In December 2019 I attended the Fire Records Christmas gig at Studio 9295 in Hackney. It’s the sort of event I’d like to see more of: a selection of artists with 40-ish minute sets, and all in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. So how fortuitous it was to discover that the label were dishing up…
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Imagine all the elements that make Green Man festival so special, multiply that several times over and you’ll get the general idea of the sheer pleasure and excitement of this year‘s extravaganza in the Brecon Beacons. The Green Man team did everything they could in order to go ahead this year and it was all…
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A giant image of the Mael brothers Ron and Russell, aka Sparks, has been carved into the sand on Brean beach, Somerset. The work was created by Simon Beck who was moved to create the impressive work to celebrate the release of the new film about the two, called The Sparks Brothers. Simon Beck, a…
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The future looks promising for live festivals, but for now we are still in the land of the virtual. Gwyl 2021 earlier this month used this mode to its full advantage. The event was put together by four Welsh festivals, Focus Wales, Festival of Voice, Aberystwyth Festival of Comedy and Other Voices. Collectively, they created…
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Let’s go with the positive. This year there has been a plethora of amazing new music from artists both well established and emerging. For many people, listening to music has been a lifeline to turn to in these troubled times. And with lockdown, some have been able to rediscover the pleasure of playing an album…
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Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly launches new sci fi concept album called The Lasters with listening parties at a cool, tiny north London venue.
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This was Lamb’s first seated gig, so they tell us. Good going for the duo who have been in existence since 1996. They did, however, exhort us to get up on our feet for a dancey number after which no one seemed much inclined to sit down again. The duo released a new album this year,…
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“Once you have walked the road, Everything becomes clear” So begins The Road: Part II, James Lavelle (UNKLE)‘s enigmatic latest album, the second of a trilogy. And springing from this work is Beyond the Road, a multi-sensory exhibition taking place at the Saatchi Gallery, London. Through sound, film and visual effects you can take that…
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Ealing Blues festival was given the thumbs up – and it managed to escape the rain. I was unable to go as I was at Bluedot festival (review to come) but I was sent these photos by a big Nick Lowe fan. He played an engaging acoustic set, and left his fans absolutely delighted. Here…
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When the elements come together and the stars perfectly align, you have to take full advantage of the moment. Such is the situation Rachel Morrison and Tom Morrison found themselves in earlier this year: a chance encounter with a group of Brazilian musicians provided the ideal combination to reinvent Bliss, the band that she so…
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