News: The Wombats will headline reopening of Liverpool’s historic Arts Club
You don’t need me to tell you how much music is part of the fabric of Liverpool. Nowhere is this truer than down Seel Street, where you’ll find the historic Arts Club, a creative hub since 1814, when it was the only English arts institute outside of London. Surprisingly closed earlier this year, after having …
Live Review: HIMALAYAS – Leeds Festival, 26.08.23
Wales had a good weekend at Leeds Festival. On Saturday it was South Wales turn on the Festival Republic stage, after the Royston Club had kicked things off well for the Celtic contingent the day before. HIMALAYAS more than lived up to that vibe. “Probably best” joked Joe Williams, when I caught up with the …
Live Review: boygenius – Halifax Piece Hall, 23 August 2023
The bewitching harmonies of Without You, Without Them ring out around the majestic Italianate architecture of Halifax’s Piece Hall. It signals the start of one of the most hotly anticipated shows of the summer. The big screen at the back of the stage flickers to life, like an old TV, and the crackly image of …
Rock N Roll Circus Sheffield Preview: Noel Gallagher and Self Esteem set to headline
Sheffield is preparing for the homecoming of Self Esteem (AKA Rebecca Lucy Taylor), as she is set to headline Saturday night at Rock N Roll Circus at the city’s Don Valley Bowl. Taylor’s tour last year gained incredible reviews, and the performance is full of style, attitude and unapologetic lyrics. Having already sold out 2 …
Live Review: Bingley Weekender 2023 – Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club, Bradford 04.06.2023 – 06.06.2023
A shocking weather forecast was not enough to dampen the enthusiasm for Bingley Weekender 2023. A huge amount of credit must go to Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club for hosting this significant event on the North of England’s summer festival calendar with great success. The festival kicked off on Thursday this year, with an opening …
Live Review: Léa Sen – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds. 20.05.23
Plenty of people came down early to listen to Léa Sen, Parisien ex-pat, now based in London, as she opened up for Billie Marten on this current tour. The 23 year old singer-songwriter has lit up the scene in London, becoming one of the most in-demand talents, and from this short, but exquisitely crafted 6-song …
Meet: Stephen Jones talks creativity and influences, ahead of the upcoming Babybird tour
Stephen Jones is the all-round music aficionado, singer and writer of “lullabies” behind Babybird. He’s forever associated with “that song”, but the writing prowess has never abated, and continues on through the freedom that Bandcamp affords artists. 3 and half albums already dropped in 2023, it seems the creation of new material is something that …
Live Review: Caity Baser – Leeds Stylus 17.04.23
It was a night of unrelenting energy at Stylus in Leeds. First, Liverpool’s Michael Aldag brought everything he had to the stage to warm up the crowd. The room was already full for his set, and there were plenty there who were well prepared to dance and sing along to Aldag’s infectious melodies and lyrics. …
Live Review: BABYMETAL – First Direct Arena, Leeds – 14.04.23
Even before BABYMETAL hit the stage in Leeds on the first leg of this European Tour with Sabaton, the room was hyped. Finnish rock legends Lordi opened up with a characteristically theatrical set, lead singer Mr. Lordi stalking back and forth and roaring the crowd into an early frenzy. BABYMETAL’s entrance is typically dramatic. Masked, …
Live Review: Inspiral Carpets – O2 Academy, Leeds – 08.04.23
As I walked into the O2 Academy in Leeds, DJ Dave Sweetmore was firing up the crowd with a collection of Madchester classics. Banger after 90s banger filled the space in between support and headline act and it worked like a dream. “Shall we take a trip down memory lane?” as Northside once sang (funnily …