Glastonbury

My Glastonbury 2013 review…

Glastonbury is commonly regarded as the world’s biggest and best festival for lots of reasons, but the one reason that stands out for me is the freedom it offers festival-goers to enjoy the weekend however they choose to. Other festivals pack you into designated areas and have a limited amount of stages and options. At […]

johnny marr leaves the cribs

Johnny Marr ends collaboration with The Cribs

Ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has ended his long association with Wakefield band The Cribs to focus on solo projects and film soundtracks. Marr has been recording and playing live with The Cribs since 2008, but is thought to have left the band early this year.  In a statement released today, the legendary guitarist said: “I’m […]

Live review: Jake Bugg at Royal Albert Hall – Fri 21 Feb 2014

Before arriving at the Royal Albert Hall I was already one bottle of wine into the night. The queue for the bar inside the venue was so big that me and the girlfriend made the sensible decision to each buy a bottle of wine, so as to avoid having to go back to the bar during the gig. Subsequently, my memory of Jake Bugg’s performance doesn’t extend to much of the particular details. I have a general sense of it being a very good gig, with Jake doing an excellent job of filling the vast and opulent cavern that is the Royal Albert Hall, and I remember certain aspects of the night – which I will try and sketch out below.

First of all, I had the presence of mind to capture the evening in photo form – with this excellent picture:

Jake Bugg Royal Albert Hall

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James Blake

Mercury Music Prize 2013 – 12 albums that should be on the shortlist

Whatever your thoughts on the annual music industry love-in that is the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Album of the Year, you can’t deny it creates a bit of a talking point in the music world. The shortlist for this years Mercury Prize is announced tomorrow evening (5.30pm, 10 September), so prepare for a few weeks of […]

The Messenger

Johnny Marr – ‘The Messenger’ album review

Johnny Marr – The Messenger {rating} Buy: The Messenger When I first heard Johnny Marr was planning a solo album (his first, not counting 2003’s Healers debacle), I was worried. Since leaving The Smiths behind Marr has crafted an unrivalled legacy as the best guitar player of his generation – working with The Cribs and […]

Bestival logo

Bestival line-up announcement – Elton John, Snoop Dogg, MIA to play this years festival…

Bestival have announced the first raft of artists to play this years nautically-themed festival – and they’ve surprised everyone by bagging Elton John. The glam-rocker will headline the Sunday night (8 September), and hip hop star Snoop Dogg will be headlining on the Saturday. Friday’s headliner hasn’t been announced/arranged yet so we’ll have to wait […]

Johnny Marr Upstarts cover

Watch: Johnny Marr releases video for ‘Upstarts’

Johnny Marr has revealed the promo video for his new single ‘Upstarts’, the first official release from the guitar legends debut solo album The Messenger – following the free download track ‘The Right Thing Right’. Watch the video here: ‘Upstarts’ is out on 18 February as a download, CD and a 7″ vinyl and will feature […]