Live Reviews
review: Four Year Strong & Don Broco at The Wedgewood Rooms
Over the last few years Four Year Strong have been crafting a reputation for themselves with their high energy levels and impassioned vocal interaction; inspiring an audience of millions worldwide. After releasing their third album ‘in some way, shape or form’, they head back to our shores on their biggest UK headline tour to date. [...]
review: The Southern Sessions ft Huw Olesker, Count Drachma and Anja McCloskey
The Southern Sessions run by Tom Armstrong carries the ethos that ‘There is a larger musical space outside the cities than inside them’, and he makes a very valid point. Too often bands flock to London attempting to find fame and fortune, leaving behind their dedicated local fan base. At a time when venues are closing down [...]
review: King Charles at Club NME, Portsmouth
Lists, lists and more lists, this time of year is full of them. Lists telling you who you need to hear, what albums (most of which are still unrecorded) will change your life, un-booked gig’s you will have to be at and countless lists of bands with slightly quirky names who are guaranteed to be [...]
Review: Anja McCloskey’s single launch at The Bent Brief
Anja McClosky’s single launch was a very civilised affair. There were all manner of fine fancy cakes and sophisticated banter. Local jazz hideout, The Bent Brief, was packed to the rafters, the audience crammed in and totally focussed on the live music, with some of the regular drinkers around the corner peering around from the [...]
review: Friendly Fires at Southampton Guildhall
Despite it being featured in a number of ‘album of the year’ lists this year, Friendly Fires’ second album Pala seemed to be an effortless repeat of their début until it’s played live… Chad Valley was the first support. Brushing away the winter chill with his shimmering summer synths, Hugo Manuel’s playful pop dance beats also erased [...]
Review: Delays, Oresteia and Seán McGowan at The Brook
It’s the night before Christmas (well, nearly) and the faithful masses are gathering in the city of Southampton to witness what is rapidly becoming an annual tradition – Delays playing a festive hometown gig. Tonight’s lucky venue is The Brook, a great place to watch live music, with excellent acoustics, plus exceptionally helpful and accommodating [...]
Review: Hansel and Gretel at The Berry Theatre
If you are planning on taking the children to a Christmas show this festive season, make sure you take them to Hansel and Gretel at The Berry Theatre in Hedge End, near Southampton. Not only will you be saving a few ££’s, you are also guaranteed to be going home with very happy children, especially if [...]
Review: Peter Pan at The Mayflower Theatre
The stunning sets, sumptuous costumes, flying acrobatics, Smee’s cheesy jokes and a sprinkling of fairy dust make Peter Pan the perfect treat for the whole family this Christmas.
review: Gary Numan at Southampton Guildhall
As I entered the Guildhall from the cold winter chill I had a sneaking suspicion that as I was below the age of 40 I would be in a minority. I was pleasantly surprised to see that, although a considerable proportion of the populace present will have seen Gary Numan in his early years, there [...]
Review: Seán McGowan’s EP Launch at The Joiners
Sean McGowan and Dean Paul provide an exceptionally passionate performance at a packed out Joiners Arms.. It was a tad quiet when I arrived at The Joiners; this made me nervous for the lads as I wished badly for this to be an amazing night for them. I reminded myself that I was terribly keen…who [...]
Review: Against Me! and Crazy Arm at The Talking Heads
Closing Southampton’s premier punk themed festival WTFEST, the audience turned up in great anticipation for Against Me! Florida’s finest punk rock outfit. We find the band in the middle of an extensive European headlining tour and main support for Frank Turner on his latest UK Tour. The band are no strangers to supporting big acts [...]
Review: Marcus Foster at The Joiners
Last time Marcus Foster was at the Joiners the evenings were light, the temperatures were high and a full band came along and supported the solo artist. On this chilly and damp evening the scarves and gloves were out and the Joiners was our open fire playing host to Marcus Foster in a more stripped [...]
Review: Summer Camp at The Joiners
Blogosphere hype can be as much a curse as it can be promotional gold, and many a band have experienced the tightening of its noose around their neck as they’ve taken their unready, undeveloped act on the road. The London duo of Jermey Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey are thankfully not one of these however, and [...]
review: Flogging Molly & The Minutes at Portsmouth Pyramids
So another week and another band from my student days rolls into town in the form of Flogging Molly, the folk punkers really are like a fine wine getting better with age. Having danced around to them in a rather inebriated state at many a Wednesday night in Rhino’s, probably making a complete fool of [...]
Review: Brigade at The Joiners
It felt weird to be heading to the last ever tour of Brigade tonight, especially as the band still have the best years ahead of them. But saying that assurances early on were made that this wasn’t the end of the band completely. Brigade will continue to play live and make music but on a [...]
review: Bastille & Mojo Fury at POP Southampton
If you believe everything you read on the internet, Bastille are going to be THE band to watch in 2012, and judging by the set they played at POP! recently, you’d be hard pressed to disagree with all the bloggers. Playing to a crowd that is pretty much a 50/50 split of South Coast taste-makers and well [...]
review: Josh Pyke, Passenger & Martha’s Man at The Brook
The Brook held host to the opening night of the Sparrows & Crows tour where an Aussie and an Englishman joined forces in one of the most highly anticipated tours of the year. Having played at The Railway and Music In The City, Martha’s Man was no stranger to these parts. After recently winning ‘Best [...]
review: The Dykeenies, Cut Corners and Blonde Louis at The Talking Heads
The Dykeenies make a comeback to remember at the sexiest show I have ever attended… I was fairly certain that when I walked in to The Talking Heads that night that I had literally stepped in to an Abercrombie and Fitch advert. Far beyond out of my league, I didn’t particularly mind that I hadn’t [...]
Review: Scott Matthews at The Brook
You would have thought after three successful albums and an Ivor Novello award under his belt Scott Matthews would be playing bigger venues than The Brook. But it was comfortable this way. Matthews’ sense of humour and jokes and the small crowd and their participation meant that The Brook gave this sense of intimacy and [...]
review: Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Benjamin Francis Leftwich is a man in demand, over the past year he’s managed to build up interest across the board with critical acclaim. He’s achieved regular airplay from Radio 1 and played over 20 festivals in the summer. With his début album ‘Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm’ breaking the Top 40 in the album chart he [...]