Tamsin Elliott
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.
Weeping Willows
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.
Rhiannon Scutt
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.
Miscellaneous
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
Nicky Crewe caught a magical evening in Sheffield as Alasdair Roberts performed solo to promote his latest album, 'The Fiery Margin'.
Alex Rex
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Souad Massi
Nicky Crewe reviews Algerian singer-songwriter Souad Massi at her Talking Gig in Sheffield's Merlin Theatre.
Silver Apples
Nicky Crewe watches Silver Apples, the project of electronica veteran Simeon Coxe, play a stunning set in front of a transfixed crowd at The Picture House Social in Sheffield
Lucinda Williams
Nicky Crewe watches singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams play a stunning set at The Plug in Sheffield
Wild Ponies
Nicky Crewe enjoys an intimate set from Nashville-based husband-and-wife Americana duo Wild Ponies at the Greystones in Sheffield
Graham Nash
Nicky Crewe sees Graham Nash delight his fans at a wonderful homecoming concert at the Albert Hall in Manchester
Electric 50 Bob Dylan at the Free Trade Hall Judas Redux
Nicky Crewe enjoys a fantastic charity fundraising concert at Manchester Academy which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s infamous Judas Free Trade Hall concert in which he first played an electric set in the UK in 1966
John Cooper Clarke
Nicky Crewe watches John Cooper Clarke perform an exuberant set of punk poetry at Bakewell Town Hall
Songhoy Blues
Nicky Crewe learns more about the history and culture of Mali, where the power and message of protest music is taken to a new level, when watching Songhoy Blues play a gig in Sheffield
Sam Sweeney's Fiddle
Nicky Crewe attends at the Pavilion in Buxton the last night of a very moving tour from Sam Sweeney’s Fiddle, which breathes life into the story of one man and his violin
Handsome Family
Nicky Crewe enjoys husband-and-wife duo the Handsome Family's unusual Gothic-tinged Americana a gig at the Memorial Hall in Sheffield
Levellers
Nicky Crewe enjoys an unusual evening from the Levellers at the Buxton Opera House in London at which they show their new documentary 'A Curious Life' and then follow this with an acoustic set
Brit Floyd
Nicky Crewe is impressed by Pink Floyd tribute band Brit Floyd's technical and musical brilliance, but is unconvinced by a show at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on their latest Discovery tour
Olof Arnalds
Nicky Crewe watches Icelandic singer-songwriter Ólöf Arnalds play an enchanting set in the Cornerstone in Manchester
Vashti Bunyan
Nicky Crewe watches 60's singer-songwriter Vashti Bunyan play an atmospheric and enthralling set at St Philip's Church in Manchester
John Mayall
Nicky Crewe find nearly eighty-one year old blues legend John Mayall performing very much in the present at a memorable gig at the Opera House in Buxton
Richard Thompson
Nicky Crewe watches Richard Thompson play a stunning acoustic solo show over a Bank Holiday weekend in the intimate and theatrical setting of the Opera House in Buxton
Vena Portae
At the Castle Hotel in Manchester, Nicky Crewe watches alternative folk group Vena Portae, which includes much acclaimed singer-songwriter Emily Barker, play a fine and intimate set
Doors Alive
Nicky Crewe watches tribute band the Doors Alive play a compelling show at the Lowry Theatre and reflects upon the boundaries of imitation
Janelle Monae
Nicky Crewe watches soul/funk artist Janelle Monae play a magnetic show at the Academy in Manchester
Albert Hammond
At the Memorial Hall in Sheffield, Nicky Crewe watches musician and producer Albert Hammond play a revelatory set from across his fifty year songwriting career
Shonen Knife
Nicky Crewe misses most of Shonen Knife's gig at the Ruby Lounge in Manchester due to their late stage arrival, but feels that it was better to have seen some of the Tokyo all girl punk trio's set rather than nothing at all
Goldfrapp
Nicky Crewe watches Goldfrapp play an extraordinary and gripping show at the Lowry in Manchester
Bird to Beast
Nicky Crewe finds local duo Bird to Beast to be both genre-spanning and original in a show at Gullivers in Manchester