The Warlocks / Black Market Karma / Enemies Eyes - Manchester The Roadhouse - 8th May 2015

Suddenly, as it's about to close, The Roadhouse seems to be getting most of the great gigs in town. You can always rely on Interstellar Overdrive to put together a great bill and tonight is no exception as they've brought The Warlocks over from Los Angeles for a short UK tour and paired them with London's Black Market Karma and Manchester's own Enemies Eyes.

The Nightingales - Mind Over Matter

Mind Over Matter is the latest album by The Nightingales, a record that straddles generations and genres, the sound of a band that has something to say and isn't afraid to say it and say it directly whilst looking you square in the eye.

Track Of The Day : Frankie And The Heartstrings - Save It For Tonight

It's been a while since we've heard from Frankie And The Heartstrings as they've been working on a new album as well as setting up a record shop in their native Sunderland. However, they've recently revealed a new track Save It For Tonight from an album called Decency that is coming out in July and ahead of that they've embarked on a UK tour which calls at the Night And Day in Manchester tomorrow (May 11).

Introducing - Roses Are Blue

This week's tip on Shell Zenner's Amazing Radio show is Roses Are Blue, another happy accidental discovery that the internet springs on you from time to time. The song Sorry - Trying To Tell You is a beautiful haunting track guaranteed to make the hair stand on the back of your neck the minute Rose starts to sing, accompanied only by a solitary, distant sounding piano. When we dug deeper, we found a prolific songwriter with a mine of similarly evocative songs waiting to be discovered. We caught up with Rose to find out a little more about her.

Blossoms / Rory Wynne / Liam McClair - Stockport The Bungalow Club - 7th May 2015

The Bungalow Club is the social club attached to Stockport County's Edgeley Park football ground. Stockport is hometown to Blossoms, the best new band in Britain at the moment, and this is the second time they've played here in a matter of months to an adoring hometown crowd. And what's more, tonight's bill also included another young Stockport talent that's going to be on the tips of everyone's tongues very soon as well.

High Hazels / Jordan Allen - Manchester Roadhouse - 6th May 2015

On an exciting trans-pennine double bill, Sheffield's High Hazels made a long overdue return to Manchester to promote their latest single Valencia supported by Bolton's Jordan Allen. We went along to The Roadhouse to catch them and to see one of the last shows there before it closes for good at the end of the month.

Live At Leeds (Part 2) - Vitamin / Misty Miller / Blossoms / Bully / Kid Wave - 2nd May 2015

Yesterday we reviewed the first half of our day at Live At Leeds capturing Polo, Clay, Glacier Pacific, The Vryll Society and Gulf. Today's review covers the final five bands we saw at a festival we'll definitely be back at next year.

Serpent Power - Serpent Power

Serpent Power are a new psychedelic super group featuring members of The Coral and The Zutons. Their self-titled debut album is out today. Stuart Ralston gives it a spin.

Live At Leeds (Part 1) - Polo / Clay / Glacier Pacific / The Vryll Society / Gulf - 2nd May 2015

It's our first time at Live At Leeds. The beauty of these urban festivals is that there's always something new to discover as well as catching bands you know and love. We put on our walking shoes and managed to see ten bands. The first five are covered here.

Our Fold / The Eyres / Du Dauphine / MRE - Manchester Night And Day - 1st May 2015

The latest Scruff Of The Neck Records gig at the Night And Day in Manchester followed the fine traditions it has established of pairing together great bands from in and outside Manchester and presenting them on the same bill. Whilst there's bands you know (and love), there's always new ones to discover. We caught ETS favourites Our Fold and Du Dauphine and discovered MRE and The Eyres.

Dirty North - Wythenshawe Dub

Dirty North have stumbled around the Manchester underground scene for the past six years. Fusing reggae, rap and old-school rock, they've played the odd incendiary live gig to crowds that get their take on what it's like to grow up on a suburban housing estate. After a series of EPs and mixtapes of tracks they've recorded over the years and their debut Down In The Game, the appropriately titled Wythenshawe Dub is their second album, just as they go on an unspecified hiatus. It's available as a free download although you can (and should) pay what you like for it.

