LIVE: POZI – 30/11/2019

-THE TALLEYRAND, MANCHESTER- Humint Although I miss a portion of the opening act’s set, I manage to see an amount significant enough for review. They have a style reminiscent of the post-hardcore bands of old (the late 1980s specifically), which you could argue isn’t exactly unique as better known bands in a similar vein are […]

LIVE: BC CAMPLIGHT – 29/11/2019

-YES, MANCHESTER- “I think we’ve got just enough time for one more”. Brian Christinzio, AKA BC Camplight, mumble-growls from somewhere deep within this thick trucker beard, from out beneath a black baseball cap that reads “Cape Lookout”, from behind the blackest of black sunglasses. And that’s all fine – it is Black Friday after all […]

GIG GUIDE

Today's Recommendations

Witch Fever at Yes The Goa Express at Gullivers We Are Scientists at Ritz

LIVE: PRIMAL SCREAM – 26/11/2019

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Touring in support of their greatest hits album Maximum Rock n Roll released earlier this year, the bar was already set high with anticipation for a gig fuelled with Primal Scream’s finest. Not that hearing a band’s latest album cuts is any less appealing, but there’s just something that makes you that extra […]

LIVE: STEVE HACKETT – 26/11/2019

-THE BRIDGEWATER HALL, MANCHESTER- Gaining entry into a seated, progressive rock concert would no doubt not appeal to most under 50, yet for me the opportunity to go a little left-field and cover a guitarist of Steve Hackett’s stature (familiar with finger tapping?) carried a subversive charm that contrasts with Manchester’s present musical disposition. As […]

ALBUM REVIEW: BLOCKHEAD – BUBBLE BATH

Aaaah, it’s time to relax, and you know what that means: a glass of wine and a bubble bath and, of course, the latest album from prolific NY hip-hop producer Blockhead playing on your home stereo… Like an early DJ Shadow on a chilled out day (and without the scratching), this album is primarily spacey […]

TICKET GIVEAWAY: !!! (CHK CHK CHK) AT MANCHESTER’S GORILLA

V FEST 97 – LEEDS 2019: A LOOK AT FESTIVALS THEN AND NOW

LIVE: MAC DEMARCO – 23/11/2019

-APOLLO, MANCHESTER- The city of Manchester has been one of disappointment recently, with both football teams failing to perform. However tonight, Mac DeMarco is here to Freak Out the Neighbourhood, and chances of disappointment are slim. It’s surprisingly my first time here in Manchester’s finest Apollo, and the wait has been worth it. An urgent […]

LIVE: RICHARD DAWSON – 21/11/2019

-RNCM, MANCHESTER- Richard Dawson should really be a national treasure by now. The Newcastle born troubadour has released two of the best albums of the 2010s in 2017’s Peasant, a concept album set in medieval Northern England (stay with me here folks) that reflected our (then) current troubles (he introduces ‘Hob’ from the album tonight […]

INTERVIEW: FURROWED BROW

DITZ ADDRESS HOMOPHOBIA IN FOOTBALL IN NEW ‘TOTAL 90’ VIDEO

JEFFREY LEWIS & THE VOLTAGE SHARE ‘EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT IT ISN’T’ VIDEO

MANCHESTER FOUR-PIECE HOT SHORTS REMINISCE ON ‘SUMMER OF 2012’

JEHNNY BETH REVEALS NEW SINGLE ‘I’M THE MAN’ FROM PEAKY BLINDERS SOUNDTRACK

LIVE: WORKING MEN’S CLUB / YOWL – 22/11/2019

-YES, MANCHESTER- Since I first heard of Working Men’s Club after seeing then-member Giulia Bonometti (also known under her stage name Julia Bardo) perform live earlier this year, I’ve been keen on them. Since then, many things have changed for the band: they have signed to Heavenly Recordings, original members Bonometti and Jake Bogacki have […]

SPEEDY WUNDERGROUND ANNOUNCE NEW 7″ SINGLE BY PYNCH

JEFFREY LEWIS & THE VOLTAGE SHARE ‘DEPRESSION! DESPAIR!’

KEELEY FORSYTH ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM ‘DEBRIS’ & SHARES TITLE-TRACK VIDEO DIRECTED BY MAXINE PEAKE

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS RELEASE NEW VIDEO FOR SOME MUTTS (CAN’T BE MUZZLED)

LIVE: HAPPY MONDAYS – 21/11/2019

-ACADEMY, MANCHESTER- Happy Mondays played the Manchester Academy on Thursday evening. For me, the only thing that overshadowed their performance were the disabled facilities. The gig took place in Manchester Academy – a venue that is not altogether unfamiliar to a Happy Mondays gig, with them having played there on greatest hits tours for the […]

LIVE: THE RAINCOATS – 15/11/2019

-THE WHITE HOTEL, SALFORD- With the White Hotel largely full to capacity, it appears appropriate the Raincoats would perform their debut LP in its entirety 10 years after its 30th anniversary. If I abided by convention, I would proceed to ramble on about their supposed importance and point out the vague connections they have to […]

PODS UP NORTH – SPOTIFY REVEALED AS HEADLINE SPONSOR FOR THE NORTH’S FIRST PODCAST CONFERENCE

THE LOUDER THAN WORDS FESTIVAL LINE UP ADDITIONS: THE LOVELY EGGS AND EVIL BLIZZARD

HEAR THE FIRST TRACK IN FIVE YEARS FROM CARIBOU + UK TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

ISOBEL CAMPBELL ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM WITH RELEASE OF LEAD SINGLE ‘ANT LIFE’

ALDO RELEASE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO ‘PAPERMAZE’

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INTERVIEW: FRANCIS LUNG