David Bowie World Fan Convention, St George’s Hall Liverpool, 26th-28th July 2024
Now in its third annual outing, the David Bowie World Fan Convention returns to Liverpool at the weekend to celebrate the theme for 2024 – ‘The Year of the Diamond Dogs’. 50 years on since the release of one of Bowie’s classic albums, fans from around the world will get together in the company of some very special guests including Alan Yentob, George Murray, Ava Cherry, Carlos Alomar, Ken Scott and Woody Woodmansey. It promises to be an absolute treat for fans, with opportunities to see live performances and attend in conversation events looking at Bowie’s recordings, fashion and role of muse behind the camera lens for both Kevin Cummins, who surely has one of the most comprehensive catalogues of music photography across the decades, and Denis O’Regan, whose exhibition of photos taken whilst touring with his friend received much acclaim.
Photos- Header image: Fans attending the Bowie Ball at BowieCon Liverpool 2022 (c) Jazamin Sinclair Above: David Bowie World Fan Convention Liverpool 2022 (c) Rishika Nath
Victorious Festival, Southsea Common, Portsmouth, 23rd – 25th August 2024
Just a month to go until the magic of Victorious turns Southsea Common into an entire festival village for the late summer bank holiday weekend again. It truly is a festival site with a view, where you can catch some of your favourite acts while the boats go by in the distance on the Solent, or use the castle as a handy meeting point.
This year’s event, as always, has some huge names playing and loads of other activities too. Headline slots are filled by Fatboy Slim (Friday), Jamie T (Saturday) and Biffy Clyro (Sunday). Across the various stages you can also catch the ever popular on the festival circuit Sugababes, boy band member turned indie champion Louis Tomlinson, near neighbours from the Isle of Wight Wet Leg, dance act award winner Becky Hill, the critically acclaimed Arlo Parks, and alt rockers old(er) and new(er) Pixies and IDLES. But don’t forget to check out the names further along the line-up too, as there are some artists there with big live reputations – keep an eye out for Fast Trains, Welly, Personal Trainer and Panic Shack amongst others.
Fancy a break from the music? There’s comedy from Russell Howard, Frankie Boyle & Al Murray, a kids’ arena, roller disco and rows of food stalls and other vendors. Bring your sun cream and if it’s a family day out do make sure you have ear protectors for any little ones (hearing safety tips come for free – it’s a personal bugbear!).
Remaining tickets available herebut don’t hang around too long! There are also loads more details, the full line-up and FAQson the website– do take a look to make the best plans for your weekend.
Back with more big names this summer, On The Beach did what it said on the tin and took over a stretch of Brighton’s seafront for an array of genre-spanning acts – and the sunshine came out to play too. Sunday saw a crowd of 10,000 people enjoying local headliners The Kooks, plus plenty more live music from Sea Girls, Maxïmo Park, Kate Nash, Brooke Combe, Nieve Ella and Fred Roberts. Mike Burnell was there to capture some fantastic shots throughout the day, gallery below.
Children of the Pope, Canned Pineapple & Red Ivory at The Prince Albert, Brighton, 17th July 2024
A night made for dancing and tunes to fill the (dare I say it out loud) summer evenings. Repping the South London scene, Red Ivory seemed pretty happy to have escaped briefly to the coast. Their set jumped from lulls of shoegaze to indie-grunge reminiscent of Hole and the like, and kicked things off nicely.
Next, taking the middle slot, the 60s came alive with some very fine outfits bedecking locals Canned Pineapple, and moves to make the Ready Steady Go-ers of the era proud. Lots of fun, not to mention some big singalong songs with great melodies and cut-throat riffs.
Headliners Children of the Pope ensured there was no let up in pace, with a heavy psych twist and bags of energy. Their capacity to command the room kept things elevated till it was time to pile back out onto the balmy streets of Brighton. Gallery from all three bands below.
