Radical Dance Faction
Helen Tipping enjoys an upbeat set at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge to promote their new album 'Daydream Dystopia' from punk/dub/ska group Radical Dance Faction.
Wave Pictures
Helen Tipping watches acclaimed indie act the Wave Pictures work their magic at a show in Sheffield.
Stanley Brinks and the Wave Pictures
At The Hop in Wakefield Helen Tipping watches former Herman Dune member Stanley Brinks and indie rockers the Wave Pictures play a chaotic but likeable set to promote their new joint album 'Gin'
History of Apple Pie
Helen Tipping finds young London-based band the History of Apple Pie's mix of indie pop and shoegaze to be enormously promising, despite sound problems, at a show at the Cockpit in Leeds on their first headline UK tour
Miscellaneous
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
Miscellaneous
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
Miscellaneous
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
March Violets
At a show in their hometown of Leeds, Helen Tipping watches 1980's Gothic-band the March Violets play a show which incorporates newer influences including dance music
Darren Hayman
Helen Tipping enjoys a night of acoustic rock and razor sharp humour from former Hefner front man Darren Hayman at a solo show at the Brudenell in Leeds
Herman Dune
Helen Tipping finds French alt. country duo Herman Dune to be funny and witty, but loses out to the heat at a gig in the oppressive atmosphere of the XOYO in London
Esben and the Witch
Despite its sauna-like conditions, Helen Tipping at the XOYO in London finds young Brighton-based band Esben and the Witch's haunting atmospherics to be totally compelling
Swans
Helen Tipping is disappointed to find reformed American post-punk act Swans having devlooped a prog rock sound in their fourteen year absence in a show at the Academy in Manchester
3 Daft Monkeys
At a somewhat shambolic gig at the Trades Hall in Hebden Bridge, Helen Tipping sees 3 Daft Monkeys rise above the occasion and play a set of stunning folk dance
Peter Murphy
Helen Tipping sees former Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy put on a performance of equal brilliance and disaster at a show the Corporation in Sheffield
Wooden Shjips
Helen Tipping watches American garage act Wooden Shjips play a 60's and 70's prog/psychedelic-influenced set inf front of an ecstatic and packed audience at the Leeds Brudenell
New Model Army
At two shows in Leeds and Liverpool, Helen Tipping watches New Model Army play two very different shows and at the latter show to start to put in early preparation for their next and what will be their 30th anniversary tour
Brakes
On the last night of a four date mini tour to promote a new album, Helen Tipping watches Brighton-based rockers Brakes play a good-humoured and exuberant set
She Keeps Bees
At the Puzzle Hall in Sowerby Bridge , Helen Tipping is impressed by both Brooklyn-based bluesy indie rock duo She Keeps Bees' enthusiasm as well as talent at a show on their first UK tour
Future of the Left
At the Academy 3 in Manchester, Helen Tipping is impressed as much by Cardiff indie guitar trio Future of the Left's banter and wit as by their energetic songs
Howling Bells
Helen Tipping finds Australian indie rockers Howling Bells, in Manchester as part of a British tour to promote their second album 'Radio Wars', lacking the edginess of their past
Levellers
Despite playing to a drunken, ugly crowd,Helen Tipping finds the Levellers to be on fine form and returning to their political folk-punk roots with their latest material at a show at the Leeds Academy on their latest tour
Jeffrey Lewis
Helen Tipping is riveted by American singer-songwriter and artist Jeffrey Lweis's blend of Crass covers, politics and comic book stories at a show at the Brudenell in Leeds
National
Helen Tipping is impressed by both the accessibility and stateliness of Americana band the National's unique brand of indie rock at a show at the Metropolitan University in Leeds
Iliketrains
At a homecoming gig at the end of a troubled European tour, Helen Tipping watches melancholic post-rockers iLiKETRAiNs play an intense and at points surprising set at the Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Oh Sees
Helen Tipping finds former Coachwhips' front man John Dwyer's new band Thee Oh Sees' blend of quirky rockabilly and 60's psychedelia infectious at the Deaf Institute in Manchester
We Are Scientists
