Hannah Ashcroft / Jekyll - Manchester Band On The Wall - 23rd August 2018

Two contrasting acts - Hannah Ashcroft and Jekyll - topped the bill at the latest Free Vibes event curated by Shell Zenner at Band On The Wall on Thursday night.

Liam Frost - Interview

As he readies the release of his third album with his Latchkey Kids project, we spoke to Liam Frost ahead of his Manchester Deaf Institute headline show tomorrow night (August 25th).

Section 25 - Elektra

The eighth studio album from Blackpool's Section 25 lives up to our expectations. Long time Section 25 champion Stuart Ralston has been mulling over the new album for a month now and finally delivers his verdict.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Florence Rose - Growing Pains

Growing Pains is the new single from Florence Rose, a Tulsa, Oklahoma based-artist. A random Soundcloud discovery, the single is the fourth track to appear on his page, and encapsulates perfectly the trials, tribulations and self-questioning of becoming an adult in these troubled times.

TRACK OF THE DAY : SLUGS - Bad Twin

Bad Twin is the first track from SLUGS' forthcoming EP. The Los Angeles based four piece impressed with last year's demo collection Bedroom Attempts, but this first "proper" release they step up and confirm the positive impression they've made on our friends in California at their live shows.

Hannah Scott - Pieces Of The Night

Pieces Of Night is the impressive debut album from Ipswich’s Hannah Scott. Across eight songs she delivers a record with emotional depth and clarity that showcases many sides to her voice and different approaches to the art of songwriting without losing sight of having a message and a tune for the listener to connect to.

James / Badly Drawn Boy / Get Cape Wear Cape Fly - Scarborough Open Air Theatre - 18th August 2018

James' summer of promotion of their new album Living In Extraordinary Times continued in the picturesque surroundings of Scarborough's Peasholm Park in the Outdoor Theatre. A perfect summer's evening opened by Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and Badly Drawn Boy saw the band mix tracks from the new album with old favourites in a spectacular set.

Ist Ist / Dear Caroline / Darma - Salford St Philips Church - 17th August 2018

Ist Ist continued their tour round Manchester (and Salford)'s iconic venues with a packed out headline show in the austere surroundings of St Philips Church in Salford. Their first gig as a four-piece and a fourteen-song set of their five singles, their recent Spinning Rooms EP and four new ones which should make the follow-up saw them lay further claim to the crown of the best unsigned band in town. Support came from Darma and Dear Caroline.

TRACK OF THE DAY : RosesAreBlue - Fairytale

RosesAreBlue is one of the most prolific songwriters out there. Rose hasn't just released one album at the start of the month but three. We've chosen to feature Fairytale, the opening track on the Intensely album as our track of the day.

Ist Ist - Interview

After the successful release of their Spinning Rooms EP earlier this year and a sold-out show at the Deaf Institute in Manchester as part of their first UK tour (with a Berlin show thrown in for good measure), Ist Ist return for a one-off show at the spectacular St Philips Church in Salford on Friday night. We caught up with bass player Andy to discuss the EP, expanding the band to a four-piece, why old crowd favourites will be lost forever, trying to change the public and industry perception of them and their plans for the rest of 2018 and beyond.

James - Linlithgow Party At The Palace - 11th August 2018

James headlined the opening night of 2018's Party At The Palace in Linlithgow with a set that pulled heavily from their number six (two in Scotland) album Living In Extraordinary Times and its predecessor Girl At The End Of The World as well as nodding to their thirty-six year strong back catalogue.

James - Manchester HMV - 6th August 2018

James, well three of them, played an intimate stripped-down three-song set at Manchester's HMV on Monday interspersed with a Q and A session hosted by Inspiral Carpets keyboard player and XS Manchester DJ Clint Boon before signing copies of their new album Living In Extraordinary Times.

James - Living In Extraordinary Times

Living In Extraordinary Times is James' fifteenth studio album, their follow-up to 2016's Girl At The End Of The World which reached number 2 in the UK. Whilst retaining moments of intimate poignancy, like the recent single Coming Home Pt 2, it also sees the band entering new sonic territory with the input of producers Charlie Andrew and Beni Giles, and Tim Booth taking a long hard look at the state of the world, particularly his home in America, and throwing lyrical rocks at the political mess we're in across the globe, but also offering some advice as how to shield yourself from the chaos.

Queen Kwong - Manchester Night And Day - 31st July 2018

On the last date of her European tour, Queen Kwong returned to Manchester for a headline slot at the Night And Day. With a critically acclaimed album Love Me To Death under her belt and The Pearl Harts in tow as part of her band, she delivered a thirty five minute set of stunning intensity that cut through the sauna-like conditions of the venue.

TRACK OF THE DAY : She Makes War - Devastate Me

Devastate Me is the first track to be taken from She Makes War's fourth album Brace For Impact which is due out on September 28th ahead of a UK tour. The single represents a departure in style for the musically diverse multi-instrumentalist, but still remains true to her uncompromising independent approach to her music.