While we’re here, can I just highlight again the importance of the grassroots venues that consistently offer a platform to acts like these, and the opportunity to find your next favourite band before they go on to bigger things. Having successfully batted away a planning application on the property next door, The Albert is once more in need of support, as an appeal has been lodged.There is more information here– please add your voice if you can.
The World A Wave is the theme for the second edition of Bristol Photo Festival, the international biennial of contemporary photography, which will open in autumn 2024 (the opening week is 16 – 20 October 2024). The Festival programme focuses upon a world in constant motion; where the social, political and environmental conditions of shared life are always changing and becoming otherwise. Drawing on the success of its first edition in 2021 which drew over 200,000 visitors, the dynamic festival, internationally focused but locally grounded, delivers long-term engagement and education programmes engaging with culturally underserved communities and places. Exhibitions are held in the city’s major visual arts institutions alongside independent and unconventional spaces, all accompanied by a wide events programme engaging with multiple aspects of the city of Bristol. All exhibitions are free with donations welcome.
For 2024, Bristol Photo Festival will exhibit works by photographers including Akosua Viktoria Adu-Sanyah (German-Ghanaian, based in Switzerland); Ariella Azoulay (Israel); Andrew Jackson (British- Canadian); Rinko Kawauchi (Japan); Billy H.C Kwok (Hong Kong); Jay Lau (Hong Kong); Kirsty Mackay (Scotland, based in Bristol); Amak Mahmoodian (Iran, based in Bristol); Trent Parke (Australia); Nigel Poor (USA); Sarker Protick (Bangladesh); Bandia Ribeira (Spain); Hashem Shakeri (Iran); Herbert Shergold (Bristol); Inuuteq Storch (Greenland); Lau Wai (Hong Kong); the shared artistic practice Ritual Inhabitual (comprising Tito Gonzalez Garcia (France) and Florencia Grisanti (Chile)) and the group exhibition Dreamlines: Picturing Bristol’s High Streets.
Sebastian Bruno in collaboration with salvation Army – Two Mile Hill
Bristol Photo Festival also produces a long term education and engagement programme alongside the exhibitions. For this year the Festival is developing a project with local residents and port workers from Avonmouth to create a community archive, alongside a programme of creative activities, including talks, walks, screenings and an exhibition. With Prison Education, the festival will present The Prison Mobile Library, an educational photography project across three sites in the South West of England. The opening week of the festival (16-20 October 2024) includes artists’ talks, a book fair, tours, and parties. Additionally, the festival collaborates with the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England to co-produce two symposiums exploring ideas related to this year’s theme, The World A Wave.
“Photography is a unique creative medium to experience the world anew. In a time of multiple crises, we need to think of images more than ever. I want the festival to be a space full of nuanced and unexpected stories that foster greater understanding of our shared world. Bristol Photo Festival’s quality and ambition is possible thanks to the great collaboration we have established with the main cultural institutions in the city and the support of funders and sponsors.” Alejandro Acin, Bristol Photo Festival director.
Hidden Herd All-Dayer at The Green Door Store, Brighton, 6th July 2024
A day filled with music and a chance to see some class acts return to Brighton (or just pop down the road for the locals), as Saturday saw Brighton’s Green Door taken over by the latest Hidden Herd all-dayer. A prior commitment meant I sadly missed The Stanford Family Band and Room Service, though judging by how busy the room was when I got there, an early turnout seemed apparent.
Happily I made it in time to catch the inimitable Vanity Fairy for the second time in as many weeks, following their support slot for CSS at Chalk last Friday. Proof if needed that their performance is equally engaging in a small or large venue, and always a good fit for Brighton shows.
Next up, Ladylike have certainly made a dent on the Brighton scene over the last couple of years, an appealing mix of soft vocals and thrashing guitars ensuring there are no lulls in the set and interest is held.
An excellent choice to follow on, Fraulein seem to constantly be gigging, the pay-off being that the two-piece are completely in sync with each other. I’ve never seen them play a bad show and, despite some technical issues on the day, that still stands.
