Related
Interviews
Interview
Despite major WiFi problems, Fiona Hutchings talks to Mick Derrick about the return of his band Prolapse and the re-release on vinyl of their 1994 debut album, ‘Pointless Walks to Dismal Places’.
Interview with Ian Broudie
Lightning Seeds' frontman Ian Broudie talks to Fiona Hutchings about his band's new album 'See You in the Stars' and vinyl.
Andy Whitehouse
Interview
The last time we spoke to Sheffield singer-songwriter Andy Whitehouse, he was playing to select audiences in pub snugs. Now, he’s taken the idea one step further and set up residence in a caravan on the coast. Fiona Hutchings caught up with him to find out more about his one-to-one project.
Mark Lee
Interview
Pocket Gods frontman and now film maker Mark Lee speaks to Fiona Hutchings about what matters to him. From severe mental health difficulties to the tyranny of Spotify, he doesn't hold back.
Andy Whitehouse
Interview
From being pursued by hordes of excited schoolgirls to playing to audiences of one, singer songwriter Andy Whitehouse has had a varied career. Fiona Hutchings chats to this well respected Sheffield musician about the personal experiences of his music.
Last Day Sect
Interview
Fiona Hutchings talks to Tom Wilcox from Last Day Sect about tarot cards, talented collaborators, and their debut album of eerie tales.
Fuzzbox
Interview
Fiona Hutchings talks to Vix from 80's all girl pop punk icons and C86 act about her band Fuzzbox's extraordinary career
Mark Morriss
Interview
Fiona Hutchings speaks to former Bluetones front man Mark Morriss about his former band, whether they will ever reform and second solo album, 'A Flash of Darkness'
Magic Brothers
Interview
Fiona Hutchings speaks to Madness drummer Woody Woodgate about his new band the Magic Brothers which he has formed with his brother Nick, and their 70's pop-influenced debut album 'The Magic Line'
Pete Ross and The Sapphire
Interview
Fiona Hutchings chats to Susy Sapphire from Australian/New Zealand but Italian-based duo Pete Ross and The Sapphire about 'Rollin' On Down the Lane', which is their forthcoming debut album together
Profiles
Green Day: Every Album, Every Song
[subhead] Noting and commenting on a band’s every album and song involves a lot of facts but how much fun can you squeeze in too? Fiona Hutchings checks out the new addition to the Sonicbond Publishing libraryon Green Day.
Magic: The David Paton Story
Fiona Hutchings has no idea if David Paton’s life story will be magic or not but she gives it a go anyway,
Profile
Fiona Hutchings checks out Precious records’ four latest 10 inch classic BBC radio sessions. This time it’s The Soup Dragons on the turntable
Profile
Professor Elemental always likes to keep it eclectic but even mega fan Fiona Hutchings is surprised by the number of plans he has bubbling away at the moment, which include collaborationss to a boardgame to working with a neuroscientist via a dark techno fetish night,
Comment
When is a reissue worth buying? Fiona Hutchings isn’t entirely sure. as she reflects upon the new vinyl version of Prolapse's 1994 debut album 'Pointless Walks To Dismal Places'.
Britpop
Despite there already being a mass of books on Britpop, Fiona Hutchings finds the latest book in Sonicbond Publishing's 'Decades' series to be compulsory reading.
The Smiths and Morrissey: Every Album, Every Song
Pennyblack’s own Tommy Gunnarsson takes on The Smiths and Morrissey’s entire back catalogue. in his first book Fiona Hutchings rolls up her sleeves and dives in.
1970: A Year In Rock. The Year Rock Became Mainstream
Will a book about twelve months in music work or will there be too much waffle? Fiona Hutchings finds out.
Chaise Longue
Fiona Hutchings finds that Baxter Dury's new memoir about his childhood and father Ian Dury promises but does not fully deliver
Heart on My Sleeve: Collected Works
Fiona Hutchings generally finds poetry a bit hit or miss and now she has Attila The Stockbroker in her sights.
Nick Assariti
The Clash: Every Album, Every Song
Nick Assirati sets out to make the music of The Clash accessible to newcomers and/or younger fans. Fiona Hutchings investigates whether he succeeds.
JB Morrison
A Godawful Small Affair
Following the success of his memoir last year, JB Morrison, the former frontman of Carter USM, is back with his fifth novel. Fiona Hutchings ponders whether 'Stranger Things coming to Brixton' is a good thing.
Dreams to Fill the Vacuum
The Sounds of Sheffield 1978-1988
Proud Sheffielder Fiona Hutchings checks out the latest curated collection from Cherry Red Records promising plenty of punk and post punk gems, including twelve previously unreleased tracks.
Lee Thompson
One Man's Madness
Madness fan Fiona Hutchings enjoys 'One Man's Madness', a very different type of documentary focusing on the band's idiosyncratic saxophonist, Lee Thompson.
DVD
27: Gone Too Soon
The 27 Club has its own sort of exclusivity but what does it take to end up a member? Fiona Hutchings is left wondering where we place the blame in Simon Napier-Bell's new documentary film, '27: Gone Too Soon'.
