Ed Sheeran @ Glastonbury 2017

June 25, 2017 — Leave a comment
Everyone’s favourite ginger Hip-Hop rock-star Ed Sheeran took to the stage tonight both debuting and headlining the main stage at Glastonbury tonight. Considering that this man was a complete unknown more than 5 years ago he’s come a long way. He Just comes on stage full of energy and is just electrifying to watch as he opened his set with Castle On The Hill. A one-man band Ed treated the crowds to his hit songs including Bloodstream, Galway Girl, Lego House, Eraser and Take It Back/Superstition during his made great use of his rap skills and reminded everyone why he’s a one-man band star in his own right. Seriously this guy’s talents know no bounds, also it’s just him on-stage. The music continued with more songs such as I’m A Mess, Photograph in which he and the crowd sang together. For one of his songs, Nancy Mulligan, he invited a small folk quartette which was really good. Had a an Irish-folk feel to it. Ed continued his set with the incredible Thinking Out Loud, Sing and Shape Of You. He ended both his set and the night with his self-written debut hit You Need Me I Don’t You after by which point the adrenaline was just oozing from all areas. Seriously, Ed ,dude, promise us that’ll you’ll return to Glastonbury at some point. YOU ROCK!!! Live link courtesy of Huw Stephen, Jo Whiley and Shaun Keaveny
Considering that this was it debut it was amazing, electrifying and pure magic, and it’s safe to say we all witnessed something purely incredible. Even whilst wearing the infamous rainbow flag.
Also Barry Gibb, the eldest of the Gibb brothers and of The Bee Gees performed to a massive crowd during the infamous Legends Slot. He played their infamous hit track Stayin Alive which is guaranteed to get the entire crowd moving, even the stage crew took to the photography pit and joined in.
Sadly there won’t be any Glastonbury next due to it’s fallow year, so see you all again in 2019

Foo Fighters @ Glastonbury 2017

June 25, 2017 — 1 Comment
The American rock legends also known as the Foo Fighters are back for another round at the main stage right now, and my word they definitely know how to get the crowds going. Led by the incredible Dave Grohl they’ve been performing many of their hits including Something From Nothing, The Pretender. At numerous times during the performance Dave incited the crowds to dance along with him, as well as general talk. Credit where it’s due though as getting the crowds to do things with you can be a feat in itself, good on you Grohl, good on you. Sometimes you are more than just a rock-star. The Foo’s continued in their set with more songs such as Cold Day In The Sun, Congregation, Walk-Wasting Light, he even dedicated on of their songs, These Days, to his surgeon. Don’t ask. The crowd continued to sing the song even after the band paused mid-way through. Songs continued with My Hero, Wheels, a fresh new one called Run, This Is A Call, Arlandria, Monkey Wrench, Best of You and Skin & Bones. Towards the end of their set they paid homage to Adele (one of last years’ headliners) by saying the F-word 34 times. Adele did swear quite a bit if you can remember. Taylor, the band’s drummer, did a solo Queen number Under Pressure which was actually good. The night ended on the great finale with a rendition of Everlong before getting everyone together for an explosive final complete with fireworks. Seriously, these guys are that good you just can’t fault them, well I can’t anyway. Live link courtesy of Huw Stephens and Lauren Laverne.
This will the first time that Foo Fighters have appeared at Glastonbury as they were meant to play two years ago but had to pull out due to Grohl’s injury. For those who can remember he broke his leg during a gig in Sweden

Radiohead @ Glastonbury 2017

June 24, 2017 — Leave a comment
So, it’s been 20 years since they played at Glastonbury Festival and now they’ve returned and it’s as though they’ve never been away, seriously their set was as electrifying as ever. I still love these guys as strongly as ever and are incredible live and got straight into action with Lucky. Thom Yorke’s vocals are just irresistible and haunting as they performed more of their infamous hits including Just, Bodysnatchers, Street Spirit, Big Ideas (Don’t Get Any) and 2+2=5. By the time by sang their other hit track No Surprises everyone in the crowd (including yours truly) was gagging for more. More songs followed into the night with Paranoid Android, Fake Plastic Trees, Lotus Flower, Creep. Throughout parts of the performance they were bathed in blue and red lighting which oddly enough fitted the moods of the songs. The performance ended on the upbeat Karma Police, at the end of the song the crowd joined in the singing, even after the band had left the stage. This is yet another in a long line of performances that I just cannot bring myself to fault (also co’s I couldn’t find any). Thanks to Jo Whiley and Shaun Keavney for the live link
This will be the third time they’ve appeared at the festival as headliners. They first headlined in 1997, and again in 2003, making them the third band to have done so. Amazing feat in itself.