Some more local talent in the next two acts, firstly it’s always nice to run into a cowboy as you navigate the curtained entrance to the live room at Green Door, and the inclusion of Trip Westerns on the bill facilitated this in style. With the strapline ‘Rock n Roll / Psych n Soul’, the band added an atmospheric splash of nostalgia while retaining a decidedly current feel to their tunes sprinkled with drops of surf rock, 6os soul and spaghetti-psychedelia.
And next up the ever popular Currls played their last gig with Jack on bass, giving a performance for him to remember. In turn his opening speech based around the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen formed an equally memorable point for those attending. Indie-grunge to the max and a skillful segue into the evening.
Just about squeezing onto the stage, Bishopskin took the penultimate slot with another of their trademark immersive performances. Instrument swaps coupled with complex compositions make their sets compelling to a level that somehow turns the crowd into a congregation – always an experience.
Finally, the headline slot and the warmest of welcomes back to Brighton for the staggeringly good Adult DVD. They maintain that they don’t get this kind of reception in other places and seriously, if that’s true, other places need to step up their game big time. There’s an absolute buzz about this six piece from Leeds, industrial synths, dance beats and quick-witted lyrics coming together to provide sheer entertainment and an impromptu dance session for the whole room.
Alongside their increasing catalogue of infectious tunes, their set included just one of many deserved shout-outs to Jim at Hidden Herd for consistently putting on shows that draw in and showcase new talent – Adult DVD played across the road at The Albert for HH back in February, and many of those who were at that show were back for this one. The band promised to be back again – fingers crossed that will be sooner than later, what a way to end a fantastic day.
Black Country New Road, Ugly & Tapir at Concorde 2, Brighton, 8th July 2024
Last night saw Concorde 2 packed to the rafters as a triptych of acts played a sold out charity fundraiser gig for Palestinian Medical Aid. Hosted by Form Presents, the crowd were treated to performances by Tapir, Ugly and headliners Black Country, New Road.
In conversation with Vacant Weekend Interview by Kieran Tibbert
Vacant Weekend are a Manchester-based indie trio that are continuing to build solid momentum in the music industry through their expertly crafted funk-inspired and groove-focused sonic. Ahead of the release of their EP ‘Something to Fill the Silence’ on July 26th , the trio have just released their latest single titled ‘The Windowsill’. They spoke to me about the track, the upcoming EP, as well as the importance of Kendal Calling festival for the band’s growth.
How are you guys doing and where in the world are you right now?
VW: Hey! I’m good thanks. Think we’re all spread out at the moment – I’m in Manchester, (Connor – guitar), Alex our singer is back home in Kendal and Dobo our bassist is in Tuscany, I think?
The band started out in 2018, but how did it all come about? Where did the journeybegin?
We met in year 7 and grew up playing music together. We would jam and just play whatever we liked, busked every weekend and developed the intuition we have when playing together now. We went through a couple of stages of being involved in different bands with different sounds but landed on Vacant as it is in around 2017/18 and haven’t stopped since. We feel very lucky to have been friends for nearly 10 years and still be in the band we started in school.
Your latest offering The Windowsill was released late last month, how has the reaction been to the track so far?
Really positive, actually. This EP is a huge development of our sound, it’s the full realisation of what we started with our single Manchester. More driven, more chaotic, more ourselves. Fans who have been around for a long time have said it’s their favourite song – they could be biased but it’s good reassurance that people will like the rest of what we have coming up.
Tell us a bit more about the single, is there any meaning behind the lyrics or was there any specific thought behind its creation?
It was the first song we wrote after a long hiatus, so it’s really special to us. The song talks about our anxieties about getting older and how unprepared we feel for the rest of our lives. Our adolescence was obviously very formative as it is for everyone, so much was happening emotionally that we couldn’t really see beyond it. This year Alex and Dobo have both turned 20 and I’ve turned 21, which really felt like it came out of nowhere. Now we have the gift of hindsight we’re able to look at our issues from adolescence much more fairly and empathetically, while at the same time feeling unprepared to be adults. But, at its simplest, it asks what the point of life is when faced with the certainty of death.