The Rainkings - Interview

This week, The Rainkings released a new EP called Fiveways, their first new material for nearly a quarter of a century. We caught up with front man Stephen Holt for a chat about the recording of the EP and setting up his own label Hear Here to release it.

Track Of The Day : My Igloo - Bashment

Bashment is the first track from Manchester's My Igloo with their new line-up. The live favourite has been transformed from a raucous saxophone-led knees-up in something more chilled in its approach and vibe, but something quite special.

The Jade Assembly - Interview

Bolton's The Jade Assembly launch their new single One Last Time next Monday and precede it with a launch show at their home town's Blind Tiger on Sunday supported by a host of local bands. The single is another example of their bold, heartfelt take on alternative rock and another step up for a band with songs big enough to fill big rooms. We caught up with front man John "Foz" Foster for a chat ahead of the launch.

Tom Hingley - Leslie Greenside Hotel - 25th April 2015

Tom Hingley continued his never-ending solo tour with a gig at the Greenside Hotel in Leslie. Stuart Ralston went along and witnessed a set mixing songs from his past, his present and future.

Ren Harvieu - Manchester Deaf Institute - 25th April 2015

It's three long years since Ren Harvieu broke onto the scene with her Top 5 album Through The Night. As we wait patiently for her second album, being crafted with the likes of Bernard Butler and The Magic Numbers' Romeo Stodart, she played a show at Manchester's Deaf Institute, mixing songs from her debut with a few covers and one new song whilst showcasing a new more upbeat dynamic sound with a five-piece band without taking the focus away from her show-stopping voice.

The Rainkings - Fiveways EP

You wait ages for a Stephen Holt fronted band. Then, two come along at once. Stuart Ralston checks out the first new recordings from the reformed The Rainkings in the form of their Fiveways EP.

Ruby Tuesday - Interview

Ruby Tuesday are a two-piece guitar and drums group from Manchester. They recently released a new EP The Devil's Roulette and sold out Kraak Gallery in town. We spoke with guitarist Jimmy McCarthy about their past, the EP and the inevitable (and lazy) comparisons.

Clay - Manchester Night And Day - 25th April 2015

Clay headlined the latest This Feeling night at Manchester's Night and Day Cafe. With a strong following back in their hometown of Leeds and a sold-out night at the Leeds version of the popular club night on the Friday evening, we nipped in to check them out and were hugely impressed by their fresh, lively and energetic sound.

The Bluetones - Interview

It's been four long years since The Bluetones called it a day with a series of celebratory gigs. They're back again with a series of tour dates in September to celebrate their twentieth anniversary of being a band. We spoke to guitarist Adam Devlin about what they've been up whilst they were away, his highlights and lowlights of the band's career and his burgeoning Twitter following.

Ryley Walker / Jenn Grant - Manchester Gullivers - 19th April 2015

Sunday nights are always quiet for shows, so you know there's something special happening when Gullivers is sold out in advance. And it's with good reason as we're treated to not just one but two fabulous acts from across the Atlantic. Canadian Jenn Grant opens the evening and is followed by American soon-to-be-superstar Ryley Walker.

The Slow Readers Club - Manchester Academy 3 - 18th April 2015

The Slow Readers Club launched their second album Cavalcade with a sold-out show at Manchester Academy 3. Whilst their star has been rising steadily over the past twelve months with a series of singles that have in turn won them more fans with each release, the release of Cavalcade and this sold-out show are hopefully now a stepping stone to bigger things.

Duke Special / She Makes War - Bury The Met - 16th April 2015

Duke Special has been treading the boards of the country for over a decade now. A unique performer with a back catalogue that travels through his own material, a multitude of covers but also themed releases around theatrical shows, books and orchestral performances, he’s touring the UK in support of his latest album Look Out Machines! with support from the wonderful She Makes War.

The Rails / Bird To Beast / Lucy & Virginia - Manchester Band On The Wall - 15th April 2015

The Rails' last show in Manchester at Gullivers went down as legend in some quarters. They came back to the more salubrious surroundings of the Band On The Wall accompanied by Colne's finest Bird To Beast and local-based duo Lucy & Virginia. It's very rare you get such a great trio of bands on the same bill so we went along to check them all out.

