LIVE: WIRE – 29/04/2015

– ACADEMY 3, MANCHESTER – Wire is a one-way journey, as singer and guitarist Colin Newman says. A deep, disturbing, not necessarily pleasant but always unique and meaningful one. As soon as the band enters the stage at Manchester Academy 3, the atmosphere gets thicker and they take the audience deep into a frenetic hypnosis. […]
– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – When I reach the Albert Hall, the Barr Brothers, who are supporting Calexico tonight, have just ended their set. The venue is not full yet, and the atmosphere is quite relaxed. No VIP areas and a mature crowd that slowly spreads around the beautiful balconies of the former chapel. […]

LIVE: CALEXICO – 30/04/2015

LIVE: SOUNDS FROM THE OTHER CITY – 03/05/2015

– VARIOUS VENUES, SALFORD – With 13 stages and over 100 acts playing during 12 chaotic hours along Salford’s Chapel Street, each reveller is likely to have a very different experience on this bank holiday weekend. All music genre’s are covered, including dance, rock, classical… there’s comedy and art on display, a variety of food […]
– NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – Danish punk upstarts Iceage have only been around since 2011, but already have three brilliant albums to their name. With a reputation for raucous (and sometimes controversial) live shows, they’ve come to Manchester institution Night & Day in support of their latest album, last years brilliant Plowing Into […]

LIVE: ICEAGE – 02/05/2015

LIVE: UGLY DUCKLING – 30/04/2015

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER –  I love hip-hop shows. I wouldn’t say I go to many, and I don’t have much of a grasp on the current hip-hop scene (how old do I sound?), but whenever an old school hip-hop group is in town, I’ll try to make it to the show. One of […]
– THE RITZ, MANCHESTER – The Ritz is decked out in spangled art deco. But in front, from a pulpit, dangles a rag. SF is picked out in gaffa taped juxtaposition. It’s the moniker of opening act Smoke Fairies; a five piece who richly deserve their mention. Two frontwomen harmonise in tones smooth enough to […]

LIVE: PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING – 29/04/2015

LIVE: LAURA MARLING – 24/04/2015

– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – Friday night is just beginning in Manchester as I approach the Albert Hall. I pass restaurants that are packed and bars filled to the brim on a pleasantly warm evening. I’m anticipating a similar atmosphere for Laura Marling’s sold out show. I ascend the stairs to the main room; […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Following an accident resulting in a broken back in 2011 that hindered the full-pelt launch of her career, it seems Ren Harvieu is firmly back on the musical radar and gigging circuit. It’s easy to forget, with her low-key presence and the absence of a second album in recent […]

LIVE: REN HARVIEU – 25/04/2015

LIVE: DEAD RABBITS – 25/04/2015

– GULLIVERS, MANCHESTER – Psych purists may tell you that, if your guitarist adjusts the sound effect on his guitar slightly, you should probably consider changing your entire wardrobe and playing somewhere else. We’ll have none of that around here. Tonight’s 3 bands predominantly specialise in shoegaze and garage, with a multitude of influences in between, and they’ll be playing while bathed in […]
– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – Band on The Wall has filled up nicely in the last few minutes as the anticipation for the first showing of Stealing Sheep’s well-received new album Not Real grows. Ironically, the Liverpool band open tonight’s set with what was potentially the most popular song off their debut album, […]

LIVE: STEALING SHEEP – 24/04/2015