Live Review: Jessie J ÔÇô Motorpoint Arena ÔÇô 11.11.13

Jessie JÔÇÖs final stop on her ÔÇÿAliveÔÇÖ tour went out with a bang on Monday night at the Motorpoint Arena, however it did seem like a bittersweet farewell for the soloist who clearly thrives from performing live. Support act Lawson were a good choice for the pre-concert warm up and it was obvious that it wonÔÇÖt be long before theyÔÇÖre headlining their own shows. But … Continue reading Live Review: Jessie J ÔÇô Motorpoint Arena ÔÇô 11.11.13

charliemockNovember 16, 20132 Comments

Music

Preview: Stereophonics – Motorpoint Arena – 24-26 November

Their first gig in Cardiff since opening the Cardiff City stadium to a sell-out 30,000 crowd, Stereophonics return on Sunday 24 November to begin a 3-night residency at the Motorpoint Arena. These shows will round off the successful worldwide arena tour of their latest album ‘Graffiti on the Train’ before a curtain call in London. While their new album didnÔÇÖt trouble the charts too much, … Continue reading Preview: Stereophonics – Motorpoint Arena – 24-26 November

charliemockNovember 16, 2013November 16, 201314 Comments

Music

Interview: Young Kato

Tommy Wright, lead vocalist of Cheltenham’s biggest indie-pop sestet and Made in Chelsea soundtrack regulars Young Kato, took some time out from the studio to chat Morrissey, whipped cream and Glastonbury with┬áCharlie Mock.┬á It’s been two years since you got together as a band- safe to say things have gone very much in your favour. Your gig at the Camden Barfly was featured in … Continue reading Interview: Young Kato

charliemockNovember 14, 2013November 15, 20131 Comment

Music

Live Review: Chase & Status – Motorpoint Arena – 7.11.13

Chase & Status’ mixture of aggressive beats and influences from hip hop and reggae has enthralled audiences across the UK. The duo have gained a following that has rocketed them away from the genreÔÇÖs underground into arenas around the country. Fresh from the release of the Brand New Machine album last month, how would the Chase & Status live show translate to this arena environment? … Continue reading Live Review: Chase & Status – Motorpoint Arena – 7.11.13

charliemockNovember 11, 2013November 11, 2013Leave a comment

Music

Preview: The Darkness – November 17th – Solus

ÔÇ£Come winter time, we will be getting into a bus and setting up equipment in some rooms up and down the British Isles, playing music songs for those who care to listen,ÔÇØ posted The Darkness rather cryptically on their Facebook page in June. The Suffolk band, whose combination of the hard rocking grooves of AC/DC and the multi-layered vocals of Queen took the rock world … Continue reading Preview: The Darkness – November 17th – Solus

charliemockNovember 11, 20132 Comments

Music

Feature: And The Winner Is

With the Mercury and Welsh Music prizes both taking place this October, Joseph Ainscough takes a look at the relevance and intentions of music awards ceremonies, and who really benefits from them. The Mercury Prize – or The Barclaycard Mercury Prize to give it its full title – prides itself on recognising and rewarding the best of British music each year. Focussing on artists that … Continue reading Feature: And The Winner Is

Tom ConnickOctober 31, 2013November 17, 2013Leave a comment

Music

Feature: Jaws

ÔÇ£Craig Bellamy to turn up, or maybe Tom JonesÔÇØ, was the expectation Jaws held of their first live outing in Wales. The dream-pop four-piece arrived in the Welsh capital supporting fellow Brummie band, The Twang, the latest show in a long list that dates back to the beginning of summer. ÔÇ£Literally every weekend for two months it was either a festival or an all-dayer that … Continue reading Feature: Jaws

Tom ConnickOctober 23, 2013February 21, 20147 Comments

Music

Interview: Beans on Toast

Liam ‘Maccers’ McNeilly┬áhas a little chinwag with self-proclaimed “Drunk Folk Singer” Beans On Toast at Clwb Ifor Bach. You spend a lot of time on tour. How has this one been and have there been any highlights for you? This tourÔÇÖs been a bit of a game changer. ItÔÇÖs flown really well and itÔÇÖs been banginÔÇÖ every night. In terms of highlights, I really like … Continue reading Interview: Beans on Toast

Tom ConnickOctober 22, 2013October 22, 2013Leave a comment

Music

Interview: letlive.

