LIVE: OWEN PALLETT – 15/07/2014

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – This evening seems somewhat of an exciting evening to be an Owen Pallett fan as he’s playing the first date of a long over due UK tour and today he just been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, which is Canada’s equivalent of the Mercury. The Ontario based songwriter/ […]
– GORILLA, MANCHESTER – Slow Club are one of those bands that slowly (pardon the pun) but surely generate a loyal fan base throughout their music career. The multi-instrumentalist duo, Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor originate from Sheffield and have been around since 2006 with three albums under their belt. In fact, their latest offering, […]

LIVE: SLOW CLUB – 12/07/2014

ALBUM REVIEW: THE VACANT LOTS – DEPARTURE

The Vacant Lots came to the attention of the shoegazing ‘select’ when they were featured on Sonic Cathedrals ‘Psych for Sore Eyes’ compilation. The track in question ‘6am’ is included on their debut album Departure released again on those bastions of fine taste Sonic Cathedral. The duo from Burlington, Vermont, have already won over some influential fans […]
– MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL, MANCHESTER – I love Cathedrals. I love their vastness and echoing potential for magnitude and sound. A reverence for something higher and benevolent. You’ve got to hand it our our own Manchester Cathedral for their welcome of the secular. This 1421 building appears regularly on our list of gigs to enjoy. A […]

LIVE: CHERRY GHOST – 25/06/2014

LIVE: HAPPYNESS – 20/06/2014

– THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER – For the second time in four days I’m at the Castle for some live music. Tonight’s lineup features Happyness with support from Manchester’s Butcher The Bar. Taking advantage of a warm evening, much of the crowd crammed into the outside area at the back of the venue awaiting the […]
– THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER – It’s Tuesday night, the Castle’s selection of ales are flowing and we have four acts to look forward to tonight. Billed as a co-headline show for Literature Thieves and Natalie McCool, support comes from See Emily Play and The Bear Around Your Neck. Slowly making his way to stage, […]

LIVE: LITERATURE THIEVES / NATALIE MCCOOL – 17/06/2014

LIVE: YBAs – 14/06/2014

– FIRST CHOP BREWING ARM, SALFORD – Young British Artists – or YBAs as they now prefer to be known – have kept us waiting. I’ve been lucky to catch them low down the bill at the odd festival in the six years the Manchester foursome have been together, and whenever I try and Google them […]
– GORILLA, MANCHESTER – I’ve been spending the past few weeks submersing myself in the superb new long player from Canadian punks Fucked Up. Glass Boys is the band’s fourth album, considerably shorter than their previous record (a four part rock opera entitled David Comes To Life) but still expansive in production and powerful in […]

LIVE: FUCKED UP – 15/06/2014

LIVE: WYE OAK – 11/06/2014

– SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER – Almost 3 years since I saw them play The Ruby Lounge, Wye Oak return to Manchester with a whole new albums worth of tunes to blend into their set. Despite the extra depth in the sound that runs through ‘Shriek’, the  band continue as a duo – Andy Stack and Jenn Wasner […]
It’s quite crazy to think that we’re nearly at the 10 year anniversary of the début Tom Vek album We Have Sound. Even though it fitted in with the punk funk scene of the time, it still lived in its own little world and remains one of most unique sounding débuts of its time. Shortly […]

Album Review: Tom Vek – Luck