Saturday 29 February 2020

Liam Frost / Reid Anderson- Manchester Halle St Peters - 28th February 2020


It's been a decade and a half since Liam Frost announced himself to the music scene with a host of bright new prospect tags attached to him. Fate and the machinations of the industry have meant that he's never had the accolade he's deserved as one of the finest songwriters of his generation - and with the Pledge Music debacle which crippled the release of his third album The Latchkey Kid still resonating, he's decided to stop performing under his own name. His show at the resplendent surroundings of Halle St Peters church meant that he went out with a bang.

Friday 28 February 2020

The Murder Capital / Egyptian Blue / Unorthodox Coolock / Junior Brother - Dublin Vicar Street - 27th February 2020


The Murder Capital's sold-out Vicar Street show was a sort of homecoming at the end of their triumphant UK tour where they filled venues across the land and left a trail of exhilarated gig-goers in their wake. The biggest show they've played so far in their adopted hometown brought friends together, celebrated those no longer with us and set a marker in the sand before they head off to conquer America.

Wednesday 26 February 2020

The Murder Capital - Liverpool O2 Academy 2 - 25th February 2020


The Murder Capital completed their biggest UK tour to date with a packed-out show at Liverpool's O2 Academy 2. Keeping everything fresh by changing round the setlist from previous nights on the tour, they left another audience stunned by the ferocious intensity of their forty-minute live set.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Machine - Memories


Machine are a four-piece from Barnsley who've recently released their debut single Memories. They only formed as recently as November 2019 so for Memories to be brimming with such raw potential only four months into their existence is some achievement.

Tuesday 25 February 2020

The Murder Capital / Egyptian Blue / Unorthodox Coolock - Birmingham O2 Institute - 24th February 2020


The Murder Capital's penultimate night of their UK tour called in at a sold out Birmingham O2 Institute 2 on a sedate Monday night with another exhilarating set that blew away the post-weekend cobwebs supported by Egyptian Blue and Unorthodox Coolock.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Ryne Experience - Canopy


Canopy is the second track to be taken from Michigan-based The Ryne Experience's third album Funky Town that is due for release on April 3 via Under The Counter Records. The alt-country band have created a concept album about a man who has his identity and everything else about his life stolen and his journey of rediscovery.

Monday 24 February 2020

Lanterns On The Lake - Interview


Lanterns On The Lake released their fourth studio album Spook The Herd on Friday containing the singles Baddies and Every Atom and seven other tracks. It's their first album since 2015's Beings and has already received universally positive reviews. We caught up with Hazel Wilde to talk about the birth of the album, the themes that inspired her writing and future plans.

TRACK OF THE DAY 2 : Lime - Surf And Turf


Surf and Turf is the debut single from Brighton-based four-piece Lime. Demanding we "get ready to get zesty" Surf And Turf is an impressive first outing from a band highly tipped by the likes of Loud Women to be a breakthrough act in 2020.

Magic Shoppe / The Kundalini Genie / Little Strange - Manchester Peer Hat - 23rd February 2020


Boston's The Magic Shoppe's European tour called in at The Peer Hat in Manchester on Sunday night as part of the 56th edition and fifth birthday party for the Astral Elevator club night.  Support came from The Kundalini Genie and Little Strange.

The Murder Capital / Egyptian Blue / Unorthodox Coolock - Sheffield Leadmill - 22nd February 2020


The Murder Capital's UK tour moved north on Saturday night to Sheffield's Leadmill for a sold-out show supported by Unorthodox Coolock and Egyptian Blue as the band of the moment continued their rapid rise through the thousand capacity venues of the UK to bigger places.

Yuka Tree - Manchester Castle Hotel - 23rd February 2020


Yuka Tree are one of a number of highly-tipped bands around Manchester at present, having recently released their debut single The Preacher and having sold-out their first headline show at the Eagle Inn. On Sunday night they opened for Harpans Kraft in the intimate surroundings of The Castle Hotel.

