music, photography and more
Young Fathers at Brighton Dome, 20th October 2023
The mighty Young Fathers played a sold out Brighton Dome last night. A force to be reckoned with live, they can even supply their own support act with band member Callum Easter taking the opening slot – his second Brighton performance in two days having supported Nadine Shah the previous night.
The show was captured in pictures by Mike Burnell, gallery below.
Photos © Mike Burnell (iso400.com)
Published 21st October 2023
Kristin Hersh at John Cleere’s Bar and Theatre, Kilkenny, 19th October 2023
Kristin Hersh played two fabulous intimate shows at John Cleere’s Bar and Theatre, Kilkenny, on the 19.10.2023, these shows were so intimate that only forty tickets were sold for each, and it was seated which made it even closer. Kristin took to the stage with only an acoustic guitar and accompanied by a cello player, they played through an array of songs spanning Kristin’s career, and people were even treated to Kristin doing a reading from her latest book. To finish all I can say is this was one spectactular way to see Throwing Muses / 50 Foot Wave vocalist performing her hits.
Words and photos © Ian Mc Donnell (Mc Gig Photography) – Instagram | Facebook
Published 21st October 2023
Nadine Shah & Callum Easter at Chalk, Brighton, 19th October 2023
Great to see Nadine Shah back and on top form in Brighton last night, surprising fans with a show announced at the very last minute, and still drawing in the crowds at Brighton’s Chalk. Support came from the talented Callum Easter.
Show hosted by Joy Promotions – gallery from Mike Burnell.
Photos © Mike Burnell (iso400.com)
Published 20th October 2023
Polite Bureaux at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 19th October 2023
Brighton was heaving with great gigs last night; the first of two we covered saw Polite Bureaux taking over the downstairs bar at The Hope in Ruin with another excellent set. They’re fast moving up the ones not to miss list, with an always frenetic performance and some masterful spoken-word lyrics from Joe Smith that veer towards the story-telling style of John Cooper Clarke. Look out for more dates soon.
Photos © Siobhan (16 Beasley St Photography)
Published 20th October 2023
Baxter Dury at The Roundhouse, London, 18th October 2023
Wordsmith, raconteur and king of the sliding dance moves, Baxter Dury took to the stage at The Roundhouse last night, entertaining the crowd in his own inimitable way. Gallery from Adam Hampton-Matthews below.
Photos © Adam Hampton-Matthews – Website | Instagram
Published 19th October 2023
Rick Astley at Electric Ballroom, London, 16th October 2023
Showcasing his new album Are We There Yet? Rick Astley’s warm-up show certainly turned up the heat at Camden’s Electric Ballroom last night, as the crowd were treated to all the new songs and some of the old songs… gallery from Adam Hampton-Matthews below.
The full UK and European tour kicks off at the end of the month – dates and tickets here
Photos © Adam Hampton-Matthews – Website | Instagram
Published 17th October 2023
Toyah Willcox & Robert Fripp at Assembly Hall, Worthing, 14th October 2023
Providing a warm glow on a cold night, Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp brought the Rock Party stage version of their much lauded Sunday Lunch YouTube series to Worthing on Saturday night. The couple have an enviable joie de vivre and a huge appreciation of the string of classic hits that they cover, though of course some of these are Toyah’s own songs and others the end product of Fripp’s collaboration or influence.
Ever the punk pixie, Toyah is resplendent in sequins and lace as she skips around the stage interacting with the rest of the band, not least her husband. Fripp meanwhile has an air of nobility, resting on his stool with guitar in hand, only enhanced by the cluster of helium filled golden crown balloons at his feet. It becomes clear very quickly that the pair retain bucketloads of talent and this is no ordinary ‘covers’ night.