Alison Moyet on The Graham Norton Show

June 16, 2017 — Leave a comment
Currently watching iconic 80’s singer Alison Moyet (remember Only You and All Cried Out?, ask your mum) perform her latest single The Rarest Birds right now on the Graham Norton Show on BBC1. Andy Serkis introduced her in his Gollum way. Seriously now, I’m completely hooked  and Alison’s got one hell of voice on her that’s simply haunting. Sounds vaguely David Bowie-ish and has a weird sort of power-rock ballad-fell to it. The Rarest Birds actually sounds quite good as a single and Ms Moyet hits all the high notes. Woody Harrelson provided some laughs and joked that he comes over to the UK so often he feels like an ex-pat. Aww, thanks Woody, didn’t know you felt that way. Oh, and he’s also in the new Planet Of The Apes movie

Shawn Mendes on The Graham Norton Show

June 10, 2017 — Leave a comment
Not long finished watching Canadian singer Shawn Mendes performing his latest single ‘There’s Nothing Holding Me Back’ on The Graham Norton Show on BBC1. I admit it’s not too bad a song and Shawn has got a good voice but sadly I’m not really getting into this song the music itself isn’t too bad, also he’s good with a guitar but even that’s not swaying me. Now I didn’t know this but he started out as a YouTube sensation. And just for a little extra amusement I’ve just seen Rachel Weisz, Martin Freeman and Anthony Joshua punch a punch bag. Remind me to never get on her bad-side. From what I’ve seen she can definitely pack a punch.
Tonight’s episode was late due to the election results coverage, which is a slight pain in the ass.

 

Beth Ditto on The Graham Norton Show

June 2, 2017 — Leave a comment
Only just this moment finished watching from front-woman of 00’s indie band The Gossip, Beth Ditto, perform her new solo single Fire on BBC1 on The Graham Norton Show at the moment. It’s actually really good and Beth’s just such an amazing vocal force to be reckoned with, seriously everyone this woman’s been gone for too long but this just makes up for in the best way possible. There’s just something in both her voice and performance that makes the whole thing totally electrifying. Fire is miles away from the iconic Standing In The Way Of Control.

One To Watch: The Tangents (online)

June 2, 2017 — Leave a comment

My latest One To Watch from Nottingham Post online with new band The Tangents, have a read and enjoy. Print version to follow soon.

http://www.nottinghampost.com/nottingham-music-scene-one-to-watch-the-tangents-they-play-the-maze-in-june/story-30346752-detail/story.html
Nottingham indie rock ‘n’ roll band The Tangents have just released their debut single Forever More with a second called Tonight following soon. Adam Humphreys spoke to them… How long have…

 

Radio 1 Big Weekend in Hull: the highlights

May 30, 2017 — Leave a comment
Radio 1’s Big Weekend has enjoyed another great weekend up north in the City of Hull, which is also currently enjoying it’s year as the City of Culture. So far this years’ highlights including Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Lorde, Zara Larsson, Stormzy, Shawn Mendes, Emeli Sande’, Little Mix,. putting on some amazing performances throughout the whole of the festival. During Emeli Sande’ performance there was a red heart in the background with MANCHESTER written on it as she dedicated one of her songs Highs & Lows to the victims of the recent Manchester terrorist attack on the 22/5/17. French artist Christine & The Queens did an amazing performance of her hit single Tilted during which the crowd sang with her. She even had dancers on the stage with her, seriously she is something of an incredible artist. Former X-Factor singer James Arthur played to the crowds with his song Say You Won’t Let Go, which sounds a lot like The Scripts The Man Who Can’t Be Moved. Wonder if they’ve heard it. Kasabian played their new hit You’re In Love With A Psycho with Tom and Sergio dressed in weird but interesting gear. Clean Bandit played before the crowd whilst making good use of a cello. Katy Perry stole the show as the headlining act. She did dedicate her first song to the victims of the Manchester bombings. That song was Part Of Me which seemed very appropriate for the mood and gave new meaning to the lyrics ‘This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me. Indeed a fitting tribute. 🙂

Liam Payne on The Graham Norton Show

May 26, 2017 — Leave a comment
Finished watching former (and I say former) One Direction singer Liam Payne perform his solo single Strip That Down on The Graham Norton Show on BBC1. I admit, it’s a good song and with a good intro and Liam’s got a certain solo charm about him, though I’ll have to tell the truth and admit I’m not really into it. Both Liam and the song. I mean it’s a good effort as  it’s not for me. The only good thing I’ll say about tonight’s performance is that he’s dances in-sync with the backing dancers. Salma Hayek and David Walliams are both a good laugh as always.

Sheryl Crow on The Graham Norton Show

May 19, 2017 — Leave a comment
Tonight’s Graham Norton Show seems to be getting good today as we’ve now had TWO musical acts, first Keith Urban and Mel C and now US music legend Sheryl Crow with her new song Be Myself. I’m completely loving it after the first few seconds, though I can hear a little bit of Soak Up The Sun there. Sheryl got one of those voices which fit both the tune and song perfectly and it sounds like she’s progressed quite a bit as an artist. Don’t quite know about you but I could listen to this song a few times over and not get bored of it. Also the line ‘If I can’t be someone else’ just goes round and round your head melodically, and Sheryl’s as great as ever.