Press Club
Ben Howarth at the New Cross Inn in London enjoys an emotionally intense set to promote their second album 'Wasted Energy' from rising Melbourne punk band Press Club.
Ash
Ben Howarth winds back the years to the mid-1990s as he watches Ash play a Greatest Hits set at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London
Craig Finn
Ben Howarth watches Craig Finn, more used to playing with a booming rock band behind him, perform an intimate solo set in front of an enthralled crowd in the basement room of London’s Slaughtered Lamb pub
Nils Lofgren
Ben Howarth watches E Street Band multi-instrumentalist Nils Lofgren play a magical masterclass from his extraordinary back catalogue of own material at the Union Chapel in London
Rotifer
In the second of two showcases from record label and collective Gare du Nord, Ben Howarth at the Servant Jazz Quarters in London enjoys sets from indie trio Rotifer, rediscovered 70's singer-songwriter John Howard and Austrian singer-songwriter Mel Mayr who was playing her first British gig
Joel Gion
Ben Howarth watches Brian Jonestown Massacre member Joel Gion play an erratic set at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen in London
Dodgy
Ben Howarth watches reformed 90's pop outfit Dodgy play a exuberant Halloween show in the unusual location of Under the Bridge in London
Arbouretum
Ben Howarth enjoys Baltimore trio Arbouretum's mix of country, blues and psychedelica at a gig at the Corsica Studios in London
Lambchop
Ben Howarth enjoys Lambchop's familiar, yet subtle-sounding brand of country porch songs at a show at the Barbican in London
Roddy Woomble
Ben Howarth finds Idlewild singer and now solo artist Roddy Woomble embracing the sounds of traditional British folk music and also paying tribute to his old group in a show at the Scala in London
Gomez
Mercury Music Prize winners Gomez have always been more out than in fashion, but Ben Howarth watches them play a near perfect set to promote their new album 'Whatever's On Your Mind' at the Roundhouse in London
Ani Di Franco
At Shepherd's Bush Empire, Ben Howarth enjoys a night of spiky politics and first rate songwriting from the still critically underacknowledged Ani DiFranco
Anais Mitchell
Ben Howarth at the Union Chapel in London watches American singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell, with an extensive set of guest musicians including both Thea Gilmore and Jackie Leven, reenact her concept album, 'Hadestown', to standing ovation and hypnotic effect
Darren Hayman
Despite the former Hefner frontman's claim that he had gone off playing gigs after being attacked in the street after a show in Nottingham earlier this year, Ben Howarth watches Darren Hayman play five very different shows over a month in his native London
Anais Mitchell
On the first night of a three night residency, Ben Howarth watches Anais Mitchell play a triumphant set to promote her much acclaimed 'Hadestown' at the 12 Bar Club in Londdon
Villagers
At the Deaf Institute in Manchester at a show to promote their just released debut album, Dixie Ernill is thrilled by Irish five-piece Villagers' unassuming, but quietly confident and delightful pop rock
Anais Mitchell
At the London Luminaire Ben Howarth sees Anais Mitchell and her label mate at Ana di Franco's Righteous Babe label Erin McKeown play an exuberant acoustic set to promote Mitcherll's forthcoming folk opera, 'Hadestown'
Idlewild
Ben Howarth watches Scottish rockers Idlewild play a set of both their better known songs and rarities a sold out show at the Electric Ballroon in London
Willard Grant Conspiracy
In an evening fraught with difficulties and distractions, Ben Howarth at the Garage in London watches Robert Fisher's Willard Grant Conspiracy, against the odds and a heavily reduced stage time, play a riveting and forceful set
Miscellaneous
The Field Day is one-day music festival band for indie groups who wouldn't quite fit on the bill at Glastonbury or Reading. Ben Howarth watches sets among others from Fanfarlo, the Temper Trap, Juana Molina and Four Tet, but finds Malian musician, Toumani Diabate, having the greatest personal impact
Miscellaneous
Despite main act the Leisure Society having their stage time drastically cut, Ben Howarth finds much to be impressed about at a showcase evening at which the rising Wilkommen Records presented all its current roster of acts at the beautiful Union Chapel venue in London
Yo La Tengo
Ben Howarth enjoys a rare stripped down and acoustic set of music from much acclaimed American group Yo La Tengo at a Meltdown Festival gig at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London
Bob Dylan
Ben Howarth watches Bob Dylan at his latest London date play a beautiful and against-the-odds sensitive set against the vast backdrop and surroundings of the O2 Arena
Easy Star All Stars
Reggae act Easy Star All Stars play covers of songs by bands such as the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Radiohead. Ben Howarth enjoys their show at the London KOKO, but finds it marred by some ramshackle and over-the-top encores
Idiot Son
At the Slaughtered Lamb in London, Ben Howarth enjoys intimate local group Idiot Son's first gig since a Pennyblackmusic Bands Night two years ago, but wishes that they would play together a little more often
Penelope Sulla Luna
At a press only showcase gig and in what was her British debut, Ben Howarth finds the gothic indie of Soap and Skin, the moniker for 18 year old Vienna-based pianist and singer Anja Plaschg, totally compelling
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova recently won an Oscar for 'Falling Slowly', the lead song off 'Once', the film they starred in, and 'The Swell Season', the album that accompanied it. At a one-off show at the London Barbican, Ben Howarth watches the real-lige couple play a riveting and exceptional s
Willard Grant Conspiracy
At the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, Ben Howarth watches a twelve-piece, multi-national version of Robert Fisher's ever revolving collective the Willard Grant Conspiracy, out on the road to promote their new 'Pilgrim Road' album, play a spellbinding set
Angus and Julia Stone
Australian brother and sister duo Angus and Julia Stone have been attracting a rising audience with their blissful, intricate folk-pop. Ben Howarth watches them play a set of effortless and melodic charm at the Scala in London
Jackie Leven
At the tiny Green Cafe in London, Ben Howarth sees former Doll by Doll front man and still under-rated singer-songwriter Jackie Leven play an intimate, but typically charismatic set
Darren Hayman
With fine support from the Wave Pictures and his former Hefner bandmate Jack Hayter, Ben Howarth Darren Hayman play a powerful set of both old and new songs at the Luminaire in London
Mum
Often see as a poor cousin to Sigur Ros, Ben Howarth finds Icelandic group Mum increasingly ambitious and watches them play a surprisingly aggressive set at a captivating set at the Scala In London
Darren Hayman
At a gig to promote his just released second album, Ben Howarth watches ex-Hefner frontman Darren Hayman play an impressive collection of old and new songs at the London Luminaire
Kelman
At a show at the Albany in London organised by the Uptight club, Ben Howarth watches one-time Pennyblackmusic Bands Night stars Kelman and Joe Gideon and the Shark play high quality sets
Miscellaneous
Based near the small Belgian town of Dour, the Dour festival is an annual four day festival. Ben Howarth sees performances from the likes of Sean Lennon, Bright Eyes, the Frames, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Wilco
Bob Dylan
At the Wembley Arena in London, Ben Howarth watches Bob Dylan play with excellent effect a by now typically random and unpeedictable set
Frames
Little known outside their native Ireland where they are enormous, Ben Howarth watches the Frames play an anthemic and emotional set at the Scala in London
Nina Nastasia
American folk singer songwriter Nina Nastasia's fans have included John Peel. Ben Howarth watches her play an enjoyably dignified and old fashioned set at the Forum in London
Gomez
In what has been a triumphant year for Gomez, Ben Howarth finds them in a jubilant mood at an end of the year show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London
Divine Comedy
At the recently reopened Roundhouse in London, Ben Howarth watches the Divine Comedy play a celebratory set to a fanatical audience
Laura Veirs
On her second visit to the UK this year, Ben Howarth watches Laura Veirs and her band the Tortured Souls play a sensational set at Dingwalls in London
Bob Dylan
At his second Bob Dylan show in the spcae of a year, Benjamin Howarth watches the veteran rock blast through a crowd-pleasing, but fiery set at the Bournemouth International Centre
Richard Ashcroft
Often critically maligned in recent years, former Verve frontman recently returned with his third solo album 'Keys to the World'. Benjamin Howarth finds him on belligerent form at a stunning show at Exeter University
Bob Dylan
At a gig at the Brixton Academy in London, Ben Howarth watches Bob Dylan play a passionate set which, far from sticking to nostalgia, reveals several real surprises
Miscellaneous
At Exeter's Lemon Grove, a cynical Ben Howarth watches singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright play a 2 hour set, but finds it defying all expectations and comes away completely converted
Rock Four
Bloc Party have as many detractors as they do admirers, but in Exeter University's Great Hall Ben Howarth watches them defy their critics and pitch a perfect set appealing to all levels of fans from casual Top 40 listeners to indie geeks
Jesus And Mary Chain
Jim Reid was one of the seminal figures of the late 80's and early 90's as the frontman with the Jesus and Mary Chain. At a disastrous show at the Exeter Cavern, Ben Howarth watches hin fall prey to an unresponsive audience
Holly Golightly
At the Exeter Cavern Ben Howarth watches 50's and 60's influenced garage rocker Holly Golighty play an impressive set, but become upstaged by support act newcomer Rose Kemp
Miscellaneous
The latest All Tomorrow's Parties Festival was headlined by seminal post rockers Slint playing their first gig in over a decade. Ben Howarth watches them play a delightful show, and also enjoys sets from the Melvins, Mum and Mogwai
Miscellaneous
Benjamin Howarth finds London hip-hop rapper Rahzel making a very bad personal impression as a person,yet also proving himself to be a unique perfomer at a gig in the Lemon Grove at Exeter University
Electrelane
One of Britain’s best bands, Electrelane released an excellent second album, 'The Power Out', earlier this year. Ben Howarth at Exeter Caern Club finds that it is on stage that the all-girl group "really come alive"
Spiritualized
At his third Spiritualized show in two years, Ben Howarth discovers that the band's hard touring schedule has pushed them towards new boundaries
Bob Dylan
Stopping off to play a date at London Wembley Arena on his Never Ending Tour, Ben Howarth watches Bob Dylan prove himself to be, regardless of what he already achieved, far from anostalgia act. but "an artist that is still challenging himself" now
Miscellaneous
Back for a second year to the Reading Festival, Ben Howarth over the course of it first two days takes in such varied sights as Bowling for Soup, Mull Historical Society, Polyphonic Spree, the Ataris and Blur...
Miscellaneous
...while on the third and final day he watches sets by the All American Rejects, Primal Scream, Sum 41, Grandaddy and Metallica
Mclusky
Both Mclusky and Jarcrew are part of a seemingly emerging new scene which combines a sense of the ridculous with the twin influences of US art rock and old school indie. Ben Howarth come away from the Exeter Cavern highly impressed