The good, the bad and the muddy… On a positive note, Festival Number 6 yet again had its moments of music, magic and discovery. The location is Portmeirion, the beautiful and quirky Italian village in north Wales. And it was commendable to note just how many of the artists appearing on Festival No 6’s various stages were from…
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The private view of Moving Forward photography exhibition took place on Thursday 14th July at the glamorous offices of The Guardian in Kings Cross, on a rare sunny evening with sun flooding into the space. Moving Forward features beautiful photographs by a group of young students who have been taking creative workshops at Ravensbourne College, but what makes this exhibition all the more…
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An unassuming terraced house in north London transformed into an exciting, experimental art project proved to be one of the most intriguing and original events in the calendar of a local festival. Entitled The Secret Life of no:36, the project, shown as part of Crouch End Festival, was inspired by the history of the house and its…
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The weather gods smiled down on Bearded Theory again this year: I can only imagine it was at the sight of so many hirsute individuals disporting themselves in the Magical Sounds dance tent, stomping along to The Levellers on the main stage, or maybe it was the giant pink puppets prancing about the festival site. Each year, Bearded…
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At the 02 Islington, Bowie’s long-standing guitarist Earl Slick and his assembled cast of musicians performed their fourth night of what so far has been a hugely successful run of his mini tour of Station to Station. The band included Steve Norman from Spandau Ballet on guitar, saxophone and percussion (I saw Steve with Holy Holy in 2014). Also on guitar was Luis…
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The Besnard Lakes closed the UK leg of their tour with a triumphant, beautiful and emotional performance at The Assembly Hall, Islington. The space was perfect for The Besnard Lakes. It’s a medium-sized venue with a grand feel, and that Besnard sound swirled around and filled the space, the mirrorball on the ceiling looking like an escapee from their last album cover,…
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There’s a real buzz, a sense of anticipation in the lead-up to the Broken Witt Rebels heading on stage at The Water Rats. The audience are crowding to the front and there’s a bank of photographers jostling for position. It’s great to observe this young band making such headway. I spend more time than I should watching bands perform their socks off – musicians who so…
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In order to eat at the former site of Pitt Cue restaurant just off Carnaby Street, diners had to queue in the street, sometimes for hours. The reward was a coveted place downstairs in the 5‑table poky cellar space, or perched at the cosy bar upstairs. The reason people were prepared to wait was due…
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James showcased their new album Girl at the End of the World at Scala, Kings Cross. We’re hoping we’ll hear one or two old favourites scattered here and there, but this show is really the launch of the new album and the first time they’ll be playing the material in front of an audience. Tim Booth comes on…
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Seamus Fogarty, Meilyr Jones, Field Music Friday’s lineup at The Trades Hebden Bridge consists of three acts who one might not initially think, ‘Well, these three are going to work well together’. What actually transpired was an evening of thoughtful and challenging music, each act complementing the other in such a way to create a satisfying…
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