Sunday 29 June 2014

The Reveurs / My Igloo / Sophia Ben Yousef - Manchester Night And Day - 26th June 2014

Legendary Mancunian label Ugly Man, who released records by luminaries such as The Man From Del Monte and early I Am Kloot singles, are making a comeback, starting with a series of live gigs under the monicker Uglyman Reborn.  We caught The Reveurs, our favourite new band My Igloo and Sophia Ben Yousef at the Night And Day in Manchester.

Mary Joanna & The Southern Electrikk - Manchester The Castle Hotel - 7th June 2014

We introduced Mary Joanna & The Southern Electrikk a few weeks ago.  Our good friend and photographic genius Elspeth Mary Moore caught their recent gig at The Castle Hotel in Manchester.

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Introducing - Andrew Montgomery

It's been a long time coming, but Andrew Montgomery, formerly singer with 90's indie heroes Geneva and latterly Amityville and St Famous, is back with After The Storm, the first track from his debut solo album, Ruled By Dreams, due for release on October 5th.

Monday 23 June 2014

She Makes War - Manchester The Lawn Club - 23rd June 2014

She Makes War is a one woman wrecking ball.  A heady mix of electric guitar, acoustic ukulele, loop pedals, megaphones, xylophone, cymbals and alarm clock.  It shouldn't work, but it does brilliantly.

Bird / Hartheim - Salford First Chop Brewing Arm - 21st June 2014

Bird are one of Liverpool's best kept secrets, but about to take on the world with their wonderful debut album, My Fear And Me.  They're supported by Manchester's Hartheim, very much a mystery in their own right.

Puppet Rebellion / The Backhanders / Moscow / No Hot Ashes - Manchester Deaf Institute - 21st June 2014


Four of the North-West's hottest new bands joined forces to sell out the Deaf Institute on Saturday night.  Headlined by Puppet Rebellion, the night showcased a wide range of new talent waiting to be discovered.

Friday 20 June 2014

Introducing - Gospel

Gospel's incredible debut single Disasters Running Wild hits you with a wave of layered vocals over a menacing electronic beat.  It's one of the most exciting first releases of the year.

The Courteeners Announce New Album - Concrete Love

In a surprise announcement, The Courteeners have revealed the release of a new album Concrete Love on August 18th.

Thursday 19 June 2014

The Vacant Lots - Departure

US duo The Vacant Lots release their debut album Departure on Sonic Cathedral on June 30th.  Our reviewer Stuart Ralston discovered them, and their label, by happy accident and can't put the record down.

Catfish And The Bottlemen Announce Debut Album The Balcony

Even The Stars favourites Catfish And The Bottlemen have announced the release of their debut album, The Balcony, on September 15th.

Wednesday 18 June 2014

Natalie McCool / Literature Thieves - Manchester Castle Hotel - 17th June 2014


A sweltering Tuesday night in Manchester saw The Castle playing host to two great acts on a double headliner bill.   Natalie McCool was launching her new single and Literature Thieves were playing their first gig since recording their debut album.

Introducing - The Backhanders

There's an underground buzz around Manchester now about The Backhanders with Terry Christian championing their first demo and the release of their debut single Campfire / Down By The River.  Ahead of their support slot with Puppet Rebellion this weekend, Stuart Ralston checks them out.

Manchester Charity Amnesty Event This Friday featuring The Magic Numbers, Chris Flynn and Colorama


This Friday sees a Manchester Amnesty fundraiser featuring Michele Stodart from the Magic Numbers, Carwyn Ellis of Colorama, The Lonesome And Penniless Cowboys, Cavan Moran, Chris Flynn and poet Kieren King.

Monday 16 June 2014

Introducing - Nina Baker

It's always a delight when you discover an artist or band unintentionally.  We caught the second half of Nina Baker supporting Little Sparrow at Chorlton Arts Festival.  We left with a cd, the best recommendation you can give an artist you'd not seen before.

Inspiral Carpets Announce New Album Tracklisting

Inspiral Carpets have announced details of their forthcoming self-titled debut album, their first since reforming with original vocalist Stephen Holt and featuring John Cooper Clarke on one track.

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Introducing - Trampolene

Trampolene are one of the most exciting new bands on the live circuit at the moment. High energy, low fuss rock and roll music with little frills and plenty of thrills.  We delve a little deeper to tell you a bit more about one of our favourite discoveries of the last twelve months.

Monday 9 June 2014

Musée Mécanique Announce New Album - From Shores Of Sleep

We have a soft spot for Musée Mécanique.  Their 2010 debut Hold This Ghost was one of our favourite albums of the year.  They've now announced a Kickstarter program for their follow-up From Shores Of Sleep, due in August 2014.

Tom Vek - Luck - album review


It's been three years since Tom Vek's second album Leisure Seizure, but he's back with his new album Luck.  It's his most commercial offering to date, but still has those twists and turns that make the multi-instrumentalist an enthralling and intriguing proposition.

Danny Mahon - Manchester Band On The Wall - 6th June 2014


We missed the start of Danny Mahon's set supporting Inspiral Carpets last week, but our good friend Stuart Ralston had made the trip down and caught the whole set.  He's impressed by Danny's lyricism and tales of his home town.

Saturday 7 June 2014

Inspiral Carpets - Manchester Band On The Wall - 6th June 2014

Fresh from recording their forthcoming self-titled album, Inspiral Carpets played their first gig of the year at XFM's First Friday night at Manchester's Band On The Wall.  Even The Stars joined four hundred other punters for a hot sweaty night of hits, back catalogue gems and new songs.

Thursday 5 June 2014

Badly Drawn Boy and Liam Frost Team Up For Christies Charity Gig

Badly Drawn Boy and Liam Frost have teamed up for a charity show with all proceeds going to Manchester's Christies Hospital.  The show takes place at The Roadhouse on Saturday 12th July.

Tuesday 3 June 2014

My Igloo - Manchester Retro Bar - 2nd June 2014

My Igloo are a new band born partly out of the break-up of Manchester favourites Frazer King.  They've been together six months. This is their second gig.  They're rather good.  Even The Stars went to Manchester basement bar Retro to see them.

Sunday 1 June 2014

Introducing - Mary Joanna & The Southern Electrikk

There's been a buzz building around Manchester about Mary Joanna & The Southern Electrikk despite them being able to count the number of gigs they've done on one hand.  They've just released their first recorded material, a great track called Wasted, which justifies the hype they're generating.

Tom Hingley Band - Dunfermline PJ Molloys - 30th May 2014

Former Inspiral Carpets vocalist, and regular visitor to Fife on his non-stop solo acoustic tour, Tom Hingley brings his new band to Scotland for the first time. Stuart Ralston visited PJ Molloys in Dunfermline and was impressed with both the set up and the band.

Candy Says - Not Kings - album review


Candy Says are a unique proposition.  They have a manifesto which starts with the following :

"We’re not even pretenders to the throne. We meet, and we dream. And then we try and work out how to stitch and play and scribble and beat our dreams into things that can be seen and touched and heard. We dare to dream of better times. Of times that are less obsessed with money, with image, with things that simply – when all is stripped away – do not matter."

They also have a rather fantastic debut album Not Kings that's one of our favourites of the year.

Paris Angels Release New Single - Shake


Ahead of the release of their second album Eclipse over twenty years after its creation, Manchester 90s heroes Paris Angels have released a new single Shake.