– Academy, Manchester – Magical bands do not come along that often. To be a magical band, you have to have an alchemy that is almost undefinable, a mysterious quality that’s all but impossible to put your finger on, something that no other combination of people could achieve, something not even an infinite amount of […]
-ACADEMY, MANCHESTER- Happy Mondays played the Manchester Academy on Thursday evening. For me, the only thing that overshadowed their performance were the disabled facilities. The gig took place in Manchester Academy – a venue that is not altogether unfamiliar to a Happy Mondays gig, with them having played there on greatest hits tours for the […]
all photos courtesy of Ric Harris (aka @landwomble) -ACADEMY, MANCHESTER- What can we say about Sleaford Mods that hasn’t been said already? I think we’re all on the same page really. There’s no one quite like them and we bloody love them for it. The tenacious twosome from Nottingham haven’t really stopped since their formation […]
-ACADEMY, MANCHESTER- Toots and the Maytals cured my knee! Well almost. After years of gigging, my left knee has seen better days. But peace, love, a bit of dancing and one incredible voice took away this pain for a few hours. Toots Hibbert emerges from the rafters dressed almost like a Rastafarian Pearly King. Styling […]
-ACADEMY, MANCHESTER- Frank will always be one of my favourites so heading down to Manchester Academy on Friday night it feels like I’m coming home, and I bounce in to the delightful sounds of The Homeless Gospel Choir, much to my ear’s delight. The ironic satire of Derek Zanetti is reminiscent of early Tenacious D, […]
-ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER- As chants of “Manchester lalala” echo round Manchester Academy, an ailing yet constantly gyrating 40-something-year-old man lets out a roar. “This is how we fucking do it Manchester!” Just like the prodigal son, the Happy Mondays are home, and they bring with them a back catalogue of floor fillers that can be […]
-ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER- Rock royalty such as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will always do things how they want. About to smash into their 20th year (can you believe they started in 1998?! Me neither…), the now three-piece announced a new album in September. Releasing just a couple of tracks off Wrong Creatures to whet people’s […]
-ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER- I remember my first Wait For Me album encounter. It was in a pound shop. Kerching! In a time when my sixteen-year-old-self just wanted 2007 indie tunes banging in my lobes constantly, not the rants from my driving instructor, nor the career advice from my sixth form tutors. Just give me a […]
-ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER- The night opens with a public service broadcast of our own. A light-hearted message about not using your phones as “the video and sound won’t be any good anyway”. I agree, enjoy the gig and don’t stick a phone in front of any other gig-goer’s view! Although I’m up in the lofty […]
-ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER- After releasing their highly anticipated debut album, Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect, at the beginning of this year, Sundara Karma – a group of four lads from Reading – have been touring pretty much non-stop. Stopping off in the UK and USA with tons of festival dates over the summer, they’ve […]
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 16 MAY 2025
EP REVIEW - FARMER’S WIFE: FAINT ILLUSIONS
ALBUM REVIEW - SHUNKAN: KAMIKAZE GIRL
ALBUM REVIEW - SLEEP THEORY: AFTERGLOW
ALBUM REVIEW - EZRA FURMAN: GOODBYE SMALL HEAD
LIVE REVIEW - BRYAN ADAMS: MANCHESTER ARENA - 09/05/2025
ALBUM REVIEW - CAR SEAT HEADREST: THE SCHOLARS
ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 9 MAY 2025
LIVE REVIEW - HAMLET HAIL TO THE THIEF: AVIVA STUDIOS - 07/05/2025
ALBUM REVIEW – JEFFREY ALEXANDER + THE HEAVY LIDDERS: SYNCHRONOUS ORBIT
