NEWS: GREY LANTERN & BAD UNCLE’S BOX SOCIAL – 10 ACTS + INDEPENDENT LABEL FAIR
After both moving into the area last year, independent promoters Grey Lantern and Bad Uncle were keen to put Levenshulme’s Klondyke Social Club firmly back on the gigging map. Fast forward a few months and the two come together this weekend to throw a Box Social for the ages! Ten live acts, DJs, and independent record label fair and more besides are set to descend on south-east Manchester for a truly eclectic day of music. The live line-up includes Strasbourg math-rockers... Read More
Album Review: Real Estate – Atlas
There’s something bizarrely unfathomable about Real Estate, and third album Atlas especially. There’s nothing overwhelmingly striking about their sound, we have a classic jangly guitar dynamic, eschewing any Zeitgeist leap towards electronica. There’s a distinct lack of choruses, at least in the traditional sense of reaching a musical, emotional, vocal pinnacle. Previous album Days‘ carefree languidness has given way to apathy and disaffection on Atlas.... Read More
VIDEO: KIRAN LEONARD – EXTENDED LIVE VERSION OF ‘GERALDO’S FARM’
Kiran Leonard opened the main stage at the inaugural BBC Radio 6 Music Festival on Saturday. A highlight was the six and a half minute long version of ‘Geraldo’s Farm’ – complete with violin solo – which closed his set, perfectly showcasing the new four-piece live band. The singles ‘Dear Lincoln’, ‘Port-Ainé’ and ‘Wild Walks’ were also performed, as well as a brand new song ‘Don’t Make Friends With... Read More
NEWS: GRUFF RHYS – HEAR THE TITLE TRACK FROM NEW ALBUM ‘AMERICAN INTERIOR’
Gruff Rhys has announced details of the first single from his forthcoming album, ‘American Interior’. The title track from Gruff’s luscious sonic travelogue about the incredible true journey of Welshman John Evans is available to listen to now.The title track is officially released on April 28th and the album, Gruff’s fourth solo record, is due for release on Turnstile on May 5th. ‘American Interior’ tracklisting: 1. American Exterior 2. American... Read More
Album Review: Wild Beasts – Present Tense
The beasts are back and the beasts are burdened. Charged with following up the success of their previous three long players – Limbo, Panto, Two Dancers and Smoother – the Leeds based indie-electronic four-piece are back with their latest – Present Tense. Is there a pun to be found in that title… is it ‘present, tense’? Or conversely, as one of the tracks suggests, was the ‘Past Perfect’? Certainly there’s a tension in the tight percussive punches of the opening... Read More
LIVE: I LIKE TRAINS – 28/02/2014
– ST. PHILIP’S CHURCH, SALFORD – To celebrate their 10th anniversary as a band, everyone’s favourite Leeds-based epic post rockers I Like Trains (they’ve dropped the ridiculously structured iLiKETRAiNS thankfully) are doing a jaunt around the UK playing their debut EP Progress Reform in full. Their Manchester stop (actually in Salford), is the beautiful St Philip’s Church off Chapel Street, a favourite venue of mine – there’s something... Read More
LIVE: GERARD AND THE WATCHMEN – 26/02/2014
Photo by Nigel Lupton – KRAAK GALLERY, MANCHESTER – Hidden away almost as though it’s meant to be a secret, Kraak Gallery is a strange little venue, but it has a level of charm. The bill for this evening has 5 acts, unfortunately my arrival is delayed and I only catch the last three of these. The first of the three is Stephen Hudson & The Fiat Pandas. Hailing from Lancaster they produce an enjoyable set. In amongst the guitar, bass, drums and occasional keyboard... Read More
LIVE: JOHN MURRY – 26/02/2014
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Phew! It’s warm in The Deaf Institute again tonight. What’s the deal with that? I was here last week for a gig and was actually quite pleased when a lad carrying a couple of beers overhead through the crowd accidentally tipped half of one down my back. Never has a frosty one felt so good. It did occur to me that night, though, that the crowd seemed rather sleepy in the heat. But for John Murry, raised in the subtropical U.S. state... Read More
NEWS: 2022NQ – FIRST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Mancunian venue 2022 NQ celebrates its first birthday in April 2013 after a memorable twelve months establishing itself as the cultural hub in the UK’s second creative city. The venue has been built on a commitment to Music and Arts in the North West by adopting a simple mantra – CreateLearnExhibitWork. The space’s appeal lies in its versatility for each of these purposes, thus becoming a centre-point creative’s of any discipline and interest can relax, engage and work. Proceedings... Read More
Album Review: The Shook-Ups! – Bad Reception
Let us forget about the deplorable strip that is King Street, and perhaps the amplified success of The Verve, to wipe our slates clean for Wigan’s next honourable mention – The Shook-Ups, a band whose repertoire includes past/present members of Moco, The Stags, Doktor Combover and The V.Cs. 1960s garage rock is back and, I’ll say, is sounding as ace as ever. Raw and energetic, the new LP from The Shook-Ups, titled Bad Reception, exhibits an organ driven twin guitar... Read More
