TRACK OF THE DAY : Matter Of Mind - Sparks In Our Blood

Sparks In Our Blood is the new single from Stockport's Matter Of Mind and it comes accompanied with a gory and mysterious video.

Temples - Manchester Soup Kitchen - 30th September 2019

Temples came to Manchester on a wet Monday night for an out-store show at Soup Kitchen in conjunction with Piccadilly Records. Mixing six songs from their new album Hot Motion that came out last Friday with three old favourites, they delighted an attentive crowd with their summery psychedelia.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Rundown - Take Offence

Take Offence is the debut single from Manchester five-piece Rundown, an exceptionally promising first song that succeeds in both having a magical timeless quality to it as well as sounding thoroughly modern and relevant.

Rory Wynne - Manchester Zombie Shack - 27th September 2019

Rory Wynne played the second of his four night residency at Zombie Shack on Friday night, an hour plus set covering seventeen songs from his debut album, EP, early singles and some new material. Despite having to fight against crippling sound issues the quality of the songs managed to shine through.

Ist Ist / Our Fold - Bury Met - 28th September 2019

Ist Ist played a triumphant sort-of-homecoming show at Bury Met on Saturday night as part of their nationwide tour ahead of going into the studio to record their debut album. Mixing their early singles including the resurrection of an old favourite with tracks from their two EPs and giving us a tantalising taster of the songs that will form the album. Support came from Bolton's Our Fold with tracks taken from their recent debut album Sick Of Normal Life.

TRACK OF THE DAY : John Bramwell - I Am The Sky

John Bramwell has released his new single today I Am The Sky with a video featuring Ben Crompton from Game Of Thrones and the Newcastle dance company balletLORENT. It's the first new material from his follow-up to his debut solo record Leave Alone The Empty Spaces.

Keane - Manchester Apollo - 26th September 2019

Keane returned last week after a seven-year absence with a new album Cause And Effect and their first UK tour in that time called in at an immediately sold-out Manchester Apollo for a night of reminiscing about their glory days but with the new album heavily represented in a mammoth twenty-four song set.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Useless Cities - How To Feel

Useless Cities return today with their first single of the year How To Feel. It mixes two very different vocal styles - one full of foreboding, the other full of hope as it soars into the distance - and music that builds and wraps itself around the listener before balancing on the precipice of distortion in the breakdown.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Slow Readers Club - Lunatic (Live At O2 Apollo Manchester)

In December 2018, The Slow Readers Club played their biggest headline show to date at Manchester Apollo. Sold-out three months in advance, the night was a celebration of a band that had for so long been one of the underdogs on the city's music scene finally getting their deserved rewards. Ahead of the October 25th release of a live CD / LP / DVD of the whole night, they've revealed a live video of Lunatic, the opening song of the night and the lead single from their top-twenty third album Build A Tower.

Michael Timmons - Aberdeen Big Sky Studio - 21st September 2019

Michael Timmons is a young man who has come of age since the release of his beautiful debut album Bone Coloured. A star that shines bright in the sky above. Jason Wynne caught his sold-out performance at Aberdeen's Big Sky Studio as part of the inaugural True North Festival.

Cobain Jones - Manchester HMV - 24th September 2019

Tameside's Cobain Jones is one of a new breed of songwriters from the Greater Manchester area who's not tied to the legacy of a certain set of brothers and takes his influences from wider afield. He played Manchester HMV's first ever Live N Local showcase on Tuesday night with a set of four originals and five covers.

Ist Ist / Aufbau Principle - Glasgow Hug And Pint - 21st September 2019

Making their Glasgow debut, Manchester's Ist Ist played a storming show, winning over a new legion of fans. Before that, local heroes Aufbau Principle played an impressive set. Stuart Ralston returns to one of his favourite venues in his hometown.

The Twilight Sad - Aberdeen True North Festival - 21st September 2019

It’s safe to say The Twilight Sad haven’t had an easy ride throughout the many many years of their turbulent existence. Through the adversity they’ve come out the other side stronger than ever and the bands much anticipated return to the Granite City headlining the True North Festival feels like some sort of triumph and rightly so.

