7th November marks the first-time Norwegian pop sensation Sigrid, has taken to a Bristol stage. As Oh WonderÔÇÖs support act, Sigrid warmed up the already packed crowd. A whole band graced the stage of BristolÔÇÖs notorious o2 Academy. Starting with an unreleased song and going straight into ÔÇÿPlot TwistÔÇÖ, the twenty-one-year-old bought confidence and sass right to the stage. With lyrics such as ÔÇ£better work … Continue reading Sigrid Live Review
YouÔÇÖre touring with your recently released Bedroom EP and my flatmates and I canÔÇÖt stop playing the track Finders Keepers. Are you happy with how it all turned out? Yeah itÔÇÖs been amazing; I wasnÔÇÖt expecting it. ItÔÇÖs been a slow build up, that song actually came out in March but is in the chart now which is crazy. ThatÔÇÖs is exactly what I had … Continue reading An Interview with Mabel and a Review of her Bristol gig
The Magic Gang took one of CardiffÔÇÖs most popular venues by storm on the 27th of September causing great excitement for the glitter covered teens in the crowd. The Brighton based four-piece, who are no strangers to performing alongside big names, are currently the ÔÇÿspecialÔÇÖ guests for Sundara Karmas on their UK wide tour. The Magic gang kicked off their set to the sold-out, Tramshed … Continue reading The Magic Gang Live Review
Liverpool has a legendary reputation for producing hit bands of both the mainstream and independent variety, and newcomers the Sugarmen are the docksÔÇÖ latest export to the British indie scene. Their long-awaited debut album ÔÇÿLocal FreaksÔÇÖ, released October 6 th on Sire Records/Modern Sky UK, is peppered with tributes to the cityÔÇÖs musical past, wearing its influences proudly on its sleeve. Just one example of … Continue reading Local Freak’s Album Review- Sugarmen
After clearing out all the 10p slot machines and mopping up the sticky floor after many a spilt slush puppy from the excitement that is Weston Super-MareÔÇÖs grand pier, the venue was ready to be filled with an avid pack of Alt-J fans. After a great opening set from Hampshire trio, Blaenavon, Alt-J took to the small ┬ámake-shift stage as the final show of their … Continue reading Alt-J- Live Review, Weston-Super-Mare
If you know Maggie RogerÔÇÖs 2016 song Alaska, youÔÇÖll know itÔÇÖs groovy, funky and youÔÇÖll know its the perfect shoulder-shimmy-head-bop track. Amber RunÔÇÖs opening cover of Alaska to their EP of the same name, is just a lil bit different. ItÔÇÖs laid back and angelic, giving the track a sense of purity. Maggie RogerÔÇÖs voice is no doubt angelic too, but in usual Amber Run … Continue reading Amber Run’s Alaska EP Review
Review by Sarah Davies and Khuram Mahmood Posted by George Caulton The story of a man searching for his wife-to-beÔÇÖs murderer begins slowly and stirs, quite literally, from the underbelly of the theatre. Rehearsal for Murder suffers and succeeds in the same instant, not dissimilar to the state that Alex, the protagonist finds himself in. Alex, a successful playwright, attempts to calm the nerves of … Continue reading Review: Rehearsal for Murder, New Theatre
DESIGN TEAM In 2015/16 we are keen to continue the great work of our design team at Quench. If you are passionate about design and believe you have the imagination to create layouts that jump off the page then apply by sending a cover letter to editor@quenchmag.co.uk┬áby Saturday 30th┬áMay detailing: your motivations for applying what you believe you could bring to the team your current … Continue reading We’re Recruiting for 2015/16!
