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Month: April 2015

Club: Transmission presents Carl Cox & Eats Everything

Written by Aidan Gregory on . Posted in Music.

3rd April

The Albert Hall

8/10

Seeing Carl Cox and Eats Everything on the same bill was brilliant enough. Seeing Carl Cox and Eats Everything on the same bill at the Albert Hall was even better.

Playing techno interspersed with classic anthems, Bristol based DJ Eats Everything was impressive. One of the highlights of the set was the entire Albert Hall singing the chorus to Inner City’s ‘Good Life’; a throwback to an era when Manchester was still Madchester. Perhaps the greatest aspect of Transmission isn’t necessarily the big names on the bill (although that is a massive part), but the venue itself. The lights, the architecture and sound system of the Albert Hall make it one of the best venues in the city, and it can be seen as a sign of secular progress that an old chapel has been transformed into a venue for huge raves.

Following the conclusion of Eats Everything’s set, the venue went black, and the sound was cut. As the ‘King of Ibiza’ took to the stage, an enormous roar sounded around the Albert Hall for a man who has been one of the world’s best DJs since before most students in Manchester were born. Seeing him live really does give you the feeling that a legend is in your midst. Cox’s set contained more epic drops than a day out at Alton Towers, and for two and a half hours I was able to imagine, that instead of being an overworked third year, I was actually in Ibiza.

Coming away from Transmission, the big question remains: Does it match up to its sister night, the Warehouse Project? The two are essentially very similar. Where they differ is in space and time. The Albert Hall is an expansive arena with high ceilings and a gallery that gives the impression of huge amounts of open space. The Warehouse Project in Store Street impresses ideas of old school raves and claustrophobia (the good kind) whilst you are being mesmerised by bright lights and throbbing sounds. The two do match up. But ultimately, as the younger night, Transmission needs more time to establish the legendary status held by its sister.

Sky News election campaign comes to Manchester

Written by Charlie Spargo on . Posted in News.

Stand Up Be Counted (SUBC), Sky News’ digital campaign focusing on the voices and opinions of 16 – 25-year-olds, kicks off outside University Place on Monday.

A specially designed mobile studio will be visiting 11 UK locations will begin its tour of the country at the University of Manchester on the 13th of April.

It will visit areas such as Glasgow, Cardiff, and Nigel Farage’s contested constituency South Thanet over the course of the next month, before finishing in Brighton.

The aim is to give a voice to youth voters, creating an entertaining and interesting experience to engage people in politics before the General Election on the 7th of May.

The studio will be set up to interview students and broadcast their opinions nationally. Live coverage from Jayne Secker and Tom Cheshire will run throughout the day.

A photo booth will be set up where people can upload pictures of themselves to Twitter with the hashtag #SUBCTour. Individuals will also be able to record videos and practise being a presenter on live TV with an autocue.

Students are encouraged to register to vote, after changes to the system caused one million voters to ‘disappear’ from the register. According to the Electoral Commission, around 30 per cent of 18 – 24-year-olds were not registered to vote in January.

John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: “This tour is a really exciting opportunity for young people to engage with Stand Up Be Counted on a regional level. It will bring a unique experience right to the doorstep of people who might feel disengaged from the political parties and their campaign promises.

“We hope the tour will help more young people to have their voices heard ahead of the General Election, and we will put all our efforts behind amplifying their opinions.”

Coverage of this event will also be available from The Mancunion and Fuse TV.

Live: The Preatures

Written by Matthew Staite on . Posted in Music.

14th March

Soup Kitchen

7/10

It’s strange how disproportionately little UK traction Australian band The Preatures have made. Even before releasing their debut album, the band were one of the most hyped breakthrough bands from last year, opening the main stage at Coachella and playing on Jimmy Kimmel in the USA, while being chosen to support the Rolling Stones on tour in native Australia. It was interesting to see how it these performances would compare to a basement show in Manchester (a country where their album still hasn’t been released yet, after a seven month gap).

Despite these setbacks and slightly smaller crowd, The Preatures easily filled the Soup Kitchen with their larger than life charisma. Early highlights come in the form of the dancey ‘Somebody’s Talking’ and ‘Cruel’, whose infectious energy couldn’t help but rub off on the crowd. However other songs such as ‘Two Tone Melody’ and ‘Ordinary’ actually carried more weight than on the record, and slow down the gig somewhat. Throughout these performances front woman Izzy Manfreddi charismatically stares and interacts with the crowd to the point of being slightly intimidating, but at least this keeps this audience involved with the show, albeit slightly uncomfortably.

While the show largely focused on debut album Planet Blue Eyes, the highlight of the set came in the from ‘Take A Card’ from their early Shaking Hands EP, which saw guitarist Gideon Bensen step out from the shadows to take over the vocals from Manfreddi. The way he belted out the song as if his life depended on it made it the most impressive song of the set.

The Preatures finished on an encore of the slower ‘Business, Yeah’, before launching into their hit single ‘Is This How You Feel?’ which got the room moving one last time. It was brilliant to see The Preatures control the atmosphere of such a small venue, as with such a likeable sound and energy like theirs have you can’t imagine them playing small venues forever. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to them, go and check out their debut album, which is out in April.

Live: Ariel Pink

Written by Cian Holland on . Posted in Music.

28th February

Royal Northern College of Music

6/10

It was never going to be straightforward. The scene was quaint and deliberate, as we have come to expect from FutureEverything events. Cue Ariel Pink to introduce a little confusion to the proceedings. Presenting the “king of pop-perversion”, an alleged maverick performer looking to reformulate the boundaries of pop music, to a sit-down audience was the perfect chance to test whether Ariel really is the new Bowie or another weary pretender. On this showing, the latter seems the more realistic interpretation.

