Wednesday 30 September 2015

Pinkshinyultrablast / Fever Dream / Blossomer - Manchester Night And Day - 29th September 2015



St Petersburg's Pinkshinyultrablast caused a stir after their performance at Salford's Sounds From The Other City earlier in the year and the Night And Day is packed on a Tuesday night for their return and we're not left disappointed by their hard-edged intertwining blend of heavy guitars and light dreamy pop moments. Support came from London trio Fever Dream and Sheffield trio Blossomer.

The Happy Fallen - Lost And Found


Lost And Found is the first album by The Happy Fallen, a solo project from Manchester's Neale James, an artist who's worked with the likes of Craig Gannon, John Bramwell, Stella Grundy and Ivor Perry. The Happy Fallen is him branching out on his own and the results are quite spectacular.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Track Of The Day : Mayflower - Sienna


Sienna is the new track by Mayflower, a dreamy emotive contemplative song that should win them a whole new host of admirers. Although only a demo, it's rich in detail and emotion yet also still quietly understated.

Horsebeach - II


II is the second album by Manchester's Horsebeach, aka Ryan Kennedy, following on from last year's self-titled debut album that was a word-of-mouth hit around the city. Lovers of that album won't be disappointed by his new one; it retains many of the same attributes that made us fall in love with it.

Monday 28 September 2015

LIINES - Chorlton The Royal Oak - 25th September 2015


It's been over six months since LIINES' last Manchester show even though they all live in the city. They've been off around Europe playing to big crowds, but they're back home now and planning an assault on their home town. They start off in fine style with a fierce headline set at Scruff Of The Neck's monthly Royal Oak night in Chorlton.

False Advertising - Manchester Deaf Institute - 25th September 2015


False Advertising are a band full of contrasts. They swap lead vocals half way through the set between Chris and Jen who also swap from guitar to drums and vice versa. Their songs mix a love of grunge with some moments of sweeter pop to great effect and despite only surfacing this year are already an accomplished live band.

Friday 25 September 2015

New Order - Music Complete


Music Complete is New Order's first studio album proper in ten years. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then including the acrimonious departure of bassist Peter Hook. Laden with guests and focusing more on the dance floor than rock poses, it's unmistakably New Order throughout yet brought right bang up to date.

Dexters - We Paid For Blood


We Paid For Blood is the second album from Dexters. The follow-up to last year’s Shimmer Gold debut album is a heady mix of a band on the outside looking in, analysing their place in the world and putting a big supporting arm around their friends and loved ones. Fast and frenetic in parts, more reflective in others, it’s a bold statement of intent that will delight those who loved the debut, but will also draw in new fans.

Track Of The Day : LIINES - Blackout (Live)


It's been a relatively quiet year for Manchester three-piece LIINES. Or it would seem so given their rare appearances in town, but they've been on the road in Europe where they've build up quite a following with their full-on punk / grunge assault on the senses. They're returning with a few hometown shows including a free one at The Royal Oak in Chorlton tonight and have revealed a live video of Blackout recorded in Austria earlier this year.

Liam McClair - Honest EP


The Honest EP is the first recorded material from Liam McClair with a band rather than solo. It's a huge step up for him both lyrically and musically on the back of a growing profile in and around Manchester on the back of some intimate live shows and the revelation of the songs that make up this EP.

Thursday 24 September 2015

False Advertising - False Advertising


Despite only surfacing live for the first time in April, Manchester trio False Advertising have already recorded their debut self titled album.  Stuart Ralston has a listen and is mightly impressed.

Introducing - No Hot Ashes


No Hot Ashes have been steadily building themselves a reputation in Manchester as a thrilling live band with their funk-inspired sound, as evidenced on recent double A-side single Easy Peeler / Smooth (No Bits) and a number of sell-out shows as well as festival slots. We caught up with them to take stock of what's happened to them this year and see what their plans for the future are.

Track Of The Day : Those Handsome Animals - Do Wrong


Do Wrong is the lead track from London four-piece Those Handsome Animals' new EP Hits. It was recorded live to tape and captures an infectiously catchy guitar riff combined with a passionate bitter lyric about a relationship break-up.

