Reviews
A Song for Me (2022)
Expanded and excellent edition of the eclectic Leicester band Family's 1970 third album
Related
Interviews
Interview
Sarah Cracknell talks to Nick Dent-Robinson about her thirty plus years of fronting synth-pop outfit St. Etienne, family life and their forthcoming appearance at Glastonbury.
Interview
Dwina Gibb talks to Nick Dent-Robinson about her memories of her late husband, The Bee Gees' Robin Gibb,, and a new exhibition of photographs and family memorabilia to commemorate the tenth anniverrsary of his death.
Interview
Legendary singer and songwriter and former Family frontman Roger Chapman talks to Adrian Janes about his long career and his first album in seven years ,'Life in the Pond'
Joanna Connor
Interview
Guitarist Joanna Connor speaks to Lisa Torem about her new Joe Bonamassa-produced album, ‘4801 South Indiana Avenue’, the Chicago club scene and her blueprint for balancing artistic work and family.
Sea and Air
Interview
Malcolm Carter talks to Eleni Zafiriadou and Daniel Benjamin from Greek/German duo Sea and Air about their haunting new album 'Evropi' which tells of a homeless family travelling through Europe
Tom Bridgewater
Interview
Owen Peters talks to Tom Bridgewater, the owner of Europe’s leading Americana label Loose Music, about his label’s lengthy history
Handsome Family
Interview
New Mexico husband-and-wife Americana duo the Handsome Family talk to Richard Lewis at a show in Liverpool about their critically acclaimed latest album 'Wilderness'
Dave Harding
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Richmond Fontaine bassist Dave Harding about his second solo album ‘You Came Through’, his family's recent move to Denmark and Richmond Fontaine’s future
Bad Weather California
Interview
Jamie Rowland chats to Chris Adolf, the front man with Denver-based band bad Weather California about their second album which has just been released on Akron/Family’s Family Tree Records, touring and playing back-up for Daniel Johnston
Akron/Family
Interview
Jamie Rowland speaks to Seth Olinsky from psychedelic folk act Akron/Family, about his group’s Japanese-influenced seventh album, ‘S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT’, and the video films that have been created to accompany each of the tracks on the new album.
Alex Lipinski
Interview
Young London-based singer-songwriter Alex Lipinski talks to Lisa Torem about his family's wide musical background and his just released debut solo album, 'Lonesome Train'
Limetree Festival
Interview with Sean Birdsall
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
Akron/Family
Interview
New York-based experimental folk act Akron Family have recently seen the departure of a founding member and also left their label, Young God. Multi-instrumentalist Seth Olinsky speaks to Sarah Johnson about these changes, which are reflected on the band's new 'Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free' album
Akron/family
Interview
One of the rising bands of the alt. folk scene, Akron/family have recently released their fourth album, 'Love is Simple', on Michael Gira's Young God label to much acclaim. Sarah Johnson speaks to band members Ryan Vanderhoof and Seth Olinsky about it
Akron/Family
Interview
Akron/Family's music combines four-way vocal harmonies, folk, rock and psychedelia. Signed to Michael Gira's Young God label, they have released both their album and a joint record with Gira. Jamie Rowland chats to guitarist Seth Olinsky
Broken Family Band
Interview with Steven J Adams
Since forming three years ago, British alt. country band the Broken Family Band have met with increasing acclaim and attention. Frontman Steven J Adams talks to Emma Haigh about the group's rapid rise and their new album, 'Jesus Songs'
Diana Darby
Interview
Diana Darby's haunting songs tell of child abuse and dysfunctional family relationships. With her second album 'Fantasia Ball' soon out, she talks to John Clarkson about her previous career as a sitcom writer and escaping from her Houston childhood
Magoo
Interview
Soon to play a Pennyblackmusic Bands Night , Magoo are back with a new single and are in the process of recording a new album. Olga Sladeckova talks to founder members Owen Turner and Andrew Rayner about the band's 12 year history
Profiles
Profile
Nick Dent-Robinson previews Blur star Alex James’ annual family festival The Big Feastival, which will include sets from Sigrid, Tom Grennan, Blossoms, Mel C and The Vaccines.
Roger Chapman and the Shortlist
Profile
Adrian Janes finds much to recommend in 'Live at Rockpalast - Markthalle Hamburg 1979' and 'Live at Grughalle Essen 1981', two recently reissued CDs/DVDs of heartfelt rock funk and soul from former Family vocalist Roger Chapman and his group at that time, the Shortlist
DVD-Gong
Live at the Gong Family Unconvention
Over forty years from first forming, Chris O' Toole finds psychedelic rockers Gong remaining a vital and mercurial presence on a live DVD filmed at the three day third Cong Family Unconvention at the Melkweg in Amsterdam
Live
Newton, Nottinghamshire
Returning for the first time since 2019, Dave Goodwin reports from family festival Deerstock.
