Karen Pudner

Gwenno playing synth in a black lace dress by candlelight

Gwenno playing synth in a black lace dress and wearing a cat mask

Quinquis playing analogue synth

Gwenno was fantastic, doing songs in Welsh, Cornish and even a bit of English. And being a cat at one point. And great support from Quinquis, who sang in Breton about mermaids. Obviously.

Kathryn Joseph playing keyboard in a short sleeved dark top, under blue and purple lights

Another great gig, with Kathryn Joseph doing her usual beautiful, dark and haunting songs with some added banging beats.

Cabaret Voltaire on stage, Chris Watson on electronics and Steve Mallinder singing

A trip to Sheffield for our third gig of the week to see a (partly) reformed Cabaret Voltaire doing some full-on but danceable industrial electronics, 50 years after their first gig.

Robyn Hitchcock in a blue and purple shirt playing acoustic guitar

Another wonderful gig from Robyn Hitchcock with his usual stream of consciousness and train chat - he promised to check out Manchester Victoria on his next visit.

I'm still reeling from the awesome guitar skills of Gwenifer Raymond at Gulliver's on Wednesday. Originally from Wales, I think she must have sold her soul to the devil at a crossroads, possibly in Cardiff on a Saturday night.

The band Cymande on stage.

The much sampled Cymande are now getting credit in their own right and got the whole of the Albert Hall dancing in their seats on Thursday.

Edwyn Collins seated in a grey suit and red shirt, singing with his son William in a green t-shirt and jeans

Cate le Bon in a pale latex dress, playing guitar and singing

2 great Celtic gigs this week. Edwyn Collins on his farewell tour brought back lots of wonderful nostalgia, and was joined by his son William (who looked nervous but has a terrific voice) for one of his newer songs.
Then Cate le Bon with her distinctive, dreamy and gloriously off-kilter sounds.

The Beta Band on stage playing guitars keyboard and drums with their silhouettes and sparkling lights behind them.

Another great gig, revisiting the wonders of The Beta Band and the 3 EPS, including a glorious audience sing-along to the end of Dry The Rain. "If there's something inside that you wanna say
Say it out loud, it'll be okay"

Self Esteem wearing a blue shirt surrounded by backing singers in black tracksuits.

Self Esteem surrounded by backing singers all in Handmaid's Tale style outfits.

Tom Rasmussen in a black vest and black trousers, singing with one arm outstretched

Self Esteem and her backing singers put on a brilliant, inspiring show on Monday night. I think more bands should end their set by conga-ing off stage to Shirley Bassey. Great acoustic support set from Tom Rasmussen too.

Brighde Chaimbeul sounding bewitching at Band on the Wall last night.

Mermaid Chunky on stage with brightly costumed dancers.

Maxine Peake, holding a sign saying "Maxine Fucking Peake" standing over someone lying on the floor with a sign saying "Gentrification"

Poor Creature on stage, male violinist, male drummer, female keyboard player.

Jennifer Reid in a white skirt and yellow t-shirt, belting out some broadside ballads.

Highlights from the Supersonic festival in Birmingham a couple of weeks back. Mermaid Chunky and friends, Maxine "F**king" Peake slaying the forces of gentrification in the Supersonic mummer's play, Poor Creature with some atmospheric folk, Jennifer Reid doing Lancashire broadside ballads.(1/2)

Moonchild Sanelly in shades and a brown dress, singing on stage at Shambala festival

Ustad Noor Bakhsh playing a zither type instrument, accompanied by 2 sitar players

The Zawose Queens playing hand drums on stage at Shambala festival.

Had a great time at Shambala festival a few weeks ago, as a volunteer steward for Oxfam, but with enough free time to see some acts too. Moonchild Sanelly, Ustad Noor Bakhsh and The Zawose Queens were particularly good. And went to a Balkan singing workshop. Top tip, try to sing like a nasaly goat.

After a summer drought of live music I now suddenly have lots to share. Let's start with the majestic Mohammad Syfkhan.

Left to right Russ Mael in a pink and green suit singing and gesticulating, Ron Mael dressed in black seated at the keyboard.

The fabulous Sparks going down a storm at The Apollo last night.

Joyful sounds with Kanda Bongo Man and friends at Band on the Wall on Friday.

Two members of Factory Floor on stage playing synths

A great night out with the full on relentless beats of Factory Floor

The band Kneecap on stage from a distance, in front of a large crowd. They are barely visible but one of the front men can be seen on the big screens on each side of the stage.

Peaches crowd surfing in a pink leotard with large shoulder ruffles.

.....Caught a couple of numbers from Kneecap, in defiant mood, then ended the day with the always marvellous Peaches explaining to Gen Zs that they need to put their phones down if they want her to crowd surf.

Nadine Shah in a short black dress and high black boots, singing in a semi crouching position. Her band, guitar, bass and drummer in the background.

Snõõper singer on stage in a cropped red top.

Singer from English Teacher in a brown Adidas jacket, singing and playing electric guitar.

