Author: Admin
Hi Graham! You’re about to release Castle Park, originally recorded in 2011. Why did it never previously surface?It was recorded at the same time as A+E, with Ben Hillier. We had 20 songs which seemed to fall into two different piles. Castle Park was supposed to follow A+E, then a flurry of Blur stuff happened, then I moved onto other stuff. How does it sound to you 15 years on?I like the imperfections of it. My approach is, how vibey does it sound? It was very loose, all about getting the stuff down. Are you one of those musicians who…
He may have opted to walk away from recording in the early ’80s, but Tucker Zimmerman’s career was ticking along well enough for decades, certainly in terms of personal satisfaction, before Big Thief’s generous advocacy. However, the success of their collaborative Dance Of Love album in 2024 opened a new, late-life chapter for the Californian folk outlier, then 83. That same year, he released a batch of songs cut between 1973-76 (as I Wonder If I’ll Ever Come True)and in 2025, an album of material recorded in the early Noughties with fellow forgotten legend Dave Evans. Now, another LP which…
Isle Of Wight Festival 2026 at a glance (Image credit: Mark Holloway/Getty Images)When: June 18 – June 21, Seaclose Park, NewportWhere: Live streams and highlights on Sky Arts and Sky Showcase (available through a NOW TV Entertainment package).The Isle Of Wight festival welcomes concert-goers from today (June 18) but the live music doesn’t get under way until Friday, June 19.And if you’re not able to attend the famous festival in person, there’s no need to worry as you’ll be able to kick back and watch from home because Sky Arts are once again streaming the weekend into your living room.…
Photo credit: Ethan CoveyTeddy Thompson has never been shy about his love of classic country; heck, in 2023 he released a full album of country covers titled simply My Love of Country, but before that, back in 2007, his third full length release was Upfront & Down Low, another covers album filled with his take on tracks recorded and popularised by artists like Dolly Parton, The Everly Brothers and Ernest Tubb. The standout on that album, however, was Thompson’s version of She Thinks I Still Care, written by Dickey Lee and Steve Duffy and released by George Jones in 1962.Now,…
A Forest Of StarsFortress Festival 2026 – Sunday (see Saturday here)Scarborough Spa, North Yorkshire 30th to 31st May 2026Fortress Festival delves in to dungeon synth and hosts the live set no one thought would happen.As we move into the second day, we can reflect that the black metal community in attendance at the festival are serious listeners, who discuss and are well-informed about the genre. Conversations and online forums buzz with information and commentary about the bands playing at the festival.We start the second day with West Yorkshire’s very own A Forest Of Stars playing the main stage, a seven-piece…
Barcelona artist Msb Mario, known as ‘El Niño de la Pili’, is arriving in the UK for two live dates at Newcastle’s The Cluny and Brighton’s Folklore Rooms – June 27th – cop tickets HERE.Msb is a writer and spoken word artist, blending poetry with flamenco, reggaeton, rock and electronic elements. Fresh from 25 shows across his home town, including at renowned venues such as Pacha Barcelona, City Hall, Apolo Bar and Hotel Ocean Drive Barcelona, he took on Hootananny Brixton in London, becoming the first Spanish, spoken word artist to take the stage there.The upcoming shows in the north…
Fresh from the acclaim of her deeply personal EP Seriously Love, Go Home, Blackburn born singer songwriter Charlotte OC returns with Start Of Summer, a track that initially shimmers with warmth and nostalgia before revealing a more poignant emotional core.Built around sun drenched melodies and a sense of carefree summer optimism, the song explores grief, memory and the lasting impact of loss. Written as a tribute to her late father, Charlotte describes it as a reflection on holding on to someone’s presence long after they’re gone, capturing the feeling of conversations left unfinished and love that continues beyond absence.Musically, Start…
Tanis opens a new chapter with The Bad One, an alt-pop single built around soft electronic detail, close vocal pressure, and the messy mechanics of post-breakup blame. “I know I’m no angel, but my dear you weren’t a saint,” she sings, placing the track inside a space where memory, guilt, and self-protection start to blur.The arrangement keeps its frame controlled: crisp pop structure, low-glow electronic texture, and a vocal mixed close enough to carry the tension without overloading the drama.The hook lands with quiet bite: “you can be the good one baby / I can be the bad one.” Instead…
Credit: Mia Al-TaherSusto are an American indie band who have managed to build their own following with their individual take on alt-country and americana that reflects the fact that they were formed in Charleston, South Carolina. Justin Osbourne is the frontman and prime songwriter of the band and is also the guiding force behind Susto Stringband, which he formed after moving to Asheville, North Carolina. He was so enamoured with the local music scene that he formed Susto Stringband with local Asheville musicians, with the aim of playing his Susto songs with bluegrass and old-time arrangements. Americana UK’s Martin Johnson…
Flesh Creep are taking aim at conspiracy theory culture on their new single Flake. The track arrives ahead of their show in London as part of Kerrang!’s Breach showcase at Blondies Taproom, where they’ll play alongside Still In Love, So Far So Good and Shooting Daggers. The song took root when bassist Jack Miles went to the Palestine benefit show in the band’s native Birmingham that Scowl, Pest Control and Speed played after they boycotted Download in 2024. “The instruments for Flake were written after attending a Palestine benefit show at Centrala in June 2024. It was one of those…
Based in England, Blake Baker delivers “We Night Owls”, which is a cinematically stunning track. The opening sequence is a pure delight for my ears. The guitar tone is just stunning, and as soon as Blake’s vocals come in, you’ll be bowled over…. acinematic, emotive indie gem blending stunning guitar work, heartfelt vocals, and atmospheric warmth.What really hit me is that before the first minute is over, you have literally heard the highlights of the track. You have heard his crisp vocals, the tight percussion, the cinematic melodies, and the warmth of the guitar.The whole track is wrapped in this…
Based in England, Matthew James Aylett delivers “Past Goodbye”. The new song from the English singer-songwriter is the first since his self-titled album was released back in 2023. This is quite the comeback for the artist, and this track also doubles up as the title of the EP of the same name….a raw, emotive folk-infused return packed with atmospheric depth and authentic songwriting.Today, we’re focusing on the track itself, and it is a crisp track that has plenty of rich atmospheric folk licks on it, blended with his incredibly emotive vocal tones.It’s an incredibly organic track with lots of instrumentation…