Celtic Connections Opening Night – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall: Live Review
Glasgow’s annual festival of traditional and world music, Celtic Connections, gets underway with a bang.
Paleface Swiss – Manchester Academy: Live Review
Paleface Swiss continue on the path to world domination at Manchester Academy.
Beyond The Black – O2 Ritz, Manchester: Live Review
The first ATB gig of the year with Beyond The Black sets the bar almost impossibly high. Seraina Telli and Setyoursails in support.
Aquakultre – Make That Change: Single Review
Third preview of the forthcoming album from Aquakultre. Make That Change is another hard-hitting song from the Halifax Nova Scotia singer/ composer/ rapper.
Niteworks – Solas Na Maidne Live: Album Review
Niteworks leave the stage on an endorphin heavy, dopaminergic high. An essential document.
Freddie And The Dreamers – You Were Made For Me – The Complete Recordings 1963-1970: Boxset Review
Jokers in the pack. Cherry Red Records take a detailed reappraisal of Manchester’s madcap maniacs – Freddie And The Dreamers – and reach a mixed verdict…
Robin Trower – One Moment In Time – Live in the USA: Album Review
The guitarmeister crowns a frenetic year. British guitar icon Robin Trower tours the USA – the country that first welcomed him 60 years ago – and shows our cousins that he still has what it takes. One Moment In Time showcases Robin Trower in his live pomp.
Green Milk From The Planet Orange – UK/Europe Tour: News
Celebrating their 25-year career, the Japanese experimental/progressive-rock trio Green Milk From The Planet Orange kick in with a big UK/European tour.
Hollow Star – Listen: EP Review
Hollow Star release their debut EP. Listen is a concise, tight five-track statement that smothers the lyrical grief in drum riffs and guitar pedals.
Elles Bailey – Can’t Take My Story Away: Album Review
Ring the bell for the last call as Elles Bailey digs deep. Prepare for a ride that takes on a darker tone than usual.
Toad The Wet Sprocket – Rings: The Acoustic Sessions: Album Review
California’s National Treasures, Toad the Wet Sprocket, present a host of intimate acoustic reworkings of their best-loved songs.
Stuart Anthony & Larry Beckett – Though We Have Only Love, The Songs Of Jacques Brel: Album Review
After a series of taster singles, Larry Becket and Stuart Anthony release the full power of Jacques Brel.
Various Artists – Highway Of Diamonds – Black America Sings Bob Dylan, Vol 2: Album Review
Ace Records follow-up their 2010 collection, How Many Roads, with another rake of vibrant soulful and gospel Dylan reinterpretations.
Big Big Train – Woodcut: Album Review
Big Big Train on a fully blown Prog Rock concept album. To lift from their own words, searching for perfection in what could be a masterpiece.
Gong – Album, new single, tour: News
News of all sorts of goings on from Planet Gong…