LIVE: WHITE FENCE / ESYA / THE STARLIGHT MAGIC HOUR – 17/08/2019

-THE WHITE HOTEL, SALFORD- The idea of amassing a selection of bands a few clicks off normal appears to pay off as the White Hotel’s ‘performance room’ slowly starts to fill to capacity in time for the headliner/non-set closer White Fence. I had the suspicion that carting out a load of bands on a half […]
-GORILLA, MANCHESTER- I am currently excited about two American heavy rock bands who, before this month, haven’t released a single word in over a decade. But while Tool have just brought out their first new material since 2007, Chicago three-piece Russian Circles have gone on from the departure of their original bass player in that […]

LIVE: RUSSIAN CIRCLES – 13/08/2019

LIVE: BLUEDOT FESTIVAL 2019

-JODRELL BANK OBSERVATORY, CHESHIRE- Thursday Arriving at the festival late Thursday afternoon, we are just in time for Emma Gene Thackery. After finding a space in the busy camping ground to pitch, we make our first journey through the festival grounds. The festival is full, ready for the Halle Orchestra who are just as much […]
-NIGHT AND DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER- Slap Rash You’d think having two wheels on a car would be a disadvantage in terms of road-worthy technicality; likely it would but since I’m using it as an analogy for this half-quartet, exception is granted. The labour constraints compel the duo to juggle their rhythm-but-also-lead instrumental roles with a […]

LIVE: SHONEN KNIFE / SLAP RASH – 23/07/2019

LIVE: QUEENS OF THE ELECTRONIC UNDERGROUND – 20/07/2019

-THE RITZ, MANCHESTER- With a title as pompous as displayed above, flattering claims about the performers and MIF’s growing international esteem enticed me enough to think I could actually withstand 6 hours of standing (I did). Largely ignoring the initial DJ set by the event curator, I start to take notice when the first live […]
-HOME, MANCHESTER- Tonight, a film director is curating a concert in a theatre. It must be Manchester International Festival time! This year’s programme sees the great David Lynch putting on a series of three gigs as part of his takeover of HOME. Yesterday, Anna Calvi topped the bill, while tomorrow Oliver Coates is headlining, but […]

LIVE: THESE NEW PURITANS – 13/07/2019

LIVE: BLOC PARTY – 05/07/2019

-CASTLEFIELD BOWL, MANCHESTER- It’s Friday in Manchester, two boys arrive from Liverpool canned up via a perilous train journey through Widnes and Warrington, it’s time to party. The venue… Castlefield Bowl. The entertainment… Silent Alarm… But backwards! Finding out through musical wizard Dan Saleh that the London four piece would be performing their seminal debut […]
-FUEL CAFE, MANCHESTER- Furrowed Brow A live debut serves as the opening for this overbearingly heated evening; their approach of using a bipedal drummer, much like how I would envision a stationary marching band, is a noted distinction from your run of the mill sit-and-hit methodology. The synthesiser’s mimicry of archaic instruments (flute, accordion), the […]

LIVE: TINFOILS / SPRINGFIELD ELEMENTARY / GIANT BOYS / FURROWED BROW – 29/06/2019

LIVE: BELLE AND SEBASTIAN – 03/07/2019

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Belle and Sebastian have always had a devoted, loyal fanbase and they’ve turned up in their droves tonight. It’s so packed and steamy in the Albert Hall, we overhear people next to us mention that some fans can’t even get into the room, and are almost on the stairs outside, luckily we […]
-NIAMOS RADICAL CULTURAL ARTS CENTRE, MANCHESTER- (5:30PM) “What’s this thing you’re going seeing tonight then?” “It’s called Making Manchester” Clare’s eyes widen. “Ooh that sounds really interesting, what is it?” “It’s sort of like… I dunno what to call it really, it’s like a collaboration between a load of schoolkids, and musicians, and a sound […]

LIVE: MAKING MANCHESTER – 27/06/2019