As well as still hitting a great vocal, Toyah is a charming raconteur with an apparently full deck of celebrity story cards, recounting how phone calls to their house from David Bowie and Mike Oldfield resulted in Fripp turning down opportunities to work with them, while on another call she jumped at the chance of touring with Billy Idol. Homage is paid to her first sighting on TV of Alice Cooper’s leather trousers and eyeliner, with a baseball bat wielding performance of School’s Out, and she playfully picks out the two longest beards in the crowd to receive a dedication of ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man. The musicianship from the entire band is noteworthy and there can be few gigs where the final trio of tracks comprises of I Want To Be Free, Heroes and I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.
There are still a bunch of dates left on this tour, all of which come with a guarantee that you’ll leave with a smile on your face, limited tickets available here.
Words and photos by Callum and Siobhan
Published 16th October 2023
Blood Red Shoes & CIEL at The Workman’s Club Cellar, Dublin, 12th October 2023
Blood Red Shoes arrived in Dublin on 12.10.2023 to play to a sold out The Workman’s Club Cellar. The band were there on their Ghosts On Tape tour and played a range of songs covering all of their six albums. Opening the night were alt-pop band CIEL from Brighton.
Gallery from Ian Mc Donnell below.
Blood Red Shoes set-list: Elijah, Cold, It’s Getting Boring by the Sea, Light It Up, Don’t Ask, Bangsar, Lost Kids, This Is Not for You, Sucker, Doesn’t Matter Much, Red River, Je me perds, Murder Me, An Animal, I Wish I Was Someone Better, Morbid Fascination, —- Black Distractions, (Unknown)
Words and photos © Ian Mc Donnell (Mc Gig Photography) – Instagram | Facebook
Published 14th October 2023
Chilli Jesson – Icarus
I heard a radio discussion about Chilli Jesson’s new single, where the news of him having just finished a run of shows playing bass for Fontaines DC seemed to be feted as his main claim to fame. While I’m sure every artist wants to be appreciated for what they’re doing now rather than in the past, it would be a massive shame to think that there’s a whole bunch of people out there who missed the joy of Palma Violets and the credible follow up of Crewel Intentions. None the less, Chilli is very much in the next era of his musical journey as a solo artist, and Icarus steps up as perhaps his most accomplished piece in this incarnation so far. It’s a sharp few minutes of upbeat energy, and shows a certain merited confidence in the direction he’s now taking.
Check out the vide for Icarus, out now on Fiction Records, here.
Words by Siobhan
11th October 2023
The pairing of punk princess Toyah Willcox and prog maestro Robert Fripp was always going to be an interesting one, but it’s safe to say no-one could have predicted what an invitation to Sunday lunch with them would bring. The couple have performed their way into national treasure status with their Sunday Lunch YouTube series, posting weekly videos of a range of classic tracks sung from their kitchen table. Having entertained their old fans and won over a whole bunch of new ones, they’re now heading out on the road to celebrate with live audiences across the country with Toyah & Robert’s Rock Party. A glimpse through their video series will give you an idea of quite how much fun this is going to be.
Toyah shot to fame in the early 80s with a string of hits including It’s A Mystery and I Want To Be Free, following her appearance as Monkey in Quadrophenia. Fripp meanwhile, having founded King Crimson, further cemented his career by collaborating with Bowie, Eno and Blondie amongst others.
Toyah says, “We are so excited to be bringing our new Rock Party show to towns and cities across the UK. This will be a rock show, with a full rock band—an uplifting party of a show. Be ready to party, be ready to dance, be ready for some serious vocals from me and some serious rock guitar from Robert! Xx.”
The Rock Party set off to Wimborne and Cheltenham last week, and continues at the venues below throughout October. Remaining tickets can be snapped up here.
