Pennyblackmusic: February 2025
Interviews
Man From Delmonte
Dixie Ernill talks to all four members of Manchester indiepop band The Man From Delmonte about their decision to reform for a series of gigs after an absence of 35 years.
Clive Langer
Johnnie Johnstone
Sukie Smith
Producer Clive Langer talks to Eoghan Lyng about his band project The Clang Group, their forthcoming second album 'New Clang' and his production work with Elvis Costello, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Morrissey and The Teardop Explodes.
Johnnie Johnstone speaks to John Clarkson about his first book, ‘Through the Crack in the Wall: The Secret History of Josef K’, which is Pennyblackmusic’s Book of the Year for 2024.
Former Madam frontwoman Sukie Smith talks to John Clarkson about her debut solo album, 'The Glass Dress and a Ringing Bell'.
Garfunkel and Garfunkel Jr.
Dana Gillespie
Annie Hogan
Reichenbach Falls
Eoghan Lyng speaks to Art Grafunkel and his son Art Garfunkel Jr, about their new joint album 'Father and Son'
Irish singer-songwriter Dana Gillespie talks to Eoghan Lyng about her new album 'First Love' and her friiendship with George Harrison.
Multi-talented musician, songwriter and producer Annie Hogan has a wide-ranging chat about her new album with Eoghan Lyng
Abe Davies, the frontman with Reichenbach Falls, talks to John Clarkson about their new album, 'Wayfarer Beware', which is a concept album about a break-up, set in New York State and Scotland.
Adrian Gurvitz
Wreckless Eric
Chris Spedding
Norman Rodger
60's guitar legend Adrian Gurvitz talks to Eoghan Lyng about his new album 'Blood,, Sweat & Years' and working with Ginger Baker in Baker-Gurvitz Army.
Steve Miles talks to Wreckless Eric about his recently republished, aptly titled memoir, ‘A Dysfunctional Success,’ and the man behind it.
Top session guitarist Chris Spedding talks to Eoghan Lyng about working with The Sex Pistols, Paul McCartney, Roxy Music and The Wombles., and his band Sharks' recent film documentary, 'Not a Rock-Doc: A Shark's Tail'.
Edinburgh-based post-punk musician Norman Rodger talks to John Clarkson about fronting the highly acclaimed TV21, and his current band The Normans who will be playing our gig on November 1st .
Elliott Murphy
Penumbra
The Church
Near Jazz Experience
Header: Singer-songwriter Elliott Murphy is celebrating “50 years on the road” with a brand, new single, ‘Old-Timer.’ He catches up with Lisa Torem to talk about his career highlights.
Seeing your mates band play is always rolling the dice, they might be the next big thing or they might not... Will it be snake eyes or boxcars for Fiona Hutchings this time round?
Steve Kilbey, the vocalist and guitarist with Australian psychedelic/indie rock band The Church, talks to Denzil Watson, about his group’s long history and their forthcoming new album, ‘Eros Zeta and the Perfume Guitars’.
Fiona Hutchings talks to Mark Bedford and Terry Edwards about their limited-edition RSD release, 'The Character Actor EP', and much more besides.
Visitor Comments
Editorial
Man From Delmonte - Interview
TJ Lind - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Interview
Eric Bell - Interview
Various - Punk-o-rama 10
Basil Gabbidon - Interview
UB40 - Present Arms
Honolulu Mountain Daffodils - Obituary of a Band
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Steve Harley - 1951-2024
Michael Stuart Ware - Pegasus Epitaph: The Story of the Legendary Rock Group Love
TJ Lind - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Interview
Eric Bell - Interview
Various - Punk-o-rama 10
Basil Gabbidon - Interview
UB40 - Present Arms
Honolulu Mountain Daffodils - Obituary of a Band
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Steve Harley - 1951-2024
Michael Stuart Ware - Pegasus Epitaph: The Story of the Legendary Rock Group Love
Hello and welcome to the February edition of the Pennyblackmusic Magazine, and our first new magazine of 2025. In our lead interview we speak to all four members of Manchester indiepop band The Man From Delmonte about their reformation for some gigs aafter an absence of over 35 years, and also to Iain Lee, the comedian who sparked the reunion. We look back on 2024 with our Writers and {Photographers’ Albums of the Year poll. We reveal the short list for our Book of the Year, and talk to the winner, Scottish writer Johnnie Johnstone about his book, ‘Through the Cracks in the Wall: The Se ....more
Profiles
Nick Dent-Robinson reflects on the life and career of Marianne Faithfull, who died on the 30th January.