Pink’s performance was littered with typically off-key witticisms, such as his opening gambit “these seats are made for walking”, but in truth he never seemed utterly comfortable with the format. The energetic squeals that punctuate his live shows seemed lost on the largely stationary audience, who were instead left to ponder the disparity between the meticulous production on Ariel’s productions and his sloppy live delivery. The lack of a competent drummer, instead using drum tracks in conjunction with a glam-rock throwback occasionally hitting cymbals was an especially peculiar (not in a good way) touch.

Not that a high-energy, occasionally clumsy gig is a bad thing. In a smaller, dingier venue this would have been a lot of fun. It’s just that Ariel’s sarcastic lo-fi take on pop culture didn’t seem to fit with the relatively grandiose setting, despite every effort made to make the stage look like an alcoholic’s living room. That said, there were moments which threatened to provide the Zappa-esque alternative take on pop melodies that have become so intimately associated with Ariel Pink. A few songs from his newest solo album pom-pom, ‘Dazed-Inn Daydreams’ and particularly ‘Black Ballerina’ stood out.

Ariel’s performance was funny, entertaining and enjoyable. It just wasn’t meant to be appreciated sitting down.

Album: The Veronicas – The Veronicas

Written by Elizabeth Rushton on . Posted in Music.

Released March 16th

RCA Records

6/10

The Veronicas are perhaps best known for their international hit ‘Untouched’ from 2007, however since then they have largely stayed out of the spotlight. Their sudden success was followed by label drama, culminating with their departure from Warner Bros. Records, which explains this album’s massive delay after work was first begun on it in 2010. The album’s eponymous title certainly seems to suggest an attempt by the band to assert who they really are as a group after such a long time away – unfortunately it’s an attempt which becomes scrambled, and the album feels at times like it sacrifices cohesion for an attempt to pull in a variety of different directions.

It doesn’t help that the album gets off to a bit of a shaky start – the country-tinged opening track, ‘Sanctified’, drags on repetitively and fails to grab the listener’s attention, whilst track 2, ‘I’m a Veronica (Did You Miss Me?)’, features a toe-curlingly cringey rap set against a backdrop of synths that wouldn’t sound out of place at Eurovision – take this as you will. However just before you think all hope for this album is lost, you get ‘Cruel’, which, with its catchy opening hook, ushers in a string of fun, feel-good pop songs. It’s this kind of song which forms the backbone of the album, and the ability to consistently write decent songs is commendable, but with a 14 item tracklisting, after a while the album begins to feel a bit aimless, and you do wonder whether all of these tracks were really necessary. This certainly isn’t an album you have to struggle to get through due to lack of engaging material, but when roughly half the album all blurs into a swamp of shiny pop, and starts feeling a bit samey and nondescript, it detracts from the overall experience.

That said, there are some tracks that undeniably stand out – last year’s fist pumping single ‘If You Love Someone’, with its well-intentioned inspirational lyrics, is a highlight, as is the Katy Perry-esque ‘Teenage Millionaire’ and ‘Always’, a track co-written by Emeli Sandé, which is unique in its soulful, gospel influenced style.

Overall, if you’re after an album with some light hearted pop to soundtrack the fun times in life, you can do far worse than to give this one a spin – although beware of tracks 2, 8 and 12 for dodgy rapping.

Album: The Staves – If I Was

Written by Rachel Connolly on . Posted in Music.

Released 23rd March

Atlantic Records

8/10

Is folky guitar music still relevant? It is an interesting question. Hip-hop, r’n’b, experimental music, electronic music, really all the other ‘musics’ mutate over the years (through experiment or necessity), into fresh forms of themselves that always seem current. The guitar and singer formula, on the other hand often seems tired, exhausted even. But every now and then an artist comes along who does something so authentic and beautiful with this simple formula that it makes you forget the question; The Stave sisters are three such artists.

Their beautiful second album, If I Was, is apparently the impromptu product of a visit to Wisconsin; to stay in the home/studio of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, whom they befriended while supporting on tour a few years back. If I Was is the natural progression of Dead and Born and Grown; time-matured to a richer and subtler sound which retains the same vocal dynamic between the band. The remote Wisconsin forest where they made the album may explain the interesting wintry sound of the album and the themes of isolation that feature.

The lack of second album weirdness is probably due to this spontaneous album conception. Sitting down with no planning, reportedly not even telling their label, cuts out the tense period of time pressured studio bickering, although as sisters, The Staves have probably already had a lifetime to bicker out creative differences anyway. If I Was is measured and carefully judged and no track seems rushed or slap dash.

The vast majority of the album is a hit, personal highlights are recent single ‘Blood I Bled’, ‘No me, No You, No More’ and closing tracks ‘Teeth White’ and ‘Sadness Don’t Own Me Anymore’ are interesting and memorable. Infact the only miss on the album is ‘Black and White’, a karaoke sounding number that jars with the rest of the album, but the less said about that the better and it is followed by the brilliant ‘Damn It All’, so easily forgotten.

I suppose the answer to the initial question is yes, if done well, or in the wiser words of Bert Lance, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Live: Modestep

Written by Bradley West on . Posted in Music.

9th March

Gorilla

7/10

Modestep, well known for their intense, electronic influences, mixed with hard rock, and strong vocals entered 2015 under a new guise. They unveiled their new logo on NYE, along with a glimpse of their new album, in the form of the free track ‘Snake’. It sees Modestep appearing to move more toward their rock influences, playing down the electronic aspects of their production, the opposite of what many similar artists in their field have done.

