MY TOP THREES OF 2016 – RICHARD WALKER

GIGS 1) Beck at Albert Hall An all encompassing greatest hits set which could be one of the best things I’ve ever seen 2) LCD Soundsystem at Primavera Sound The best comeback – not half arsed, but full blooded and joyous to behold 3) Nicolas Jaar at Granada Studios The single best electronic performance I’ve […]
GIGS Ultimate Painting, 30/09/2016, Deaf Institute Full of 60s rhythmic tunes and glorious earworm riffs, this set both showcased new releases such as the catchy ‘Bills’ and ‘Monday Morning, Somewhere Central’ a wistful gentle music whirl of beautiful heartbreak; as well as delivering songs from their previous albums pleasing the crowd with California vibes. Being […]

MY TOP THREES OF 2016 – SARAH STARKEY

MY TOP THREES OF 2016 – STEVE JONES

GIGS Christine and the Queens – Apollo – 04/11/2016 I felt at the time that this was my favourite musical night of the year and I still feel the same way. Review here. Grant-Lee Phillips – The Deaf Institute – 30/04/2016 My abiding memory of this one is Phillips attaching a capo to his guitar for the coda to ‘Lone Star Song’ without missing a […]
GIGS God Damn – Newcastle Riverside Since seeing the punk trio-turned-duo-turned-trio-again support the Foo Fighters in 2015, they have come a long way. Releasing their best album to date this year, Everything Ever, saw them take to the road supporting Red Fang. They, as always, brought energy to the stage and gave an electrifying performance […]

MY TOP THREES OF 2016 – WILL LAWTON

INTERVIEW: MARISSA NADLER

Despite wide critical acclaim and praise from friends, I was definitely a ‘johnny-come-lately’ to Marissa Nadler and found myself stunned by the quality of her most recent record ‘Strangers’. The album, for me, confirmed Marissa’s position as a classic story teller as I became obsessed with finding the answers to each question prompted by her […]
Björk recently named Jofriður Akadottir as one of her favourite new artists in a piece for The Guardian. In that article, Björk admitted her obsession for Jofriður’s innovative techno band Samaris and praised her other work. For someone who has just entered her 20’s, Jofriður has released a hell of a lot of music. She […]

INTERVIEW: JOFRIÐUR AKADOTTIR (PASCAL PINON / SAMARIS / JFDR / GANGLY)

NOW CLOSED – FANCY 2 FREE TICKETS TO OFF THE RECORD MANCHESTER?

– EVERYTHING EVERYTHING, DAVE HASLAM, SILENT RADIO & BRIAN CANNON AMONGST PANEL SPEAKERS CONFIRMED AT OFF THE RECORD – Brand new emerging artist multi-venue music event and conference, Off The Record confirms Mercury Music Prize nominees, Everything Everything, as its special keynote speaker as part of the conference element of the event held in Manchester […]
I caught up with Thom, James and Ash (who joined half way through) from God Damn to talk about the new album, touring, recording amongst other subjects. Later that night they would support Red Fang at Newcastle’s The Riverside. Standing on the banks of the Tyne, here’s what they had to say: W:       I […]

INTERVIEW: GOD DAMN

INTERVIEW: AMBER ARCADES

In March this year, I was in Gulliver’s waiting for Palehound’s support act to take the stage with little to no expectation. That support band though turned out to be Amber Arcades, the solo-project of Dutch artist Annelotte de Graaf, who performed a frenetic set of shimmering guitars and kraut-inspired drums that straddled a whole […]
Stay Fresh is a two-floor all day party with the very best emerging indie bands from Manchester and across the country sharing the stage! To celebrate the inaugural night there’s a a hefty line-up of 8 bands, all for just £6, and there’ll be some free drinks in the mix too! Leeds’ Cowtown are a […]

NOW CLOSED – DEAF INSTITUTE HAS A 2 FLOOR FESTIVAL OF FRESH BANDS