José González

José González brings his stripped-back folk to New Century in Manchester on 29 January 2027. Born in Gothenburg to Argentine parents, he shaped a singular approach on nylon-string guitar, where precise fingerpicking meets Latin American pulses and a 90s indie sensibility. His debut Veneer revealed that balance with his take on Heartbeats, followed by In Our Nature and the more rhythmically driven Vestiges & Claws. Alongside his solo work, he explored a fuller band sound with Junip and collaborated with Zero 7, while his songs have appeared on several film soundtracks, including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. On stage, González keeps it close to the bone: voice and guitar upfront, melodies carried by subtle arpeggios, dynamics built through touch and timing rather than volume. Local Valley, released in 2021, opened his repertoire to Spanish and Swedish lyrics without losing that quiet intensity. In Manchester, he revisits key moments from across his catalogue in a format that highlights nuance over ornament.