Features
A Life in Music (2021)
In the first in a new series, 'A Life in Music', in which she will be talking to a Pennyblack writer about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke chats to Nicky Crewe.
Ticket Rewind (2019)
In our 'Ticket Rewind' series, in which our writers reflect on their old gig tickets and their stories, Nicky Crewe wonders when is a ticket not a ticket now we have the ticketless gig and shares memories of a significant paper ticket found as a bookmark.
Factory Records Memories (2015)
Nicky Crewe reflects on what she both remembers and does not remember about knowing from her teens Factory Records boss Tony Wilson and working the door at the legendary Russell and Hacienda clubs
Related
Interviews
Interview
Nicky Crewe talks to Steve J Allen about his new album 'Contrast', his influences and approaches to life and music and moving from Sheffield to the other side of the world,
Interview
Nicky Crewe talks to singer-songwriter MG Boulter about his acclaimed new album ‘Clifftown’ upon which he examines his hometown of Southend-on-Sea.
Interview
Nicky Crewe speaks to Sheffield-based ‘psychedelic electronic’ trio Surreal Appeal about their debut album, ‘Gently Deranged’.
Paul J Bolger
Interview
Irish singer-songwriter, musician and animator Paul J Bolger speaks to Nicky Crewe about his eponymous first new album in almost twenty-five years, film career and forthcoming graphic novel trilogy.
Loft Club
Interview
Nicky Crewe speaks to Exeter indie band The Loft Club frontman Daniel Schamroth about their increasing global success, 60's and early 70's songwriting influences and recent EP 'Heart's Desire'
Food of Love Project
Interview
Nicky Crewe talks to co-curator Tom McConnell about 'The Food of Love Project', a compilation album which compiles together new recordings of Shakespearean and other Elizabethan age songs from a collection of contemporary folk and experimental artists
Vashti Bunyan
Interview
Nicky Crewe speaks to 60's cult folk legend Vashti Bunyan about her fourth album, 'Heartleap'
Profiles
Captain Beefheart On Track; Every Album, Every Song
Longtime Beefheart enthusiast Opher Goodwin has researched and written an essential reference work for fans old and new. Nicky Crewe takes us through the pages
Live 55
Nicky Crewe experiences all the excitement of Ash Gray and the Burners’ latest album, 'LIVE 55', which, out in December, was recorded live at The Dorothy Pax in Sheffield.
Little Feat On Track: Every Album, Every Song
The 'On Track...'series is a great resource for any fan. Nicky Crewe find that the latest book from Georg Purvis takes us through the 50 year career of Little Feat with all its twists and turns
Why Marianne Faithfull Matters
Nicky Crewe finds that Tanya Pearson's new book is a fascinating insight into Marianne Faithfull’s life and career by a writer who isn’t afraid to bring her own experience to the exploration of the myth and reality of Faithfull’s story and legacy.
Pegasus Epitaph: The Story of the Legendary Rock Group Love
Nicky Crewe reviews Michael Stuart Ware’s must-read for fans of Love and their music, written by one who was there and who has lived to tell the tale with insight and understanding.
Beeswing
Nicky Crewe finds that the eagerly anticipated memoir from Fairport Convention co-founder Richard Thompson is a beautifully written and evocative reminder of a memorable time in his life.
Take It to the Limit 10th Anniversary Edition
Nicky Crewe reads this rollicking tale of The Limit, the legendary Sheffield club.
1950-2021
Nicky Crewe pays tribute to her friend and Pennyblackmusic writer Keith How who died unexpectedly in January.
Andrew Wild
Crosby, Stills and Nash: Every Album, Every Song
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.
CP Lee
1950-2020
Nicky Crewe reflects on the life of her friend, Mancunian musician, writer and Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias frontman CP Lee, who died in July.
Dave Haslam
Profile
Nicky Crewe takes us through the first three titles of Dave Haslam’s 'Art Decades' series, which are a captivating taste of more to come
Music Matters
Profile
Nicky Crewe examines how the music community in her home city of Sheffield is coping with the challenges presented by the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.
