LIVE: BELLE AND SEBASTIAN – 14/05/2015

– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – The Albert Hall is positively buzzing tonight; there are lots of smiling faces, flowery dresses and woolly jumpers. All shrouded in excited chatter. It’s 9pm and Belle and Sebastian are about to take the stage for the first night of two shows in Manchester, part of their sold out […]
– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – When I reach the Albert Hall, the Barr Brothers, who are supporting Calexico tonight, have just ended their set. The venue is not full yet, and the atmosphere is quite relaxed. No VIP areas and a mature crowd that slowly spreads around the beautiful balconies of the former chapel. […]

LIVE: CALEXICO – 30/04/2015

LIVE: LAURA MARLING – 24/04/2015

– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – Friday night is just beginning in Manchester as I approach the Albert Hall. I pass restaurants that are packed and bars filled to the brim on a pleasantly warm evening. I’m anticipating a similar atmosphere for Laura Marling’s sold out show. I ascend the stairs to the main room; […]
– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – The last time I saw Godspeed You! Black Emperor (GSY!BE for now on for ease) was on their comeback from hiatus in around 2011 at the beautiful Troxy in London, and it was a thing of utter beauty and joy. For me (and many others), GSY!BE are the post […]

LIVE: GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR – 17/04/2015

NILS FRAHM TO PLAY MANCHESTER FOLLOWING RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM

Nils Frahm will play Manchester’s Albert Hall next month following the release of his new album, Solo. The Berlin based classical pianist and composer released Solo on Erased Tapes Records as a free download, following a crowd funding campaign. He will play the Albert Hall on Sunday, May 24. Frahm combines classical and electronic music, […]
– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – It’s the first time seeing I Am Kloot live and I’m very excited it’s happening at my favourite venue, the Albert Hall. Expectations are high, and they are definitely exceeded. These gentlemen are called John Bramwell (vocals, guitar), Peter Jobson (bass) and Andy Hargreaves (drums) and they provide a […]

LIVE: I AM KLOOT – 10/04/2015

LIVE: SLEATER-KINNEY / PINS – 24/03/2015

– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – “Pins hail from your fair city, and they’re awesome!” When the likes of Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker offers up such props to their support band, it’s worth paying attention.  The US alt-rock legends have a reputation as first class BS detectors, and Manchester’s Pins are – in every way – […]
– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – What a magical thing it is to hold a room like the Albert Hall in the very palm of your very hand.  To own the eyes and ears of everyone present.  To fill this cavernous room with a sound constructed entirely from your voice and six strings stretched over […]

LIVE: NICK MULVEY – 23/03/2015

LIVE: WARPAINT – 22/03/2015

– ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – An energetic aura surrounds Warpaint – these 4 ladies from LA have together developed a way of conveying a message with deep sincerity and emotion, whether it be about darker times, or simply about having fun. Their spirit of adventure is evidently infectious – there’s disappointment at the door for many, at this, one […]
– ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – I’m not sure how I feel about full album shows. On one hand, if you love the album it’s great – you know what’s coming and you know the band will play your favourite song from it because, er, they have to. On the other hand, there’s no surprise, there’s […]

LIVE: UNDERWORLD – 13/03/2015