Ist Ist - London Grace - 19th September 2019

Ist Ist opened their UK tour in London at the newly revamped Grace with a powerful set mixing tracks from their first two EPs, early singles and two tracks from their forthcoming debut album to a delirious crowd that fully bought into them.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Jordan Allen - Never Give It Up

After eight months out in the wilderness, Jordan Allen is back with a fiercely independent new single Never Give It Up and a new band.  Having already sold out Gorilla in Manchester three months in advance and with a set of new songs readied for release, he's destined to make good the years of waiting and to do it on his own terms.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Wha - Innocents

Innocents is the debut single from Kilkenny's The Wha, the latest band off what seems like a conveyor belt of bands coming from across the Irish Sea. Like the others though, they've got a spirit and a personality of their own and this shines through in both the song and the video for Innocents.

Pixies / The Big Moon - Manchester Apollo - 18th September 2019

Pixies' huge European tour in support of their seventh studio album Beyond The Eyrie hit Manchester Apollo on Wednesday night for a sold-out show that covered all seven of their studio albums across a mammoth thirty-seven songs, focusing heaviest on the new record and their classic Doolittle. Support came from The Big Moon.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Ren Harvieu - Teenage Mascara

High on the list of things we've been waiting for a very long time for was the return of Ren Harvieu. Seven years on from her top five debut album Through The Night, she's finally back with a single Teenage Mascara, the first track to be taken from her second album due for release via Bella Union in March 2020 written with The Magic Numbers' Romeo Stodart.

Ist Ist - Sessions EP Track By Track

With their debut EP release Spinning Rooms sold out on vinyl and its follow-up Everything Is Different Now close behind, Ist Ist have taken the novel approach of re-recording them in one day in the studio and combining them on this Sessions release rather than simply repress them. We had a chat with bassist Andy Keating who walked us through the tracks on Sessions.

Hey Bulldog / Gardenback / Bleach Body - Manchester Jimmy's - 14th September 2019

Hey Bulldog sold out their biggest headline show to date at Jimmy's in Manchester on Saturday night. A packed room gave them a rapturous response as they launched their new single Death And Greed supported by Gardenback and Bleach Bod at the latest of Deco Records nights.

Coby Fletcher / Secluded Sea / Ashley Sherlock / Leon The Pig Farmer - Manchester Night People - 12th September 2019

Live outings for Coby Fletcher are a rare occurrence so Night People on Thursday night was a must for anyone who wanted to see what one of the city's most modest yet talented songwriters has been up to in the two and a half years since he left Cupids. Support came from Ashley Sherlock, Leon The Pig Farmer and Secluded Sea.

Reclaim Vienna - Interview

Reclaim Vienna have already made their mark in Manchester, recently selling out Gullivers weeks in advance and their November Bread Shed show looks to be heading the same way. With their debut single proper Kick The Butterfly out today via 42s Records, we caught up with front man Jonathan for a chat.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Flight Brigade - Heartbreaker

Heartbreaker is the latest single from Flight Brigade ahead of the release of their album Chased By Wolves tomorrow (September 13) and a tour that runs through most of October.

Jack In Water - Presence EP

Presence is a four-track EP from Jack In Water, aka William Clapson. His fourth EP is a beautifully evocative yet understated record that trades eloquently in the turmoil of human emotions and deals with them with a warm refreshing compassion for other human beings.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Dry Cleaning - Sit Down Meal

Sit Down Meal is the lead track from London four-piece Dry Cleaning's forthcoming second EP Boundary Road Snacks And Drinks out on October 25.

Confessional Festival Day 2 - Blackburn Holy Trinity Church - 7th September 2019 (International Teachers Of Pop / Red Rum Club / White Room / Working Men's Club / The Ruby Tuesdays / Kyogen / Déjà Vega / Loose Articles / Northern Sports Club)

Day two of Confessional Festival was more of a marathon than a sprint with nine acts on in an eight hour showcase of some of the best and most exciting new bands around in the disused Holy Trinity Church on the outskirts of Blackburn. Saturday's impressive line-up included headliners International Teachers Of Pop, Red Rum Club, White Room, Working Men's Club, The Ruby Tuesdays, Kyogen, Déjà Vega, Loose Articles and Northern Sports Club.

