Wednesday 31 December 2014

Even The Stars Tips For 2015 Playlist


We've nominated 43 acts, including a Top 3 of Blossoms, Findlay and The Tapestry for 2015. To help you discover a potential new favourite amongst them, we've put together a Soundcloud playlist featuring a song by each artist, as well as a few others we've discovered since we put the list together.

Even The Stars Tips For 2015 - The Top Three




Welcome to the final day of Even The Stars' tips for 2015.  The three bands/artists we reveal today are three that we believe should be huge in 2015. They each have the tunes, personality and stage presence that have had us going back to watch them many times over the past couple of years and, with due respect to all the other bands on the lists, are the ones that we see breaking out to the much wider audience that they deserve.

We present Blossoms, Findlay and The Tapestry.

Tuesday 30 December 2014

Even The Stars Tips For 2015 - Day Five


Welcome to the day five of Even The Stars' tips for 2015. They're not necessarily artists that we think will make a big breakthrough (except our Top Three which we'll reveal on New Year's Eve), but bands and solo artists that haven't released their debut album we're looking forward to hearing and see more of next year.

Today's bands are Purple Heart Parade, Literature Thieves, Ryn Weaver, Prelow, Ryan Jarvis, The Reveurs, Saint Agnes, Altar Flowers and Seegulls.

Monday 29 December 2014

Larkins - Manchester Night And Day Cafe - 27th December 2014


We first caught Larkins play a short three-song set at the Whiskey Sessions Unsigned final back in October. Impressed by what we heard from a band that could count the number of gigs they'd played on one hand, we vowed to catch them next time they played in town. Their seven-song set at the Night And Day confirmed our first impression.

Even The Stars Tips For 2015 - Day Four


Welcome to the day four of Even The Stars' tips for 2015. They're not necessarily artists that we think will make a big breakthrough (except our Top Three which we'll reveal on New Year's Eve), but bands and solo artists that haven't released their debut album we're looking forward to hearing and see more of next year.

Today's tips are Chadelics, Trampolene, Puppet Rebellion, Sophia Ben Yousef, Hartheim, Queen Kwong and Spectres.

Sunday 28 December 2014

Even The Stars Tips For 2015 - Day Three


Welcome to the day three of Even The Stars' tips for 2015. They're not necessarily artists that we think will make a big breakthrough (except our Top Three which we'll reveal on New Year's Eve), but bands and solo artists that haven't released their debut album we're looking forward to hearing and see more of next year.

Today's tips are Jordan Allen, LIINES, The Lottery Winners, The Shambles, Wall Market Racketeers, Gengahr, Mary Joanna and No Hot Ashes.

Saturday 27 December 2014

Even The Stars Tips For 2015 - Day Two


Welcome to the day two of Even The Stars' tips for 2015. They're not necessarily artists that we think will make a big breakthrough (except our Top Three which we'll reveal on New Year's Eve), but bands and solo artists that haven't released their debut album we're looking forward to hearing and see more of next year.

Day Two's artists/bands are Bipolar Sunshine, Déjà Vega, Our Fold, Kelly Lee Owens, The Northstand, The Anchoress, Brahma-Loka and Mega Emotion.

Friday 26 December 2014

Even The Stars Tips For 2015 - Day One


Welcome to the first day of Even The Stars' tips for 2015. They're not necessarily artists that we think will make a big breakthrough (except our Top Three which we'll reveal on New Year's Eve), but bands and solo artists that haven't released their debut album we're looking forward to hearing and see more of next year.

Day One's bands are Cavalry, Embers, Larkins, My Igloo, The Sundowners, We Are Willow, The Telepathic Evils and Laura Doggett.

Tuesday 23 December 2014

Little Sparrow - Struck Gold EP


After the release of her debut album Wishing Tree, Little Sparrow has released her new EP featuring two new songs, her first material since the album came out.  We had a listen and loved the different mood created by the new material.

Monday 22 December 2014

Inspiral Carpets / Blossoms / Brown Brogues - Preston 53 Degrees - 21st December 2014



Inspiral Carpets closed their UK tour with a sold-out show at Preston 53 Degrees.  Mixing tracks from their recent self-titled comeback album with classic hits from their back catalogue, they bade farewell to 53 Degrees as a gig venue as it closed as such after last night's show. Support came from Blossoms and Brown Brogues.

