Saturday 27 July 2019

James / Dear Boy - Royal Oak Music Theatre - 20th July 2019


Royal Oak saw the latest leg of James' North American tour last Saturday. IKWIHF caught his final show of his run on this trip and reports back.

James - Cleveland Agora Theatre - 19th July 2019


James' North American tour continued last week with a show in Cleveland Ohio. As is the nature of their sets, they turned the previous night on its head and came out with a very different looking line up of songs. IKWIHF reports back.

Friday 26 July 2019

The Murder Capital / Egyptian Blue - Liverpool Arts Club - 25th July 2019


The Murder Capital brought their preview tour for their debut album When I Have Fears to the loft of Liverpool Arts Club and left another packed crowd gasping in awe at the intensity of their live performance and the revelatory insight they give into their hearts, mind and darkest thoughts. Support came from Brighton's impressive four-piece Egyptian Blue.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Kaze - Keep Me Loving You


Kaze release their first single of the year today - a live version of a track called Keep Me Loving You that shows a more soft and gentle side to the band compared to their earlier work.

Monday 22 July 2019

James - Buffalo Canalside - 18th July 2019


James' long US tour with the Psychedelic Furs rolled into Buffalo last Friday night, the band's first performance in the city for twenty-five years. IKWIHF covered the show for us, noting the band's appeal to a younger audience who connected to the newer songs from Living In Extraordinary Times and the message in those songs.

EXCLUSIVE : Granfalloon - Elephant


Granfalloon's latest single The Elephant is a taster from their forthcoming second album. We're delighted to be asked to do the online reveal for the single after it was previewed on BBC Introducing last weekend.

Sunday 21 July 2019

The Murder Capital / Roxy Girls - Sunderland Independent - 20th July 2019


The Murder Capital continued their seemingly endless tour with a Saturday night debut in Sunderland at the Independent, one of those wonderful small venues that's fighting against the odds in towns and cities off the usual circuit, supported by local heroes Roxy Girls.

Friday 19 July 2019

TRACK OF THE DAY : Liam Frost - The Slow Knife


The Slow Knife is the second single to be taken from Liam Frost's Latchkey Kid album that gets a full release on September 13.

Thursday 18 July 2019

EXCLUSIVE : Control Of The Going - Reflection


With front man Liam Hart moving to the USA last year, it looked like things had come to a close for Control Of The Going. But before he departed, the latest incarnation of the band recorded an EP entitled Reflections that they plan to release next month. We're delighted to be able to reveal the (almost) title track of the EP entitled Reflection.

LIINES / Sink Ya Teeth - Manchester Albert Square - 17th July 2019


The final night of four curated events by Dave Haslam in the tent in Albert Square for Manchester International Festival saw local heroines Liines take to the stage alongside Norwich's Sink Ya Teeth to delight a packed crowd that had braved the Mancunian rain.

Tuesday 16 July 2019

The Blinders / Witch Fever / The Pagans SOH - Manchester Albert Square - 16th July 2019


The Blinders headlined night three of live music curated by Dave Haslam in Festival Square as part of Manchester International Festival. Mixing in new material with tracks from their debut album Columbia, they set the tent bouncing more than has seen before ably supported by Witch Fever and Pagans SOH.

GHUM / Aufbau Principle - Manchester Castle Hotel - 15th July 2019


A warm evening outside always turn the intimate music room of The Castle Hotel into a sweatbox and tonight was no exception as first Glasgow's Aufbau Principle and then headliners GHUM battled against the heat to deliver two exciting and very contrasting sets to a packed crowd.

Joanna Sternberg - Then I Try Some More


Then I Try Some More is Joanna Sternberg's debut album. It's a remarkable record in many senses - rather than its lowest of lo-fi recording methods hampering the songs and their message, it simply makes them feel even starker, more affecting as they weave their way through many of the darker aspects of the human condition and emotions across just nine songs and twenty-six minutes. It's an album that could change and save lives, the message more important than the songs individually.

Monday 15 July 2019

Working Men's Club - Manchester Albert Square - 15th July 2019


Working Men's Club opened up the first of three nights of some of the best independent talent in the North West curated by Dave Haslam that puts the Manchester (and surrounding areas) into the Manchester International Festival. A half-hour set in a packed tent felt like it was a turning point for the band as they celebrated the release of their second single Teeth today.

James - Toronto Rebel - 5th July 2019


James opened their North American tour with The Psychedelic Furs on a steamy night in Toronto. Our friend IKWIHF was there to report back on their long-awaited return.

The Empty Page - Interview


The Empty Page's new single He's Very Good At Swimming tackles the subject of how society views the victims of rape and other forms of sexual assault and some of the high-profile cases where the accused was dealt with leniently despite their guilt because of their social standing. We caught up with them to talk about the single, the message behind it and to find out a little more about the band and their plans.

Sunday 14 July 2019

Stealing Sheep - Manchester Albert Square - 13th July 2019


For those of us not interested in the artistic extravagance of most of MIF's program, the tent in Albert Square is something of a haven with free live music on offer to complement the very un-Mancunian sunny weather. Saturday night saw Stealing Sheep bring their colourful live show for an hour performance that was as much a theatrical performance as it was a gig.

Wednesday 10 July 2019

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Murder Capital - Don't Cling To Life


Don't Cling To Life is only the third track to be released by Dublin's The Murder Capital, but is certain to increase the hype around the band as they prepare for the release of their debut album When I Have Fears, due for release on August 16 in the midst of a gruelling touring  schedule.

Monday 8 July 2019

Danny Mahon - Interview


Most Mancunians with their ear to the ground will know of Danny Mahon. For years he's played to packed out venues, picked up some impressive support slots and written songs that capture the spirit and the ups and downs of living in our home town. He's been quiet for a couple of years but is coming back with a headline show later this month and a set of new songs in tow. We caught up with him for a chat to find out more.

TRACK OF THE DAY : LYZA - Regret


LYZA has recently her latest single release Regret with a video filmed in Manchester's Victoria Baths, accompanying a heartfelt and painfully honest reflection over a past relationship.

Friday 5 July 2019

Vukovar - Interview


On their Facebook page, which you sense is a reluctant nod to mainstream communication, Vukovar describe themselves as "from the Brutalist wastelands in the North of England. Ultra-Realism. Depravity. Monotony. Concrete. Hedonism. Silence. Vukovar are idealists, voyeurs and totalitarians." As they release Cremator, their seventh album in four years, we try to get behind the mystery....

Wednesday 3 July 2019

MarthaGunn - Interview


MarthaGunn featured in our top tips for 2018 and promptly disappeared. They've returned though in 2019 with two singles - Saint Cecilia and Love And Emotion. We caught up with them for a chat about their name, what they did in 2018, the two singles and their plans for the future.