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The aptly titled ‘Music By People Who Drink Cider In The Gutter’ deftly shows that fermented apple-fuelled lunacy isn’t the sole preserve of fearful crusties and that Manchester has a pretty impressive punk heart, with a roll call of Dog Toffee, The Shadowcops, Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man, The Kirkz and the incomparable genius of Matt Woods all proving that the city isn’t just home to the indie it’s traditionally tied up with.

The TNS team + friend (c) Karen McBride

In fact, it’s the genial, gurning and grimacing Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man whose unquenchable thirst for action has led mainman Andy Davies to launch this latest venture, striking up TNS to help Manchester continue on a lunatic binge of the anti-beige furrowed brow folk brigade.

In the true spirit of punk, Andy describes it as "a DIY label, fanzine and band night. Our main idea behind TNS – which stands for That’s Not Skanking - is to promote some of the best up and coming punk and ska bands, who we feel don’t get the coverage they deserve.

"There are so many awesome bands out there playing music that they really believe in, rather than adhering to trends. This music is never going to get mainstream coverage and we’d certainly never want it to, but we are also very aware that there are lots of like-minded people out there who like to hear new bands and who would really rate some of those we are working with.

"What we really want is to reach these people - which is obviously beneficial for both the audiences and the bands - and hopefully help the bands move onto bigger things."

The ethos of punk has always been a self-starting one and TNS’s beginnings have been no different. If that weren’t enough, TNS have coupled that with the other great stalwart of punk, a need to combat alienation, as Andy explains.

Andy with Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man

"One of the main reasons I started the TNS band night was because I was so disheartened with the way that a lot, though not all, of the local promoters worked.

"Often, their nights have mixed genre line ups, which aren’t coherent and have ridiculous contracts where bands only get paid if they pull a certain amount of people in.

"What tends to happen is that you get the audience each band brings staying to watch their mates on stage, but not sticking around for the other bands as there is no incentive to do so.

"I’m all for a little diversity, but surely more coherent line ups encourage people to check out the other bands and, as a result, give all the bands an opportunity to play to a new crowd and develop their fan base."

After working hard to establish the band night, Andy and the rest of the TNS decided to take the next logical step and set up a record label, something that Andy says he’d wanted to do "for a long time", though he’s more than aware just how much is involved in making such aÌý leap forward.

The first fruits of their finances is that Music By People Who Drink Cider In The Gutter collection, and Andy’s suitably pleased with it – so much so, in fact, that he’s already looking forward to the releases that the label have planned beyond their debut.

"Our first release sounds amazing. There is a real nice spread of bands from the local area and further afield on it. It’s been really professionally mastered and pressed and at just £4, people can’t really go wrong. I reckon it’s an ideal way to introduce TNS.

"We’ll be following it up with a split EP between Revenge of the Psychotronic Man and the Fractions, and we have ideas for a few other spilt EPs in the future if the first two releases go well.

"In terms of bands, we have selected bands we have worked with so far, but obviously it’s always good to hear new bands, especially if they are into the whole TNS ethos."

The TNS team (c) Karen McBride

That’s not to say that they are excluding anyone. Andy is quick to point out that if there’s one thing that underlines everything that TNS is about, it is the idea of inclusiveness.

"I really hate cliquey scenes, so one thing we wanted to really establish was a community where everyone was very welcome to be involved.

"With so many of the bands we are working being good mates, I can see how it could have evolved in a cliquey way, but thankfully, it really hasn’t, and I think the atmosphere at the gigs is so friendly and welcoming.

"I think one of the main things that has made me happy is how all the bands and also the people who come to the nights have started to work together as a community. I’ve found so many amazing new bands through doing TNS and made some really good friends.

"At the nights, we’ve seen amazing performances from too many bands to mention, and I think it’s only going to keep getting better. It’s exciting stuff!"

Music By People Who Drink Cider In The Gutter is out now. The TNS launch party is at Joshua Brooks on Saturday 29 March.