LIVE REVIEW: JORDAN RAKEI – ALBERT HALL 26/09/24

The elegant, frayed decay of the Albert Hall gives it its charm, its chunky charisma. It is arguably our finest live venue, the balcony like a hug, the room something of an architectural cuddle. And if it’s not homely enough, tonight there are rugs on the stage, and lamps dotted about as well, so that […]
The Brian Wilson vocals announce the Twigs are about to twig their way onto the stage, and take the Academy 2 on a strange hour and a half of time-travelling, genre-bending, jangly retro Americana. Plus some Merseybeat. It’s 60s… at times it’s 70s… it’s a little discombobulating, which would be a problem were it not […]

LIVE REVIEW: THE LEMON TWIGS – ACADEMY 2 12/09/24

LIVE REVIEW:THE BREEDERS – ALBERT HALL (26/06/24)

It’s the hottest night of the year so far, and as the evening sunlight shines through the beautiful ornate windows of the Albert Hall, the place is packed. It’s been over thirty-three years since The Breeders burst on to the early 90’s indie scene with the astonishing debut album ‘Pod’, and with the 30th anniversary […]
First of all, do not get the mango infused or house beer if you ever go to night & day as they’re really not nice. The mango has redeeming qualities like it smells nice and the initial taste is alright, but the house beer tastes like piss. Walking into night & day is like getting […]

LIVE REVIEW – DEA MATRONA: NIGHT AND DAY 14/05/24

LIVE REVIEW – THE K’S – VICTORIA WAREHOUSE 26/04/24

‘Manchester tonight’s been the best night of our fucking lives. We should do it again sometime,’ declares Boyle as the crowd applauds in approval. The voluminous venue that is Victoria Warehouse, with a capacity of 3,500, was swiftly stamped as ‘sold out’. Being the biggest venue they have performed to date, the band has been […]
Two friends embrace in the foyer of the Aviva Unilever Proctor & Gamble Tony Wilson Factory Arena Studios International (I think that’s it’s full name?) after this most magical of Adrianne Lenker performances: “What are you doing here?!” “Crying!” Two partners next to me watch on in hushed rapture, intertwined in each other’s embrace, heads […]

LIVE REVIEW: ADRIENNE LENKER -AVIVA STUDIOS 25/04/24

LIVE REVIEW: STILL HOUSE PLANTS – THE WHITE HOTEL 17/04/2024

Isn’t it brilliant when something connects seamlessly, when something locks in perfectly? For jigsaw nerds it might be that final piece snapping into place to reveal the whole; it might be something as simple as the feel of a key turning to open a lock; it could be something more complex, like the final bit […]
Standing in the midst of a packed New Century Hall crowd, this feels like a big Saturday night out, a party to celebrate the return of a much loved band, and although they’ve only been away a few years, a rebirth of Zutons psych infused pop is well overdue. Having released the first new material […]

LIVE REVIEW:THE ZUTONS – NEW CENTURY HALL 13/04/2024

LIVE REVIEW: WILLIAM DOYLE – DEAF INSTITUTE 24/03/2024

What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday evening. William Doyle is on a tour around the UK supporting his fantastic new album Springs Eternal, just him and his friend Alex Painter playing tracks that have been, according to Doyle’s Instagram, “repurposed…to work extra nicely as a duo, trying to replace things where a human […]
 Arriving at Manchester’s O2 Apollo in the back of that Uber was a mix of excitement and nerves as either tonight would be one of the greatest gigs to be witnessed or a night filled with a lacklustre performance, overpriced drinks, boredom, regret and the taste of another man’s sweat in your mouth.  Getting out […]

LIVE REVIEW – YARD ACT: MANCHESTER APOLLO 16/03/24