NEWS: BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA – BAND ON THE WALL SHOW
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Grammy Award nominated Bassekou Kouyate’s extraordinary musical journey shows that he is unquestionably the most innovative and exciting Malian musician to have emerged in recent years. Having defied tradition he continues to push the boundaries of his ancient musical heritage, bringing his music to audiences around the world with his phenomenal live band Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba and three internationally acclaimed albums. It is his... Read More
SOUTH BY SOUTH WHAT?! A SORT OF GUIDE TO SXSW 2014
SXSW Whether you’re going fresh faced and brimming with enthusiasm to Austin, Texas’s South By South West festival or returning as a hardened veteran, no two SXSWs are the same. With more music than this here Manchester girl can jab a forkful of beef brisket at, navigating a way through the endless lists of artists, day parties, official showcases, panel speakers, dive bars, boat parties, regular and not-so-regular venues, thousands of music industry ‘types’, not to mention... Read More
SXSW 2014 BLOG
SXSW 2014 – Day One South by south west should not be approached lightly. With the seemingly endless lists of official shows and day parties, waking up on Wednesday morning after having been awake for over 24 hours previously, facing the sheer size of event is like looking out to see thousands of armed cavalry lining the horizon in front of you. It should therefore be noted that under no circumstance should SXSW be taken on with an empty stomach. With that in mind, Magnolia... Read More
LIVE: TRASH KIT / SEX HANDS / ILL – 26/02/2014
– GULLIVERS, MANCHESTER – The best and most interesting bands demonstrate free, just will like the rest of us, and make their decisions according to their own vision, for good or ill. Relying on formula is clearly not on the agenda of for Ill, who are already on stage as I arrive at Gullivers. First impressions of the sounds emanating from the upstairs venue, it appears someone is throwing a box of toys thrown down the stairs – hard. My first sighting of... Read More
LIVE: DISCLOSURE – 06/03/2014
– THE APOLLO, MANCHESTER – 2013 belonged to two brothers, known to their parents as Guy and Howard Lawrence, but known to the world as thrilling electronic duo Disclosure. Their incredible debut album Settle went to number one in the UK, they had a number two single with the Aluna George featuring ‘White Noise’, they pretty much ruled the festival circuit, were nominated for four Brits (bizarrely they didn’t win a single one), and even bagged a Grammy... Read More
LIVE: RADKEY – 03/03/2014
– NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – Radkey are three brothers from Missouri who have so far released two EPs, both in the second half of last year. They come to Night & Day Cafe as part of their first ever headline tour and are already building a solid reputation for putting on a good show. There are two support acts before Radkey take to the stage. Both Lyger and Turbogeist succeed in making a lot of noise and the crowd enjoy their sets. The most enthusiastic... Read More
INTERVIEW: PATTERNS
Patterns Manchester band, Patterns, having released their debut album in January are now on the verge of their biggest show yet. In eerie surroundings with the nocturnal, gothic atmosphere inspired by Salford’s beautiful, St. Philip’s Church, Patterns will expand their debut Walking Lines to widths they are yet to explore. With the support of Manchester Community Choir, Patterns will re-create all the vocal layers present on their debut, which walks the line between dreaming... Read More
NEWS: TAME IMPALA ANNOUNCE EXTRA UK DATES + HEAR EROL ALKAN REWORK OF ‘BE ABOVE IT’
Over the past year Tame Impala have been touring the globe in support of their universally lauded second album ‘Lonerism’, mesmerizing fans from Brazil to LA and Japan with their transcendent psych pop. Grammy nominations, Glastonbury performances and Flaming Lips collaborations aside, the latest episode in Tame Impala’s story came in the shape of the ‘Divergent’ soundtrack, with the band collaborating with Kendrick Lamar for a unique version of ‘Feels... Read More
LIVE: BRETON – 04/03/2014
– SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER – I remember hearing London-based indie dance outfit Breton a few years ago and being blown away by how many great artists they managed to sound like in one piece of music. With Foals-esque vocals, Tom Vek’s grooves and the weirdness of Late Of The Pier, Breton made an eclectic debut album which impressed pretty much everyone back in 2012. After a big tour in support of said record, the outfit pretty much disappeared for a year or... Read More
NEWS: TELEMAN ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM ‘BREAKFAST’ + HEADLINE TOUR DATES + HEAR NEW TRACK ‘LADY LOW’
Teleman ‘Breakfast’ Teleman – ‘Tele’, from the Greek for ‘distance’ – are a band you’re invited to, not inundated with. Their sparse, welcoming minimalist synth tones, gentle motorik beats and balloon-light melodies seeped quietly onto the radio last year and hypnotized the alt-pop nation. Their festival sets of 2013 (including Glastonbury and Latitude) drew an attentive, fascinated fanbase who already knew the words to unreleased... Read More