Their Monday night performance at Gorilla, one of the first in a series of intimate shows before festival season, sought to clarify this new direction after a year and a half of hiatus for the group. Their return saw them introduce themselves as ‘Modestep 2.0’ with two enthusiastic new members on drums and guitar, both of whom played excellently on the night, especially the drummer, who absolutely justified his place in a group who could very easily turn to technology to replace him. A good balance of new and old material was played, the distinction between the two hammered home by the level of the subs, which gave Modestep’s sound impact, to put it lightly. This showed their movement away from the older, almost weaponised sounding dubstep that uses short stabbing tones, and into a new style using low frequency synth and distorted guitar to deliver energy in their tracks. Incidentally, energy is a term that is almost redundant at a Modestep gig, trying to rank their tracks in terms of energy is near impossible as every one is, in a word, huge. This, coupled with the command that the group hold over their fans, mean that it’s difficult to be unmoved by their performance.

One fairly large criticism was the fact that a large portion of the electronic part of their songs was pre-recorded, and merely mixed, rather than performed live. There were some elements of live electronic components, including the brief use of synths, but the show would have definitely benefitted from more live demonstration of the impressive level of production of their material. Overall though, the show was a welcome return for Modestep who have stepped comfortably back into their genre bridging role.

Festival Guide 2015: UK

Written by music on . Posted in Music.

LIVE AT LEEDS
1st – 4th May

The North East’s most exciting musical showcase returns to Leeds in May. Not many other festivals can boast 20 headliners playing across 20 venues, with Leeds’s own Hookworms and Eagulls, indie heroes Spector and Swim Deep, and the folkier Lucy Rose and Stornoway having been announced so far. Elsewhere there are lots of exciting bands on the line up, including the hotly tipped Slaves, Carl Barat + the Jackals, and many upcoming groups such as Boxed In, Real Lies, Telegram and Menace Beach. With over 200 bands playing the event last year, the only struggle will be trying to fit it all in. Matthew Staite

 

SLAM DUNK NORTH
23rd May

Having moved this year from its long-time location in the University of Leeds, Slam Dunk North is now taking over central Leeds, encompassing Leeds Beckett University, Millennium Square, the O2 Academy and several outdoor stages. With a new Midlands location this time around in addition to the established North and South locations it is clear that Slam Dunk is on the up. Previous headliners include bands such as Fall Out Boy and You Me At Six, with the latter returning to headline this year. Also returning for the first time since 2012, Taking Back Sunday are sure to draw an impressive crowd. With the line up being an incredible mix of nostalgic summery pop-punk, (Cartel, Bayside, Goldfinger) and some exciting wild cards, (Baby Godzilla, Set It Off, Thy Art Is Murder), this is certainly not a bad way to kick off your summer. Hannah Ainsworth

 

FIELD DAY
6th – 7th June

Field Day returns to east London’s Victoria Park on the weekend of the 6-7th June for its 9th iteration. The line-up spans an extensive range of genres, with legendary artist Patti Smith one of the main draws as well as headliners Ride and Caribou. A slew of well-known acts including Mac DeMarco, Diiv, Django Django, FKA Twigs, and Gaz Coombes are just a drop in the ocean of what’s on offer; with over 50 other artists featuring alongside DJs to round off the current, partial, line-up. Weekend tickets are priced at £83, making Field Day well worth your attention. Robin Davies

 

PARKLIFE FESTIVAL
6th – 7th June

The Number One event in the summer calendar of Manchester students returns to Heaton Park on June 6th & 7th with a line-up that asserts just why it’s the worthy holder of that title. The star-studded DJ cast includes the likes of Dixon and MK, whilst there’s live performances come from acts such as Disclosure, Caribou and Nas—and that’s barely scratching the surface of the wealth of incredible music on display across the weekend. Tickets are on sale now priced at £89.50 for the weekend and £54.50 for the day. For further details see their website. Patrick Hinton

 

GOTTWOOD
11th – 14th June

Don’t be fooled that a trek to Croatia is required to find a beautiful festival; only a considerably shorter trip across the border is needed. Nestled into the stunning surroundings of leafy North Wales and boasting a beach to rival the Adriatic coast is Gottwood. With support from a number of the UK’s best promoters—including Manchester’s own Dog Eat Dog and Hit&Run—they’ve put together a stellar line up featuring Ben UFO, Move D, Zip and many more. In their own words, “striking a delicate balance between rising stars and established veterans drawn from all corners of the scene.” Final release tickets are on sale now priced at £125 for the weekend. Patrick Hinton

 

BRITISH SUMMER TIME – THE STROKES
18th June

British Summer Time returns to Hyde Park for 5 days in June, with one of the best line ups it has ever had. While strictly not a festival (instead think five individual large concerts with a lot of support bands), this year’s selections are surely not to be missed.

Drawing first blood on the 18th June is The Strokes (at this stage BST is their only UK gig of the summer). Ever since the band’s decision not to tour their 2013 album Comedown Machine, anticipation has been running high for their return to the live scene. But with the band rumoured to have run out of steam, and Julian Casablancas and Albert Hammond Jr. increasingly pursuing solo projects, a live return looked unlikely. This all changed with the announcement of their comeback gig at Primavera festival in Barcelona, and a string of US dates. With a strong back catalogue of material (except perhaps Angles), The Strokes are force to be reckoned with. This upcoming Hyde Park show could well be one the most important of their career, and potentially one of the last times they tour again.

As if The Strokes are not enough, the bands supporting them on the day are impressive too. An appearance by the Grammy award-winning Beck is sure to attract some of his own loyal legions of fans, and his set will hopefully encompass his lengthy and successful career.

