“Live music is the cure for what ails ya.”
John Rollins
Latest Live Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: The Wombats @ First Direct Arena Leeds
Live Review: The Wombats Close Out Oh! Arena Tour in Euphoric Fashion at Leeds First Direct Arena There’s always something extra special about the last night of a tour. The final show energy, the emotional crescendos, the everything-left-on-stage mindset, and at Leeds’ First Direct Arena, The Wombats delivered all of that and more as they…
LIVE REVIEW: Sam Fender @ First Direct Arena, Leeds
Sam Fender brought his People Watching tour to Leeds Arena on 4th December, and what a night it was. Packed with heartfelt moments, stunning production, and a setlist that had something for everyone, this was the kind of gig that stays with you. Critics on social media might have had their complaints about ticket prices…
Sleep Token at First Direct Arena, Leeds – December 2, 2024: An Arena Ritual to Silence Doubts
In the pantheon of contemporary heavy music, few acts provoke as much debate as Sleep Token. Their genre-defying sound and anonymous presentation inspire fervent devotion among fans while leaving others questioning their place in the industry. On December 2, 2024, at Leeds’ First Direct Arena, Sleep Token delivered a performance that was more than just…
Live from the Front Row: Black Stone Cherry – AO Arena, Manchester
Last night, I found myself in the heart of Manchester at the AO Arena, surrounded by thousands of fellow rock enthusiasts, eagerly awaiting a night with Black Stone Cherry. It was my fifth time seeing the Kentucky rockers, but from the moment the lights dimmed and the opening chords of Me and Mary Jane echoed…
Live from the Front Row: Courteeners + DMAs & Reverend and the Makers – Leeds First Direct Arena
On a chilly November night, the First Direct Arena in Leeds played host to a trio of exceptional acts, each bringing their unique energy to a night full of indie brilliance. Though evidently not sold out, the arena was packed enough to create a lively and electric atmosphere, especially on the floor. The night marked…
LIVE: Ocean Alley + Hockey Dad @ O2 Academy Bournemouth
Live Review: Ocean Alley & Hockey Dad – Bournemouth O2 Academy, 4th September 2024 On a breezy Wednesday night, the Bournemouth O2 Academy played host to an electrifying double bill featuring Ocean Alley, supported by fellow Aussie rockers Hockey Dad. The venue, with its intimate yet grandiose atmosphere, provided the perfect backdrop for a night…
Live Review: Liverpool Sound City ’24, Sunday, 5/5/2024.
If Sound City’s first day was dominated by hometown artists, then day two probably belonged to Scotland. There were some prominent outliers, a powerful performance from local band Reignmaker in the Grand Central Hall was followed by a typically timeless set from local legend Michael Head and The Red Elastic Band. However, blistering, back-to-back-to-back shows…
Live Review: Liverpool Sound City Festival, Saturday 4/5/2024.
Liverpool is a big city. But in some ways it can be a bit of a village. Whatever your proclivities are, be it arc-welding or stamp collecting, fairly soon you’re going to be mixing with all the people who share your interest. And so it was that Spanish Caravan on Slater Street became the village…
Live Review: THE RAH’S, Room Two, Paul Askew – Kazimier Stockroom, Liverpool – 20/4/2024.
Like most artists in the UK, Scottish quintet The Rah’s are feeling the pinch. Financial constraints meant that in the week leading up to this gig the band had to cancel shows in London and Manchester. Touring the country ain’t cheap, especially when you’re based in central Scotland. However, from a personal point of view,…
Live Review: HOT WAX, Aziya, Trout – Future Yard, Birkenhead, 9/4/2024.
Ok, no time for fancy introductions. Strap-in. It was a busy night. We have a lot to get through. Opening artist of the night, for what turned out to be an excellent line-up at Birkenhead’s Future Yard were Trout. Trout is the nom de guerre of Cesca, a Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) alumnus,…
LIVE REVIEW: KEYSIDE, East Exchange, and Alex Spencer – Arts Club Loft, Liverpool, 23/3/2024.
It was a dank, blustery March night in Liverpool, the sort of night that gives some people the blues. Doctors prescribe a fresh fruit diet, and the use of daylight-bulb lamps to those individuals. Well I believe that G.P.s should be prescribing a good dose of Keyside to them instead. The performance of jangly, bright…
Live Review: THE CLOCKWORKS, Nixer, Borough Council – Arts Club Loft, Liverpool, 25/1/2024.
Originally from Galway, but now fighting out of London The Clockworks are James McGregor (vocals/guitar/keyboard), Sean Connelly (guitar), Damian Greaney (drums), and Tom Freeman (bass). They are currently just embarking on an extensive 45-date UK and European tour promoting their debut album Exit Strategy. I headed along to Liverpool Arts Club Loft to see what…
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