Friday 28 December 2018

EVEN THE STARS TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2018 - 10 to 1


Today we reveal Even The Stars' top ten albums of 2018. These are our favourite records of the year, the ones we returned to time after time in a year, the ones we loved rather than we were told to love.

Thursday 27 December 2018

EVEN THE STARS TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2018 - 20 to 11


The list that no one was waiting for. Over the next two days we reveal our top twenty albums of the year. Regular readers of the blog won't be surprised by many of these choices of course, but as we keep telling people we do this to champion music we love not to be hipster or with it or even politically correct. We start today with numbers twenty to eleven.

Wednesday 26 December 2018

John Bramwell And The Full Harmonic Convergence - Manchester Gorilla - 20th December 2018


John Bramwell brought his Full Harmonic Convergence project to the intimate surroundings of Gorilla for a sold-out show where he unveiled tracks from his forthcoming second solo album The Light Fantastic as well as from his debut Leave Alone The Empty Spaces and some I Am Kloot classics in a two-hour set that held an attentive audience rapt in both his music and his stories around them.

Saturday 15 December 2018

The Slow Readers Club / PINS / LIINES - Manchester Apollo - 14th December 2018


The sold-out signs for The Slow Readers Club’s biggest headline show to date went up three months ago. Their journey has been one of the most heartwarming and well-deserved rises to the top, one that’s been achieved with a humility and a connection to their fanbase that’s rarely witnessed these days. Tonight was an indisputable triumph, three and a half thousand devotees joined in unison to hail the victory of the underdog and witness a performance that made even this hallowed hall feel like a stopping off point on a ride to somewhere even grander. With PINS and LIINES on the bill it felt like the underground scene in Manchester has risen again.

Thursday 13 December 2018

Jack Oliver Monty - The Garden Demo EP


Jack Oliver Monty recently released a single The Garden. Julia Grantham takes a listen to the track and three others that he's put out as a taster for new music next year.

Wednesday 12 December 2018

The Slow Readers Club - London Scala - 11th December 2018


Last night saw The Slow Readers Club back in the big smoke for the second time this year, and the fourth time since Clive Lambert has been following them and he reports back from their sold-out show at Scala. As Aaron Starkie the lead singer said on stage last night “This is the biggest crowd we’ve played in front of in London” to which I retorted “You always say that!”.  That’s music to my ears as a fan of this great (but sadly underfollowed) band.

Monday 10 December 2018

The Slow Readers Club - Glasgow School Of Art - 8th December 2018


The first live outing since announcing their full time status and big UK tour sees The Slow Readers Club in fine form, as they storm through a massive twenty-song set to a jubilant, sell out, Glasgow crowd.

Sunday 9 December 2018

James / The Charlatans - Manchester Arena - 8th December 2018


James continued their tour with The Charlatans at a packed out Manchester Arena on Saturday night. A career-spanning set saw them deliver some of their biggest hits, but, in true James fashion, tracks from their most recent album Living In Extraordinary Times as well as a few surprises from their back catalogue.

Friday 7 December 2018

TRACK OF THE DAY : Ethan And The Reformation - Wild-Minded Woman


Ethan And The Reformation return with a new single Wild-Minded Woman released today ahead of an intimate show at Jimmy's in Manchester on December 22. Julia Grantham takes a listen to what is a marked change in direction from the band as they make their return.

Thursday 6 December 2018

James / The Charlatans - Glasgow Hydro - 5th December 2018


James and The Charlatans opened up their four-date UK tour in the cavernous surroundings of the Hydro in Glasgow. Both bands delivered sets that gave much to both the casual fan with selections of their best known songs as well as material from their most recent exciting albums Living In Extraordinary Times and Different Days.