Interviews
Interview (2015)
Dixie Ernill speaks to Liz Hunt, the front woman with 60's-influenced indie pop band The School about their forthcoming third album, ‘Wasting Away and Wondering', influences and the current indie pop scene
Interview (2012)
Anthony Strutt speaks to Liz Hunt, the vocalist and keyboardist with eight-piece Cardiff-based indie pop group the School, about her previous band the Loves and fronting such an extensive line-up
Live
Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 27/5/2012
Cardiff-based band the School give a lesson in twee-pop. Dixie Ernill is keen for a double lesson
Reviews
Wasting Away and Wondering (2015)
Initially confusing but quickly compulsive third album from Cardiff-based indie pop band, the School
When I Fall in Love (2014)
First-rate 60's girl group-influenced new vinyl single from eight-piece Cardiff-based group, the School
Reading Too Much Into Things Like Everything (2012)
Sublime 60's-influenced twee pop on second album from eight-piece Cardiff-based band, the School
All I Wanna Do (2008)
Fantastic twee pop on debut single from new Welsh eight piece the School, which features members of the Loves and the Boy Least Likely To
Related
Pixie Lott
Interview
Pixie Lott talks to Nick Dent-Robinson about going on 'Strictly Come Dancing', her theatre school upbringing and her increasingly risqué image
Gogol Bordello
Interview with Eugene Hutz
Denzil Watson speaks to Eugene Hutz, the frontman with Gogol Bordello, about his group's theatrical stage shows and their forthcoming European Winter tour
Dum Dum Girls
Interview
Los Angeles all girl band the Dum Dum Girls combine 60's vocal harmonies with an old school garage punk sound. Aaron Brown speaks to singer Dee Dee at a gig in Manchester about their debut album, 'I Will Be'
David Pajo
Interview
One time Slint guitarist, David Pajo has since gone on to play with artists such as Tortoise and Will Oldham, had instrumental projects and currently plays with Dead Child, an old school heavy metal band. He speaks to Mark Rowland about the many different strands of his career
Loves
Interview
Simon Love, the front man with bubblegum punks the Loves, has hired and fired nearly 30 musicians since forming the Loves in his parents' garage in 2000. Sarah Maybank speaks to him about this and his group's much acclaimed second album the Loves
Go ! Team
Interview with Ian Parton
The Go ! Team's mix of old school hip-hop, soul and funk, Sonic Youth style guitars and cheerleader samples have drawn them increasingly big audiences over the last year. The band's songwriter and leader Ian Parton speaks to Mark Rowland
Film School
Interview
Californian indie rockers Film School have recently signed to Beggar's Banquet. With an album on its way in January, Anthony Strutt chats to frontman Krayg Burton about the group's British influences and development since first forming in 1998
Inspiral Carpets
Interview with Tom Hingley
One of the most famous of all the Madchester groups , the Inspiral Carpets have recently reformed and have a new box set out and have just toured. Frontman Tom Hingley talks to Anthony Strutt about the group's history
Monochrome Set
Interview
Eclectic and enigmatic, the UK's Monochrome Set have been the focus of many legends and myths. Tommy Gunnarsson speaks to its ironic and teasing frontman Bid about the group's twenty year history
Loves
Interview
One of the rising stars of the Track and Field label, Cardiff's the Loves have recently released their second single 'Just Like Bobby D'. Gary Wollen is enraptured with their cool reckless charm and personable optimism
Baxendale
Interview
Baxendale are the reason why I was late to school for most of last year. Y’see some have deigned to suggest that I’m a little psychopathic in the mornings (I know, I know, you can’t believe it of me either…) but I found that bouncing around my bedroom at
Profile
Godfathers
Andrew Carver reflects upon South London punk/rock 'n' roll band the Godfathers first two major label releases, 1988's 'Birth, School, Work, Death' and 1989's 'More Songs about Love and Hate', which have both recently been reissued
Live
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 23/6/2023
Peter Asher: A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond’ returns to Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music with Asher plus partner folk artist Jeremy Clyde, formerly of Chad and Jeremy. Lisa Torem reviews.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 11/6/2023
r: Lisa Torem admires French pianist Riopy’s passionate performance at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 30/4/2023
Lisa Torem finds that Graham Nash’s 'Sixty Years of Songs and Stories' makes for a festive and educational night at a sold-out gig at Chicago’s iconic Old Town School of Folk Music.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 7/5/2023
Lisa Torem watches dobro player Rob Ickes and guitarist Trey Hensley play an exceptional set of bluegrass in support of Rodney Crowell at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 1/7/2022
After a two-year lockdown, The Zombies rose above adversity to tour and celebrate their 2019 Hall of Fame induction. Lisa Torem at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago enjoys both the classics and new tunes.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 14/5.2002
Lisa Torem at the Old School Town of Folk Music watches singer-songwriter Janis Ian sing highlights from her new album The Light at the End of the Line’ but also drew from seasoned hits on her final tour.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 1/5/2022
Lisa Torem enjoys Suzanne Vega's much-awaited set at Chicago's Old Town School. which includes hits and selections from her one-woman show about novelist Carson McCullers.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 21/4/2022
Lisa Torem at the Old Town School of Folk Music enjoys the Chicago show of Robyn Hitchcock’s long-awaited North American tour.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 22/4/2022
Lisa Torem watches James McMurtry return to Chicago’s Old Town School and drew from an assortment of albums, including gems from his latest album ‘The Horses and the Hounds'.