What are some of the musical influences behind your own unique sonic? Are there anyartists or bands you guys look up to?
I think sonically it’s a hard one to pin down – as individual writers/players we don’t sound too close to anyone else. Something that’s important is vibe and energy, so bands like Nirvana, Babyshambles, The Wombats, Bombay Bicycle Club are big inspirations for how the music should feel, though not necessarily how it should sound. Each of us have a very distinct, individual musical sound, so to try and be succinct – Alex grew up listening to The Beatles and Led Zeppelin which a lot of their song writing comes from, but began listening to bands like Pavement and Deftones which let them embrace their own voice and worry less about it being technically perfect. Isaac (Dobo) grew up with electric disco and soul and really found his sound listening to Level 42, Jamiroquai and Steely Dan, which is responsible for his unique way of playing bass. And I grew up as a huge fan of The Smiths, The 1975 and later bands like Peach Pit and Mom Jeans, which listening to my guitar part writing I feel makes sense.
The single is just a flavour of what to expect on your upcoming EP Something to Fill withSilence. What can you tell us about the upcoming EP?
The EP is a definitive collection of what we are right now. We’re so excited that these songs are still very fresh with the oldest being just over a year old. It feels new and exciting, and we can confidently say it represents us. The EP gets heavier than anything we’ve done so far; the final track is something really special. We tried not to hold back, this is as chaotic and messy as we are, the EP is effectively a night with Vacant Weekend, Alex yapping away over the top of some noise. We’re keen not to give too much away though – trust us you’ll like it, or you won’t, but you have to listen to it.
The EP is comprised of six tracks, do you have one which stands out more than most?
I feel like we each might have a different answer. Proud of You has been a lot of fun to gig on tour, it’s how we opened our set, and it was huge, really felt like we hit the ground running every night. I can confidently say that French Inhale, the closing track on the EP, is firmly a standout track for us though, it’s full of grit and energy. Cathartic is a word we throw around a lot in trying to describe our music, but this track is serious catharsis start to finish.
Kendal Calling is a huge festival you’ve been lucky enough to play previously. Of course, being in your home county, do you feel that Kendal Calling is a special place for the band?
Kendal Calling is an incredible place. It champions loads of new talent on the BBC Introducing stage at the Yam Riot tent, where we first played in 2022. Last year we were lucky enough to play Calling Out, one of the bigger stages at the festival and we’re so excited to go back and see everyone on the same stage this year. Home gigs are always a special one for us, not only do we have loads of fans there but family and friends too. The site of the festival is about 20 minutes from the village where Dobo grew up and where we all spent lots of time as teenagers, so everything about the festival holds a really special place in our hearts.
In addition to the EP release on the 26th of July, you’ve got plenty going on. What canfans look forward to later this year, and what does the distant future hold for such apromising trio?
Playing Kendal Calling is probably what we’re looking forward to most. There’s been discussions about possibly another Kendal headline at the very end of summer before we go back to uni, and there are some support gigs around the country in the works that have come from the tour dates in areas we’re a lot less known like in Newcastle/Liverpool. But ultimately the band has always been our way of staying connected as friends, doing what we love and that’s the long-term plan – to just keep having fun together. We’re very grateful for all the big opportunities that come our way, but our plan for the distant future has never changed and it doesn’t matter if we’re playing to 10 people or 1000, we’re keeping on as we are.
CSS & Vanity Fairy at Chalk, Brighton, 28th June 2024
Motorhead, Madonna and a most enjoyable evening as CSS brought their reunion tour to Brighton on Friday.
Opener for the night was the inimitable Vanity Fairy, shimmering gladrags and falsetto disco tunes capturing the imagination of the equally glitter-clad audience. Increasingly it seems that she is the perfect act to support a range of big names (Altered Images, Toyah, Electric 6 to name but a few). Always a happy crowd set up for what comes next, but don’t be surprised as she starts to pull the headline slot away with a sequinned leash as she surely will.
