Midway through this gig, a chap emerged from the gents beaming and yelling. “What a band! I love this band!” Quite the review. And quite right. I don’t think I’ve ever come out of a gig so unexpectedly buzzing and happy as I did. I’d first seen Turin Brakes as an acoustic duo support act in the early 2000s. I’d heard so little of the last nine albums that I’d almost forgotten how brilliant they are to see and hear live. Despite this, and an early hit or two, Turin Brakes are perennial also-rans who arguably should have the fame of Ed Sheeran. Former Balham choirboys Olly Knights (vocals, acou ..read more

The 90 acts who are vying for the live finals of the Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent competition and ultimately a main stage slot at the festival in June have been revealed. Once again I was one of the long list judges to whittle down our lists of 200 or so acts to come up with three for the final judging panel. As usual its been a tough competition to judge with so many talented acts. Almost all I looked at were either excellent singers, musicians, song writers or performers. In many cases they were all of these. What I also looked for was something a little different that made them stan ..read more

In a week of Gary Lineker related controversy it’s just great to get away from the news and  what better way than a lovely gig. I admit up until last week I wasn’t familiar with these two guys, John R Miller and JP Harris. But one watch of a riotous mad video on YouTube of Florida Blues by J P Harris with a bunch of crazies going mad in a car immediately made me a fan. I’m totally out of my rock n roll comfort zone tonight as these two stars of Americana took it in turns and  then collectively to deliver two distinctively different approaches to country music. First on was J P Harris ..read more

I spend a lot of time listening to, and occasionally writing about, bands that I think are the best around – but most people have never heard of. Eyelids (possibly still officially called Eyelids Or in the UK) fall firmly into that camp. On their 4th proper album (and they release loads of other great stuff on singles, collaborations and live recordings) A Colossal Waste Of Light they continue to quietly release some of the best guitar pop around. Already boasting alumni of Guided By Voices, The Decemberists and other bands in their ranks they are even more of a super-group now with the addit ..read more

Anton Newcombe and his various guises has been ploughing the same musical field for so long now that it is now 37 feet below sea level. First sightings of his band the Brian Jonestown Massacre came in the early nineties. Closely associated with The Dandy Warhols, Anton has the dubious pleasure of being the subject of their 1997 hit Not if you were the last junkie on Earth, allegedly. He resolutely persists with his ramshackle rock n roll vision. He’s fifty five now and still no sign of slowing down. Is Anton a tortured, misunderstood genius or just a scruffy git in a cool hat? With 20 albums ..read more

An opportunity to catch a rare-ish appearance by former Countdown contestant and guitar whizz Nick Saloman AKA The Bevis Frond, was not one to pass by. This time around he was top of the bill at a celebration of 25 years of Flashback Records. Taking place upstairs at London’s illustrious Lexington pub, with a crowd of people, some even older than me (a rarity sadly), time constraints meant his set was reduced to just over an hour. But it was an hour where we got to see him weave his six string magic. He’s got such a large back catalogue, which stretches as far back as the 1980s. It must be a b ..read more

Details of this year’s Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent Competition have been announced, where the winner earns a main stage slot at the iconic event, which takes place in Somerset in June. The winner will also receive a £5,000 talent development prize from the PRS Foundation. Two runners-up will be handed a £2,500 development prize from the Foundation. Entry opens for one week only from 9am Monday 30 January until 5pm Monday 6th February. Those entering need to supply a Youtube link to an original song, plus a link to a video of themselves performing live (even if its only in their bedroo ..read more

And so the wait for a bad Belle and Sebastian album continues. After a dozen albums since 1996 they are back with Late Developers. Its unmistakeably Belle and Sebastian. Full of radio friendly pop while never diminishing their indie music stalwarts status. Recorded at the same time as last year’s Bit of Previous, it could easily have formed a double album. Its no cast offs though from that 2022 release, and is packed with some of their best tunes. Belle and Sebastian perform in Bristol in 2022 (pic, Joe Lepper) Among standouts is the first single I Don’t Know What You See in Me, which the ba ..read more

The last two years were remembered in music for lockdowns and Covid, as bands struggled to play live. While the cost of living crisis is dominating the headlines this time around much of our Top 10 Albums of 2022 selection offers an escape from financial uncertainty and the post-pandemic future. There are moody moments of reflection in our list, but also some wonderful moments of escapism and euphoric pop. Here’s our Top 10 Albums of 2022 list for you to enjoy. 10. John Howard – The Unknown Story of Danielle Du Bois The late transgender rights champion April Ashley is the inspiration for John ..read more

The ghost of Christmas past has popped up this December, via 1970s star Diana Dors, in our latest despatch from John Howard. We regularly review Howard’s albums, but this time he’s sent us a Christmas single, Christmas Was Made For The Children. The track while recorded recently was originally written in 1978 for a show he was doing with  Dors at the music bar Maggie McQueen’s. It was never recorded or performed again but has resurfaced this year for a Christmas project planned by his label Kool Kat Musik. Is it cheesy? Yes. Is it festive? Yes. Is it a heartwarming track when we can all d ..read more