Great British Venue and Beyond
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.
Chick Corea With Bela Fleck
Old Town School of Folk Music, 3/5/2019
Lisa Torem watches East Coast musicians jazz/fusion pianist Chick Corea and banjo player extraordinaire Bela Fleck trade impressive licks at Chicago’s Old Town School before a packed house.
Monochrome Set
(with the Hepburns and Karen), Thunderbolt, Bristol, 17/3/2018
Dixie Ernill watches the Monochrome Set and Karen bookend a fine evening of skewed indie on a wintry night in Bristol.
Philip Glass
Old Town School of Folk Music, 3/11/2016
Lisa Torem watches American composer Philip Glass perform an eloquent solo show at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music
Jayhawks
Art School, Glasgow, 1/9/2016
Tony Gaughan watches alternative country outfit the Jayhawks play a fine set of songs pre-picked by fans at the Art School in Glasgow
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 6/2/2016
Lisa Torem watches South African ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform a spectacular A Cappella concert at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music.
Rickie Lee Jones
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 17/11/2015
Lisa Torem finds Rickie Lee Jones' News Orleans-inspired songwriting to be shining when she returns to the Old Town School of Folk Music in her birth city of Chicago with a new line-up in support of her recent fan-funded release, 'The Other Side of Desire'
Indietracks
Midland Railway Centre, Butterley, Derbyshire, 24/7/2015
Dixie Ernill is impressed by the first night of the Indietracks Festival which saw sets from Cinerama, the School and Fever Dream
Patti Smith
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 3/4/2015
Lisa Torem at Chicago's Old Town School watches Patti Smith celebrate spring through readings of original and classic poetry and an assortment of her greatest hits
James Atkin
Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 20/3/2015
Billy Goodwin watches James Atkin, the former front man with EMF, play an exuberant comeback gig to promote his new solo album, A Country Mile’
Olivia Chaney
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 12/2/2015
Lisa Torem watches British singer-songwriter and pianist Olivia Chaney play a grippingly initmate set at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago
Albums
Monochrome Set
The Lost Weekend
In our 'Re:View' section, in which we look back at albums from the past, Tommy Gunnarsson listens to 'The Lost Weekend', the Monochrome Set's 1985 would-be chart-topper, and also their last album during their first period as a band, which has just been re-released on CD
Faith No More
Angel Dust
Jeff Thiessen reflects on San Francisco-based experimetnal rock band Faith No More's 1992 fourth album, 'Angel Dust'
Pavement
Brighten the Corners
Jamie Rowland examines influential indie rock outfit Pavement's 1997 fourth album, 'Brighten the Corners', which has just been re-released in a new double CD edition
Re : view-Faith No More
King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime
Aaron Brown reexamines Fairth No More's much misunderstood and underacknowledged 1995 album, 'King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime'
Features
Pavement
All Tomorrow’s Parties, Minehead, June 2010
Mark Rowland relives his favourite gig of all time, a long-awaited chance to see Pavement at their curated All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in Minehead
Photoscapes
Gogol Bordello
In the latest in our new photographic series, Anna Gudaniec photographs New York /Ukranian gypsy punks Gogol Bordello at a recent show at the Astoria in London
Inspiral Carpets
Cool as...
The reformed Inspiral Carpets recently toured Britain, and also have an excellent new box set 'Cool as...' out soon . Anthony Strutt reflects back on their history, and profiles this new retrospective