Book- Donald Brackett
Back to Black: Amy Winehouse's Only Masterpiece
Donald Brackett's new book might claim to focus on Amy Winehouse but Fiona Hutchings fears his attempts at context just cloud the issue
Ub40
Profile
Just like the history of the band themselves, Fiona Hutchings finds 'UB40 Featuring Ali, Mickey & Astro Unplugged' paired with the original band's greatest hits a complicated and sometimes challenging combination
Profile
Del Amitri
Fiona Hutchings reflects on the history of Scottish rock/pop act Del Amitri, who, to coincide with their first tour in a decade, are about to have three of their albums, 1989's 'Waking Hours', 1992's 'Change Eveything' and 1995's 'Twisted', re-released in double CD editions
DVD
Convoy
Fiona Hutchings enjoys Sam Peckinpah's 1978 Country and Western/trucker saga 'Convoy', which has just been re-released on DVD
DVD
Love, Marilyn
Fiona Hutchings examines new Marilyn Monroe documentary 'Love, Marilyn', which drawing on never before seen papers, letters and diaries is told from the perspective of several contemporary actresses including Glenn Close and Uma Thurman
Live
Leadmill, Sheffield, 26/11/2022
Fiona Hutchings finds that The Sheffield Leadmill packed out qt the final gig of the Lightning Seeds' recent tour but the music worth the discomfort.
O2 Arena, London, 20/6/2022
Fiona Hutchings finds seeing Queen and Adam Lambert is a dream come true live at the O2 Arena in London.
Caro Emerald
City Hall, Sheffield, 22/4/2017
Fiona Hutchings gets dressed up and breaks rules all for the joy of seeing Caro Emerald and her band
Human League
Academy, Sheffield, 12/12/2010
Fiona Hutchings watches 80's synth pop giants the Human League play a fabulous set of their classic hits at the Arena in Sheffield
a-ha
Arena, Sheffield, 23/11/2010
At the Arena in Sheffield, Fiona Hutchings watches often under-rated 80's Norwegian pop act a-ha play a modest and unassuming, yet emotive set on their farewell tour
Performance
Academy, Sheffield, 12/12/2010
Despite taking their influences from 80's synth pop, Fiona Hutchings finds that Manchester-based three piece Performance have a vital individualism at a gig in support to the Human League at the Academy in Sheffield
Nottingham Splendour Festival 2
Wollaton Hall, Nottingham, 19/7/2009
...while Fiona Hutchings is impressed by 50's-influenced newcomer Imelda May and enjoys Madness' fresh and vibrant-sounding headlining set
Albums
Peel Sessions 20.08.94 and 08.04.97
In our 'Re:View' section, in which we look at albums from the past, Fiona HUtchings checks out two Peel Sessions EPs from Leicester indie band Prolapse, which have been released by Precious Recordings of London for the first time on vinyl.
Graham Day and the Forefathers
Good Things
In our 'Re:View' section. in which our writers reflect on albums from the past. Fiona Hutchings examines Medway garage rockers Graham Day and the Forefathers reissue of their 2014 album 'Good Things' which features three bonus tracks.
Madness
One Step Beyond
In our 'Re:View' section, in which we look back at albums from the past, Fiona Hutchings reflects on Madness's 1979 debut solo album 'One Step Beyond', which has just been re-released in an expanded edition
Fuzzbox
Big Bang!
Fiona Hutchings reflects on all girl Birmingham-based alternative rock group Fuzzbox's 1989 third and final album 'Big Bang', which has just been released in a new double edition
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Liverpool
In our 'Re:View' column, in which our writers reflect on albums from the past, Fiona Hutchings examines Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 1986 second album, 'Liverpool', which split critics upon its release and has just been re-released in a double CD reissue
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Welcome to the Pleasuredome
in our 'Re:View' series, in which our writers look back at albums from the past, Fiona Hutchings reflects upon Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 1984 debut album, 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome', which has just been released in a new expanded edition
Moby
Wait for Me (Deluxe Edition)
Fiona Hutchings assesses Moby's 'Wait for Me', which coming out earlier this year, has now been re-released in a deluxe three CD edition
Features
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Fiona Hutchings pays tribute to her hometown with ten of the best from the Steel City
The Image That Made Me Weep
In 'The Image That Made Me Weep', in which a different writer with each edition writes of the impact of a photo or an image on them, Fiona Hutchings reflects on a photo of Queen at Live Aid.
Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Fiona Hutchings picks ten personal milestones from the tracks of British pop pioneers Erasure.
Depeche Mode
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Fiona Hutchings in 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' writes of her favourite songs by Depeche Mode.
Duran Duran
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Fiona Hutchings takes us through ten formative memories from the pop titans Duran Duran.
Pixies
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
In our series in which our writers celebrate ten songs that made them love a favourite band or artist, Fiona Hutchings weaves together love, alt-rock and unsettling subject matter in a tribute to Pixies.
1979
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Fiona Hutchings in 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' takes us on a tour of the records that mean the most to her from 1979, the year of her birth.
Pennyblackmusic
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
In honour of Pennyblack's 20th birthday, Fiona Hutchings picks ten songs from her time at Pennyblackmusic.
Gig of a Lifetime
Mark Morriss, Lantern Theatre, Sheffield, 2012
In our 'Gig of a Lifetime' series Fiona Hutchings writes of attending her first gig after suffering a brain aneurysm which was an intimate solo show by Bluetones' front man Mark Morriss at The Lantern Theatre in Sheffield
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Queen
In our series, in which our writers write about ten songs that made them love a favourite band or artist, Fiona Hutchings reflects on her favourite songs by rock legends Queen
Rock Salt Row
March 2011: Words is All That I Have
In 'Rock Salt Row' Lisa Torem talks with another Pennyblackmusic writer about a different issue in rock each month. She chats with Fiona Hutchings about the emotions that can sometimes be heightened through music
Rock Salt Row
December 2009
In 'Rock Salt Row', Lisa Torem debates each month with another writer about a different issue in rock. In this episode, she talks with Fiona Hutchings about failed romance and songs of heartache
Soundtrack of Our Lives
Madness 'Absolutely'
In our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' column, in which our writers write about the personal impact of music on their lives, new writer Fiona Hutchings tells of first hearing Madness' second album 'Absolutely' as a fifteen year old