Lockn' Festival
Infinity Downs Farm, Arrington, Virginia, 24/8/2017...25/8/2017
In perfect weather L. Paul Mann enjoys the first two days of the fifth Virginia-based Lockn' festival which saw sets from jam and improvisational acts such as Umphrey’s McGee, String Cheese Incident, Jim James, Brandi Carlile and the Terrapin Family Band
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.
Watkins Family Hour
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, 6/8/2015
For more than a decade, Sean and Sara Watkins have, under the moniker of the Watkins Family Hour, conducted impromptu jam sessions at The Largo in Los Angeles with special guests. Lisa Torem catches them on tour in Chicago in support of an eponymous new album
Handsome Family
Memorial Hall, Sheffield, 19/3/2105
Nicky Crewe enjoys husband-and-wife duo the Handsome Family's unusual Gothic-tinged Americana a gig at the Memorial Hall in Sheffield
NME Awards Tour
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
Miles Kane, the Family Rain and Mike Hughes
Academy, Manchester, 28/9/2013
Harry Sherriff enjoys sets from Miles Kane and rising Bath blues rockers the Family Rain, but is equally impressed by opening act and little known Sheffield singer-songwriter Mike Hughes at a gig at The Academy in Manchester
Limetree Festival
Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire, 26/8/2011...28/8/2011
Despite difficulties with the weather, Spencer Robertshaw enjoys the family-friendly Limetree Festival in Yorkshire
Chapman Family
Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 15/3/2011
Dixie Ernill watches Stockton-On-Tees band the Chapman Family play a promising and sincere set of post-punk at the Manchester Ruby Lounge
Akron/Family
ICA, London, 20/5/2009
Despite having recently lost founder member Ryan Vanderhoof and now being reduced to a three piece, Sarah Johnson at the London ICA finds New York experimental folk act Akron/Family having lost none of their spontaneity, but also having an increased tightness
Akron/Family
Barrymore's, Ottawa, 26/9/2008
At Barrymore's in Ottawa, Andrew Carver watches psychedelic folk rockers Akron/Family, play, with three extra guitarists on board, an extended, stunning set of head-bending guitar workouts
Sly and the Family Stone
At the lavish Bournemotuh Opera House, Sarah Maybank watches Sly Stone, back on the stage with his Family Stone after many years away, blunder and tantrum his way through a shambolic set
Foo Fighters
Wembley Arena, London, 18/12/2005
The Foo Fighters play shows in which every single member of their audience is inducted into their family. Matt Williams attends one of the best shows of his life at the Wembley Arena in London.
Mountain Goats
Scala, London, 23/11/2005
Family conflict, drunkenness and unrequited love affairs are familar subject matter for indie guitar rockers the Mountain Goats. At a gig at the London Scala, Dan Cressey , however, finds them also to have a riotous sense of humour
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
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"
Broken Family Band/Garlic
100 Club, London, 12/2/2004
At London's 100 Club Olga Sladeckova finds much acclaimed country group the Broken Family Band growing on her with each new song in their set
Albums
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.
Features
Fat White Family
Ten SongsThat Made Me Love...
In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Denzil Watson selects ten songs from the Fat White Family, the band that broke his boredom with new music
Louise Harrison
My Kid Brothers Band: AKA The Beatles
In her book column 'Raging Pages' Lisa Torem examines Louise Harrison's book 'My Kid Brother’s Band a.k.a. The Beatles' which reflects her relationship with her brother, George Harrison and his rise to fame and also sheds light on her family
Competition
Deerstock Festival
In our competition we have two family tickets to give away for this year's Deerstock Festival
Photoscapes
Lady and the Lost Boys 1
Matt Williams photographs alternative rock/shoegazing act Lady and the Lost Boys at a rehearsal at singer Annabel Jones's family home...
Magoo
Can't Get Off the Ground Today/Expansion Ride
Find out about the latest single from forthcoming Pennyblackmusic Bands Night stars, Magoo
Bjork
Family Tree Box Set
One of the world's finest artistes, Bjork has never been anything if not unpredictable. Long term fan Anthony Strutt finds her once again pushing back boundaries with her new box set, 'Family Tree'