Another fine performance from Manchester City Women yesterday. Goals from Shaw, Miedema and a hatrick from Kerolin who did some excellent goal celebrations.
The always excellent Stereolab at the Ritz last night with their usual mix of dreamy pop melodies and incisive critiques of capitalism. Great support from Brazilian band Mombojo.
Got free tickets to see Corinne Bailey Rae at Factory International last night. She has an amazing voice, and I especially enjoyed the more spacey newer stuff and her rock wig-out to New York Transit Queen.
Obongjayar mixing soul, afrobeat and rap and showing off his amazing vocal range at Gorilla last night.
Our second round of Sheffield nostalgia this week, ABC doing the whole of Lexicon of Love backed by an orchestra, conducted by the wonderful Anne Dudley.
Our second time seeing Cabaret Voltaire on their reunion tour, this time at Gorilla in Manchester. Still sounding simultaneously unsettling and danceable, and I had a better view this time. Great found sounds and crunchy electronics from support act I Am Fya
Another fine performance from Manchester City women's team at the local derby. Goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp, but also a shout out to Aoba Fujino for her Bobby Gillespie haircut, her tenacity and her ability to be seemingly everywhere.
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.
Another great gig, with Kathryn Joseph doing her usual beautiful, dark and haunting songs with some added banging beats.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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)
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.
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.
A great night out with the full on relentless beats of Factory Floor
.....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, glorious as ever. Frantic noise from Snõõper. Eclectic indie from English Teacher. Joyful 90s tinged sounds from Jasmine 4t....
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.
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.
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.
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.
Another great, shouty, funny gig from proper Cardiff girls Panic Shack, with lively support from Duvet.