TRACK OF THE DAY 1 : Egyptian Blue - Never


In the middle of their UK tour supporting The Murder Capital, Egyptian Blue have released a new track Never taken from their forthcoming EP Body Of Itch out on April 10 as well as a series of UK dates of their own.

Saturday 22 February 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Ist Ist - Black


Black is the third track to be taken from Ist Ist's forthcoming debut album Architecture, accompanied by an unsettling video that sees a woman haunted by the ghosts of her past.

The Murder Capital / Egyptian Blue / Unorthodox Coolock - London Electric Ballroom - 21st February 2020


The Murder Capital rolled into the capital on Friday night for a sold-out show at Camden's Electric Ballroom where 1,100 people witnessed a band on an unstoppable ascent to the very top with a forty-five minute set that at the times threatened to finish us all off. Support came from Egyptian Blue and Unorthodox Coolock.

Friday 21 February 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY 3 : The Slow Readers Club.- Jericho


Jericho is the second single to be taken from The Slow Readers Club's forthcoming fourth album The Joy Of The Return out on March 20. Described by front man Aaron Starkie as "our sunniest offering yet" it's both a departure from their indie electro doom pop as well as an evolution of their sound without cutting the umbilical cord to the sound that has won them an intensely loyal fanbase over the past few years.

TRACK OF THE DAY 2 : Laurens Court - Burn


Laurens Court today release the video to their latest single Burn. The video, produced and directed by film-maker Adam Opie, is set in a shed in the countryside to heighten the sense of isolation and downward spiral that is expressed across the song's five minute duration.

TRACK OF THE DAY : talker - Suck Up


Suck Up is the latest track to be taken from talker's forthcoming EP due for release at the start of next month. It's a song that deals in self-doubt and uncertainty about which of multi-personalities is the real one with a video that captures the mood of the song perfectly.

Thursday 20 February 2020

Lanterns On The Lake - Spook The Herd


Spook The Herd is Lanterns On The Lake's first studio album for six years. It's drenched in romantic optimism but with a sense of reality as it addresses the existential issues facing the world we live in with coping strategies based around the need to hold those close to you even closer. Four albums in, Lanterns On The Lake have found their voice, made their masterpiece and are here to save us.

Tuesday 18 February 2020

Car Crash - Interview


Car Crash have just released their debut album Blindspots and we caught up with JD to find out more about the band and their origins, the characters in their songs, internet dating, political echo chambers and the current success of Irish music.

Monday 17 February 2020

Courteeners - Manchester Albert Hall - 16th February 2020


Courteeners completed a run of four intimate album launch shows for More. Again. Forever. on Sunday night in the intimate surroundings of Manchester's Albert Hall with a thirteen set song of fan favourites from across their career and a healthy selection of songs from their recent number two album.

Humanist - Humanist


Humanist is the eponymous self-titled debut album from one of my guitar heroes, and now producer, Rob Marshall. Inspired by the life and death of acclaimed singer-songwriter (he was much more than that) Gavin Clark it’s a heartfelt album that gets under your skin.

TRACK OF THE DAY : PINS - Hot Slick


Hot Slick is PINS' first single of the year, coming from a forthcoming album, their first in five years, that the slimmed-down trio of Faith, Lois and Kyogen are preparing for release. The track which has been in their live set for some time showcases the new dancefloor-inspired direction in contrast to their first two albums.

Sunday 16 February 2020

The Murder Capital / Unorthodox Coolock / VLURE - Glasgow QMU - 15th February 2020


The third night of The Murder Capital's UK tour saw them brave Storm Dennis and make their way to Glasgow and the Queen Margaret Union. VLURE stepped in at the last minute to replace Egyptian Blue and Unorthodox Coolock won over the Glasgow crowd with his own unique brand of street poetry.

Saturday 15 February 2020

The Murder Capital / Unorthodox Coolock - Manchester Academy 2 - 14th February 2020


The second night of The Murder Capital’s tour rolled into a sold-out Manchester Academy 2 on Friday night. The soulless room was made to feel like the most intimate small venue by a band exponentially upping their game.

