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]

09 March 2009: Gold Future Joy Machine - Star, Bethnal Green, London, England, UK

East London is known most, in musical terms at least, for its role in evolving UK dance music in particular its history of british Hip hop, Grime and Ragga. However a new sound is also evolving in Hackney estates below the radar that maybe has as much to do with Grunge guitars as it does the bleeps and glitsches of Beau Grime or Shoreditch Electro.

Gold Future Joy Machine are a sonic wrecking ball five piece that electrified The Star of Bethnal Green last night, and are the undisputed kings and queens of this new sound. Taking to the stage in rugged monochrome their opening song was called "Sons and daughters". It sounded like J-Dilla being torn apart by the entire past and present roster of the sub-pop label. A brilliant opener. Frontman Johnny Kenton's...[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]

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

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

06 October 2007: The Wildhearts - Rock City - Nottingham

An unfeasibly early curfew time of 10pm meant that...more

13 May 2007: The Wildhearts - Town Mill - Mansfield

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

08 December 2006: Northside + The Reason - Academy 2 - Liverpool

Live music is a funny thing. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. And yet a good gig can become a legendary gig with the help of the right...more