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Interviews

Interview with Innes Reekie and Jeremy Thoms (2019)

Innes Reekie and Jeremy Thoms from Stereogram Recordings speak about its recent expansion into book publishing, and their new book 'Nite Life During Wartime', which is a photographic account of the club and music scene in Edinburgh in the 1980s.

Interview (2015)

Laura Moody talks to Owen Peters on her work ethic as a cellist, singer and lyricist, her new album 'Acrobats' and why she wants men to open up on mental health issues

Interview (2014)

Jamie Havlin chats to rock biographer Nina Antonia about her latest project, editing the Libertines' Pete Doherty's journals for new book, ‘From Albion to Shangri-La’

Interview with Nick Halliwell (2013)

John Clarkson talks to Nick Halliwell, the owner of Occultation Recordings, about the making of the new vinyl edition of The Wild Swans' 'The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years' , which appears in three different editions

Interview With Nick Halliwell (2012)

John Clarkson speaks to Nick Halliwell, who is also a songwriter, musician, producer and the front man with the Granite Shore, about his label Occultation Recordings, which puts a special focus on vinyl and has seen releases recently from the Distractions, the Wild Swans and Factory Star

Interview with James Houston (2012)

Spencer Robertshaw talks to James Houston, the organiser of North Yorkshire festival Galtres, which is now in its eighth year, about his extraordinary festival and its links with charity

Interview (2012)

In their third Pennyblackmusic interview, Anthony Strutt speaks to twee pop group Tender Trap about their musical history and forthcoming fourth album, 'Ten Songs About Girls'

Interview (2012)

John Clarkson talks Wyatt Parkins and Anthony Davis from the flourishing Texas-based independent label Saint Marie Records about the reasons for the rapid rise and success of their label which, despite being just over a year old, has already over twenty acts signed to it

Interview With Natalie Hudson (2012)

John Clarkson speaks to Stuart Mackay, the organiser and founder of the annual indiepop Indetracks Festival, which is now in its sixth year, about the plans and the line-up for this year's festival.

Interview With Flounder (2011)

Neil Bailey speaks to Flounder, one of the organisers of the Endorse It in Dorset Festival, about his festival which this year will take place between the 12th and 14th August and whose headliners include the Rezillos and New Model Army.

Interview With Stuart Mackay (2011)

Helen Tipping speaks to Stuart Mackay, the organiser and founder of the annual indie pop Indetracks Festival, which is now in its fifth year, about his plans and the line-up for this year's festival

Interview with Robin Allport (2011)

Club AC30 is one of Britain's leading shoegazing record labels and club nights. Co-owner Robin Allport chats to Anthony Strutt about his label which has now put out over fifty albums and singles including releases by Exit Calm, Ringo Deathstarr, Air Formation and Model Morning

Interview (2010)

Chicago-based journalist and music writer Jim DeRogatis talks to Lisa Torem about his latest book, 'The Beatles Vs the Stones'

Interview (2010)

London/Brighton-based psychedelic/shoegazing band One Unique Signal speak to Anthony Strutt about their ten year history and playing shows as the backing band with one of their main influences, the Telescopes

Interview (2010)

Influential punk/pop group the Primitives recently reformed after a nearly twenty year absence. Anthony Strutt speaks to singer Tracy Tracy and guitarist Paul Court about their late 80s chart success and getting back together

Interview with David Fishof (2010)

Los Angeles-based promoter David Fishof speaks to Lisa Torem about his Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps which allow fans the opportunity to write and perform music with their favourite musicians

Interview with Sean Birdsall (2010)

With safety an increasing issue at festivals, Spencer Robertshaw talks to Sean Birdsall, the organiser of the North Yorkshire-based the Limetree Festival, about its green and family focus

Interview with Stuart Mackay (2010)

John Clarkson talks to Stuart Mackay, the founder and organiser of the Indietracks Festival, about the continued development and fourth year of his indiepop festival, which is situated on the grounds of 1950's train museum in Derbyshire

Interview (2009)

Edition 59 is a German label that specialises in reissues of records from the 80s and singles and EPs from exciting new acts in editions of just 59 copies. Anthony Strutt speaks to owner, Werner Truckenbrodt, about his label

Interview (2009)

Mark Rowland speaks to Turin-born, but London-based musician Alessio Natalizia about his bedroom project Banjo or Freakout and forthcoming debut alabum

Interview with Paul Marko (2008)

Paul Marko has recently published a 500 page book about legendary 70's punk club the Roxy. John Clarkson speaks to him about the writing of his book, and, thirty years on after its demise, the Roxy's enduring legacy

Interview with Stuart Mackay (2008)

The Indietracks Festival takes place in a heritage train museum in Derbyshire, and this year will feature over fifty indie pop acts including the Wedding Present, Milky Wimpshake, ballboy, and Darren Hayman. Jamie Rowland speaks to organiser and founder Stuart Mackay about his festival

Interview (2006)

One of the bestelling guitar acts of the 90's, the Presidents of the United States of America got back together in 2004 after a seven year break, and have since toured Europe several times. John Clarkson talks to drummer Jason Finn about their reformation

Interview with Dave Jackson Part 1 (2006)

In the first of a two part interview, Dave Jackson, the vocalist with Liverpool bands the Room, Benny Profane and Dust, and currently the Dead Cowboys, talks to Anthony Strutt about his 25 year long musical career

Interview (2006)

Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Steve Adey has been getting excellent reviews everywhere for his first album 'All Things Real'. He speaks to Malcolm Carter about his remarkable debut

Interview with Tim Gaines (2006)

Stereolab's Tim Gaines first band was 80's political indiepop group McCarthy. Tommy Gunnarsson speaks to him about it, and the band's three albums

Interview (2006)

Recorded on cheap instruments including a vintage Casio, indiepop trio the Research released their debut album 'Breaking Up' earlier this year. Frontman Russell talks to Mark Rowland about it and why the band try to reject twee comparisions

Interview (2006)

iLiKETRAiNS write songs about Antarctic explorers and show films as backdrops to their live shows. Helen Tipping talks to them in their native Leeds at a show to launch their mini debut album, 'Progress Reform'

Interview (2006)

Widely acclaimed, Australian group Howling Bells have just released their debut album on Bella Union Records. Anthony Strutt talks to lead singer Juanita Stein about their decision to move to Britain and her band's cinematic brand of rock

Interview (2006)

Psychobilly Southern Californian band have just finished touring with Morrisey. Aaron Brown chats to front man Nick 13 about the problems he has had with constant line-up changes, and the group's increasing status in both the United States and Europe

Interview (2006)

El Perro del Mar is the mantle of Swedish-based musician Sarah Assbring. With her profile growing across europe and her first album just out in Britain, John Clarkson speaks to her about her late 50's and early 60's influenced indiepop

Interview (2006)

Massachusetts-based punk metal band A Wilhelm Scream talk to Andy Vincent at a gig at the London Astoria supporting Anti Flag about touring the UK and recent changes in their personnel

Interview (2006)

Australian group the Morning After Girls are about to release their debut album 'Shadows Evolve'.Anthony Strutt talks to them about their decision to relocate from Melbourne to Sydney, and why they think they are more likely to meet with success abroad

Interview (2006)

Dublin hard rockers the Answer channel a classic rock n’ roll vibe that is both fresh and very contemporary. Aaron Brown talks to very worse-for-wear looking singer Cormac Neeson about their forthcoming debut album

Interview (2006)

Atmospheric Boston-based trio Victory at Sea released their best album 'All Your Things Are Gone'earlier this year. Members Mona Elliott and Mel Lederman speak to Ben Howarth about their unique sound

Interview (2006)

Silver Springs include in their line-up members of Tompaulin. Anthony Strutt talks to them a gig playing support for ex-Hefner frontnman Darren Hayman about their plan to release their debut album

Interview (2006)

Hush the Many's whispering atmospherics have been gaining much acclaim, and they are about to begin a tour with Ed Harcourt. Jamie Rowland talks to them about their unique sound at a London gig

Interview (2006)

Six piece band Irish Mainline merge together distorted Jesus and Mary Chain style guitars with Spiritualised psychedelic grooves. Anthony Strutt chats to them about their first British single and touring with Primal Scream and Sonic Youth

Interview (2006)

With their self-released debut single 'The Agent' having had massive pre-sales, Sheffield-based guitar act Little Man Tate seem destined to go far. Denzil Watson speaks to the band backstage before a gig in their hometown on a sell-out tour

Interview (2006)

One of London’s most original sounding bands, electro folk act the Shortwave Set use home made instruments and have recently toured with Goldfrapp. Sarah Johnson talks to Andrew Pettitt about the band's debut album, 'The Debt Collection'

Interview (2006)

Surf obsessed pop punks getAmped are about to release their second album 'Postcards from Hell'. Aaron Brown talks to them at the Manchester Academy about it and why they have become popular in China

Interview (2005)

Quirky indiepop punks the Secret Hairdresser have been around in one incarnation or another for several years. Guitarist and singer Jason chats to Mark Rowland about the groups latest line-up, dubious venues and the bands recent return to the studio.

Interview (2005)

Art rockers Paris Motel play songs about Vita Sackville-West and bisexual Elizabethean female pirates. Emma Haigh chats to front woman and violinist Amy May about songwriting, her group's first 18 months and their self-released first two EPs

Interview (2005)

Only 20, Carlisle-born, but now Bristol-based singer-songwriter Rose Kemp has recently signed to One Little Indian Records. She chats to Sarah Johnson about touring, her latest EP and forthcoming new album

Interview (2005)

Siberian rockers and throat singers Yat Kha have just released 'Re-Covers', an album of covers of songs by largely British artists including Led Zeppelin and Joy Division. Anthony Dhanendran talks to front man Albert Kuvezin about it

Interview (2005)

Liverpool-based group the Dead 60's is a unique combination of ska, punk and reggae. At a secret gig in London Anthony Strutt chats to guitarist Ben Gordon about their self-titled debut album

Interview (2005)

Orenda Fink was one half of much acclaimed duo and Saddle Creek signings Azure Ray, but has now gone solo for her latest album, 'Invisible Ones'. She talks to Ben Howarth about her new record and its strong Haitian influences

Interview (2005)

Formed out of the ashes of Cat on Form and Lady Muck, drums and guitar art duo rockers Blood Red Shoes have just released their debut EP. Members Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter chat to Mark Rowland

Interview (2005)

Multi-million selling songwriter Albert Hammond has written some of the best known songs of the last 50 years and is also the father of the Strokes Albert Hammond Jr. He talks to John Clarkson about 'Revolution of the Heart', his first album in 23 years

Interview (2005)

Hard rockers The Glitterati have recently released their self-titled debut album and have just had their first Top 40 hit.. At a Southampton gig guitarist Nic Denson talks to Anastasia Grabov about his groups's sudden rise

Interview (2005)

With their tongues firmly in cheek, eight piece Welsh hip hoppers Goldie Lookin' Chain have become stars overnight. Aaron Brown talks to MCs Eggsy and Mystikal before a sold out show at the Glasgow Barrowlands

Interview (2005)

New punk group Dead Fly Buchowski have recently signed to Beggar's Banquet and have just released their debut single 'Blackout'. With their debut album on the way, singer Roddy Campbell speaks to Olga Sladeckova about the group's rise

Interview (2005)

Carlisle-based band SecondtoLast are just about to release their debut EP on Lockjaw Records after 5 years together. The group talk to Mark Rowland about keeping drummers and escaping the trappings of the often pretentious hardcore scene

Interview (2004)

Electronica act Pro Forma created a melancholic punk sound which they dubbed 'The Council House' and featured in its first line-up Franz Ferdinand's Paul Thomson. Founder member Simon Henderson speaks about its past and future

Interview (2004)

One of the rising names in the British wave of Americana bands, the Redlands Palomino Co have just released their debut album. Vocalists and guitarists Alex and Hannah Elton-Wall talk to Olga Sladeckova about the album and their future plans

Interview (2004)

Since appearing in Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill', the 5, 6, 7, 8s' profile has escalated. Frontwoman "Ronnie" Fujimaya talks to Olga Sladeckova about the sudden success of her garage rock trio after nearly twenty years in the business

Interview (2004)

Now signed to Fat Wreck Chords, None More Black is the new project of former Kid Dynamite frontman Jason Shevchuck. Anastasia Grabov speaks to them backstage on the London date of their first ever European tour about their debut album, 'File Under Black'

Interview (2004)

The Scoundrelles are the new project of former Scientists guitarist Tony Thewlis. He, and fellow band members Hugh Gulland and Yan Quellien chat about their debut album ‘Organic Molecules In Action!’ which had drawn comparisions with the Flaming Lips

Interview (2003)

Featuring former members of Ultrasound and Spiritualized, London based trio the Sunshine Valley Dance Band's music has a similar energy and charisma. Olga Sladeckova chats to bassist Vanessa Best

Interview Part 1 (2003)

One of the rising bands on the innovative Brighton punk scene, Cat on Form have just brought out their first album, 'Structure and Fear'. In the first part of a two part interview, Mark Rowland talks to frontman Steve Ansell

Interview (2003)

The project of Georgia producer and studio owner Andy Le Master, Now It's Overhead's airy debut album has drawn comparisions with its lush atmospherics with both the Cure and the Beach Boys. He speaks about why sleep depravation is eesential to his music

Interview with Anthony Bautovich (2003)

Anthony Bautovich is best known for his work with the much-acclaimed power pop super group, the Orange Humble Band, but has also recently formed his own band the Forresters. He talks to John Clarkson about its debut album, 'Skin Deep'

Interview (2003)

Despite coming from the Rhode Island city of Providence, many of alt rock band Barn Burning's songs have a distinctive rural setting. Frontman Anthony Loffredio talks to John Clarkson about songwriting and his group's debut album 'Weatheredbound'

Interview (2003)

Pete Gofton, aka J. Xaverre, is the brother of Kenicke's Lauren Laverne, and used to play in that group, but now has his own solo career. He talks to Julia Willis about why he prefers playing alone rather than with a band

Interview (2003)

One of the rising stars of alt.country , Jesse Sykes' new band the Sweet Hereafter was born out of a troubled past, and features former Whiskeytown guitarist Phil Wandscher. John Clarkson speaks to her about its debut album, 'Reckless Burning'

Interview with Linda Reid (2003)

Our Sister Vanilla interview of a few months ago proved so popular that we decided to run another one. Linda Reid chats to Anthony Strutt about her band's forthcoming debut album, 'Little Pop Rock' and life with her brothers, the JAMC's Jim and William

Interview (2002)

The sister of the Jesus and Mary Chain's Jim and William, Linda Reid has recently finished recording her debut album, 'Little Pop Rock' under the moniker, Sister Vanilla. She chats to Olga Sladeckova about its making and her famous brothers

Interview (2002)

Until recently largely forgotten about, 80's Texan punk pop trio the Judys have recently met with a resurgence of interest. although all their albums have been deleted. Tommy Gunnarsson chats to frontman David Bean about the band's 15 year history

Paul Vittum Interview (2002)

Paul Vittum is the founder and head of 'Red Carpet Ring', a small but flourishing independent label from Claremont in New Hampshire. Red Carpet Ring takes it name both from the ringing of sound, and t

Interview Part 1 (2002)

Zum is both a San Francisco music magazine and also a growing independent label. It was first established in 1990 as a small, photocopied fanzine of a few pages by brother and sister team, George a

Interview (2002)

When interviewing Edinburgh-band ballboy for Pennyblack Magazine some months ago, I asked frontman Gordon McIntyre if there were any more bands in Edinburgh that we should watch out for. He mentioned

Interview (2002)

The reason why I was so keen to interview Rydell is because they have released my favourite record of the year, their debut album “Per Ardua Ad Astra” (which translated from Latin means "through hards

Interview (2002)

As frontman for the semi-recently formed The Vultures out of Seattle,Washington,and long-standing veteran to The Mullens out of Dallas, Texas, I was recently able to catch up with Mr Matt Mayo to tal

Interview (2002)

Described as "the epitome of fun " and "one of the world's most effervescent bands" , Sit 'n' Spin are known for their great live shows and punky pop songs and have drawn comparisons with the Ronett

Profiles

Crosby, Stills and Nash: Every Album, Every Song (2021)

Nicky Crewe finds that Andrew Wild's new book in Sonicbond Publishing’s 'On Track' series is a definitive guide to Crosby, Stills and Nash not forgetting Neil Young’s contributions.

The Clash: Every Album, Every Song (2021)

Nick Assirati sets out to make the music of The Clash accessible to newcomers and/or younger fans. Fiona Hutchings investigates whether he succeeds.

Albums of the Year 2020 (2020)

Our writers and photographers list their favourite albums of the year.

Profile (2020)

Maarten Schiethart highlights some of his favourite 7 inch and 12 inch releases of the year.

Pink Floyd in the 1970s (2020)

Keith How finds Georg Purvis' account of Pink Floyd’s history through the 1970s not only fascinating but a compulsive read even for a know it all fan!

Top 10+1 Reasons Q was the Best Music Mag of its Generation (2020)

The news that Q magazine was closing this year after a 34-year run due to Covid-19 sent shock waves through the music community. Ex Q editorial assistant Cila Warncke talks to other former work colleagues about their fond memories of the influential magazine.

Some Reflections (2020)

After talking to comic Jimmy Tarbuck about his recollections of Tom Jones and Elvis, Nick Dent-Robinson reflects upon his own memories of seeing Elvis live.

Profile (2020)

Nicky Crewe examines how the music community in her home city of Sheffield is coping with the challenges presented by the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.

Profile (2020)

The fifth instalment of Cherry Red’s impressive C box sets is here, this time focusing on the dismal pop year that was 1990. Tommy Gunnarsson is far from impressed with the music, but more so with the compilation itself.

A Concert for Jack Bruce (2019)

Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys a fantastic tribute concert to the late Jack Bruce, which filmed at the London Roundhouse in 2018, has just been released on CD and DVD.

The Sounds of Sheffield 1978-1988 (2019)

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.

Profile (2019)

Nick Dent-Robinson profiles this year's Big Feastival, which run by Alex James, the bassist with Blur, is taking place between the 23rd and 25th August in his native Oxfordshire.

Is This The Way Forward? (2019)

Amanda J. WIndow reflects on a new cash and cardless payment system that was used at this year's Bluedot Festival

Profile (2019)

Zena Grieg profiles this year's Glasgow Summer Sessions which will take place in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow between the 16th and 25th August.

Profile (2019)

Zena Grieg profiles this year’s Boomtown Festival which will include sets from Lauryn Hill, Prophets of Rage, the Streets, UB40 and Gogol Bordello.

Long Slow Train: The Soul Music of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (2019)

Nicky Crewe examines a new book which explores the origins of soul music through the life story and career of Sharon Jones and her house band the Dap-Kings, and finds that the incredible success of Amy Winehouse was possibly at the expense of recognition that Sharon deserved before cancer took her.

Profile (2019)

Zena Grieg profiles this year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals which will take place between the 23rd and 25th August.

Profile (2019)

John Clarkson examines new five-CD box set 'Big Gold Dreams', which documents Scottish punk and independent music between 1977 and 1989, and proves to be the definitive account of a definitive era.

Comment (2019)

Andrew Twambley takes us on a trip through musical history, via gigs large and small and his own collection of old concert tickets.

Albums of the Year 2018 (2019)

Our writers and photographers list their favourite albums and also their favourite gig of the year.

2019 (2019)

Nick Dent-Robinson provides five tips for acts to keep an eye out for and which he predicts for success in 2019.

Interview (2018)

Pennyblackmusic magazine editor John Clarkson talks to Lisa Torem on its twentieth anniversary about the formation and history of our website.

Memories (2018)

Six of our writers and photographers reflect upon their time and years at Pennyblack.

Profile (2018)

Nick Dent-Robinson previews three Oxfordshire summer festivals, the Henley-on-Thames Festival, Cornbury Music Festival and Truck Festival.

Bruce Springsteen: Like a Killer in the Sun (2018)

Forty-five years since the release of his debut LP, American music legend Bruce Springsteen has his lyrics collected and dissected by editor Leonardo Colombati. Stephen Simkin reviews a frequently inspiring volume.

27: Gone Too Soon (2018)

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'.

A Friend of the Devil: The Glorification of the Outlaw in Song, from Robin Hood to Rap (2018)

Kimberly Bright finds that musician John Kruth has an interesting historical take on the recurring theme of the outlaw in popular music from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Profile (2018)

Keith How is impressed by two new albums of atmospheric and engaging music, the Nils Okland Band's 'Lysning' and the Erlend Apneseth Trio's 'Ara', both of which have recently come out on Norwegian label Hubro Music.

Albums of the Year 2017 (2017)

Our writers and photographers list their favourite albums and also their favourite gig of the year

Bob Dylan FAQ (2017)

In a new addition to Backbeat Book’s 'FAQ' series Bruce Pollock makes sense of the life and times of Nobel Prize winner and true legend Bob Dylan.

The Roxy Our Story and Rick Poyner (Ed)/Oh So Pretty: Punk in Print 1976-1980 (2017)

Adrian Janes reflects on two new books on 1970's punk, one on the legendary Roxy Club and the other on punk fanzines and writing

The Clash FAQ (2017)

Tony Gaughan finds American Gary Jucha's'The Clash FAQ' to be the definitive book on the seminal punk band

Steely Dan FAQ: All That's Left to Know about This Elusive Band (2017)

Keith How investigates an extraordinary new detailed biography about Steely Dan

A Memoir (2017)

When he discovers an old cassette recorder in his attic, Owen Peters is met by a flood of memories of his teenage years listening and taping DJ Johnnie Walker's 70's lunchtime show and his argumentative parents

Back to Black: Amy Winehouse's Only Masterpiece (2017)

Donald Brackett's new book might claim to focus on Amy Winehouse but Fiona Hutchings fears his attempts at context just cloud the issue

Film (2016)

Jamie Rowland reflects on new road movie 'American Honey', which is about a girl joining a travelling teenage magazine crew, and its hip-hop-fused soundtrack

Film (2016)

Adrian Janes finds that the thirtieth anniversary reissue of Alex Cox's film about the tortuous relationship of Sex Pistol Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen depresses as much as it compels

Profile (2016)

Adrian Janes finds that the Punk 1976-78 exhibition in the British Library, though by no means exhaustive, succeeds in conveying something of the fraught circumstances in which the punk movement arose in the UK and the excitement and great creative energy it unleashed

Film (2016)

Jamie Rowland findS impressive 'Bayou Maharajah', a new bio-documentary about the tragic life of brilliantly talented bot overlooked one-eyed blues pianist and drug addict, James Booker

Profile (2016)

While the original 80's club could be horrendously snobby, Mark Rowland finds that a new four CD Wag Club compilation BOX SET digs out some long forgotten gems

Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio (2016)

Ben Howarth finds Andy Babiuk's book 'Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio', which provides a history of the Beatles' equipment, to be original and unique

Profile (2016)

Anthony Dhanendran examines 'Sharon Signs to Cherry Red', an eclectic new double CD retrospective which features indie label female artists from 1979 to 1985

This Bird Has Flown: The Enduring Legacy of Rubber Soul Fifty Years On (2016)

Keith How finds disappointing American author and musician John Kruth's new book 'This Bird Has Flown' on the Beatles 1965 album, 'Rubber Soul'

Film (2016)

Jamie Rowland is impressed by Tom Geens’ new film ‘Couple in a Hole’ which tells of a grief-stricken British couple living in a hole in the French Pyrenees and which includes a soundtrack from experimental group Beak

Charity Appeal (2015)

Our writer Anthony Strutt, who is ill with cancer, is trying to raise £5,000 for charity

Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock 'n' Roll's Last Stand in Hollywood (2015)

Adrian Janes examines Domenic Priore's book 'Riot on Sunset Strip', which tells the story of the creative explosion in the Los Angeles clubs during the 1960s which nurtured the Byrds, Doors, Love and many others and the greed and politics which shut them down.

