Lisbon

Whitley Bay’s poster boys, Lisbon, announce a spring headline tour across the UK beginning in May in Leeds. The boys (Matty, Gaz, Joe and Alex) have gone from strength to strength across the last few months, receiving high profile plays on Radio 1 and getting audiences across the UK bouncing along to their vibrant slice …

The SSS

It’s a real Sheffield special over at the Leadmill in the shape of two up and coming acts The Wired and The SSS, effectively sharing the bill and selling out the venue. Not everyone can sell out the Leadmill and many act can claim to have by virtue of selling out the smaller of the …

Vice

When asked during an interview about the upcoming video for “Vice”, lead singer Matty Varty explained how even things which are as seemingly simple as the track’s artwork can be complex ideas and have interesting tales behind them. The concept with the hellish red neon sign was to place it in unusual places to create …

Zayn

Zayn Malik has certainly made plenty of headlines in the recent months and years, but now he has also made a record and apparently, made up his mind too. “Mind of Mine” sees the 23 year old unleash his version of events, as it were, on the musical world. Those expecting a bitter, revelatory expose …

James

James are heading for their 35th year together as a band so it’s something of a surprise to learn that their latest album, their 12th studio album, came very close to being their very first to reach #1. Of course, their bumper singles-fest “The Best of” reached #1 in 1998, going on to be certified …

Jacob Anderson is without doubt a talented young man. As an actor, he is known to many as the second most famous (but definitely the most fearsome and endearing) eunuch in “Game of Thrones” where he plays loyal warrior Grey Worm, leader of the Unsullied army and servant to Daenerys Targaryen, the show’s Queen of …

"Phase"

Jack Garratt at first sight and listen is a swirling mass of contradictions. Aged just 24, he’s the latest recipient of both the BRIT award Critics’ Choice (previously won by Sam Smith, Tom Odell, Emeli Sande, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding, Florence + the Machine, Adele) and the BBC Sound of… (previously won by (Years & …

Lisbon

I caught up with Whitley Bay heroes Lisbon at the end of their successful winter tour at The Rocking Chair. A tired but enthusiastic Matty Varty (lead singer) picked up where our chat had left off last year. Backseat Mafia: So, the end of the tour – what are your highlights from the last few …

Lisbon

Lisbon are the kind of band it’s very easy to get excited about. They’re enthusiastic about their music, whether it’s finessing new material in the studio, getting the tech just right ahead of a gig, or playing one of their fun-drenched, sweat-soaked gigs to a highly appreciative audience. They’re also incredibly savvy when it comes …

Tove Styrke

Tove Styrke may only be 22 years old but the Swedish electropop sensation has managed to release two albums and a whole heap of singles, tour across Europe and the United States and oh yes, finished third in the 2009 series of Swedish Idol! I chat to her ahead of her slot supporting British electronic …