On before Beck are Future Islands, one of the most exciting and talked about bands of 2014. Brilliant tunes from recent album Singles as well as frontman Samuel Herring’s infamous dad dancing make them a solid booking. Also playing on the day are British psyche gurus Temples and The Wytches, along with Public Service Broadcasting, who use wartime radio samples in their music. Try and catch upcoming talents Hinds and Gengahr if you’re going down early too. Matthew Staite

 

BRITISH SUMMER TIME – BLUR
20th June

Returning to play Hyde Park for the fourth time (the last time they played there was in 2012 with New Order for the London Olympics closing show) is Blur. This iteration promises to be different though, as Blur are expected to play new material from their upcoming album The Magic Whip, their first since 2003’s Think Tank. Damon Albarn famously said in 2012 that without new material the band would be unlikely to tour again. The Magic Whip looks to be a return to form for the band, and has seen reconciliation between Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon. Blur clearly know how to do amazing mega shows at Hyde Park, so this is not a show that will disappoint.

Once again some brilliant bands join Blur on the line up. Electro-indie fan favourites Metronomy are also playing, along with The Horrors.

Two other bands that will be worth seeing are Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (a London homegrown rockabilly/RnB type group championed by Mick Jones of the Clash), and Teleman. Matthew Staite

 

BRITISH SUMMER TIME – TAYLOR SWIFT
27th June

On 27th June country girl turned queen of pop Taylor Swift is gracing Hyde Park. This performance is hotly anticipated, and with a stellar back catalogue of five studio albums and seven Grammys under her belt it’s not hard to see why. Swift is certain to dazzle and delight all attendees.

Also appearing on the bill is UK’s own superstar Ellie Goulding. Since the release of her debut single ‘Under The Sheets’ in 2009, Goulding’s star has not stopped rising. She topped the BBC’s Sound of 2010 poll the following year and has released two Number 1 albums since. It will be clear to British Summer Time attendees on June 27th why she’s such a success.

Further down the bill the strength continues, with artists such as John Newman, Vance Joy and Rae Morris appearing. Patrick Hinton

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
24th – 28th June

45 years since it all kicked off, the UK’s biggest and best festival returns from the 24th – 28th of June. Thousands from across the world will once again descend on Glastonbury’s hallowed patch of Somerset farmland, shrouded in dubious folklore and in co-ordination with ancient ley lines. The only acts announced so far are quite uninspiring: Foo Fighters and Lionel Richie. Fortunately there’s plenty more to be announced, enough to fill the 100-plus venues on site.

What makes Glastonbury so unique though is that music is only one of its many diverse charms. The Greenfields are very much the heart and soul of Glastonbury, reflecting the festival’s ecological ethos and counterculture roots. Other areas vary from the hedonistic dystopia of the south east corner, to the many fields filled with cabaret and comedy, there is certainly something for everyone amongst the sprawl of Glastonbury. The experience is enough to brighten the mood of even the most hardened cynic. The daunting scale of the place and the fight against the inevitable mud seem to draw people together, creating an atmosphere that lives up to the many clichés and platitudes surrounding the festival. It’s certainly enough to make you think there might be something special about those ley lines after all. Dominic Bennett

 

MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
2nd – 19th July

The Manchester International Festival returns this July, most notably with a sold out performance from Björk at the Castlefield Arena. With this being her first European performance since releasing new album Vulnicura, this is going to be a very special show indeed! Meanwhile, Arca (co-producer for Björk’s Vulnicura) is set to perform a live show with visual artist Jesse Kanda. Other musical highlights include FKA Twigs making seven short films at the Old Granada Studios, with audiences invited to watch the process. Since MIF only comes around every two years, this is something that cannot be missed! Adam Stockley

 

WIRELESS
3rd – 5th July

Wireless takes place in Finsbury Park again this year after its brief stint at the Olympic Park in 2013. The festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary and once again does not disappoint in bringing the biggest names in urban and dance music to London this summer. Headline acts include Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta and Avicii across the three days. After Drake previously pulled out due to illness, the anticipation of his performance this year is doubly exciting. Other acts performing across the weekend include Mary J Blige, Major Lazer, Joey Bada$$, Duke Dumont and Stormzy. Tickets are available now here. Dinesh Mattu

 

FARR FESTIVAL
16th – 18th July

Farr Festival returns to Bygrave Woods for its sixth incarnation. As ever, it boasts an all star line up of well established producers and DJs, alongside up-and-coming artists such as sampling genius Romare, who are just starting to be recognised for their copious talents. Resisting the temptation to bump capacity, Farr remains one of the most exciting and intimate small festivals around. Lacking the pretentious vibe of many boutique festivals, it instead focuses on booking an eclectic variety of quality-over-quantity artists. With a line-up featuring house favourites Roman Flugel and Prosumer, alongside disco pioneer Hunee, Farr packs a punch, especially considering its initial bargain basement £30 ticket prices. Fraser Brooks

 

LATITUDE FESTIVAL
16th – 19th July

Taking place just off the Suffolk coastline, Latitude has, in the decade since its inception, grown from being a small-time affair to become one of the highlights of the UK’s festival calendar. This year’s lineup is perhaps its most impressive yet, boasting appearances from artists as diverse as Jon Hopkins, Seasick Steve and Femi Kuti, as well as a closing mainstage set from Britpop legend and all-round national treasure Noel Gallagher. Away from the music, the festival will also feature a wide range of theatre, art and cabaret for your viewing pleasure; the 10th Anniversary of Latitude is not to be missed! Dan Whiteley

 

