Good Health, Good Wealth - Newcastle Think Tank - 25th March 2026

A neon sign adorns the stage changing red to blue, Tony Bennett’s Rags to Riches is playing and this all seems very appropriate for the excellent Good Health, Good Wealth on their Millionaires UK & IE Part 2 tour.

James - Bristol O2 Academy - 28th March 2026

James opened their Love Is The Answer tour with a warm-up show at the O2 Academy in Bristol on Saturday night. Combining two brand-new songs with some long-lost deep cuts and some, but not all, of their biggest hits, they delighted a crowd packed in to the intimate venue.

David Ford / Matthew And The Atlas - Manchester Halle St Peter's - 19th March 2026

David Ford returned to Manchester and the hallowed setting of Halle St Peter's as part of Manchester Folk Festival on Thursday night. A career spanning set delighted a mix of older fans and won over many of the festival attendees.

TVAM / Marina Zispin - Newcastle The Common Rooms - 28th February 2026

TVAM's tour in support of new album Ruins, released last Friday, headed to The Common Rooms in Newcastle on Saturday night supported by Marina Zispin. Gillian Heal was there to report back.

Julia Pertuy - Newcastle Cluny - 16th February 2026

French multi-instrumentalist Julia Pertuy played the second of a short two-night UK tour at the Cluny in Newcastle on Monday night. Gillian Heal attended and was blown away by the music, movement and beauty of the performance

Pure Reason Revolution - Manchester Club Academy - 13th February 2026

Pure Reason Revolution headed to Manchester on Friday night to reprise their debut album The Dark Third on its twentieth anniversary as part of a short series of dates that saw them reunited with former members Chloe Alper and Andrew Courtney before playing a second set of career-spanning highlights.

James - Liverpool Cavern Club - 9th February 2026

James played two of their most intimate shows in decades on Monday night as they made good on their postponed album launch shows for Nothing But Love - The Definitive Best Of at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. Stripped down to a four-piece they performed twice with music interspersed with audience Q and A.

Ist Ist - Bury Met - 8th February 2026

Ist Ist continued their launch week for their fifth album Dagger with a show at Bury Met on Sunday night in conjunction with local record shop Wax And Beans. Performing the album in full, their strongest work to date, with a couple of older songs added at the end before signing records, they demonstrated why their march has taken on relentless proportions.

Thousand Yard Stare / John Mouse - Manchester Gullivers - 7th February 2026

Thousand Yard Stare rolled back the years with an energetic show at Gullivers in Manchester on Saturday night. Taking songs from their 90s heyday and mixing them with more recent material from their post-reformation records, they delighted a nostalgic crowd that threw themselves around to songs that defined their youth. Support came from John Mouse, the Welsh one.

The Man From Delmonte / The Mudd Club / Pageant Mum - Manchester Ritz - 21st December 2025

The Man From Delmonte concluded the most surprising and glorious comeback of 2025 with a celebratory homecoming at Manchester's Ritz to celebrate the release of their debut album Better Things, thirty-five years after they first split up. Support came from Pageant Mum and The Mudd Club.

EVEN THE STARS TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2025

It's time to reveal our list of favourite albums of 2025

The Slow Readers Club - Newcastle University - 11th December 2025

The Slow Readers Club brought their A Decade Of Cavalcade tour to Newcastle University on Thursday night. Performing their breakthrough second album in full followed by a set of hits from across the rest of their career, they delighted a dedicated audience and reminded us of the magic of the album that took the long road to breaking them.

Inspiral Carpets - Birmingham Institute - 6th December 2025

Inspiral Carpets took us on a nostalgic journey through their biggest hits in front of a joyous Birmingham crowd whilst giving us a tantalising glimpse at two new songs from an album they let slip is scheduled for release in 2026.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Ist Ist - Makes No Difference

Makes No Difference is Ist Ist's second single from their recently announced fifth album Dagger, the follow-up to their top 25 Light A Bigger Fire, due for release on February 6th, 2026. Possibly their most immediate and radio-friendly single to date, Makes No Difference is both unmistakeably Ist Ist, but also another step up as the band continue to accelerate their unstoppable momentum both at home and on the continent where they're selling out thousand plus capacity venues in many countries.

