SUZANNE VEGA is back with a new album and a new tour. Kicking off the Never Wear White Tour in Manchester, she’s also heading to five other cities across the UK to promote Tales From The Realm Of The Queen Of Pentacles (out now on her own label Amanuensis Productions), marking her first studio album of new material in seven years, described as “a collection of ten songs, each telling a story on how the material world and spiritual world both intersect.” Continue reading SUZANNE VEGA: Delivering more tales across the UK →

At Manchester’s Apollo, Vancouver-based HANNAH GEORGAS is greeted by a massive crowd gathered for a smash-out lineup including fellow-Canadian headliner CITY AND COLOUR. North American accents fill the venue and surround the bars, and as Hannah breaks in to opening track Enemies, the front rows are already singing along. Continue reading HANNAH GEORGAS turns heads in Manchester →

At the end of January, we had the pleasure of meeting up again with 2013 Juno-nominated Canadian singer-songwriter HANNAH GEORGAS this time at Manchester’s Apollo venue. Last seen in the city performing an intimate stripped-down show at Takk cafe, Hannah was this time supporting fellow Canadian CITY AND COLOUR to a massive crowd. Here are our photos of Hannah backstage at the legendary venue, taken by our resident star photographer SINEAD MARIE. Continue reading HANNAH GEORGAS Photo Shoot backstage in Manchester →

LINDI ORTEGA is trying to keep warm by switching on the kitchen hob as we arrive backstage at Manchester’s Deaf Institute to have a chat ahead of her headline show at the renowned venue. Continue reading LINDI ORTEGA: digging up the dead and riding high in Manchester →

LA’s HAIM shook the roof of Shibuya Quattro in Tokyo last Thursday with their punchy indie rock melodies, drawing a massive crowd eager to catch the girls’ renowned live performance. The venue was packed solid all the way to the back doors, save for the spaces behind the front pillars where some devout fans were showing their Haim appreciation with elaborate dance routines to opening track Falling. Continue reading HAIM rocks Shibuya to the ground →

DEACON BLUE are more than just a band – they’re icons. Having produced in 1987 one of the best albums ever made, they have long firmly held the hearts of their many fans, not least those who have a soft spot for Glasgow and other dark rainy towns. It’s hard to believe that it’s 26 years since their debut Raintown first hit my ears and remained in my tape-deck for months on end. Continue reading DEACON BLUE in Manchester: Iconic band with true dignity →

The headliner for day 2 of HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER was US five-piece post-punk kings DEERHUNTER, who played a punchy 17-track set to a totally packed hall full of screaming fans. Continue reading TOKYO HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER – DEERHUNTER →

Next up at HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER was Argentina’s JUANA MOLINA, who took it down a notch with her dreamy vocals and chilled out electro-rock stylings. Continue reading TOKYO HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER – JUANA MOLINA →

London’s Kieren Hebden, AKA FOUR TET, was the next act on Day 2 of HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER, playing his signature electro mixes to an adoring audience, many of whom were undoubtedly attending the fest primarily to witness his performance. Continue reading TOKYO HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER – FOUR TET →

OMAR SOULEYMAN brought his delectable Syrian electro-pop to Tokyo on Day 2 of HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER, resulting in an incredibly charged afternoon audience dancing and flailing to his high-energy and unique style of dabke, a native Arab dance. Continue reading TOKYO HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER – OMAR SOULEYMAN →

Day 2 of Tokyo’s HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER, and Toronto’s electro wonders AUSTRA play the opening slot, warming up a seemingly weary Sunday afternoon audience with their moving and passionate performance. Continue reading AUSTRA captivates Tokyo at Hostess Club Weekender festival →

Our roving Tokyo report and photographer NAT OLIVE caught Toronto band AUSTRA at the fantastic HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER and took these intimate shots of the band soaking up the Tokyo vibes. Continue reading AUSTRA backstage photo shoot in Tokyo →

The headliner for Day 1 of HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER was the monumental band NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL. The elusive group, fronted by musical enigma Jeff Mangum, had all but disappeared following the release of their hugely acclaimed In An Airplane Over The Sea in 1998, only brief glimpses of the group appearing sporadically around the world since. Continue reading TOKYO HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER – NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL →

OKKERVIL RIVER played a lively and passionate set on Saturday night at HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER in Tokyo. Currently touring, promoting their latest album The Silver Gymnasium, the group delivered a refreshingly enthusiastic set full of new tracks as well as old favourites for those fans who’ve been following along since the bands formation in 1998. Continue reading TOKYO HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER – OKKERVIL RIVER →

Indie rock veterans SEBADOH were the next band to play at HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER. Seemingly, the band that everyone had been waiting to see (to be expected after having just released their first album in 14 years), the hall actually properly filled up for the first time that day. Continue reading TOKYO HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER – SEBADOH →

Upbeat Spanish electro-rockers DELOREAN were up next at HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER, the Barcelona-based foursome really stepping up the vibe and energy levels in the expansive Yebisu Garden Hall on Saturday afternoon. Continue reading TOKYO HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER – DELOREAN →