Monday, 23 December 2024

Déjà Vega - Manchester Gullivers - 21st December 2024


Déjà Vega finished off 2024 with a low-key headline show at Gullivers in Manchester on Saturday night. Over a ninety-five minute set they delighted a packed enthusiastic audience with a mix of songs taken from their first two albums with six brand new songs from the sessions for their third album that showcase a different direction without losing the raw power and intensity of their performance.

Saturday, 14 December 2024

LIINES / Trupa Trupa / Vincent's Last Summer - Manchester Gullivers - 12th December 2024


LIINES made their long-awaited return to the stage on Thursday night with a sold-out co-headline show with Polish trio Trupa Trupa who were on a short European tour. With Tamsin temporarily back with them on bass, they mixed new songs with tracks from their debut Stop / Start to an enthusiastic and supportive crowd after Trupa Trupa had impressed a curious crowd and Vincent's Last Summer had provided an enthusiastic opening to the evening.

Thursday, 12 December 2024

Blossoms - Manchester Diecast - 11th December 2024


Blossoms completed the most successful year of their career to date with a show at Diecast in Manchester sponsored by Spotify and Budweiser. Playing an hour set that spanned their four albums they delighted a crowd of hardcore fans and Instagram wannabes.

James - Live At The Acropolis Film Screening / Q&A


James provided fans with an exclusive preview of their Live At The Acropolis film recorded in Athens with the Manchester Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir and Orca 22 arranged and conducted by Joe Duddell on Tuesday night in the magnificent surroundings of Aviva Studios' Hall. A showing of the full concert film was followed by an insightful Q&A session led by director Chris Atkins with Tim Booth, Jim Glennie and Chloe Alper of the band and Joe Duddell.

Tuesday, 10 December 2024

The Slow Readers Club - Glasgow Stereo - 6th December 2024

The Slow Readers Club returned to Glasgow for the first time since their triumphant Barrowland Ballroom gig (opening for Shed Seven) last autumn for a more intimate affair. Stuart Ralston went back home for the evening and was blown away. 

Friday, 6 December 2024

The Slow Readers Club - Manchester Ritz - 5th December 2024

The Slow Readers Club's short Winter tour rolled into their hometown of Manchester on Thursday night for a sold-out months in advance show. A mix of new songs from their forthcoming album Out Of A Dream and fan favourites from their exceptional extensive back catalogue delighted a partisan crowd.

Wednesday, 4 December 2024

Westside Cowboy / All Girls Arson Club - Manchester Castle Hotel - 3rd December 2024

It’s been a long time since we’ve been genuinely excited about the possibilities of a new band. COVID killed a lot of nascent bands stone dead as they couldn’t get into a room together and only now is the scene starting to fully recover. A couple of weeks ago, we were in The Ritz early for the English Teacher headline and the opening band Westside Cowboy struck as one to find out more about. They’re Manchester-based and had their own headline show for their debut single launch at The Castle Hotel.  So here we are two weeks later.

Sunday, 1 December 2024

Sprints - Manchester New Century Hall - 29th November 2024


Sprints' rise in 2024 has seen them go from The White Hotel across the border in Salford to selling out New Century a couple of months in advance, a four-fold increase in audience size armed with just their debut album Letter To Self to their name. Over the course of eighty minutes they delivered a set taken from the record with a fascinating insight into new material that suggests that trajectory isn't going to slow down any time soon.

Sunday, 24 November 2024

Blossoms / The Lottery Winners / The Guest List - Manchester Apollo - 23rd November 2024

Blossoms concluded their five-night stand of Manchester venues they'd headlined previously in their career with a final sold-out show at the Apollo, scene of their four-night residency in 2022. A captivated Saturday night audience dance and sung along to a mix of their greatest hits and tracks from their most recent number one album Gary. Support came from The Lottery Winners and The Guest List.

Thursday, 21 November 2024

Blossoms / Neon Waltz / Delights - Manchester Ritz - 20th November 2024

Blossoms' five night stand of Manchester's mid-sized venues in support of their fourth number one album Gary. Performing tracks from across their career they brought the big arena show vibe to the intimate surroundings of the Ritz.

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Ist Ist / Marathon - Amsterdam Paradiso Grote Zaal - 18th November 2024

“Four best friends playing The Paradiso” bassist Andy Keating tells the thousand and a half crowd in front of him half way through the set in the Grote Zaal (Big Room) of the legendary Amsterdam venue. That Ist Ist don’t at any point look or sound out of place on one of the world’s best known stages is testament to how far they’ve come as they approach their tenth anniversary.

