LIVE: THE BABE RAINBOW – 02/11/2015

– FALLOW CAFE, MANCHESTER – Trips to this small converted terraced house in the heart of Studentsville are becoming quite a regular occurrence for me. They continue to host a production line of talented and fresh new bands, a lot of whom are locally based. It’s a cold and dark foggy night, like one you’d see in […]
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – Hips switch, buttocks twitch and the lyrics ring out to Wham’s ‘I’m Your Man’. It’s an autumnal evening on the edge of the Northern Quarter and something fucking strange is going on. Truly it is All Hallow’s Eve and the world’s gone wrong. But we’ll get to the wonkiness […]

LIVE: LIAM FROST – 30/10/2015

LIVE: HALF MOON RUN – 28/10/2015

 – GORILLA, MANCHESTER – It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two years since I last saw Half Moon Run, as they became the first act to headline Manchester’s newly refurbished Albert Hall in November 2013. Back then, their debut album Dark Eyes was barely off my playlist and it was easily my favourite album […]
– NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – I arrive at Night and Day Cafe this evening wearing a unnecessarily big coat and I’ve somehow managed to scratch my forehead, so I’ve got a big red mark right between my eyes. It is safe to say I am feeling uncomfortable and I all I want is […]

LIVE: THEN THICKENS – 29/10/2015

Album Review: EL VY – Return to the Moon

When the formation of EL VY was announced, I was particularly excited. A duo combining the giddy electronica of Menomena with the refined introspection of the national, seemed like something only dreams could be made of. When the lead single and the album’s opening track ‘Return to the moon’ hit the blogosphere, it was anything […]
– ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD – After seeing London based Japanese ‘acid punk’ 4-piece Bo Ningen at The Ruby Lounge almost exactly 4 years ago, I left the venue in some kind of state of shock. The words that I wrote about the event (review) could not convey with enough fervency just how great I thought the gig was, and […]

LIVE: BO NINGEN / THE PIQNIC- 28/10/2015

LIVE: HEALTH – 27/10/2015

 – GORILLA, MANCHESTER – HEALTH like to take their time. Their third studio album Death Magic was released this summer a full 6 years after their sophomore effort hit the shelves. Granted, in between then they released a remix album of their second LP and a full soundtrack to the computer game Max Payne, but […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – A blue mist stands in the air as Lower Dens make for the stage. Tonight, they’re cut down to just a three piece, as their electric guitarist had to remain at home due to a family illness. Such things could stop a number of bands in their tracks; not […]

LIVE: LOWER DENS – 25/10/2015

LIVE: THE TIGER LILLIES – 27/10/2015

 – RNCM, MANCHESTER – For those of you who know Tiger Lillies, they need no introduction. For those who don’t, well – how long have you got? For starters, there’s the painted faces, the vintage costumes and the unusual instruments (tonight including accordion, theramin, Jew’s harp and musical saw). Then there’s the falsetto singing, which, […]
– THE STAR & GARTER, MANCHESTER – Frank Carter’s career has been quite the roller coaster. Frank first came to a lot of people’s attention just over a decade ago as front man of Gallows. Gallows were the most ferocious hardcore bands of the time with Frank being one of the most tenacious and exciting […]

LIVE: FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES – 26/10/2015