LIVE: MAKING MANCHESTER – 27/06/2019

-NIAMOS RADICAL CULTURAL ARTS CENTRE, MANCHESTER- (5:30PM) “What’s this thing you’re going seeing tonight then?” “It’s called Making Manchester” Clare’s eyes widen. “Ooh that sounds really interesting, what is it?” “It’s sort of like… I dunno what to call it really, it’s like a collaboration between a load of schoolkids, and musicians, and a sound […]
-CASTLEFIELD BOWL, MANCHESTER- Janelle Monáe is an absolute, proper-off-the-scale pop star. She’s untouchable, standing there oozing pop star-ness as we all look up to her, basking in the glory of someone who’s one role in life is to be an absolute fucking mega star, and we love her for it. In the age of ‘relatable’ […]

LIVE: JANELLE MONÁE – 04/07/2019

LIVE: METZ / USA NAILS – 27/06/2019

-YES, MANCHESTER- USA Nails Awkwardly emerging from the backstage curtain-thing, the opening act favours a fast tempo, ‘angry’ guitar rock that is somewhat let down by Yes’ sound system; they might as well have put their socks in their mouths for the duration of the performance. The format of having everything excessively loud alongside enough […]
Sounding like a cross between Gang Of Four, Wire and Shellac, Egyptian Blue’s debut EP may sound like it’s full of familiar noises, but it’s an EP which reveals itself to have heaps more intrigue. Signed to YALA Records, the label founded by Felix White formerly of The Maccabees, this Brighton bunch manage to create […]

EP REVIEW: EGYPTIAN BLUE – COLLATERAL DAMAGE EP

ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK MIDI – SCHLAGENHEIM

It’s like a rucksack of bricks superglued to your shoulders – hype. Always hard to shake off, and once you’ve been proclaimed as the saviours of new music, and the answer to life, the Universe and everything, it’s like wading through the thickest Glastonbury mud to find some escape. So, casting all the aspersions aside, […]
In today’s swirling cesspit of politics, messed up societies and uncertain times, Bad Breeding could well be the huge stomping boot of anarchic musical expression that these times have been calling for. Loud, in-yer-face, punk rumblings mingling with lyrical themes from zero hour contracts, war, politics, the media, all delivered at a warp speed pace. […]

ALBUM REVIEW: BAD BREEDING – EXILED

LIVE: PRIMAVERA SOUND FESTIVAL 2019

-PARC DEL FORUM, BARCELONA- A sun drenched Barcelona sea front played host to a very exciting lineup of aging cult heroes, rising talents and globally known superstars. Primavera Sound 2019 was a shining example of how a major city festival can be delivered at an extremely high standard. From the latest in all things working […]
-BRIDGEWATER HALL, MANCHESTER- What Nick Cave has done on this tour has truly broken the mould for how an event can be staged – letting the audience ask absolutely anything, in between performing solo at the piano, no moderator, no other host involved, just us and Nick – a very brave move indeed. So after […]

LIVE: NICK CAVE – 20/06/2019

ALBUM REVIEW: CHRIS SHIFLETT – HARD LESSONS

Chris Shiflett, who’s best known as Foo Fighters’ lead guitarist and co-founder of No Use For A Name, is releasing his first solo album ‘Hard Lessons’ this week. And he quickly reaffirms his position as a talent, and an authentic country guy. The album drops on June 21st on Each Beach Records & Tapes/Thirty Tigers, […]
Amyl & The Sniffers: Amyl & The Sniffers With an absolutely snarling beast of an album, wrapped in melodic yet ferocious overtones, Amyl and The Sniffers are Australia’s brightest punk rock band to emerge in years. The self-titled debut album from this Melbourne lot is laden with melodically charged guitar riffs, feisty vocals from frontwoman […]

ALBUM REVIEWS ROUND UP – THE REST OF THE BEST NEW RELEASES FROM THE LAST MONTH