Jekyll - Interview

Jekyll are a Blackpool four-piece who've been growing a live following around the North West over the past couple of years. They're about to release their strongest single to date Mania and play a headline show at the Castle Hotel on October 7th. We got in touch for a chat to find out a little bit more about them, the single, the Blackpool music scene and their plans for the future.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Janileigh Cohen - Sister

It seems like an age ago that we were wandering round Manchester and were drawn to a beautiful voice busking near the Royal Exchange. We picked up a CD and discovered Janileigh Cohen's debut EP As A Child. She's returning now with a new single Sister.

Reverend And The Makers - Preston Action Records - 27th September 2017

As part of a whistle stop tour of record shops to promote their new album The Death Of A King, currently sitting in the top ten midweek, Jon (Rev) and Ed from Reverend And The Makers rocked up to a packed Action Records in Preston for an early evening in-store and signing session. A ten-song set, mixing songs from the new record and their previous five top twenty albums, gave the crowd the opportunity to fall in love with the new songs, sing along to old favourites and then meet and greet with them afterwards.

The Gallerys - Interview

Kent's The Gallerys make their first visit to Manchester this weekend for a double header of shows, opening for Pinked Floyd at Academy 2 on Saturday and then performing an acoustic set in the Lambretta store at the Trafford Centre at 1pm on Sunday.  We caught up with them for a chat about coming up North and their local music scene.

The National / Luluc - Manchester Apollo - 22nd September 2017

The first of The National's two nights at Manchester Apollo sold out in minutes, testament to just how far their star has risen in the last seven years since High Violet took them from one of the most underrated bands in the world to household names. With a number one album Sleep Well Beast under the belts, they returned to the Apollo as major league players with Australian duo Luluc as support.

Shore - From The Start EP

Shore's debut EP From The Start is an impressive first outing from the Swindon four-piece who only made their live debut in July. Across five tracks they mark themselves out as a band brimming with potential whilst delivering an EP that stands tall in its own right.

TRACK OF THE DAY : PINS - Serve The Rich

Serve The Rich is PINS' new single, set for release on limited edition pink vinyl 7" with a 2017 recording of their early track LUVU4LYF ahead of a series of headline dates and support slots with The Breeders across Europe.

Reverend And The Makers - The Death Of A King

Reverend And The Makers' sixth album The Death Of A King is released this Friday and is their most diverse album yet. With vocal contributions from four of the band and real contrast between adjoining songs it's as much a fabulous mixtape as it is an album that ranks up there with their best.

Carnival Club - Interview

Carnival Club are a new band that have been making waves in Manchester and further afield over the past twelve months having broken on to the scene seemingly out of nowhere first with single House Of Cards and then their debut 12"/ CD EP Magdalena's Cape and some stunning headline live shows that belied their short existence as a band. After a summer of festivals they're back with a new single called Follow The Sun that they're launching at Rebellion Bar in Manchester on Saturday. We had a chat with front man Kai about the band, the new single and give you a sneak preview of the song that will win them a whole load of new followers.

Head For The Hills Festival Day 3 - Berries / Ailbhe Reddy / HAWK / Bury Community Choir / Tankus The Henge / Will Varley / Stained Glass Ceiling

Day 3 and the final instalment of this year's Head For The Hills festival saw us strike lucky with the rain holding off for most of the day and the most diverse line up of the three days that allowed us to wander round the site and catch a little bit of almost everything during the course of the afternoon and the evening. We caught up with Berries, Ailbhe Reddy, Hawk, Tankus The Henge, Will Varley, Martin Harley and Stained Glass Ceiling.

She Makes War - Stuttgart Secondhandshop Øbscür - 16th September 2017

Our friends at German site Konzerttagebuch (Mein Zuhause, Mein Blog) caught up with She Makes War as she started off the German leg of her solo tour across Europe in Stuttgart on Saturday night. They've very kindly provided us with a translation of their review and access to their photos to share with our UK audience.

Head For The Hills Festival Day 2 - Toria Wooff / Sonya And The Greyhounds / Dantevilles / Secret Lemonade Factory / SKIES / Mano McLaughlin / Neville Staple Band / Dutch Uncles / Ist Ist

Day 2 of Head For The Hills festival in Ramsbottom saw another set of the type of diverse and eclectic acts that it has got its name and so many admirers for. From nationally recognised acts to some of the best local talent, Saturday's bill had something for everyone. We caught a real mix of performers including Toria Wooff, Sonya And The Greyhounds, Dantevilles, Secret Lemonade Factory, SKIES, Mano McLaughlin, Neville Staple Band, Dutch Uncles and a triumphant second stage headline set from Ist Ist.

