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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The closing Sunday at All Points East, on 25th August, was mainly dedicated to retro indie bands for a wander down nostalgia lane. Teenage Fan Club, The Lemon Twigs, Sleater-Kinney, The Postal Service/Death Cab for Cutie all played the East and West stages. The smaller stages at the centre of the park mostly featured rising…
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It was a beautifully sunny All Points East festival at Victoria Park for the final Friday – with Sofia Kortesis, Pixies, Joe Goddard, Newdad, Jockstrap, Nation of Language, Floating Points, Monobloc, Dove Ellis, Astral Bakers, Vagabon, The Kills and more. LCD Soundsystem headlined with a performance that combined power and emotion. All Points East festival,…
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The sun bathed the opening concert of the South Facing festival series in a golden glow. The crowd stepped up to the occasion bedecked in their disco finery, ready to party in the park to a run of DJs, with Grace Jones closing the evening with her visually and aurally stunning show. Much missed was…
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