Aug 10

Late season festival news

If you’re feeling a tad underfestivalled, there are even more events to head off to late in the season. Nothing like prolonging summer with a weekend of wall-to-wall music. Or if you’re pushed for time, or had enough of damp tents, non camping festivals are springing up in abundance. Sea Change, Devon   25th to…

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Jul 12

Review: Leftfield at Bluedot festival

Review of Leftfield ‘Leftism’ at Bluedot festival, by Nicholas Mai “Come on Tom, let’s go and see some proper music”. And so the uncertain eight-year(ish) old boy dutifully follows his father into the tent where Leftfield are warming up the crowd nicely as the first of the big name opening Friday acts at this year’s…

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Jun 28

True Faith: Manchester Art Gallery

Joy Division and New Order have had a profound effect on the creative arts, inspiring not only musicians but artists, writers, illustrators and film makers. Their visual legacy is now being documented in a new exhibition opening in Manchester as part of the Manchester International Festival (MIF17). Taking place at Manchester Art Gallery from 30th…

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Jun 10

Music Day at Crouch End Festival

I am thrilled to announce a whole day of music on two stages – Crouch End Festival’s very own Music Day on the 11th June.Head for the green outside Hornsey Town Hall. And there’s an extra Music Night on Thursday 15th in the Supper Room in Hornsey Town Hall. I have had a hand in…

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Jun 6

Festival season updates

Here’s some more festival news with new and returning events to see you through to September. Bluedot Festival   7th – 9th July The stellar BlueDot festival, nestled under the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank, has day tickets at £59 per day. Daily lineups are on the site too. Leftfield performing Leftism on Friday, Hot Chip frontman Joe Goddard…

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Jun 5

Space 36: the Brexit issue

Waiting to Exhale: a creative exploration in response to Brexit A suburban house turned into an experimental and beautiful space for the creation of project-based art, this is the essence of Space 36, in Finsbury Park, north London. In 2016, the owners of the house, Ahmed Farooqui and Alan Swann, held an exhibition which they chose…

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Bearded Theory 2017 Puppet
Jun 1

Bearded Theory photos 2017

Photos taken around the festival site, including some lovely festival goers I encountered, Magical Sounds dance tent and The Woodland Stage area. Plus artists Skunk Anansie (Skin), The Alarm, Cast, Alabama 3, African Head Charge, Drum Machine, The Selecter, 3 Daft Monkeys, Glasvegas, Vintage Trouble. For Bearded Theory review, click here Bearded Theory, Catton Hall, Derbyshire….

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Jun 1

Bearded Theory festival big birthday bash

Bearded Theory Spring Gathering or “festival” as it is usually called, has reached an important milestone – its tenth birthday. The hairy-faced contributor to the festival world has grown and blossomed, from bum fluff through designer stubble to full beard. The celebrations opened on a perfect sunny Thursday afternoon with a surprisingly large crowd, perhaps due to the lineup being stuffed…

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May 11

Amber Arcades review: The Trades and The Finsbury

At the Heavenly Weekender at The Trades in Hebden Bridge back in January, Amber Arcades’ half-hour early evening set was the most engaging of the three days (young Halifax band The Orielles were the other stand-out act). The focal presence on stage is Amber Arcades’ mastermind, the very cool Annelotte De Graaf, vocalist, guitarist, songwriter – although…

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