soon at sonatamcr.com and you can follow @sonatamcr on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
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