And so to CSS – with their first live dates in the UK for over a decade, the huge wave of anticipation was met head on with equal amounts of energy, fun and ridiculously infectious tunes. From the moment they walked on stage to greet the crowd with CSS Suxxx, the pace was set and never faltered. Lovefoxxx, Ana Rezende, Carolina Parra and Luiza Sá have reformed CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy) to focus on live shows while celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band. Their camaraderie is evident, and the stories shared made it feel like everyone there was a part of the journey. Lovefoxx talked about going to band practice fearing she would be asked the inevitable ‘Can you name 3 of their songs?’ about her Motorhead T-shirt, though it proved never to be mentioned, with a Madonna cover instead on the cards. Kudos though to seemingly the one person in the crowd who was able to come up with 5 Motorhead songs off the top of his head, and received a beer and several chants of ‘Ian! Ian!’ for his efforts. We got the Madonna track too – Hollywood segueing nicely into City Grrrl and Teenage Tiger Cat.
Almost 20 years down the line and perhaps their best known and still revered track Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above unsurprisingly received a massive reaction, the floor bouncing on and off stage, then a triple whammy encore of I Wanna Be Your J-Lo, Art Bitch and Alala finished an outstanding night of music and frolics. Raise your glass to a reunion worth the wait.
Much live music coverage to come this month with summertime festivities in full swing – but it bears noting that other events this week will shape how things go forward for us and everyone else in the creative sector.
TV in the last week has been wall to wall election preamble, football and Glastonbury in the UK. Whatever your thoughts on the Banksy boat and VAR, here’s hoping that we come out of this month with a different political lead. The Tories have caused so much damage and hate, please use your vote for change on 4th.
After a long hiatus, it’s great to welcome GuilFest back to Guildford Stoke Park. Yesterday saw around 5000 people enjoying the sunshine, and the eclectic mix of music and other festivities on site. Mike Burnell was there to capture the highlights of the day on camera…
In conversation with Johnny Hunter Interview by Kieran Tibbert
Johnny Hunter are a post-punk five-piece who have just relocated to the UK from Australia to continue their rise in the music industry. I spoke with them about their latest offering, where they began down under, and what the band have coming up in the near future…
How are you doing and where in the world are you right now?
JH: All over the shop mate! We decided to turn our lives quite literally upside down and move to your neck of the woods from Sydney, Australia to the Northern Hemisphere, England. It’s got its ups and downs but the world is our oyster as it sits upon our doorstep.
Your latest track Frustration was released on the 10th of May, how has the reaction to this track been so far?
Our fans love it, the radio back home has been supporting it nicely, so we’re happy with the response.
Tell us a bit more about the track, is there any particular meaning behind the title or lyrics?
The idea comes from a deep aggravation as to how things are going, for those with their head in the sand things may seem dandy but looking at the state of the world that’s pretty much not the case, right? From mass lockdowns, genocide to looming nuclear war. Our control over our own destiny has never seemed so far from our own reach. No one trusts anything anyone says anymore through fear of fabrication under the pantomime of AI and media. Frustration is our way of taking it in our stride and not letting the threat of impending dread consume us.
You’ve recently relocated to the UK from Australia, what were the reasons behind moving, and how have you found being in the UK so far?
Yes, we love our homeland, but to put it bluntly there are only a handful of cities to tour and they mostly cost an arm and a leg to get to. Also we want to explore the world, that’s the whole point of being a touring artist, no? The UK is such an anomaly, Peep Show and The Boosh have never made more sense to us.
Where did it all start for you back in Australia? Was there anything in particular that helped the band get going?
Sydney, we played in other bands and the nucleus of Johnny Hunter was developed through mutual music appreciation and a yearning for fiercer live shows, no Isaac Newton apple on the head moment, it just happened.
Since being back in the UK, you’ve performed at The Great Escape festival. How was your experience – how did it feel to be back on the stage?
The Great Escape was always the ‘be all and end all’ for us so it was quite a special experience, particularly since it was our first time in the UK and we played to packed rooms. The stage is home so it felt good to be home.