LOVEBOX
17th – 18th July

Lovebox unleash a house and hip hop fuelled programme of live music and DJs in London’s Victoria Park across the 17th and 18th July. Headlined by Rudimental and the one and only Snoop Dogg, the diverse line up features quality across the board. There’s grime in the shape of Skepta and Novelist; a tasty looking techno b2b with Joy Orbison and Ben UFO; and even a performance from classic-electronic pioneer Nils Frahm. Beyond the music there’s an exciting range of wider experiences available, including a 70s themed roller disco and hand-crafted spiritual talisman stall. For those wanting to keep the party going come curfew, there’s also After Dark events taking place across a number of London night clubs, featuring the likes of MK, Jimmy Edgar and Heidi. Full details can be found here. Lovebox packs a serious amount of fun into one weekend. Patrick Hinton

 

BEAT-HERDER
17th – 19th July

Returning to the rolling vales of Lancashire for its 10th year of beats and barminess, Beat-Herder 2015 does not intend to disappoint. With upcoming artists like Ghost Culture, the soulful DJ Nightmares on Wax accompanied by a live band, and of course dance legends Basement Jaxx, this year’s eclectic musical offerings will guide you through the festival’s magical earthly delights. Immerse yourself in the perfumed pleasures of the smokey tentacles tent, bask in the awe-inspiring Platty’s ring, stumble down secret pathways and emerge in unlikely locations. A uniquely fantastical festival with little eye for profit, no doubt Beat-Herder 2015 will personally cater to all with the same success as previous years. Herd ’em up… Julia Gleeson

 

SECRET GARDEN PARTY
23rd – 26th July

From the 23rd to the 26th July 2015, acres of Cambridgeshire will be home once again to Secret Garden Party. This eclectic festivals boasts creativity like no other as a mix of people create shows, stalls, floats, art and more, in a beautiful setting of landscaped garden, river and lake. This year’s theme of Childish Things will encompass the fields with a whole toy box of wonders and suprises. What’s more, the fantasy land of a festival raises the bar with a line-up including Kate Tempest, Marika Hackman and Jungle. So get ready for jelly and ice cream and the annual Sunday paintfight! Marina Garvey Birch

 

Y NOT FESITVAL
31st July – 2nd August

Y Not Festival is known for its smaller scale and more intimate nature than many of the other British summer festivals, without skimping on the quality of the acts on offer. The 2015 edition is set to be no different, with headline appearances from genre-defying indie rockers Primal Scream, electronic music stalwarts Basement Jaxx and hip hop royalty Snoop Dogg already confirmed. Rae Morris, We Are the Ocean and Pulled Apart by Horses are also on this year’s bill, and with much more to be confirmed across ten stages, this summer is the perfect chance to check out one of the festival season’s hidden gems. Dan Whiteley

 

WILDERNESS FESTIVAL
6th – 9th August

As the two well-established festival teams Lovebox and Secret Garden Party fused creative ideas, an illegitimate lovechild was born, and Wilderness first came to life. Now in its fifth year, Wilderness praises itself for a harmonious combination of creativity, gastronomy and revelry. Located in the beautiful Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire, Wilderness invites the outdoors back into the arms of the artistic. Workshops throughout the weekend include deer butchery and woodland foraging, with the promise of wild medicine walks and dips in the spring-fed lake. What’s more, queen of alternative living Björk will be trumping the musical line-up. Cordelia Milward

 

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR
6th – 9th August

Some choose Jerusalem, others may favour Stonehenge, but for the metalheads of Britain and the rest of the world there is only one pilgrimage that will suffice: the prodigious Bloodstock Open Air which returns to Catton Park this August, headlined by Trivium, Within Temptation and Rob Zombie. Many other legends such as Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death, Sepultura and Belphegor will also be taking to the infamously ruthless stages, and many more to be announced. Bloodstock prides itself on offering a pitiless concoction of doom, black, thrash and death metal, conjuring an unmatchable line-up of the most brutally brilliant bands in metal. Emily Castles

 

BOOMTOWN FAIR
13th – 16th August

On the 13th August the fantasy land that is Boomtown Fair arrives in Hampshire. One of the fastest growing festivals in the UK, it is set to return with its eclectic mix of music, from reggae and folk to drum & bass. This is not to mention it’s labyrinth of streets and districts, full of circus acts, carnivals and walkabout performers. Headliners include Stephen Marley, Flogging Molly, Gogol Bordello, Protoje and Less Than Jake. Also headlining is Manchester’s very own Mr Scruff. Particularly look out for The Palace, a brand new stage boasting a 9-storey building bringing the latest in drum & bass. With tickets selling fast, it seems Boomtown Fair will only continue to grow and is certainly not one to miss this year. Kristina Jones

 

GREEN MAN
20th – 23rd August

Embedded in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, Green Man has become known for its mystical location. Praising the ethical and snubbing the corporate, it welcomes creativity in a land far from the pressures of modern day life. Green Man is for those free-thinking people, craving something wild and little magical. As if a peaceful weekend in the Welsh mountains wasn’t enough, the site is split into ten areas, all offering an array of multi-art performances. They’ve only announced a first wave so far, but with St. Vincent and Hot Chip confirmed as headliners, it’s looking set to be a grand weekend. Cordelia Milward

 

SHAMBALA FESTIVAL
27th – 30th August

The return of Shambala to an obscured location in Northamptonshire promises to unite the festival’s own guiding principles of creativity and openness with a unique and diverse range of artists spread across the four days. The late August bash boasts appearances from a kaleidoscope of musical talent, from Andy C to My NU Leng and Kate Tempest to Public Service Broadcasting. Alongside the array of aural delights Shambala will seek to integrate its audience closely with interactive workshops and small art exhibitions, all of which will highlight their “people come first” tenet. The all ages festival’s lacking in showy headliners will be more than made up for with bucketloads of charm and intrigue in a weekend not to be missed. George Scrafton

