The Setlist & The Script

  • SINGLE REVIEW: These New Communications – Barbara.

    Brighton duo Barbara (brothers Henry and John Tydeman) share many of the qualities of the Roman god Janus, famed for his appearance over the the doorways of ancient Roman homes. Firstly, they have two heads. Secondly, they simultaneously face in two directions. Musically they look to the past for inspiration.…

  • Sunday Six – 11th April

    OK, I know it’s been a while, but we used to frequent put out a Sunday 6, a little article featuring our favourite six new releases from the previous Friday. Well…it’s back! And with the quality of tunes released so far this year, it’ll be both the easiest and hardest…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: Brits & Pieces ll – Various Artists!

    I love a good compilation album. Always have done. The curator of Brits & Pieces II, indie music enthusiast Marc Rossiter says he took his inspiration for the project from the Shine series of albums from the Nineties. I can go further back. Somewhere in my tape collection you will…

  • SINGLE REVIEW: Light Up The Sky – Apollo Junction.

    SINGLE REVIEW: Light Up The Sky – Apollo Junction.

    As a band you know that you are heading in the right direction when you can count among your supporters such diverse personalities as Steve Lamacq, Graham Norton and…Marcelo Bielsa. That’s the position Leeds five-piece Apollo Junction currently find themselves in. Light Up The Sky is Apollo Junction’s second single…

  • Q&A: Get to know…Abnorm

    Jay recently caught up with one of Halfway 2 Nowhere’s artists to watch in 2021 to see how their year is going and what the plans are for the future. Abnorm are: Abbie Rose (front woman), Alex McArthur (drums), Jamie Budge (lead guitarist), Matthew Middleton (rhythm guitar)and Krzysztof Furgała (bass).…

  • Q&A: Meet Parker Lee

    The latest band to take on our 2021 Q&A challenge are York based band Parker Lee, a revolving lineup of musicians centred around Jowan Mead and multi-instrumentalist producer Annie Prior. Q1: 2021 will hopefully be better than 2020. What are your hopes and ambitions for the band this year? Jowan: I think…

  • SINGLE REVIEW: Environmental – EAD WOOD.

    For a song about such a serious topic as global warming and it’s detrimental effects on our planet’s fauna, Environmental by Bristol band Ead Wood is actually quite an up-beat, catchy, quirky, little number. Ead Wood are Ed Soles (vocal/guitar), Pete Woollaston (lead guitar), Chris Howarth (bass) and Dave Weir…

  • SINGLE REVIEW: Western Skies – The Pretty Visitors.

    With the release of their third single – Western Skies, Brighton four-piece The Pretty Visitors continue to spring surprises. You don’t know when, or how ‘The Visitors’ will arrive, but when they turn up it’s always a enjoyable distraction. To recap – The Pretty Visitors are Aaron Evans (guitar), Sam…

  • SINGLE REVIEW: Loose Canyon – The Gabriels.

    When future historians and critics come to review the artistic output of 2020/21 (and believe me they will: they will go over it with a fine tooth comb), they will try to establish a theme for the period. I firmly believe that they will come to the opinion that the…

  • Q&A Series 2021: Apollo Junction

    The latest band to take on our 2021 Q&A challenge are Leeds’ Apollo Junction, an accomplished 5-piece who’ve produced some of our most played tracks on the H2N Radio Show. Apollo Junction are…Matt (Guitar), Jamie (Vocals), Ben (Bass), Sam (Keys) & Jonny (Drums) 2021 will hopefully be better than 2020.…

  • Q&A Series 2021 – The Feens

    The latest band to take on our 2021 Q&A challenge are Scarborough’s “The Feens” a lively four piece who have been on ours and many other radars for some time. THE FEENS ARE:Freddie Schmuck (Vox/Guitar), Adam Lodge (Vox/Bass), Sam Dowling (Lead Guitar) and Perrie Bunton (Drums). 2021 will hopefully be…

  • Q&A Series 2021 – narcissus

    The first to take on our 2021 Q&A challenge are an intriguing, innovative band from Manchester, signed to 42s Records, narcissus. NARCISSUS ARE:Ben Guy – VocalsChris James – Beats & programmingLee Mulvey – Bass & guitar 2021 will hopefully be better than 2020. What are your hopes and ambitions for…

  • INTERVIEW: The Luka State – Fall In Fall Out.

    Last Sunday was a day of agony and ecstasy for Conrad Ellis, singer/songwriter with the exciting Winsford indie-rock quartet – The Luka State. He was suffering with an abscess on this tooth, while watching his beloved Manchester United knock arch rivals Liverpool out of the FA Cup. In-between the pleasure…

  • Newcastle. The UK’s best music venues in a city often forgotten

    Newcastle. The UK’s best music venues in a city often forgotten

    Today marks the end of Independent Venue Week, which usually means a week long slew of attention for the many independent venues that operate around the UK during this week. Typically, this week would be packed with live gigs every night of the week as venues partake in the celebrating…

  • SINGLE REVIEW : On the Ropes – Apollo Junction.

    Sometimes in music, like in other areas of the arts, you need to look backwards to move forwards. Just as the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood of Millais, Rossetti and Holman Hunt looked back to the clean lines of pre-renaissance art, so the Leeds Brotherhood of Williamson, Wilson, Potter, Thornton and Hope take…

  • SINGLE REVIEW: BRB – Barbara.

    There cannot be many songwriters that have taken an episode of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror as their muse, but with BRB, Brighton duo, Barbara (Henry and John Tydeman) have done just that. BRB is Barbara‘s debut single and it is a delightful introduction to their work. It’s a luxuriant piece…

  • REVIEW: Goth Girl – VENUS GRRRLS

    Following the release of their debut EP last April, VENUS GRRRLS release their brand new single, and first of 2021, “Goth Girl” on January 22nd. PRE-SAVE “GOTH GIRL” HERE Returning with the first track since their incredible EP, “Wicked Things”, VENUS GRRRLS are clearly out to make a big statement…

  • SINGLE REVIEW: Shake – Hot Laundry.

    The only upside to an extended festive period in Tier 3 is that it gave me the opportunity to catch-up on some of the recent releases that have been sent to me in the forlorn hope of me reviewing them. I don’t encourage this behaviour for three reasons: I am…

  • Reasons To Be Cheerful – 2021.

    Reasons To Be Cheerful – 2021.

    Okay. 2020 is over. Finished. Done with. Don’t look back. Nothing to see there. Turn to the light. Look ahead. Let us focus on the future. With that spirit in mind, after you’ve quaffed your New Year Bubbly in your family bubble, here are a few bands that you can…

  • 2021 Ones to Watch – West Yorkshire

    2021 Ones to Watch – West Yorkshire

    When Adam (H2N editor) asked me if I might like to write a piece about five acts to watch for 2021, my heart sagged a touch. How to choose? 2020 has been such a magnificent year for new music, despite the wipe out car crash going on in the rest…