The 26th TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL got off to a real bang at the trendy Roppongi Hills with the trademark eco-friendly green carpet rolled out again for guests arriving from all parts of the world. Particular excitement came with the arrival of TOM HANKS and British director PAUL GREENGRASS promoting festival opening film CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, and SOFIA COPPOLA accompanied by her prolific director father FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA and mother ELEANOR COPPOLA to celebrate her latest buzz movie BLING RING. Continue reading TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2013 – Opening Day →

Tuesday evening in Tokyo, SHATTERJAPAN was lucky enough to catch British folk queen BETH ORTON play a cosy set in the safety of Shibuya’s Club Quattro to the backdrop of a raging typhoon. It was certainly more comfortable on the top floor of the building than it was outside, in a packed-out venue surrounded by unwinding post-work salarymen and wine-sipping couples. Continue reading BETH ORTON warms the crowds in a stormy Tokyo →

At the cosy TAKK café in Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter, I’m here to meet Vancouver-based Canadian singer-songwriter HANNAH GEORGAS. Continue reading HANNAH GEORGAS reaches new heights in Manchester →

As MÉLANIE PAIN struggles with traditionally nightmarish Friday afternoon traffic, we settle in at Manchester’s Deaf Institute and wait for the French singer-songwriter who is returning to celebrate the imminent release of “Bye Bye Manchester.” With a genuine attachment to the city where she chose to spend a couple months writing the album, she’s back in town and eager to reconnect with her muse. Continue reading MÉLANIE PAIN is reunited with Manchester in time for album release →

Manchester burlesque performer CHERIE BEBE has secured herself a monthly spot at Thomas Restaurant & Bar in the heart of Manchester’s hipster Northern Quarter. Cherie gave two jaw-dropping performances at our PUSSY RIOT REVOLUTION FESTIVAL (see photos of Cherie) last month and her community spirit is also visible at her regular BURLESQUE REVUE tonight. Continue reading CHERIE BEBE gets pulses racing at Manchester burlesque revue →

EMILIE AUTUMN is a powerhouse of hands-on creativity and career ambition. On meeting her backstage before her Manchester Ritz show, this observation is quickly confirmed. She’s been through a lot personally, and she describes to us her turning point in life and her reasons for moving forwards through adverse circumstances to build a life “from scratch” which she is now proud of and fiercely protects. She’s also sensibly chosen a fantastic manager she works closely with to achieve her goals. One such goal is the 3-hour musical that she’s aiming to fire at London’s West End towards the end of next year. High ambitions indeed, and we love her for them. Continue reading EMILIE AUTUMN – live and unleashed at Manchester’s Ritz →

KATE NASH wowed the Manchester crowds back in April of this year, and she’s back in town with her uber-talented all-female backing band. The Manchester Pride programme includes a photo of her pre-riot grrrl and a more recent photo – an image evolution which is raising a lot of eyebrows for those Pride punters who have yet to see her transformation into what the more in-the-know observers claim to be “who she always was and wanted to be.” For those who haven’t yet figured out that what they are about to witness on the main arena stage is not the “Foundations” girl of old are in for a real treat. Continue reading KATE NASH band stuns Manchester Pride crowds →

Driving to BEACONS FESTIVAL is fairly easy if you live in the North of England. It’s just made that little bit more frustrating if some joker has purposefully turned round and hidden road signs on the way to the venue. This is, nevertheless, not a wholly inaccurate sign of what is about to greet us, such is the amusing randomness of Beacons Fest. Continue reading Beacons Festival 2013 – ESBEN AND THE WITCH →

Continuing our highlights from Day 3 of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013…

THE XX were one of the final bands to perform at Fuji Rock 2013, and they closed the evening with a show to be remembered, bestowing hauntingly beautiful indie melodies upon a dedicated audience who chose to see them instead of coinciding rock enigmas The Cure, a group which The xx cites as being one of their major influences. Continue reading FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013 DAY 3 – THE XX →

Continuing our highlights from Day 3 of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013…

THE CURE played an absolute marathon set as the headliner for Day 3 of the festival. A whopping 3 hours of music comprised of 36 tracks had them finishing up at 12:15am, at which point even the most die-hard fans were probably ready for bed, especially after a whole day of running around the mountains catching other bands. Continue reading FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013 DAY 3 – THE CURE →

Continuing our highlights from Day 3 of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013…

CAT POWER‘s set on the White Stage began with a solitary Chan Marshall lighting a stick of incense at the front of the stage, taking a swig of beer and stalking around the dimly-lit stage before hauntingly singing out with her signature powerful and impassioned vocals. Continue reading FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013 DAY 3 – CAT POWER →

Continuing our highlights from Day 3 of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013…

VAMPIRE WEEKEND‘s performance at Fuji Rock was one of great success, the area completely filled with fans eager to see these indie pop wonder boys that have gained worldwide attention for their unique and upbeat music. Continue reading FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013 DAY 3 – VAMPIRE WEEKEND →

Continuing our highlights from Day 3 of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013…

Chilled out electro-vibe artist TORO Y MOI had audience members grooving in the mud at the White Stage on the Sunday, paying no mind to the drizzly weather.

The man behind the moniker is Chazwick Bundick, a 26 year old from South Carolina playing as Toro Y Moi since 2007 and so far releasing three albums plus a handful of offerings from his solo side-projects. Continue reading FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013 DAY 3 – TORO Y MOI →

Continuing our highlights from Day 3 of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013…

The girls in London band SAVAGES certainly know how to play a banger of a show, with leading lady Jehnny Beth putting on an intensely stirring performance on the White Stage of Fuji Rock, all clenched fists and domineering stares at audience members. Continue reading FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013 DAY 3 – SAVAGES →

Continuing our highlights from Day 3 of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013…

Perhaps the most pleasantly surprising act of the entire festival was that of three sisters from LA by the name of HAIM. The title is the surname of these three female rock wonders Danielle, Alana and Este plus drummer Dash Hutton, who have positively rocketed to international fame in a short period of time, only seriously starting to call themselves a band in 2012 and having yet to release an actual album (their debut effort “Days Are Gone” is set to be released 30 September). Continue reading FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013 DAY 3 – HAIM →