Film (2015)

Despite seeing immense potential in ‘Buttercup Bill’, the new music-oriented film of American directors Remy Bennett and Emilie Richard-Froozan, Harry Sherriff finds it to be overall dull and disappointing

Profile (2015)

Live musical scores to silent films are maybe a new experience to Owen Peters, but he soon finds out via various interviews around the subject that it is an expanding concept

Profile (2015)

Mary O' Meara examines and reflects upon the still thriving world of the printed fanzine

Profile (2015)

Owen Peters profiles our new series 'Is This Your Year?', in which we will be following the fortunes of five different acts over the course of a year

Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 7/3/2015 (2015)

Billy Seagrave attends his first night of Burlesque at a sold-out Ruby Lounge in Manchester

Profile (2015)

Niick Dent-Robinson looks at country music capital Nashville, which has seen a dramatic recent rise in popularity amongst visitors because of the 'Nashville' TV series

Albums of the Year 2014 (2014)

Our writers and photographers reflect upon their favourite albums and also their favourite gig of 2014

Profile (2014)

Anthiony Dhanendran looks at excellent new box set, 'Millions Like Us', which compiles together tracks of many of the lost bands of the late 1970s and 1980s Mod Revival

Excess All Areas (2014)

Melanie Smith reflects on new book 'Excess All Areas', which looks at some of the most extreme rock rider lists

Interview (2014)

Nick Dent-Robinson chats to rock photographer Scarlet Page about her current exhibition ‘Resonators', which features photographs of around forty guitarists including her father, Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page

Interview (2014)

Nick Dent-Robinson speaks to former Radio One DJ Mike Read about his new autobiography, 'Seize The Day'

Sky Art Sessions (2014)

Owen Peters looks at new TV programme 'Sky Art Sessions', which profiles new and up-and-coming bands

Interview (2014)

Lisa Torem talks to Michael Darling, the chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, about the 'David Bowie Is' exhibition, which after its run at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, is now about to open there

Interview (2014)

Pennyblackmusic writer Nicky Crewe talks to John Clarkson about some of her musical memories of Manchester between the 1960s and 1980s, which include touring with Captain Beefheart, sharing a house with Martin Hannett, knowing Tony Wilson and working at the Hacienda on its opening night

Edinburgh, 14/8/2014...20/8/2014 (2014)

Melanie Smith writes of some of her personal highlights while attending this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 5/7/2014 (2014)

Dixie Ernill looks back on our recent Pennyblackmusic Bands Night in Manchester, which saw sets from the reformed Brilliant Corners, the Haywains and Horsebeach

The Libertines at Hyde Park (2014)

Gillain Fish criticises the dismanagement of the British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park in London, which, poorly organised throughout, led to crushing at the Libertines' reunion gig

Profile (2014)

Nick Dent-Robinson profiles Fairport's Cropredy Convention for this year, and talks to Chas'n'Dave and Irish singer-songwriter Cara Dillon, who are on the bill this year, as well as Fairport Convention members Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg

Profile (2014)

Nick Dent-Robinson looks at Oxfordshire's Towersey Festival which will take this place this year from the 21st August to the 25th August, and speaks to Joe Heaps, its organiser, and Richard Thompson, the Bootleg Beatles and Eliza Carthy, all of whom will be peforming at it

Lexington, London, 31/5/2014 (2014)

Dominic Simpson looks back on Pennyblackmusic's 15th Anniversary show at The Lexington in London, which saw sets from Madam, Morton Valence and Rotifer

Book (2014)

Anthony Strutt is unimpressed by record label and club night Sonic Cathedral's first book 'Memoirs of a Shoegazing Gentleman', which collates together a series of articles published in the early 1990s in a spoof column in the 'NME'

C86 Box Set (2014)

Anthony Strutt reflects on the history and legacy of the 'NME' influential 'C86' cassette, which has just been re-released in a three CD box set

Profile (2014)

After attending an intimate gig by singer-songwriter Thomas Dybdahl in Manchester, Nicky Crewe reflects on the underrated Norwegian music indsutry

Film (2014)

Anthony Strutt finds Jacques Demy's 1964 French musical 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg', which has just been released on DVD in a fiftieth anniversary edition, to be one of the classics of 1960's cinema

Rock Biographies (2014)

Richard Lewis takes a look at the recent success of Morrissey’s autobiography and other entries in the genre and asks why some artists have been profiled in print more than others

Profile (2014)

Paul Waller reflects on three new albums, 'The Organisation of Pop', 'The Art of the 12 Inch, Volume Three' and latest Frankie Goes To Hollywood compilation 'Frankie Said', released to coincide with seminal label ZTT's 30th anniversary

Interview with Vinita Joshi (2014)

Mark Rowland talks to Vinita Joshi, the owner of Rocket Girl, which now has released over a hundred records, about her long-standing London-based label which she has run since 1997

BBC Radiophonic Workshop (2013)

Jamie Rowland reflects, with albums of its music ‘BBC Radiophonic Music’ and ‘The Radiophonic Workshop’ just having been reissued, upon the history of the BBC's remarkable Radiophonic Workshop studios

Medora (2013)

Lisa Torem is impressed by new documentary 'Medora', which tells of the mixed fortunes of an Indiana basketball team and which comes with a remarkable soundtrack

Love, Marilyn (2013)

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

15th Anniversary (2013)

Some of Pennyblackmusic's favourite artists and labels help us celebrate our 15th anniversary by sending us their birthday greetings

1 (2013)

Twenty-five of our writers and photographers reflect on some of their personal highlights of Pennyblackmusic during the last fifteen years

2 (2013)

GILLIAN FISH (London) I started writing for Pennyblackmusic after my sister’s boyfriend put me in touch with Richard Banks, the Pennyblack webmaster who in turn put me in touch with John Clarkson.

3 (2013)

JAMIE ROWLAND (London) Probably the most memorable interview I have done for Pennyblack was actually two interviews, one after the other. I started in Camden’s Underworld talking to the Locust, the

Broken (2013)

John Clarkson enjoys new DVD and coming-of-age drama 'Broken', which includes a soundtrack that involves Damon Albarn

She Bops: The Definitive History of Women in Rock, Pop and Soul: (2012)

Fiona Hutchings finds groundbreaking Lucy O’ Brien’s history on women in popular music, ‘She Bop’, which has just been published in a third edition

Shakespears Sister (2012)

Tom Fogarty examines four new releases from Shakespears Sister, the art rock project of former Bananarama singer Siobhan Fahey, and which include a reissue, two previously unreleased albums and a collection of remixes

ECR Music Group (2012)

Lisa Torem attends a launch party in New York for ECR Music Group, which run by musician/producer Blake Morgan, also includes on its roster Janita, David Cloyd, James McCartney and 60's star Lesley Gore

Pennyblackmusic Bands Night (2012)

We profile our next Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night which run with the Wickerman Festival will take place at The Bay in Glasgow on June 15th, and will feature sets from Duncan Maitland, the Cathode Ray, Roy Moller and Nicola Black

Half Moon, London, 24/3/2011 (2012)

Jamie Rowland reflects on our Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night on March 24th at the Half Moon in South London with Pete Fij and Terry Bickers, Last Harbour, the Owl Service and Roshi ft. Pars Radio

Pennyblackmusic Goes to Cuba (2012)

Lisa Torem visits Cuba and examines its music and some of its often surprising influences.

Albums of the Year 2011 (2011)

Our writers and photographers list their favourite albums and also gig of 2011

The Decline and Fall of the NME (2011)

With circulation figures at a low, Jon Rogers, Mark Rowland and John Clarkson discuss the reasons for the decline and fall of the UK's only surviving music weekly, the 'NME'

No Wave Part 3 (2011)

In the third part of his four part series, on New York's late 1970's confrontational No Wave movement, Jon Rogers reflects upon Brian Eno's album 'No New York', which featured four of its acts Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, James Chance and the Contortions, Mars and DNA.

No Wave Part 4 (2011)

Jon Rogers in the fourth and final part of his No Wave series examines Glenn Branca's band DNA and the long-term impact of the short-lived, but influential movement

No Wave Part 1 (2011)

In the first part of a four part series, on New York's late 1970's confrontational No Wave movement, Jon Rogers examines the impact of two of its most principle bands, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks and DNA

No Wave Part 2 (2011)

In the second part of his four part No Wave series, Jon Rogers reflects upon the influence of the saxophone-playing James Chance and his band the Contortions

Interview with Vinita Joshi (2010)

Label boss Vinita Joshi talks to Mark Rowland about her early musical influences and career and the impact they have had on her London-based label Rocket Girl, which she first formed in 1997

Such is Rock and Roll (2010)

We present our new documentary film, 'Such is Rock and Roll', which was filmed at our recent Pennyblackmusic Bands Night at the Half Moon in Herne Hill in London

Interview with Bruce Iglauer Part 1 (2010)

In the first part of a two part interview, Bruce Iglauer, the the president and founder of Alligator Records, the largest contemporary blues label in the world, talks to Lisa Torem about forming his label, which was first founded in 1971

Interview with Bruce Iglauer Part 2 (2010)

while in the second part he discusses how against musical recession it continues to survive

Multiverse (2010)

Maarten Schiethart reflets on the history of Bristol-based dance label co-operative and recording studio Multiverse, which has recently had 'Dark Matter', a double CD retropective of it work between 2004 and 2009, released

The Music of 'Scott Pilgrim vs The World' (2010)

Comic book series 'Scott Pilgrim' has been recently adapted into a Hollywood film. Jamie Rowland reflects on the integral part that music has to play in both.

Limetree Festival (2010)

Spencer Robertshaw finds the Limetree Festival in Noth Yorkshire to be different from most other festivals in its back-to-basics approach and fan-friendly emphasis

Rockabilly - So What's This Then? (2010)

Adrian Huggins writes of his discovery, after getting lost on the way to a stag night, of the thriving current Rockabilly and Psychobilly movements

Lizard in a Woman's Skin (2010)

Anthony Strutt examines 1971 Italian horror film, 'Lizard in a Woman's Skin', which has just been restored on DVD, and features a psychedelic soundtrack from Ennio Morricone

Evo Music Rooms Recording for Channel 4 (2010)

Sarah Johnsos is in the audience for the making of the first programme in new Channel 4 music proramme, 'Evo Music Room'

Interview with Kenny Paterson (2010)

Kenny Paterson was a studio engineer from the mid 1980's to 1990's at Glasgow's legendary Park Lane Studios. John Clarkson chats to him about his new retrospective CD, 'Park Lane Archives', which compiles together tracks from many of the artists who recorded there

The Life and Times of Liam Clancy (2010)

Spencer Robertshaw is impressed by both the raw honesty and poignancy of DVD documentary 'Yellow Bittern' which tells of the life and times of late Irish folk ballad singer Liam Clancy

The Death of the Music Video (2010)

After spending his adolescence watching Much Music, Canada's version of MTV, Jeff Thiessen reflects upon the death of the music video

Interviews 2009 (2010)

John Clarkson finds impressive on-line punk and alternative rock fanzine Mudkiss' second book, which collates together all of its interviews from last year

When You're Strange (2009)

Anthony Strutt finds much to recommend in new Doors film, 'When You're Strange', which consists of largely unreleased and previously unseen footage of Jim Morrison

Bubblegum Records (2009)

Tommy Gunnarsson examines new Glasgow-based indiepop label Bubblegum Records which was formed earlier this year, and the four EPs and one album that it has already released

All Tomorrow's Parties (2009)

Chris O' Toole finds much to recommend in the new 'All Tomorrow's Parties' film, which has been released to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the influential indie rock festival

White Lightnin' (2009)

Anthony Middleton finds compelling, but also sometimes disturbing new DVD spoof documentary, 'White Lightnin', about the trials and tribulations of white trash dancer and killer, Jesco White

8th Annual Indie Video Music Festival 2009 (2009)

Fiona Hutchings finds the contents of the short list of 8th Annual Indie Video Music Festival, which is currently touring and will shortly be released on DVD, to be a decidely mixed bag

Loops Magazine (2009)

Chris O' Toole looks at new bi-annual publication 'Loops Magazine', whivch is being published in a joint venture between Domino Records and publishers Faber

Volumes 1 and 2 (2009)

Lisa Torem looks at the first two instalments in British film director Tony Palmer's 'All You Need is Love' 17 part 1970's music history series, which have just been re-released on DVD

Interview (2009)

John Clarkson speaks to Nathaniel Cramp, the owner of London-based record label and shoegazing club Sonic Cathedral, which has just released its first compilation CD and album, which features tracks from all its singles to date

Punk Fiction (2009)

Mark Rowland examines 'Punk Fiction', a charity collection of short stories, in which assorted writers including Nicholas Hogg, Martin Lloyd Edwards,John Niven, Kate Jackson, Billy Bragg and Billy Childish write short stories based on punk rock songs

Awaydays (2009)

Anthony Middleton enjoys the post-punk soundtrack of 'Awaydays', a new film about late 70s Liverpool football hooligans and music fans, but finds it otherwise lacking grit and over stating its social commentary

Sounds Like Teen Spirit (2009)

Mark Rowland finds refreshing and oddly moving British filmmaker Jamie J. Johnson's new light-hearted documentary about a Junior Eurovision song contest forchildren aged between 10 and 15

Interview with Stuart Mackay (2009)

Jamie Rowland chats to Stuart Mackay, the creator and organiser of train-oriented Derbyshire-based indiepop festival Indietracks, which is now in its third year

Safety Meeting Records (2009)

Anthony Strutt profiles New Haven, Connecticut-based label Safety Meeting Records and three of its latest releases by Crooked Hook, Quiet Life and the Mountain Movers

Communications 1978-1992 (2008)

'Communications 1978-1992' is a new four CD box set dedicated to Factory Records. Anthony Dhanendran examines Factory Records' massive influence and its history

We Dreamed America (2008)

John Clarkson finds much to enjoy in Alex Walker's new documentary DVD, 'We Dreamed America', which examines the British Americana movement

How Does It Feel to Be Loved (2008)

New writer Rachel Williams visits and profiles London-based indie-pop and soul club, How Does It Feel To Be Loved

10th Birthday (2008)

Some of Pennyblackmusic's favourite artists and labels of the last decade help us celebrate our 10th anniversary by sending us their birthday greetings

Classic Album Tours (2008)

Anthony Middleton examines the growing phenomenon at concerts of often relatively young bands performing their most celebrated albums in full

Somers Town (2008)

Anthony Strutt finds hard work Shane Meadows's new film, which set in the rundown part of north London of the title, tells of the friendship between a British and a Polish teenager

Ben X (2008)

The affecting, but somewhat erratic debut of Belgian director Nic Balthazar, Mark Rowland finds new film 'Ben X', the story of a teenager with Asperger's syndrome who is only truly comfortable when playing a fictional online role playing game, to be an intriguing mass of ideas

Donkey Punch (2008)

With a strong soundtrack that swings from Peter, Bjorn and John to Bloc Party, Sarah Maybank finds much to enjoy in claustrophobic new British thriller, 'Donkey Punch'

Joy Division (2008)

New documentary 'Joy Division' is the second film about the seminal 80's group in just over six months, but unlike the recent Anton Corbijn biopic 'Control', it tells the band's rather than Ian Curtis' story. Anthony Strutt finds much there for both long term and new fans

Profile (2008)

With Portland, Oregon label Audio Dregs' new 'Ambient Not Ambient' compilation, Maarten Schiethart finds the set belief that the electronica, folktronica and electro-acoustics movements are in decline to be a total misinterpretation

Transylvania (2008)

'Transylvania', which Pennyblackmusic reviewed when it was released in the cinema last year, is an edgy road movie with a stunning gyspy folk soundtrack. Anthony Strutt looks at its new DVD release, which comes with various extras

Air Guitar Nation (2008)

'Air Guitar Nation' focuses on two contestants competing in the World Air Guitar Cnampionships. Mark Rowland finds that it makes compelling yet slightly difficult viewing

Transylvania (2008)

Sweeney Todd (2008)

Anthony Strutt finds Tim Burton's new musical, 'Sweeney Todd :The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'to be a gory masterpiece of dark beauty

Profile (2007)

Russell Ferguson examines the re-release of Cherry Red's 1982 compilation, 'Pillows and Prayers',which now comes in a triple CD edition

Star Stories (2007)

CH4's 'Star Stories' provides satirical documentary-style profiles of the rich and famous. Sarah Maybank is amused by the first series which has just been released on DVD

All My Loving (2007)

Anthony Dhanendran enjoys Tony Palmer's 1968 music documentary 'All My Loving', which featuring footage of the Beatles, the Who, Cream, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, has just been released on DVD

Transylvania (2007)

Despite its title and starring one-time horror film actress Asia Argento, 'Transylvania' has nothing to do with vampires and is an edgy road movie with a stunning gypsy folk soundtrack. Anthony Strutt finds much to be impressed about

Interview with Sean Price (2007)

Indie label supremo Sean Price marks a decade in the business by picking his top of the Fortuna Pops

Art Vinyl Gallery, London, 5/4/2007 (2007)

At the Art Vinyl Gallery in London, Dominic Simpson attends an exhibition dedicated to the cover artwork of Domino Records

Profile (2007)

In 2006, almost 50 years after the original series, a second series of 'Radio Ballads' was produced by the BBC, which combined social commentary with music from some of Britain's best folk artists. With all of the new 'Radio Ballads' having been released on CD, Malcolm Carter profiles each of them

(2007)

Jon Rogers devotes a day listening to some of the most unlistenable albums of all time including albums by Lou Reed, Royal Trux, John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Orange Blossom 10 (2007)

John Clarkson finds a three hour double DVD about the 10th Orange Blossom Special, the festival of the German label Glitterhouse, and which featured sets from the Walkabouts, the Great Crusades, Big Bang, Seachange and Robert Fisher of the Willard Grant Conspiracy, totally riveting

Minehead, Somerset, 8/12/2006...10/12/2006 (2007)

Dominic Simpson casts his mind back on December's All Tomorrow's Parties long weekend, which was curated by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, and featured performances from among others Fursaxa, Deerhof, the Gang of Four, Dinosaur Jr and Iggy and the Stooges

The Art of the Cover (2006)

Jon Rogers writes about cover songs, and examines what make the difference between a good cover and a bad cover

Profile (2006)

Despite only haviing recently celebrated it first birthday, I Eat Records already has six bands on its roster. Adrian Huggins profiles the eclectic Austin, Texas based record label

Interview with Rachel Neiman (2005)

Cherryade Records is a new label run by student Rachael Neiman. With its first release, the debut release by Bristol noise punks Steveless, now available, Jamie Rowland talks to Rachel about how and why she started Cherryade

Interview with Nigel Turner (2005)

Now seven years old, the Pickled Egg label has just put out its fiftieth release. Label boss Nigel Turner talks to Sarah Johnson about its history and why we need labels like Pickled Egg.

Profile (2005)

Lucky Dog Recordings is the new label of Tindersticks fromt man Stuart A. Staples. Anthony Strutt profiles it and its first two very limited edition releases

Interview (2005)

Martin Kielty is the manager of reformed Scottish rockers the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. He is also the author of 'SAHB Stories', a biography of the band. He talks to John Clarkson about the group and his book

Interview with Travis Higdon (2005)

Texan label Peek-A-Boo Records has given recording space to the likes of Knife in the Water, Spoon and …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. Owner Travis Higdon talks to new writer Adam Wood about his prolific label

Interview with Blair Purda (2005)

Canadian indiepop label Endearing Records has an increasingly international profile. Dixie Ernill speaks to label boss Blair Purda about Endearing's decade long history

Interview (2005)

Portland, Oregon ensemble Tracker have recently released the soundtrack to Craig Thompson's much acclaimed autobiographical graphic novel 'Rewards.' Frontman John Askew speaks to John Clarkson about rewards and difficulties of recording it

Interview (2004)

After having spent over nearly a decade at the top with his alternative rock label Jade Tree, co-owner Darren Walters explains to Ben Howarth why other things, like a regular Friday night soccer game,have begun for him to take on increasing meaning

Interview (2004)

7' trashy garage rock label, Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation has had a lot of acclaim and press since releasing it debut single at the beginning of the year. John Clarkson talks to co-owner, Tiffin, about its rise.

Interview (2004)

Despite only running for only three years, and having to date released just five 7" singles and four albums,Tongue Maste has already worked with some of the best known names in independent music. Owner Theodore Vlassopulos chats to John Clarkson

Interview with Lutz Mastmeyer (2004)

The largest indie label in Germany, Glitterhouse includes on its roster the Willard Grant Conspiracy, the Walkabouts,16 Horsepower and Rocket from the Tombs. Second-in-charge Lust Mastmayer chats about its history and recent 20th anniversary celebrations

Interview (2004)

First established in 1994, Cheltenham-based label Ochre Records now has over 50 albums and many more singles to its credit. Founder and owner Talbot chats to Olga Sladeckova about its eclectic history and first ten years

Interview (2004)

One of independent musics greatest success stories, Deep Elm have developed a reputation over the last five years as a label to be constantly relied upon. Publicist Chuck Daley talks to Ben Howarth about why Deep Elm is far more than an 'emo' label.

Interview with Uwe Weigmann (2004)

Firestation Records is one of Germanys best indiepop labels. Co-founder Uwe Weigmann talks to Dixie Ernill in Berlin about its first five years.

Interview with Roland Benedetti (2004)

Parisian label GG0022 had been described alternately as a power pop label,a post-rock label and also an electronica label. Co-owner Roland Benedetti talks to John Clarkson about its increasing international reputation

Profile (2004)

Often seen as the world's definitive emo label, Deep Elm have recently released a free sampler, 'This is How I Kill my Tears'. Ben Howarth looks at how much the label has progressed in the seven years since it first formed

Interview (2004)

Parisian brothers Luc and Nicolas Reverter formed their label Ronda to release records by their much acclaimed band Melmac and since then have used it as a platform for their solo projects. Luc Reverter chats to about their plans to further expand Ronda

Interview (2004)

One of Scotlands biggest independent labels, Creeping Bent is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Label boss Douglas MacIntyre speaks to Olga Sladeckova about its history to date.

