Pup (+Goo + Illuminati Hotties) - The Marble Factory, Bristol - 13/05/2025 (LIVE REVIEW)

Depressing lyrics and utter euphoria combined in a celebration of the underdog at Bristol’s Marble Factory, which hosted Canadian punk-rockers PUP and their frankly dazzling support acts as part of its extended swansong.

boygenius ‘the record’ (album review)

“Supergroup” feels like one of the most loaded terms in music. It’s a statement of fact, but one which carries a potent subtext of inevitable creative differences and clashing egos, underwhelming output and bitter recriminations – in a word, disharmony. But boygenius, the collaboration between Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, is the very definition of harmony and respect, a united front against the concept of “women with guitars” as a genre. 

Killing Joke - Leeds 02 Academy, April 8th 2022 (LIVE REVIEW)

Unlike many contemporaries, the supremely influential Killing Joke can still boast their original line-up as a draw to paying punters. With these guys we’re not talking one or two founder members fleshed out with a bunch of Kens. 

Long Divison Festival - Wakefield , June1st 2019

One minute I’m at a music festival, the next I’m in a parallel universe watching an overbearing comedian clad in dungarees is singing about the dangers of texting unsolicited pictures of your bits, like I’m watching some kids’ PSHE educational show in the near future yet laughing so much I nearly bought a round. This is thanks to supremely gifted musical comedian Vikki Stone, a hilarious act at this year’s Long Division festival, the increased comedy featured proof the organisers are not content with standing still. 

Live At Leeds 2019 – May 4th , Various Citywide Venues (FESTIVAL REVIEW)

Casting a glance across UK festival line-ups these days can be somewhat dispiriting; increasingly fatigued rosters desperately in need of injections of vibrant new talent not coming through in anything like the numbers these days. One of the few swimmers against this tide is Live @ Leeds, an event still managing to serve up an eclectic smorgasbord of up-and-coming local talent, complemented by an alluring array of more established acts from home and abroad, catering for all tastes, drawing a slew of music lovers from across the region.

All Them Witches – Leeds Wardrobe, October 4th 2017 (LIVE REVIEW)

Descending the stairs into the Leeds Wardrobe immediately prior to the appearance of Nashville rockers All Them Witches, I’m greeted by the unmistakeably thunderous opening bars of Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’, together with its inevitable endorsement by several heads nodding in time to Iommi’s timeless riffage; one immediately realising an assault of good old fashioned heavy rock is just what the doctor ordered this evening.

Gogol Bordello - Leeds Beckett University, 5th July 2017 (LIVE REVIEW)

"...Gogol Bordello’s main set completes 80 minutes of high octane gypsy punk, clearly demonstrating their absolute mastery of the live performance, yet these guys still have something in the tank for a three song encore..."

Live At Leeds Festival - April 29th 2017 (LIVE REVIEW)

"...Choosing between the evening headliners proves challenging, Wild Beasts, Rag & Bone Man and Slaves can count themselves worthy contenders but recent release by fake band turned real The Moonlandingz is an absolute revelation; meaning we’re off to Brudenell for a lunar themed double-header denouement as all-girl quartet The Big Moon are up first.."

Django Django - Leeds University, December 5th (LIVE REVIEW)

Considering it’s blowing a gale and the roads are all over the place, Leeds University is pretty full as we await the arty quartet Django Django to the stage. Down the road those very thoughtful Stereophonics have posted a message on social media advising concert goers to allow plenty of time to travel to their Leeds arena show but we don’t need any hand holding here, this is Rock and Roll!   

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.   

Live At Leeds - May 2nd, 2015 (LIVE REVIEW)

Ah, Live at Leeds; that traditional klaxon heralding the start of summer, the day when happy crowds wander our streets with sunglasses perched over their smiles, and a pint outside seems like a realistic possibility for the first time in a long time....or that's how it usually is. This year the day dawned grey and wet, the thermometer in single digits and the look was more bulky layers than bare shoulders. Queues may have been a little more subdued, we may have lingered a little less in the city's green spaces pouring over programmes, but the assembled masses were no less up for this the 9th annual event. With more than two hundred bands in over twenty venues, it promised to be the most varied so far, with acts ranging from chart bothering popsters to up and coming grime stars, delicate acoustic songstrels to spoken word artists.