What is one thing which helps the band stand out from others?
My voice is the watermark!
What renowned music artists or bands do Johnny Hunter revere?
Bowie, Lorde, Muse, Depeche Mode, Roxy Music, LCD, Springsteen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Cure, Fontaines DC, Shame, The Last Dinner Party (more recently, the harmonies that band sing are heavenly), and Justice.
Are there any upcoming tracks that you’re looking forward to releasing – what does the rest of 2024 have in store for you?
Our next single is our most left field from the original Johnny Hunter sound. Its bloody audacious. There’ll be tours of the UK, tours of the EU, new songs and even more new songs!
Bat For Lashes & Mui Zyu at De La Warr Pavilion Bexhill
A stunning performance from Bat For Lashes in the iconic setting of Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion, with songs spanning her whole career up to latest album The Dream of Delphi. Sharing that the last time she was at the venue was to see Patti Smith, and that she loved being back on the south coast, the crowd were left hoping it wouldn’t be too long before she returns.
Truck Festival, Hill Farm, Oxfordshire, 25th – 28th July 2024
With just 5 weeks to go until Hill Farm fills with music, tents and hopefully not too much mud, it’s time to take a closer look at what’s on the sonic menu at this year’s Truck Festival. And there’s much to choose from with over 120 acts playing the various stages – impossible to fully narrow it down but we’ve had a go, here are some of our favourites…
Thursday 25th
For those opting for early entry, not only more choice about where to pitch your home for a few days, but also the opportunity to catch some extra artists. And this is by no means a gentle warm up as IDLES will be dropping in to set the tone for the weekend. With their latest album TANGK putting them right back in the spotlight, and live dates worldwide going down a storm, this will definitely be a lively start to proceedings!
Friday 26th
Headliner – a singer-songwriter with a raft of big songs under his belt, Jamie T was way ahead of his game on the UK scene, front-running the half sung, half spoken style that went on to become so popular. Also on the Truck stage, indie royalty Peace and newer kids on the indie-punk block, Carsick.
Elsewhere, some absolutely cracking acts to catch – check out blended hip hop poetry from Antony Szmierek, enchanting vocals from the ever powerful English Teacher, maudlin surfbeats from The Wytches, bold in your face punk with Problem Patterns, and satisfy your nostalgia for trippy psych with Mandrake Handshake.
Saturday 27th
Headliner – having caused a stir with their debut album back in 2022, Wet Leg are playing a few select festival stages this year and surely worth a glimpse at what they’re up to now. The Truck stage also plays host to the cacophonous energy of Soft Play, and the more muted but equally well respected Lime Garden.
Over on the other stages don’t miss confrontational restlessness from New York’s Been Stellar, the dark gothesque subtleties of Nightbus, and industrial beats with Ebbb. Steadily working their way higher up multiple line-ups you’ll find the mad energy of Fat Dog, while Office for Personal Development can teach you a thing or two about succeeding in the workplace and bringing a water cooler to the stage.
Sunday 28th
Headliner – get dazzled by the unerring talent of The Streets, their back catalogue now a huge collection of singalongs making them the perfect festival closers. Earlier in the day, the main stage will doubtless see the next in a long line of excellent performances from Sea Girls, and happy times with Coach Party.
Across the festival, Divorce will have you swaying along to their delicate harmonies, while Dog Race bring a heady mix of prickly post-punk, and Personal Trainer guarantee a big crowd and lots of fun for all. The last two to mention from our list are worth the trip alone. At last starting to receive the recognition they deserve, Bob Vylan are a must see live, a fusion of punk and grime with no prisoners taken in their political message. And always BG favourites VLURE are also not be missed – their Glaswegian dance tunes with the heaviest of thumping backdrops could well be the set of the weekend.
So there we are, you have a hint of the music on show – keep some time though to get along to a range of other activities as well, including Musical Bingo, Hip Hop Karaoke, a late night dance area and Barrioke featuring Shaun Williamson (you can push him off a cliff Janine, but you’ll never take his crooning). With less than 10% of tickets left, don’t sit on this one – all details and bookings on theTruck website here– enjoy!
