By Max Modell It was always going to happen, things were going to get weird. After a highly enjoyable first few days, any worries of the music getting stale were quickly whipped out at Clwb Ifor Bach last night, which hosted some of the most subversive music we are likely to get at this yearÔÇÖs festival. Farm Hand When you think of alternative music it … Continue reading Swn Day 3 Part 1: Things get weird at Clwb Ifor Bach
By Linda Kritikou Base Hologram is a company dedicated to bringing dead people back to life. No, this is not science fiction, itÔÇÖs our reality. The firm has been behind hologram revivals of some of the most beloved dearly departed singers; such as Tupac in 2012 Coachella Festival, Michael Jackson in 2014 Billboard Awards and Maria Callas whose hologram is still on tour. The company … Continue reading Amy and the Holograms: a revival of Amy Winehouse’s legacy or an exploitation of her name for money made of smoke and mirrors?
Expectations were high going into day two of S┼Án Festival 2018 after the roaring success that was day one. Tonight, the venue, The Great Hall at Cardiff Student Union. The stage is set. Day two offers one of the most exciting lines up of the festival features The Orielles, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever and headliners Drenge. Needless to say, we are all rather excited. As … Continue reading S┼Án Festival 2018 Day Two leaves The Great Hall a sweaty mess after a high energy evening
By Max Modell Guitar solos, the use of a sampler, hilarious gags, Joan Armatrading to be the support act, the new album to be played in full and a rainbow themed light show; these are all things I didnÔÇÖt expect from Joan ArmatradingÔÇÖs Cardiff solo show that she nevertheless delivered. In a meta-commentary on the standard gig structure, Armatrading appeared as her own support act, … Continue reading Live Review: Joan Armatrading Live at St Davids Hall, 17/10/18
By Georgia Mae Evans After listening to his album,┬áNotes from an Island, on repeat the week leading up to Blair DunlopÔÇÖs gig, I had high hopes for the performance. If youÔÇÖre after an evening filled with excellently executed British folk, you need a ticket for this tour; I was blown away┬áby┬áthe most intricate melodies, tongue in cheek lyrics and raw emotion with which the album … Continue reading Live Review: Blair Dunlop at Acapella Studios, 07/10/18
By Max Modell My anticipation for Dermot KennedyÔÇÖs Cardiff date has been clear to see for months. The gig made the Local Music Watch section in our first print editions of Quench this year on my instance. I canÔÇÖt say whether that article had an influence on attendance, but to my delight, Y Plas at Cardiff Student Union was sold out with a young and … Continue reading Dermot Kennedy Live at Cardiff Student Union, 15th October 2018
By Max Modell WestmanÔÇÖs music offers a thoughtful, meditative look at the world from a singular, slightly off-kilter perspective, placed on a backdrop of electronic, atmospheric pop. This often creates a contrast between the louder moments in the production and WestermanÔÇÖs quieter delivery and performance. It feels at moments as if Westerman has retreated fully inside the music and the sound is the only thing … Continue reading Westerman: Live Review and Interview at Clwb Ifor Bach
By Laura Stevens ÔÇ£YouÔÇÖre coming home when itÔÇÖs light from the night before…ÔÇØ the room moves in unison as The Sherlocks erupt into sound.┬á The bandÔÇÖs opening track ÔÇ£Last NightÔÇØ sets the mood for an evening of uplifted voices and spirits in the Cardiff venue, forming the second night of The Sherlocks current UK tour. Following the bandÔÇÖs sellout success of their debut album Live … Continue reading Live Review: The Sherlocks Live at Cardiff StudentsÔÇÖ Union, Thursday 11th October 2018
By Rowan Lees ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Ghetts caused shockwaves at the end of August with the release of the ÔÇÿBlack RoseÔÇÖ video, beginning with a heartbreaking sample of his daughter asking ÔÇ£Daddy, how comes thereÔÇÖs no dolls that look like me in the shop?ÔÇØ the song and video go on to heartfully explain and explore the sensitive issue of colourism in black communities. It seemed a world … Continue reading Review: Ghetts ÔÇô Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament
By Max Modell To be able to carry a gig on your own is a unique skill. The limitations of this set up can lead to the set becoming stale due to stylistic similarities, it takes a true craftsman to keep an audience engaged despite this great hurdle. This is the task Nick Mulvey set himself on his current In Your Hands Solo Tour, where … Continue reading Live Review: Nick Mulvey Solo show at Tramshed
No Violet seemed completely at home at┬áGwdihw┬á- quirky caf├® by day and creative hub by night. The supporting acts set the tone; from wacky tunes recalling the tales of microwaves courtesy of Head Noise to heartfelt indie punk rock perfectly executed from Adelaide. By the time the up and coming No Violet graced the stage, you would struggle to swing a cat in the venue. … Continue reading Live Review: No Violet at Gwdih┼Á
By Max Modell While it is complex to sum up my feelings about my evening watching Catherine McGrath perform the first night of her first ever headline tour at The Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth every trail of thought leads me to one word, cute. From the set design with fairy lights and paper lanterns, to McGrathÔÇÖs unbelievably cute Irish accent and stories of night terrors … Continue reading Live Review: Catherine McGrath at The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
By Isabel Cosford ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå NMEÔÇÖs ÔÇÿUnder the RadarÔÇÖ winners Pale Waves are releasing their brand new album My Mind Makes Noises on September 14th, which is anticipated to ripple through the charts next month. If you havenÔÇÖt already heard of them, Pale Waves are a mix between Swedish pop duo Icona Pop with The 1975 who also look a bit like a gothic rock group. … Continue reading Review: Pale Waves – My Mind Makes Noises
By Rowan Lees ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå The Route 66 Movement is a grand project, there is no mainstay line-up, the music will pass over from one person/group to another without mention of names, and this original EP serves too as a humanitarian effort in partnership with Meal-A-Day. The music itself has a classic singer-songwriter style delivered entirely with voice and guitar, both by the founder of the … Continue reading REVIEW: Route 66 Movement ÔÇô We Are Followers EP
By Maxwell Modell We live in an age where the boundaries to making your own music are the lowest they have ever been. Whether youÔÇÖre mucking around with Garageband, recording acoustic demos on your laptop or producing dance music late into the night, making and recording music at home is now a realistic opinion. This homemade music allows complete creative freedom as long as you … Continue reading Six of the Best: Homemade Albums