Predictions
Johny Brown
Bob Dylan
Laura Nyro
Nick Dent-Robinson picks three UK female artists who he believes are destined for big success before the end of 2025.
John Clarkson reflects on Band of Holy Joy frontman Johny Brown's new book, 'Corpse Flower'.
Lisa Torem enjoys new Bob Dylan biopic, ‘A Complete Unknown,’ but still has burning questions about the Nobel Prize Winner’s legacy.
With the release of a new box set that collects together all ten of her albums plus extras, Eoghan Lyng assesses the career of still under-rated American singer-songwriter Laura Nyro.
Live Reviews
Massive Arrack
Bristolian pathfinders Massive Attack continue to find new routes over thirty years into their career. Richard Lewis reviews
Massive Arrack
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M&S Arena, Liverpool, 29/11/2024
Shed Seven - Mountford Hall, Liverpool University, Liverpool, 21/11/2024
Altered Images - 02 Academy, Liverpool, 23/10/2024
Autumn 1904 - Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, 1/11/2024
Dream Machine - Hare and Hounds, Birmingham, 6/11/2024
Vapors - Chantry Brewery, Rotherham, 16/11/2024
T Bone Burnett - Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 19/11/2024
War On Drugs - Royal Albert Hall, London, 14/7/2024
Lytham Festival - 1
Lytham Festival - 2
Robby Krieger Band - City Winery, Chicago, 13/6/2024
Paul Draper - The Citadel, St Helens, 20/4/2024
Shed Seven - Mountford Hall, Liverpool University, Liverpool, 21/11/2024
Altered Images - 02 Academy, Liverpool, 23/10/2024
Autumn 1904 - Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, 1/11/2024
Dream Machine - Hare and Hounds, Birmingham, 6/11/2024
Vapors - Chantry Brewery, Rotherham, 16/11/2024
T Bone Burnett - Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 19/11/2024
War On Drugs - Royal Albert Hall, London, 14/7/2024
Lytham Festival - 1
Lytham Festival - 2
Robby Krieger Band - City Winery, Chicago, 13/6/2024
Paul Draper - The Citadel, St Helens, 20/4/2024
Shed Seven
Altered Images
Autumn 1904
Richard Lewis watches Britpop survivors Shed Seven round off the year with a raucous victory lap tour
Richard Lewis watches post-punk pop of the highest order as the Eighties outfit Altered Images deliver their classic album ‘Bite’ in full
John Clarkson finds reformed post-punk band Autumn 1904 playing a powerful set at a Pennyblack-promoted gig at The Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh.
Most Viewed (articles)
Current Edition
Man From Delmonte - InterviewPennyblackmusic - Book of the Year Award 2024
Pennyblackmusic - Writers and Photographers' Albums of the Year 2024
Clive Langer - Interview
Laura Nyro - Profile
Marianne Faithfull - Reflections
Vinyl Stories - Vinyl 2024
Johnnie Johnstone - Interview
Johny Brown - Corpse Flower
Editorial - February 2025
Previous Editions
Marianne Faithfull - InterviewHeavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Michael Stuart Ware - Pegasus Epitaph: The Story of the Legendary Rock Group Love
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Interview
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Allan Clarke - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Pete Brown - Interview
Favourite Albums
Saloon
Loft
Jesse Garon and The Desperadoes
In our Re:View section, in which we look back on recordings from the past, Dave Goodwin examines two John Peel Sessions from early 2000's indiepop band Saloon which have just been released by the always reliable Precious Recordings of London on 12" vinyl.
Dixie Ernill is impressed by the release on 10” vinyl of a 2023 radio session for Riley and Coe by reformed 80’s indie pop band The Loft.
Dixie Ernill enjoys a 1986 Janice Long radio session which has been released on 10 inch vinyl by Precious Recordings of London from Edinburgh indiepop band Jesse Garon and The Desparadoes.
Features
Our writers and photographers reveal their albums of the year for 2024.
We reveal the winner of our Book of the Year Award for 2024 and the runners-up.
Vinyl Stories
Tommy Mottola
Cher
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
In his regular Vinyl Stories column Dave Goodwin talks to three of our writers about their favourite vinyl purchases of 2024,
Lisa Torem examines record label executive Tommy Mottola's new memoir 'A New America: How Music Reshaped The Culture and Future of a Nation and Redefined My Life ' about his role in the rise of Latin American music.
In 'Raging Pages' guest reviewer Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys Cher’s memoir which tells of her difficult upbringing and marriage to and early success with Sonny Bono.