Brian Fallon has been writing songs about heartbreak all his life. So what makes this collection different? The clues are in the lyrics. Gone are the yearning odes to ÔÇÿMaria,’ who one suspects was an amalgamation of teenage romances, and thereÔÇÖs scarcely a proper noun in sight. Having just come through a gruelling divorce from his wife of ten years, FallonÔÇÖs wounds are raw and … Continue reading Review: The Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt
With little time left to wait for PlaidsÔÇÖ self-titled debut album, punk fans may now rejoice. Unlike their scuzzy low-fi contemporaries in the DIY scene, Plaids have managed to refract their energetic songs through a prism of crystal clear production. The result is twelve tracks that fans of post-hardcore will relish. The theme of ÔÇÿspaceÔÇÖ ties the record together and the lack of song titles … Continue reading Review: Plaids – Plaids
Written concurrently with last yearÔÇÖs ÔÇÿRewind the FilmÔÇÖ, itÔÇÖs more accurate to describe ÔÇÿFuturologyÔÇÖ as a counterpart than a follow-up to SeptemberÔÇÖs acoustic reflection on middle age. Indeed, a lot of the songs here give a comforting feel in contrast to the heartbreaking moments of ÔÇÿRewind the FilmÔÇÖ. The opening title track bubbles through its verses until a soothing Nicky Wire vocal ÔÇ£one day we … Continue reading Review: Futurology – Manic Street Preachers
Taking over Funkirk Estate in Skipton this August 7th-10th is Beacons Festival. Beacons is North YorkshireÔÇÖs premier arts and music festival set amongst the picturesque Yorkshire Dales. With student ticket deals (only ┬ú89.50 plus booking with a valid student card) or buy five get one free offers (at ┬ú109.50 plus booking) and some of the biggest names in new music itÔÇÖs not one to be … Continue reading Preview: Beacons Festival (7th-10th August)
To some extent, you know what youÔÇÖre going to get with a Jack White record. ‘Lazaretto’, White’s second studio album, is no exception with most of the old trademarks present.┬áRaucous riffing and squealing solos? Check. Weird, jarring lyrics? Check. And, rising above it all, you get WhiteÔÇÖs signature hair raising yelp. Although, thereÔÇÖs also a marked emphasis on the mellower side of his sound, with … Continue reading Review: Jack White – Lazaretto
Inevitable pressure and expectation: the second albumÔÇÖs labelled ÔÇ£difficultÔÇØ for a reason. Despite extra EPs and deluxe editions, Lana Del Rey has greater expectation than most for her second studio album after breakthrough ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ made her a teenage icon.┬á ÔÇÿUltraviolenceÔÇÖ has been received exceptionally well though, as the consensus seem to believe it eclipses ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ with its newfound sleepy psychedelica. Del … Continue reading Review: Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence
ItÔÇÖs safe to say that the wealth of festivals the UK has to offer can be a little overwhelming. Do you (providing you get your hands on a ticket) blow all of your savings and head to the father of all festivals, Glastonbury? Or, wander of the beaten track and pay WOMAD a visit? Well, our tip is neither. From July 11th-13th weÔÇÖre heading to … Continue reading Festival Preview: 2000trees
Chet FakerÔÇÖs career has been one of constant battle with definitions; does he make jazz, soul, house, hip-hopÔǪ Is he where he wants to be? Minutes into his live show, as Faker dances around the array of equipment surrounding him, a wry smile on his face, it becomes abundantly clear that he has no interest in being categorised. HeÔÇÖs perfectly happy to just make music … Continue reading Live Review: Chet Faker – Colston Hall, Bristol
As one of the first acts signed to Paul EpworthÔÇÖs Wolf Tone label, the excitement around Oxford quartet Glass Animals has been gradually building over the past two years. Following a trio of well-received EPÔÇÖs that have displayed a willingness to experiment and rework their own material, the release of debut LP, ÔÇÿZABAÔÇÖ, proves reason for the aforementioned excitement. Opener ÔÇÿFlipÔÇÖ begins stripped back, with … Continue reading Review: ZABA – Glass Animals
Tucked into the UnionÔÇÖs cluttered backstage area with an unassuming air, you would never guess that the synthpop trio were in the middle of their international tour following seemingly instant success with 2013 debut album The Bones of What You Believe. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry is quick to defend the hard work itÔÇÖs taken to get this far: ÔÇÿFor us, it doesnÔÇÖt feel that instant … Continue reading Interview: CHVRCHES
Amelia Jones┬árelives her frightening experience of facial┬áparalysis, and reminds us that a smile goes a long way in ‘My Frozen Face’ I welcomed in the New Year excited to graduate and enthusiastic to enter the real world, but I faced an overwhelming sense of anxiety as looming deadlines and the mammoth task of my third year dissertation weighed heavy on my mind. The events that … Continue reading My Frozen Face
ItÔÇÖs hard to express the delicious experience we had at CardiffÔÇÖs best pop-up restaurant, but smokinÔÇÖ is a word that springs to mind. Every Thursday and Friday between 5 and 9pm, the Lansdowne Pub is taken over by Samantha Evans and Shauna GuinnÔÇÖs Hang Fire Smokehouse, awakening the soul of southern- style BBQ through the ÔÇ£holy trinity of good timesÔÇØ: good food, good music and … Continue reading Review: Hang Fire Smokehouse