Sunday, 17 November 2024

John Bramwell And The Full Harmonic Convergence / Dave Fidler - London Hackney Earth - 15th November 2024


John Bramwell And The Full Harmonic Convergence opened their UK tour in support of this year's The Light Fantastic album at Earth Theatre in Hackney, London on Friday night. Over the course of a mammoth twenty-five song set they performed the album in full as well as tracks from John's solo debut and his I Am Kloot back catalogue to an attentive and appreciative audience.

Friday, 15 November 2024

English Teacher / TTSSFU / Westside Cowboy - Manchester Ritz - 14th November 2024


The Mercury-prize winning success of This Could Be Texas has catapulted English Teacher from the grassroots venues of which they are such ardent champions to selling out venues like The Ritz at the drop of a hat. With that comes the challenges of entertaining a curious audience eager to see whether that accolade was justified (note - it is) and how they cut it live.  Support came from TSSFU and Westside Cowboy.

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Blossoms - Stockport Plaza - 3rd November 2024

Blossoms played their traditional album launch hometown show at Stockport's grand Plaza on Sunday. Performing both matinee and evening sets which included their recent number one album Gary in full plus six classic tracks from their first three albums, they delighted two seated 1,300 crowds with a performance that demonstrated just how far they've come and how they've developed as showmen.

Saturday, 2 November 2024

Courteeners - Warrington Parr Hall - 31st October 2024

Courteeners headed to Warrington on Thursday night for two intimate shows to support the launch of their Pink Cactus Cafe album. Mixing tracks from the record with some old favourites, they delighted the crowd for an hour.

Wednesday, 30 October 2024

October Drift / Rude Films - Manchester Gorilla - 29th October 2024

October Drift continued their UK tour in support of their third album Blame The Young by playing their biggest headline show to date at Manchester's Gorilla on Tuesday night. In front of an adoring audience, they delivered an adrenalin-heavy seventy-five minute set featuring tracks from across the band's catalogue. Support came from Rude Films.

Monday, 28 October 2024

Whitehorse - Manchester Rose And Monkey - 27th October 2024

This is Whitehorse's first ever gig. It's sold out The Rose And Monkey weeks in advance. At the helm of the new band is Thomas Haywood, frontman of The Blinders who played their final shows back in February. With nine unreleased songs plus a cover of Amazing Snakeheads, Whitehorse revealed that the demise of his band hasn't dampened Haywood's creative spirit at all. 

Saturday, 26 October 2024

Johnny Marr / James - Montreal MTLEUS - 13th October 2024

Back in the Summer, Manchester icons James and Johnny Marr joined forces for two UK festival shows - Bedford Summer Sessions and Lytham Festival. Delivering two incredible nights that saw Johnny join the nine piece for Laid, it was the first time that they’d played together since James supported The Smiths back in 1985. Luckily for fans in North America, they’ve been able to experience the magic as the two have just come to the end of a lengthy co-headline tour that started in Denver last month. On Sunday 13th October, the tour stopped at MTELUS in Montreal.

Ist Ist / Cucamaras - Cambridge MASH - 16th October 2024

MASH is a venue more often host to sticky-floored, student club nights or tribute bands, as per the promo posters plastered on its walls. But tonight, we are blessed with the real deal. Post-punk four-piece IST IST make their debut on the Cambridge stage following the recent release of their fourth album, Light A Bigger Fire. 

Saturday, 19 October 2024

Lanterns On The Lake / Philip Selway - Halifax Minster - 18th October 2024

Lanterns On The Lake headlined the Friday night of Halifax's Town Festival in the resplendent setting of the Minster. Whilst vision was difficult from the pews, Lanterns On The Lake delivered a set of songs taken mostly from their last two albums Spook The Herd and Versions Of Us that felt even more imperious and overwhelming in the hallowed settings. Support came from Philip Selway with a solo set before taking his place behind one of the headliner's two drum kits.

Friday, 11 October 2024

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Slow Readers Club - Technofear


The Slow Readers Club return with their first new material since last year's Knowledge Freedom Power album in the shape of Technofear. The single is taken from their forthcoming album Out Of A Dream and sees the band on fine form, pushing their anthemic sound for which they're known to new areas without losing their core appeal.

Thursday, 3 October 2024

Ist Ist / Cucamaras - Hebden Bridge Trades Club - 2nd October 2024

Ist Ist opened their UK and European tour in support of their top 30 album Light A Bigger Fire with an intimate opening night sell out at Hebden Bridge Trades Club. Playing the album in full as well as a selection of big-hitters from their first three albums, they confirmed their burgeoning reputation as one of the most powerful independent bands around. Support came from Nottingham's Cucamaras.

Monday, 30 September 2024

Tom Hingley / Harrison Rimmer - Manchester Castle Hotel - 27th September 2024

Tom Hingley launched his The Grand Mal album with an intimate set at The Castle Hotel in Manchester on Friday night. Performing the album in full with a band in tow he demonstrated that whilst fame and fortune might not last forever songwriting talent does with one of the finest collections of songs of his career to date. Support came from Harrison Rimmer.