Why not have a listen to our playlist whilst you book your ticket?
Dog Race, Media Giant & Paris Blue at The Prince Albert, Brighton, 19th June 2024
Last week’s new music showcase at The Albert saw Hastings band Paris Blue take a trip along the coast to Brighton, bringing angular, catchy tunes to the stage. Lots of riffs, lots of melodies; they got the dancing in the crowd started early and set the pace for the acts to follow. Next up, Media Giant released their debut EP Market Research a little over a year ago, and continue to finesse their blend of experimental funk with a hint of punk. It’s a big sound and immediately infectious, and you can never have too much cowbell in the mix. Impressive stuff.
Their reputation preceding them, headliners Dog Race are creating quite a buzz on the new music scene. Hard to pin down, sonically they veer from spiky and slightly off-kilter at the start, to Katie Healy’s vocal progressing through to capturing elements of goth queens Siouxsie and Patricia Morrison – it’s no carbon copy though, and it’s what makes the band’s sound their own. Finishing with latest single It’s the Squeeze, Dog Race are not here to be ignored and look set for much bigger things.
The DSM IV, Owners Club, Jopy & Ringards at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 12th June 2024
Another great evening at The Hope & Ruin from Hidden Herd, all 4 acts playing to the max. First up, Ringards have a distinctly new wave feel to their music, with punchy, catchy tunes from start to finish and surely a nod to Buzzcocks in there somewhere. Next, fronted by Jo Parnell, Jopy bring a jagged Cramps-esque vibe to the stage. And with the pending release of their debut EP on Goo Records, definitely ones to watch. Stepping up a gear since their last Brighton performance, Owners Club seem to be comfortably finding their place in the indie hall of fame. Not too leftfield to include a Venga Boys tribute though amidst the guitar rock poses; it will be interesting to see how things will develop for them moving forward.
Headliners for this one, the revered DSM IV. It’s been too long since I saw them last, and their stage presence is still as wide as their ties. Trips on the shoulders of the crowd and a cape crafted from the ceiling fabric were just a couple of the added visuals, Guy McKnight ever the entertainer. But this takes nothing away from the music – industrial beats with more than a sprinkling of electronica keep a heady gothic sound alive, and I am all for that. An accomplished performance and solid ending to proceedings.
The next Hidden Herd showcase brings Dog Race, Media Giant and Paris Blue to Brighton’s Prince Albert this Wednesday 19th June – if you’re quick you can stillgrab a ticket here.
There are a few select artists who you could see at any point in their career and be sure that they’d never disappoint. Increasingly, Richard Hawley stakes his place as one such artist, his current tour showcasing his songwriting talent and velvet-smooth vocals in equal measure. He’s funny too, an added bonus.
The opening trio of songs, She Brings the Sunlight, new tracks Two for his Heels and Prism in Jeans, set the pace nicely and just as the crowd start to relax into the set, he throws in big favourite Open Up Your Door. Hawley’s latest album In This City They Call You Love is well represented and seems popular and recognised already; he has the ability to make his sound pioneering and familiar at the same time, a depth of accomplishment disguising itself as effortless and breezy.
Plenty of space for the old songs too. Ahead of Just Like the Rain, he says, “This is probably the oldest one we do. I wrote this many years ago, on my 16th birthday in fact, which just goes to show I was a miserable fucker even then”. And after some back and forth with the audience about the failings of the government and Sunak’s absurd trip down national service lane, his announcement of, “Tonight Matthew… the streets are ours” receives an expectedly huge cheer.
Having already played for close to 90 minutes, the set ends but the lights stay down, and a 3 song encore ensues with People, I’m Looking for Someone to Find Me and Ocean. A serious display of talent from the whole band, an excellent night of music, and a reminder of why so many other artists cite Richard Hawley as an influence.