Friday 14 February 2020

Car Crash - Blindspots


Blindspots is the debut album by Irish post-punk band Car Crash. Across seven tracks social expectations, political and religious intransigence and conspiracy theorists all fall into their crosshairs and are dealt with a directness and honesty that society could do well by adopting.

TRACK OF THE DAY 2 : Working Men's Club - White Rooms & People


White Rooms & People is the third single from Working Men's Club and their first with their new four-piece line up. Set to an unsettling video which is interspersed with Syd singing and with producer Ross Orton in tow, the single is set to widen their appeal still further and provides a marker in the sand for their forthcoming debut album.

The Murder Capital / Egyptian Blue / Unorthodox Coolock - Leeds Irish Centre - 13th February 2020


The Murder Capital opened their sold-out UK tour with their biggest headline show to date here at Leeds Irish Centre on Thursday night supported by Egyptian Blue and Unorthodox Coolock. A sold-out crowd were enthralled for forty-five minutes by tracks taken from their When I Have Fears album and an exhilarating performance from the Irish five-piece.

TRACKS OF THE DAY : Honey Gentry - Valentine / Ghosts Of Lovers Past


Honey Gentry releases the appropriately-titled double A-side Valentine / Ghosts Of Lovers Past today, two evocative songs that intimately explore the inner workings of the mind when faced with relationships and which showcase an expressive voice that accentuates the details and draws you in.

Thursday 13 February 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY 3 : The Blinders - Circle Song


The Blinders return with a new single Circle Song, the first track to be taken from their second album Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath that is due for release on May 8 with some low-key UK dates announced to coincide.

Fever - Interview


Fever might only be two singles into their career as a band but they've already picked up significant attention from the likes of This Feeling and both singles have been released via Blossoms' Very Clever Records label. We caught up with Joe for a chat as they prepare to go out on the road in March to support their label bosses on their UK tour.

TRACK OF THE DAY 2 : Nicole Atkins - Captain


Nicole Atkins returns with Captain, the lead track from her forthcoming fifth album Italian Ice that is scheduled for release on April 17. The country-tinged single features Britt Daniels of Spoon on backing vocals, but as ever it's Nicole's vocals that take centre stage.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Clockworks - Stranded In Stansted


Stranded In Stansted is the second single to be released by Galway four-piece The Clockworks since signing to Creation 23 last year. It tells the story of missing a flight home after a gig and the observations they make of people travelling on holiday at one of Britain's worst airports.

Wednesday 12 February 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY 2 : Lanterns On The Lake - When It All Comes True


Lanterns On The Lake have revealed When It All Comes True, the third single and opening track from their forthcoming album Spook The Herd and the follow-up to their 6 Music playlisted singles Every Atom and Baddies. Accompanying the single release is a live performance video recorded at Blast Studios in Newcastle.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Iris Kymm - Wya


Wya is a track taken from Iris Kymm's new EP Message. The Seattle-based singer-songwriter describes herself as a "Soul / Pop / Jazz / Contemporary R&B artist" and Wya and the other tracks from the EP showcase all these elements to her voice.

Tuesday 11 February 2020

Blossoms / Lloyd Griffith - Stockport Plaza - 11th February 2020


Blossoms made a triumphant homecoming to Stockport with their second number one album Foolish Loving Spaces in the bag for the first of two nights playing the album in full in the town where most of the songs that made it up were born. The evening started with a Super 8 film recorded by front man Tom Ogden documenting the writing and recording of the album and an hilarious twenty minute set from comedian and friend of the band Lloyd Griffith.

TRACK OF THE DAY 2 : Turnstiles - Tantrum


Following the release of two breathtaking singles in September 2019 (Moving Forward and Wasting Away) the young Galway based 5 piece Turnstiles release new single Tantrum.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Cayley Thomas - Blue Jean Baby


Blue Jean Baby is the second single to be taken from Cayley Thomas's forthcoming debut album How Else Can I Tell You? due for release on May 1st. It's set to a video that deals with the song's subject of putting others before yourself when you need to look after yourself first.

