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

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 […]
Musicals aren’t what they used to be – thank Heavenly Father! That’s why you find me here to see my first ever musical on press night for Manchester’s hottest show, mixing with the glitterati on the red carpet for The Book of Mormon. Well, to tell the truth, it’s me, some very attractive ladies and gents […]

REVIEW: THE BOOK OF MORMON @ PALACE THEATRE, MANCHESTER

LIVE: MADONNATRON / LEATHER PARTY – 17/06/2019

-GULLIVERS, MANCHESTER- Leather Party The curiously titled Leather Party open the evening, with the approach of their excessive pedal-induced fuzz sound reminding me a little of the Cramps or even Kyuss; albeit not quite as interesting as the aforementioned monoliths. The vocals have a vague growl to them at times, but typically come off as […]
-THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- Manchester’s own Deco Records have become synonymous with putting on good live nights and the five band bill they have compiled for this evening’s entertainment is no exception. I get to an already packed out Castle in time for Plato, a Manchester based four piece who offer alternative based rock that […]

LIVE: MOLD / TINFOILS / AUGHRA / PLATO – 15/06/2019

LIVE: MEAT PUPPETS – 11/06/2019

-REBELLION, MANCHESTER- I arrive early to catch the tour support for the evening, Munky, a youthful fusion of funk and indie, not quite the type of band you would expect to be supporting an eighties psychedelic country rock band but they are certainly a bunch of lively Irish lads, with a great stage presence and […]
This wasn’t really what I was expecting when (I thought) I saw Tshegue described as ‘Afrobeat’ – I was thinking jazzy, musical and upbeat, where this is scuzzy, dirty dance music. Unfortunately, setting me to review this is like a gardener reviewing a computer – but never mind. Looking again, I realise that “afrobeats” is […]

SINGLE REVIEW: TSHEGUE – THE WHEEL

LIVE: HATCHIE – 13/06/2019

-YES BASEMENT, MANCHESTER- With her debut album on the horizon, Hatchie delivers a dreamy, blissful performance at YES Basement, Manchester. After being recommended to get on Hatchie by a friend , I quickly listened to the gorgeous, Cocteau Twin-like EP Sugar & Spice and was left wanting more. It was a similar experience on Thursday night. […]
-VICTORIA WAREHOUSE, MANCHESTER- This year is proving to be an extremely ambitious one for Foals; with a two-parter album release and an on-going World tour, the Oxford four-piece are ruthlessly solidifying their status as headliners. After the March release of Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part. 1 received critical acclaim, it’s clear that this […]

LIVE: FOALS – 11/06/2019

LIVE: AXEL FLOVENT – 11/06/2019

-CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- Just a quick missive from the front line, as I find myself rolling out of the award-winning Cocktail Beer Ramen Bun into the Castle Hotel and happen upon a gig from an Icelandic singer songwriter called Axel Flóvent and his troupe (well, his two accompanists). It is lovely, gentle, chilled music and […]
Sheffield’s Richard Hawley is now in his twentieth year as a solo artist, and not one to re-tread old ground, his eighth album marks a turning point, as not only is this is the first album which doesn’t feature a Sheffield landmark but it’s one of his most full on rock records to date, finding […]

ALBUM REVIEW: RICHARD HAWLEY – FURTHER