James - Kendal Calling - 27th July 2018

As part of the festival season to promote their forthcoming album Living In Extraordinary Times, James played the main stage at Kendal Calling on Friday night. The mysterious person behind the TimBoothLyricADay twitter account kindly offered to review their set which caused much debate on the band's social media groups because of the volume of new songs.

LIINES / Berries / Threads - Manchester Deaf Institute - 21st July 2018

LIINES played their biggest headline show to date at the Deaf Institute and what a triumph it turned out to be. Three hundred or so like-minded souls, lovers of music, were joined together by the rapid-fire, raw sound of Zoe, Leila and Tamsin and their album Stop-Start and some new songs that suggest their star is set to rise further. Support came from London's Berries and Manchester's Threads.

LIINES - Interview

One of our favourite bands and some of our favourite people LIINES released their debut album Stop-Start back in May. On Saturday they play their biggest headline UK show to date at the Deaf Institute in Manchester with Berries and Threads. We caught up with Leila for a chat about Stop-Start, the gig, new songs and their plans for the rest of the year.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Purple Heart Parade - Mission Hills

Mission Hills is the lead track from Purple Heart Parade's debut EP for Club AC30 entitled Lonestar, due for release on September 7th. Following several years and line-up changes on the Manchester scene, the band signed to Club AC30 earlier in the year and these are the first fruits of this relationship.

Three Dimensional Tanx - A Compulsion For Propulsion

The new album by Lancaster's Three Dimensional Tanx is a joy from start to finish. Stuart Ralston loves it and you should too.

Mad Cool Festival Day 2 - Madrid - 13th July 2018 (Arctic Monkeys / Wild Front / The Big Moon / Real Estate / Mavica)

Day 2 of Mad Cool Festival saw Arctic Monkeys headline the main stage with little repeat of the chaos at the gates and food stalls and bars that marred the first day. We also caught Marica, Real Estate, The Big Moon and Wild Front before the headliners delivered a set heavily focused on new album Tranquility Base Hotel And Casino and AM.

Mad Cool Festival Day 1 - Madrid - 12th July 2018 (Pearl Jam / Gang Of Youths / Frank's White Canvas / Eels / Durand Jones And The Indications)

Day 1 of Mad Cool Festival saw 30,000 people descend on land behind the Feria de Madrid complex in temperatures bordering on forty degrees for an evening headlined by Pearl Jam, but featuring a varied and diverse set of acts across eight stages.

Little Sparrow (Featuring Robin Dewhurst) - Just 3 EP

Just 3 is the first new material from Little Sparrow since her album Wishing Tree. Including lead track Tender, revealed late last year, her radical reinterpretation of Madness' Baggy Trousers that she performed with Robin Dewhurst in 2016 at Kendal Calling and another new song Dry Your Eyes, the EP showcases the power, range and beauty of her voice and provides a tempting teaser for her second album that she's in the process of recording.

Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott - Manchester Castlefield Bowl - 6th July 2018

Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott made a triumphant return to Manchester's Castlefield Bowl as part of the Sounds Of The City. With a set spanning back to Paul's days with The Housemartins right through to a new as-yet-unreleased track, a capacity crowd bathed in the very un-Mancunian sun and paid homage to the most unassuming of musical heroes.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Average Sex - Ne M'Oublie Pas

Ne M'Oublie Pas is the first track to be taken from Average Sex's forthcoming second EP Melodie which is out in August via Tim Burgess' Ogenesis Recordings label.

Gardenback / Carnation / Déjà Vega - Manchester Soup Kitchen - 30th June 2018

 

Gardenback launched their new single Health And Wellbeing with a raucous set at Manchester's Soup Kitchen on Saturday night. Supported by Carnation and Déjà Vega, their biggest headline show to date had them not only launch their single successfully, but also lay down a marker as one of the best live bands in town.

L.A. Witch / Afghan Sand Gang - Manchester Soup Kitchen - 27th June 2018

LA Witch brought their self-titled debut album and some new material to a baking hot Soup Kitchen basement on Wednesday night. The three-piece's raw and exciting sound, with the three of them lined up across the stage, replicated the energy of the album perfectly. Support came from Mossley's own Afghan Sand Gang.

David Ford - Manchester Deaf Institute - 29th June 2018

David Ford returned to Manchester's Deaf Institute for the final night of his tour in support of his fifth album Animal Spirits. A twelve-song set was split 50/50 with songs from the album and tracks from his back catalogue and a surprise Beach Boys cover with support act Michele Stodart of The Magic Numbers.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Gardenback - Health And Wellbeing

Gardenback's new single Health And Wellbeing is released today to coincide with their biggest headline show to date at Manchester's Soup Kitchen.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Maitlands - Kisses For The Masses

The Maitlands return with a new single Kisses For The Masses and more line-up changes. Often described as being influenced by The Fall, it seems that only applies to movements in members of the band as Kisses For The Masses recalls the heady romanticism of pre-success Pulp, but couched in the here and now in North Manchester.  It's their finest moment to date.

