Preview: Supersonic 2011

Supersonic 2011

You’d be forgiven to believe that now the summer is over that so was the festival season. However you’d be wrong. Capsule’s Supersonic festival in Birmingham’s Custard Factory is an onslaught of extreme, experimental, noise, electronic and rock music, and one that will have any avante garde fan frothing at the mouth.

This year is Supersonic’s 9th invasion of the Custard Factory and has become the one of the most important events in every open minded music fan’s calendar. What sets it apart from many UK festivals is not only its genre bending line-ups where you can find anything from black metal to industrial noise but the workshops and films it provides alongside this. … Continue Reading

Sonisphere 2011 – Our ever so slightly belated review

The best things are worth waiting for though, eh? We sent Paul Caudell to Sonisphere a little over a month ago, and here’s his review. Photos by Ben Gibson (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hideoutbenphotography/).

Sonisphere was back for it’s 3rd year and we couldn’t have be more excited. It was bigger, it was louder and it was thrashier than before. We set off from London to Knebworth House with the Muso’s Guide ‘Palace of Dreams’ in hand and a whole lot of jagermeister to embark on a metal encrusted rock’n’roll weekend, we did it just for you, no one else.   … Continue Reading

Passion Pit/Ellie Goulding, London Forum

March 11, 2010

All photos by Paul Caudell:

Ellie Goulding

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She Keeps Bees – London Black Heart

She Keeps Bees

Wandering the dark backstreets of Camden is not something I’d normally recommend to anyone but it is the only way you’ll find tonight’s venue. The Black Heart has proved itself to be a hidden gem of Camden Town by simply walking around the corner to find a giant black heart swinging from the wall. It’s the black cherry on the cake that stripped down ranchy blues rock duo She Keeps Bees are joining us tonight courtesy of The Allotment.

The Allotment are treating us to a three-strong line-up of female fronted rock bands this evening. Both Lulu & The Lampshades and surprise guests Peggy Sue & The Pirates smash out sterling sets; filling the room with personality and showing off quirks such as playing a typewriter with drumsticks which is only emphasized by the excellent village fete atmosphere provided by the organizers.

She Keeps Bees are nothing short of their reputation as thumping southern styled blues when they get going with their first song ‘Release’ from one of my album highlights of last year, Nests. There is something about She Keeps Bees which keeps at least one foot tapping . Jessica’s vocals tonight add to Andy’s thump and make them something slow enough to be sultry and gritty enough to be ranchy. The anthemic ‘Gimme’ engulfs this intimate venue with their raw garage groove and heads are nodding involuntarily. They show a slightly more country side to the pair with ‘Wear Red’ a loosely strung song with a belting vocal hook that still has it’s foot firming in the proverbial blues door.

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Ones To Watch in 2010: Dimbleby and Capper

Dimbleby and Capper

Don’t be fooled by the ampersand, for Dimbleby & Capper are just one. 22-year-old Laura Bettinson – who miraculously remains unsigned – produces witty, refreshing and sultry dark electronic pop. She certainly has a lot in common with artists like Goldfrapp and The Knife, but adds a more playful reality to the electro-pop tunes. Tipped by Radio1’s Huw Stephens, she featured on the ‘BBC Introducing’ stage backed by an entourage of masked musicians at this years Glastonbury. Laura will no doubt be riding the crest of 2010’s torrent of Microkorg toting electro-pop artists. To hear Dimbleby & Capper is to understand why. One visit to her MySpace page will have you humming to yourself for weeks. … Continue Reading

Max Richter – London Union Chapel

Max Richter

October 30th 2009

Tonight Max Richter is playing at London’s Union Chapel as part of the Marginalised festival. The festival has been lucky enough to have such artists as Gavin Bryars and Michael Nyman. The Marginalised festival is in its second year supporting the charity Margins, which is based right here in the Union Chapel. Margins helps the homeless and people with both mental health and alcohol problems.

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Chromehoof, London Barbican

October 6, 2009

Chromehoof never cease to amaze. They look like the Sun Ra left his Arkerstra and started a cult. This cult then raided Moloko’s wardrobe and donned the stage to provide the world (or at least the UK) with with an eclectic blend of Jazz, Doom Metal, Ambience, Experimentalism and, well, an indesribeable amount more.

I first saw them supporting Sunn o))) at Jarvis Cocker’s Meltdown. When they came out I was blown away by their 12 foot robots, mirrored robes, abstract dancers and unique sound – so much so that they out played the headliners. … Continue Reading

Helios/Goldmund/Rameses III, London Union Chapel

Goldmund

August 11th, 2009

Fresh from this summer’s Big Chill Festival, Keith Kenniff has hit London’s shores at Islington’s Union Chapel, a functioning church on Highbury Corner. With its church acoustics it is very much a quirky venue for this evening’s event, put on by Arctic Circle radio in association with our very own homegrown Type Records.

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Solid Gold/O Children, London Queen of Hoxton

Solid Gold

Queen of Hoxton is noticeably one of the coolest new venues to grace the area this year. You walk in the door and you are surrounded by splash of Shoreditch scenester and a light pinch of city boy; the place fits the bill. Central location, great artwork, over-priced beer and already a history of great new bands. It’s the perfect place for a night of new music.

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