 

READING & LEEDS FESTIVAL
28th – 30th August

Love it or hate it, Reading and Leeds are two giants in the UK’s festival calendar (and are seemingly everyone’s first ever festival experience). This year’s headliners come in the form of previous Glasto headliners, Mumford & Sons and Metallica. The Libertines, champions of Reading and Leeds past, also return to headline the event. With their return to form and a new album being recorded in Thailand, this should be one to watch. Festival favourites Jamie T, Royal Blood and the Maccabees also play over the weekend, with a surprising amount of dance acts such as Hannah Wants, My Nu Leng and Jamie xx also featuring in the line up. Matthew Staite

 

BINGLEY MUSIC LIVE
4th – 6th September

Away from the glitz, the glamour and often the three figure price tag that comes with buying a ticket to one of the larger festivals currently on the circuit lies Myrtle Park in the heart of West Yorkshire, which following it’s birth in 2007 has helped play host to Bingley Music Live. The three day festival since its foundation now nearly eight years ago, seemingly ticks all the boxes for everything one could ask for in a weekend away at a festival.

Year upon year its line-up seems to not only grow in size but also improve in terms of the calibre of acts on show, luring better artists year upon year to play at the event, most recently in 2014 with the iconic Pet Shop Boys taking centre stage last alongside Example and Shed Seven as headliners; something very much for everybody on each night of the festival. Branding itself on the ethos providing ‘big hearts and big sounds’, Virtual Festivals recently awarded the festival a rare full marks, a 10/10 rating, and when a weekend of camping and music at Bingley costs as much, if not less than some day tickets are priced at nowadays, there’s every reason to add Bingley Music Live to your list of festivals to visit.

Previous headliners show the festival never fails to disappoint in regards to its music, a weekend ticket priced at £49 (not forgetting the option to pay in instalments) really does offer fantastic value for money and its family-friendly environment enables anybody of all ages to not only enjoy such a hidden gem of a music festival, but also to embrace the art of festivalling for the first time. Adam Selby

 

ELECTRIC PICNIC
4th – 6th September

Having been previously described as Ireland’s answer to Glastonbury, Electric Picnic is well worth the journey to the Emerald Isle. With its no nonsense attitude shunning the kitsch and instead embracing the music, this year’s line-up might give even Michael Eavis’s farm a run for its money. Florence & The Machine makes her comeback as the first confirmed headliner, with other massive names such as Manic Street Preachers, War On Drugs, George Ezra and Tame Impala also tipping the bill. Cordelia Milward

 

END OF THE ROAD
4th – 6th September

Nestled in the tranquil grounds of North Dorset, End Of The Road Festival welcomes you with open arms into a haven of love and creativity. You’d be hard pressed to imagine a more fitting location for modern folk legend Sufjan Stevens’ first ever UK festival performance. Elsewhere on this year’s line-up, My Morning Jacket and Tame Impala bring the psych, Sleaford Mods and Ex Hex bring the punk, and Future Islands bring the righteous dance moves. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg—there’s also late-night cinema, live comedy, gourmet food washed down with Dorset’s finest ciders, and the occasional free-roaming peacock. Cramming all of that into one weekend will be harder than cramming your tent back into its bag when Monday morning comes around. Henry Scanlan

 

BESTIVAL
10th – 13th September

It’s easy to shrug off Bestival’s name as marketing nonsense, but on the English festival circuit there’s definitely more than a shred of truth to it. Maybe it’s because its location is on the most tropical of British Isles, the Isle of Wight. It really is the only festival where people seem to care less about how many crates of beer they can carry back into the campsite more and more about how many quality acts they can see. With a line-up including The Chemical Brothers, Duran Duran, Tame Impala, Flying Lotus and Jamie xx, there’ll barely be a moments rest. Lowell Clarke

 

BEACONS METRO FESTIVAL
October

Beacons is coming into 2015 in an entirely new guise. A youthful festival in terms of age, Beacons is growing up fast, and already waving goodbye to its country home in the Yorkshire Dales, to take up residence in three of the most exciting cities in the North. The move has apparently been motivated by the growing expense of traditional camping festivals, but for those fearing the loss of some of that ‘festival feel’, the new form of Beacons, Beacons Metro, promises to deliver the same level of commitment to supplying the excellent film, music, art and food that they are well known for, as well as brand new cutting edge events. Detailed information on the content of the festival is still scarce, but the shreds available make for promising reading. Among the information already available, the partners for 2015 have been released, and include huge names in music, such as Crack magazine and Resident Advisor, as well as Vice Films and 2020Vision. Partnership with such well-regarded names, along with the success of previous incarnations of Beacons makes for an encouraging view of what they have to offer in 2015, something that I personally am very excited to see. Bradley West

Live: Warpaint

Written by Lowell Clarke on . Posted in Music.