David Ford - Hebden Bridge Trades Club - 25th October 2025

David Ford's tour to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of his debut album I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused rolled into Hebden Bridge Trades Club on Saturday night for a sold-out show. Accompanied by Demi Marriner, Ed Blunt and Emily Grove who each performed a couple of their own songs before David's set, he revisited and reinvented his debut album to an adoring crowd.

TRACK BY TRACK: Carousel Clouds - Control Zed

Last week Carousel Clouds released their second album Control Zed, the follow-up to 2018's Tales Of Coincidence. We caught up with Neil from the band to walk us through the eleven songs that make up the record.

Belly - Manchester Academy 2 - 26th September 2025

Belly rolled into Manchester on Friday night as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of their second album King. The first set saw them perform the album in full whilst the second set comprised of tracks from debut Star, 2018's comeback Dove and a few surprises.

Déjà Vega / Yetii - Stockport St Mary's Church - 23rd September 2025

Déjà Vega headlined Stockport’s Mercury Climbing Festival in the beautiful setting of St Mary’s Church on Tuesday night with a set of crowd favourites and a brand new song, supported by Yetii.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Ist Ist - I Am The Fear

Ist Ist return with a bang with I Am The Fear, the first single to be taken from their upcoming as-yet-unannounced fifth album.  Accompanied by a traditionally dark video, the song marks another step up for the fiercely independent Manchester band who hit the Top 25 in the Official Album Chart with their fourth album Light A Bigger Fire last year.

James - Alicante Noches Magicas - 24th August 2025

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, James took Spain by storm - first with a euphoric set at Sonorama Festival, then with their first-ever Alicante show. As part of the Noches Mágicas 2025 series, 3,000 fans filled Muelle 12 for a seaside celebration that embodied the band’s spirit and unofficial anthem, Getting Away With It.

Throwing Muses - Hebden Bridge Trades Club - 25th August 2025

Throwing Muses continued their second leg of the UK and European tour in support of their album Moonlight Concessions with a sold-out bank holiday show at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge to an appreciative audience where they defied the expectations of a band of their vintage.

James / Happy Mondays / The Lightning Seeds - Colchester Castle - 22nd August 2025

As part of this year’s events at Colchester’s Lower Castle Park, Out of Time delivered a spectacular night of music, headlined by indie legends James. The bill also featured unforgettable support sets from The Lightning Seeds and Happy Mondays, making for an evening packed with iconic performances.

Lanterns On The Lake - Edinburgh La Belle Angele - 23rd August 2025

Lanterns On The Lake played only their second show of the year on Saturday night at La Belle Angele in Edinburgh as part of the venue's week of shows to coincide with the final week of the Edinburgh Fringe. Previewing four unreleased songs as well as favourites from across their career, they delighted an audience that stood and drank in the atmosphere created by one of the country's finest and most underrated bands.

John Bramwell And The Full Harmonic Convergence - Manchester Night And Day - 10th August 2025

John Bramwell made a nostalgic return to one of his old haunts The Night And Day Cafe in Manchester on Sunday night. The set though was far from a trip down memory, taking heavily from his two solo albums since leaving I Am Kloot with a few old favourites thrown in at the end as the crowd joined in to sing along and almost drown out one of the nation's finest songwriters and his exceptionally talented band.

James - Barcelona Palau De Pedralbes - 18th July 2025

 

James summer tour rolled into a boiling hot Barcelona on Friday night for a show set to the backdrop of the beautiful Palau de Pedralbes where they delivered a career spanning set of their biggest hits, more recent highlights and deeper cuts.

James / Shed Seven / Jamie Webster - Cardiff Castle - 10th July 2025

Each summer, Cardiff Castle opens its majestic grounds to a host of celebrated artists, offering a truly picturesque backdrop for live music. On Thursday 10th July, the historic venue was alive with the sounds of Manchester’s beloved indie rock band, James, who captivated the audience with their unmistakable flair. The evening was further elevated by support from acclaimed acts Jamie Webster and Shed Seven.

Elbow / The Slow Readers Club / Peter Alexander Jobson - Manchester Castlefield Bowl - 2nd July 2025

Elbow opened up this year's Castlefield Bowl Sounds Of The City series of shows on Wednesday night with a sold out gig accompanied by fellow local heroes The Slow Readers Club and Peter Alexander Jobson. A few surprises, most of their biggest hits and an atmosphere of joy and togetherness delighted eight thousand fans on a warm Manchester summer night.

James / The K's / Tom A Smith - Lincoln Castle - 14th June 2025

With a hectic summer of dates underway, James brought their headline show to the scenic Lincoln Castle. Backed by The K’s and Tom A. Smith - both seasoned tour mates of the Manchester icons - the night was a perfect blend of history, atmosphere, and exceptional live music.

Basia Bulat / Bryde - Manchester Yes Basement - 19th June 2025

Basia Bulat returned to Manchester for the first time in nine years as she reaches the end of a three-week European tour. A sold-out Yes Basement was utterly charmed and captivated by songs taken from across her career right up to recent album Basia's Palace as she moved effortlessly from acoustic guitar to keys to autoharp and performing a solo encore on the ukulele.

James - Manchester Heaton Park - 13th June 2025

James opened up for Catfish And The Bottlemen at their massive outdoor show at Heaton Park in Manchester on Friday night. With front man Tim Booth nobbled by an ankle injury they delivered a hit-heavy set to a crowd many of whom were too young to remember them reforming yet alone their 90s chart peak.

James - Halifax Piece Hall - 7th June 2025

Saturday night saw James complete their two-night run of sold-out shows in the glorious surroundings of Halifax’s Piece Hall. With the threatened torrential downpours holding off they took us through a career spanning set full of improvisation and surprises amongst most of their biggest songs.

James - Halifax Piece Hall - 6th June 2025

James opened The Piece Hall in Halifax's impressive summer season with the first of two sold out nights at the beautiful Grade I listed eighteenth century cloth hall. With a set that touched on most periods in their forty-year plus career, they delighted a crowd with hits, deep cuts and curveballs as the rains came down and Tim Booth crowd surfed on a sea of wet raised arms lost in the moment.

Inspiral Carpets / K-Estate - Lytham Lowther Pavilion - 25th May 2025

Inspiral Carpets concluded their four-day weekend of shows with a visit to the wonderful Lowther Pavilion in Lytham to perform a mix of hits and deep cuts to a bank holiday Sunday audience. With Martyn Walsh back in the saddle on bass, they rolled back the years and reminded us why we fell in love with them in the first place.

James - Warrington Neighbourhood Festival - 24th May 2025

Neighbourhood Weekender took a break in 2024, but it returned in style this year, with James headlining Saturday night. The band last topped the bill in 2021, stepping in for Ian Brown after he dropped out over COVID-19 vaccination requirements. With no Manchester date on their current tour, the Warrington-based festival served as the closest thing to a hometown show - and it certainly felt like one.

Pixies - Manchester Apollo - 24th May 2025

Pixies concluded their UK tour in support of their most recent album When The Zombies Came with a sold-out show at Manchester's Apollo Theatre. Featuring tracks from the album alongside many of the classics with which they made their name in the late 1980s and early 1990s they delighted a fan base of young and old over the course of an hour and three quarters.

Inspiral Carpets / Malcom - Carlisle Old Fire Station - 22nd May 2025

Inspiral Carpets have been out on the road this week on a mini UK tour, calling in at some of their favourite venues in Scotland, England and Wales. The opening night – at Carlisle's Old Fire Station – celebrates the 10th anniversary of the venue. Stuart Ralston enjoyed a phenomenal twenty song set and an impressive opening performance from new 4 piece Malcom.

Mark Hoyle In Conversation - Waterfoot Horse And Bamboo - 17th May 2025

Mark Hoyle - front man of the legendary Dub Sex - has just released his biography Swerve and to promote it, he’s in the beautiful Rossendale arts centre Horse And Bamboo with a strong supporting cast; Martin Coogan from The Mock Turtles is spinning some classics in the bar before we take our seats in the splendidly decorated auditorium to hear Mark superbly interviewed by another Manc legend; singer, songwriter, actress and writer Stella Grundy. 