Monday, 23 September 2024

Ist Ist - Bury The Met - 22nd September 2024


Ist Ist continued their launch week activities for their fourth studio album Light A Bigger Fire with an intimate out-store show in conjunction with Wax And Beans at Bury Met. Performing the album in full and in order they bring the record to glorious technicolour light and dispose finally of some of the comparisons they've had hung around their necks.

Jack Jones - Jack Jones

Trampolene frontman Jack Jones released his eponymous debut solo album on Friday. Julia Grantham took a listen and concludes that perhaps every adult needs a Jack Jones song to guide them along the path of life.

Thursday, 19 September 2024

Tom Hingley - The Grand Mal

Tom Hingley returns with his first new material since last year’s Decades album, delivering another beautifully heartfelt collection of songs and his first ever solo vinyl album (other formats are available too!).

Wednesday, 18 September 2024

Venus Grrrls / Queen Cult - Manchester Soup - 14th September 2024

Venus Grrrls brought their UK tour to an end with a packed out show at Manchester's Soup on Saturday night supported by Macclesfield's Queen Cult. 

Monday, 9 September 2024

IST IST : Light A Bigger Fire


Light A Bigger Fire is Ist Ist's fourth album, the follow-up to their top 50 album Protagonists. It is a bold statement of intent, both in its title and the ten songs contained in its thirty-four minutes, a thrilling modern rock record that sets its stall out from the very start and follows through on every promise it makes.

Saturday, 7 September 2024

VLURE - Manchester Deaf Institute - 4th September 2024

VLURE returned to Manchester for the first time in a year to the Deaf Institute to deliver a high-energy set that mixed old favourites with some sparkling new songs to a euphoric crowd.

Monday, 2 September 2024

The Beaches / Chloe Slater - Manchester New Century - 1st September 2024


The Beaches made a return to Manchester for the first time in eleven years on Sunday night. No longer high street kids they come back a fully-fledged impressive rock and roll band with a word-of-mouth hit album Blame My Ex and its lead single Blame Brett meaning they're now a millions-streaming unit that sold out New Century Hall weeks in advance. Over the course of seventy five minutes they have an adoring crowd hanging on every word and hook line to songs from Blame My Ex and their earlier records.

Monday, 26 August 2024

Blossoms / Inhaler / Shed Seven - Wythenshawe Park - 25th August 2024


Blossoms performed their biggest ever headline show on Sunday night as twenty five thousand people trekked from all corners of Greater Manchester and further afield to Wythenshawe Park to witness the band confirm their status as a band that can headline festivals and remind us of the depth of their back catalogue crammed full of the very best indie pop around.

Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Inspiral Carpets - Alloa Town Hall - 10th August 2024


After three triumphant nights at Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom back in spring, Inspiral Carpets returned to Scotland last week for two headline shows. Stuart Ralston went home for a few days, stocked up on vegan square sausage, and caught the band in blistering form.

Monday, 29 July 2024

Ist Ist / Indoor Pets / The Covasettes / Phoebe Green - Sheffield Network - 27th July 2024



Close to Sheffield station there's a hoarding that proclaims Sheffield as "Music City" and of course there's a Pulp song that makes the same claim. Other cities might dispute that, but for one weekend Sheffield becomes unarguably the focus. With Tramlines Festival taking over Hillsborough Park with tens of thousands flocking to the three day festival, whilst its roots in the city at Devonshire Green and the surrounding streets as a free festival have been taken over by the Tramlines Fringe where hundreds of artists keep with the original spirit of the festival and play for free.  

Monday, 8 July 2024

James / Johnny Marr / Inspiral Carpets - Lytham Festival - 7th July 2024

James headed to the seaside on Sunday night with Orca 22 orchestra and the Manchester Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir in tow to headline the final night of Lytham Festival supported by Johnny Marr, Inspiral Carpets, The Magic Numbers and The Kairos.

Sunday, 30 June 2024

Puressence / Concrete Club / Purple Heart Parade - 29th June 2024


Ten years since their last show Puressence made a triumphant unexpected return on Saturday night with a sold out show at Manchester's Albert Hall. Possibly the most anticipated gig of the year saw the hometown heroes surpass even the most excitable expectations with a career spanning set that reminded everyone why they fell in love with them over the course of a decade and a half and left the question unanswered as to why they weren't much much bigger than they were.

Wednesday, 26 June 2024

Placebo - Halifax Piece Hall - 25th June 2024


As the cycle of their last album Never Let Me Go draws to a close, Placebo opened their UK and European dates with an outdoor show in the resplendent surroundings of Halifax’s Piece Hall.

