It’s all a bit much this time of year, isn’t it? Whether it’s the hangover from the pre-Christmas partying/stress, the lingering indulgence or loneliness of the holiday season itself or the desolate, bleak comedown which we’re now enduring (otherwise known as ‘January’).
Come then and …
Tired are we? January blues already? Feeling a bit hungover from the festive period?
Tough. Snap out of it. And if you don’t do it yourself, then Sprints will do it for you.
Slowly but surely over the last couple of years, the Dublin-four …
So, here we are again. Another year ends and so, as sure as night follows day, another year-end list.
But this is no ordinary year-end list. It’s a year-end list by your favourite music website compiling the best songs of another packed 12 months and, as such, demands your respect …
Billy Bragg by Jill Furmanovsky
It seems appropriate that, in a city with such a progressive outlook, the Bard Of Barking is among the first to perform at the Beacon (latterly Colston Hall), a £150m project that will welcome the likes of Paul …
Back in the summer (‘of Britpop’ as some wags dubbed it), despite an excellent new album, one of Blur’s most impressive achievements was how intensely and accurately they were able to roll back the years to deliver their early, frantically wasted tracks as …
The Prodigy live in Manchester on their Fat Of The Land 25th anniversary tour (Gary Mather for Live4ever)
Life depends upon change and renewal. Whether it’s self-imposed or forced upon you, change is inevitable but it’s how you manage …
Black Grape by Paul Husband
Contains swearing, obviously.
Ostensibly this piece is an interview with Shaun Ryder but in truth, it was a one-way conversation.
The iconic frontman (or indeed, National Treasure) is …
As has been the case for the last 18 years, the crowd need no encouragement to chant ‘The View Are On Fire.’ Indeed, the temptation to play on it in every review the band receive is palpable. It’s almost too easy.
Yet The …
Andy Crofts is quite the polymath.
The lead songwriter and singer for The Moons, Crofts was also a full-time member of Paul Weller’s band until recently, having to step back for personal reasons.
In over a decade working with the musician, he contributed …
It sounds like the beginning of a gag, but it’s not.
What do you get when you cross two quasi-goth drummers and one celebrated producer? One of the albums of the year. Not funny, is it? But this …
In celebration of his 60th birthday Johnny Marr, generous man he is, is giving his fans the gifts.
Firstly the splendid coffee table book Marr’s Guitars, and last week the announcement of a 2024 tour in support of Spirit …
Shaun Ryder is making up for lost time, it seems.
Following the a handful of shows in support of this album, Happy Mondays embark on a tour with Inspiral Carpets and Stereo MCs next spring, and he’s …
English Teacher playing Neighbourhood Weekender 2023 (Gary Mather for Live4ever)
There are so many elements that define the trajectory of a musician’s popularity.
Firstly, obviously, the songs need to be up to scratch, and the circumstances must be right unless you can define …
Deadletter by Joe Mulville
A few weeks ago your reviewer went to see the re-released Stop Making Sense, the 1984 concert film by Jonathan Demme about Talking Heads’ tour the previous year.
Taking place over four nights, the film offers little insight other …
Released in late 2019, DJ Shadow’s last studio album Our Pathetic Age fell through the gaps caused by the pandemic; with touring plans for summer 2020 shelved the album, like so many others, missed the opportunity to have life breathed into it on …
The Spirit Of Spike Island is a truly independent label that’s building up a head of steam: Afflecks Palace have two splendid albums to their name, Pastel are being name-dropped by the likes of Ride’s Andy Bell and this latest offering promises …