Interview with Jimmy Tassos (2003)

Chris Jones talks to Jimmy Tassos, the head of the Matinee label, about what he thinks about the current state of indie pop and his plans for the label in 2004

Interview (2003)

Up-and-coming post-rock label Tenor Vossa already has three acts on its roster and is rapidly expanding. Owners Ari and Dominic tell how looking for a label for their own band, Breathless, lead them onto greater things

Profile (2003)

The Portland, Oregon label Audio Dregs is one of the most creatively exciting of all current electronica labels. Maarten Schiethart profiles its elusive owner, E*Rock, and Audio Dregs inspiring use of technology

Interview with Edward Jung (2003)

The former owner of Emma's House Recordings, Edward Jung is back with a new 8" limited edition label, Heliotone. He talks to John Clarkson about starting over

Interview (2003)

Co-founded by Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, Nebraskan label Saddle Creek has grown over the last 10 years from being a small local tape label to a company with an international reputation. Mark Rowland talks to its European chain about its success

Interview with Simon Raymonde Part 1 (2003)

In the first part of a two part interview, which we are running concurrently this month, Simon Raymonde talks with Olga Sladeckova about Bella Union, the label that he first set up with his ex-Cocteau Twin band mate Robin Guthrie six years ago

Interview with Simon Raymonde Part 2 (2003)

In the second part of our interview, Olga Sladeckova continues to talk to label boss Simon Raymonde about Bella Union, which is now one of Britain's biggest indepedent record labels

Interview (2003)

Felicite is a new German indiepop label, which specialises in the 7" singles and EP market Owners Tom Hilverkus and Johanna Maier talk to John Clarkson about Felicite's releases to date and their plans for its future

Interview (2003)

Slow Noir is a new label that has been formed by La Nuit Americaine's Christian Govoni, and Pennyblackmusic's John Clarkson and Olga Sladeckova. All three chat to Ben Howarth about Slow Noir's first release, a compilation 'Sunset : False'

Interview with Dave Cawley (2003)

One of Britain's biggest indie labels, Fat Cat is perhaps best known for being Sigur Ros' label, but, from its very outset , has always proved remarkably eclectic and broad in its tastes. Co-owner Dave Cawley mulls over its history with John Clarkson

Interview with Louis Posen (2003)

Born out of very humble circumstances, Hopeless Records is now of America's largest punk labels. Founder Louis Posen chats to Olga Sladeckova about his label's ten year history

Interview with Mike Griffin and Brett Ackerman (2003)

Formed out of two other New York labels, Captive Ring is a promising new punk label and cooperative that hopes to put out several new releases this year. John Clarkson speaks to co-owners, Mike Griffin and Brett Ackerman, about their plans for it

Interview (2003)

Upper Class Recordings is a small Toronto-based low budget indiepop record label that is becoming increasingly well-known and established in Europe. Label boss Gareth Jones speaks to John Clarkson about its increasing profile

Interview with Calvin Johnson (2003)

American indiepop label K Records is soon about to celebrate its 21st birthday. Founder and Beat Happening frontman, Calvin Johnson, answers some of Olga Sladeckova's questions about his busy label

Interview with John Askew (2003)

Oregon-based alternative rock label FILM Guerrero has a rapidly escalating international reputation. Back for a second interview, label boss John Askew takes time out from his busy schedule to talk about his label's frantic last 18 months

Interview (2003)

Edinburgh-based label SL Records has been responsible for releasing some of the best indiepop in recent years, and is the home of ballboy, Degrassi and the now defunct Khaya. Owner Ed Pybus chats to Tommy Gunnarsson

Interview (2002)

Over the course of the last nine years, Fierce Panda has been responsible for introducing acts like Coldplay, Idlewild , Placebo and the Parkinsons to the world.Label boss Simon Williams talks to Olga Sladeckova about its extensive history

Interview (2002)

Laughing Outlaw is becoming rapidly one of Australia's premier independent labels. Malcolm Carter speaks to owner Stuart Coupe and finds that also a rock journalist, promoter and author,label owner is only one of his many mantles

Interview with Jason White (2002)

First established in 1989, Too Pure, which includes Hefner, Rothko and M cCluskey on its roster, is one of Britain's leading independent labels . Olga Sladeckova speaks to label manager boss about recent changes at Too Pure and his plans for its future

Interview with Matt Haynes and Clare Wadd 1 (2002)

One of the most important independent record labels if all time, Sarah Records put out exactly 100 perfect pop releases and then stopped. In the first part of a two part interview, Julia Willis speaks to owners Matt Haynes and Clare Wadd

Interview with Matt Haynes and Clare Wadd 2 (2002)

In the second part of our two part Sarah label interview, Julia Willis continues to chat to Matt Haynes and Clare Wadd about the influential Bristol label

Interview with Eric Ostermeier (2002)

Intricate and delicate in sound , Minneapolis label Words on Music has been one of the constant bestselling labels on the Pennyblackmusic site. Chris Jones chats to co-owner Eric Ostermeier about the label's first four years and its releases to date

Interview with Sean Price (2002)

Perhaps the most prolific indie pop label in Britain, Fortuna Pop has now put out releases by over 20 bands. Label owner Sean Price chats to Olga Sladeckova about its 4 year history, and why he now plans to slow things down a little

Interview with Woody Whelan (2002)

One of Canada’s best known small independent labels, Mag Wheel is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Label boss Woody Whelan talks to John Clarkson about the past 10 years and his single-handed resurrection of the career of legendary punks, the Nils

Interview with Tommy Gunnarsson and Marie Sorenson (2002)

Pennyblackmusic writer Tommy Gunnarsson recently formed his own indiepop label, Heavenly Pop Hits, with his girlfriend Marie Sorenson. With their first compilation "Hit Music Only' just out, they talk about the problems and benefits of forming a label

Interview (2002)

Predominately a dance and electronica label, the British label Iris Light has been releasing records since 1996. Label boss Adam Sykes talks to Ben Howarth about its diverse history

Interview with Rhys Harper and Benjamin Watson (2002)

Norwich's the Sickroom Gramophone Collective has met with major success with Bearsuit and is one of the up-and-coming labels in Britain. Owners Rhys Harper and Benjamin Watson talk to Gary Wollen about its spectacular rise

Interview with Aston Stephens (2002)

One of the biggest and busiest of all British punk labels, Boss Tuneage currently has over 70 acts on its roster. Label boss Aston Stephens chats to Olga Sladeckova about its ten year history

Interview (2002)

New Boston "pessimistic pop" label Stop Pop and Roll has only put out two albums, but has already garnished a strong reputation for producing quality records. Label manager Aaaron Tap talks to John Clarkson about its growing reputation

Interview with Matt Haynes (2002)

Matt Haynes, former co-owner of the legendary Sarah records and now sole guardian of Shinkansen Records, talks to Cila Warncke about his record label, and maintaining a sense of personal politics in a world of commercialism

Interview (2002)

The Subway Organiszation label was one of the great indiepop labels of 80's. It owner Martin Whitehead, who was also the guitarist with the band the Flatmates, talks to Tommy Gunnarsson about its spectacular rise and fall

Interview (2002)

Both a label and a club, the Track and Field Organisation is one of the most prolific of the current British independent indiepop labels. Co-owner Steven Drew talks to Olga Sladeckova about both its history and its future.

Interview with Edward Jung (2002)

Although formed just eighteen months ago, limited edition Manchester based vinyl only label Emma's House has already put out twelve releases, and is developing an increasing profile. Owner Edward Jung talks about his developing label.

Interview with Danny Corr (2002)

Only a year old, London label Outafocus has already released two CDs by Medium 21, and also the debut EP of Freeheat, ex JAMC man Jim Reid's new band. Label boss Danny Corr talks to Olga Sladeckova about its exciting future.

Interview with Robin Proper-Sheppard (2002)

?k,tablished in early 1994, the London based independent label Flower Shop Recordings has grown over the course of the last nearly eight years from being a low key 7" limited edition bedroom label into a small self-financing independent record compan

Interview with Jason Gibbons (2002)

Beautiful Pigeon Records is the new 7” singles project of long-term music fan Jason Gibbons. Jason chose the name for a number of reasons. There was an old Moonshake record called ‘Beautiful Pigeon’ and Jason was a big fan of that. He wanted to keep it s

Interview with Tracy Lee Jackson (2002)

If anyone had been playing ‘spot the record label boss’ in a small Whitehall pub on a damp March evening, chances are they would have pointed to one of a half-dozen-odd restlessly handsome men clustered in a corner, joking over pints. They would not, ho

Interview (2002)

LB : Hello, how are you today? AB : Feeling surprisingly fit, thank you, considering how late I worked last night. Woke up fresh after 4 hours, no alarm, no nothing, just kinda ready... If I figure it out, I'll patent it.

Interview (2002)

First formed at the beginning of last year, Film Guerrero is a new alternative rock label from Portland in Oregon with a strong emphasis on detail, and a rapidly growing international reputation. It was initially established by its owner, local record

Interview (2002)

Last year they blessed us with the fantastic re-release of The Desert Wolves complete recordings on the CD 'Pontification' . And is if that wasn't enough, they also released the excellent compilation 'The Sound Of Leamington Spa Volume One', that featured

On Labels and Geographic in Particular (2002)

For those of us who are constantly on the search for new music, a good record label can be one of the best friends you could ask for. Anyone who's gone to a record store and/or record site in the last

Interview (2002)

Laurent Orseau and his girlfriend Eloise Steclebout are both well known figures in independent rock circles in their native France. The two, who live in Paris, worked until recently for the French

Interview (2002)

Stereorrific is an expanding Boston record label that is run by two brothers, Jeff and Joel Mellin. Both the Mellins are also talented musicians, and while Joel fronts his own five piece band, retro-s

Interview with Jimmy Tassos (2000)

In recent months Matinee has become the most popular record label on the Pennyblackmusic site . It is easy to understand why. Whereas many talk of some kind of guitar-pop crisis, Matinee release guitar-pop records that are of a consistently high quality.

Live

3

For the third part of our four part series, in which our writers and photographers reflect upon great venues, Dastardly, Dave Goodwin and Lisa Torem examine Vinyl Deptford in London, Rock City and the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham and the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.

Comment

Our writers and photographers tell of the bands and acts from the past that they would most like to have seen live.

2

In the second part of our series, in which our writers and photographers reminisce upon great venues, past and present, Nicky Crewe, John Clarkson and Cila Warncke remember The Hacienda in Manchester, the 1980's Loughborough University Students' Union and the 1990's London Camden Palace.

1

In the first part of this four part series, our writers and photographers will be reflecting upon and providing memories of great venues, past and present. Nicky Crewe, Andrew Twambley and Adrian Janes remember 60's club The Magic Village and 70's venues, Eric's in Liverpool and the London Rainbow.

4

For the fourth and final part of this four part series, in which our writers and photographers reflect upon great venues, Amanda J Window, Andrew Twambley and Denzil Watson bring things up-to-date with their memories of the Night and Day Cafe and O2 Ritz in Manchester and the Sheffield Leadmill.

Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 16/10/2019

Curiosity took Nicky Crewe to the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ceremony, where she discovered an evening full of enthusiasm and celebration, with fantastic musicians and surprising guests.

Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, 15/1/2019

L. Paul Mann watches the American Crossroads Trio, in which David Bromberg, Larry Campbell and Los Lobos guitarist David Hidalgo team up for a Californian concert.

Alcazar Theater, Carpinteria, 4/11/2018

L. Paul Mann finds that the Surfrider Benefit brings a diverse group of four song writers to the Alcazar Theater in Carpinteria.

Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, 2/8/2018...5/8/2018

Music is just one element of the UK's most freewheeling and eclectic summer festival, Wilderness, says Nick Dent-Robinson. Nile Rodgers gets a rapturous reception while a celebrity cricket match prompts a record number of streakers.

Observatory, Santa Ana, 25/1/2018

L Paul Mann takes in the star-studded charity gig, Dimebash 2018, at The Observatory in Santa Ana.

Kingston, Oxfordshire, 25/8/2017...26/8/2017

Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys this year's Big Feastival, Blur bassist Alex James' annual festival of food and music in Oxfordshire.

Santa Barbara, 19/3/2017

At the second day of the Starry Nites festival in California L. Paul Mann watches and takes photographs of sets from Asteroid No.4, the Lumerains, Cat Power, Teenage Fanclub and Alan Parsons

Santa Barbara, 18/3/2017

L. Paul Mann at the first day of new Californian festival Starry Nites watches and photographs performances from among others Afishinsea, the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Thunderpussy, the Dandy Warhols and the Kills

Okeechobee, 3/3/2017

On the second day of the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival L. Paul Mann enjoys sets among others from Louis The Child, the Japanese House, Galactic, indie rockers Young The Giant, rapper Wiz Khalifa and EDM star Flume

Okeechobee, 4/3/2017

At the third day of the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival L.Paul Mann sees sets from among others young New Jersey singer Donna Missal, the Revivalists, Sleigh Bells and a combined performance between Usher and The Roots

Okeechobee, 2/3/2017

Writer and photographer L.Paul Mann attends the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in Florida and on its first day watches and photographs sets by local blues guitarist Roosevelt Collier and Californian seven-piece soul/funk band Con Brio

Okeechobee, 5/3/2017

At the fourth and final day of the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival writer ad photographer L. Paul Mann sees sets by among others Bipolar Sunshine, the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Lumineers and the Kings of Leon

Academy, Manchester, 23/5/2015

Billy Seagrave attends the second Gigantic All Dayer at the Manchester Academy and enjoys sets from the Primitives, Hurricane No. 1, the Gang of Four, Pop Will Eat Itself, the Inspiral Carpets and the recently reformed the High, who have got back together after an absence of twenty-two yers

Ritz, Manchester, 26/2/2015

Melanie Smith witnesses an exceptionally superb night of music with sets from rising stars Palma Violets, Fat White Family, Slaves and the Wytches at an NME Awards Tour gig at the Ritz in Manchester

Mizner Park Amphitheatre, Boca Raton, Florida 18/1/2015

Carl Bookstein is impressed by the one-day Sunshine Music and Blues Festival in Boca Raton in Florida which this year saw sets among others from the Doors' Robbie Krieger, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, The Both and Los Lobos

Humboldt Park, Chicago, 12/9/2014...14/9/2014

Lisa Torem enjoys sets from among others Patti Smith, the Flaming Lips, Billy Bragg and Paul Weller at the three day Chicago Riot Fest

Nr.Thame, Oxfordshire, 21/8/2014...25/8/2014

Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys Oxfordshire's week long Towersey Festival, which celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, saw performances among many others from Eliza Carthy, Richard Thonpson, Seth Lakeman and the Bootleg Beatles

Newton, Nottinghamshire, 25/7/2014...27/7/2014

Dave Goodwin is enthralled by the three-day Deerstock Festival in Nottinghamshire, which saw appearances from a wide range of indie acts

Henley, Oxfordshire, 8/7/2014...12/7/2014

Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by this year's Henley Festival, which included a stunning performance from Burt Bacharach

Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire, 4/7/2014....6/7/2014

Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys Oxfordshire's annual Cornbury Festival, which saw performances from Georgie Fame, Suzanne Vega, 10cc, Jools Holland, and Simple Minds and a highly impressive set from the Gypsy Kings

Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 23/4/2014

Lisa Torem at the Old Town School of Folk Music enjoys the Chicago date of a tour from some of its regular players to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the iconic Newport Jazz Festival

Mizner Park Amphitheatre, Boca Raton, 18/1/2014

Carl Bookstein enjoys performances from the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Galactic, Leon Russell, Hot Tuna, Tab Benoit and Stanley Clarke at the Sunshine Music and Blues Festival in Florida

ABC of Canadian Music

Catherine Christofis photographs the ABC of Canadian Music, which featured Po' Girl's Awna Teixeira, former Twilight Hotel front woman Brandy Zdan and ex-Wailing Jennys' star Cara Luft, at the Old Queen's Head in London

Blueberry Hill, St Louis, 18/9/2013

Lisa Torem watches Chuck Berry at 86 play an inspirational and emotive set in his once a month residency gig at the intimate Blueberry Hill club in St Louis

St George's Hall, Liverpool , 25/8/2013

Harry Sherriff finds inspiring the Liverpool Music Awards' annual celebration of local music took place this year in the stunning environment of St George's Hall in central Liverpool

Liverpool Music Awards 2

...while in the second she photographs some of its winners and performers

East Carswell, Galloway, 27/7/2013

Andy Cassidy awakes from a hangover to enjoy the second day of the Wickerman Festival which included sets from Dexys, Roy Moller and the Rezillos

East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, 26/7/2013...28/7/2013

Dave Goodwin finds incredible Nottinghamshire's Deerstock Festival, which saw appearances from over thirty indie acts including Def Digby, the Gorgeous Chans, Leetabix and the Doggen Star Band, which led by Spiritualized's Tony Foster, also includes members of Selecter and the Fratellis

East Carswell, Galloway, 26/7/2013

Andy Cassidy enjoys the first day of the Wickerman Festival which this year included sets from Chic and Nile Rodgers, Primal Scream, Admiral Fallow and rising Glasgow band Eugene Twist

Ottawa, 4/7/2013...7/7/2013

In the first week of Ottawa's annual Bluesfest, Andrew Carver watches performances from acts including the Black Keys, Grand Funk Railroad, Sharon Van Etten, the Joy Formidable and Wu-Tang Clan...

Ottawa, 8/7/2013...14/7/2013

and in its second week the Waterboys, the Specials, Rush, Alice in Chains, Los Lobos and BB King

Cropredy, Oxfordshire 8/8/2013...10/8/2013

Nick Robinson is impressed by Fairport Convention's annual Cropredy Convention which, as well as surprise headliner Alice Cooper and Faiprot Convention themselves playing two sets, also featured 10cc, the Levellers and the Mediavel Baebes

229 , London, 22/6/2013

Coinciding with a five CD 1980's indie pop box set, Scared to Get Happy was a mini festival at 229 in London featuring ten bands of the era. Dixie Ernill enjoys sets from the Primitives and June Brides, and the return after a twenty year absence of his favourite band the Brilliant Corners

Ottawa, 20/6/2013,,,23/6/2013

Andrew Carver is impressed by five day festival the Ottawa Explosion which, spread across ten venues, saw performances from over a hundred rock, punk and garage acts

Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire,, 4/7/2013...7/7/2013

Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by Oxfordshire's Cornbury Festival, which saw headline performances from Van Morrison, Echo and the Bunnymen and Squeeze, as well as excellent sets from 'Downtown Abbey' actress Elizabeth McGovern's band Sadie and the Hotheads and Scottish duo Hunter and The Bear

X and Y Festival

Marie Hazelwood takes photographs of the Crookes, the Heartbreaks and Catfish and the Bottlemen at this year's X and Y Festival at the O2 Academy in Liverpool

3/5/2013...4/5/2013

Gillian Fish enjoys the Live At Leeds festival, which saw performances this year among others from the Concetines, Pigeon Detectives, Tribes, Swim Deep, Peace and the much hyped Strypes

2/5/2013...4/5/2013

At this year's three day Liverpool Sound City Harry Sherriff watches set from among others the 1975, Lulu James, ex-Coral guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones, Darwin Deez and the Sugarmen

Groucho Club, London, 17/2/2013

Tom Fogarty watches the Soho Hobo, which is the moniker of London musician Tim Arnold, play an excellent set material from as-yet unreleased album, every song which is about his native Soho, at the legendary Groucho Club in London

Briton's Protection,Manchester, 1/12/2012

Dixie Ernill watches up-and-coming Salford-based five-piece the Cold One Hundred play a superb set of indie pop at the showcase gig for their debut EP at the Briton’s Protection in Manchester

Camp and Furnace, Liverpool, 29/9/2012

Richard Lewis is impressed by a dazzling debut outing for the Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia, an all-day event headlined by Dead Skeletons, Wolf People, Mugstar and Time and Space Machine

Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia 1

Marie Hazelwood over three galleries photographs several of the bands at one day psychedelic festival, the Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia

Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia 2

Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia 3

Mathew Street Festival

Marie Hazelwood photographs local acts Hummingbirds, Filter Distortion and Married to the Sea at free Liverpool outdoor festival, the Mathew Street Festival

Gilbert Blecken Photography (1989-2009) 1

Over twenty years between 1989 and 2009, former Pennyblackmusic writer Gilbert Blecken took portrait shots and interviewed mainly British and American musicians as they toured through his native city of Berlin. The photographs in these four galleries chronicle some of those encounters and interviews

Gilbert Blecken Photography (1989-2009) 2

Gilbert Blecken's second gallery consists of: 1. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) 1991 2. Kirsty MacColl 1994 3. Billy MacKenzie 1994 4. Gary Numan 1998 5. Claudia Brucken (Propaganda) 2001 6. Rose McDow

Gilbert Blecken Photography (1989-2009) 3

Gilbert Blecken's third gallery consists of: 1. Brett Anderson 2008 2. Trish Keenan (Broadcast) 2005 3. Tim Burgess (The Charlatans) 2008 4. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) 2005 5. Torry Castellano an

Gilbert Blecken Photography (1989-2009) 4

Gilbert Blecken's fourth gallery consists of: 1. Charlotte Hatherley 2007 2. Brendan Picchio and Juanita Stein (Howling Bells) 2007 3. Mira Aroyo and Helen Marnie (Ladytron) 2008 4. Annie 2005

Detroit, 31/8/2012...1/9/2012

Carl Bookstein enjoys two evenings of powerful jazz at the Detroit Jazz Festival, which saw headline slots from octogenerian saxophonist Sonny Rollins and trumpet superstar Wynton Marsalis

Bodega, Nottingham, 17/8/2012

Dave Goodwin finds former child star and one-time classical singer Charlotte Church expanding into unheard new directions at a gig at the Bodega in Nottingham to promote 'One', her new four song EP

FestEvol 1

Marie Hazelwood provides photographs over four galleries of FestEvol, a new festival, which showcases local musical talent in the Liverpool area

FestEvol 2

FestEvol 4

FestEvol 3

Ottawa, 4/7/2012...8/7/2012

At this year's Ottawa Bluesfest Andrew Carver watches in is first week sets amongst many others from Alice Cooper, the Melvins, Fishbone, Billy Bragg, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Orgone...

