Live Music
Blancmange
Synth pop pathfinders Blancmange are on sterling, career-spanning form in Nottingham. Dave Goodwin reviews.
Dennis Tufano
Lisa Torem watches Dennis Tufano and friends perform the songs of Bobby Darin with stunning effect.
Affection Place
Dave Goodwin watches French electro band Affection PLace with guest Magazine's Dave Formula on keyboards play a polished seet to promote their forty-years-in-the-making debut album.
Rebecca Poole
Zena Greig watches jazz-influenced singer Rebecca Poole provide an exhilarating musical ride at a gig in London.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Nick Dent-Robinson watches an electrifying set from seminal electro act Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark to promote their new 'Bauhaus Staircase' album.
Liam Gallagher and John Squire
Eoghan Lyng enjoys a brief but versatile set from Liam Gallagher and John Squire at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin.
Echo & The Bunnymen
Paul Clark watches a flawed but compelling set from Echo And The Bunnymen at a hometown gig at the Liverpool Empire.
Yungblud
Steev Burgess enjoys an enthralling free set at Camden Market in London from cult musician Yungblud.
Dirty Honey
Philamonjaro enjoys and photographs a set of energetic, guitar-driven rock from Los Angeles band Dirty Honey
Paul Draper
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard
James Gardner watches rising Cardiff act Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard play as ferocious set at The Hare and Hounds in Birmingham. Photos by Rob Hadley.
bdrmm
Acclaimed shoegaze outfit bdrmm are on thunderous form at the Arts Centre, Norwich to plug their recent LP I' Don’t Know'. Nigl Nudds reviews and photographs.
Libertines
Amanda J Window watches indie band The Libertines take part in a Q and A and play a short set ar The Jacaranda Baltic n Liverpool as part of their launch tour for their new LP, ‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade’.
London Afrobeat Collective
Philamonjaro enjoys a sublime set from the London Afrobeat Collective at 16 Toneladas in Valencia
Beat Featuring Ranking Jnr
Philamonjarp watches and photographs The Beat Featuring Ranking Jnr play an energetic set in Valencia.
Miles Kane
With Marie Hazelwood providing photos, Harry Sherriff watches Miles Kane put on a classy show despite a lack of atmosphere at the O2 Academy in Oxford.
Brooke Combe
Jacqueline Crockford finds 24 year old indie / soul singer Brooke Combe, who has been described as a “future megastar” by the press, on dazzling form live in Manchester.
Mull Historical Society
Paul Clark enjoys an engaging night of music combined with literature as the Mull Historical Society play tracks from both their debut album 'Loss' and latest LP 'In My Mind There's a Room' at YES in Manchester.
Gustaffson
Amanda J Window watches and photographs Liverpool band Gustaffson play a blinder on a cold night in Manchester.
Rod Stewart
Philamonjaro watches and photographs Rod Stewart play an age-defying and visually stunning set at the IFEMA Palace in Madrid.
Patti Smith
Lisa Torem finds Patti Smith’s explosive, emotional performance with Jackson Smith, Dee Jay Daugherty, Lenny Kaye and Tony Shanahan at Chicago’s Salt Shed exceeding expectations.
Music of Big Star
Philamonjaro is impressed by supergroup tribute to Big Star which features original member Jody Stephens as well as The Posies’ Jon Auer, R.E.M.s Mike Miles, DB’s Chris Stamey and Wilco’s Pat Sansome.
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies
Philamonjaro enjoys Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies’ unique brand of southern blues rock at two shows in Madrid and Barcelona.
Gaz Coombes
Nick Dent-Robinson watches Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes play an impressive homecoming performance at the New Theatre in Oxford.
Steve Wynn
Philamonjaro finds The Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn making a surprisingly big sound at an acoustic solo gig at The Fun House in Madrid
Micky Dolenz
Lisa Torem watches Micky Dolenz, the last surviving member of The Monkees, perform songs from that band, plus other compelling covers, with his talented backing band and sister/vocalist Coco.
Larkin Poe
Philamonjaro enjoys a versatile set from Americana duo Larkin Poe, which is fronted by sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, at La
Riviera in Madrid.