Wednesday 23 September 2015

The Bluetones - Return To The Last Chance Saloon (Deluxe Edition)


To coincide with their reformation, The Bluetones have reissued their top 10 1998 album Return To The Last Chance Saloon with a host of bonus material. We revisit the album that often lives in the shadows of its predecessor Expecting To Fly and discover a band trying to match the commercial expectations of their label against their own musical instincts.

Dub Sex - Manchester Deaf Institute - 20th September 2015


Always one of Manchester's dark horses, Dub Sex reformed a couple of years ago and have played sporadic gigs around town and further afield. On Sunday they played an eight-song set early in proceedings at the People Over Borders fundraiser at the Deaf Institute.

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Track Of The Day : Louis Barrabas - You Did This To Me


Best known as front man of Manchester's quirky songmeisters Louis Barrabas And The Bedlam Six, Louis has been working on a solo album Gentle Songs Of Ceaseless Horror. He's just released the lead track from the album You Did This To Me.

Ramsbottom Festival - 19th September 2015 - Part Two : Tom Robinson / Dave Fidler / The Slow Readers Club / Jesca Hoop / John Bramwell




On Saturday Even The Stars made a welcome return to Ramsbottom Festival, possibly the best small festival in the country. Thoughtfully curated line-ups, easy access to and around the site, great food and drink stalls and something on the bill for everyone makes it a stand-out in the festival calendar. The second of our reviews of the day features Tom Robinson, Dave Fidler, The Slow Readers Club, Jesca Hoop and John Bramwell.

Monday 21 September 2015

Ramsbottom Festival - 19th September 2015 - Part One : Harp And A Monkey / Randolph Swain And The Red Lights / The Narrows / Science Of The Lamps / Darktown Jubilee




Ramsbottom Festival is one of the most eagerly awaited events of the summer. Set on the picturesque cricket ground in the centre of town, it brings together nationally acclaimed headline acts and mixes them with the best emerging talent in the North West as well and wraps it all up in a family-friendly package that also appeals to music lovers like us. Add to that great food, great beer and easy access and it's almost perfect. Part one of our Saturday review looks at some of the acts on early in the day - A Harp And A Monkey, Randolph Swain And The Red Lights, The Narrows, Science Of The Lamps and Darktown Jubilee.

Saturday 19 September 2015

Introducing - Liam McClair


Ahead of the launch of Liam McClair's new EP Honest with a show at Gullivers in Manchester next Friday, we tipped the title track on Shell Zenner's show on Amazing Radio today. Liam very kindly agreed to answer a few questions for us and tell us a little more about himself and the record.

White Boy / Bang Bang Romeo - Manchester Sound Control - 17th September 2015


Sound Control was the latest venue in White Boy's tour of Manchester venues over the past few months supporting the release of their excellent debut album Glitoris. Support came from Sheffield-based four-piece Bang Bang Romeo.

PINS / Peace And Love Barbershop Muhammed Ali / Kyogen - Manchester Deaf Institute - 18th September 2015



Touring in support of their summer album Wild Nights, PINS made a triumphant return to Manchester following months of globetrotting to promote the album. They've come back a changed band, more powerful, direct and in your face than ever before. Support came from the magnificently titled Peace And Love Barbershop Muhammed Ali and Kyogen.

Friday 18 September 2015

The Slow Readers Club - Manchester Food And Drink Festival - 17th September 2015


The Manchester Food and Drink Festival always has an excellent selection of bands and solo artists playing for free in the tent in Albert Square and this year has been no exception. Thursday night saw The Slow Readers Club headline the tent with a stunning set that spanned their two albums and undoubtedly won them a set of new admirers.

Track Of The Day : John Bramwell - Time's Arrow


Whilst playing at the Smoked and Uncut festival earlier this year, John Bramwell, front man of I Am Kloot, took time out to record a new, currently unreleased and unrecorded, track Time's Arrow, the first new material since I Am Kloot's last album Let It All In in early 2013.

Thursday 17 September 2015

The Bluetones - Leeds Academy - 16th September 2015


The Bluetones are back and we crossed the Pennines for their first show in four years on the opening night of their comeback tour at Leeds Academy where they reminded us all that they’re a band with a legacy of great singles stretching back through the heady days of mid 1990s Britpop and beyond through the subsequent comedown and backlash.