Thousand Yard Stare - Interview

Starting their career with a series of sell-out EPs that grabbed them a major label deal and support slots with James and Carter USM, Thousand Yard Stare were one of the most creative indie bands emerging in the early years of the 1990s. They recorded two albums Hands On and Mappamundi before calling it a day. They've recently announced a London date on June 6 to raise funds for a cancer charity.

Sara Lowes - Salford Eagle Inn - 14th April 2015

To support the release of album of the year contender The Joy Of Waiting, Sara Lowes played an intimate set at Salford's Eagle Inn mixing tracks from the album, her debut Back To Creation and a track inspired by Dylan Thomas. Backed by members of The Earlies and other illuminati of the Manchester scene, her live show matched the grace and vitality of the album.

Lone Tree Quartet - Have Mercy

Lone Tree Quartet released their debut album Have Mercy last month, a nine-track album steeped in the finest traditions of folk and country with informed nods to other genres, a genuine music lovers' album for both its makers and its listeners.

Coves - Spectrum EP

Coves' debut album Soft Friday was number 3 in Even The Stars' albums of 2014. They've followed it up with some exhilarating live shows earlier this year and now release a four-track EP, for free, which includes three new tracks as well as a reworking of album No Ladder. On this basis, Coves retain their ability to thrill with a darker electronic sound and the breathless angelic vocals of Bec Wood.

The Slow Readers Club - Cavalcade

We've long since championed Manchester’s The Slow Readers Club.  Listen to their new album Cavalcade, released today, and you’ll understand why.

I Am Kloot - Hold Back The Night

Some bands come alive in the live environment. I Am Kloot are one of the prime examples of that, the spontaneity of performance, the electric connection between the three original members of the band and their audience and a set of songs that come alive in dark rooms.  They've finally got round, fifteen years into their career, to releasing a live album, Hold Back The Night, recorded during a series of shows back in 2013.

Andy Burrows - Nottingham Rescue Rooms - 11th April 2015

It was with some trepidation that we discovered that Razorlight's drummer Andy Burrows was supporting I Am Kloot on their current UK tour as we're not huge fans of Johnny Burrell's troupe. However, we're always open to be surprised and Andy and his band won us over with sweet melancholic tales.

Sara Lowes - Interview

Sara Lowes recently released her second album The Joy Of Waiting, one of Even The Stars' favourite albums of the year so far. Ahead of next week's show at the Eagle Inn in Salford, we caught up with her and talked about the myriad of musical projects she's currently involved in.

Jess Harwood - You & I EP

It's just under two years since Jess Harwood released her debut EP I'll Find A Way.  This week she releases her You & I EP, her first collection of songs since then, and it's a huge progression for the Blackpool singer-songwriter, more than delivering on the promise of that first release.

Andrew Montgomery - Chester The Compass - 7th April 2015

Back in the heady days of late 1990s Britpop, one band stood out from the crowd because of the voice of their front man - Andrew Montgomery. Geneva, hampered by the press backlash at the second wave of bands and the financial meltdown of their label Nude, released two stunning albums Further and Weather Underground. Andrew released his debut solo album Ruled By Dreams last year and we caught the final date of his UK tour at The Compass in Chester.

I Am Kloot - Paaspop Festival / Amsterdam Melkweg - 4th / 5th April 2015

I Am Kloot's first two gigs of the year took place in The Netherlands, the first at the Paaspop Festival on the outskirts of S'Hertgenbosch and the second in the more familiar setting of Amsterdam's Melkweg. We caught up with the slimmed-down three-piece I Am Kloot as they started their year off in style.

Puppet Rebellion - Glasgow Nice And Sleazy - 3rd April 2015

With sold out shows in their hometown and two EPs under their belt, Puppet Rebellion head to Scotland for the first time.

Nelson Can / Liines - Manchester Roadhouse - 2nd April 2015

Nelson Can from Copenhagen are on their first UK tour in support of their album Now Is Your Time To Deliver. We caught their debut Manchester show supported by Even The Stars favourites LIINES.

Bells In The Birches - Ordinary Boy EP

Bells In The Birches are a Manchester-based folk group about to release their second EP Ordinary Boy. The beauty in their music is in its simplicity, the way acoustic guitars and strings pluck at your heartstrings whilst vocalist Helen tells tales of love and adventure.