LIVE: BC CAMPLIGHT – 10/10/2018

-GORILLA, MANCHESTER- Half way through proceedings – a sweaty, sleazy gorgeous romp of a night – and Brian Christinzio takes off his lounge lizard jacket to reveal a T-shirt with the slogan ‘I’m in a weird place now’. You and me both, mate. You want to try standing here by the stage, as a geographically […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Arms flailing, dancing in a world of her own, going up to complete strangers and putting her face inches away from theirs, the woman in front of us is on a mission. Why do I always attract them? Harmless enough, but clearly off her rocker on whatever Saturday night substances have been […]

LIVE: THE CORAL / SHE DREW THE GUN – 14/10/2018

LIVE: MARK KOZELEK – 12/10/2018

-RNCM, MANCHESTER- Either in his own name or as Sun Kil Moon, I count that Mark Kozelek has released ten albums since 2015’s Universal Themes, although I’m not here tonight because I have listened to any of them. Before the release of …Themes I wrote a review of the previewed song ‘Ali/Spinks 2’ in which […]
-ARTS CLUB, LIVERPOOL- I’ve made the trip 30 miles west from Manchester to catch The She Street Band at the Arts Club, the interior of which sometimes recalls a miniature Ritz. Gigging only since last year, the band describes itself as the world’s first and only all-female Bruce Springsteen cover band. I go back a […]

LIVE: THE SHE STREET BAND – 11/10/2018

LIVE: ANNABEL ALLUM / VINYL STAIRCASE / ANNA McLUCKIE – 10/10/2018

-NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER- As I make my way to the venue in the relative warmth of a freak 21 degree Manchester evening, coming straight after a run of cold nights, I’m not entirely sure if I’m off to see a solo artist with the surname Allum, or a group of people who are […]
-GORILLA, MANCHESTER- I’m immediately greeted with the haunting voice of Irena Zilic as I arrive at Manchester underground hot spot Gorilla. Bosnia and Herzegovina native Irena has a wonderful tone and fantastic stage presence, bouncing off her accompanying musician with ease as she opens up the night. It’s already quite busy when I arrive part […]

LIVE: MORCHEEBA / IRENA ZILIC – 08/10/2018

LIVE: NICK MASON’S SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS – 27/09/2018

– Apollo, Manchester – With the three remaining members of Pink Floyd all doing their separate solo projects, the only way to capture any essence of Pink Floyd is by seeing either Roger Waters, David Gilmour or Nick Mason live. As Roger and Dave focus on the bigger hits from the expansive Floyd catalogue, drummer […]
-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Deep breath, eyes closed, take yourself back to the early 2000s. Indie music pulsing through your veins, the radios bleed Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, The White Stripes and Franz Ferdinand, the bands who defined indie rock. Now, snap back to 2018, radios have somewhat become something of the past, but indie music […]

LIVE: THE MAGIC GANG – 27/09/2018

LIVE: JOSE GONZALEZ / JESCA HOOP – 22/09/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Reader, I am hungover. I wish this were not the case, I only had two pints last night, but after waking up much too early, my head is humming, and I don’t know if drinking any more is a good idea oh but Tracy has bought me another pint so I guess […]
-GORILLA, MANCHESTER- If anyone has been following my series of ‘shit, how good are all these incredible young female songwriters at the moment’ reviews, then you’ll know this is approx. entry number 49, with previous editions featuring the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Soccer Mommy, Florist and Let’s Eat Grandma. There’s just such a magnificent wealth […]

LIVE: JULIEN BAKER – 24/09/2018