Heading over the Atlantic for their first UK headline tour, Los Angeles’ self-confessed ‘soul punx’ letlive.┬ácaught up with Tom Connick ahead of their sold out show at Clwb Ifor Bach. How does it feel to be playing a headline show ÔÇô to be able to come over completely off your own back? Jason Aalon Butler (vocals): Dude, we talk about it like every day. ItÔÇÖs … Continue reading Interview: letlive.

Tom ConnickOctober 21, 2013October 22, 20136 Comments

Music

Interview: Kids In Glass Houses

ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt think thereÔÇÖs any crowd like a Welsh crowd.ÔÇØ With a successful fourth album out and a gig on home turf as part of their headline tour, Hannah Embleton-Smith spoke to CardiffÔÇÖs own Kids In Glass Houses guitarist, Iain Mahanty, ahead of the performance at Cardiff Student UnionÔÇÖs Solus. This is your first headline tour in two years. How does it feel to … Continue reading Interview: Kids In Glass Houses

Hannah Embleton-SmithOctober 4, 2013Leave a comment

Music

Interview: Oddarrang

If youÔÇÖre looking for something a bit different from CardiffÔÇÖs live music, Chapter Arts Centre is your first port of call. Recently, Finnish band Oddarrang played at the Canton venue to promote new album In Cinema. Met by seamless atmospheric instrumentals and ritualistic chanting, their performance was inimitable. Three songs in (though ÔÇÿmusical experiencesÔÇÖ might be a better term), it was revealed that the album … Continue reading Interview: Oddarrang

Hannah Embleton-SmithOctober 4, 2013October 4, 20132 Comments

Music

Interview: Funeral For A Friend

When one talks about the modern Welsh music scene, youÔÇÖd be hard pressed to avoid mention of Funeral For A Friend. Over the past twelve years, FuneralÔÇÖs emotive post-hardcore has inspired multiple generations, both in Wales and beyond. Tom Connick caught up with Gavin Burrough [guitar] and Rich Boucher [bass] ahead of their homecoming show at Cardiff UnionÔÇÖs Great Hall 2. Welcome back to Cardiff! … Continue reading Interview: Funeral For A Friend

Tom ConnickOctober 3, 2013October 3, 20134 Comments

Music

Interview: Joe Bonamassa – ‘Flawless is boring’

From living off packet noodles to filling the Royal Albert: we at Quench Music found out first-hand from Joe Bonamassa what it takes to become really really good at music. (WeÔÇÖd call him a legend, but heÔÇÖs having none that shady fame chat.)┬á Who were your influences originally? We hear youÔÇÖre pretty into the British music scene? British blues recorded around ÔÇÖ66-ÔÇÖ67 was just the … Continue reading Interview: Joe Bonamassa – ‘Flawless is boring’

Hannah Embleton-SmithAugust 31, 2013September 16, 2013Leave a comment

Music

King Krule – Six Feet Beneath The Moon

Archy MarshallÔÇÖs music has been attracting interest for over three years and for many, this album has been a long time coming. Intense hype has followed his every move and with the likes of Beyonc├® and Frank Ocean expressing admiration for the teenager, there was always a nagging doubt that this debut offering wouldnÔÇÖt quite satisfy the immense expectation. Released on his nineteenth birthday, 6 … Continue reading King Krule – Six Feet Beneath The Moon

Tom ConnickAugust 27, 2013September 6, 2013Leave a comment

Travel

A larger and diverse continent such as Africa has a lot to offer the┬áworld┬áof popular culture. Here are just some examples of great music, film and poetry coming out of Africa.