– Academy 2, Manchester – Back in 2015, Black Honey headlined the first gig I reviewed in my thirties. They were playing a free show, to only a handful of people, at Manchester’s Castle Hotel. In the six years since they’ve hugely grown their fanbase, a prediction it was not hard to make in my […]
Released on Jack White’s Third Man Records, ‘Up’ is a swirling psychedelic gothic blast of an album, originally recorded in 1987 but only getting a release now after thirty three years. Formed in Manchester in 1986, and taking their cues from The Velvet Underground, The Fall and Buzzcocks, they had a guitar driven squalling soundscape […]
Over the past twenty years, Jesse Malin has managed to craft some of the best americana, verging from more mainstream rock to laid back heartbreak tunes. A sound that takes in Tom Petty, Springsteen, with a twist of Husker Du and Wilco. On his latest album, ‘Sad and Beautiful World’, he’s been inspired by the […]
In a sense, I have always had a prejudice against “world music” as being the sort of quirky but forgettable background to lunch in a vegetarian cafe – but on the other hand I really take offence at the arrogance of the sections of British music industry that pigeon-hole anything that isn’t English-speaking western-style music […]
The Chameleons, part of Manchester’s musical tapestry and post punk pioneers, may never have received the accolades many felt they deserved in the eighties, but since their split in 1987, followed by frontman and bassist Mark Burgess resurrecting them in various forms from 2000 onwards, their legacy has only expanded. Now touring again as The […]
I like going to music festivals very much. Not a particularly controversial statement I know, but after twenty-seven months without attending one, I’m pleased I made a last minute decision to travel to the Isle of Wight Festival 2021. The event felt a lot like other large festivals I’ve been to over the years, more […]
A new Ty Segall album is always a cause for celebration around these parts. Often lumped in with the Californian garage rock scene, Segall’s music has always delved into other musical realms, and if you thought you knew what Ty Segall was all about, think again. ‘Harmonizer’ is Ty’s thirteenth studio solo album, and this […]
Blasting out of the speakers at a hundred miles an hour, Chubby And The Gang manage to combine the best bits of UK hardcore with a hefty dash of Motorhead style rock, and it’s a recipe that’s conjured up one of the most exciting albums of the year. There’s also a hefty swagger to their […]
I first discovered the music of Thalia Zedek via her previous band Come, who in the 90’s released a string of brilliant albums which although rooted in US alt rock, always seemed to push the boundaries of what melodic guitar music could do. Now more than twenty years into a solo career Zedek releases her […]
Effortlessly combining great melodies with blistering riffs, Fake Names’ new EP is further evidence of their great rock heritage. The band consists of former members of Fugazi, Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Girls Against Boys, Refused, S.O.A. and if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, you need your ears retuning! ‘It Will Take A Lifetime’ […]
GIG GUIDE
Our gig guide is handpicked and every act has been listened to before making it onto the list.
See this month's guide
ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 6 FEBRUARY 2026SIL
ALBUM REVIEW - YAMILA: NOOR
ALBUM REVIEW - JD MEATYARD: THE MISSION
ALBUM REVIEW - MAYHEM: LITURGY OF DEATH
ALBUM REVIEW - THE MOLOTOVS: WASTED ON YOUTH
SINGLE REVIEW - PIPPA BLUNDELL: BIG BEAR
ALBUM REVIEW - CONGRATULATIONS: JOIN HANDS
GIG GUIDE - FEBRUARY 2026
ALBUM REVIEW - CORY WONG: LOST IN THE WONDER
LIVE REVIEW - WESTSIDE COWBOY: MANCHESTER GORILLA - 29/01/2026