Lucy Rose (LIVE REVIEW) Leeds Brudenell Social Club - Sunday March 15th 2015

As I hurriedly arrive at The Brudenell Social Club for tonight’s gig, the venue front usually busy with punters getting in their last cigarettes before the show starts is empty, and the car park is bursting to capacity with cars in every nook and cranny. This can only mean one thing, Lucy Rose has started, oh and it’s clearly going to be very busy.

'Triptick' (I). 3 studies of beers (Thornbridge & Buxton Edition)

Tonight, I'm cracking some big beers from either side of the Peak District. Thornbridge and Buxton are two of the leading lights of the UK beer scene, both well established but ceaselessly innovative and consistently producing quality beer. My three selections tonight are bold, strong and new to me...

Kate Tempest - (LIVE REVIEW) Leeds Brudenell Social Club, 14th February 2015

Caught in a maelstrom of accusatory descriptions; award winning poet; glottal stopping rapper; Brit school graduate; nothing Kate Tempest does fits easily into a press releasable box. Rapping since she was old enough to talk, with a diversion into poetry and spoken word performance, debut album Everybody Down sought to combine the two. Managing it masterfully, it tells the tale of a triumvirate of characters as they make their way through the obstacle course that is 21st century London, pairing Tempest's observations with the sparse backdrop of producer Dan Carey's stylings.

Two Gallants - (LIVE REVIEW) Leeds Brudenell 23rd February 2015

It was with a shiver I ventured out into a bleak and rainy night to witness San Franciscan duo Two Gallants swing by the Brudenell, admittedly knowing very little about them except for their reputation for being perhaps bleaker than the evening. With a capacity crowd queuing long before doors opened, my interest was well and truly piqued.

February Beer52 Review And Music Pairing

This month as we delve into February's Beer52 box of goodies we'rel taken on a beer fueled journey across England, Belgium, Spain and Wales. Some delicious golden and blonde ales are nestled nicely  alongside IPA's, Chocolate ales and more. In return for Beer52's generosity we'll take you along on our trip and give you a quick rundown of the beer, it's brewery location, the taste, strength and so on.

Public Service Broadcasting 'The Race For Space'

PSB created quite a stir 18 or so months ago with their unusual debut album ‘Inform, Educate, Entertain’, a unique blend of indie and electronica put to soundtracks from old newsreel films. Their 9-track follow-up is concept album ‘The Race for Space’, dealing with the Cold War period when the USA and Soviet Union went toe to toe in their quest to explore the heavens. 

January Beer52 review and music pairing

Welcome to January's edition of our craft beer review courtesy of Beer52 and our music pairing feature. Each month we review a case of eight different beers sent to us by the beer discovering adventurers at Beer52.com  This award winning beer delivery company is the most popular and fastest growing craft beer-to-your-door service out there.

Mark Lanegan - Leeds Beckett University January 22nd 2014

Find me an artist who has lived, breathed and would die for his music more than this man we've gathered here to see tonight, and you're a better person than me. Having reached a half century in age, he shows no signs of slowing down either in recording terms or his relentless touring schedule.

A great beer home delivery service from Beer 52

With kind thanks to the Edinburgh based company Beer52*, we are going to bring you a regular, monthly review of some fine guest ales from across the UK, Europe and beyond. The dedicated team up there source these beverages from far and wide from a selected range of micro-breweries.  They offer a monthly, quarterly or yearly membership, for what I believe to be a very reasonably price and for that you'll receive a box of eight different craft ales, delivered for free to your door. Ours took just two days to arrive in November and we couldn't wait to see what was inside. They are pre selected and boxed up by Beer52 so you'll always be in for a surprise, and judging by last months delivery which we'll  go into detail about below, these are not mediocre, run of the mill beers.