In the first of a special, in-depth two-part interview, Steve Miles talks with legendary singer songwriter Peter Perrett about his new album, ‘The Cleansing,’ his life, his career, and why he doesn’t want to be resuscitated.
Photography
Andrew Twambley takes photographs of indie band Blossoms at a show at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester,
Amdrew Twambley takes photographs of glam rock superstar Suzi Quatro at a gig at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
Amanda J. Window photographs The Libertines at The Albert Hall; in Manchester
Normans
Eve Davidson
Fergy LH
Philip Wark takes photos of The Normans at a Pennybkackmusic promoted gig at The Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh,
Philip Wark photographs Fife-based singer-songwriter Eve Davidson at a Pennyblackmusic-promoted gig at The Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh.
Robert Hadley takes photographs of new band Fergy LH at The Hare and Hounds in Birmingham.
Most Viewed (reviews)
Current Edition
Ringo Starr - Look UpEmily Burns - Die Happy
Dusty Springfield - The BBC Sessions
Unthanks - In Winter
Gryphon - Gryphon Live - A Sonic Tonic
Beabadoobee - This is How The World Moves
Pixie Lott - Encino
Oïmiakon - Comptoir Des Vanites
Meridian Brothers - Mi Latinoamérica Sufre
Joan Armatrading - How Did This Happen and What Does It Mean?
Previous Editions
Feedback File - SummerlandMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees
Straylings - Entertainment on Foreign Grounds
Barker Band - The Land We Hold Dear
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Allan Clarke - I'll Never Forget
Left Lane Cruiser - Claw Machine Wizard
Snow Patrol - The Forest Is The Guide
Language Of Flowers - Songs About You
Reviews
Oïmiakon
Unthanks
Ringo Starr
Kopy
Restless robotic twists and sweaty earache from Parisian electronic musician Oïmiakon
Contemplative take on Christmas from eclectic Tyneside folk quintet ‘The Unthanks
Country-influenced new album from Ringo Starr which proves to be his most satisfying album since the 1970s.
Astute electro blaze of an album from Osaka-based techno musician Kopy
Dusty Springfield
Meridian Brothers
Joan Armatrading
Buzz' Ayaz
Emotionally rewarding vinyl release of Dusty Springfield’s BBC Sessions, which proves a colourful and important release in the incomparable and much-missed 60’s singer’s catalogue
Unpredictable and defiant latest album by masters of 21. Century cumbia The Meeidian Brothers
Innovative return to familiar ground on twenty-first studio album from iconic, award-winning singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading
Intoxicating blend of fuzzy garage punk, traditional Greek and Turkish folk dances and dislocated synthesizers on debut album from Buzz’ Ayaz
Emily Burns
El Khat
Pixie Lott
Badawi
Emotive, introspective debut album with a contemporary edge from rising star and singer-songwriter Emily Burns
Infectious, rock and roll influenced third album from Berlin-based but Yemen-formed trio El Khat.
Accomplished comeback on first album in a decade from award-winning singer-songwriter Pixie Lott
Fine return to form on new vinyl only album from DJ producer Badawi
Gryphon
Danni Nicholls
Phelimuncasi and Metal Preyers
Dorie Jackson
Fascinating musical journey on double CD and first ever live album from medieval folk/progressive rock band Gryphon which has been together for over five decades
Atmospheric homage to a beloved grandmother on collection of originals and covers from soulful singer-songwriter Danni Nicholls
Futuristic Zulu trio Phelamncasi join forces with London producer Jesse Hackett
Colourful fusion of folk, rock and prog on second album from Kaprekar vocalist Dorie Jackson
Beabadoobee
Rosie Lowe
Pixies
Eric DeVries and The Song and Dance Band
Self-assured third album from London-based indie rock musician and recent Taylor Swift support Beabadoobee
Intriguing and eclectic musical collage on third album from Devon-born, but now London-based singer-songwriter Rosie Lowe
Colourful ninth album from alternative rock icons Pixies which reveals a band still evolving
Excellent fifth album from Netherlands singer-songwriter Eric Devries, with its themes of moving and travelling, is a colourful, musica odyssey
Ashley Reaks
Fairground Attraction
Willie Nelson
Morgan Wade
Consistently inventive fourteenth album from Harrogate visual artist/instrumentalist/songwriter Ashley Reaks
Uplifting first album in 34 years from chart-toppers Fairground Attraction finds them a vibrant reincarnation
Enjoyable classic rock covers on remarkable 153rd album from 91-year old country veternn Willie Nelsons
Striking and emotive fourth album from Virginia-based singer-songwriter Morgan Wade
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart