LIVE: DEAP VALLY – 26/07/2016

– NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – Deap Vally from California make abrasive rock music, combining the riffs of Arctic Monkeys’ humbug days with vocals not unlike those of Alabama Shakes. Their songs are instantaneous, with catchy choruses smacked right up against razor teeth sharp guitar shredding. Just three songs in, Lindsey Troy the lead […]
PART TWO With music being only part of the attraction of Beat-Herder, we walk around what feels like a wacky carnival. Past the sweet stalls and barber  shop, we end up in The Church dancing to a DJ dressed as a nun, spinning Wheatus’ ‘Teenage Dirtbag’. It is the highlight of my weekend, really.  She changes her tune and the […]

LIVE: BEAT-HERDER FESTIVAL (2) – 15-17/07/2016

LIVE: BEAT-HERDER FESTIVAL – 15-17/07/2016

– THE RIBBLE VALLEY, LANCASHIRE – Ah yes, the return of Beat-Herder. The Ribble Valley’s own dance-in-the-forrest fest has grown in its 11 years from a mere 2,000 capacity to a bustling 10,000+ turnout, so really, they’ve gotta be doing something right. The event has become somewhat of a Lancashire institution over the last few summers and […]
 – SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER – Hot on the heels of their second album release Twist Through The Fire Lola Colt cram themselves into the shabby chic surrounding of Manchester’s Soup Kitchen.  I have had the good fortune of watching Lola Colt twice at both Cosmosis and Liverpool Psych Fest and was impressed by their widescreen […]

LIVE: LOLA COLT – 14/07/2016

LIVE: THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS – 10/07/2016

– CASTLEFIELD BOWL, MANCHESTER – Castlefield Bowl is erected temporarily for the summer season. A stage over the waterway, set in the amphitheatre in the shadow of the YMCA leisure centre.  The atmosphere is of a festival that you’ve been at for a couple of days. A much needed buzz and cheer of a warm […]
Joanna Gruesome release their first material since the departure of vocalist Alanna McArdle. Following a chance meeting in an occult bookshop, the band’s new line up features two amazing and inspiring women, Kate Stonestreet (formerly of queer punks Pennycress) on melodic vocals/shouting/screaming and Roxy Brennan (of Two White Cranes and Grubs) on melodic vocals/keyboard, joining […]

JOANNA GRUESOME SHARE NEW TRACK ‘PRETTY FUCKING SICK (OF IT ALL)’

PJ HARVEY ANNOUNCES UK TOUR

PJ Harvey will play 17 headline dates across Europe later this year, including a show in Manchester. Following the April release of her UK #1 album The Hope Six Demolition Project, PJ Harvey returned to the world stage last month for the first time in 4 years, starting a summer of festival shows with an acclaimed headline […]
Alexis Taylor appeared on Low Four – Manchester’s new online live music platform – performing a series of songs at Old Granada Studios. The show was live-streamed last week, but fans can now watch it back on the Low Four website and via YouTube. Notably, the Hot Chip vocalist covered a rare Prince song “Old […]

WATCH ALEXIS TAYLOR COVERING RARE PRINCE SONG

LIVE: LITTLE SCREAM – 01/07/2016

– GULLIVERS, MANCHESTER – It’s quiet tonight. There’s a slight lull. Whether Wales Euro 2016 related (they won). Pay day week related (another four more weeks to go). Weather related (typically British). Or Friday night ‘I’m in the mood to party’ related. Who knows. I know for sure people are missing out. Little Scream really […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – The world certainly seems to be on fire, as Ed Harcourt warns a lurking crowd. He and his band – with silent John J Presley guest starring, are warmly welcomed. There’s a misty atmosphere surrounding this track, ‘The World Is On Fire’, from his brand new album Furnaces, produced by […]

LIVE: ED HARCOURT – 29/06/2016