LIVE: THIS IS THE KIT – 03/06/2016

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – What strikes me most about Kate Stables of This Is The Kit, is just how charismatic she is. Every person in The Deaf Institute here would love to be her friend. I want to be her friend. She effortlessly chats between songs. Tells jokes while tuning up. Bad ones, […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – The usually refined Deaf Institute with its animal print wallpaper and red cushioned seats has tonight been transformed into something much more in line with the euphoric electronics of Tourist. Huge lights stand tall and form an arch around Tourist’s impressive array of production equipment that consists of a […]

LIVE: TOURIST – 10/05/2016

LIVE: LUH – 06/05/2016

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – It seems disingenuous to mention the former band of someone who has re-emerged anew but WU LYF were an act of such influence they simply cannot be ignored. Ellery Roberts, now part of the duo LUH (Lost Under Heaven) formed with his partner Ebony Hoorn, was once the frontman […]
On Saturday 8th October 2016 brand new Neighbourhood Festival will be taking over Manchester City Centre for a full day of incredible live music. Over 100 of the hottest bands and freshly tipped new artists from all around the world will be performing across nine of Manchester’s best and most iconic music venues for one […]

NEW INNER CITY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED – NEIGHBOURHOOD

LIVE: U.S. GIRLS – 07/04/2016

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Half Free, Meghan Remy’s first album on 4AD, bubbled under the surface last year, never quite reaching the end-of-year lists but still capturing the attention of a new audience; including myself. This release might also go some way to explaining the packed house in the Deaf Institute, although throughout […]
 – THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – There’s a young crowd here bright and early for WEDDING, but their overly enthusiastic dancing seems chemical fuelled, almost sarcastic. It’s not a great start. The band are definitely fans of the Ronettes, but even if ‘Be My Baby’ is the best song ever written, it’s OK to write […]

LIVE: NAI HARVEST – 29/03/2016

FRANKIE COSMOS ANNOUNCES UK/EUROPE TOUR

Frankie Cosmos is back with her most infectious album to date with Next Thing due out on April 1st on Bayonet Records. The album features the strongest songwriting we’ve seen yet from the project’s mastermind Greta Kline. Following an extensive US tour this spring, Frankie Cosmos and her band will be coming over to Europe for the first […]
Tatu Rönnkö, Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen and Rasmus Stolberg – collectively known as Liima – have offered another taste from their forthcoming album ii, set for release on March 18th. ‘513’ can now be heard online via Soundcloud or below Meaning ‘glue’ in Finnish, Liima’s debut release features songs written during four week-long artist residencies in […]

LIIMA SHARE NEW SONG ‘513’

LIVE: SPRING KING – 19/02/2016

 – THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Warming up the crowd tonight are two four pieces called Beach Baby and FEWS. For me, both sets are very similar but nevertheless great openers for those kings of spring. A driving rhythm section paired with swirling yet aggressive guitar playing from Beach Baby is enthralling to say the […]
 – THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – White Denim’s vocalist/guitarist James Petralli and bassist Steve Terebecki have recently posited “loud, fast-playing, rock and  roll” as their motivation to get back on the road and into the studio, having recently shed their original rhythm section.  I’ve wanted to see them live since catching their appearance on “Later” […]

LIVE: WHITE DENIM – 15/02/2016