Saturday 20 December 2014

Saint Agnes / The KVB / Enemies Eyes / Brahma-Loka - Manchester Soup Kitchen - 18th December 2014


Psychmare before Christmas is the last of Interstellar Overdrive's regular excellent psyche-driven events that they put on around Manchester. Tonight's bill is packed with four bands, very different in their approach and outlook, but who keep in with the high quality of shows and line-ups these promoters always put on.

Friday 19 December 2014

Even The Stars Top 20 Albums Of 2014 Playlist


Want to listen to a track from each of our Top 20 albums of 2014?  We've made a very handy little playlist for you in Soundcloud.

Even The Stars Top 20 Albums Of 2014 - 4 to 1


This week we will be running down our Top 20 albums of 2014, four albums a day.  On Day 5 we reveal our four favourite albums of the year and our unanimous winner.

Thursday 18 December 2014

Even The Stars Top 20 Albums Of 2014 - 8 to 5


This week we will be running down our Top 20 albums of 2014, four albums a day.  On Day 4 we reveal the albums in 8th to 5th position.

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Even The Stars Top 20 Albums Of 2014 - 12 to 9


This week we will be running down our Top 20 albums of 2014, four albums a day.  On Day 3 we reveal the albums in 12th to 9th position.

Introducing - Gengahr


Gengahr are a four-piece from North Dakota who released their debut single Powder / Bathed In Light at the back end of October. On the basis of that single alone, there's huge expectations for their debut album that they're in the process of recording.

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Even The Stars Top 20 Albums Of 2014 - 16 to 13


This week we will be running down our Top 20 albums of 2014, four albums a day.  On Day 2 we reveal the albums in 16th to 13th position.

LIINES - Manchester Gullivers - 14th December 2014


It's a rare and extremely lucky event when you stumble across a band by accident and are immediately blown away by them.  We had such good fortune on Sunday night when, looking for a gig, we stumbled across LIINES opening up Milk And Honey fanzine's launch night at Gullivers.

Monday 15 December 2014

Temple Invisible - Enter_


Enter_ is the debut EP from Romanian electronic trio Temple Invisible. Across its five tracks it demonstrates a group that's not afraid to experiment with its sound, but also with enough pop sensibilities to draw the listener in and keep their attention.

Even The Stars Top 20 Albums Of 2014 - 20 to 17


This week we will be running down our Top 20 albums of 2014, four albums a day.  We start with the albums in 20th to 17th position.

Saturday 13 December 2014

Inspiral Carpets - Glasgow ABC - 12th December 2014


Our favourite five piece bring their UK tour to Scotland and they don't disappoint. Returning to Scotland after their triumphant T in The Park appearance, Inspiral Carpets are on form. The new album has rarely been off my stereo for the last few months. Tonight's set featuring almost three quarters of it and what is pleasing to see is that a healthy proportion of the crowd already know every word. Inspiral Carpets are not here to live off past glories. They mean business.

Paul Heaton And Jacqui Abbott / The Lottery Winners - Manchester Academy 2 - 12th December 2014


In a career spanning over thirty years, Paul Heaton has been responsible for some of the most easily identifiable songs of that period.  He's currently enjoying a critical renaissance based on this year's album What Have We Become with ex-Beautiful South bandmate Jacqui Abbott. Tonight they round off a successful year and a sold-out UK tour with a Hope Not Hate charity show in the relatively intimate surroundings of Manchester Academy 2.

Friday 12 December 2014

Ren Harvieu - Manchester Ruby Lounge - 11th December 2014


It feels a long long time since Ren Harvieu stunned the music world with her debut album Through The Night and we're still eagerly anticipating the follow-up.  Tonight though she makes us all fall back in love with that voice as she performs a selection of tracks from her debut as well as a series of Christmas songs.

The Miserable Rich - Interview

 


The Miserable Rich are one of our favourite bands ever and they were the first band that I ever reviewed for a blog.  They dispersed at the end of 2012 after three albums, but have recently announced four shows in Germany and Austria.  We spoke to front man James de Malplaquet about the shows and what the future might hold for them.

Nat Johnson - Neighbour Of The Year


Striking out solo, Nat Johnson recently released Neighbour Of The Year, her debut seven-song collection.  It's a beautifully haunting record that makes the most of her exquisite voice.