Donald Brackett
Long Slow Train: The Soul Music of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
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.
Richard Hawley
Standing At The Sky’s Edge
Nicky Crewe finds Richard Hawley and Chris Bush create a love song to Sheffield with a universal message that will make you reconsider what a stage musical can be.
Liam Walker
Profile
What happens when a talented singer songwriter takes a leap towards TV stardom? Nicky Crewe follows South Yorkshire musician Liam Walker’s path to 'The Voice' and beyond.
Slits
Here to Be Heard: The Story of the Slits
Nicky Crewe finds that a new revealing and entertaining documentary about the Slits will remind fans of just how special they were. It is bound to inspire a new generation too.
Joy Division
New Dawn Fades
Nicky Crewe attends 'New Dawn Fades', a theatre play on the history of Joy Division
Electric Flag
Profile
Nicky Crewe reflects on the career of original 60's supergroup Electric Flag, whose compilation album 'Old Glory: The Best of Electric Flag' has recently been reissued.
Nicky Crewe
Interview
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
Norwegian Wood::Thoughts on the Norwegian Music Industry
Profile
After attending an intimate gig by singer-songwriter Thomas Dybdahl in Manchester, Nicky Crewe reflects on the underrated Norwegian music indsutry
Live
Cafe #9, Sheffield, 11/6/2022
Tamsin Elliott released her debut solo album at the end of June. Nicky Crewe at the Café #9 in Sheffield discovers that her music is a spellbinding blend of her influences and her talents as a musician and composer.
Cafe #9, Sheffield, 5/7/2022
Nicky Crewe at Cafe #9 in Sheffield watches Melbourne’s The Weeping Willows bring their dark folk songs and close harmonies on tour to promote their third album.
(With El Heneghan and Lovell). Greystones, Sheffield, 22/4/2022
Sheffield-based singer-songwriter Rhiannon Scutt has simultaneously released three new EPs entitled ‘'Facets'. At a launch gig at Greystones in Sheffield, Nicky Crewe finds that they show just how much she is capable of as songwriter and a performer. They are a fantastic introduction to her work and a celebration of her style.
Great British Venue and Beyond
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.
Great British Venue and Beyond
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.
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
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.
Alasdair Roberts
Regather, Sheffield, 26/10/2019
Nicky Crewe caught a magical evening in Sheffield as Alasdair Roberts performed solo to promote his latest album, 'The Fiery Margin'.
Alex Rex
Bishop's House, Sheffield, 14/4/2019
At an intimate and ancient venue in Sheffield Nicky Crewe watches Alex Neilson as he ‘ditches bitterness to take us straight to regret’ with his dark and powerful music. He also gives us the magic formula for the cure for depression, raising spirits in more ways than one.
Joan Baez
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 26/2/2019
As Joan Baez completes the final dates of her 'Fare Thee Well' world tour, Nicky Crewe at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester is reminded of just how relevant and inspiring her music is, and, with her career spanning six decades and changing times, finds she still has a powerful message to share.
Deacon Blue
City Hall, Sheffield, 11/12/2018
NIcky Crewe watches Deacon Blue celebrate thirty years of fantastic music on their recent tour and give an excited Sheffield audience a night to remember.
Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita
Crucible Studio Theatre, Sheffield. 15/5/2018
Nicky Crewe watches harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita play a haunting set in Sheffield to promote their second album ‘Soar’, which takes its inspiration from the flight of the osprey, a bird recently reintroduced to Finch’s native Wales.
Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls
Greystones, Sheffield, 21/9/2017
Nicky Crewe watches Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls play a humorous and acoustic set of Wonder Stuff classics and songs from their new CD, 'We Came Here to Work'.
Brian Wilson
City Hall, Sheffield, 2/8/2017
Nicky Crewe gets nothing but 'Good Vibrations' from Brian Wilson and his amazing band of musicians on this summer’s 'Pet Sounds' tour.