Albert Hall

22nd March

7/10

There’s something about Warpaint; soft-spoken but far from quiet. This is a four-piece all-girl band from LA, who demand appreciation of their imperfections by placing them centre stage and drawing attention to them. It’s these rough edges that stamp authenticity onto everything Warpaint do, breathing character and humanity into their performances. Thank god no-one has ever dared auto tune them: their off-key harmonies are beautifully eerie as they fill and weave between every iron arch of the Albert Hall with a supernatural tension. To close your eyes would transform them into Macbeth’s witches, screeching and chanting around a bubbling cauldron – 2 parts Joy Division, 1 part Foals and a sprinkling of chemical XX…

Yet despite the strong openers of ‘Warpaint’, ‘Composure’ and ‘Love is to Die’, it’s not until the warm fuzzy bass chords of ‘Undertow’ that the spell cast upon the audience takes hold. From there, the band blast through new single ‘No Way Out’, seven minutes of layered slow build and release that leaves you more dazed than amazed. This is the strange flipside to their carefree, take-it-or-leave-it attitude: a contagious lethargic atmosphere that stops the crowd from ever getting too riled up. Great if you came to stare at your doc martins for an hour, but not so much if you didn’t plan your day around the shoes you’re wearing.

After the sneering heartbreaks of ‘Elephant’, the band bust out a four minute improvised jam culminating in a drum solo that segues into the sinister understated violence of ‘Disco/Very’. This is the band at their very darkest, with their cries of “Don’t you battle we’ll kill you/We’ll rip you up and tear you in two” ringing out like the girl power anthem you never thought (or hoped) you’d hear. Like a light at the end of the tunnel, the bold bass groove of ‘Biggie’ finally gets the crowd moving before the encore break. When they return we’re treated to another new and upbeat song, ‘I’ll Start Believing’, before bringing down the energy with slow burners ‘Burgundy’ and ‘Krimson’, fading and flickering out softly as the show comes to its end.

Live: Jon Gomm

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Music.

27th March

Gorilla

6/10

Jon Gomm is part of the resistance movement that opposes the big, faceless music industry, and everything it stands for. He is not signed to a record company, he is not on Spotify and he hates talent contests. Although his stance is noble, you get the feeling when you hear him talk about the “dark side”, that he is edging on the verge of music snobbery and pretentiousness, but this can be forgiven tonight as he is firmly in the presence of people who share his views.

Continuing the Star Wars references, when Gomm first appears onstage he has an uncanny resemblance to a Jedi knight, preferring to keep his face partially covered by a black hoody. It’s a tense atmosphere at first – he doesn’t say hello immediately, he blows his hands frequently in an attempt to warm them up, and he looks less than amused at the lighting. However, he soon comes round, introducing himself before treating us to an extended improvisation in order to warm up whilst simultaneously confirming the sound setup. It sure beats sound checking, as Gomm showcases his extended guitar abilities.

And tonight is all about his guitar abilities. Gomm is essentially a one man band. Equipped with nothing more than an acoustic guitar with a microphone inserted within, and some effect-pedals, Gomm is able to produce an unbelievable array of sounds. Highlighted none more so then when he performs ‘Telepathy’ and ‘Deep Sea Fishes’. The reverb on the former song produces shivers down the spine.

Gorilla is then turned into a disco as glittery lights and Chaka Khan’s ‘Ain’t Nobody’ are introduced. The 10-minute long, prog-rock-influenced ‘Everything’ follows, which features another spine-tingling moment when Gomm incorporates a Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ homage.

The latter half of the gig serves only as fuel for Gomm’s ego. A superfluous guitar lesson for a room of people without guitars lasts too long. The “hit”. ‘Passion Flower’ gets the first real cheer of the night, and finally a Bob Marley cover, ‘Waiting in Vain’, where Gomm encourages everyone to sing, whilst placing himself as literally the centre of attention. The result is awkward and resembles an embarrassing family campfire sing-a-long.

Playing for just over two hours, Gomm’s set was entertaining, but perhaps, at times, it was he who was having the most fun rather than the audience. But who knows, maybe that’s the way things should be.

Album: Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell

Written by Tariq Salarbux on . Posted in Music.

Asthmatic Kitty

Released 31st March

9/10

I’m told that there’s a 96 per cent chance that Sufjan Stevens is the favourite contemporary pop-artist of any self-appointed ‘music connoisseur’. His records, shaped around both his Christian faith and his struggle with his own sexuality, have ranged from traditional folk to more eccentric, experimental and glitchy soundscapes, and have all been received to universal acclaim.

His new offering, Carrie & Lowell (named after his late mother and stepfather), sees a return to the minimalistic folk of his first albums. Banjos are back; not with a bang, but rather with a gorgeously weighted presence that is instantly recognizable as classic Stevens. All of this is done whilst still keeping a slight influence from his recent electronica-tinged ventures, and the result is nothing short of marvellous.

The recent passing of his mother, with whom he shared a complex relationship, is the main theme of the album; the breezy, light melodies and fingerpicked guitars blanketed by devastatingly personal lyrics. ‘Should have known better’ sees Stevens remembering: “When I was three, three maybe four, she left us at that video store,” while ‘All of me wants all of you’ borders on uncomfortable voyeurism: “You checked your texts while I masturbated.”

Still, the paradoxically upbeat and mellow arrangements save the album from descending into the muddy ensemble of self-pity and depression it could easily have been. Even when he sings “We’re all gonna die” on the piano-driven coda of ‘4th of July’, it’s far from being an unsubtle ode to nihilism, but rather a wakeup call reminding us all of the importance of making the most of life.

Carrie & Lowell is, in many ways, far from the most ambitious record than Stevens’ has produced; the songs can be quite repetitive, and the arrangements are never as eclectic as those on his recent albums. However, it’s hard to argue against the quality of the songs here; stripped down to the barest of bones, they deliver a packed punch of raw, sometimes unsettling emotions. Music-connoisseurs be reassured; this is the best record made (so far) by one of the better pop artists of our time.

Album: Drenge – Undertow

Written by Robin Davies on . Posted in Music.

