LIVE: SHONEN KNIFE – 13/08/2011

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Turning up at the Deaf Institute tonight to celebrate their 30th anniversary, Shonen Knife is a musician’s band, in the same way Peter Cook was a comedian’s comedian, loved by connoisseurs and music buffs but managing, relatively, to avoid even the alternative music scene’s radar during their impressive career. […]
– SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER – Recording and releasing music with paced regularity since the early eighties, seeing Daniel Johnston on an occasion when he is not touring new material is something of a treat, as you come expecting everything and nothing. No latest album obligations, just a timely run through of his best and biggest […]

LIVE: DANIEL JOHNSTON – 12/08/2011

LIVE: CHAMELEONS VOX – 12/08/2011

– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – The sign outside Manchester’s coolest gig venue reads ‘Sold Out’. There’s a large crowd milling around, most with tickets and a few poor sods without. So what’s the difference between Chameleons Vox and the band of old? Well musically, almost nothing. Mark Burgess has handed his bass guitar to […]
– DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – I found it difficult to tear myself away from the live news coverage, tonight. Watching businesses in London with families living above, being looted and then torched, didn’t really put me in the mood for a gig. But, as they say, the show must go on. Star Slinger has the unenviable […]

LIVE: WASHED OUT – 08/08/11

LIVE: KENDAL CALLING 2011

Saturday Waking up from possibly the worst night’s sleep and feeling like a microwave meal – it was so hot in the tent I burst out before I exploded; I feel far from ‘top of the morning’.  Although we are in the quiet family camping area large groups of teenagers and lads camping together seem […]
– LOWTHER DEER PARK, PENRITH – The final weekend of July sees the 6th Annual addition of Kendal Calling Festival.  Continually growing in strength and size it managed to bag the Best Small Festival award for 2010 and with only 13000 tickets for 2011 it sold out in record time. Since a move in 2009 […]

LIVE: KENDAL CALLING 2011

LIVE: YACHT – 25/07/2011

– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – Manchester’s roller coaster weather is at one of its brief peaks and I’m off to go and sit in the dark basement that is Ruby Lounge. Monday evenings don’t get much better… But at least it’s cool and the place has really shaped up in to a decent venue […]
– ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD – Salford: Home of The Smiths, LS Lowry and at one time The Ting Tings! Their original home was Islington Mill a converted mill founded by Bill Campbell as a space for artists and musicians with a performance area on the ground floor. This year Campbell received an honorary MA from The […]

LIVE: OFF WITH THEIR HEADS – 22/07/2011

LIVE: VIVIAN GIRLS 17/07/2011

– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – It’s a rain-drenched Sunday night and murky, grey Manchester looks like it’s turning into mud.  The promoter at The Ruby Lounge is anxiously looking up and down the street for his crowd, but there’s barely a soul about. Discouraging, perhaps, is the fact that the only other person who turns […]
– THE TUNNEL, MANCHESTER – Despite the presence of world renowned artists Bjork and Snoop Dogg in the city over the last couple of weeks, for many, the potential musical highlight of this years Manchester International Festival is the prospect of seeing one of the city’s own acts. Wu Lyf’s slot at the festival is […]

LIVE: WU LYF – 16/07/2011