It was a dark and very wet evening – sounds like the start to a new horror story, but it was, in fact, true. A group of people outside, me included, who were expecting the doors to open at 6pm were both disappointed and soaked through by the time the doors DID open at 7pm! […]
Ash, The Subways co-headliner with Jealous Nostril, O2 Ritz, Manchester.
It’s a Tuesday night here in Manchester and it’s an evening ready for mid-2000s rock! Tonight Ash and The Subways take over Manchester’s 02 Ritz, with songs that you’ve probably not heard in a decade, but send you back to a happier place. Jealous Nostril kick off the night, three lads including Johnny Borrell (Razorlight/The […]
Kids in Glass Houses s/b The Nightmares at the O2 Ritz, Manchester.
It’s been a long wait for this night. Kids In Glass Houses have returned to our lives again after almost 10 years. Back in 2014 the band broke up with the thought of never getting back together and making music again, the alternative music scene was heartbroken. But last year an amazing thing happened with […]
Drunken Monkey Rock Festival 2023.
This year’s event, in memory of Ian Downton and supporting the Air Ambulance service, returned with another great mix of new and veteran bands. With the multi-stage setup, Drunken Monkey brings us original acts, alongside some of the very best crowd pleasing cover and tribute bands. After the 2022 heat wave with melting roads, heatstroke […]
Princess Goes w/Beija Flo, O2 Institute 2, Birmingham.
Quite some expectations here, with Michael C. Hall (better known as TV anti-hero Dexter Morgan) taking on the vocals role with his bandmates Peter Yanowitz (drums & guitar) and Matt Katz-Bohen (guitar & keyboards). Formed, initially, in 2018 under the name Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum, the trio have taken on an electronica-cum-alt rock […]
Full of Hell – Manchester Rebellion.
First act of the night Unyielding Love takes to the stage. With no hesitation and no introduction they jump right into their set with a whiny and intense backing track full of electronic growls loud enough to pierce your ear drums. No drummer, just bass, guitar and vocals. The vocals are straight and are instantly […]
Martin Turner at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester.
An unusual acceptance to cover the show at Huntingdon Hall, having the press along, particularly photographers, is not usually their thing. I’m glad they made an exception! Early entry meant I could look around for places to photograph from even with the knowledge that the large majority of images would be taken from the back […]
Hot Mulligan – New Century Hall, Manchester.
It’s a Saturday night in Manchester, and Hot Mulligan are kicking off this show at a sold out New Century Hall. With a room full of alternative people in their 30s, they’re ready to belt their hearts out to sad emo music that their inner teenage self used to relate to all too well. There’s […]
Signs of the Swarm – Manchester Rebellion.
It’s a warm Thursday night in Manchester, and this crowd of metalheads are ready for an insane night of crowd surfing and mosh pits for tonight’s sold out show at Rebellion! First up on the line up to get this crowd warmed up is London based hardcore band Harbinger. Their job is to warm up […]
Finntroll with Skálmöld @ Underworld, London.
On the 3rd of April, as part of the Europan tour, Finnish band Finntroll played live at The Underworld, after nearly a decade, supported by their far Nordic friends Skálmöld (joining from Iceland). While both bands fall into the metal category, Finntroll has deeper routes into black-metal, mixed with folk, Skálmöld, on the other hand, […]