LIVE: MY JERUSALEM – 17/01/2011

– THE NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – An amusing game to play before any gig at the city’s smaller venues is to try to guess which individuals in the crowd are members of the headlining band. When, for example, post-rock is on offer, this can present hours of fun. With his distinctly un-Mancunian drawl […]
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – First off, props to the Ruby Lounge, celebrating their relaunch tonight – the whiff of fresh paint and newness is heavy in the air. Nice job too, guys – that über quirky ambience is all present and correct, but the removal of those pillars down the side of the […]

LIVE: THE CORAL (ACOUSTIC) – 15/01/2011

LIVE: HEDGE – 15/01/2011

FEAT. SAM CARTER/LIAM BAILEY/NANCY ELIZABETH/AIDAN SMITH/CORTINA DELUXX – BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – Being quite a newbie to Manchester I’d heard of the folk night Hedge, but never had the pleasure of experiencing it.  Tonight Hedge in collaboration with Humble Soul Records returns to the Manchester scene after a fairly long break with a […]
– THE APOLLO THEATRE, MANCHESTER – There are not many rules surrounding Christmas songs but there are a few. Namely that Christmas songs (and we’re talking Slade, Mariah Carey and stuff with sleigh bells basically – Low and Sufjan are a grey area) should not be played until, at most, one week before Christmas. Until […]

LIVE: THE POGUES – 17/12/2010

LIVE: ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN – 12/12/2010

– THE OLYMPIA, LIVERPOOL – As I write this, on the eve of my birthday, it’s a time for reflection. I’m not talking about some hideous navel gazing, but more on what a great day it’s been. Today I saw my football team win, at home, with only ten men. Tonight in Liverpool Echo and […]
– THE WAREHOUSE PROJECT, MANCHESTER – Why does the Warehouse Project hate me? I don’t know what I’ve done to offend them, unless giving them lots of money is offensive, and judging by the crowd tonight, and the crowds it has attracted over the last few years, it has certainly raked in its fair share […]

LIVE: MODERAT/HUDSON MOHAWKE/JOY ORBISON/BEN KLOCK/MARCEL BETTMAN – 11/12/2010

LIVE: THE WEDDING PRESENT – 10/12/2010

– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER – The Wedding Present are the latest in a line of classic bands indulging in the late fad for performing their albums in their entirety. Their album of choice is their second: Bizarro, in celebration of its 21st year. The set seems to begin with an encore, starting with ‘Heather’ from […]
– ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD – Eric Johnson on vocals and guitar places himself to the right hand side of the stage leaving Sanae Yamada to the centre front with her keyboard. The projection on the wall flits about and they both create shadows on the back wall merging with the changing images. I must admit […]

LIVE: MOON DUO – 10/12/2010

LIVE: MOULETTES – 10/12/2010

– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – Ever since Laura Marling started helping out those Whale and Mumford boys, people seem to have decided folk is now fashionable, so I’ve been wondering when people are going to start paying attention to Moulettes and their theatrical antics. Three lovely ladies and a couple of not too shabby […]
– ST. PHILIP’S CHURCH, SALFORD – Hell. You wait all this time to go a gig in a church, then two come along at once. After I Am Kloot’s hometown lap of honour at the Cathedral last week, here come Chapel Club for a one-off Christmas special. You wonder what bands are hoping for by […]

LIVE: CHAPEL CLUB/DAVID’S LYRE – 09/12/2010