INTERVIEW WITH TINFOILS

Situated in the Castle Hotel on the penultimate Wednesday of the Year of the Rat’s introductory month, I ask the above-titled entity questions largely relating to a subject that requires acute sensing to detect vibrations beyond rudiments such as speech and the smashing of porcelain. The transcription process starts… Angus: What would be the worst […]
-VARIOUS VENUES, MANCHESTER- ‘New Music Festival and Conference’ Off The Record is returning to Manchester for its fourth edition this Friday. It’s a one day event (apart from the networking drinks on Thursday), taking place over different venues across the Northern Quarter, such as Jimmy’s, Night and Day Café and Soup Kitchen. During the day, […]

LIVE: OFF THE RECORD FESTIVAL 2019

LIVE: NATALIE EVANS / BONNIESONGS – 22/09/2019

-THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- There is a dreamlike start to Bonniesongs’ set. An array of ethereal layered vocals are intertwined. It is vast, especially for a singular artist on stage. It is like a Sigur Ros track, transporting you to a tundra, or mountain top but wrapping you warm in the expanse with Bonnie’s enticing, […]
-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: 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 […]
-THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- Monk Dominated by an almost dystopian theme, Monk plough through their set with particularly heavy-handed drumming, guitar tones presumably reliant on pedals and a kind of aggressive sing-speak approach (effects also employed) that tries to convey a sense of despair. The super-serious nature of the music doesn’t particularly invoke the sentiment […]

LIVE: POTTERY / THE BEAR AROUND YOUR NECK / MONK – 14/05/2019

LIVE: STRANGE CAGES / WORKING MEN’S CLUB – 29/03/2019

-THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- A nice little two band line up has been comprised by Interior for a sold out show at The Castle tonight of two acts that have been attracting ever more attention. Opening we have Working Men’s Club, a quintet from Todmorden whose name is an ode to the only form of […]
-THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- Supporting act Cupids Arrow deliver quite an eclectic mix for a cello duo. From the upbeat heights of the Tetris theme tune to haunting ravines of Hungarian folk. They are strong and interesting to watch. The set finishes with a great cover of Elbow’s ‘Grounds For Divorce’, one they say they […]

LIVE: RUTH THEODORE – 16/03/2019

LIVE: FUR / HONEY MOON – 12/02/2019

-THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- A glimpse of summer is brought to us during this harsh winter with edgy-on-the-outside/soft-on-the-inside aesthetic from supporting band Honey Moon; familiar to that sensation you get from a lemon soother, settling your cold down, even if it’s just for a little bit. When I first saw the name of the support, […]
-THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- After hearing much hype over Heavy Lungs over the past six months, supporting Idles and listening to their two EPs, I felt like this was the last time I would see them in a small intimate venue such as the Castle Hotel. The hype before the gig is great, I have […]

LIVE: HEAVY LUNGS / VULGARIANS – 31/01/2019