Review Kaleidoscope 2026: sun, sounds and a secret set
Feb 24
Mixing it up at Bush Hall: Phildel and Ali Warren Band
Bush Hall, with its its rich red velÂvet drapes, majesÂtic chanÂdeÂliers and upstairs bar with viewÂing gallery is opuÂlence in miniaÂture. Such swagÂger for such a tiny place. This SunÂday eve is MixelÂlaÂneous Melodies, and true to its name, itâs a very ranÂdom mix of artists who play to a relaxed weekÂend crowd. Ozzie bandâŠ
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Feb 14
Location, location: music for 2013 in unforgettable venues
From tiny, friendÂly gigs where you feel as if youâre in someÂoneâs livÂing room, to the big, bold and outÂlandish, 2013 is all about stateÂment venues. Here are a few to whet the appetite. 1. FebÂruÂary 17: Bush Hall, ShepÂherds Bush, west LonÂdon. Only ÂŁ5. A melÂlow SunÂday evening under the chanÂdeÂliers beckÂons at thisâŠ
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Feb 5
Down in Kentish Town: great music and Thai curry
Oh for a good old-fashÂioned EngÂlish high street, a scruffy one, with no StarÂbucks, AccesÂsorize and OlivÂer Bonas popÂping up everyÂwhere. Well thatâs pretÂty much KenÂtish Town for you, where youâll find newsagents, printÂer shops, friendÂly marÂket stalls and even a library â grantÂed a CosÂta lurks, but it doesÂnât seem to have ushÂered inâŠ
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Jan 24
Kingâs Place for food, drinks, art and alt-country band, ahab
We saw ahab at Kingâs Place as part of the Kingâs Cross venueâs folk sesÂsions. Just for the record, Ahab (upper-case) are a GerÂman funerÂal doom-metÂal outÂfit â to be rememÂbered when googling them. ahab (lowÂer case) saunter on stage at Kingâs Place. First on is CalÂlum AnderÂson, playÂing the first few chords of a beautiful-soundingâŠ
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Jan 4
Mental Elf â New Year at Hebden Bridge Trades Club
New Yearâs Eve 2012. I asked varÂiÂous peoÂple how they intendÂed to celÂeÂbrate. MostÂly, it seemed, this was to be the year of the âquiÂet night inâ. How borÂing, I thought. I need to go out and do some dancÂing, maybe rolling back home as dawn creeps in. Iâve always been drawn to The Trades,âŠ
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Nov 28
Review: Lady Cora of Downton at The Troubadour
The TrouÂbaÂdour at Earls Court. Upstairs is the quirky cofÂfee house and restauÂrant which I donât think has changed in appearÂance since I first visÂitÂed it in the 70s. DownÂstairs is a venue at the heart of LonÂdonâs music scene, a cramped celÂlar which has seen the likes of Bob Dylan grace its stage. Last nightâŠ
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Nov 23
The big sound of Little Noise â King Charles, First Aid Kit, Richard Hawley
The LitÂtle Noise SesÂsions in aid of MenÂcap are now into their sevÂenth year. CuratÂed by Jo Whiley, the gigs take place over six or so nights, with a choice of lineÂups designed to please most music lovers. The artists give their time free to the MenÂcap charÂiÂty, which is strugÂgling with the govÂernÂmenÂtâs furÂther cutsâŠ
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Nov 12
The beginning of âThe Endâ â a music festival for Crouch End
This weekâs post is a bit difÂferÂent, but thereâs someÂthing excitÂing hapÂpenÂing next weekÂend in my neighÂbourÂhood so Iâd like to give it a heads up. Itâs a mini music fesÂtiÂval called The End, and its hapÂpenÂing in Crouch End, north LonÂdon. The End takes place FriÂday 16th and SatÂurÂday 17th NovemÂber, startÂing at 7pmâŠ
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Oct 25
Music Festivals â whatâs on the horizon?
2012 has not been an easy year for fesÂtiÂvals. The ecoÂnomÂic sitÂuÂaÂtion and the depressÂing wet weathÂer took their toll. The seaÂson kicked off with a disÂasÂtrousÂly sodÂden Isle of Wight, folÂlowed by simÂiÂlar probÂlems at CreamÂfields dance weekÂender, and WakeÂstock in Wales. Even MorÂrisons, the superÂmarÂket chain, was due to get in on theâŠ
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Oct 5
Richard Hawley at 02 Academy Brixton
Some artists bob around on the fringes of your radar for ages, and so it has been the case with Richard HawÂley. Those loveÂly balÂlads, the chocoÂlatey voice, the Pulp conÂnecÂtion â yet heâs remained a bit niche someÂhow. But things have gathÂered apace, and SepÂtemÂber 8 this year saw the Radio BBC 6Music collaborationâŠ
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