Head For The Hills Festival Day 1 - James Holt / False Advertising / New York Tourists / Cassia / Saytr Play / Larkins / Clay / No Hot Ashes / Kashmere

Day 1 of Head For The Hills (aka Ramsbottom Festival) has snuck up on us to signal the end of the festival season. Our traditional three-day jaunt up to the cricket ground started with a mix of new and emerging bands across the festival's four stages. We caught up with James Holt, False Advertising, New York Tourists, Cassia, Saytr Play, Larkins, Clay, No Hot Ashes and Kashmere.

Hannah Nicholson - Breath EP

Hannah Nicholson's debut four-track EP Breath is a real statement of intent for a first solo release. Her voice takes centre stage throughout the four songs that deal with emotional turmoil and upheaval and pose as many questions than they answer.

Dana Gavanski - Spring Demos EP

Dana Gavanski's debut release, a seven-track cassette or digital download, is released this week by Fox Food Records. It is as the title suggests a collection of demo recordings, but this just adds to the intimate feel of seven songs that are in the middle of their creation, raw, delicate and without the often suffocating presence of production.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Embers - Until The Dawn

Even The Stars' favourites Embers are back with an astonishing new single Until The Dawn, the follow-up to this year's Signs / Unbound comeback single. The single was recorded live in the imposing surroundings of Manchester's Albert Hall.

Berries - Interview

Berries are one of the most-talked about new bands in the country at present. Following on the back of their debut Those Funny Things EP and great reviews for their live shows, both in London and on their travels in Manchester and Sheffield, they've just released Wild Vow as the first taster of their second EP. They head north again on Sunday for a slot at Head For The Hills Festival in Ramsbottom. We caught up with Holly for a chat to find out more about them.

Ist Ist - London Shacklewell Arms - 9th September 2017

Ist Ist made their London debut on Saturday night at the Shacklewell Arms, a triumphant night that sets down a marker for them as they seek to spread the gospel as far and wide as they can ahead of this weekend's Head For The Hills headline slot in Ramsbottom and their October Gorilla headline in Manchester.

Travis / She Drew The Gun - Manchester Bridgewater Hall - 8th September 2017

For two nights only Travis are revisiting the album that is most associated with them, their three million selling 1999 album The Man Who, with shows at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall and a headline slot at London's On Blackheath festival. Their Manchester show combined the album with a series of crowd pleasing favourites from the early part of their career, supported by the wonderful She Drew The Gun.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Jessica Boudreaux - Televised

Televised is the lead track from Summer Cannibals' Jessica Boudreaux's debut album No Fury due for release on November 3rd. It represents a departure from her work with her band, with whom she has recorded three albums, but her voice is unmistakable.

The Crash Mats - 69 Peruvian Pan Pipe Classics

You might not know this but three piece band, The Crash Mats are one of the most popular bands from Manchester (well, Oldham) right now with a country wide reputation for their million mile an hour ska punk gigs, their love of American wrestling and long shorts. Control Of The Going's Ste Ackley steps in to our guest review slot and reviews their new album 69 Peruvian Pan Pipe Classics.

Ist Ist - Interview

Ahead of their London debut this weekend and their Head For The Hills Ramsbottom Festival headline the week after and a massive show at Gorilla in Manchester in October, we caught up with Andy of Ist Ist to talk about their last eighteen months, new material and the biggest shows of their career to date.

Interpol - Manchester Albert Hall - 3rd September 2017

It's fifteen years since Interpol released their debut album Turn On The Bright Lights and, in what seems like is becoming the norm rather than a one-off for bands of that generation, they're touring to celebrate the album by playing it in full. For once though, this felt like something more than a tired easy win for the band as they brought it back to life and made it sound as fresh as the day it was released.

Track Of The Day : The Rah's - The Time Is Now

The Rah's new single The Time Is Now was released last week. It's the second self-released single of the year from the Edinburgh band through their own EH32 Records.

Purple Merlin - Manchester Jimmy's - 2nd September 2017

Purple Merlin are new kids on the block. With just one song to their name so far, the brilliant East Is West, the mysterious Stockport four-piece opened up This Feeling's club night at Jimmy's on Saturday and made quite the first impression with a wild, chaotic set that will make people stand up and take notice.

Manchester Psych Fest (Ryley Walker / TVAM / Britain / Freakout Honey) - Manchester Various Venues - 2nd September 2017

The third annual Manchester Psych Fest took over three Northern Quarter venues on Saturday with an eclectic range of acts that fall under the loose umbrella that is Psych these days. We spent the afternoon and early evening in the company of Freakout Honey, Britain, TVAM and Ryley Walker.

Ryley Walker / Bill MacKay - Hebden Bridge Trades Club - 30th August 2017

Ryley Walker returned to the wonderful Trades Club in Hebden Bridge as part of a short UK tour. Armed with a four-piece band to back him up including support act Bill MacKay he played an enthralling set including three new songs from his forthcoming fourth album as well as favourites from Primrose Green and Golden Sings That Have Been Sung.