Sleaford Mods, Leeds Irish Centre, September 28th (LIVE REVIEW)

Barely 4 months since Sleaford Mods' last Leeds gig, (a memorable hoedown at the Brudenell in case you were wondering), the ever increasingly visible pair of Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn have managed to step up another rung on the live circuit ladder. It seems they’ve absorbed their way into a certain section of the nation’s consciousness, helped in no small part by a clutch of summer TV appearances, the crowd-funded state of the nation documentary ‘Invisible Britain’ not forgetting a couple of key musical collaborations with natural bedfellows Leftfield and The Prodigy. Recent new album ‘Key Markets’ even managed to grace the i-tunes download charts for one heady week in July, as the veritable anti-zeitgeist gathers pace.

Mercury Rev 'The Light In You' (ALBUM REVIEW)

It’s almost two decades since Mercury Rev bewitched and beguiled a largely unsuspecting public with the critically acclaimed ‘Deserter’s Songs’. That fine album probably also saved them from impending oblivion, the resulting trio of hit singles putting the similarly surprised band squarely in the limelight as the new millennium dawned. Those heady days have long since passed with fans reduced to waiting patiently for the past seven years, no new material emerging since 2008’s Snowflake Midnight.

Menace Beach 'Super Transporterreum' (EP REVIEW)

Following on from the success of their debut album Ratworld and the subsequent critical acclaim still ringing in their ears, Menace Beach release their latest EP Super Transporterreum. Ratworld was thoroughly impressive and just a few months down the line this 5 track offering carries on in the same rich vein of form.

Jacuzzi Boys 'Happy Damage' (EP REVIEW)

JacuzziBoys have kicked down the door again with new release Happy Damage, and in doing so set a prime example of what the title of their latest EP (probably) means. And if ‘happy damage’ also involves swinging from the light fitting while splintering the coffee table with your battered Converse-clad feet, scattering the yellowing pages of an NME interview with an introverted electro-indie-singer-songwriter onto a beer-soaked carpet while bawling along to joyful garage-punk thrash then it lives up to its moniker almost too well.

Dope Body + Blacklisters - Fulford Arms, York, September 11th 2015 (live review)

I'm not going to deny it, I absolutely bloody love Blacklisters. I've been battered about the ears by their slabs of inventive noise-rock more times than I recall and still I keep going back for more. They picked up a batton I thought was dropped and gone forever when early nineties alternative music became a distant memory of mine.  This low-key little gig in Fulford near York is very much an insight into a new chapter of theirs though. A set entirely consisting of new songs from forthcoming album 'Adult', barring the anthemic 'Trick Fuck' from their debut.

Bingley Music Live - September 4th, 5th & 6th, 2015

It’s the first Sunday afternoon in September, the sun has been shining all weekend and I’m watching a storming live version of Britain’s all-time favourite twelve-inch 'Blue Monday', (thankfully still technically seven hours away), with one original performer included, at a pretty Yorkshire riverside setting with 15,000 like-minded individuals. If that’s not a sufficiently ringing endorsement of Bingley Music Live then I don’t know what is.   

Paul Smith & The Intimations 'Contradictions' (album review). Plus Interview

Full disclosure; Maximo Park are one of my favourite bands. Since my first encounter with them in a sweaty north-east club, there are few memories that aren't intertwined with their ear for a melody and deceptively complex lyrics. They've soundtracked heartaches, adventures, falling in love; sometimes all at the same time. I once took off for an ill advised jaunt leaving a note reading only  ''I'm going missing for a while (please feed the dog)'' (2005 was an odd year). So, it is with trepidation that I attempt an objective review of this, singer Paul Smith's second solo effort.

LEEDS INTERNATIONAL BEER FESTIVAL 2015

I'm sat on the steps of Leeds' stunning Town Hall in some warm September sunshine with a glass of chilled, golden beer in hand, and I'm not alone. Hundreds of people are doing and have done the very same over this amazing 4-day festival of craft beer. Below, I can see where the various tantalising smells of food of the various vendors are coming from, as well as the marquee which is housing some of the UK brewers and there respective drinks. Behind me, a constant conveyor belt of happy, smiling people holding a half or a pint of something, enter and exit the town hall. Lets dip inside...

Triptick (IV) Three Studies Of Beers (Canned Edition)

Now the weather is getting warmer, its time to make the most of the brief patches of northern sun we get… so bring on the BBQ’s and of course, the beers.Canned beer is the perfect choice here, they chill down quickly, they're easy to transport, no need for a glass, and with the recent explosion of canned beer scene, there’s no reason to skimp on quality.