Indigo Girls
Leadmill, Sheffield, 21/7/2017
Nicky Crewe gets to experience the Power of Two with the Indigo Girls and a very special ‘family’ gathering after their long absence from touring the UK.
Live on Mars
City Hall, Sheffield, 4/6/2017
Nicky Crewe at City Hall in Sheffield revisits the life and work of David Bowie’s early career through the amazing stage show that is Live on Mars
Rab Noakes
Greystones, Sheffield, 15/3/2017
Nicky Crewe at the Greystones in Sheffield watches folk legend Rab Noakes play an intimate and distinctive set on what he has named his 70/50 tour, which celebrates him both turning seventy in May and also that it will be fifty years since his first paid gig
Aurelio Martinez
TalkingGigs, The Hubs, Sheffield, 2/2/2017
Nicky Crewe at a TalkingGigs show at The Hubs in Sheffield discovers what it's like to become part of the Garifuna nation, thanks to the wonderful music of its ambassador Aurelio Martinez.
Grahams
Greystones, Sheffield, 22/2/2017
Nicky Crewe is excited by the Grahams' first date of their UK tour. From New York via Nashville, Route 66, American railroads and the Mississippi River, their music makes connections wherever they play
Lewis and Leigh
Cafe 9, Sheffield, 11/2/2017
Nicky Crewe watches rising Americana stars Lewis and Leigh play a magical set at a sold out gig in the tiny Cafe 9 in Sheffield
Robyn Hitchcock
Greystones, Sheffield, 30/10/2016
Nicky Crewe enjoys a fascinating evening with former Soft Boys frontman Robyn Hitchcock at a TalkingGigs show at the Greystones in Sheffield which combined conversation and performance
Albums
Three Kings
Nicky Crewe finds that this double CD compilation of live performances from three of the most influential US blues guitarists. BB King, Albert King and Freddie King, is both a revelation and a reminder of the story of the blues.
The Disappointed Chair
Nicky Crewe examines the not-to-be-missed latest album from Sheffield’s Big Eyes Family, which was first released in the Covid chaos of November 2020.
Guy Clark
Live from San Francisco, 1988
In our 'Re: View' section, in which our writers look back at albums from the past, Nicky Crewe finds that Guy Clark's reissued album, recorded live in San Francisco in 1988, takes you back to a special concert from a singer songwriter whose influence is very much alive today.
Mothmen
Pay Attention!
In our 'Re:View' section, in which our writers look back at albums from the past, Nicky Crewe reflects on Manchester post-punk band the Mothmen's long-lost only album 'Pay Attention', which has just been released on CD for the first time
Features
Comment
Small venues pack a big punch when it comes to supporting live music. They are important for audiences and essential for musicians. Nicky Crewe examines one of the best, Cafe No. 9 in Nether Edge in Sheffield.
Every album, every song
Meticulously researched, the On Track series connects us to the bands we know and love. In ‘Raging Pages’ guest reviewer Nicky Crewe finds this exploration and celebration of the music of Spirit is a reminder of just how innovative and influential they were .
Prince
The Image That Made Me Weep
In our new series 'The Image That Made Me Weep', in which a different one of our writers or photographers will be reflecting on a favourite photograph, Nicky Crewe writes of a photo taken by Melanie Smith of Mudkiss Photography at a small club gig by Prince in Manchester.
Rock Machine
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
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.
Sixties Soul
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
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
David Bowie
Manchester and Exeter, 1972
In 'Gig of a Lifetime' Nicky Crewe looks back on her memories of attending three David Bowie gigs on the 1972 'Ziggy Stardust' tour
Captain Beefheart
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
In 'Ten Songs that Made Me Love...' Nicky Crewe reflects on her favourite songs by Captain Beefheart
Patti Smith
(Gig of a Lifetime) Manchester Academy, September 2012
In 'Gig of a Lifetime' Nicky Crewe writes of attending a Patti Smith concert at the Academy in Manchester in 2012