Ottawa, 9/7/2012...15/7/2012

...and in the second week performances from Lauryn Hill, Pack AD, the Cowboy Junkies, the Hold Steady, Bettye Layette and Balconies

Midland Railway, Butterley, Derbyshire, 7/7/2012...8/7/2012

Helen Tipping, despite often terrible weather conditions, enjoys sets at the sixth Indietracks Festival in Derbyshire from Allo Darlin', Colour Me Wednesday, Tendertrap, the Just Joans, the Vaselines and Veronica Falls

Port Lympne Animal Park, Kent, 3/8/2012…5/8/2012

Paul Waller provides a day-by-day diary of this year's Hevy Fest in Kent, which saw sets from Blacklisters, Brotherhood of the Man, Balance and Composure, Vales, Municipal Waste and This is Hell

Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire, 29/6/2012...1/7/2012

Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys Oxfordshire's Cornbury Festival which, combining the traditional qualities of a garden party with a world class array of acts, saw performances from among others Gretchen Peters, Elvis Costello, Seasick Steve and Sam Brown and Her International Ukulele Club of Sonning Commo

Ottawa, 13/6/2012...17/6/2012

Andrew Carver enjoys five day featival the Ottawa Eplosion which, spread across everal venues, saw performances from an extensive range of rock, pop and garage acts

Naperville, 29/6/2012...1/7/2012

Lisa Torem watches the Steve Miller Band, Joe Walsh and ZZ Top play headlining sets over three nights at the Chicago Festival, the Naperville Rib Fest

Liverpool Sound City 1

Over four galleries photographers Darren Aston and Marie Hazelwood provide photographs of their favourite photographs from this year's Liverpool Sound City

Liverpool Sound City 2

Liverpool Sound City 3

Liverpool Sound City 4

Liverpool, 17/5/2012...19/5/2012

Richard Lewis at the three day Liverpool Sound City festival enjoys sets amongst others from Mystery Jets, Dan Croll, Willis Earl Beal and James Vincent McMorrow

Destroy

Leaf Cafe, Liverpool, 27/4/2012

Richard Lewis attends the GIT Awards, which dubbed 'the Scouse Mercury Prize', saw performances from ten of the twelve acts on the shortlist

Crooked Billet, Stoke Row, 22/2/2012

Nick Dent-Robinson watches award-winning folk artist Megan Henwood play a passionate and intimate set at the Crooked Billet at Stoke Row in Oxfordshire

Liverpool Music Week 1

In a two part photographic feature on Liverpool Music Week, which took place at the end of last year, Marie Hazelwood takes photographs of indie bands Big Deal, the Duke Spirit and Echo Lake...

Liverpool Music Week 2

...while in the second part shows she takes photos of Fly With Vampires, the Rialto Burns and Stealing Sheep

Scala, London, 1/11/2011...3/11/2011

At indie pop label Fortuna POP's fifteenth birthday celebrations, Anthony Strutt enjoys sets from among others Bearsuit, the Primitives, Tender Trap, Darren Hayman and Allo' Darlin'

CCA, Glasgow, 15/11/2011

Andy Caasidy at the CCA in Glasgow is impressed by Leeds-based alternative label Gizeh Record's ambition on the Silent Bells tour, an intimate set of showcase gigs to promote three of their acts, Farewell Poetry, Sleepingdog and Conquering Animal Sound

Roscoe Village, Chicago, 16/9/2011...17/9/2011

Lisa Torem enjoys headline sets from both Californian alternative rockers Alien Ant Farm and Sheffield electro act the Human League at weekend festival the Guinness Oyster Fest in Chicago

Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire, 26/8/2011...28/8/2011

Despite difficulties with the weather, Spencer Robertshaw enjoys the family-friendly Limetree Festival in Yorkshire

Oakley Farm. Dorset, 12/8/2011...14/8/2011

Helen Tipping finds much to enjoy at punk/alternative festival Endorse It in Dorset, which includes sets from New Model Army, the Alabama 3, the Members and the Rezillos

Midland Railway, Butterley, Derbyshire, 29/7/2011...31/7/2011

Helen Tipping finds the fifth Indietracks Festival, which includes sets from Hidden Cameras, Jeffrey Lewis, the Vaselines's Frances McKee and Herman Dune, a fantastic experience

Kent, 4/7/2011

On his birthday Anthony Srutt at the Hop Farm Festival in Kent watches sets from Morrissey, Lou Reed and Patti Smith

Ottawa, 5/7/2011...10/7/2011

In the first week of the Ottawa Bluesfest, Andrew Carver watches sets the likes of the Flaming Lips, the Steve Miller Band, Wanda Jackson, Erykan Badu, M Ward and Leon Russell.

Ottawa, 11/7/2011...17/7/2011

...wgile in the second week, which ended on a note of turbulence with the collapse of the stage during a thunderstorm, he takes in performances from among others Dana Fuchs, the Dirtbombs, My Morning Jacket, Alyssa Reid, Mother Mother and Jane's Addiction

The Bay, Glasgow, 10/7/2011

At an all day warm-up show at The Bay in Glasgow for the then forthcoming Wickerman Festival, Andy Cassidy enjoys performances from headliners Ducan Maitland and and also local acts including Tragic O'Hara, Neil Sturgeon, the Rudiments and Mr Kil

Ottawa, 16//6/2011...18/6/2011

Andrew Carver enjoys the Ottawa Explosion, a DIY three day punk festival which took place in a variety of Ottawa's homes, record stores, nightclubs, practice spaces and even a laundrette

Liverpool, 19/5/2011...21/5/2011

At the three day Liverpool Sound City, Richard Lewis watches sets from among many other the Kooks, Cast, Miles Kane, Dinosaur Pile-Up and Fly with Vampires

ABC2, Glasgow, 20/4/2011

At a show sponsored by Jack Daniels in the ABC2 in Glasgow, John Clarkson watches Sharleen Spiteri, Ian McCulloch, Kate Nash, Steve Mason and new bands Ramona and Kid Adrift play a frequently excellent set of David Bowie covers.

Lexington, London, 4/1/2011

Anthony Strutt watches sets from the Loves, Standard Fare and Evans the Death on the first night of Fortuna Pop!'s three day Winter Sprinter festival at the Lexington in London...

Lexington, London, 5/1/2011

...while on the second night he sees performances from Comet Gain, the Loft playing their first gig since 2006 and Veronica Falls...

Lexington, London, 6/1/2011

...and on the last Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern, the Wave Pictures and the Leaf Library

House of Blues, Chicago, 19th...21st November 2010

Lisa Torem attends the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp in Chicago in which musicians such as Grand Funk Railroad's Mark Farner, Ozzy Osbourne bassist Rudy Sarzo and Mitch Ryder mentor, rehearse cover tunes and create original music together with fans over a long weekend

ICA, London, 18/9/2010

...while on its second he watches slots from the Primitives, the Blanche Hudson Weekend and the Primitives

ICA, London, 19/9/2010

...and on the last night Robin Guthrie, Heligoland and Daniel Land and the Modern Painters

Lexington, London, 16/9/2010

In an evening that was postponed from April as a result of the volcanic ash disruption, Dan Cressey enjoys a night of death metal from Scandinavian bands, Solstafir, Thunderstone and Kvelertak

6/7/2010...10/7/2010

During the first week of the annual Ottawa Cisco Systems Bluesfest Andrew Carver watches sets from among others Iron Maiden, Steel Pulse, Good2Go,Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Carolyn Wonderland and the Flaming Lips

11/7/2010...18/7/2010

...while in its second week he also sees performances from John Hiatt, Rush, Arcade Fire, the Gories, Blonde Redhead and Jimmy Cliff

Florida, 13/5/2010...17/5/2010

The Malt Shop Memories Cruise was a Florida cruise trip featuring performances from a variety of late 50's and early 60's acts. Lisa Torem watches sets from amongst others Lou Christie, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Drifters and Lesley Gore

Minehead, Somerset, 14/5/2010

On the first day of a Pavement-curated All Tomorrow's Parties, Mark and Jamie Rowland, Ben Howarth and Sarah Johnson discuss sets from bands such as Surfer Blood, Calexico and Broken Social Scene...

Queens Park, Glasgow, 14/5/2010...23/5/2010

At Glasgow's ten day Southside Festival Tony Gaughan is impressed by performances from Squeeze front man Glenn Tilbrook and singer-songwriter Nick Harper as well as sets from local acts such as Carol Laula, former Silencer JJ Gilmour, Howlin' Radio and Acoustic Butterfly

Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, 29/5/2010

At the Manchester open air festival Hungry Pigeon, Aaron Brown finds heavy rain failing to dampen the spirits of the crowd or Athlete in an exuberant performance from the London-based rockers

Minehead, Somerset, 15/5/2010

...while on the second they talk about performances from Blitzen Trapper, Fiery Furnaces, Camera Obscura, Pavement and Atlas Sound

Minehead, Somerset, 16/5/2010

...and on its third and final day they debate about slots from Wax Fang, the 3Ds, the Dodos, Terry Reid, the Fall and the Raincoats

ICA, London, 28/11/2009

...and on the last night closers the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, the Tamborines and Texas-band Ringo Deathstarr

ICA, London, 27/11/2009

...while on the second night he sees sets by Swervedriver, New York-based based-band the Deprecation Guild and Jesu

ICA, London, 26/11/2009

The 'Reverence 2' was a three day festival organised by the Club AC30 shoegazing label. On the first night, Anthony Strutt watches performances by the reformed Chapterhouse, Air Formation and Ulrich Schnauss

LeBreton Flats, Ottawa, 8/7/2009...12/7/2009

In the first week of the annual Ottawa Cisco Systems Bluesfest, Andrew Carver watches sets from acts including the Black Keys, Metric, Iron and Wine, Okkervil River, Lightning Malcolm and Cedric Burnside and the Church

LeBreton Flats, Ottawa, 13/7/2009...19/7/2009

...and in its second week the Drive By Truckers, Toots and the Maytals, M83, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Dead Weather and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Victoria Park, London, 1/8/2009

The Field Day is one-day music festival band for indie groups who wouldn't quite fit on the bill at Glastonbury or Reading. Ben Howarth watches sets among others from Fanfarlo, the Temper Trap, Juana Molina and Four Tet, but finds Malian musician, Toumani Diabate, having the greatest personal impact

Wollaton Hall, Nottingham, 19/7/2009

At the Nottingham Splendour Festival, Peter Allison watches the Fun Lovin' Criminals play a set of rogueish charm, and a Pogues' performance quickly descend into chaos

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

Union Chapel, London, 12/6/2009

Despite main act the Leisure Society having their stage time drastically cut, Ben Howarth finds much to be impressed about at a showcase evening at which the rising Wilkommen Records presented all its current roster of acts at the beautiful Union Chapel venue in London

Minehead, Somerset, 8/5/2009...10/5/2009

All the acts at the All Tomorrow's Parties Festivals in Somerset are usually chosen by a curator. In a break from the usual in which the acts were instead chosen by the fans and the organisers, Dominic Simpson watches sets from the likes of Beirut, the Jesus Lizard, Lydia Lunch and M83

Manchester, 23/5/2009

Sophie Hall is impressed by Manchester's multi-venue Hungry Pigeon festival, which put an emphasis on promoting the newest signed and unsigned acts in Britain today

Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, 21/5/2009

Andrew Carver watches durable New York powerpop act the Figgs play a crowd-pleasing and punchy set at Zaphod Beeblebrox in Ottawa

St Giles Church, London, 11/12/2008

Anthony Middleton watches Scottish folk artist James Yorkston, although suffering from sound problems, play a set of warm and humour to a rapt audience at the magical venue of St Giles' Church in London

New York, 20/10/2008...25/10/2008

Over six days at New York's city-based CMJ festival, Anthony Dhanendran watches performances from acts including Jens Lekman, Dan Deacon, Emmy the Great, Jay Reatard and Litle Boots

Midland Railway, Butterley, Derbyshire, 267/2008...27/8/2008

At the second ever Indietracks Festival, which takes place in a railway heritage site in Derbyshire, Jamie Rowland enjoys sets from indie pop/rock acts such as Herfner's Darren Hayman, the Bobby McGee's, the Wedding Present and ballboy

Hop Farm, London, 3/7/2008

Despite battling both the wind and rain, Anthony Strutt finds much to enjoy in rock's great survivor Neil Young's headline performance at new festival the Hop Farm in Kent

LeBreton Flats, Ottawa, 3/7/2008...6/7/2008

In the first four days of Ottawa's annual Cisco Sytems Bluesfest, Andrew Carver enjoys sets from among others the Secret Machines, TV On The Radio, Guitar Shorty, Orchestra Baobab, Ladytron and Richard Thompson

LeBreton Flats, Ottawa, 7/7/2008...13/7/2008

while in its last week he also sees performances from Bettye Lavette, Jason Collett, Sadie Hell, Seun Kuti, Shelby Lynne and Ray Davies

Victoria Park, London, 20/7/2008

On the second day of the Lovebox Weekender festival at Victoria Park in London, Sarah Johnson enjoys visually spectacular sets from both Goldfrapp and, in their only British show of the year, the Flaming Lips

Budapest, 8/8/2007...15/8/2007

The Sziget Festival in Europe has grown over the last fifteen years to being one of Europe's largest music festivals. New writer Marton Nagy watches mixed performances from acts such as the Killers, the Good, the Bad and the Queen, the Hives and Hungarian acts Bridge to Solace and Idoru

Escot Park, Devon, 17/8/2007...18/8/2007

The annual Beautiful Days Festival, which takes place in Devon, is run by the Levellers. Helen Tipping enjoys sets from New Model Army, Afro Celt Sound System, Devotcha, Hey Negrita and the Damned

Solar, Spain, 15/6/2007...17/6/2007

The Sonar Festival is an annual festia festival of arts, involving visual arts, installations and even a magic show. Anthony Dhanendran ejoys such musical highlights as Altern 8, the Beastie Bots, Skream, Devo and Mogwai

Dour, Belgium, 12/7/2007-15/72007

Based near the small Belgian town of Dour, the Dour festival is an annual four day festival. Ben Howarth sees performances from the likes of Sean Lennon, Bright Eyes, the Frames, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Wilco

Ottawa, 4/7/2007/10/7/2007

In the first week of Ottawa's Annual Bluesfest, Andrew Carver sees performances from acts as diverse as Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Radio Birdman, Femi Kuti, Toumani Diabete and the White Stripes...

Ottawa, 11/7/2007-15/7/2007

...and its second week Final Fantasy, Randy Newman, Alejandro Escovedo, Cat Power, Inuk thorat singer Tagag and Gogol Bordello

Minehead, Somerset, 27/4/2007...29/4/2007

At the latest All Tomorrow's Parties weekend, this time curated by Bad Seeds and Dirty Three violinist Warren Ellis, Anthony Dhanendran sees sets from bands as diverse as the Only Ones, Low, Spiritualized, Grinderman and Joanna Newsom

Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, 26/8/2006

80's influenced Toronto-based quintet These Electric Lives' recent Ottawa gig had local acts Embassies of Denmark and City of 100 Spires as support. Despite a rapidly decreasing audience, Andrew Carver watches them put on an energetic set

Escot Park, Devon, 18/8/2006...20/8/2006

At the Beautiful Days Festival in Devon, which is organised by the Levellers, Helen Tipping watches sets from the likes of the Crimea, Czech folk band Dikovej Bill, Goldblade, 3 Daft Monkeys and the Eighteenth Day of May

Camber Sands, Sussex, 12/5/2006...14/5/2006

In the first of two All Tomorrow's Parties weekeds this summer, Anthony Dhanendran takes in sets from the likes of Mudhoney, Holly Golightly, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bert Jansch, Vashti Bunyan and Devendra Banhart

Night and Day, Manchester, 14/8/2006

Australian band Howling Bells describe themselves as indie,but have links also to the darker side of alt.country. Helen Tipping sees them play a powerful and diverse set at Manchester's Night and Day in one of the best gigs of the year

Ottawa, 7/7/2006...11/7/2006

During the first half of Ottawa's 10 day annual Bluefest Andrew Carver watches sets by the likes of Broken Social Scene, Amadou et Mariam, Roxanne Potvin, Mia Dyson, Rickie Lee Jones and Son Volt

Ottawa, 12/7/2006...16/7/2006

...while in the second half he sees perfomances from Hammell on Trial, the Grande Mothers, Mofro, Fiery Furnaces, Alejandro Escovedo and Roseanne Cash

Clapham Common, London, 31/7/2006

Anthony Strutt has an enjoyable day out at Ben and Jerry's Summer Sundae in London, which featured sets from Badly Drawn Boy, Echo and the Bunnymen, Larriken Love and the Pipettes

Metro, London, 28/6/2006

Anthony Strutt is reminded of the the swagger of Echo and the Bunnymen and the Hope of the States as he is blown away by a show by leeds five piece iLIKETRAiNS at a show at the Metro in London

Night and Day, Manchester, 1/8/2006

Glaswegian female four piece the Hedrons have been attracting good reviews, but Helen Tipping is not impressed by their heavy metal riff guitar theatricals at show at Night and Day in Manchester

Barrymore's, Ottawa, 4/8/2006

Wolf Parade released a widely acclaimed album in 2005, and have built a formidable live reputation, but Andrew Carver finds them overshadowed by both opening acts at a show at Barrymore's in Ottawa

Carling Academy, London, 19/6/2006

Rock god extraordinaire Jesse Hughes recently brought his Eagles of Death Metal to London. Daniel Cressey is transfixed at their show there at the Carling Academy

Babylon, Ottawa, 12/5/2006

Heavy Trash is the new band of Pussy Galore and the Blues Explosion's much acclaimed Jon Spencer. At a Heavy Trash show in Ottawa, Andrew Carver, however, feels a weary sense of predictability and deja vu at Spencer's Elvis-inspired stage mannerisms

100 Club, London, 23/5/2006

Little Man Tate recently played a sold out show at London's 100 Club on their first big national tour. Olga Sladeckova is impressed by energetic sets from both them and support band the Repomen

Barfly, London, 25/5/2006

Australian group the Morning After Girls recently played a Kerrang-sponsored gig at a London date on their recent tour. Anthony Dhanendran is surprised that, rather than being industrial and heavy-sounding, they sound like a rockier Britpop act

Joseph's Well, Leeds, 12/5/2006

Leeds/Bradford-based band This Et Al recently played a homecoming gig of sorts at Joseph's Well in Leeds. Helen Tipping, however, finds their music drowned out by the venue's muddy sound system

Rainbow Bistro, Ottawa, 9/4/2006

Vancouver alt.rockers They Shoot Horses, Don't They ? have been getting much acclaim for the energetic stage show. Andrew Carver watches them play an impressive set at Ottawa's Rainbow Bistro

Metro, London, 30/3/2006

Jamie Rowland watches twee Casio rockers Help ! She Can't Swim, Bearsuit and the Retro Spankees all play fresh and inventive sets at the Metro in London

Arts Theatre, London, 1/3/2006

At one of their first London shows, Dave Toynton watches Australian hardcore punk group Jaed play a blistering set

Registry, Portsmouth, 2/3/3006

Tipped for the top, Andy Vincent finds the Strange Death of Liberal England's ethereal blend of folk rock totally compelling at a local bands night show at the Portsmouth Registry

Dominion, Ottawa, 4/3/2006

One of Toronto’s grottiest, nastiest, loudest punk rock outfits, the Brutal Knights have a passionate fan base in Canada. Andrew Carver finds their show compelling, but exhausting at the Dominion in Ottawa

Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, 5/3/2006

At an unfortunately poorly attended show at Zaphod Beeblebrox's in Ottawa, Andrew Carver enjoys performances from four Australian bands-Giants of Science, Brindle, Iron On and the Gin Club

Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, 6/3/2006

Andrew Carver watches a trio of Danish acts-Kira and the Kindred Spirits, the Figurines and the Blue Van-all play forceful sets at Zaphod Beeblebrox's

Zaphods, Ottawa, 10/12/2005

Indie pop dance rockers Kiss Me Deadly recently toured North America with Bloc Party. Despite singer Emily Elizabeth feeling ill, Andrew Carver nevertheless watches them play a lively set on the last date of a headlining tour

Capital Music Hall, Ottawa, 19/1/2006

Leslie Feist has vaulted into the forefront of independent music with her new album 'Let It Die' which includes songs by Francoise Hardy and the Bee Gees as well as originals. Andrew Carver watches her play a diverse set to thunderous reception in Ottawa

Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, 26//11/2005

Hardcore rockers Alexisonfire have a rapidly expanding reputation. At the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth, Andy Vincent enjoys a confident set of old and new songs

Lemon Grove, Exeter, 17/11/2005

At Exeter's Lemon Grove, a cynical Ben Howarth watches singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright play a 2 hour set, but finds it defying all expectations and comes away completely converted

Brickyards, Carlisle, 7/10/2005

London-based trio Stoner have elements, among others, of both Led Zeppelin and Jeff Buckley. At a sadly unattended show in Carlisle, Sarah Johnston watches them rise above the occasion and play a superb set

Babylon, Ottawa, 18/9/2005

Psychedelic rockers the Willowz recently made a last minute visit to Ottawa. At a show attended by as a result only a small audience, Andrew Carver watches them nevertheless able to whip up a storm

Joseph Well's, Leeds, 1/10/2005

Screaming Banshee Aircrew combine their unique blend of goth rock with some tongue-in-cheek humour. Helen Tipping watches them play a lively set at Joseph's Well in Leeds

Ronnie Scott's, London, 11/9/2005

Yat Kha come from a tiny Siberian province on the borders between Russia and Mongolia. Anthony Dhanendran watches them reinterpret songs from acts as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Joy Division and Captain Beefheart to remarkable effect

Barrymore's, Ottawa, 17/9/2005

Alt rockers Cuff the Duke have grown in stature since Andrew Carver first saw them a couple of years ago. He watches them play a show energetic enough to make the floor shake at Barrymore's in Ottawa

Avant Garde Bar, Ottawa, 20/8/2005

At an evening dedicated to experimental music in his native Ottawa, Andrew Carver watches six artists play sets which vary from compelling to totally uncohesive

Zaphod's, Ottawa, 4/9/2005

After glowing reviews on the internet Clap Your Hands Say Yeah found themselves playing their first international tour still without a record deal. Andrew Carver finds the art rockers more than living up to the hype

Leeds, 26/8/2005

New Pennyblackmusic writer Adrian Huggins had to deal with his car being towed back to the garage before he finally made it to the Leeds Festival. He, however, enjoys sets from Iggy and the Stooges and Incubus in what became an otherwise very expesnive da

Escott Park, Devon, 18/8/2005...20/8/2005

Beautiful Days is a small and largely unsung festival organised by the Levellers. Helen Tipping and her friends enjoy a very special weekend of music, camping and with giant seagulls while there

Barrymore’s, Ottawa, 6/8/2005

Former Songs : Ohia frontman Jason Molina has been compared to Neil Young with his latest act Magnolia Electric Company. Andrew Carver, however, is unriveted at Barrymore's in Ottawa

Ottawa, 11/7/2005...17/7/2005

...while in its second week he sees shows from ZZ Top, the Dears, Josh Ritter, Calexico,the New York Dolls and Holly Golightly

Ottawa, 7/7/2005...10/7/2005

In the first week of Ottawa's notorious Bluesfest Andrew Carver watches sets from the likes of War, Neko Case, the Sadies, Final Fantasy and Mofro

Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, 15/6/2005

A massive act in the late 80's and early 90's, the La's recently reformed after a 13 year break. Long-term fan sees them at the Shepherd's Bush Empire and finds times barely changed

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London, 4/5/2005

At a tea time gig at a Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, multii million songwriter Albert Hammond plays his own first gig in 24 years. Anthony Strutt watches him perform an impressive set of old and new songs

Camber Sands Holiday Centre, 22/4/2005-24/4/2005

The latest All Tomorrow's Parties weekend was hosted by controversial film director Vincent Gallo.Anthony Dhanendran both enjoys and endures sets from The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Buck 65, PJ Harvey and Yoko Ono among others

Babylon, Ottawa, 26/4/2005

Soul act Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings recently strutted their stuff for the first time in Ottawa in front of a packed house. Andrew Carver witnesses one of the five best shows that he has even seen

