Howard Assembly Room, Leeds Tuesday, 19th May 2026 First of all, before I talk about the concert, I need to mention the venue, the Howard Assembly Room. In Victorian times, it was originally a theatre but it is a place…
View More Colin Blunstone | Jesse Lynn Madera
I am sure that many of you have at the very least, a passing acquaintance with Franck Carducci and the Fantastic Squad. But for those of you who aren’t I can sum them up as quintet of amazingly talented individuals…
View More Barth Sky – Rockstars
When it came to trying to sum up Terl, and his work, I was struggling as I knew that, having met him, he is a nice bloke but musically he is too eclectic to fully summarise in a few words.…
View More Terl Bryant – Jargon
Crookes WMC, Sheffield Friday, 24 April 2026 Another concert in a venue that is new to me. Crookes WMC is, as the WMC suggests, an old school hall designed for music, which, back in the day, would probably have been…
View More Spriggan Mist | Haze | Zopp
Usually albums arrive, either physically or digitally, and I give them a few plays and a review is fairly easy to do. I either like the music or don’t and, subsequently, I can choose to play it more times, or…
View More Duncan Parsons – Music For Stairlifts (Vol 3): Listening To Subtitles
Cavern Club, Liverpool Tuesday, 7th April 2026 Before I review the actual concert, I must break a taboo with many people who believe all things that have a Beatles badge on it makes it perfect and above criticism. Possibly a…
View More Franck Carducci & The Fantastic Squad | Mary Reynaud
Kitchen Garden Café, Kings Heath, Birmingham Sunday, 29th March 2026 With concerts, even for bands I am just taking a random punt at seeing, out of curiosity, I can usually get a good idea of what to expect by a…
View More Des Tong & Bev Bevan: The History of the Birmingham Rock Scene
I could write a long passage telling any reader, who is not familiar with him, all about John Hackett’s varied musical career. Going from his work with Quiet World in 1970, appearing on early Anthony Phillips albums along with his…
View More John Hackett – Checking Out Of London
Wrecking Ball, Hull Friday, 13th February 2026 Frequently, when talking about contemporary bands, I have said that if they had been around in earlier musical periods, they would have been massive. Personality, talent and powerful music, just in the wrong…
View More Sad Café
To me live albums sit firmly in two camps. They can be towering stamps in the annals of music demonstrating how good a band was at a particular time. Think Live at Leeds by the Who, Seconds Out by Genesis…
View More Jan Akkerman – My Focus: Live Under The Rainbow