With their off-beat humour, stage banter and anthemic dance tunes, Helen Tipping asks why hardworking American band We Are Scientists still aren't better known after watching them play an enthralling set at the Academy in Manchester
Levellers
At the Manchester date of their recent 'Beautiful Nights' tour to celebrate their 20 years togethers, Helen Tipping finds that, despite a heavy-handed security, the Levellers have lost none of their passion or ability to put on a fiery show
Stars
At the Academy in Manchester, Helen Tipping watches eccentric Montreal-based band Stars play an energetic and fun-filled set
Sons And Daughters
Helen Tipping is won over by both Glaswegian group Sons and Daughters' dark subject matter and on-stage wit at a back-to-bacics gig at the Cockpit in Leeds
Iliketrains
On a tour to promote their new album 'Elegies to Lessons Learnt', Helen Tpping at the Academy 3 in Manchester finds brooding Leeds post-rock act iLiKETRAiNS' confidence and music to have grown considerably since she first saw them two years ago
Miscellaneous
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
Stations
West Yorkshire-based band the Stations are gaining increasing popularity. With people having to stand outside and listen through the doorway, Helen Tipping is impressed by their fast apced indie music at a local gig at the Puzzle Hall Inn in Sowerby Bridge
Stuffy/The Fuses
At the Carpe Diem in Leeds, Helen Tipping finds Stuffy/The Fuses' unique form of witty indie-rock music very appealing
Ripps
In the unsalubrious environment of the Castle in Oldham, and despite having to deal with an obnoxisus audience, Helen Tipping sees Coventry-based punk ska band the Ripps play a surprisingly tight and energetic set
Wedding Present
In the unusual venue of the Holmfirth Picturedrome, Helen Tipping enjoys an impressive mixture of old and new songs from the reformed Wedding Present
Seth Lakeman
Seth Lakeman has attracted a large female following because of his good looks, but at the Manchester Academy Helen Tipping finds him playing a lively and lyrical set, and a much deserved winner of the recent Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year award
Viarosa
In a show at the Night and Day in Manchester Helen Tipping finds forthcoming Pennyblackmusic Bands Night headliners Viarosa's unique brand of dark alt. country an encapsulating experience
Hey Negrita
The support band to an acoustic Alabama 3 on their latest tour, Helen Tipping watches Hey Negrita's darkly humorous brand of alt. country have an infectious effect on the audience at the Manchester Academy
Howling Bells
Back to see Australian indie rockers Howling Bells for the second time in a space of months, Helen Tipping finds their sound more professional, but wasted on a noisy and unresponsive Saturday night crowd at the Manchester Club Academy
Devendra Banhart
In the over hot atmosphere of Manchester's Academy 2, Helen Tipping enjoys watching off the wall folk artist Devendra Banhart play a relaxed and laid back set
Miscellaneous
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
Miscellaneous
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
Miscellaneous
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
Miscellaneous
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
Hundred Reasons
Helen Tipping is impressed by Hundred Reasons' energetic performance and show at the Manchester date on their recent tour
Miscellaneous
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
Miscellaneous
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
7 Months
Queen Adreena is the latest project of former Daisy Chainsaw stars Katie Jane Garside and Crispin Gray. In the cramped surroundings of Sheffield's The Room, Helen Tipping finds that they have lost little of their ferocious edge
Misterlee
Despite a sparse audience at new and under-promoted venue the Sheffield Washington, Helen Tipping watches Misterlee, "one of the UK's more unusual band, rise to the occasion and put on an empassioned performance
Flogging Molly
Irish/American act Flogging Molly's muic owes a lot to traditional irish music. Helen Tipping watches them play an uplifting and lively set to a packed audience in Sheffield
House Of Love
Helen Tipping rolls back time with the reformed House of Love who returned to the Sheffield Leadmill in April after an absence of 16 years
Bouncing Souls
At a support date in Leeds to the Dropkick Murphys. Helen Tipping watches the Bouncing Souls play their fast and furious brand of punk and a crowd-pleasing set to an appreciative audience
Miscellaneous
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