Monday 10 February 2020

October Drift - Manchester Yes - 10th February 2020.


October Drift brought their Forever Whatever tour to Manchester's Yes on Monday night, performing the album in full plus two older tracks with a passion and power that's made for rooms many times the size of the Pink Room.

Shadow Show - Silhouettes


Silhouettes is the debut album from Detroit three-piece who describe themselves as a "power trio of mysterious hue." Across ten tracks they take the underground garage vibe that their city is renowned for and twist and turn it into something that feels both true to those roots as well as remarkably fresh and modern.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Lottery Winners - 21


The Lottery Winners have revealed their movie-style video for their latest single 21, taken from their  long-awaited self-titled debut album that comes out on March 13th ahead of their biggest headline tour and hometown show at Manchester Ritz on April 11.

Saturday 8 February 2020

The Clockworks / Rosellas - Manchester Peer Hat - 7th February 2020


Galway's The Clockworks are recently signed to Alan McGee's Creation 23 label and have been hotly tipped by people in the know back in Ireland, so the opportunity to catch them in the intimate surroundings of Manchester's Peer Hat on Friday night was one too good to miss. Opening the night were Manchester's own Rosellas.

Friday 7 February 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY 2 : Ist Ist - You're Mine


Ist Ist have today revealed You're Mine, the second track to be taken from their forthcoming debut Architecture accompanied by a stark black and white live performance video that captures the essence of both the song and the band.

TRACK OF THE DAY 1 : Fuzzy Sun - Pretty People


Fuzzy Sun have released a double A-side single Pretty People / Gentleman's Touch to coincide with the announcement of their biggest headline shows to date in May.

Thursday 6 February 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Black Casino And The Ghost - How Was The World?


How Was The World? is the first single to be taken from Black Casino And The Ghost's third album Farewell Marshal Brunswick, due for release on March 1st. Clocking in at just one minute thirty-six seconds, it features eerie haunting vocals from Elisa set against an apocalyptic backdrop that casts the sound of impending doom.

Wednesday 5 February 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Lindsay Munroe - Mirror


Mirror is the lead track from Lindsay Monroe's forthcoming EP Our Heaviness set for release in May to coincide with her two biggest headline shows to date.

Tuesday 4 February 2020

Blossoms / Julia Bardo - Manchester Ritz - 4th February 2020


Blossoms' non-stop promo campaign for their third album Foolish Loving Spaces rolled into Manchester's Ritz for an intimate launch show that mixed tracks from the album with old favourites, revealing their expanded live set-up and delighting an audience of young and old fans alike.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Nadine Shah - Ladies For Babies (Goats For Love)


Nadine Shah returns with a new single Ladies For Babies (Goats For Love), the first track to be taken from her forthcoming album Kitchen Sink, the follow-up to 2018's acclaimed Holiday Destination.

Monday 3 February 2020

The Lucid Dream - Todmorden Golden Lion - 1st February 2020


When the Carlisle four piece The Lucid Dream announced a special one off gig at Todmorden's legendary Golden Lion last autumn, all tickets were snapped up in just a few hours. Stuart Ralston was ecstatic to get a ticket. The band didn't disappoint, playing a psych-rock-acid-house-fused set, complete with new material from the eagerly awaited fifth album.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Déjà Vega - Who We Are


Déjà Vega open up 2020 with a new single Who We Are from their forthcoming second album that comes hot on the heels of their sold-out self-titled debut ahead of headline dates at the end of this month including a Manchester Deaf Institute show that sold out almost immediately.

Sunday 2 February 2020

Georgie - Manchester Castle Hotel - 2nd February 2020


Georgie came to The Castle Hotel on Sunday night for a rare solo headline show treating the audience to a seventeen-song set of songs played on guitar and piano, mixing new material with tracks from her recent Georgie Live! album.