Somerset, UK - 2016′s Glastonbury Festival opened its gates on Wednesday followed by tales of up to 12 hour queues to get onsite, along with the combination of rain and people on already well-watered land, turning the lush pastures of Worthy Farm into a familiar quagmire. The weather was kinder to early festival goers on Thursday but less so to those
London – Having condensed this year’s Glastonbury Festival line-up to a mere 36 A4 pages of 10-point type, the red pen quickly runs out as you mark down all those must-see acts from tempting newcomers to sure-fire headliners. Mindful that your name isn’t Marty McFly, or the good Doctor for that matter, the process of scheduling who
London – There were many raised eyebrows in the summer of ’14 when founding lead guitarist Billy Bibby parted company with Catfish & The Bottlemen just as seven years of serious dues-paying were about to culminate in the release of subsequent hit album, The Balcony. Bibby seemed uncertain of his immediate plans beyond some song
London – Edinburgh-based folk-blues band King Eider uses traditional musicianship to craft a comparatively modern acoustic sound, combining fine four-part harmonies, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and violin. Able to switch from soft to loud, welding haunting passages to a driving upbeat vibe, the inventive five-piece has drawn comparisons with the likes of Mumford & Sons and Arcade
London – UK rock band Catfish and the Bottlemen is loved by fans somewhat more than by critics; which is probably the right way round if you are keen to sell out venues rather than simply bask in hype. Despite some critical coolness, there is much to like about the band’s uncomplicated approach to its resolute and riff-happy
London – Bristol three-piece IDestroy has been on the attack since the February release of debut EP, Vanity Loves Me. Regularly packing them in both at hometown venues and further afield, the young trio of singer-guitarist Bec Jevons, Becky Baldwin on bass, and backing vocals and drummer Jenn Haneef trades in short, infectious tunes with a cutting edge.
London – The Waiting Room nests underneath the Three Crowns pub in the drab North London neighbourhood of Stoke Newington. It may not be the smartest part of town but the venue, described as an intimate basement space, was hosting an event where the expectation was decidedly heavenly. For intimate though, read small; indeed a postage stamp of
London – British singer-songwriter Lail Arad has waited quite a while to deliver a follow-up to her 2011 debut Someone New, but the aptly titled The Onion largely shows much merit, with her outwardly patient approach to writing and recording. Though the artiste is London born and based, there is very much a cosmopolitan – and at times continental
London – “Good evening, London! What a beautiful theatre… so many beautiful places here,” was how Jess Wolfe of Lucius responded to the reception afforded to the band’s two opening songs. Lucius loves London, and the city seems to hold the Brooklyn five-piece in similar regard, given the size of the crowd crammed into the three floors of Koko.
London – The annual Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent Competition, supported by PRS for Music and the PRS for Music Foundation, reached its climax on Saturday evening in the Somerset village of Pilton, close to the actual festival site. As a first round judge, Best New Bands has followed the action keenly and was especially pleased that one of