Zaphod's, Ottawa, 30/4/2005

At Zaphod's in Ottawa, Andrew Carver enjoys a performance of high energy show combining 60's British psychedelica and American rock’n’roll from Winnipeg’s Telepathic Butterflies

Babylon, Ottawa, 4/4/2005

Black Mountain have been lauded as the creators of the finest Canadian CD so far of 2005. Andrew Carver watches the Vancouver psychedelia act put on a " hard-hitting show " that shows that they can deliver the goods promised by their debut on stage"

Barrymore's, Ottawa, 22/4/2005

Despite having the choice between five shows to go to on one night, Andrew Carver reckons that he has made the right choice after seeing them play "a killer combo of Southern rock 70s rock, R&B and soul" at Ottawa Barrymore's

Babylon, Ottawa, 6/4/2005

Gris Gris released their self-titled debut album last year yo much acclaim. Andrew Carver at the Ottawa Bablyon watches them put on one of the most psychedelic shows that he has ever seen

Zaphods, Ottawa, 24/3/2005

New Canadian trio Magneta Lane include the Velvet Underground, the Kinks and Nancy Sinatra amongst their influences. Andrew Carver finds the three piece's blend of pop and punk toally captivating in Ottawa

Brickmakers, Norwich, 22/3/20095

Yankee Nine Niner have been described as being a mixture of Guns ‘n’ Roses and Steve Tyler from Aerosmith, and also draw comparisions with AC/DC. Alex Halls watches them play an exhilarating set at the Norwich Brickmakers

Camber Sands, 25/2/2005...27/2/2005

The latest All Tomorrow's Parties Festival was headlined by seminal post rockers Slint playing their first gig in over a decade. Ben Howarth watches them play a delightful show, and also enjoys sets from the Melvins, Mum and Mogwai

Boardwalk, Sheffield, 26/1/2004

At an unfortunately sparsely attended gig at Sheffield's Boardwalk, Helen Tipping enjoys lively sets from psychedelic Norwegian act Freeshine and Brighton-based punks My Deaf Audio

Dominion, Ottawa, 10/10/2004

Icelandic rockers Singapore Sling have something of a history with Ottawa, but until now have never played a club gig. Andrew Carver watches them play a confident and much improved set at the Ottawa Dominion

Lemon Grove, Exeter, 15/10/2004

Benjamin Howarth finds London hip-hop rapper Rahzel making a very bad personal impression as a person,yet also proving himself to be a unique perfomer at a gig in the Lemon Grove at Exeter University

Irene's. Ottawa, 19/10/2004

Saturday Looks Good to Me favour a lo-fi Beach Boys type sound. In Irene's in Ottawa, Andrew Carver watches them play a roughhewn, but wistful and heartfelt set

Zaphod's, Ottawa, 13/10/2004

Sadly playing to an audience of just 10 people at Zaphod's in Ottawa, Andrew Carver sess neo-psychedelic Israeli quartet Rockfour put on "a satisfying show witnessed by far too few. "

Venue, Edinburgh, 13/10/2004

Billed as "an acoustic punk supergroup", Dead Men Walking includes Glen Matlock, Mike Peters, Kirk Brandon, Bruce Watson and Slim Jim Phantom. John Clarkson enjoys their Edinburgh show on their latest tour

Barfly, London, 19/9/2004

The latest recruits to the Digital Hardcore label, Panik DHH are enough to send Slipknot running for their mothers. Daniel Cressey watches them transform the London Garage into "a soundscape of white noise, black noise and just plain noise"

Dominion Tavern, Ottawa, 10/9/2004

Le Nombre and Les Breastfeeders are two of the best acts on the current garage rock bands on the Canadian scene. Andrew Carver finds three hours going back in a flash as "witnesses rock at its most powerful and exciting"

Kalmar, Sweden, 30/7/2004...31/7/2004

The last in a trilogy, the Mitt Sista Liv indiepop festival recently took place in a field on the Swedish southeast coast. Tommy Gunnarsson enjoys sets from the likes of Milky Wimpshake, Popundret, the Frenchmen and the Scarlet's Well.

29/8/2004

..while on its last day Denzil Watson watches performances among others to the 5, 6, 7, 8s, the New York Dolls, Franz Ferdinand, Morrissey, the Libertines and the White Stripes

27/8/2004...28/8/2004

Across the first two days of Leeds' annual weekend festival new writer Dominic Simpson catches performances from the likes of Radio 4, the Others, Pretty Girls Make Graves, McLusky, the Shins and the Darkness

Water Rats, London, 8/7/2004

The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are an art-rock pop band who take old sets of slides from the 50's, 60's and 70's and evocatively set them to music. Emma Haigh watches them reach with dignified humour "a depth that few others could manage"

Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, 15/8/2004

The John Henry's play California country rock of the highest calibre, while the ultra-dark Elliot Brood have found themselves labelled under the"metal folk" tag. With little in common , Andrew Carver watches them play strong sets on the same Ottawa bill

Guildford, 16/7/2004...18/7/2004

Guilfest has in recent years risen to become one of Britain's recent rock festivals. Over the course of a busy weekend, Philip Vincent enjoys sets among others from the likes of Hot Club of Cowtown, Simple Kid, Katie Melua, and Simple Minds

Ottawa, 9/7/2004....11/7/2004

Across the course of the first weekend of the Ottawa Bluesfest, Andrew Carver finds time to take in sets by the likes of the Chains, Pearlene, Dead Moon,Denise James, Asteroid no 4. and the Bellrays

Ottawa, 14/7/2004...18/7/2004

....while during the festivals' last week he witnesses sets by the Cool Jerks, the Deadly Snakes, Xavier Rudd, Five Horse Johnson, Dave Alvin, the Greenhornes and the Dirtbombs

Bristol, 17th...18th July, 2004

Now in its 30th year, Bristol’s Ashton Court Festival is one of the more under-rated of British musical festivals. Over the course of a hot weekend Daniel Cressey enjoys and intriguing mixture of local annd not-so-local bands

Barrymore's, Ottawa, 24/7/2004

Department of Foreign Affairs have always been a competent stage act. Andrew Carver, however, finds the show stolen from under them by support act, High Strung, at Barrymore's in Ottawa

Barfly, London, 22/7/2004

A band with a title like Audio Karate seem guaranteed to give your ears a good pounding. Daniel Cressey finds them thankfully living up to their name at the London Barfly

Buffalo Bar, London, 24/7/2004

Nemo share a love for the likes of Joy Division, Television, Human League and Talking Heads. Back after an enforced break because of line-up changes, Emma Haigh watches them play a compelling set in the London Buffalo Bar

Dirty Water Club, London, 4/6/2004

All-girl rock ‘n’ rollers the 5,6,7,8’s now seem guaranteed success after their appearance in the first 'Kill Bill' film. Daniel Cressey watches them play a snappy set at the London Dirty Water Club

Zaphod's, Ottawa, 19/6/2004

One of the rising bands of the Canadian music scene, all-girl five piece the Organ have been getting steady good reviews. At an Ottawa show Andrew Carver sees no reason why they shouldn't share the same profile as bands such as Interpol and the Rapture

Dominion Tavern, Ottawa, 18/6/2004

Ian Blurton was the one-time frontman with Change of Heart, one of Canada'smost influential acts. Back with a new act C'mon, Andrew Carver watches him play a short, but impressive hard rocking set at the Ottawa Dominion Tavern

Barrymore, Ottawa, 1/5/2004

Canadian label Kelp Records has just celebrated it tenth anniverary. At a gig to celebrate this at Barrymore's in Ottawa, Andrew Carver watches excellent performances from five of its best acts

West End Centre, Aldershot, 3/4/2004

Despite it being his sixth straight night of gigs in a row, an exhausted Philip Vincent finds much to get excited about watching sets by fun-loving Geordie guitar rock act the Futureheads, angular trio Mower and local heroes Psirens

Zaphod's, Ottawa, 1/4/2004

Beatbox folk outfit Fernbots have recently expanded from a two piece to a four piece. Playing to a small but expanding audience in Zaphod's in Ottawa, Andrew Carver reckons that "soon enough they’ll be playing to crowds as large as they deserve"

Camberley, 21/3/2004

At a Battle of the Bands night in Camberley which is West of London, new writer Phil Vincent watches some of the potential names for the future slug things out

Water Rat's, London, 19/3/2004

Femme-led Brit Rockers Fiction and Dublin garage rockers Vinyl have been plodding around the music circuit for a few years. At a show at the London Water Rat's, Emma Haigh is struck by just far suddenly they have both come

Dominion Tavern, Ottawa, 6/3/2004

Hard rockers Tricky Woo have been though many line-up changes and reformations since their first Ottawa show eight years ago. Andrew Carver at the Dominion Tavern finds them still capable of bringing the house down

Capital Music Hall, Ottawa, 16/2/2004

Andrew WK's super-condensed form of arena rock takes every cliche to the liimits and has as many detractors as its does admirers. Andrew Carver at the Ottawa Capital Music Hall finds himself caught up in a mini riot

Dominion Tavern, Ottawa, 10/1/2004

At Ottawa's Dominion Tavern Slim Cessna's Auto Club play what several members of the audience, despite the New Year being barely a week old. are already confidently predicting will be the best show they will see this year

HMV Store, Oxford Street, London, 19/1/2004

At HMV's London flagship store to plug his new album 'Trading Snakeoil For Wolftickets', man-of-the-moment Gary Jules finds that all his audience are interested in is a certain cover song

Capital Music Hall, Ottawa, 6/12/2003

Broken Social Scene had a very good year this year, winning a Juno Award, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammies, but have decided to bow out. Andrew Carver catches their final show with sister band Metric at Ottawa's newest venue

93 Feet East, London, 17/9/2003

At an evening put together by the Bella Union label to showcase three of their newest bands, Olga Sladeckova enjoys strong performances from Jetscreamer, Duke Spirit and Bikini Atoll, the first of whom were making their London debut

Bumpers Roadhouse, Ottawa, 24/9/2003

Psychedelic pop label Rainbow Quartz likes to send its bands out on the road en masse. Andrew Carver watches three of their acts play impressive sets at a recent Ottawa date

Bumpers Roadhouse, Ottawa, 18/10/2003

Andrew Carver enjoys three different varieties of "Americana" at Ottawa's Bumpers Roadhouse

22/8/2003-23/8/2003

Back for a second year to the Reading Festival, Ben Howarth over the course of it first two days takes in such varied sights as Bowling for Soup, Mull Historical Society, Polyphonic Spree, the Ataris and Blur...

24/8/2003

...while on the third and final day he watches sets by the All American Rejects, Primal Scream, Sum 41, Grandaddy and Metallica

24/8/2003

Denzil Watson meanwhile makes his annual day trip to Reading's counterpart in Leeds and watches mixed performances by the Libertines, the Kills. Doves, Beck, Black Motorcycle Rebel Club and Blur

Doncaster Leopard, 10/8/2003

"One of the best rock ‘n’ roll bands to have hit the modern scene", Copenhagen's Wild Evil Entertainment Dept recently concluded their first British tour. Alex Halls catches them on "seething" form at the Doncaster Leopard

Ottawa, 4/7/2003-6/72003

The Ottawa Bluefest is a 10 day music festival which across 10 stages takes over the whole city. During the first 3 days Andrew Carver samples such pleasures as Cherry Valence, the Solded Brothers, Speedball Baby and the Fleshtones...

Ottawa, 7/7/2003-13/7/2003

...while on the remaining 7 he takes in such other delights as Nina Nastasia, the Shanks and the Sights and watches the festival brought to a gritty close by the Dirtbombs

Dominion Tavern, Ottawa, 10/5/2003

"The most important Canadian band of the 80's", the Nils recently reformed. Andrew Carver finds the infamous Soria brothers playing "an entertaining set of rock’n’roll", but, with a set of almost entirely new songs, avoiding matching their legend

Shepherds Bush Empire, 15/3/2003

One Big No was a big charity music show against the then forthcoming war in Iraq. Anthony Strutt enjoys short sets from Evan Dando, Coldplay's Chris Martin, Ian McCulloch, Beth Orton and Travis's Fran Healy

Reading Festival, 23/8/2002...25/8/2002

Always an experience, the Reading Festival probably had the best line-up of all the British music festivals this year. Mark Rowland has an an exhausting, but exciting three days

Blackpool Winter Gardens, 19/7/2002-21/7/2002

The most well known punk festival in the UK, Holidays in the Sun this year took place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Alex Halls enjoys three days of punk chaos and energy

London Garage, 15/6/2002

Despite being recently dropped by WEA, Sona Fariq prove to be on explosive form at a recent gig at the London Garage. Julia Willis finds the band making "music to break out of high-security prisons by."

Pow to the People, 31/3/2002

The third annual Pow to the People festival at the Camden Monarch in London featured such indie pop lumionaries as the Butterflies of Love, Woodchuck, Cane 141 and Saloon. Gary Wollen has a riveting Easter Sunday

Dudley JB's Wolverhampton

Striding onstage to an intro tape of James Brown’s ‘It’s A Man’s World’ you do feel that Essex’s nu-metal saviours Sugarcoma (three girls, male drummer) are maybe labouring whatever point it is they’r

Manchester Apollo, 27th May 2001

Arriving in Manchester early enough to find the Apollo, I found myself wandering around the city centre none the wiser. Following the general drift of punk mad youngsters, I eventually turned up outside the Apollo, where an anticipant crowd was waiting.

Albums

My Colors Dark (2020)

Ben Howarth refelcts upon Californian singer-songwriter Sean O'Brien's eighth solo album from last year, which is an enjoyable ride from power-pop to angsty punk.

Diamond Head (2020)

In our 'Re:View' section, in which our writers examine albums from the past, Adrian Janes reflects on a new reissue of Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera’s 1975 first solo album 'Diamond Head', which mixes styles and star guests to often impressive effect.

Chicago Anthology (2014)

In our 'Re: View' section, in which we reflect upon albums from the past, Lisa Torem examines 'Chicago Anthology', a recently reissued live compilation album which was recorded at Big John's, a legendary blues club, in 1966

The Velvet Underground and Nico (2013)

In our 'Re View' series, in which writers look back at albums from the past, we are revisiting after Lou Reed's death in October a column from last year from Dominic Simpson on the Velvet Underground's classic 1967 debut album with Nico

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2011)

In our Re: View section, in which our writers look back at albums from the past, Richard Lewsis reflects on the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers' film, 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which has just been released in a deluxe double CD tenth anniversary edition

Kind of Blue (2009)

In the latest in our 'Re : View' series, in which we look back at albums from the past, Malcolm Carter reflects upon Miles Davis' 1958 jazz classic 'Kind of Blue', which has been recently re-released in a 50th anniversary box set

Roots of Rap (2007)

In the latest in our 'Re : View' section, in which writers look back at albums from the past, Mark Rowland writes about 'The Roots of Rap, a flawed, but funky 2005 compilation of early rap hits

Promenade (2007)

In the latest in our 'Re : View' series, in which our writers re-examine albums from the past, Hen Howarth looks at the Divine Comedy's still under-rated second album, 'Promenade', which was originally released in 1994

Blue Sunshine (2006)

In the latest in our Re : View series, in which our writers look back at albums from the past, Anthony Strutt examines 'Blue Sunshine', the 1983 only album of the Cure's Robert Smith and Siouxsie and the Banshees' Steve Severin's side project, the Glove

Nuggets (2006)

Conceived and compiled by Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman together with Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye in 1972, 'Nuggets' is the definitive compilation of 60s rock and pop underground music. Now re-released, Geraint Jones assesses it abiding impact

Vancouver Complication (2005)

In the latest in our 'Re : View' series, in which our writers lookk back on albums of the past, Andrew Carver examines 'Vancouver Complication', a classic 1979 punk compilation, which has just been reissued on Sudden Death Records with extra tracks

Born to Run (2005)

In the latest in our 'Re : view' series, in which our staff reflect on albums that they feel deserve further appraisal, Pennyblackmusic photographer Matt Williams explains why Bruce Springsteen's classic 'Born to Run' rarely leaves his turntable

The Rising (2004)

In 2002 Bruce Springsteen returned to the public domain with ‘The Rising’, an album of songs about the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre. Benjamin Howarth explains, why "in a time for heroes", Sprinsteen offers fresh hope

Laughing Academy (2004)

In the latest in our 'Re : view' series in which our writers look back on records that they feel deserve a second evaluation, Dave Toynton examines 1970's punk band Punishment of Luxury's lost classic, 'The Laughing Academy'

Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire (2004)

Hard rock band Vex Red were briefly touted as the next big thing, but recorded just one album, 'Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire' before splitting up. Phil Vincent explains 18 months on from their demise why it continues to have a grip on him

Shady Whims and Obstacles (2004)

In the latest in our 'Re : view' series in which our writers look back on records that they feel deserve a second evaluation, Tommy Gunnarsson examines Norwegian indiepop band the Tables' debut album, 'Shady Whims and Obstacles'

Nude Nudes (2004)

Jon Rogers profiles Honey Tongue's virtually forgotten classic from 1992, 'Nude Nudes', a one-off collaboration between the Breeders and Perfect Disaster's Josephine Wiggs and ex-Spiritualized/Spacemen 3 drummer, Jon Mattock

In the Saddle (2004)

Despite working with the likes of Andre Williams, New Orleans soul diva Betty Harris remains still little known, and was almost totally unappreciated in her prime. Cara Ross examines 'In the Saddle', a 1980's compilation of her work

Divan (2003)

Oedipussy was the solo project of Phil Parfitt, the frontman with Velvet Underground wannabies, ther Perfect Disaster. Denzil Watson comes across an album "truly worthy of the title of Greatest lost LP of all time" in the shape of their only album, 'Divan

Explain the Unexplained (2003)

In the latest in our 'Re :View' series, in which we look back upon albums that we feel deserve further re-evaluation, Andrew Carver examines Los Angeles space rockers Pressurehed's relatively unknown 1997 masterwork 'Explaining the Unexplained'

Between Here and the Night (2003)

Malcolm Carter asks exactly what a classic album is, after hearing the Hired Guns' new CD 'Between Here and the Night', which has rapidly become an early contender for his Album of the Year

You Can't Hide Your Love Forever (2003)

In the latest in our Favourite Albums series, in which a different one of our writers writes each month about an album of his or her choice, Gary Wollen describes the long-lasting impact on him of Orange Juice's seminal 'You Can't Hide Your Love Forever'

The La's (2002)

In the latest in our series, in which one of our writers examines a Favourite Album of his or her choice, Jonjo McNeill writes about the impact of the La's 1990's classic debut album, and the elusive genius of the band's frontman, Lee Mavers

Out of the Blue (2002)

In the latest in our series, in which a different one of our writers writes about a favourite album of his or her choice, James Alexander writes about ELO's much maligned 1978 album '"Out of the Blue'.

Features

Vinyl Stories (2020)

Dave Goodwin in 'Vinyl Stories' talks to some of our writers about their vinyl purchases of 2020.

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2020)

In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Cila Warncke reflects on ten of her favourite Memphis soul songs.

Under the Radar (2020)

In the latest 'Under The Radar', Keith How reviews the musical companion to a collection of spooky folk stories, and a power trio from Sheffield by way of Joshua Tree.

Vinyl Stories (2020)

This month's 'Vinyl Stories' is a rollicking, rip-roaring and surprisingly hair-raising tale from Pete Smith of life at the sharp end of record collecting,

Vinyl Stories (2020)

Dave Goodwin and record collector Pete Smith share memories and essential tracks from Northern Soul imprint Grapevine Records.

Under the Radar (2020)

In a lockdown special of his regular 'Under The Radar' column, in which he searches out under acknowledged bands and acts, Keith How takes the opportunity to explore some brilliant new music that could easily pass us by.

Comment (2020)

Nick Dent-Robinson sheds a contemporary light on a continued and much-debated controversy, namely, Which band is better, the Beatles or the Stones?

Vinyl Stories (2020)

In 'Vinyl Stories' avid Northern Soul collector Pete Smith tells Dave Goodwin of his decades-long search for a difficult to find vinyl single.

Albums of the Year 2019 (2020)

Our writers and photographers list their favourite albums and also their favourite gig of the year

Albums of the Decade 2 (2019)

Our writers and photographers in the second of a three part feature choose their Album of the Decade.

Albums of the Decade 3 (2019)

In the third and the final part of a three part feature our writers and photographers choose their Album of the Decade.

Vinyl Stories (2019)

In his regular 'Vinyl Stories' column Dave Goodwin reflects on Britain's most popular Christmas songs.

Albums of the Decade 1 (2019)

In the first of a three part feature our writers and photographers select their Album of the Decade.

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2019)

In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...'Keith How reflects on ten of his favourite songs from 1967.

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2019)

In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Nicky Crewe writes of two late 1960's 'Rock Machine' compilations - and ten songs from them - that still have a place in her heart and her record collection.

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2019)

Continuing our series where Pennyblack contributors discuss ten songs that are important to them, Dave Goodwin brings together an eclectic mixture of tracks from 1980.

Under the Radar (2019)

In this edition of his 'Under the Radar' column, in which he searches out under-rated and little known bands, Keith How finds himself returning to Finland, a trip with some musical discoveries and chance encounters.

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2019)

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.

Ticket Rewind (2019)

n the latest edition to our column 'Ticket Rewind', our Swedish writer tommy Gunnarsson looks back at some of his old concert tickets and the memories associated with them.

Ticket Rewind (2019)

In the latest edition to our new column 'Ticket Rewind', Helen Tipping looks back at concert tickets from her past.

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2019)

In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Dastardly reflects on his ten favourite tracks from 1988.

Under the Radar (2019)

In 'Under the Radar', in which he searches out under-rated bands, Keith How writes on a recent trip to Iceland of his discovery of two very different Icelandic electronic artists, Aaiieenn and Bistro Boy.

Ticket Rewind (2019)

In the latest edition to our new column 'Ticket Rewind', Pennyblackmusic writer Carl Bookstein looks back at concert tickets from his past.

Under the Radar (2019)

In 'Under the Radar', in which he searches out under-rated bands, Keith How writes on a recent trip to Iceland of his discovery of two very different Icelandic electronic artists, Aaiieenn and Bistro Boy.

Ticket Rewind (2019)

In our new series 'Tickets Rewind', in which our writers look back at their old concert tickets and the stories associated with them, our Editor John Clarkson reflects on some of his favourite gigs.

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2019)

Dave Goodwin, in our 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' series, reflects on his ten favourite Northern Soul songs.

Vinyl Stories (2019)

Dave Goodwin in 'Vinyl Stories' uses social media in a plight to ascertain whether all new albums should have a download.

Vinyl Stories (2019)

In his regular 'Vinyl Stories' column Dave Goodwin investigates five Northern Soul compilation albums that have been reissued through Club Soul/Charly Records on vinyl.

Interviewing Rock Bands and Stars (2018)

Nick Dent-Robinson reflects on interviewing major rock stars and bands and how that has in recent times changed.

Water Rats, London, 15/9/2018 (2018)

Dominic Simpson reflects on our 20th Anniversary gig at the Water Rats in London, which included sets by the Bitter Springs, Idiot Son, Oldfield Youth Club and Raf and O.

