LIVE: RICHARD HAWLEY – 07/10/2019
Richard Hawley -ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- In the words of Chandler Bing, could things BE anymore Manchester, as I step out of my apartment building and step pretty straight into John Thomson, walking into the Dakota Hotel opposite. It’s a scene from Cold Feet (and indeed my street was in one of those luxurious pan shots across the Manchester skyline in the last series). The answer should be none. None more Manchester. And yet, and yet – and perhaps inevitably – things DO... Read More
LIVE: BILL RYDER-JONES – 06/10/2019
Bill Ryder-Jones -BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER- Bill Ryder-Jones (contractually obliged to say ‘formally of The Coral’ here – indeed he is playing a guitar with a strap adorned with their name) released a brilliant album, Yawn, last year, probably his best solo effort to date. Not content with that, he also released an entirely piano based version of the album entitled Yawny Yawn earlier this year, and it made the yearning, delicate songs even better than they were... Read More
HEAR THE FIRST TRACK IN FIVE YEARS FROM CARIBOU + UK TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED
CARIBOU Photo by Thomas Neukum Dan Snaith aka Caribou has today shared a new track ‘Home’. The track is his first new music in five years since the release of Our Love – his universally adored sixth album which received critical acclaim including top five positions in ‘End of Year’ lists from the likes of The Guardian, NME, Mixmag and Loud & Quiet. Snaith has also announced the first UK tour dates since Our Love which include a show at Manchester’s... Read More
ALBUM REVIEW: NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS – GHOSTEEN
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Ghosteen Nick Cave announcing a new album is always welcome news in our house. After witnessing his recent ‘In Conversation’ tour, where everything was stripped back, raw, emotional, funny and a real one-off event, plus reading his brilliant responses to fans’ questions via his ‘Red Hand Files’ emails, predicting where he could go next with his artistic endeavours was anyone’s guess. Fuelled with this new sense of connecting... Read More
LIVE: BILL CALLAHAN – 02/10/2019
Bill Callahan -ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- In these dark and troubled times, it is somewhat reassuring to be in the presence of Bill Callahan. He enters the stage with his relaxed preppy college prof demeanour to greet the large audience, in one of his rare visits to the UK to support his recent double album, Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest. Callahan is a fine fit for the magisterial surrounding of Manchester’s Albert Hall and its twinkling bright lights and beautiful ornate stained... Read More
LIVE: BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD – 02/10/2019
Black Country, New Road -YES (THE BASEMENT), MANCHESTER- Wow. Could probably leave this piece at that exclamation and be pretty pleased with how I’ve summed up my experience of this absolutely extraordinary show I’ve just witnessed. Might add ‘mind blown’ and just walk away from it. Because to try and explain to you, dear readers, just how ridiculously, astonishing good Black Country, New Road (BCNR from here on in, acronym fans) were tonight is going to be difficult.... Read More
LIVE: KING KARTEL / NARROW MARGIN / GLOBAL – 04/10/2019
King Kartel -BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER- After spending the summer abroad and finally having returned, seeing King Kartel will be my first gig back in Manchester. The Mancunian band hailing from Northern Ireland (mostly) are playing Band On The Wall with support from local bands Global and Narrow Margin. As soon as we enter, we see loads of people wearing inflatable crowns, ready for the Kings. Global are the first band to hit the stage. Although the room is only about half... Read More
LIVE: THE MYSTERY LIGHTS – 01/10/2019
The Mystery Lights -NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER- New York’s The Mystery Lights grace Manchester’s Night and Day Café on a brisk evening signifying the end of the summer but the kick start to the usual autumn plethora of gigs around the city. They are currently mid-way through a mammoth two-month tour of Europe that’ll conclude at the end of October for their new album Too Much Tension, which is the main focus of the set. However, it is smoothly interspersed with tracks... Read More
LIVE: CAMP COPE – 25/09/2019
Camp Cope -GORILLA, MANCHESTER- “Thanks for coming out guys, we haven’t really done much since last time so we really appreciate it!” says Camp Cope leader Georgia McDonald in her distinctive Aussie drawl, to much whooping from the crowd. People don’t care that the band haven’t released any new music since their brilliant 2018 LP How To Socialise and Make Friends, they’re just happy to see the band again so soon after their much smaller Soup Kitchen gig last... Read More
LIVE: LUCY DACUS – 27/10/2018
Lucy Dacus -YES, MANCHESTER- And so this is it; the conclusion of my ‘mother of all things holy how damn good are women at music at the moment’ series, which, if you’ve been following closely (OF COURSE YOU HAVE), has basically been a load of love letters to some absolutely brilliant young female musicians who have been making exceptional music and touring it throughout the year. This time round it’s the wonderful Lucy Dacus I’m here to see, who earlier this year released... Read More