Little Man Tate
Dixie Ernill enjoys a vibrant set from Sheffield indie rock act Little Man Tate on their first national tour in thirteen years.
Squid
Eoghan Lyng enjoys Squid’s unusual brand of prog at Vicar Street in Dublin.
Three Nights of Indie Pop
At three different venues in Manchester and Glasgow across three nights, Dixie Ernill enjoys sets from indie pop acts such as Davey Woodward and The Winter Orphans, The Jasmine Minks and The Popguns.
Wigan Casino 50th Anniversary
A mid-September 50th Anniversary celebration in a massive ballroom in Wigan brought Northern Soul enthusiasts together in commemoration.
Echo And The Bunnymen
Dave Goodwin at the Royal Centre in Nottingham watches Echo and The Bunnymen with the help of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra play in a stunning set their 1984 fourth album 'Ocean Rain' in its entirety.
Paul Weller
Philamonjaro watches Paul Weller wow a Spanish crowd with a career-spanning set
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
Lisa Torem enjoys an uplifting set of classic covers and their own material from RIngo Starr and His All-Starr Band.
Ezra Furman
Steev Burgess watches acclaimed US indie rocker Ezra Furman, while battling against the elements, deliver an impressive, passionate show in Cardiff
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall
Lisa Torem enjoys the diversity of the set list when Herb Alpert and Lani Hall draw from a lifetime of classic, plus new arrangements from recent release, ‘Wish Upon a Star.'.
Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys this year’s three day Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, which as well as Fairport Convention also featured excellent sets from Robert Fripp and Toyah and Nile Rodgers.
House Of Love
Nige Nudds watches 80’s indie act The House of Love play a haunting set at the Norwich Arts Centre
Belle And Sebastian
Amanda J Window enjoys an exuberant set from Scottish indie pop outfit Belle and Sebastian at the Manchester Academy.
Blur
On home turf for the second of two Wembley Stadium shows, Blur are on exceptional, energized, poignant form. Richard Lewis reviews
Thirty years since a struggling London indie band issued an album
Bluedot Festival
Battling against constant rain, swamp-like mud and an accessible campsite that is anything but, Shirley Proctor still finds much to enjoy at Bluedot Festival in Cheshire
Peter and Jeremy
Peter Asher: A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond’ returns to Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music with Asher plus partner folk artist Jeremy Clyde, formerly of Chad and Jeremy. Lisa Torem reviews.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
American icon Bruce Springsteen shows zero signs of slowing down on a lengthy, wide-ranging set at Hyde Park for British Summer Time. Richard Lewis reviews
Lytham Festival
Shirley Procter reflects upon her highlights of this year's Lytham Festival.
Riopy
r: Lisa Torem admires French pianist Riopy’s passionate performance at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.
Lisa Ducasse
Steev Burgess enjoys a rare opportunity to see one of the rising stars of French music, Lisa Ducasse at the Institute Francais in London.
Who
Philamonjaro finds The Who on explosive form as they perform with an orchestra on the first date of an European tour at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.
Hugh Cornwell
On the road to support his recent ‘Moments Of Madness’ LP the former Stranglers frontman, long since turned solo artist Hugh Cornwell shows no sign of slowing down.
Martin Barre Band
Lisa Torem finds the Martin Barre Band rekindling memories of glorious progressive rock in its heyday at the Des Plaines Theater , with Barre’s compelling lead guitar infusions and his bandmates’ endless enthusiasm.
Mono
Nige Nudds enjoys an impressive set of exuberant post-rock from Japanese band Mono at the Norwich Arts Centre.
Billy Childs Quartet
Lisa Torem enjoys a Billy Childs Quartet concert at Space in Evanston which features songs from the jazz pianist’s latest album, ‘The Winds of Change’, a Chick Corea cover and classic chestnuts.
Mark Eitzel
Dastardly watches Mark Eitzel or ‘Polterg-eitzel’ as he’s now not known conjure magic (and Johnny Mathis) from the walls of St. Pancras Old Church.
Mission
Philamonjaro photographs and watches a haunting, career-spanning performance from The Mission in Valencia.