Confessional Festival Day 1 - Blackburn Holy Trinity Church - 6th September 2019 (The Blinders / LIINES / Witch Fever / The Seamonsters / Audrey's Dance)

Day One of Blackburn's Confessional Festival in the stunning setting of the disused Holy Trinity Church overlooking the town saw a headline set by The Blinders accompanied by LIINES, Witch Fever, The Seamonsters and Audrey's Dance providing a musically varied evening of some of the North's best and most exciting bands on one bill.

TRACK OF THE DAY : SKIES - Born Yesterday

SKIES return with an exciting brand new single Born Yesterday and a quiz show style video with a twist at the end. The Kent-based duo continue their love of high-energy songs with a deeper message behind the lyrics. Musically euphoric and uplifting, there's more than a little sadness when you listen closer to the words about a situation most of us have faced at some point.

The Gallerys / Neptune Valley / No Vacancies - Manchester Night And Day Cafe - 5th September 2019

Kent's The Gallerys brought their nationwide Steady Beat tour to the Night And Day in Manchester on Thursday night supported by Wigan's Neptune Valley and Manchester's own No Vacancies, a three-band bill that delighted the small but appreciative crowd.

Dantevilles - Welcome To The Theatre EP

Dantevilles return with a new three-track EP Welcome To The Theatre, a set of songs that sees them branching out, expanding their horizons and making music that it feels like they're having a whale of a time creating.

The Futureheads - Manchester HMV - 2nd September 2019

To promote their new album Powers, their first in seven years, Barry and Ross from The Futureheads played an intimate unplugged set in HMV's Manchester store, featuring three tracks from the new album, two old favourites, their Kate Bush Hounds Of Love cover and an Brobdingnagian Bards fairytale called Old Dun Cow complete with audience participation.

James / Anteros / Dirty Laces - Bingley Weekender - 1st September 2019

James headlined the final night of the inaugural Bingley Weekender on Sunday night, their last UK show before taking a well-earned sabbatical, with a set laden with hits and tracks from their recent top ten album Living In Extraordinary Times. Across the other stages we also caught impressive sets by Dirty Laces and Anteros.

Geneva - Manchester O2 Ritz - 31st August 2019

Of all the much-hyped Britpop reunions, Geneva's has been one of the quietest. Bedeviled by record label problems and hindered by lazy labeling, they never got the recognition their two albums deserved. Starshaped Festival has brought them back together for this year's tour of events and we caught them on the opening night at the Ritz in Manchester.

Loose Articles - Manchester O2 Ritz Basement - 30th August 2019

Loose Articles were one of the local bands invited onto the Manchester Psych Fest bill across four venues on Friday night. Down in the basement of the Ritz, they delivered a set that marks them out as one of the most in-your-face bands in the new wave of Manchester music.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Karobela - No Mercy

Faversham four-piece Karobela recently released their debut single No Mercy, a song full of big riffs and a soaring confident "don't mess with me" lead vocal.

TRACK OF THE DAY / INTERVIEW : Rory Wynne - The Next Day

RoryWynne releases his new single The Next Day this week ahead of a four-date residency at Zombie Shack in Manchester. We caught up with him for a chat about the single and the reasons behind playing so many shows in such a short time frame.

Ist Ist - Sessions

With their debut EP release Spinning Rooms sold out on vinyl and its follow-up Everything Is Different Now close behind, Ist Ist have taken the novel approach of re-recording them in one day in the studio and combining them on this Sessions release rather than simply repress them.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Odd Morris - The Nothing New

Odd Morris released their debut single What Might Be back in March and have now just revealed a live video to their track The Nothing New through SOMA x O'Hara's sessions.

The Zangwills / Carl North And The Lonely Hearts / Luna Bay / Delights - Altrincham Goose Green Festival - 24th August 2019

Every August bank holiday there's two days of live music curated by local radio station Trafford Sound in the intimate surroundings of Altrincham's Goose Green, a collection of bars, restaurants and local businesses nestled off the town's main thoroughfare. In baking sunshine we caught up with (relatively) local acts Delights, Carl North And The Lonely Hearts, The Zangwills and Londoners Luna Bay.

Blossoms / Fuzzy Sun / Inhaler - Stoke Victoria Halls - 22nd August 2019

Blossoms concluded their short run of intimate shows ahead of their Reading and Leeds Festival slots with a celebratory night at the Victoria Halls in Stoke supported by Inhaler and Fuzzy Sun. With a set covering both their self-titled debut and Cool Like You plus recent single Your Girlfriend and a David Bowie cover, they had 1,500 people bouncing for their eighty-minute set.

Thomas Haywood (The Blinders) / Afghan Sand Gang / Scuttlers / Ellysse Mason / Maddy Storm - Manchester Night People - 21st August 2019

The latest in the series of Manchester's Musicians Against Homelessness gigs took place in the intimate setting of Night People, headlined by Thomas Haywood of The Blinders playing an acoustic set and supported by a stripped-down Afghan Sand Gang, an acoustic performance by Luke and Kaiden of Scuttlers plus solo performances from songwriters Ellysse Mason and Maddy Storm.

The Murder Capital - Manchester Fopp - 20th August 2019

The Murder Capital's promotional tour for their debut album When I Have Fears continued with an in-store at Manchester's recently reopened Fopp store. Without the protection of the traditional boundaries of a gig venue, they showed exactly why they excite and reinvigorate so many music lovers.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Elephant Trees - Idiot

Idiot is the first track from The Elephant Trees' forthcoming EP Monachopsis. An upbeat vibrant song that reflects their live shows, Idiot is the duo of Martha and Sam's most impressive release to date.

The Murder Capital - Glasgow Monorail - 19th August 2019

After a busy weekend, playing to sell out crowds in Dublin, and promoting debut album When I Have Fears with record store shows across Ireland, The Murder Capital played a mesmerising thirty-minute set to an enthralled Glasgow audience. Stuart Ralston popped home for a few hours to witness James, Damien, Cathal, Gabriel and Diarmuid deliver an emotive, uplifting and stunning set.

The Murder Capital - When I Have Fears (alternative review)

With the Irish music scene currently awash with great new bands it’s hard not to fall in love with the rapidly rising Dublin based quintet The Murder Capital and their brilliant debut album When I Have Fears. Jason Wynne takes another look at the record for us - as we couldn't agree who was going to write the review.

The Murder Capital - Dublin Button Factory - 16th August 2019

The sold-out signs were up and The Murder Capital swaggered into a hometown show of sorts for the launch of their debut album When I Have Fears and thrilled the 550 capacity Button Factory audience with a performance that will last in the memory forever and ever.

James - Doncaster Racecourse - 17th August 2019

Sometimes the best gigs can take place in the strangest surroundings.  Five o'clock in the evening, in bright sunshine, on a stage at a racecourse with a mix of die-hard fans and those out for a drunken day at the races and a huge gap and fences between band and audience weren't auspicious, but somehow James turned their Doncaster racecourse show into a triumph.

The Murder Capital - Dublin Thomas House - 16th August 2019

As part of The Murder Capital’s extensive touring schedule promoting their brilliant new album When I Have Fears one hundred lucky people were fortunate enough to witness a very special matinee performance on the launch date at the Thomas House public house in Dublin. Jason Wynne was one of them, having flown in from Manchester for the double-header of this and their sold-out Button Factory show in the evening.

James - Edinburgh Princes St Gardens - 15th August 2019

James defied a whole host of technical issues and Edinburgh's draconian decibel limitations to deliver a celebratory evening against the stunning backdrop of the castle towering above the stage in the picturesque surroundings of Princes St Gardens as part of the city's Summer Sessions.

Control Of The Going - Reflections EP

Control Of The Going today release their new EP Reflections, their first new material since their debut album I Love You But It's Going To Rain. Their new line-up captures much of what made people fall for their debut, but also demonstrates that they're a band moving forwards in developing their sound.