Water Rats, London, 15/9/2018 (2018)

We profile our 20th Anniversary Bands' Night which will take place on Saturday September 15th at the Water Rats in London and feature sets from The Bitter Springs, Idiot Son, Oldfield Youth Club and Raf and O.

Vinyl Stories (2018)

In his regular 'Vinyl Stories' column Dave Goodwin discovers the most expensive records in the world.

Vinyl Stories (2018)

In his regular 'Vinyl Stories' column Dave Goodwin examines the history of some of the greatest and biggest vinyl collectors.

Vinyl Stories (2018)

Dave Goodwin in 'Vinyl Stories' talks to Stuart Avis, member of Brighton prog/electro collective Servants of Science, about his love of Sparks, their records and their associated memories.

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2018)

Nicky Crewe in 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' writes of her early teens being brought up in the middle of a Northern pop explosion and some of her favourite 60's soul songs

Planet Vinyl A Natural History Part 3 (2017)

In the third and final part of Dave Goodwin's examination of the rise of the vinyl record in 'Vinyl Stories', he asks what the future holds for vinyl?

Planet Vinyl A Natural History Part 2 (2017)

In last month's Vinyl Stories we took ourselves from the very start of the record to the point of vinyl's world domination. In part two of Dave Goodwin's journey into this rise of the vinyl record he examines the trends and fortunes of in-demand records with the help of an old friend called Jimmy

Planet Vinyl A Natural History Part 1 (2017)

Dave Goodwin's Vinyl Stories takes a new turn this month with the first part of a very personal history of the vinyl record - and then some

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2017)

In 'Ten Songs that Made Me Love...' Adrian Janes writes of ten of his favourite songs from 1967 and tracks by artists including the Beatles, Pink Floyd, the Doors and Jefferson Airplane

Under the Radar (2017)

In his new column 'Under the Radar', in which he will examining lesser known artists and labels, Keith How investigates Sonido Polifonico, a Sheffield micro label with a taste for the unusual and unknown

Under the Radar (2017)

In the second in his new column 'Under the Radar', in which he will examining the great but often under-rated, Keith How investigates Cambrian Records, the micro-label of Welsh guitarist Toby Hay

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2017)

In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Liverpool-based writer Steve Kinrade writes of ten songs that sum up his love of music

Albums of the Year 2016 (2017)

Our writers and photographers list their favourite albums and also their favourite gig of the year

Vinyl Stories (2016)

Penny Black Music's own American contributor Carl Bookstein changes places to be interrogated by Dave Goodwin in this month's Vinyl Stories

Raging Pages (2016)

Lisa Torem in her 'Raging Pages' examines ‘Lost Rockers, Broken Dreams and Crashed Careers’, a cautionary book that pays tribute to hardworking but unsuccessful musical contenders

Vinyl Stories (2016)

Dave Goodwin in 'Vinyl Stories' looks back on the record shops of 1970's and 1980's Nottingham by way of five records that shaped those years for him

August 2016 (2016)

In the first in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column in a year, Ben Howarth looks at a trio of albums that suggest there is still plenty to listen to for someone feeling out of touch with the modern music scene.

Vinyl Stories (2016)

Magazine Editor John Clarkson remembers his youth and university days in Loughborough and his penchant for home taping way back in the Eighties

Albums of the Year (2015)

Our writers and photographers list their favourite albums and also their favourite gig of 2015

Ten Reasons That Made Me Love... (2015)

Renamed' Ten Reasons That Made Me Love...' for one edition only, Dave Goodwin in 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...'reflects on his passion for Northern Soul music and the things which he loves about it the most

May 2015 (2015)

A new study claims to prove that the Beatles’ influence was overstated. In his regular 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth wonders whether that’s really the whole story.

July 2015 (2015)

In his latest 'Condemned To Rock and Roll' column, Ben Howarth asks what the imminent transition of the 'NME' to a freesheet tells us about the state of modern pop music

April 2015 (2015)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' examines Jay-Z's new streaming service and Spotify rival, Tidal

Macbeth, London, 12/6/2015 (2015)

We profile our next Pennyblackmusic Bands' night which will take place at the Macbeth in London, and will include sets from the Band of Holy Joy, Vinny Peculiar and The Black Site

Vinyl Stories (2015)

In 'Vinyl Stories', his column in which music fans speak to him about their vinyl memories, Dave Goodwin talks to Pennyblackmusic editor John Clarkson about the 1970's Edinburgh record shop that started his musical interest

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2015)

Adrian Janes, in 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...', reflects on his ten favourite drum tracks

February 2015 (2015)

In 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' Ben Howarth reflects on recent UK government legislation towards the growing problem of ticket touts

Singer-Songwriters at the BBC (2015)

In his 'TV Music Memories' column, in which he looks at music programmes on television, Owen Peters watches an archive programme of singer-songwriters from the 1960s and 1970s

December 2014 (2014)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' looks at the recent rise in vinyl sales and asks how this will effect CD sales

Neil Self (2014)

Dave Goodwin in 'Vinyl Stories' talks to Northern Soul record collector and DJ Neil Self about three classic double A-sides in his collection

Killers 'Live from the Artists Den' (2014)

In the second in his new series 'TV Music Memories', in which he looks at television music programmes, Owen Peters watches a Killers concert film and interview, which was first shown in 2013 on the Sky Arts channel

September 2014 (2014)

With both Peter Frampton and Kate Bush having asked their fans to not use their phones at their shows, Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' examines the issue of mobile phone photography and filming at gigs

October 2014 (2014)

With the UK Top 40 now in complete chaos, Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' ask if rock as we traditionally know it is dead

Macbeth, London, 8/1/2015 (2014)

We profile our next Pennyblackmusic Bands' night which will take place at the Macbeth in London, and will include sets from the Band of Holy Joy, the Bitter Springs and Idiot Son

The Forgotten Side of Vinyl (2014)

In the latest in his 'Vinyl Stories' column David Goodwin reflects on the art of record sleeves

November 2014 (2014)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' examines Taylor Swift's decision to withdraw her music from Spotify

(Raging Pages) Vivek J. Tiwary/The Fifth Beatle; The Brian Epstein Story (2014)

In 'Raging Pages', her books review column, Lisa Torem reflects on 'The Fifth Beatle', Vivek Tiwary's graphic novel about Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2014)

In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Dastardly writes about his all-time favourite guitar chord changes

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2014)

In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...', Jamie Rowland writes of ten songs that he first heard listening to John Peel's late night Radio 1 show

August 2014 (2014)

In 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll', Ben Howarth writes about his increasing hatred of synthesizer music.

Keith Williams (2014)

Dave Goodwin in 'Vinyl Stories' talks to Keith Marshall, who is a Northern Soul collector, DJ and the owner of mail order firm SoulSearcher Records, about some of his favourite vinyl records

Vinyl Stories (2014)

In his 'Vinyl Stories' column, Dave Goodwin speaks to magician Roy Bond about his favourite vinyl records

July 2014 (2014)

In 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll', Ben Howarth reflects on the BBC's wall-to-wall coverage of this year's Glastonbury

Special Rider Blues (2014)

In his 'Hitting the Right Note' column, Jon Rogers looks at the excessive demands of rock band riders

One Direction (2014)

Jon Rogers in 'Hitting the Right Note' reflects on the media's hypocritical attitude to recent reports of alleged drug taking in bestselling boy band One Direction

June 2014 (2014)

In 'Condemnned to Rock 'n' Roll' Ben Howarth's reflects on YouTube and Spotify's impact on rock music

May 2014 (2014)

With its twentieth anniversary having just taken place, Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' reflects on the now routinely derided Britop movement and asks if it was negative as it is is often portrayed

The River, Glasgow, 7th June 2014 (2014)

Our Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night in Glasgow, which will take place at new city centre club The River, will feature performances from ex-Hipsway front man Grahame Skinner, Big Hogg, Neil Sturgeon, The Wellgreen, A New International, The Aviators, Zoe Bestel and Nicola Black

Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 5th July 2014 (2014)

Our Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night at The Ruby Lounge in Manchester on the 5th July will feature sets from reformed indie pop legends the Brilliant Corners, the Haywains and Horsebeach

April 2014 (2014)

In 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll', Ben Howarth examines the connections between sport and music

The Phoenix Must Burn to Emerge (2014)

In 'This Metal Sky' Jeff Thiessen examines the issue of lost bands, and whether they really were the failures they are often portrayed as in their original lifetime

March 2014 (2014)

After David Bowie's outspoken comments at the The Brits in February, Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' asks why so few bands or other musicians have failed to engage in the Scottish Independence debate

65 Days of Static, Foundry, Sheffield, January 2014 (2014)

In our 'Gig of Our Lifetime' column, Adrian Huggins writes of attending a home city gig earlier this year of instrumental post-rockers 65 Days of Static at The Foundry in Sheffield

Lexington, London, May 31st 2014 (2014)

We profile our Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night 15th Anniversary Gig, which will take place on Saturday May 31st at the Lexington in London and feature sets from Madam, Morton Valence and Rotifer

Dave Goodwin (2014)

In his monthly 'Vinyl Stories' column Dave Goodwin from childhood to today writes of his own personal favourite vinyl records

February 2014 (2014)

In his regular 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column Ben Howarth questions the worth and value of the much-hyped BBC Sound of 2014 newcomers' poll

Deerstock Festival (2014)

In our competition we have two family tickets to give away for this year's Deerstock Festival

Albums of the Year (2013)

Our writers and photographers reflect upon their favourite albums and also their favourite gig of 2013

November 2013 (2013)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' reflects on Shearwater's new album and covers record, 'Fellow Travelers'

October 2013 (2013)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' asks the announcement of this year's Mercury Music Prize nominees there are no folk, jazz or classical albums on the list

September 2013 (2013)

With vinyl sales on the rise, Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' reflects on the possible impact of the first 'Cassette Store Day', which took place on September 7th this year

John Clarkson (2013)

In the first edition of 'Vinyl Stories', his new column in which he will be talking to music fans about their vinyl record collections, Dave Goodwin begins by speaking to Pennyblackmusic editor John Clarkson

August 2013 (2013)

With many of his friends starting to lose interest in music, Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n'Roll' finds the opposite problem and too much new music to listen to

K -The Kult of Keef (2013)

Andy Cassidy, after watching the Rolling Stones at Glastonbury, examines the cult of legendary guitarist Keith Richards

July 2013 (2013)

After listening to the Duckworth Lewis Method's comical but clever new album 'Sticky Wickets', Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' asks if too much of an emphasis is being put on misery in pop music at the moment

Buying Records (2013)

In Rock 101 Mark Rowland reflects upon the joys even in present times of buying records

J-Jugband Blues (2013)

In letter J of his 'AC's A-Z of Music' Andy Cassidy examines 'Jugband Blues', the last track on Pink Floyd's second album 'A Saucerful of Secrets' and the final album upon which their original front man Syd Barrett appeared

June 2013 (2013)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' questions Daft Punk's strategically marketed new single 'Get Lucky', which is been hyped as one of the musical releases of the year

Glastonbury (2013)

In 'Hitting the Right Note' Jon Rogers reflects on Glastonbury, which this years will include amongst it headliners the Rolling Stones and Mumford and Sons, and its move away from alternative music and into the mainstream

May 2013 (2013)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' relects on the underrated career of Jason Molina from Songs: Ohia and the Magnolia Electric Co. who died at the age of 39 in March

Deerstock 2013 (2013)

In our competition we have a pair of tickets for this year's 'Deerstock' festival in Nottinghamshire to give out

April 2013 (2013)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' asks if David Bowie's first album-in-a-decade, 'The Next Day', is against-the-odds a classic

Payday Loan (2013)

In his monthly 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column, Spencer Robertshaw examines credit loan companies

More Than Mental Masturbation: Honouring Pretention (2013)

In 'This Metal Sky', Jeff Thiessen writes about why pretentiousness is a good thing in rock music

I - Imagine (2013)

In his 'AC's A-Z of Music' column, Andy Cassidy has reached the letter 'I', and writes about how the ending of his first teenage romance prompted him into first buying John Lennon's 'Imagine' album

March 2013 (2013)

With many music journalists pessimistic after the recent Brits, Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' asks if the music industry is in as unhealthy a state as they say it is

Leeds is All I Needs (2013)

In the latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' series, Spencer Robertshaw, who comes from Leeds, asks if home is best

February 2013 (2013)

In his 'Condemened to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth assesses the reasons behind HMV's fall into administration and asks whether it has a future

Just Be Thankful for What You've Got (2013)

In 'Evidently Spencertown', his regular monthly poetry column, Spencer Robertshaw writes of why, despite everything that is wrong with our lives, we should still be grateful for what we have

Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night, Brixton JAMM, London, 16/3/2013 (2012)

We profile our next Penny Black Music Bands' Night, which will take place on Saturday 16th march at the Brixton JAMM in London and will feature sets from the Galileo 7, Dave Harding (Richmond Fontaine), T.O.Y.S. and Ten

Albums of the Year 2012 (2012)

Our writers look back upon and reflect upon their favourite albums of last year

January 2013 (2012)

Ben Howarth, in his ‘Condemned to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ column, examines our current musical obsession with the past and asks what the future holds for pop and rock music

Skyfall (2012)

In our competition we have five copies of the soundtrack to 'Skyfall' to give away

Half Moon, London, 3/11/2012 (2012)

Dominic Simpson looks back on our Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night on November 3rd at the Half Moon in Herne Hill in South London, which saw sets from the Willard Grant Conspiracy, Rotifer, Bromide and NOW

November 2012 (2012)

Ben Howarth in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column is unimpressed by the the Mercury Music Prize

Jingle Bells (2012)

Spencer Robertshaw with 'Jingle Bells', the latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown', reflects upon Christmas

Rebecca Karijold's 'We Become Ourselves' (2012)

In his 'Hitting the Right Note' column, Jon Rogers finds Norwegian singer-songwriter Rebekka Karijord's magical second album 'We Become Ourselves' deserving of attention

Pennyblackmusic Bands Night (2012)

We profile our next Penny Black Music Bands' Night, which will take place on Saturday November 3rd at the Half Moon in Herne Hill, South London and feature sets from the Willard Grant Conspiracy, Rotifer, Bromide and NOW

R.E.M, Grand Hotel, Stockholm, November 1998 (2012)

In 'Gig of a Lifetime', in which a different Pennyblackmusic writer writes of a once in a lifetime gig, Tommy Gunnarsson describes attending a fan club only R.E.M. gig in Stockhom in 1998

Ground Zero (2012)

In 'Ground Zero', the latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' column, Spencer Robertshaw reflects on whether drug users really know what they are taking

October 2012 (2012)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' looks at critical reaction towards Bob Dylan in recent years

September 2012 (2012)

Ben Howarth, in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, questions the value or need for star rankings in music reviews

H (2012)

In his 'AC's A-Z of Music' column, Andy Cassidy reaches the letter 'H' and reflects on some of the saddest and most heartbreaking songs of all time

Magic J (2012)

Spencer Robertshaw, in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column, writes about romance and falling in love

Sick of the 60s? You'll Have to Change the World (2012)

In 'Rock 101' Mark Rowland reflects upon the massive debt the world owes to the 60s, but also asks if we have stepped back as a result of it

The Olympics' Opening Ceremony (2012)

In a double edition of 'Hitting the Right Note' Jon Rogers praises the opening ceremony of the the 2012 Olympic Games...

The Olympics' Closing Ceremony (2012)

...but slates the utter disaster of the closing ceremony

August 2012 (2012)

In 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll', Ben Howarth writes about Dinosaur Jr's third album, 'I Bet on Sky', which is due out in September

July 2012 (2012)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' writes about Sweet Billy Pilgrim's new album, 'Crown and Treaty', which has proved to be an instant classic

The Spice Girls (2012)

In 'Hitting the Right Note', Jon Rogers reflects on the new Spice Girls musical, 'Viva Forever', and the current trend of music towards nostalgia

Film Composition: A Tribute (2012)

In the latest in his 'Rock 101' column, Mark Rowland looks at writing music for cinema, and what makes an effective film score

Top 5 No. 2: Breathtaking Drummers (2012)

In the second of his Top 5 lists for his 'Gimme Indie Rock', Jamie Rowland provides a list of his five favourite drummers

Pop Hypocrisy (2012)

In 'Hitting the Right Note' Jon Rogers examines pop musicians' penchant for double standards and hypocrisy

May 2012 (2012)

In 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll', Ben Howarth looks, amidst the decline of the record industry, at the phenomenal rise of Adele

Indieconomy: The Rise of the Bandcamp Bands (2012)

Mark Rowland in 'Rock 101' looks at how, through internet sites and market stalls such as Bandcamp, groups are increasingly avoiding record labels all together to put their albums and singles out

Sleep (2012)

Spencer Robertshaw in his latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' column writes of insomnia

Music, Morality and Economics (2012)

Jon Rogers in 'Hitting the Right Note' examines fans' renewed forgiveness of their musical and other heroes, however deplorable their behaviour

Stereotyping (2012)

Mark Rowland in 'Rock 101' looks at the media's habit of pushing everyone into different categories

Adam and Eve (2012)

In the latest in his 'Evidently Spencertown', Spencer Robertshaw examines the difference between consumer dreams and reality in 'Adam and Eve'

F-Fathers and Sons (2012)

In letter 'F' of his 'AC's A-Z of Music', Andy Cassidy reflects upon the sometimes sentimental, but yet often volatile relationships between fathers and sons in music

The Long Hard Road to the Middle (2012)

In his 'This Metal Sky' column, Jeff Thiessen reflects upon Marilyn Manson, and the lack of danger of current rock music

April 2012 (2012)

In his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth, after a tour of the Abbey Road Studios, examines its lengthy history

Pop's Example to the World's Young Men (2012)

Mark Rowland in 'Rock 101' reflects upon the disturbing attitudes that are often displayed by the music industry with regard to violence and sexism against women

E-Eurovision (2012)

In letter 'E' of his 'AC's A-Z of Music' column Andy Cassidy examines some of the surprising facts and statistics behind the Eurovision Song Contest

February 2012 (2012)

In 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll', Ben Howarth reflects on PledgeMusic, and the ethics of fan funding

Feed the Meter (2012)

In his latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' series, Spencer Robertshaw reflects upon one of society's most feared and despised social forces

A Record Collection Inspection with Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws (2012)

In 'Gimme Indie Rock', Jamie Rowland talks to Matthew Caws from American alternative rock band Nada Surf about some of the records in his record collection

Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night (2012)

We profile our next Pennyblackmusic Bands' night which will take place at the Half Moon in Herne Hill, London on the 24th March and will feature sets from Pete Fij/Terry Bickers, Last Harbour, the Owl Service and Roshi Pars Radio.

January 2012 (2012)

In his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth reflects upon the continued declining fortunes of HMV, and asks if anything can be done to save it

Poets (2012)

In his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column, Spencer Robertshaw looks at the influence of poets past and present on society

Heavy Metal: The Sci-fi/Fantasy of Music (2012)

In his 'Rock 101' column, Mark Rowland reflects upon the often maligned genre of heavy metal and asks if it can ever become cool

D-Dogs (2012)

In 'AC's A-Z Of Music', Andy Cassidy looks alphabetically at a different subject in music each month, and, having reached the letter 'D', looks at the surprising role of dogs in music

Gullivers, Manchester, 19/11/2011 (2011)

Dixie Ernill looks back on our first Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night in Manchester which saw sets from the Experimental Pop Band, Brilliant Mind, Becca and The Broken Biscuits and Davey Woodward

December 2011 (2011)

In his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column Ben Howarth examines Darren Hayman's ten inch vinyl EP, 'Christmas in Haworth', and online musical advent calendar

Merry Christmas to All (2011)

Spencer Robertshaw anticipates what Christmas might bring in the latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' series

C-Christmas (2011)

Andy Cassidy describes some of his favourite Christmas music in letter 'C' of his 'AC's A-Z of Music' column

The Christmas Song Remains the Same (2011)

In his 'Rock 101' column Mark Rowland explains why he thinks that Christmas music needs more albums, rather than just singles

Music and Morality (2011)

In 'Hitting the Right Note' Jon Rogers reflects upon why morality and musicians do not tend to figure well with each other

Crying for Christmas (2011)

Jamie Rowland in 'Gimme Indie Rock' examines some of the current seasonal music and explains why crying is okay at Christmas

Profile (2011)

We profile our next Pennyblackmusic Bands' night which will take place at Gullivers in Manchester on November 19th, and will feature sets from the Experimental Pop Band, Brilliant Mind, Becca and The Broken Biscuits and Davey Woodward

Half Moon, London, 29/10/2011 (2011)

Jamie Rowland looks back on our Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night on October 29th at the Half Moon in Herne Hill in South London, which saw sets from Morton Valence, Madam, the Doomed Bird of Providence and Rome Pays Off

B-The Buffet Car Attendants (2011)

In 'AC's A-Z Of Music', Andy Cassidy will be looking alphabetically at a different subject in music each month, and moves on to the letter 'B' where he examines an obscure album which is made up entirely of announcements for buffet cars on trains

The Snobbery Behind 'Selling Out' (2011)

In the second instalment in his 'Rock 101' series, Mark Rowland reflects upon why so many music fans object to and take issue with bands and acts that have become popular

November 2011 (2011)

In 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' Ben Howarth considers Pete Townshend's recent Radio 6 Music John Peel lecture in which he described Apple's iTunes as a digital vampire

Genius (2011)

In 'Hitting the Right Note', Jon Rogers examines the over-used term of genius and provides a personal short list of six musical acts that for him fall into that category

Marriage Vows (2011)

In 'Marriage Vows', the latest in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry series, Spencer Robertshaw focuses on relationship strife and conflict

Burning Out or Fading Away? (2011)

In the opening instalment in his new regular column, 'Rock 101', Mark Rowland questions whether it is better for rock bands to burn out or fade away

A-An American Prayer (2011)

In his new column, Andy Cassidy will be looking alphabetically at a different subject in music each month. He begins with the letter 'A' and the Doors' final album 'An American Prayer', which was recorded in 1978, seven years after Jim Morrison's death

October 2011 (2011)

In his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column Ben Howarth looks at former Undertones front man Feargal Sharkey's attempts to try to enforce through the Digital Economy Act 2010, after the political decision was made to repeal sections of it relating to filesharing

The Rules of Being in a Band (2011)

In 'Hitting the Right Note' Jon Rogers provides a list of tips and rules for being in a band

Window Shopping (2011)

In 'Window Shopping', the latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry series, Spencer Robertshaw reflects on what propects the future holds for our children after the recent UK riots

The Short Guide to Making the Perfect Compilation CD (2011)

In ‘Gimme Indie Rock’ Jamie Rowland provides a short guide to creating the perfect compilation CD.

Always There (2011)

Spencer Robertshaw writes of love in its many forms in 'Always There', the latest in his 'Evidently Spncertown' poetry series

September 2011 (2011)

Ben Howarth in ‘Condemned to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ asks whether Laura Marling’s much acclaimed third album, ‘A Creature Don’t Know’, has the potential to become a classic

Indietracks Festival (2011)

Neil Bailey in Photoscapes, our regular photography series, photographs some of the bands at this year's Indietracks Festival

Truck Festival 1 (2011)

In the first part of a two part Photoscape new Pennyblackmusic photographer Steve McDermott photographs Dreaming Spires, Gruff Rhys and the Truck All Stars at the Truck Festival in Oxfordshire...

