When you’re on the way to Bluedot, that first glimpse of the Lovell telescope is always a ‘wow’, moment. There it stands, on the Cheshire plain, communing with the planets and deep space. Our conduit to the stars and beyond. No wonder that Bluedot, the festival that has grown up around this beautiful structure has…
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Bluedot 2023. Thursday evening – Max Richter and the BBC Concert Orchestra open bluedot Festival 2023 with a special Unclassified Live, hosted by Elizabeth Alker. Friday – Lovell, Orbit and Nebula stages. Talks and workshops plus Manchester University’s science stalls. Shaun Keaveny on the Notes stage. Click here for photos of Saturday and Sunday Lead photo: KC…
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New London mega-festival All Points East at Victoria Park offered sparkling lineups: the first Sunday introduced slinky Texan outfit Khruangbin, followed by a dancey set from Alexis Taylor. Father John Misty offered lush vocals to a mellow early evening crowd before Bjork’s fantastical set ended the evening
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Arty indie band Django Django showcased their new album Marble Skies at Rough Trade East. Their distinctive sound is still there – the deep echo effects, the whoops, the harmonies – sun-dappled and wistful, adding an intensity and beauty to their songs. And there’s always that compulsive beat underpinning their material, almost forcing you to head…
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Here are my top recommended albums of 2015 in no particular order. 1 Richard Hawley Hollow Meadows A confident collection of beautiful tracks, Hawley’s voice at its most sublimely expressive. My favourite track is the non-ballad Which Way shall I go?, sexy with a touch of menace. Hawley’s performance at The Roundhouse a few weeks’ ago was one…
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There are two Django Djangos. There’s what you hear on their albums, a fat slam of addictive, uptempo, feel-good melody, laced with distinctive harmonies with a sweet-sour balance. Then there’s live Django, which is an altogether more dance-driven, stripped, souped up version of the above, with a rocket up its arse. Art house rockers Django Django are one of the bands…
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I’ve been to a number of Wireless and assorted day festivals in Hyde Park but generally not been won over. Prefer to wander around the arena knowing my tent, a cup of tea and a snooze on a musty sleeping bag are only a stroll away. But Field Day in east London’s Victoria Park was…
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