Thursday, 20 June 2024

Charm Of Finches / Mia Kelly - Salford The Kings Arms - 19th June 2024


Australian sister duo Charm Of Finches returned to Salford for their third headline show in the Greater Manchester area in a couple of years as part of their extensive UK tour to promote their fourth album Marlinchen In The Snow. They delighted a sold out crowd in the intimate surroundings of The Kings Arms’ upstairs theatre supported by Quebec singer-songwriter Mia Kelly.

Sunday, 16 June 2024

James - London O2 Arena - 15th June 2024

James finished their biggest ever UK arena tour with their first ever show at London’s O2 Arena, making the capital’s largest indoor gig space feel intimate with a mix of their greatest hits and tracks from their number one album Yummy.

Saturday, 15 June 2024

James - Manchester CO-OP Live - 14th June 2024

James played their biggest ever sold out UK show at Manchester’s newest venue Coop Live on Friday night. Mixing tracks from their number one album Yummy with most of their biggest hits they demonstrated that you can still live and thrive as a band without simply playing the nostalgia card. 

Friday, 14 June 2024

TRACK OF THE DAY : Ist Ist - Repercussions


Ist Ist today release Repercussions, the third single to be taken from their forthcoming album Build A Bigger Fire out on September 20th. A powerful track that's already become a live favourite, it deals with the desire to express yourself without fear of consequences. It comes with the announcement of an extensive UK and EU tour visiting countries they've never played as well as a statement headline show in the main room of the Paradiso in Amsterdam.

Thursday, 13 June 2024

James - Birmingham Utilita Arena - 12th June 2024

James’ UK tour in support of their number one album Yummy headed to Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Wednesday night. The most spontaneous and thrilling show so far, imperfectly perfect, delighted a West Midlands crowd with a rich mix of the familiar and not so familar.

Wednesday, 12 June 2024

James / Razorlight - Cardiff Utilita Arena - 11th June 2024


After a two-day break James returned to the stage on their Yummy tour in Cardiff's Utilita Arena on Tuesday night with a set still heavy on their recent number one album, a few unexpected twists and turns and with an energy and vitality that resonated with an appreciative Welsh crowd so early in the working week. Support came from an impressive forty-five minute set by Razorlight.

Monday, 10 June 2024

Scattered Ashes - All That Is Solid Melts Into Air EP

Recorded in December 2023 at the iconic Darklands Audio studio in Dublin, Scattered Ashes deliver a near perfect EP in All That Is Solid Melts Into Air. The Dan Doherty produced recording showcases the Dublin/Mayo (London based) quartet for what they are and their darker more sinister approach sets them apart from many of their contemporaries. Like many of the bands that release on Galway based Blowtorch Records they are a band of distinction with a bright future ahead of them despite the dark undertones prevalent in many of their songs.

Sunday, 9 June 2024

James - Leeds First Direct Arena - 8th June 2024

James’ tour in support of their number one album Yummy rolled into Leeds First Direct Arena on Saturday night. A set of eight tracks taken from the record was mixed with most of their biggest singles and a couple of old friends.

Saturday, 8 June 2024

James - Glasgow OVO Hydro - 7th June 2024

James brought their tour to support their number one album to the cavernous space of Glasgow’s Hydro and 12,000 hungry excited Glaswegians. Capturing the mood of the night perfectly with both the performance and setlist they mixed the new and old in just the right measure to get an ecstatic response.

Friday, 7 June 2024

TRACK OF THE DAY : LIINES - Holding On

LIINES return with their first new material in two years with the previously unheard Holding On. 

Thursday, 6 June 2024

James - Newcastle Utilita Arena - 5th June 2024

 

James continued their UK tour in support of number one album Yummy with their first show in over twenty years at Newcastle's Utilita Arena. Mixing many of their biggest anthems from their 1990s commercial peak with their current number one album Yummy and with Tim Booth getting up close and personal with the audience, they turned an old soulless arena into an intimate space.

Tuesday, 4 June 2024

James / Razorlight - Aberdeen P&J Live - 3rd June 2024

James opened their UK arena tour in the North East of Scotland with their first ever visit to the P&J Live arena and their first visit to the city since 2008. Playing a predictably varied set of songs taken from their recent number one album Yummy as well as dipping in and out of forty years plus of hits and with beautiful accompanying visuals and crystal clear sound, they presented a new record they're justifiably proud of in detail alongside some more familiar songs. Support came from Razorlight.

Monday, 3 June 2024

The Lovely Eggs / Violet Malice / Loose Articles - Manchester New Century - 1st June 2024

The Lovely Eggs brought their ten-date tour to promote their new album Eggsistentialism to a close with a fast and furious show at New Century Hall in Manchester on Saturday night supported by Violet Malice and Loose Articles.