Leon Bridges

LIVE: LEON BRIDGES 09/07/2015

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – When he started in music, Leon Bridges admitted that he had not been listening to Sam Cooke ‘too hard’ and only began really digging into soul music, once his first single hit the cult blog ‘Gorilla Vs Bear’. It seems quite ironic then, when the widely-hyped OkayKaya covers Mr […]
–  THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – In case any of us had forgotten, Andrew Jackson Jihad (AJJ) reminds us that guitars can actually sweat. And bleed. Clean and raucous, friendly furious, the punk-folk band from Arizona turs up as an effective catalyst for teenagers’ rage, as most of the audience tonight is pretty young and […]

LIVE: ANDREW JACKSON JIHAD – 11/06/2015

DU BLONDE TO RELEASE ALBUM FEATURING FUTURE ISLANDS COLLABORATION NEXT MONTH

Du Blonde, the new project of Beth Jeans Houghton, will release her new album next month. Welcome Back to Milk was produced by Bad Seed and Grinderman member Jim Sclavunos, and also features a guest spot from Future Islands frontman Samuel T Herring. The album will be released on Mute on May 18, and she […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER –  I love hip-hop shows. I wouldn’t say I go to many, and I don’t have much of a grasp on the current hip-hop scene (how old do I sound?), but whenever an old school hip-hop group is in town, I’ll try to make it to the show. One of […]

LIVE: UGLY DUCKLING – 30/04/2015

LIVE: REN HARVIEU – 25/04/2015

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Following an accident resulting in a broken back in 2011 that hindered the full-pelt launch of her career, it seems Ren Harvieu is firmly back on the musical radar and gigging circuit. It’s easy to forget, with her low-key presence and the absence of a second album in recent […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – … so as it transpires, this gig will be one that lives long in the memory for anyone who was lucky enough the see all of it. Dan Mangan’s profile in native Canada is somewhat higher than over here, claiming numerous songwriting and album awards throughout his 6 year […]

LIVE: DAN MANGAN + BLACKSMITH – 24/04/2015

LIVE: THE LEISURE SOCIETY – 20/04/2015

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Tonight the Deaf Institute is not the thermal pressure cooker that has become its trademark during its reign as the crown jewel of Manchester’s small music venues. It is more gently packed, still busy, but comfortable. The Leisure Society are repeat visitors themselves, and like so many before them, […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Sometimes, the choices you take by pure chance really do you well. Duke Garwood gives us an evening of seminal intimacy and peace of mind at Manchester’s Deaf Institute. In fact, this venue seems perfectly suited for him. To be honest, I end up here only because I didn’t manage […]

LIVE: DUKE GARWOOD – 11/04/2015

LIVE: NADINE SHAH – 14/04/2015

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Due to the typically dismal weather, beer gardens are in short supply in Manchester. On the rare occasion like tonight where the sun still shines gloriously at gone half seven, every flimsy metal table outside a bar is keenly occupied. The smartest amongst those are supping up quickly to […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – I’m so pleased to be watching Errors. I’ve missed the Scottish ‘post-electro’ band every time they’ve toured for one reason or another, and the only glimpse I’ve had of them live was a couple of songs at the end of a Bestival set in about 2012 that I stumbled […]

LIVE: ERRORS – 04/04/2015