Infectious Music

Released: 6th April

8/10

Drenge set the bar high with their eponymous 2013 debut, and for brothers Eoin and Rory Loveless one of the biggest tests of their careers was always bound to be the follow up album. With Undertow, Drenge have graduated from the initial frenzy that surrounded their emergence whilst retaining what made them so exciting to begin with.

Undertow opens with a seamless transition between two tracks, ‘Introduction,’ and ‘Running Wild.’ An air of anticipation descends throughout the former, with a minimalist, vaguely psychedelic guitar gradually building in a way that feels unlike anything Drenge did on their first album. The music becomes gradually more jagged, and as ‘Running Wild,’ begins the distorted guitar for which they have become so well-known cuts through.

As the album progresses it becomes clear that Drenge have achieved a grander sound on this outing. The visceral punch and aggression of their first album is still present, and most of the songs are definitely identifiable as being by Drenge, but the overall sound feels fuller. Whether this is the result of more developed song writing, better production, or a balance of the two isn’t immediately clear. What is clear, however, is the pleasing diversity of the work, with no songs falling flat or fading into the background.

A familiar menacing streak can be found in the lyrics on Undertow, with lines like “The snake wraps its neck round mine” from the aptly named ‘The Snake’ being highly reminiscent of tracks like nothing from their first album. More often than not, however, the tone of the music gives a sinister spin to less foreboding subjects. Testament to the Loveless brothers’ musical ability, however, is how this contrast with the more tender moments found on pieces like ‘Standing In The Cold’, feels so natural, cementing a maturity and intelligence showcased in their earlier work.

With Undertow Drenge have assuredly dealt with the difficult second album; building on the raw energy that underpinned their first record, and developing into a band capable of making grunge music that isn’t restricted to simplistic and derivative work. This is an album that grabs your attention and demands to be listened to – as you should.

Live: Clean Bandit

Written by Dinesh Mattu on . Posted in Music.

11th March 2015

O2 Apollo

7/10

For a group that met as Cambridge undergraduates, world domination was only a matter of time. Unless you lived under a rock over the past year then there’s no way in the world you can’t have heard the monster hit ‘Rather Be’ which won a Grammy for Best Dance Record back in February. Fresh from their recent heroics in LA, Clean Bandit, along with support from Jess Glynne, give a sold out O2 Apollo a genre-defying performance that is full of soul and plenty of violin.

Glynne opens the show with her unique and soulful vocals on ‘Ain’t Got Far To Go’, which is a clean, motown-style, loose piano-led jam that fits superbly with her distinct tones. Her breakout hit ‘My Love’ with Route 94 still sits as the best showcase for her voice, starting out as an acoustic rendition of the song before getting into full swing; you sense her distinct talent will serve her well in the months and years to come.

Warmed up and ready for the main act, Clean Bandit step out to a heavy bass-driven, light-flickering mirage of mystical sounds and sweeping vocals. ‘New Eyes’ comes across as a Hip-Hop trap-style beat and isn’t anything like their commercial sound whatsoever.

Intriguingly, an array of instruments including a minimalist cello and a midi saxophone stand boldly on stage and are brought to life one by one through a diverse range of styles from Drum & Bass (‘Up Again’) to a reggae-influenced summer beat (‘Come Over’) and of course the familiar dance/house grooves we know all too well (‘Real Love’ and ‘Rather Be’).

The diversity in their music is marvellously refreshing and you can tell each band member has come from very different musical backgrounds. From Grace Chatto and Milan Neil Amin-Smith’s training as classical musicians in Cambridge to guest vocalist Elisabeth Troy’s underground/Jungle upbringing in London, the fusion is ambitious and on the whole doesn’t disappoint.

The standout talent in the band is Jack Patterson who sits humbly in the background, going from keyboard to sax to bass guitar throughout the gig and provides that stroke of behind-the-scenes genius every great band has over the course of the two or so hour-long performance.

The group truly leave the best until last in an encore that comprises of a flawless cover of Robin S’s ‘Show Me Love’ and the final song ‘Rather Be’ for which they aptly reintroduce Glynne on stage and finish the night off as strongly as they started it.

Judging by their live show it is undeniable the band have talent in abundance, however it will be interesting to see how this translates commercially in 2015 and how (if even possible) to outdo their immense first single.

Live: Lonely The Brave

Written by Hannah Brierley on . Posted in Music.

10th March

The Ruby Lounge

6/10

When I first arrived at Ruby Lounge I was pretty sure I had turned up on the wrong night, with the majority of the crowd belonging to that “I’m getting old, but I’m still clinging on to my youth” category. With just a handful of what I would have thought their ‘target audience’ would have been (i.e. anyone under 30), I was intrigued to see how this would play out. The band walked out onto stage opening the night with one of their biggest songs ‘Victory Line’, to then be followed by ‘Trick of the Light’.

Lonely the Brave are known for their odd stage layout. This became very apparent immediately with three guys on guitars, whether that was either bass or electric, taking the main front of the stage, which was enjoyable to watch as you could really see that they were enjoying themselves. Introverted vocalist David Jakes did not stray very far from the back, staying in close range of the drums, with his cap and head down for the most of the act.

However this untraditional setup and sheepish persona did not hinder the vocal performance of Jakes, displaying his unique style, incredible talent and wide range whilst beautifully exposing the audience to a great deal of emotion. The band ran smoothly from track to track with great ease, maybe a little too much ease. As there wasn’t a lot of variety in terms of chords, riffs and ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’, as the night went on, it felt like the songs were quite samey and a little bit repetitive.

All in all, The Ruby Lounge was a very fitting venue for the night, making the experience very intimate and personal, and overall very enjoyable.