Kings of Leon on The Graham Norton Show

Not long finished watching Kings of Leon perform their latest single “Waste a Moment” on The Graham Norton Show, with a nice glass of JD & coke in my hand (tasty combo). Absolutely amazing and just another reminder why I love these guys so much. Jared, Caleb, Nathan and Matthew may you never change. The live performance was as good as you’d expect, raw and energised, worth those 3 minutes (and anyone else’s who watched) Thank you America for giving us the Kings.

Give the video a try, it’s like a mixed medical and cop drama with a couple of abstract scenes inbetween, featuring both a woman with a blindfold, a crashed car and three cheerleaders.

Niall Horan on The Graham Norton Show

Finished watching Niall Horan, formerly of One Direction from his debut single This Town on The Graham Norton Show and considering that a pop-band this new song of his is surprisingly different and didn’t sound that bad. A nice sounding acoustic soul number with a small bit of Irish influence in it. Unfortunately as good as I found if I’m afraid I won’t be rushing to download the single anytime soon. I know I’m probably being biased here as I wasn’t a fan of One Direction but I don’t approve of anything that’s a product of the Walsh/Cowell machine either and every time I see Niall I just end up thinking of that band.

One To Watch: Evil Scarecrow

This is the first of a new feature for the Nottingham Post, it’s sole idea being to focus on new artists from Nottingham, it’s called One To Watch. For full review go to the  Published Pieces page. Here’s Evil Scarecrow

NN19-NEP-E01-S3-004-0930-CD

 

Amber Riley on The Graham Norton Show

Just finished watching Amber Riley (Mercedes Jones from Glee) perform ‘And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going’ on The Graham Norton Show and my god what a voice. It was actually like watching The West End/Broadway but directly in front of you on the TV, seriously it was that good. As a singer she’s right up there with the likes of the late Whitney Houston, Beyoncé and Shirley Bassey. What a powerhouse of a voice, just stops you in your tracks. Amber’s got some serious talent on her and she’s actually performing it on the West End in the stage production of Dream Girls and tonight was practically a one-off preview.

 

 

Robbie Williams on The Graham Norton Show

Party Like a Russian, the name of Robbie Williams new track and I’ve just heard it on The Graham Norton Show on BBC1 and I’ve got to admit even I liked it. The song itself sounds raw, energised and abstract. A female member of the audience got a pleasant (ish) surprise when Robbie sat on her lap, some people get all the luck don’t they. The performance itself was eye-catching and had some authentic Russian vocals on it, even the backing band looked authentic in their attire. If anything you could almost class this as a potential Bond song. Even though I’m not much of a fan I quite liked it.

 

 

MacMillan Fest 2016@ various venues, Nottingham 3/9/16

The annual event known as MacMillan Fest returned for another year and both Rock City and Rescue Rooms played host to event this year. With 67 acts on the bill the event organisers have pulled out all the stops to make this the best event to date yet. MacMillan Fest is organised by IKE Promotions, courtesy of its head organiser, Kris Davis. The event attracts big names every year to headline its festivals.

This years’ main headlining acts consisted of Seafret and Sikth, whom individually, managed to pull full crowds on both the main stages. Headlining duo Harry Draper and Jack Sedman who make Seafret have only been on the music scene since 2014 and have been making a name for themselves since, closed the night at the Rescue Rooms. Over at the main stage at Rock City, rock metal veterans, Sikth, helped bring the night to a close.  

Other acts that appeared were High Tides, Chasing Dragons, Continents, The Mocking Jays, Inme, The Mitherhead and Black Cats & Magpies raised the roof, you could practically smell the sweat, adrenaline and energy. Returning bands were Our Saving Day and Eyre Llew. Over at the acoustics area at the main bar were Billie, Joseph Knight, Bethany Jowett and Ellie Keegan, who proved that acoustics are just as good as rock/metal bands.

Overall it was a successful day with many musicians, both local and from further afield, playing at all seven venues with plenty of food, drink and merchandise to go around, and oddly enough people willing to get their hair cut for the cause. Don’t ask.

The annual music event which takes place every year in September is to raise both awareness and money for the MacMillan Cancer charity and also helps support local artists at the same time.

 

 

 

 

  

 

Nottingham Post Q&A with Brad Dear

A music Q&A I did with upcoming musician Brad Dear in the run up to the recent Splendour Festival. Have a read and enjoy, the full interview’s on the Published Pieces page.NN19-NEP-E01-S3-004-0902-CD

Subba-Cultcha review piece

An article I did for online magazine/website Subba-Cultcha; MacMillan Fest 2016. Have a read and enjoy at your own leisure.

http://www.subba-cultcha.com/reviews/1833

The infamous single-day-event otherwise known as MacMillan Fest has returned to Nottingham again, this can only mean one thing, two of the town’s best known venues; Rock City and Rescue Rooms, will be heaving with non-stop rock all day long with a mixture of new and returning bands, and some pretty good headliner to. With 67 bands listed on the band bill for the music crammed day the organisers have put everything they’ve got to make this date a must-see event in your dairy. MacMillan Fest is hosted ever year by Kris Davis, who has undeniably worked very hard to make this day one to remember. Over its’ past few years MacMillan Fest has pulled in numerous big names such as Bleed from Within to help it become extraordinary. This time around, two of the headlining acts that got the people packed into the main venues were Seafret and Sikth, whom managed to fill both venues on both the main stages. Seafret, who only came onto the music scene two years ago but have been building momentum ever since they clo

Biffy Clyro @Reading (R+L)Festival 2016

So, after three days of sheer music madness the North/South music mecca of Reading+Leeds has come to a close, and only on BBC4. Tonight’s headliners, Biffy Clyro, made their second appearance on the Main Stage, three years since their last one, and it was just amazing. Led by frontman Simon Neil the Scottish trio sang many of their infamous hits including Rebel Chord, 57, Bubbles, Black Chandelier, The Captain, Many of Horror and Stingin’ Bell to name but a few. For me it was just sheer bliss to watch and to hear some of my favourite songs by Clyro was definitely worth staying up for (armed with a glass of JD &coke). So, that wraps it up for next year, see you again next year R+L.