LIVE: THE BLACK TAMBOURINES / TVAM / PEACE AND LOVE BARBERSHOP / THE RED CORDS – 24/10/2015

– FALLOW CAFE, MANCHESTER – Tonight appears to be my lucky night, because 4 great bands are playing around the corner from my flat, for free. Family Tree have put this together, along with Bleached DJ’s, who are to feature regularly at this venue. I wander into the converted terraced house unopposed, a little later than advertised […]
– SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER – After weeks of telling people to check out Sundara Karma for them to look at me blankly and ask if that’s some sort of thai restaurant, it’s nice to see that the Berkshire-based indie rockers are finally in the spotlight. Supporting the likes of Circa Waves and the Wombats has […]

LIVE: SUNDARA KARMA – 24/10/2015

LIVE: THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION – 22/10/2015

– SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER – Wouldn’t it be just nice to burst in your boss/tutor/whoever-who-call-the shots’ office and shout out: “Blues explosion!”? And then, just to clarify your position in front of a very much likely puzzled face: “Uh!” “Ah!” “Oh, yeah!” “C’mon!” “Let’s GO!” Yeahh… I picture the deliciously funny scene while I let […]
– THE RITZ, MANCHESTER – Whilst Blossoms may have named themselves after a historic pub in Stockport, I highly doubt they’ve been popping in for a pint very much recently. After a string of massively successful festival appearances, recordings for Radio 1 and being labelled Radio X’s ‘Record Of The Week,’ they’ve acquired a very […]

LIVE: BLOSSOMS – 23/10/2015

LIVE: EDITORS – 22/10/2015

– ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER – I once turned up to an Editors gig a day late. As I walked away from the queue for Fall Out Boy, I vowed I’d probably try and see them again at some point, but it never came up. And then this new album In Dreams somewhat grabbed me. It is dark, moody and punchy with […]
The north-east of England is quickly becoming recognised as a hotbed of musical talent, with quality artists and bands sprouting up across the region. Amongst the up-and-comers is the indie/pop/alternative four-piece Cape Cub. The group is attracting ever-increasing attention from radio and recently joined the line up of bands, including the likes of Little Comets, […]

Single Review: Cape Cub – Keep Me In Mind

LIVE: CHASTITY BELT – 21/10/2015

– SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER – There’s a real buzz around Seattle’s Chastity Belt, following the release earlier this year of their superb second album Time To Go Home. The female four-piece’s confident, carefree and fun-loving attitude translates well through their music, reminding me somewhat of Warpaint, in their approach. The basement is pretty much full […]
– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – “Is Johnny Marr still in the band? No? Good.” It’s true that the Johnny Jarman period split Cribs fans. It’s a long way behind them now, but Marr’s reputation lives on, certainly in the mind of my mate Danny who asked me this. The fact that Ryan Jarman will […]

LIVE: THE CRIBS – 21/10/2015

LIVE: THE SOFT MOON – 20/10/2015

– NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – Tonight at one of the most hotly contested Manchester music venues, we are set for a night of industrial music with just a hint of a psychedelic twist. The scene is set by Manchester’s own industrial post-hardcore offering, Werk, who managed to rattle every bottle behind the bar and […]
– NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – It was about this time last year that I was first introduced to the lo-fi styling’s of Philadelphian songwriter Alex G. My housemate played me his last album DSU and I was instantly hooked by  his warm, college-rock sounds. That week, we caught Alex and his band open up for […]

LIVE: ALEX G – 19/10/2015