Rave culture was never built for daylight. It belongs beneath railway arches, inside abandoned warehouses and in the forgotten shells of Britain’s industrial past, where concrete sweats and basslines rattle rusted steel. At Nia Archives’ DJ set in Manchester, the dancefloor remains a place of escape, expression and relentless bass-driven community. But first, give way […]
Any other day, Manchester Club Academy is a cozy and intimate venue which I have enjoyed many gigs at over time- however, during the insane heatwave that occurred over this weekend, the heat had me feeling more like I was in a hellish chamber rather than its usual charismatic standard. Needless to say, it was […]
It’s always a quietly wonderful moment when, in or outside of the venue, you pass the artist you’re there to see play. It happened back in April at The White Hotel, when Cameron Picton of My New Band Believe weaved his way through the crowd during opener Kiran Leonard’s set. Here, too, outside YES, I […]
I woke up from an over long nap and put an infinite amount of tissues in my pocket since I have been bunged up for the past week (I have a long history of hitting my nose against heads, chairs, edges of steps, footballs and I have never received any kind of medical intervention which […]
On the day that Sparks announce their forthcoming Live on the Moon album, the intrepid explorers roll into the less exalted but still unique terrain of Blackpool for the first time. It is also my first visit to the sleekly modernist Blackpool Opera House. Initially built in 1889, the current building is the third one […]
To be a popular music artist, is to perform and entertain with a curse. At least that’s how it comes across. Think about it. That old archetype of the artist engulfed in tragedy, surrounded by suffering, yet using that strength to create something beautiful, something memorable, something that will be talked about for years, if […]
I became aware of alt-country quartet Friendship through their bassist, Jon Samuels, who I saw playing live as part of MJ Lenderman’s ‘the Wind’ touring entourage nearly a year ago. Though he played guitar in that lineup – the bass duties covered by the loveable Landon George – his energy in that show was as […]
Travelling down the M62 in 90 odd degree heat stuck in traffic as everyone has decided to play Manchester today from Olivia Dean, Yungblud to The Scratch. Going a bit earlier to make a day of it, walk the streets and try that Dave’s Hot chicken that everyone is raving about. The sun’s shining, the […]
If there’s one thing I pride myself on, it’s my memory; be it an important date or an aside about what you had for tea on Tuesday two weeks ago, I can generally be relied upon to recall things I’m informed about without much effort. So, you rightly ask, why was it that I nearly […]
As I stand in the relatively small space of Gorilla in Manchester tonight, the thumping bass and house beat of ‘L.Y.A.T.T’ blasts through the room, the whole crowd lost in a trance of colourful lights and bright visuals on a screen behind Art School Girlfriend. But that comes later. At the start of the show, […]
GIG GUIDE
Our gig guide is handpicked and every act has been listened to before making it onto the list.
See this month's guide
ALBUM REVIEW - MARGARET GLASPY: I AM BOTH
ALBUM REVIEW - ARIANA GRANDE: PETAL
ALBUM REVIEW - DEEP PURPLE: SPLAT!
GIG GUIDE - AUGUST 2026
ALBUM REVIEW - LUCIA & THE BEST BOYS: PICKING PETALS
ALBUM ROUND WEEK ENDING 31 JULY 2026
ALBUM REVIEW - MAYA ONGAKU: NOTHING SPACE MUSIC
ALBUM REVIEW - DURUTTI COLUMN: RENASCENT
ALBUM REVIEW - LOATHE: A STRANGER TO YOU
ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 24 JULY 2026
