Review: Eccentric Roisin Murphy delights at Beacon with powerhouse electronica (11/2/24)
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Review: This Is The Kit’s large and affable UK tour closer at the Beacon (3/2/24)
Tonight’s homecoming show has Bristol-based musician Kate Stables and her project This is the Kit arrive at the final stop of a lengthy UK and Ireland tour. While previous shows have seen them perform in the relative modesty of 500-600… Continue Reading
Review: Ocean Colour Scene – nostalgia and new beginnings at Bristol Beacon (4/12/23)
At the start of tonight’s show, it already feels as if new ends and new beginnings permeate the room. Just one day out from Bristol Beacon’s opening weekend after a renaming and renovation project worth a staggering £132 million saw… Continue Reading
Review: Ben Folds’ Brilliant Tour Opener at Bath Forum (8/11/23)
(Photo by Alysse Gafkjen) Two songs into tonight’s performance, singer-songwriter Ben Folds declares “It’s the first night of our UK tour. This is the night that sucks, and the rest of it will be amazing.” But many false things have… Continue Reading
Review: Forwards Festival brings a weekend of shimmering music to the Downs
An early September weekend with thousands of Bristolians flooding northwards across the Downs can only mean one thing – Forwards Festival is back, bringing together the city for a brace of line-ups combining heritage acts with up and coming stars.… Continue Reading
Review: Amanda Shires – amid Glasto and Bristol Sounds – gives an excellent show in the shadows at The Exchange
(Photo by Michael Schmelling) It makes one endeared to the Bristol music scene that – on an evening whereby live music alternatives are available in the form of the Glastonbury Festival and James’ concurrent appearance at the harbourside – there’s… Continue Reading
Review: Kurt Vile’s enjoyable, not always essential, guitar jams at SWX
Though the Philadelphia born singer/songwriter’s laidback guitar jams and hirsute gawkiness have seen him typecast as something of a stoner rock dude, Kurt Vile and his Violators appear punctual and focused as they take to tonight’s stage. Apparently, Vile isn’t… Continue Reading
Review: Arctic Monkeys’ generation-spanning masterclass at Ashton Gate (29/5/23)
(Photo by Paul Gillis/Reach PLC) Eighteen years since they emerged from Sheffield with 2005 debut Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, Arctic Monkeys remain a 21st century musical behemoth. That album’s distinctly Northern-flavoured navigations of fledgling… Continue Reading