The Xcerts – Shaking in the Water


It’s been a long time coming – and it’s been a huge live favourite for some time – but it’s an absolute delight to finally see The Xcerts back with new material. ‘Shaking in the Water’, the first single from their new album, started life as a jangly 60s Beach Boys-esque pop song but after…

My Fictions – Stranger Songs


Formed in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Calley in 2010, hardcore heroes My Fictions have released a number of highly acclaimed recordings through the brilliant Topshelf Records and ‘Stranger Songs’ – their first full-length album – is set to unleash their sound to an even wider spectrum of unexpected music fans. One of the heaviest bands on the…

Introducing – Carnival Youth


Painfully young (they’re still in their teens) and hailing from Latvia, Carnival Youth belie their tender years with a folk sound that sits between Fanfarlo’s hazy dream-pop and the more traditional indie-esque ambience of Stornoway. With a grand, cinematic video to accompany ‘Never Have Enough’, the lead track from their new EP, the band has…

Braid – No Coast


Returning after 16 years and fully immersed in the so-called ‘emo revival’, Braid have released new album ‘No Coast’ via the ever-reliable Topshelf Records. Hailing from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, the quartet’s last album was the seminal ‘Frame & Canvas’ in 1998, but after so long away, will the band be able to deliver new material that…

2000trees Festival – Saturday 12 July 2014


Hailing from Cheltenham, local boys I, the Lion opened the Axiom on Saturday morning – with their relentless assault of Biffy-style riffs and rock choruses the perfect start to another wonderfully warm day. VerseChorusVerse delivered a stunning acoustic set in the early afternoon sunshine up in the Croft, which once again contained his version of…

Glastonbury Festival – Sunday 29 June, 2014


Feet were aching, tiredness was kicking in and a shower was needed, but everyone at Glastonbury was determined to finish the weekend in style – none more so than The Subways whose early morning set on the Other Stage was simply pulsating. Ten years after making their debut on the same stage, in similar muddy…

Glastonbury Festival – Saturday 28 June, 2014


The moment Luke Sital-Singh plugged in his guitar for his late morning show over at the Park, the heavens opened. Jovially telling us ‘It’s not raining’ and that the abrupt storm would just add to the ambience of his soul-bearing songs, no-one seemed to mind too much as they intently listened out for delicately introspective…

Glastonbury Festival – Friday 27 June, 2014


Glastonbury is famed for secret sets. On Thursday evening, The 1975 and Metronomy got the party started unofficially in the Williams Green tent, while rumours abound about just who would open the Other Stage on Friday morning when all the major stages opened up. Last year it was Beady Eye, so some were dreaming of…

Save the Boileroom


As I settled down to endure England’s latest defeat last night, I was shocked and saddened to read over various social media feeds that Guildford’s Boileroom is threatened with closure. After almost eight years of regular gigs, shows, performances and more, the Boileroom is regarded as one of Surrey’s treasures and favourite alternative venues. Supporting…