LIVE: INTRODUCING TAKE ON MR. SCRUFF – 14/01/2012

– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – Ok so the idea is simple: choose an artist who samples other people’s records to make their own music. Let’s use Mr Scruff as an example. Perfect. Then find a band who performs his back catalogue but subtract the samplers and play every note live. So it’s songs […]
– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – Scott Matthews, a relatively unknown singer-songwriter is back on the ‘ole wagon’ to promote his third studio album ‘When The Night Delivers’. Having only heard the track ‘Elusive’ which propelled him into the lime light – although maybe not enough. I signed up to my first ‘session’. consequently, […]

LIVE: SCOTT MATTHEWS – 12/09/2011

LIVE: JESCA HOOP – 27/08/2011

– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – If you are to be judged by the company you keep, then Jesca Hoop is in some pretty esteemed company. Beatnik Bard Tom Waits is already somewhat out there… so imagine what his nanny might look like.  Jesca Hoop was that gal, nanny to his three children and […]
– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – It looks like 2011 is the year that James Blake ate the pies.  I expect  the svelte foppish-haired waif that I’ve seen peer out of press photos, but the man who takes the stage alongside fellow traveller Rob McAndrews (guitar and sampler), minus Ben Assiter, who often provides […]

LIVE: JAMES BLAKE – 26/03/2011

LIVE: JAMES BLAKE – 26/02/2011

– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – A few months ago, I bought a couple of James Blake’s dubstep EP’s, ‘Klavierwerke’ and ‘CMYK’. LastFM said I would like him as I like Burial and Mount Kimbie… they were right. Then he started singing and Radio 1 shot him into space. Band On The Wall has […]
– Band On The Wall, Manchester – Walking around Band On The Wall, it’s not difficult to see where the multi-million pound investment money has gone. Visitors are treated to plush white carpets and decorative plasterwork that make the entire venue feel like a VIP section. If you squint, the sound desk (in front of […]

LIVE: DENIS JONES – 16/01/2010

LIVE: THE UNTHANKS – 20/10/2009

– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – Few genuine folkies – singing the songs from their home region, raised on a diet of clog dancing and folk festivals – cross over to the mainstream music and achieve actual kudos. Of course, The Mercury nomination had something to do with Rachel Unthank and the Winterset’s sudden […]