Thursday 11 December 2014

My Igloo - Manchester Gullivers - 9th December 2014


Being able to count their number of gigs so far on their fingers, My Igloo are starting to create an underground buzz in Manchester with their fusion of soul, funk, reggae and good old indie guitar.  Tonight they've ditched one of their vocalist and gained a trumpet player, but still retain a sound that's unique to them around Manchester at the moment.

Inspiral Carpets - Interview


Inspiral Carpets recently released their self-titled album, their first for twenty years.  In support of the album they're out on a UK tour.  We caught up with bass player Martyn Walsh before their show at Sheffield Leadmill.

Wednesday 10 December 2014

From Carbon - Wealth


Wealth is the debut album by Manchester four-piece From Carbon.  It features twelve tracks of exquisitely crafted indie-guitar that'll nestle itself in your head and have you stretching for the repeat button.

Steve Pilgrim / Seamus McLoughlin / Sophia Ben Yousef - Blackburn The Museum - 4th December 2014


Blackburn Museum is an innovative location for gigs and their second one featured Sophia Ben Yousef, Seamus McLoughlin and Steve Pilgrim.  Impressed by the first event a few months ago, Glenn Wallworth went to see three acts in the most unusual of settings.

Sunday 7 December 2014

Inspiral Carpets / Gramotones - Sheffield Leadmill - 6th December 2014


This week saw Inspiral Carpets kick off a three week UK tour in support of their recent self-titled album, their first for twenty years.  We caught them in a packed Sheffield Leadmill mixing tracks from that album as well as some old classics and favourites.

Saturday 6 December 2014

The Slow Readers Club - Manchester Band On The Wall - 5th December 2014


The Slow Readers Club rounded off a year that has seen them start to get critical radio and blog support ahead of their second album early next year with a headline slot at XFM's First Friday.  We went along to help see off 2014 with them.

Friday 5 December 2014

Déjà Vega - Interview


A couple of weeks ago, we tipped Déjà Vega on Shell Zenner's Amazing Radio show.  We caught up with front man Jack Fearon shortly after to find out more about them and their plans for 2015.

Introducing - The Family Monroe


The Family Monroe are a London-based two-piece featuring Amy Rose Esdale and Craig Swan. They've recently released the video for I Fell Like Dead Skin, their first new material for over a year since their Portraits No 1 EP.  Watch the video below.

Thursday 4 December 2014

Catfish And The Bottlemen - Manchester Ritz - 3rd December 2014


It's been a meteoric rise this year for Catfish And The Bottlemen, who've gone from playing FAC251 and the Night And Day just over twelve months ago to selling out The Ritz tonight and the much-bigger Academy in March.  We caught them with an audience that didn't stop bouncing from the moment they came on stage.

John Grant With The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra In Concert


Back in October, John Grant performed a special concert with the BBC's Philharmonic Orchestra at their Media City headquarters in Salford.   The whole show was recorded and has now been released by Bella Union.  His already intimate personal songs are laid in even starker contrast set to the strings and arrangements of the orchestra.

From Carbon - Manchester Deaf Institute - 22nd November


From Carbon recently sold out The Deaf Institute in Manchester for the launch gig of their album Wealth.  Chris D Taylor very kindly offered to review the show for us.

Wednesday 3 December 2014

Nicole Atkins - Slow Phaser Deluxe Edition


We missed out on reviewing Nicole Atkins' Slow Phaser earlier in the year as it was in some writing downtime. Fortunately we've been given the opportunity to talk about one of our favourite records of the year by the release of a deluxe digital edition.

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Stockholm Monsters - All At Once


A vinyl-only release presents Burnage band Stockholm Monsters entire back catalogue; 22 tracks drawn from their Factory Records singles and sole LP, Alma Mater. 

Monday 1 December 2014

The Slow Readers Club - Live At The Library


One of Manchester's finest round off a successful year with a precursor to their eagerly awaited second LP. Featuring tracks from their self titled debut and tracks which will appear on the new album, Live At Central Library was recorded back in April in the newly restored building.

James - Lisbon MEO Arena - 29th November 2014


James concluded their touring for the year with a twenty-three song set in the cavernous surroundings of the MEO Arena in Lisbon.  Urged on by a fanatical Portuguese crowd they made the hall feel intimate as they ran through eight tracks from their recent La Petite Mort album as well as classic singles and rarities from their back catalogue.