Pitchfork Music Festival London ended on Saturday with Dalston Takeover. This was an incredibly diverse showcase of primarily US artists, encompassing a wide mix of genres. One minute you’re sitting in Earth Hackney’s beautiful theatre watching dreamy shoegaze by Full Body 2, the next you’re in the tranquility of St Matthias Church for the clear-voiced…
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Pitchfork Music Festival took over Village Underground for a fantastic and pretty loud night with Party Dozen, Ratboys and Upchuck. First on stage were Sidney-based Party Dozen, a duo on drums and sax, whipping things into a frenzy. Chicago band Ratboys played a blinder of a set with an avalanche of rippling country-tinged guitars, all…
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Kaleidoscope festival at Alexandra Palace was more of a dance-fest that we’ve seen in previous years, all on one of the hottest days of the year. And as always, there was plenty for children of all ages with bubbles, theatre and creative activities in abundance. Meanwhile here’s some photos of Kaleidoscope’s wonderful happenings, with Pan…
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After the fancy dress prize-giving, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican sang and crowdsurfed a dinghy, held up by a sea of hands. Then it was time for TTSSFU and their brilliant shoegaze / dream-pop (MORE shoegaze please, Bearded). Gurriers and Getdown Services got a moshpit going and threw crisps (still in their packets). Shonen…
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Another storming (not stormy) day at Bearded Theory with too much going on to see it all. Girlband returned to BT with a great opening set, The Deltones played the Meadow stage and it was great to finally see The Vaselines. Swim Deep’s intense, wistful numbers were perfect for the leafy Woodland stage. Dreadzone got the…
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Those arriving on site on Thursday sighed with relief to find the very opposite weather conditions to last year. We were not wading through mud, oh no, this year we skipped across springy grass, feeling the sun on our skin as the thought of four divine days of music and enjoyment warmed our very souls. The…
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There was plenty of amazing music to keep us busy all day. Female-lead acts lead the way, including impressive new act Atl Blk Era who opened the main stage, the rousing five-piece band Man/Woman/Chainsaw who just made it in time for a slightly late set, and – taking the early evening slot – returnees Nova…
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Doves returned to London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire for a triumphant, sold out gig with Andy and Jez Williams – for now Jimi Goodwin is absent from the tour lineup. The last time they played at this venue was in 2000. It was, like all the other nights on this tour, a long set with plenty…
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If you spent last month huddled under a duvet, Independent Venue Week at the end of January is always the perfect way to dive straight back into gig life. The #IVW initiative sheds light on the challenges faced by grassroots venues, urging us all to show support, ‘buy a fucking ticket’, shell out for some…
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W.H. Lung and Pem at Islington Assembly Hall, 21st November 2024. Even the capacious stage at Islington Assembly Hall looked a little too small to contain Joe Evans, W.H. Lung’s enigmatic vocalist. Whether launching himself over to the barrier or doing his sideways crab style dance manoeuvre, he’s a passionate, high energy front man. The songs…
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