Header shot: RaMell Ross, Still from Return to Origin, 2021, from Spell,Time, Practice, American, Body (MACK 2023) Courtesy the artist and MACK
Of the hundreds of titles submitted this year, six shortlisted publications, three in the Photography category and three in the Moving Image category, have been announced for the 39th edition of the Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards, the UK’s leading annual prize celebrating excellence in photography and moving image publishing.
The winner of each category, sharing a £10,000 prize fund, will be announced at the end of June 2024. Events celebrating the 2024 awards and the winners will take place in Autumn 2024. Previous winners’ events have been held in collaboration with the Barbican and the V&A.
The 2024 Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards reflects the dynamism and demand in moving image and photography publishing. The longlist of twenty titles, ten for the Photography category and ten for the Moving Image category, was announced in May 2024 and was exhibited at Photo London 2024.
The 3 Shortlisted Titles for the 2024 Kraszna-Krausz Photography Book Award are:
Far Away From Home: The Voices, the Body and the Periphery by Hristina Tasheva (Self Published) – An ambitious attempt at mapping the disparities between two national experiences of Communism in the twentieth century — the Dutch and the Bulgarian — as they were impacted by the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. The book includes contemporary photography, found imagery, and archival research, as well as a pressed flower gathered by Tasheva from visits to Dachau and Mauthausen concentration camp memorials.
Hard Times are Fighting Times by Alice Proujansky (Gnomic Book) – Proujansky reconstructs her parents’ radical past, and reckons with what to keep and what to let go. Photographs of their propaganda archive, surveillance records, family photographs and current lives depict their activism, and subsequent turn towards family life. Proujansky invites the viewer to join an intimate observation of the collision between the political and the familial.
Spell, Time, Practice, American, Body by RaMell Ross (MACK) – Bringing together Ross’s large-format photographs, sculptures, conceptual works, and selected films, together with illuminating texts by Ross and a host of writers, this ambitious publication presents a potent visual chronicle of the American South and its landscape that is both mysterious and quotidian, a historical document and a radical imagining of the future.
The 3 Shortlisted Titles for the 2024 Kraszna-Krausz Moving Image Book Award are –
African Cinema: Manifesto and Practice for Cultural Decolonization: Volumes 1 – 3 by Michael T. Martin and Gaston J. M. Kaboré (eds) with Allison J. Brown, Cole Nelson, and Joseph E. Roskos (Indiana University Press) – challenging established views and assumptions about traditions and practices of filmmaking in the African diaspora, this three-volume set offers readers a researched critique on Black film.
Cinematic Guerrillas: Propaganda, Projectionists, and Audiences in Socialist China by Jie Li (Columbia University Press) – drawing on a wealth of archives, memoirs, interviews, and ethnographic fieldwork this is a media history of Chinese film exhibition and reception that offers fresh insights into the powers and limits of propaganda.
The Rainbow’s Gravity: Colour, Materiality and British Modernity by Kirsty Sinclair Dootson (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art) – this revolutionary history brings to light how new colour technologies informed ideas about British national identity during a period of profound social change, when the challenges of industrialisation, decolonisation of the Empire and evolving attitudes to race and gender reshaped the nation.
Deap Vally & Dosiopath at Concorde 2, Brighton, 3rd June 2024
Playing their last tour before parting of the ways, Deap Vally entertained Brighton for one final time last night at Concorde 2. Moving forward the pair have new projects in the pipeline; Lindsey has plans for a solo record, while Julie’s new duo Dosiopath with Solon Bixler (30 Seconds to Mars, Great Northern) was showcased as the support act.
His Lordship at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 30th May 2024
Following the release of their thundering self-titled debut album in January,His Lordshipare back on the road (it seems they rarely take a break). Blending exceptional musical ability with an enigmatic performance, their show at The Hope & Ruin in Brighton Thursday was another runaway success, including all the by now familiar favourites and featuring a poignant new instrumental track written for Shane McGowan. An fusion of rock ‘n’ roll with punk undertones, the sound is all their own and getting slicker by the minute – a great night’s entertainment.
Breaking Glass Magazine 