11 June 2009: Eastfield + Garden Gang + Paul Carter + Chris Butler - Victoria Inn, Derby, England, UK

It was much later than I had anticipated when I arrived at Derby's Victoria Inn and I was dreading missing the first artist but, a bit of good fortune for me, it was much later than anticipated when Chris Butler appeared on the stage at about 20:30 and consequently I managed to catch all of his set.

Less fortunately, Chris's set had to be cut short to fit all of the acts onto the bill. This meant that we only got four tracks. But, oh, what tracks they were.

Chris is a folk-punk-protest singer and his songs are story-telling...[more]

29 April 2009: The Sizzling Gypsies - The Enterprise, Camden, London, England, UK

Fortunately for the 30-40 foot-tapping music loving audience in the Enterprise last night, 5 males have been drinking gallons of the stuff.

Raucous vocals, drooling riffs and boundless energy were the first impressions I got from The Sizzling Gypsies. Put these traits together with an ability to write and perform huge songs and it seems all the ingredients are in place. Granted, I’ve only known of the band for roughly 48 hours through my friend Kev who has known the members of the band for several years, but having witnessed 30 minutes of material last night it’s easy to get pretty excited....[more]

24 May 2009: The Specials - Millennium Square, Leeds, England, UK

Young and old skankers alike turned out in force on Sunday, to welcome legendary Two Tone ska band The Specials back to Leeds. After a thirty-year absence, Terry Hall marked the Millennium Square leg of the group’s long-awaited reunion tour by apologising for “taking so long to come back”. All was forgiven though, as the diverse congregation of contented cider-infused spectators (save for the few miniature offspring of original ska aficionados) were just thrilled to be present on such a momentous day.

The absence of Jerry Dammers prompted the question of whether relations are quite what they once were in the rude boy camp, however the evening was not sullied by this one exception and the remaining members-Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Neville Staple, Roddy Byers, Horace Panter and John Bradbury-performed as passionately and energetically as they did back in 1976, when they first notably Rocked Against Racism...[more]

28 January 2009: God Is an Astronaut + i concur - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, London, England, UK

It was on a typical Wednesday evening in the big smoke of London town. The usual cold, wet and miserable weather playing havoc with ones hair and make-up. Something was certainly in the air. A mixture of happy excitement and tension. Tension due to finding myself running late to a venue 5 minutes walk from my gaff. Excitement because I was about to go see God is an Astronaut.

After the said 5 minutes walk, wearing some killer boots which I shall incinerate later, I got to the venue:Hoxton Bar and Kitchen. The usual bouncer at the door recognized me at once and we exchanged pleasantries before going into this good old trusted venue which hasn’t changed much since it opened and with all due respect it needs some updating and better lighting. It is after all used by the "happening" crowd who wants to be seen and...[more]

16 November 2008: Scouting For Girls + The Days + Sam Beeton - Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, England, UK

I normally dislike this sort of venue, but was pleasantly surprised by the Trent FM Arena. I wasn't subjected to a full body search on the way in, I wasn't treated like a sheep on the way in or the way out and I wasn't so far from the stage that the artist was the size of a pin head. All in all quite a pleasant surprise really, although I was standing and I don't think I would have liked the seats very much...[more]

08 November 2008: Eastfield + Obnoxious UK + Addictive Philosophy - Victoria Inn, Derby, England, UK

The train to Derby had us all packed in like cattle, which didn’t amuse any of the passengers who’d failed to get a seat. Just one more carriage would’ve made all the difference...[more]

27 September 2008: Levellers + Nick Harper - Royal Albert Hall - London

The Royal Albert Hall is an awe-inspiring place. Not for the...[more]

10 April 2008: James - Assembly Rooms - Derby

Arriving in the venue reception area was like...[more]

08 March 2008: Bloom Festival - Koko - London

The Bloom Festival, taking it's cue from the likes...[more]

06 March 2008: Levellers - Beautiful Nights - Night 1 - Civic Hall - Wolverhampton

Billed variously as Beautiful Nights, by the Levellers...[more]

29 February 2008: Ginger + Eureka Machines - Junktion 7 - Nottingham

The Breakdowns were first on stage but most of...[more]

24 February 2008: Nick Harper -Komedia - Brighton

The stage was waiting with a single microphone and...[more]

03 February 2008: Nick Harper - Academy - Manchester

03 February 2008: Nick Harper - Academy - Manchester

What’s in a name? Well quite a lot if you’re the son...[more]

02 February 2008: Nick Harper - City Varieties Hall - Leeds

Leeds City Varieties hall is a venue of great charm...more

14 December 2007: Drunk In Public - The Palace - Tamworth

Misty evening, Twycross Zoo...more

16 November 2007: Tokyo Dragons - Junktion 7 - Nottingham

So loud…..partially deaf today as a result…more

20 May 2007: Levellers - The Engine Shed - LUSU - Lincoln

Rolling around the Lincoln ring road following my...more

13 May 2007: The Wildhearts - Town Mill - Mansfield

This is billed as the most intimate gig of the tour...more

29 April 2007: Levellers - Winding Wheel - Chesterfield

Contrary to popular opinion, it's a late spring this...more

27 April 2007: Levellers - Warwick Arts Centre

It’s not the first time that I have ventured to the...more