Truck Festival 2 (2011)

and in the second part he photographs the Go Team, Pete and the Pirates and Rhosyn.

Vostok 5 (2011)

In an occasional series to promote the more unusual activities of musicians, Ben Howarth writes about Vostok 5, an exhibition on people and animals in space put together by Darren Hayman and four toher London based musicians

Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night (2011)

We profile our next London Penny Black Music Bands' Night, which will take place on Saturday October 29th at the Half Moon in Herne Hill, South London and feature sets from Morton Valance, Madam, the Doomed Bird of Providence and Rome Pays Off

Tangled Up in Music (2011)

In our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' column, in which our writers describe the personal impact of music in their lives, Glasgow-based writer Andy Cassidy writes about how being given both his grandmother and then his father's LP collections ignited his love for music

Rioting (2011)

In 'Hitting the Right Note' Tottenham-based local Jon Rogers, after the recent outbreak of rioting and looting in the UK, takes a personal look at riot songs

August 2011 (2011)

Ben Howarth in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column argues the case for defence for the much derided ukelele

Amy Winehouse 1983-2011 (2011)

In his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column, Spencer Robertshaw pays testimony to the career of the late Amy Winehouse

July 2011 (2011)

in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' Ben Howarth provides an alternative list of excellent albums of recent years that have tended to miss out on other ‘best of’ lists.

Beer (2011)

In the latest in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry series Spencer Robertshaw provides a poem about the pleasures and undoubted pain of beer drinking

Drunkenly Clanking the Tambourine: My Life as a Failed Internet Sensation (2011)

In 'Gimme Indie Rock' Jamie Rowland writes about his teenage band's rise and sharp fall

June 2011 (2011)

Ben Howarth in ‘Condemned to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ reflects upon the Arctic Monkeys’ return to the fore with their latest album, ‘Suck It and See', after the commercial failure of their 2009 experimental album, ‘Humbug’

Excess All Areas (2011)

In 'Hitting the Right Note' Jon Rogers examines rock's capacity for bad behaviour and excess

Liverpool Sound City 1 (2011)

In the first in a two part Photoscapes, Marie Hazelwood at the three day Liverpool Sound city festival photographs indie rock act the Rialto Burns and singer-songwriter Luke Fenton

Liverpool Sound City 2 (2011)

while in the second part she takes photos of the Kooks, former Beta Band front man Steve Mason and Copenhagen-based country pop outfit Billie Van and Her Ranchhands.

Tick Tick Tick (2011)

Spencer Robertshaw reflects in his 'Evidently Spencertown' series on time both past and present in 'Tick, Tick, Tick'

May 2011 (2011)

Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' reflects upon the causes for HMV's declining sales, while the fortunes of Amazon in contrast continue to expand

Pop Stars (2011)

In his regular 'Hitting the Right Note' column, Jon Rogers examines the case for pop music over rock and more serious art

Bloody (2011)

With summer on its way, Spencer Robertshaw in 'Evidently Spencertown' reflects in 'Bloody' upon a typical British summertime day

Ice Cream Van (2011)

In 'Ice Cream Van' Spencer Robertshaw writes of childhood innocence and parenthood

Top 5 (or more) No. 1 : Unique Vocals (2011)

In 'Gimme Indie Rock' Jamie Rowland provides a personal list and YouTube links to his Top 5 Distinctive Musical Voices

London, 26/3/2011 (2011)

Jamie Rowland writes of our recent Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night at the Half Moon in Herne Hill, London on the 26th March with Anthony Reynolds, Nick Garrie, the Hall of Mirrors and Alex Monk

Rydell and the 16 Year Old Amateur Music Journalist (2011)

In our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' column, Ben Howarth writes of ten years of writing of Pennyblackmusic, and an early interview with forgotten emo group, Rydell

April 2011 (2011)

In his regular 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth pays tribute to durable and underrated acoustic duo, Ezio, who shot briefly to notoriety when then Shadow Prime Minister Tony Blair nominated one of their songs on 'Desert Island Discs'

The Fall (2011)

Spencer Robertshaw in the latest in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column writes of drugs and the media lifestyle in 'The Fall'

Talk Show (2011)

In his regular 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column, Spencer Robertshaw looks at the world of the TV talk show host

March 2011 (2011)

In his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column Ben Howarth writes of some of the excellent acts and bands that he has discovered in support slots at recent gigs that he has attended

Payback Time (2011)

In his regular poetry column 'Evidently Spencertown', Spencer Robertshaw writes of the overdue fate of expense account MPs

Drugs (2011)

In 'Hitting the Right Note' Jon Rogers asks whether drug participation provides musicians with a creative spark or whether that creativity simply has to be there in the first place

March 2011: Words is All That I Have (2011)

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

Censorship (2011)

Jon Rogers examines the slippery issue of censorship and finds that those rock stars who claim to be serious musicians rather than just pop stars have a very different set of limits

Profile (2011)

We profile our next Penny Black Music Bands' Night, which will take place on Saturday March 26th at the Half Moon in Herne Hill, South London and feature sets from Anthony Reynolds, Nick Garrie, the Hall of Mirrors and Alex Monk

Five Bands Critics Love But I Hate and I Hope You Hate Them Too (2011)

In 'This Metal Sky' Jeff Thiessen writes of five much acclaimed bands that he feels are highly over-rated

February 2011: Those Wonderful Wizards of Oz: Live or Studio (2011)

In 'Rock Salt Row' Lisa Torem talks with Alligator Records' founder and owner/producer Bruce Iglauer about whether live or studio recordings work better

Hilarious Consequences (2011)

In ‘Gimme Indie Rock’, in which he looks for the best of alternative rock, Jamie Rowland examines Babak Ganjei’s graphic novel, ‘Hilarious Consequences’ and accompanying musical soundtrack which includes tracks from Ganjei's own band Wet Paint, Singing Adams and Bloc Party’s Matthew Tong

February 2011 (2011)

Ben Howarth in ‘Condemned to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ writes of the surprise addition of Neutral Milk Hotel’s ‘In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’ to Q’s latest Greatest Album Ever poll which compiled together the best albums since 1987

An Angel's List (2011)

In his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column, Spencer Robertshaw provides us with a romantic poem, 'An Angel's List, for Valentine's Day

Albums of the Year 2010 (2010)

Our writers provide their favourite albums, and also favourite gig, of 2010

December 2010 (2010)

Ben Howarth in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column mourns the loss of one of his favourite venues, the Luminaire in London, and describes his favourite albums of the year

Authenticity (2010)

In his 'Hitting the Right Note' column, Jon Rogers questions the issues of authenticity in rock

An Alternative Christmas Carol (2010)

In 'Gimme Indie Rock', in which he looks for the best in indie rock, Jamie Rowland provides an alternative list of Christmas carols

Virtual Reality (2010)

In his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column Spencer Robertshaw in a Christmas poem writes with typical thought and humour about Playstations, Xboxs and Wiis

December 2010 (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row' Lisa Torem talks to another Pennyblackmusic writer every month about a different subject in rock every month. In this edition she speaks with John Clarkson about whether songwriters are simply would-be novelists

London, 29/10/2010 (2010)

Mark Rowland writes of an enjoyable evening of music at the Pennyblackmusic Bands Night at the Half Moon, Herne Hill, South London which saw sets from the Willard Grant Conspiracy, the Monroe Transfer, Adam Donen and Altai Rockets

Terry Reid (2010)

In his 'Gimme Indie Rock', in which he examines the best of alternative music, Jamie Rowland upon the sixth anniversary of John Peel's death writes about 70's cult artist, Terry Reid

Cheerful Things (2010)

In his regular 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column Spencer Robertshaw is back after a month's absence with the only partially ironically titled 'Cheerful Things'

November 2010 (2010)

Ben Howarth in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column tells of reacting against Britpop in his teens and moving down the dangerous path of extreme heavy metal

October 2010 (2010)

Ben Howarth in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column examines the issue of music career suicide and what can happen to bands when good ideas start to run out

October 2010: I Have Just Seen a Place (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row', Lisa Torem chats each month with another writer about a different issue in rock. In this episode she and Helen Tipping speak about the effect of landscape and place on musicians

Dissent (2010)

In his regular 'Hitting the Right Note' column, Jon Rogers asks what has happened to controversy and rebellion in rock music

Penny Black Music Bands Night, 29/10/2010 (2010)

We profile our next Penny Black Music Bands' Night, which will take place on Friday October 29th at the Half Moon in Herne Hill, South London and feature sets from the Willard Grant Conspiracy, the Monroe Transfer, Altai Rockets and Adam Donen

Velvet Underground and Soul Music (2010)

In our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' column, in which a different writer writes each month about the personal impact of music on them, Mark Rowland describes how an an unhappy adolescence led to him discovering both the Velvet Underground and soul music

September 2010: I Can’t Get No Hey, Hey, Hey…. (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row' Lisa Torem talks with a different Pennyblackmusic writer about an issue in rock. In this issue she speaks with Sarah Johnson about the commercial nature of rock and whether spiritual matters and especially Buddhism have had any real bearing on the music industry

Safetyword (2010)

In 'Gimme Indie Rock', in which he examines the best in alternative music, Jamie Rowland looks at now largely forgotten prog folk oddities, Safetyword

September 2010 (2010)

With the news that he will be hosting a pop quiz at the Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham, Ben Howarth in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' looks at the political career of former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey that has developed since he quit his solo career

Heavy Metal (2010)

Jon Rogers in his 'Hitting the Right Note' column writes of his love/hate relationship with heavy metal

Kids (2010)

In the latest in his regular monthly poetry column 'Evidently Spencertown', Spencer Robertshaw writes about parenthood in 'Kids'

The Mercury Awards (2010)

Jon Rogers in his 'Hitting the Right Note' column gives his personal assessment of the acts nominated for this year's Mercury Prize

Zykos (2010)

In the second in his new 'Gimme Indie Rock', in which he will be examining the best in alternative music, Jamie Rowland at the career of enigmatic Texas-based group, Zykos

Pissed (2010)

In the latest in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column, Spencer Robertshaw writes of the after effects of an evening in the pub in 'Pissed'

August 2010 (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row' Lisa Torem talks to another Pennyblackmusic writer each month about a different issue in rock. In this episode she and Jon Rogers examines the effect that the theme of change has had on musicians

August 2010 (2010)

With the London Electronic Dance Festival due to take place at the end of August, Ben Howarth, in his regular 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, asks what the future holds for dance music

Satanicpornocultshop (2010)

In the first in a new column 'Gimme Indie Rock', Jamie Rowland will be focusing on the best in underground, alternative, weird and wonderful music by looking at a different act every month. He begins with Japanese band Satanicpornocultshop.

Safety Pins and Genius, Go Johnny Go (2010)

With John Lydon about to tour again this month with Public Image Limited, Spencer Robertshaw in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry series reflects upon the legendary punk figure

July 2010 (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row' Lisa Torem talks to another Pennyblackmusic writer each month about a different issue in rock. In this edition, she talks to Adrian Huggins, who plays bass in the Newcastle-based dance/rock group Delta Sound, about the often under acknowledged role of the bassist in groups

Use Your Mind! Don't Be Blind (2010)

In his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry series Spencer Robertshaw looks at gangs and knife culture

July 2010 (2010)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth examines the links between music and sport

June 2010 (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row' Lisa Torem talks to another Pennyblackmusic writer about a different topic in rock. She and John Clarkson debate about whether Elvis really is the King of Rock 'n' Roll

Mad Musical Machinations (2010)

With Lou Reed and his wife Laurie Anderson's recent announcement that they will be playing a concert outside the Sydney Opera House for dogs, Jon Rogers in his 'Hitting The Right Note' column looks at some of the grander eccentricities and way-out ideas of other musicians

June 2010 (2010)

In his regular 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth writes of his favourite band the Divine Comedy's first new album in four years, 'Bang Goes the Knighthood'

Stone Temple Pilots (2010)

In the latest in his 'This Metal Sky' column, Jeff Thiessen writes an open letter to American hard rockers about their self-titled first album in nine years

May 2010 (2010)

In his ‘Condemned to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ column Ben Howarth analyses the decline of the singles market and looks at how music buying has changed over recent years

Good God (2010)

Spencer Robertshaw focuses on the iPod generation in 'Good God', the latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry series

Dark Music (2010)

Jon Rogers in his 'Hitting the Right Note' column examines some of the darkest records of time

May 2010 (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row' Lisa Torem talks to another Pennyblackmusic writer about a different issue in rock. In this edition she and Ben Howarth discuss how much of an impact nationality and culture has on music

London, 20/3/2010 (2010)

Mark Rowland tells of a memorable night and a mixed bag of highs and lows at the Pennyblackmusic Bands Night at the Half Moon in Herne Hill, London on the 20th March

Pennyblackmusic Bands Night, London, 19/3/2010 (2010)

Alan Taylor-Shearer photographs the acts that appeared at the Pennyblackmusic Bands Night on the 20th March

April 2010 (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row', Lisa Torem debates each month with another writer about a different issue in rock. She and Jon Rogers discuss whether protest songs in the twenty first century can have the same impact as they have done in the past.

April 2010 (2010)

Ben Howarth in his ‘Condemned to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ column questions whether the plans to cut 6 Music is entirely without merit.

Penny Rap (2010)

In his poetry series 'Evidently Spencertown', Spencer Robertshaw raps about his favourite website

Censorship and Music (2010)

In his 'Hitting the Right Note' column Jon Rogers looks at a recent Home Office report to curb the showing of sexually suggestive videos before 9 p.m. and asks what implications of this will watershed will be

The Shopping Channel (2010)

In the latest in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry series, Spencer Robertshaw reflects upon one of television's oddest dangers

The Brit Awards Show (2010)

Jon Rogers finds The Brit Awards show for 2010 to be over sanitised and lacking in thrills

March 2010 (2010)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column Ben Howarth writes about the uniqueness of Seattle-based singer-songwriter Laura Veirs

March 2010 (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row', Lisa Torem debates each month with another writer about a different issue in rock. In this instalment, she and Jamie Rowland talk about the different seasons and which one makes for the best rock lyrics

Queens of the Stone Age Vs Black Label Society (2010)

Jeff Thiessen examines the arguments both for and against stoner rock bands Queens of the Stone Age and Black Label Society

I Want to Be Your Rock 'n' Roll (2010)

In his poetry series 'Evidently Spencertown', Spencer Robertshaw's latest poem 'I Want to Be Your Rock 'n' Roll' is a love poem

Baptism, Dylan and A Musical Education (2010)

In 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' series, in which our writers write about the personal impact of music on their lives, r. fisher writes of his Baptist upbringing and how a lifelong passion for music was sparked after hearing Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' in the Wind' at summer camp

February 2010 (2010)

In 'Rock Salt Row', Lisa Torem debates each month with another writer about a different issue in rock. In this episode, she and Mark Rowland talk about the irresistibility of hope in songs

The Brit Awards 2010 (2010)

In his 'Hitting the Right Note' column, Jon Rogers finds the nominations list for the Brit Awards 2010 to be both lacking and superficial

February 2010 (2010)

In 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll', Ben Howarth examines the issues surrounding the Digital Economy Bill which is currently making its way through British Parliament

Albums of the Decade (2009)

Our writers and photographers select their personal nomination for Album of the Decade

Albums of the Year 2009 (2009)

Our writers and photographers provide their favourite albums of 2009

December 2009 (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

December 2009 (2009)

in 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' Ben Howarth provides an alternative and personal list of Albums of the Decade

So Many Went Before Their Time (2009)

In the second in his new poetry series, Spencer Robertshaw with 'So Many Went Before Their Time' remembers some of those musicians who died young

A Women's Decade (2009)

In 'Hitting the Right Note', Jon Rogers looks back on the last decade and concludes that it has been a women's era

Stairlift from Heaven (2009)

In a new column, 'Evidently Spencertown', Pennyblackmusic writer and poet Spencer Robertshaw presents 'Stairlift from Heaven', which is to be recited or sung in the style of Led Zepplein's 'Stairway to Heaven'

November 2009 (2009)

In his regular 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth, back after a month's break, reflects both on the last few years of the column and also his current favourite musicians

The Musician's Forte (2009)

In the latest in his new 'Hitting the Right Note' column, Jon Rogers looks at some of the musicians who have used their song writing as a forum for complaining about and bemoaning their lifestyle and situation

November 2009 (2009)

In 'Rock Salt Row' Lisa Torem talks with a different Pennyblackmusic writer about a different aspect of rock. In this latest installment, she talks with Dan Cressey about musicians and their cars

King Blues (2009)

Katie Anderson photographs London-based ska/acoustic folk band the King Blues at the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth

The Spotify Phenomenon (2009)

...while in the second part he examines the issue of free, legal music websites such as Spotify and we7

The Reissues Market (2009)

In the first double instalment of his new column, 'Hitting the Right Note', Jon Rogers looks at the record industry's increasing reliance on reissuing and remarketing classic albums and other albums from the past...

October 2009 (2009)

In 'Rock Salt Row', Lisa Torem debates each month with another writer about a different issue in rock. In the latest installment, she chats with John Clarkson about the effect of dreams as an inspiration on songwriters and musicians

The Berlin Albums of David Bowie and Iggy Pop (2009)

Inn our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' column, in which our writers reflect upon music that has had a personal impact on them, Jon Rogers examines the mid 1970s Berlin albums of David Bowie and Iggy Pop

September 2009 (2009)

In 'Rock Salt Row', Lisa Torem will be debating each month with another writer about a different issue in rock. In its third episode, she looks at the self-sabotaging nature of rock stars and debates with Jeff Thiessen about whether men and women see heartbreak differently

Profile (2009)

We profile our first Penny Black Music Bands Night in two years, which will take place on Saturday November 14th at the London Brixton Windmill and feature sets from the Left Outsides, Madam,Mathew Sawyer and the Ghosts and the European

September 2009 (2009)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll', Ben Howarth explains the targets he sets out for himself when reviewing new music and his pleasure at discovering new Bath-based blues-influenced act Kill It Kid

August 2009 (2009)

In 'Rock Salt Row', Lisa Torem will be debating each month with a different writer about a moment in rock history and its impact now. In its second episode, she takes an Aldous Huxley quote which gave the Doors their name, and asks Malcolm Carter if rock music can ever really change perceptions

August 2009 (2009)

In the latest 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth pays tribute to DJ Steve Lamacq whose influential 'Evening Session' has recently been axed by Radio One

Madness 'Absolutely' (2009)

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

July 2009 (2009)

In new column 'Rock Salt Row', Lisa Torem will be debating each month with a different Pennyblackmusic writer about a moment in rock history and its impact now. She begins by talking with editor John Clarkson about John Lennon's 1966 controversial quote that the Beatles 'were more popular than Jesus

Boris, Billy, KC and The Cannibals – My University Career (2009)

Recent graduate Jamie Rowland looks back at his three years at university, and the music that provided the backdrop to his time as a student

July 2009 (2009)

In his latest 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Rols' column, Ben Howarth asks if Michael Jackson was any good musically

Shinedown (2009)

Shinedown are a hard rock act from Jacksonville in Florida. They have now released three albums on Atlantic Records, 'Leave a Whisper' (2003), 'Us and Them' (2005)and 'The Sound of Madness' (2008, eac

Sounds Like Teen Spirit (2009)

We have three CD copies of the soundtrack to new British film, 'Sounds Like Teen Spirit', to give away as competition prizes. To hopefully win a prize, answer two questions

June 2009 (2009)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' series, Ben Howarth looks at Spotify, a new downloading site from which albums can be downloaded for free and it has been claimed that it will make CDs redundant, and asks if the phenomenon lives up to the hype

May 2009 (2009)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth finds the CD, in the age download culture, not dying as many have predicted, but very much flourishing

April 2009 (2009)

In his regular monthly 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth writes about searching for the perfect pop song

Jarvis Cocker - My Part in His Downfall (2009)

In the latest in our 'Soundtrack to Our Lives' column, in which writers write of the personal impact of music on their lives, Anthony Middleton tells of living in Camden in the early 90s as Britpop exploded

March 2009 (2009)

In the latest instalment in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth looks back on the career and music of the late John Martyn

January 2009 (2009)

In the first in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Benjamin Howarth explains his aggrievement at bands who allow their music to be used in TV adverts

Albums of the Year (2008)

Our writers and photographers provide their favourite albums, and also favourite gig, of 2008

December 2008 (2008)

In his regular 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth writes about his discovery this year of the joy of being able to sit down at rock gigs

November 2008 (2008)

In the latest instalment in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll'column, Ben Howarth assesses the merits of Girls Aloud, Leona Lewis and other current top charting acts

October 2008 (2008)

In his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth examines the life and legacy of Rick Wright, the keyboardist with pink Floyd, who died on the 15th September

(2008)

Several of our writers recall some of the highs and occasional tribulations of working for Pennyblackmusic during the last ten years

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September 2008 (2008)

In the latest instalment of his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth pays testimony to some of the older and more established artists who constantly continue to release material of a high standard

The Beatles (2008)

In our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' series, in which our writers describe the personal impact of music on them, Ben Howarth writes about the Beatles, who have provided a constant backdrop to his life

Hadouken (2008)

At the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth, Katie Anderson shoots rising Leeds-based five-piece electronic group, Hadouken

August 2008 (2008)

In the latest episode of his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth looks at some of the sacred cows of rock including the Rolling Stones, Pink Gloyd, Alanis Morrisette, Sonic Youth and Fleetwood Mac

July 2008 (2008)

In his regular 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth pays tribute to Swedish jazz pianist Esbjorn Svensson who died in a diving accident in June

And My Soul Has Been Spiritualized (2008)

In the latest in our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' series, in which our writers write about the personal impact of music on our lives, Jonjo McNeill describes how Spiritualized's early 1995 album, 'Pure Phase', helped him re-evaluate his Catholic upbringing

June 2008 (2008)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column Ben Howarth questions the current state of music journalism and if music writers are doing an effective enough job

Joy Division's 'Closer' (2008)

In the latest in our 'Soundtrack to Our Lives' series, in which writers describe the personal impact on their lives, Denzil Watson writes about Joy Division's second and last studio album, 'Closer'

May 2008 (2008)

In his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth looks at Q's recent poll for the Best 50 Albums of All Time, and asks if these really are people's favourite albums

Shield Your Eyes, Shield Your Pies (2008)

Pennyblackmusic photographer-in-residence Matt Williams’ latest photographic exhibition, ‘Shield Your Eyes, Shield Your Pies’, opens at the West End in Centre in Aldershot on May 7th and closes on May 30th. Find out more about it here.

