Into the infamous cage clambers another band, ready to take on the challenge that Salford’s Fuhrer Bunker brings. With faces eerily peering upon them between the wooden slats, Rachel Davies, Thomas Fisher and Daniel Copeman aka Brighton’s ESBEN AND THE WITCH follow Manchester band EMBERS (with an ever-increasing membership, now kitted out with violin-player who really “makes” the sound) and their storming support set. With the Esben/Embers combination, the show is sold out with online clattering for spare tickets. Continue reading Salford’s bunker meets its match with ESBEN AND THE WITCH →

It is rare to see an artist perform who exceeds all expectations and preconceptions, but that is exactly what I had the pleasure of witnessing on Saturday night at Cadogan Hall.

At 19, TANITA TIKARAM released internationally acclaimed album “Ancient Heart” which sold over 4 million copies and was one of those albums that defined part of my youth. I should add that I never actually owned a copy, but the singles were widely played and for many friends the album was a favourite Continue reading TANITA TIKARAM – from good tradition to great legend →

“Our tendons have atrophied. We’re not as young and agile as we used to be, this next one’s a slow one…”

That this quote was almost believable is a testament to the longevity of DINOSAUR JR, and their influential take on alt-rock. That it was followed by a brutal version of “Training Ground” – a punk-flecked song from DJr lead singer J Mascis and Lou Barlow’s previous band Deep Wound – showed how this is a band that can still show upstarts today how it’s done live. Continue reading DINOSAUR JR rock the Ritz to the ground →

Still on an electronic high after AUSTRA and CRYSTAL CASTLES, we were geared up for the excellent Manchester electro band DELPHIC at London’s Electrowerkz. Mostly playing it quiet over the past year, the band have been busy making preparations for their much-anticipated second album release “Collections.” One of my favourite bands recorded, we were excited to see them live and hear some of their new tracks. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (December) →

November saw our second Pussy Riot support event FREE PUSSY RIOT TOKYO CONCERT at Las Chicas in Shibuya Tokyo. The lineup consisted of a variety of speakers from the arts world, as well as several DJs and live bands led by our headliner GROUP A who blew the stage and won themselves a legion of new fans. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (November) →

October started with a big name. RADIOHEAD was in the building, namely London’s O2. In such a big venue, the sound was incredible for this 24-song set — including rarely-played songs such as “Paranoid Android” and “Street Spirit” as well as personal favourites “Weird Fishes / Arpeggi” and “Reckoner.” Thom Yorke was fantastic to watch — he has no inhibitions (his dancing proving the point) — and it was a complete joy to see Jonny Greenwood hugging his telecaster no more than a few feet away, says our London team. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (October) →

AUGUST

Although August was a relatively quiet month, on a balmy summer evening, we were treated to the fantastic lineup of YES SIR BOSS, DISRAELI AND THE SMALL GODS and MOLOTOV JUKEBOX at Spiegeltent at London’s Southbank Centre. We’d been tracking Molotov for some time and fell in love with their brilliantly fiery live shows as well as the sparkling charisma and talents of lead singer Natalia Tena (of “Game of Thrones” TV series, “Harry Potter” movie series). Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (August and September) →

July was a peak month for classic gigs headed by strong females, starting with the return of the one-and-only Shirley Manson and GARBAGE, with support provided by hit Australian band THE JEZABELS and its powerful vocalist Hayley Mary. You would be hard pushed to find two bands who perform better live. Although Wolverhampton civic hall was no ideal venue, Garbage blew the stage, topped with chants of “Shirley!” resounding round the hall. Dominating the stage from the moment she first comes eye to eye with her audience, Manson oozes pure charisma, her no-nonsense presence sealing her once again as a music legend. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (July) →

June was a great month in the North of England for brilliant performances by bands from the other side of the pond.

I had seen Toronto band AUSTRA the previous September at the Deaf Institute where they blew me away. Since then, they have firmly stayed my favourite band and many are on tenterhooks for the arrival of their imminent second album. Their follow-up Manchester show at Soup Kitchen was also spectacular. Hypnotic and majestic on stage, every member of the six-piece excel at what they do. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (June) →

May Day saw the dawn of a very special venue indeed. The SAVAGES/PINS gig at Manchester’s Fuhrer Bunker is one for the history books, primarily for revealing the bunker’s now-legendary cage setting. Playing to a limited capacity crowd, the electricity in the air was tangible from the moment you located the building in the middle of the deserted rubbish-laden landscape to the moment the bands stepped inside the restrictive wooden structure. Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (May) →

MARCH

Already widely known in the US since their double-Grammy win last year, THE CIVIL WARS have since stormed the UK. Joy Williams and John Paul White were a picture of perfection, a delight to watch and listen to, and the Manchester Academy crowds couldn’t get enough of the tracks off their hit album “Barton Hollow.” It’s difficult to fault such iconic songs as the beautiful “Poison & Wine” and “I’ve Got This Friend.” Their harmonies are sublime, the partnership seemingly made in heaven Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (March and April) →

As you can see from our list of TOP 30 LIVE ACTS OF 2012, we saw some amazing musicians in the year 2012, in Manchester, London, Glasgow, Brighton, Leeds, Liverpool, York and Tokyo. Here are just some of our highlights and stories:

JANUARY

We started the year off brilliantly with three back-to-back ANI DIFRANCO shows, at Brighton’s Concorde and twice at London’s Union Chapel Continue reading 2012 Gig Highlights (January and February) →

Electrowerkz is sold out tonight and there is anticipation in the air as the dark, dingy room fills up during the half hour before VUVUVULTURES begin their set. Having more or less completely done away with laptops and backing tracks, Vuvuvultures seem liberated from these musical constraints and hit the stage with vigour. Continue reading TRUST electrify London →

Smoke, lights… and Canada’s CRYSTAL CASTLES enter the stage. The moment the band break into the opening song, the crowd picks up the beat, jumping and dancing to constant light flashes. Although support act Sleigh Bells cancelled their set (much to the chagrin of devoted fans), the Akasaka Blitz crowds do not seem to miss them one bit Continue reading CRYSTAL CASTLES shake up Tokyo in style →

2012 was a good year for live music in the UK, and we’re not talking about the massive overgrown and overpriced festivals (sigh), but the day-to-day gigs in the cities.  Despite the heavy saturation of the music industry, we managed to dig out some gems, experiencing a massive array of talent from the UK, Japan and beyond.  Notably, the UK continues to produce some fantastic female musicians, and it’s just a matter of time and evolution before the industry matures sufficiently to recognize this surge and make the most of it, hopefully encouraging further diversity in both the music itself and the industry overall Continue reading Top 30 Live Acts of 2012 →