The Happy Soul - Interview

Manchester four-piece The Happy Soul recently released their second album Big Wow and launch it with a headline show at Salford's Kings Arms on Saturday. We caught up with them for a chat about the making of the album, their use of a string quartet and vocal harmonies and their plans for the rest of the year.

TRACK OF THE DAY : The Lucid Dream - Alone In Fear

The Lucid Dream have revealed Alone In Fear, the second track to be taken from their forthcoming fourth album Actualisation that will be released on October 19th.

TRACK OF THE DAY : James - Coming Home Pt 2

James have revealed the video for Coming Home Pt 2, the latest single to be taken from their forthcoming 15th studio album Living In Extraordinary Times, due for release on August 3rd. The video was filmed “on zero budget” in California by Tim’s long-time friend, director Leif Tilden.

Kristin Hersh - Halifax Square Chapel Arts Centre - 25th June 2018

Kristin Hersh is on a short UK tour ahead of the release of a new solo album as well as an in-progress Throwing Muses record. Without a North West date we made the short trip across to Halifax’s impressive Square Chapel Arts Centre for an intimate one hour set of both solo and band tracks performed with just an acoustic guitar on a solitary stage.

The Happy Soul - Big Wow - Track By Track

Manchester four-piece The Happy Soul recently released their second album Big Wow. Ahead of their album launch show this Saturday (June 30) with a string quartet at Salford Kings Arms Theatre, they walked us through the twelve tracks that make up the record.

Belly - Glasgow The Garage - 16th June 2018

The devastating fire that destroyed the Glasgow School Of Art and the O2 ABC on Friday night had put this show in doubt. But the never-say-die spirit of the Glasgow music community saw The Garage step up and offer the use of their venue for Belly's show on Saturday night where they took the crowd's mind off the devastation a few hundred metres away with a two-set joyous combination of songs from their two 1990s albums Star and King and a heavy lean towards their wonderful comeback album Dove.

SKIES - Interview

SKIES recently released their third EP X following their support slots with The Slow Readers Club. We met up with Alie and Jericho before the Nottingham date of the tour to discuss the songs on the EP.

Afghan Sand Gang - Machine Music EP

Afghan Sand Gang are another of the emerging new bands coming out of Manchester. Rather than adopting the full-on guitar approach of many of their contemporaries, they instead focus on the machine music that has given this debut EP their name. It's a record that doesn't seek to blow you away with volume or power, but instead adopts a more seductive mysterious manner in order to draw you in and win you over.

Belly - Manchester Ritz - 12th June 2018

Belly made a triumphant return to Manchester after their comeback show in 2016 armed with their new album Dove and a set of old favourites from their two 1990s albums Star and King. A two-hour set split over two sections mixed old and new together with a real continuity of sound between songs written nearly twenty five years apart.

King Of The Slums - Artgod Dogs

Hailing from mid 80s Hulme in Manchester, King of the Slums have a long and chequered history.  New album Artdog Gods is their sixth studio album. Stuart Ralston has a listen.

John Bramwell - Bury Met - 8th June 2018

John Bramwell continued his never-ending touring cycle with a return to the splendid setting of Bury Met's newly-refurbished Derby Hall to play to an attentive respectful audience with a set of songs that spanned his career from early I Am Kloot records to his debut solo album Leave Alone The Empty Spaces and an as yet unreleased new song, accompanied by Alan Lowles on keyboards, accordion and bass.

Déjà Vega - Manchester Band On The Wall - 7th June 2018

Déjà Vega brought their unique brand of noise to Band On The Wall on Thursday night as part of Shell Zenner's Amazing Radio Free Vibes night. A seven-song set confirmed their status as one of the most exhilarating live bands in town with their growing band of admirers joining in with the "DEJA""VEGA" call and response chant and them winning over a new set of curious onlookers with their at times vicious onslaught.

Patti Smith - Manchester Apollo - 5th June 2018

Patti Smith returned to Manchester Apollo as part of a short UK and Ireland tour to coincide with festival slots. In front of a reverential Manchester crowd, who chose this legend over the Stones down the road at Old Trafford, she held them spellbound in her oft outstretched arms as she mixed most of her best known work with an intriguing selection of covers and a series of natural witty and humorous between song anecdotes.

Matter Of Mind - Manchester Jimmy's - 1st June 2018

Matter Of Mind headlined the latest instalment of This Feeling club night in the intimate surroundings of Jimmy’s basement. A blistering half hour set that barely paused for breath got a rapturous reception that confirmed the growing belief that their breakthrough is just around the corner.

The Pastels - Glasgow McIntosh Church - 1st June 2018

A rare outing for one of Scotland's most important, influential bands in the beautiful surroundings of McIntosh Church sees Stuart Ralston and a packed audience enthralled.