Jasmine from Jasmine 4T, a woman with pink and blue hair, wearing a dark blue jacket and shirt red tartan skirt playing electric guitar and singing.

....Nadine Shah, glorious as ever. Frantic noise from Snõõper. Eclectic indie from English Teacher. Joyful 90s tinged sounds from Jasmine 4t....

Gaye Su Akyol singing and gesturing, wearing a wide brimmed black hat, a long black pvc coat, white shorts and silver platform shoes.

A member of Mermaid Chunky singing and playing keyboards in a flouncy blue dress. She is surrounded by dancers in a variety of colourful and strange outfits. In the background a screen displays a huge red jellyfish.

Martin Rev in shades, a purple pvc vest and black pvc trousers, singing and playing keyboards.

Only just got around to posting these photos from the Wide-Awake Festival in London Town last week.

A strong look and some Turkish psych from Gaye Su Akyol. More strong looks and trancey folk from Mermaid Chunky and friends. Martin Rev growing old disgracefully and noisily.

Kristen Hersh playing electric guitar

She's done some wonderful stuff solo and with 50 Foot Wave but Kristen Hersh is back with a new Throwing Muses line up, including her son. Good to hear some old stuff and the new songs sound great too.

Sam Amidon in a dark blue shirt, playing acoustic guitar.

Sam Amidon playing acoustic guitar, with double bass player and drummer.

I had a really nice 3 day break in London doing music, art and theatre. I'll be posting a load of photos from the Wide-Awake festival soon, but in the meantime here are some photos of Sam Amidon and his band playing some folky, jazzy tunes.

Ex-Easter Island Head (4 men dressed in black)on stage with guitars placed horizontally on stands, hitting the strings with sticks.

Ellen Beth Abdi in a short sleeved patterned top and denim skirt, playing a synth and singing.

Nice afternoon out at the Manchester Jazz Festival yesterday. Ex-Easter Island Head making strange and wonderful sounds by doing strange and wonderful things to guitars. Followed by Levenshulme's Ellen Beth Abdi with some beautiful live looped vocals.

Panic Shack's singer, a white woman with pigtails and a grey top on stage.

Panic Shack's guitarist, a white woman with long brown hair and a black top on stage.

Panic Shack's bass player, a white woman with brown hair and a pink patterned top on stage.

Panic Shack's guitarist, a white woman with long brown hair, a black top and leopard print trousers on stage.

Another great, shouty, funny gig from proper Cardiff girls Panic Shack, with lively support from Duvet.

The band Tristwch Y Fenywod, for on left to right female guitarist, female drummer and female zither player.

The band Big Joanie. From left to right, female guitarist, female drummer, female guitarist/singer, female bass player.

Marlene Riberio on stage doing synthy stuff.

Singer/toaster Grove on stage joined by Ghetto Fabulous doing some voguing.

A quick break for a Bundobust vada pav, then on to the bewitching sounds of Tristwch and Fenywod,riot grrl with Big Joanie, calming synths with Marlene Riberio, and finishing up with some punky dancehall by Grove x Toya Delazy x TaliaBle joined by the Ghetto Fabulous vougers.

The band Marsy in stage, from left to right, male bass player, drummer, female guitarist/singer, male guitarist.

The singer Gwenno, in a black dress with white sleeves, singing and playing piano.

The singer Jennifer Reid in a blue top and Victorian style long red skirt, singing a Lancashire folk song with gusto.

Another excellent Sounds From The Other City. Started with some country krautrock from Marsy, then Gwenno being a piano diva in English, Welsh and Cornish, followed by Jennifer Reid and her joyous renditions of traditional Lancashire (and one Yorkshire) folk songs.

A band on stage silhouetted by back lighting, from left to right, bass player, violinist and saxophonist(Alabaster de Plume).

A woman (Lucy Gooch) with long brown hair and blue shirt and trousers playing a synth and singing.

Some intense but joyful jazz from Alabaster de Plume and friends, supported by the ethereal vocals and layered synths of Lucy Gooch.

Richard Dawson, a white man with a beard and glasses, seated, playing electric guitar, wearing a blue cap, khaki t-shirt and black shorts.

Lovely to see Richard Dawson live again, playing some new stuff. And the Stoller Hall is a great venue.

Trans flag with ‘trans rights are human rights’ written on it.

Sending love and support to all trans, non-binary and gender queer people today (and every day).

💜 💜 💜

The band The Man from Delmonte on stage. From left to right, male electric guitarist in a red T shirt, bearded male drummer in a grey jacket, male singer and acoustic guitar player in a red shirt, female bass player in a red top.

A woman with short brown hair in a white satin shirt playing electric guitar.

A great nostalgic night out to see 80s Manchester indie pop favorites The Man from Delmonte. And support act The Mudd Club got the evening going with some punky garage rock.

Jane Weaver, a woman with long blond hair playing electric guitar.

Verity Susman from Memorials, a woman with long light brown hair in a blue dress playing keyboards surrounded by red fairy lights.

Some lovely mesmerising music from Jane Weaver supported by The Memorials. Nice to go to a gig in Stockport for a change too, big up the viaduct!