Godwits 1 (2008)

Matt Williams photographs indie/folk act the Godwits at rehearsal in violin and viola player Will's home

Thanks for the Smiles (2008)

In the latest in our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' series, in which our writers describe the personal impact of music on their lives, Malcolm Carter writes about meeting and falling for his wife against a backdrop of acts such as the Beach Boys, the Chi-Lites, Jim Stover and the Hollies

April 2008 (2008)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' album, Ben Howarth asks if it is ever possible to really say what music you like

March 2008 (2008)

In ther latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth looks at the career of Frames' frontman Glen Hansard, who, as well as acting in the film 'Once', also has just the Oscar for it for Best Original Song with 'Falling Slowly'

Kerrang Tour (2008)

Metal magazine Kerrang's latest tour, which was entitled the Relentless Energy Drink Tour, took place in January and February. For our Photoscapes series Katie Anderson at the Southampton Guildhall photographs two of the acts, Madina Lake and Circa

February 2008 (2008)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth examines EMI's financial crisis and asks if record labels have been indulging bands' luxury lifestyles for too long

Albums of the Year (2007)

Our writers and photographers provide their favourite albums, and also favourite gig, of 2007

Divorce and Snow Patrol (2007)

In the latest in our 'Soundtrack to Our Lives' series, in which our writers write about the personal impact of music in their lives, Sarah Johnston tells of listening to Snow Patrol at the time of her parents' seperation and marriage break-up

December 2007 (2007)

In his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth looks at records, both past and present, which didn't quite make the cut of his Albums of the Year poll

Taste of Chaos (2007)

Katie Anderson photographs Rise Against, Gallows, Aiden and the Blackout on post-hardcore tour the Taste of Chaos at the Portsmouth Guildhall

November 2007 (2007)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth writes about, faced with having to move, trying to unsuccessfully reduce his record collection

Travel and Music (2007)

In the latest in our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' series, in which our writers write about the personal impact of music on them, seasoned traveller Adrian Huggins tells of some of the songs that have stuck with him as he has travelled around the world

October 2007 (2007)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' applauds BBC Radio 4's under rated music programming, which manages to be comfortingly conservative and astoundingly radical and often both at once

Features (2007)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' compilation, Ben Howarth looks at the decision of the Chief Executive of EMI to resign, and the long-term effects this may have on music

The European Invasion Part 2 (2007)

In the second and final part of his account of touring Europe with a rising indie band, Phil Vincent writes of two nights in the Netherlands, and trying to maintain order with his drunken group

Profile (2007)

We profile our 10th Penny Black Music Bands Night, which will take place from 3pm on September 9th at the London Spitz and feature sets from the Bitter Springs, Hey Negrita, Rothko, Friends, Saint Joan, Kelman and Joe Gideon as well as music from the DJs at Uptight

August 2007 (2007)

In thnis month's edition of his Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll column, Ben Howarth questions whether the Mercury Music Prize has any real purpose

10 Songs (2007)

In the latest in our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' series, in which our writers tell of the personal impact of music on their lives, Dixie Ernill writes about the effect of music at several pivotal moments in time over a 20 year period

July 2007 (2007)

In the latest in his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll column Ben Howarth asks, if with the collapse of Fopp, and both HMV and EMI admitting to losing money, if the music industry really is in crisis

The Jam and the Sound of the Suburbs (2007)

In the latest in our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' series, in which our writers tell of the personal impact of music on their lives, Anthony Dhanendran tells of the discovery during the Britpop era of the Jam

Breakdown (2007)

In the third and final part of his series on the 70's punk era, Adam Wood looks at the rise into the mainstream of the punk movement, after the Sex Pistols' infamous appearance with Bill Grundy on the 'Today' show and its subsequent decline as a result

Download Festival 2 (2007)

In the second part of our two part 'Photoscapes' feature from this year's Download festival, Katie Anderson photographs Gallows, the Cancer Bats and Korn

Resistance through Style (2007)

In the second part of a three part series, in which Adam Wood examines the 70's British punk movement, he writes about the fashion, fanzines and sexual psychology of the movement

June 2007 (2007)

With the festival season now having started, Ben Howarth casts his eye over the many different festivals on offer to music fans over the course of the summer

The European Invasion Part 1 (2007)

In the opening instalment of a new episode in his 'Tales of the Sound Desk' series, sound engineer/tour manager Phil Vincent tells of travelling across Europe with a rising indie band, and a fraught first day surviving lost passports, a dodgy van and Rotterdam's lack of parking facilities

London's Burning (2007)

In the first part of a new three part series, in which Adam Wood examines the rise of 70's British punk, he looks at the social and the political factors of the country at the time which both generated and developed the movement.

May 2007 (2007)

In his regular 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll', Ben Howarth looks at the demise of cassettes and CD singles, and finds in the fourteen years that has been a music fan that the more things have changed the more they have in many ways remained the same

April 2007 (2007)

In the latest in his regular Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll column Ben Howarth questions the thought behind reformed political rockers Rage Against the Machine's recent attempt to shut down the stock exchange by playing an uninvited concert

3/3/2007 (2007)

Our 9th Pennyblackmusic Bands Night which took place on the 3rd March featured strong performances from Viarosa, the Bitter Springs, Joe Gideon and the Shark and Andy Thompson. We look back on a great night of music

Love on the Radio and Spiritualized (2007)

In the latest in our series, in which our writers write about the importance of music at memorable times in their lives, Chris Jones writes about falling in and out of love whilst playing tracks from Spiritualized's 'Lazer Guided Melodies' on his university campus radio show

March 2007 (2007)

In the latest in his 'Condemned by Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth asks why when we need music for rest and relaxation there is so little for it, before finding some respite with the French duo Air, who have just released a new album 'Pocket Symphony'

Profile (2007)

We preview the 9th Penny Black Music Night which will take place at the Spitz in London on Saturday 3rd March and will feature Viarosa, the Bitter Springs and Joe Gideon and the Shark

February 2007 (2007)

In the latest in his 'Condemned by Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth looks at the British singles chart, which under new ruling now takes into account downlaods

Albums of the Year (2006)

Our writers give their verdict on 2006 and their favourite albums of the year.

December 2006 (2006)

In the latest in his 'Condemned by Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth writes of end of the year polls and his own choices for Album of the Year.

TDK Cross Central Festival Part 3 (2006)

In the third and final part of his account of working at this summer's TDK Cross Festival in his new 'Tales from the Sound Desk' series, Philip Vincent tells of its second day

Tears in Heaven (2006)

Olga Sladeckova writes of an evening at her parents' house in Prague in 2001 spent with her late father and watching with him Eric Clapton perform 'Tears in Heaven' from his 'Unplugged' album

TDK Cross Central Festival Part 2 (2006)

In the second episode of a three part article in his new series 'Tales from the Sound Desk', professional sound engineer Philip Vincent writes about a nightmarish evening working at the TDK Cross Central Festival, which took place at Kings Cross Freight Depot in London in August

November 2006 (2006)

In the latest instalment in his monthly 'Condemned by Rock 'Roll' column, Benjamin Howarth looks at Christmas and 'Greatest Hits albums

Commuting to Lightning Bolt (2006)

In the first in a new series, in which our writers write about the importance of music at memorable times in their lives, Mark Rowland explains how Lightning Bolt has kept him sane throughout commuter hell

TDK Cross Central Festival Part 1 (2006)

In the opening episode of a three part article in a new series, professional sound engineer Philip Vincent writes about his experiences working at the TDK Cross Central Festival, which took place at Kings Cross Freight Depot in London and featured acts such as Grace Jones, Goldfrapp and the Others

October 2006 (2006)

In the latest in his 'Condemned By Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth looks at the competition between independent, major and internet music retailers

September 2006 (2006)

Radiohead's Thom Yorke, the Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield and Idlewild Roddy Woomble have all recently released solo albums. Ben Howarth looks at them in the latest in his 'Condemned by Rock 'n' Roll' column

Profile (2006)

Liverpool-based early 80's band the Room featured Dave Jackson and Becky Stringer, who would go on to form Benny Profane. Anthony Strutt looks at their two LPs,'Indoor Fireworks' and 'In Evil Hour', which have recently been released with extra tracks

August 2006 (2006)

In the latest in his Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll series, Ben Howarth tells how, in the recent barren summer drought for music, he has taken comfort from Paul McCartney's recent album 'Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard'

Star Trippin' : The Best of Mick Wall 1985-91 (2006)

'Star Trippin’ is the anthology of former 'Kerrang' rock journalist Mick Wall. Mark Rowland finds very enetertaining 'Star Trippin', which tells of his interviews with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, and the one which ended his 'Kerrang' career with Axl Rose

Tapestry Goes West (2006)

The Tapestry Festival in Cornwall is one of the few British festivals to play host to smaller bands, rather than the usual festival acts. Mark Rowland looks at director Caroline Catz's new DVD film about it

Coachella (2006)

One of the last great musical gatherings, the American desert festival Coachella regularly attracts 80, 000 music fans. Aaron Brown writes about film director Drew Thomas' beautiful and provocative new film about it which has just been released on DVD

Feature (2006)

Dixie Ernill recently brought his favourite group the Experimental Pop Band up from Bristol to play his local cricket club which is based in a small village just outside Manchester. He writes about his past and present experiences of putting on gigs

July 2006 (2006)

In the latest his Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll column Ben Howarth writes about downloading and the Gnarls Barkley phenonomen

Feature (2006)

Live albums are notoriously tricky to get right. Jon Rogers writes about some of their greatest successes and worst failures

June 2006 (2006)

It has been revealed that Conservative Party leader David Cameron has been invited onto Desert Island Discs. Benjamin Howarth wonders how he will make his picks

Doug Hoekstra and Willy Vlautin (2006)

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Doug Hoekstra and Willy Vlautin, the front man with Portland, Oregon-based alt. country band Richmond Fonatine have both just released their fictional debuts. John Clarkson profiles them both

Presidents of the United States of America (2006)

The Presidents of the United States of America recently returned to touring after an absence of several years. Anna Gudaniec photographs them exlusively for Pennyblackmusic at their first British dates in almost a decade

The Full Ponty (2006)

The Full Ponty is a two day music festival that is situated near Pontypridd in Wales.Anna Gudaniec photographs Funeral for a Friend, Biffy Clyro, Fightstar, Bring Me the Horizon and Days in December on its second day

Protest the Hero (2006)

Ontario-based band were the winners of the Best Indie Metal Band award at the Canadian 2004 Indie Music Awards. With their debut album 'Kezia' just out, Anna Gudaniec shoots them at a show at the London Mean Fiddler

City and Colour (2006)

City and Colour is the solo side project of Dallas Green, the singer and guitarist with Ontario-based post-hardcore outfit, Alexisonfire. Anna Gudaniec takes photos of City and Colour at a gig at London's Camden Barfly

May 2006 (2006)

In the latest in his 'Condemned by Rock 'n' Roll' series, Ben Howarth expresses outrage at the price of many of this year's summer stadium gigs, some such as Madonna's 'Confessions' tour for which tickets cost over £100 each

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (2006)

Anna Gudaniec takes photos of punk rock supergroup and covers band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on the first of two dates at the London Astoria

Capdown (2006)

Anna Gudaniec shoots political hardcore/ska band Capdown at a concert at the Astoria in London

Profile (2006)

Leeds band the Dead Pets have long lived in the shadows of punk. With their two albums, 'Revenge of the Village Idiots' and 'Two Little Too Late' now at last officially available after years of obscurity, Alex Halls examines their history

Corbjin, Glazer, Romanek and Sednaoui (2006)

Anthony Dhanendran looks at the second volume of releases in Mute's Director's Label series, which profiles the work of pop video directors and film makers Anton Corbijn, Jonathan Glazer, Mark Romanek and Stephane Sednaoui

April 2006 (2006)

In the second in his new 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth muses on Spring releases and the new Morrissey album 'Ringleader of the Tormentors'

Beyond Warped Live Music Series (2006)

Dan Cressey finds hardcore punk Lennon sadly demolishing any credibility they may have ever once had on their new DVD, which has been released as part of the Beyond Warped Live Music Series

Apollo Memories (2006)

The Glasgow Apollo was a legendary 70's and 80's rock venue, thought of which makes many Scots over 40 become weak with nostalgia. John Clarkson finds Martin Kielty's new book about the long closed theatre essential, compelling reading

August/September/October 2005 (2005)

In the latest in his 'Confessions of a Vinyl Junkie' series Dixie Ernill reminisces about spending more money than he perhaps should in Manchester's Vinyl Exchange, and reflects on going to see Broadcast for the first time

Phenonomen or Hype ? (2005)

The Myspace site has expanded dramatically in recent months . With many bands now having their own Myspace page as well as regular web page, Mark Rowland assesses its increasing impact on music culture

Give 'Em the Boot (2005)

Anthony Strutt examines Dutch punk label Hellcat's new DVD 'Give 'Em the Boot', which features footage of some of the best bands on their roster including Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, Rancid, Horrorpops and the Dropkick Murphys

Tribute (2005)

The John Peel tribute day on October 13th met with an overwhelming national response. Various Pennyblackmusic writers look at a few of the highlights and give some thoughts on the day

June/July 2005 (2005)

In the latest instalment of his 'Confessions of a Vinyl Junkie' series Dixie Ernill writes about attending his first Trash Can Sinatras concert, and another busy but costly two months of record purchases

Profile (2005)

The Supremes were one of the biggest girl groups of the 60's, but the beginning and end of their story was laced with tragedy, lost friendships, law suits and death. Sarah Johnson reflects upon their sad history

Profile (2005)

The daughter of Italian horror film director Dario Argento, Asia Argento is a talented actress, director and a musician. Anthony Strutt examines her career to date

Obituary (2005)

Paul Cannell, who created the artwork for Primal Scream's 'Screamadelica' and various other early 90's iconic record sleeves, died on the 5th July. Olga Sladeckova looks back and reflects on his life and career

April/May 2005 (2005)

In the latest instalment in his 'Confessions of a Vinyl Junkie'series, Dixie Ernill writes about the joys of compilation tapes at work and summer vinyl purchases

Sex, Censorship and 21st Century Cinema (2005)

After Anthony Strutt's review of Mike Winterbottom's controversial '9 Songs' last month, Mark Rowland takes up the debate and writes about cinema, sex and censorship

February/March 2005 (2005)

In the latest in his occasional 'Confessions of Vinyl Junkie' series, Dixie Ernill writes about all his latest musical purchases and resuming gig-going after a long absence

Retrospective (2005)

In his 40 or more years with the BBC, John Peel launched the careers of hundreds of bands. Six months on his from the Radio 1 DJ's death Mark Rowland looks back on his life and the continued impact of his loss to the independent music world

Glitterhouse is 20 (2005)

German label Glitterhouse Records has put out over 600 releases, and has just celebrated its 20th anniversary. To celebrate it has just released a triple CD box set 'Nevermind'. Anthony Dhanendran profiles it and the label's two decade history

Swedish Singer-Songwriters Retrospective (2005)

Sweden is a haven to an increasing number of excellent, but underrated singer-songwriters. Malcolm Carter profiles and writes about the latest releases of two of them, Jens Lekman and Christian Kjellvander

1937-2005 (2005)

Outlandish writer and author, and inspiration to countless music journalists, Hunter S. Thompson shot himself on the 20th February. Jon Rogers looks back on his turbulent life

December 2004/January 2005 (2005)

In the latest in his 'Confessions of a Vinyl Junkie' series, obsessive record collector Dixie Ernill writes about his latest musical finds, including records by the Kitchens of Distinction, Gene and the Wedding Present

Spitz, London, 22/1/2004 (2005)

Our latest Pennyblackmusic Bands Night on the 22nd January featured strong sets from Bikini Atoll, Heist, the Repomen, Lewd and Moly. Olga Sladeckova writes about what was an excellent night of music

Commercial Album (2005)

When the Residents 'Commercial Album' came out in 1980, it featured 40 one minute tracks. Anthony Strutt finds the DVD, which has been released to coincide with the album's reissue, to be a fine visual assistant to the album

October/November 2004 (2004)

In a new occasional column vinyl junkie Dixie Ernill explains, why having bought records for the best part of 20 years, record shopping continues to excite him

Songbirds Lie (2004)

Bohemian New York art rockers The Scene is now have released just four albums in their 24 year history. Maarten Schiethart looks back over their erratic career, and examines their latest album, 'Songbirds Lie'

What Does the Future Hold ? (2004)

The culture of MP3 has come more prominent in recent months with improvements in its technology. Mark Rowland asks if it continues to grow if it will eventually lead to the downfall of the CD

The Sex Pistols, PIL and Anti-Celebrity (2004)

Long overdue, but heavily flawed account of John Lydon's life post the Sex Pistols and in PiL and beyond

The Rise and Fall of Gator (2004)

With a punk soundtrack that includes Black Flag and Anti Flag, new DVD film documentary 'Stoked' tells of 80's skateboarding hero, Mark ‘Gator’ Rogowski, who is now in prison for murder. Daniel Cressey profiles the film, and tells of Gator's downfall

Rise of New Folk (2004)

The new folk movement has been on the rise for a couple of years. Withartists such as Elliot Smith, Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake popular all over again, and new ones such as Damien Rise in the charts, Mark Rowland profiles the new movement

Report (2004)

At the fifth Pennyblackmusic Bands Night on the 15th April, we had the pleasure of putting on 4 great bands, Nectarine No. 9, Applecraft, the Scoundrelles and Air Formation. We look back on a very enjoyable night

DJ Night (2003)

"Music and lifestyle" website Melstars recently ran its first DJ night in London. Featuring sets from Elixir, one part of Phobos 3, and former Elastica guitarist Sheila Chipperfield, Olga Sladeckova finds it an event well worth attending

Report (2003)

The third Pennyblackmusic Bands Night took place on August 2nd, and featured excellent sets from Lupine Howl, Bikini Atoll, the Lazarus Effect and Kelman. We look back on a fantastic evening

Profile (2003)

Producer Mitch Easter has worked with R.E.M., Pavement, Dinosaur Jr and Velvet Crush , but for many years also fronted his own band Let's Active. With a Let's Active tribute album just out, Malcolm Carter takes the opportunity to assess his career

Profile (2003)

The third Pennyblackmusic Bands Night will take place at the Spitz in London on August 2nd. There will be four great acts-Lupine Howl, Bikini Atoll, the Lazarus Effect and Ashby -and it all costs £7. Further details can be found here

Part 3-The Changing Face of Punk Rock : 1994- (2003)

In the third and final part of his series on American hardcore punk, Mark Rowland examines the years between 1994 and the present day

Photographic Exhibition (2003)

Pennyblackmusic photographer Matt Williams' first exhibition of rock photography opens in April, and will feature 35 photos that Matt has taken over the last four years. Find out more about it here !

Round-Up (2003)

In his last article for Pennyblackmusic as a reviewer, Darrell Angus concludes by examining three of his favourite current alt. rock releases

Life Changing or Not ? (2003)

Benjamin Howarth has never been quite sure what to make of experimental music, but looking at the latest records by Fred Frith, Chris Cutler and Keith Christmas, tries to work out just how life changing it really is

Part 2-Punk Learns How to Play 1984-1994 (2003)

In the second in his series on the American hardcore movement, Mark Rowland examines the years between 1984 and 1994, and the impact of bands such as Husker Du, Bad Religion, the Jesus Lizard and Fugazi

8 Mile (2003)

In the first of two film reviews this month, non rap fan Anthony Strutt writes about the definite merits of Eminem's blockbuster new movie, '8 Mile'....

Part 1-The Early Years 1977-1986 (2003)

In the first in a series profiling the rise of American hardcore, Mark Rowland examines its early years and the long-term impact of five of its best known bands, Minor Threat, Black Flag, Bad Brains, the Dead Kennedys and the Descendents

Profile (2002)

The most well known punk festival in the UK, Holidays in the Sun year after year attracts punk fans from all over Europe. With this year's festival taking place in Blackpool in July, Alex Halls talks to founder Jennie Russell-Smith about what to expect

Broken Music : Clawing the Eyes Out of Mona Lisa (2002)

David McNamee finds himself smitten with three beautifully packaged CDs from the Chicago electronic label, Ampersand, and tells why overnight it has become his new favourite label

Rekords Rekords Supersessions (2002)

Desert Sessions Vol. 7 & 8: Gypsy Marches; Can You See Under My Thumb? ... There You Are Drag City Records Presents A Drag City Supersession: Tramps, Traitors and Little Devils

Feature (2002)

There are only a few people out there with “it” — that mystical connection to the heart and soul of music that elevates their performance to the incandescent. These select few may not be the best technicians around — they may be downright sloppy — but wha

A History and Personal Perspective Part 2 (2002)

WHICH ALBUMS TO OWN FROM THE C86 ERA Back to the music now. As you probably have understood by now, there are many many albums and singles available from the C86-era, and although many of them are good, and often very good, there are some that are less

A History and Personal Perspective Part 1 (2002)

When reading about your indie-pop favourites, you have probably quite often stumbled across the term"C86". And maybe you have wondered what it means. Is it a cassette that is 86 minutes long? Is it a guitar model? Is it a drum machine?

Feature (2002)

I have been doing some thinking about the year ahead in British independent music. While I don't think there will be many major changes, here are some of my thoughts and predictions on some of the important independent music events that will affect t

Retrospective and History (2002)

Loose Recordings was founded around 5 years ago and was originally known as Vinyl Junkie. The decline in sales of vinyl just a few years later precipitated a change of name shortly after they released

Profile (2002)

Together for the best part of a decade, Wondermints origins go back even further than that, to 1982 when principle songwriters Nick Walusko and Darian Sahanaja first struck up a friendship. Having

A History of the Label (2002)

Marina' is a small and unique German independent label. It was established in Hamburg in 1993 by two former journalists, Stefan Kassel and Frank Lahnemann. Marina was chosen as a name because, as K

The Top Ten Most Deprssing Al (2002)

Here in no particular order are ten of the most depressing albums of all time. Despairing and black, but magnificent as well as moody ! Luxuriate in the misery, and enjoy some brilliant music ! 1.

Ritmo Webmagaz (2002)

Rataplan is an alternative Dutch radio station which specialises in playing independent and dance music, and that transmits from the town of Nijmegen in the South East of the Netherlands. Its radio

No Logo-Politics and the Underground (2002)

Politics. In some form or other, it's something that burns inside many of those who claim a genuinely alternative mindset. But it's also something that's crushed easily by sheer weight of cynicism - f

Thoughts on a Top 5 End of the Year Poll (2002)

What, above all else, does December bring to the true music fanatic? Stockings stuffed with record store gift certificates and blank tapes? Conversations about the Beach Boys Christmas album? A CD fro

Photography

Photoscapes (2017)

Darren Aston photographs Howling Bells front woman Juanita Stein at a solo gig in Liverpool.

Photoscapes (2017)

Darren Aston photographs the Killers, Elbow and Tears for Fears at a BST Hyde Park gig in London

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 1 (2014)

Over three galleries Melanie Smith takes photographs of this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Photoscapes (2014)

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2

Photoscapes (2014)

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 3

Photoscapes (2014)

Over two galleries Bill Gray photographs some of the highlights and acts of our seven-act Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night at The River in Glasgow on June 7th

Photoscapes (2014)

Pennyblackmusic Bands Night, Glasgow 2

Photoscapes (2014)

Darren Aston in a two-part gallery photographs this year's one-day Astral Coast Festival, which based in Merseyside was in its third year

Photoscapes (2014)

Astral Coast Festival 2