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
by Camille Stanley and Max Modell This month the Mercury Prize-nominated artist Jorja Smith embarks on her headline UK tour, with the Bristol show on Friday 5th October being the nearest appearance for Cardiff University students who are eager to hear her impressive, soulful vocals live. Smith will be showcasing her debut album Lost and Found which was written between the ages of 17-20 and … Continue reading Jorja Smith: Tour Preview
by Dylan Graham ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå My first reaction to hearing about Big Boy Bloater and the Limits was that of sheer amusement. What a wacky name for a band, I thought. However, the title stuck with me and I wasnÔÇÖt surprised to find out that they had been booked to play in a similarly eccentrically named venue in Bristol – Mr WolfÔÇÖs Noodle Bar. As I … Continue reading Live Review | Big Boy Bloater + the Limits at Mr Wolf’s Noodle Bar, Bristol
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 Rimant─ù Bivainyt─ù Early Wednesday evening I enter Clwb Ifor Bach and head upstairs. In the ÔÇÿgreen roomÔÇÖ I am introduced to a woman, she wears a vintage fluffy sweater with straight leg jeans and shiny shoes, reminiscent of the 90s. She leads me out of the room and through the corridor till we reach the emergency doors. Our conversation starts on the staircase near … Continue reading Brooke Bentham | Live Review + Interview, Clwb Ifor Bach
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
It is exciting to see new genres being explored and for festivals to progress -┬á by Maisie Marston Reading ÔÇÖ92 had Nirvana. Reading ÔÇÖ94 had Primal Scream. Greenday and Smashing Pumpkins the next year, then Rage Against the Machine and The Prodigy next. In more recent years, 2016 and 2017 have provided some acts in the way of rock music; Kasabian, Biffy Clyro, the … Continue reading The Changing Face of Reading and Leeds Festival – a For and Against Discussion
by Kiana Stevens Every year since 1961 people have come together at Reading Festival (originally known as the National Jazz Festival) to appreciate music and have a good time. 90,000 people attended Reading Festival this year to enjoy what is now slowly becoming a festival with a large Hip-Hop and R&B presence. As thousands of campers set up their tents for the weekend it is … Continue reading Review: Reading Festival
By Ellie Harradine The thing about going to a festival is, people are so happy. So what is Victorious Festival, and why has no one heard of it? Well, unless youÔÇÖre on the south coast of Hampshire, there is little reason for you to have known about it. The festival first opened its gates in 2012 at PortsmouthÔÇÖs Historic Dockyard, and then due to increased … Continue reading Review: Victorious Festival, 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 Abigail Thomas ItÔÇÖs that time of year again! That period where the most prestigious annual music award bears light on the best British Albums of the year. The Mercury Prize has payed homage to an array of artists and genres, aiding many new-starters, old timers and icons of the music industry. This year it bears a colourful cast at varying stages of their career, … Continue reading A run-down of the 2018 Mercury Prize shortlist
by Rowan Lees ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå Kendal Calling returned to Lowther Deer Park for another year of drinking, dancing, music, and general festivities. The line up saw acts as varied as The Libertines, Bugzy Malone, and Super Hans of Peep Show fame (ÔÇ£IÔÇÖve accidentally run to the Lake DistrictÔÇØ). Sadly a few of the promised and anticipated acts, including Hans and pioneering rap group Run DMC, were … Continue reading Review | Kendal Calling, Lake District
Interview by Courtney Moody So, if I can start by getting you guys to introduce yourselves and your position in the band? Mitch: Sure thing ÔÇô IÔÇÖm Mitch, I play guitar and I sing. Jack: IÔÇÖm Jack ÔÇô I play bass. Niall: IÔÇÖm Niall ÔÇô I play the synthesiser. Iain: IÔÇÖm Ian and I play the sax. Justin: IÔÇÖm Justin and I play the drums. … Continue reading “Our music develops from a positive attitude” – an interview with LYLO
by Courtney Moody ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Gwdih┼Á,┬áor more commonly referred to as the ÔÇÿcolourful pubÔÇÖ,┬áwith its rainbow┬áexterior and vibrant swirls – is a true reflection of the creative minds that perform there; whether that be in the form of poetry recitals or live music. The intimate bar is a home-from-home for many students; with plenty of beer bottles, comfy cushions and quirky d├®cor in sight. The vibe … Continue reading Review | LYLO, Gwdih┼Á
by Luisa De la Concha Montes ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå Set up with the intention of offering a smaller festival with a similar layout to Glastonbury and Reading, Truck Festival has been running since 1998 at Hill Farm, Oxfordshire. Each passing year the festival has been building up its name by offering a wide variety of activities and music acts throughout the weekend. This year, the lineup included … Continue reading Review | Truck Festival, Oxfordshire
By Mike O’Brien |┬á I recall having a conversation about music with a friend of mine last Summer. ÔÇÿWhat do you think about people who say music saved them?ÔÇÖ she asked, the subtext rich with doubt and bemusement. Ultimately, as with any passion or pursuit, some enjoy more intimate relationships with music than others. But it has certainly saved me. Having bounced from hospital to … Continue reading Music is your odyssey and mine.
by Maisie Marston ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå This year Citadel Festival took place in LondonÔÇÖs Gunnersbury Park, already christened by the attendees of Lovebox from the previous two days. In the 12 hour turn around all that changed were the signs, acts, and consequently, the demographic. IÔÇÖd like to think that despite the fact it was essentially Lovebox (but with more hipster Dads), it had some personality. Unlike … Continue reading Review | Citadel Festival, London
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
*Trigger Warning* – this article contains details of abuse, rape, and suicide. By Elly Savva Following a shooting in Miami on the 18th of June, the 20-year-old ÔÇÿup-and-comingÔÇÖ Floridian rapper XXXTentacion (born Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy) has died. The rapperÔÇÖs rapid rise to musical success has been concurrently overshadowed by his criminality and multiple allegations of violent abuse. His previous arrests include charges of aggravated battery, … Continue reading XXXTentacion’s death reopens the debate on the separation between art and the artist