James - Edinburgh Corn Exchange - 22nd May 2025

James warmed up for their Neighbourhood Weekender headline slot on Saturday with an intimate sweaty warm-up show at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange. Mixing tracks from last year’s number one album Yummy and tracks from the albums that preceded it with some of their biggest hits they delighted a Scottish crowd that took some to get going but which finished one joyful bouncing mass.

Ist Ist / Oliver Marson - Stoke Sugarmill - 9th May 2025

Ist Ist made their debut performance in Stoke on Friday night at the legendary Sugarmill venue. A band on a roll on the back of a successful 2024 that saw them breach the top 30 album chart with their fourth album Light A Bigger Fire and sold out shows across the UK and continental Europe. Performing favourites from across their career as well as showcasing two new songs, they demonstrated what a powerful and compelling live act they are.

The Murder Capital - Manchester New Century - 18th April 2025

The second night of The Murder Capital’s UK tour in support of their third album Blindness rolled into town on Good Friday with a show at Manchester’s New Century Hall playing most of Blindness alongside old favourites.

John Bramwell - Waterfoot Horse And Bamboo - 17th April 2025

John Bramwell continued his never-ending solo travels around the UK with an intimate sold-out show at the Horse And Bamboo in Waterfoot on Thursday night. Mixing classics from his days with I Am Kloot and material from his solo albums as well as a blast from the past, he charmed the audience with stories, humour as well as some of the finest songwriting this country has produced since the turn of the century.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Little Sparrow - Moondust

It's been four years since we heard new music from Little Sparrow, but she's out of hibernation today with a brand new single Moondust. It's a change in direction that Katie (aka Little Sparrow) describes as "space folk" but with old friends in collaboration with her.

The Man From Delmonte / The Mudd Club - Manchester Academy 2 - 12th April 2025

The Man From Delmonte's unexpected reunion continued apace on Saturday night with a sold-out show at Academy 2 in Manchester. Thirty-five years on from their split they brought memories of misspent youth flooding back with a glorious seventy-five minute set.

slab / Vice Vera - Manchester Peer Hat - 11th April 2025

slab celebrated the release of their debut album Taut with a packed out show in the basement of The Peer Hat in Manchester on Friday night delighting the crowd with their dark heavily instrumental brooding soundtrack.

Divorce / Dug - Manchester Gorilla - 3rd April 2025

Divorce brought their sold-out tour in support of their debut album Drive To Goldenhammer to Manchester's Gorilla on Thursday night. Supported by newly-signed Dublin duo Dug, they delighted a packed crowd by performing their album in full alongside tracks from their early EPs.

Inspiral Carpets - Coventry HMV Empire - 27th March 2025

When Inspiral Carpets announced they were opening the year with some big gigs in Greece -  with bass supremo Martyn Walsh returning to the fold - there was immediate excitement at Even The Stars. We couldn’t make it out to Greece unfortunately but there was no way Stuart Ralston was missing the first show back on British soil. 

Thus Love / Ain't - Salford White Hotel - 29th March 2025

Thus Love continued their relentless touring schedule with a packed out show at Salford's White Hotel on Saturday night with a set taken from their two albums to date Memorial and last year's All Pleasure in front of an appreciative crowd. Support came from heavily-backed newcomers Ain't.

Westside Cowboy / Pushbike - Manchester Gullivers - 27th March 2025

The hottest name in town, Westside Cowboy, took two sold-out nights at Gullivers in their stride as they played their biggest headline shows to date in what felt like a significant undersell. Over forty-five minutes the four-piece justified the mounting hype around them.

Ist Ist - Preston The Ferret - 26th March 2025

Ist Ist prepared for their upcoming European and UK tours with a sold-out packed warm-up show at The Ferret in Preston. Mixing songs from their back catalogue celebrating ten years as a band with tracks from their top 25 album Light A Bigger Fire and giving a three-song insight into the writing sessions for their fifth album, they delighted the fervent crowd with a mammoth twenty-two song set.

Tom A Smith / The Manatees - Manchester Night And Day Cafe - 19th March 2025

Tom A Smith called in at Manchester's Night And Day Cafe on Wednesday night for the first of two shows on a short tour with Southampton's The Manatees promoted by The Rock Revival. Over the course of fourteen songs he got the audience singing along to every word of old favourites whilst revealing new music from one of the country's most prolific young songwriters expanding his musical palette still further.