Ramsbottom Festival Preview - Part Three


With just one day to go before the gates open at Ramsbottom Cricket Club for the fifth instalment of the ever-growing Ramsbottom Festival, we turn our attention to five more acts that we think are worth checking out at the festival (or otherwise). Tickets are still available online and will be more expensive on the door for one of the country's most intimate yet exciting music festivals that mixes both nationally known acts such as headliners Idlewild, The Wonder Stuff and The Proclaimers with the best emerging talent from the North West and beyond.

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Ramsbottom Festival Preview - Part Two


This weekend sees the fifth year of the Ramsbottom Festival, one of the most intimate and friendly festivals on the circuit. Set on the grounds of Ramsbottom Cricket Club, it attracts both national and local talent spread across a number of stages with something to appeal to most musical tastes. We're previewing the festival with a series of recommendations for artists to catch over the course of the three days. Part two today we look at John Bramwell, The Slow Readers Club, Louis Barrabas And The Bedlam Six, Flight Brigade and Heavy On The Magic.

Tuesday 15 September 2015

The Slow Readers Club - Burnley Far Out Festival - 12th September 2015


When we hear that The Slow Readers Club are headlining a festival with an hour long set, it's an opportunity not to be missed. As usual, they didn't let us down.

Track Of The Day : Delamere - Heart


Forthcoming single Heart, due out on October 9, is the first taste of Delamere's debut album due for release in early 2016. It's a big bold statement of intent from the Stoke four-piece ahead of their Ramsbottom Festival appearance and October UK tour in support of its release.

Ramsbottom Festival Preview - Part One


This weekend sees one of the last festivals of the year and as well as being a local one, it's also one of the best. Set at Ramsbottom Cricket Club and with a selection of great national bands as well as some of the best the North West can offer as well as a great selection of other activities, food stalls and beers and with the new addition of camping facilities, it's made itself one of the highlights as it enters its fifth year. We will be previewing fifteen of the bands we recommend to see over the next three days starting with Black Rivers, Space Monkeys, The Magic Numbers, The Sundowners and The Moulettes.

Monday 14 September 2015

Dave Fidler And The Corvettes - Manchester Food And Drink Festival - 12th September 2015


One of the benefits of Manchester's Food And Drink Festival is the opportunity it affords to catch free live music in the tent on Albert Square and for local artists and bands to get the exposure of a gig to an audience that doesn't know them. We caught Dave Fidler with his four-piece band The Corvettes playing a folk and country-tinged set to an appreciative crowd sheltering from the Manchester rain.

The Lucid Dream / The Boris Johnson Massacre - Manchester Soup Kitchen - 11th September 2015


It's been a stellar year for The Lucid Dream in the psyche circles where they're increasingly being perceived as the leaders of the pack. They played their last gig of 2015 before they retreat to record their third album in the claustrophobic surroundings of Manchester's Soup Kitchen supported by The Boris Johnson Massacre, an unholy combination of the city's demons Purple Heart Parade and Freakout Honey.

Friday 11 September 2015

Reverend And The Makers - Mirrors Film Showing and Acoustic Gig - Abi's House - 10th September 2015


As part of the promotional campaign for their forthcoming album Mirrors, Jon McClure, frontman of Reverend And The Makers is doing a social media inspired tour of the country showing the accompanying film to the album that was filmed in Cuba as well as playing a few acoustic songs. Our friend Abi Richardson was lucky enough to convince him to come to her house in Timperley. Here's our report of the evening's events.

Thursday 10 September 2015

Déjà Vega Exclusive Live Recording - Chorlton Irish Club - 5th September 2015


Saturday night saw Déjà Vega play a short set at Kieran Fest at Chorlton Irish Club in aid of the fantastic Manchester charity 42nd Street that is doing incredible work supporting young people in Manchester and the surrounding areas who are under stress. The set was recorded from the audience to capture every bit of the atmosphere and we are proud to exclusively stream it here for you.

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Track Of The Day : Cupids - Money


Money is a new track from Cupids, the band that formed with the dissolution of Even The Stars favourites Gramotones following their last performance at Festival No 6 at the weekend.