7th October – Harrogate Royal Hall
8th October – Whitley Bay Playhouse
9th October – Manchester Salford Lowry
14th October – Worthing Assembly Hall
16th October – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
19th October – Bury St Edmunds Apex
20th October – Basingstoke Anvil
21st October – London Shepherd’s Bush Empire
25th October – Buxton Opera House
26th October – Shrewsbury Theatre Severn
28th October – Swansea Grand Theatre
29th October – Birmingham Town Hall
Published 6th October 2023
Breaking Glass Magazine – October 2023
Time flies when you’re editing an online magazine, or something along those lines…
So, five years ago I had this crazy idea to start Breaking Glass with no real certainty if it would last or who’d be involved. It started with the help of a few friends contributing photos, giving interviews and offering access to gigs and exhibitions, and since then so many of you have been involved it’s a bit overwhelming to look back on. We’ve been through lockdowns, headed to festivals, covered loads of amazing artists, new music and events, and it’s become this collective of brilliant people who I’m always grateful for and in awe of your talent. Thank you doesn’t cover it but lots of love to everyone who’s been a part of it so far. I guess we’ll keep going and see where we end up next x
Cover images and words by Siobhan
Published 1st October 2023
The National at Alexandra Palace, London, 27th September 2023
Following the surprise announcement of their second album of 2023, Laugh Track, The National took to the stage at Alexandra Palace last night, blending songs old and new to the delight of the packed crowd. Adam Hampton-Matthews was there to capture an iconic band in an iconic venue – gallery below…
Photos © Adam Hampton-Matthews – Website | Instagram
Published 28th September 2023
Oasis in the Desert
Phoenix is a sprawling metropolis that grows out instead of up. The city has diverse things to enjoy: music, professional sports, the arts, and green spaces. But if I had only one place that I would recommend, it would always be the Desert Botanical Garden. Except for sports, everything can be seen in the Garden, along with the unique plant life found only in the desert.
Art installations are changed at least twice a year throughout the Garden. Chihuly, who usually only exhibits at a garden once, has had two exhibits here because he likes it so much. I had the opportunity to see some of the exhibits assembled, which was breathtaking as each piece of glass was taken from a large crate and put in place on the metal structure. Another wonderful installation was Lights in the Desert. Lights were projected onto the cactus, along with music playing in the background. As you walked along the path, it felt like you were looking at a coral reef.
Desert Botanical Garden also celebrates people’s cultures. Some of the events are Dia De Muertos (Day of the Dead), Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Celebration (Arizona’s Native American Cultures), and Juneteenth commemorating the end of slavery in the United States in 1865, just to name a few. The garden shines with Las Noches de las Luminarias, which runs from November to the New Year. Luminaries light the path, and the garden is decked out with Christmas decorations. Throughout the year, there is live music that can be heard drifting through the air.
The best part of all which can be seen anytime that you visit is the unique plant life of the Sonoran Desert. The garden has different paths leading to specialized gardens. During the fall and spring, a butterfly pavilion is installed as the monarch butterflies migrate. It contains a thousand free-flying southwestern butterflies along with a gorgeous array of flowers and trees to feed them. When I wander through the succulent garden, I always think that these otherworldly plants must have inspired Dr. Seuss. In April and May, the cactus flowers bloom, but they are only day bloomers. It’s always a gift to be there when they are showing off their beauty.
Desert Botanical Garden is my sanctuary, where I can find peace and enjoy the beauty and culture of the southwest.
Words and photos © Jennifer Mullins – Website | Instagram
Published 27th September 2023
Crawlers at Heaven, London, 22nd September 2023
Fresh from summer festivals and taking their effusive brand of rock out on tour, Crawlers gave an unforgettable performance at Heaven last night. The band are steadily building their fanbase and a reputation as one of the most exciting new bands on the live circuit. Check out our gallery from Adam Hampton-Matthews for a glimpse into the world of Crawlers here…
Photos © Adam Hampton-Matthews
Published 23rd September 2023
Trigger Discipline, Polite Bureaux & BABY HAIR at The Prince Albert, Brighton, 21st September 2023
An eclectic mix at The Albert on Tuesday, on stage and in the crowd, one of the things Brighton does so well. From performance art through electro wordsmith to danceable goth, the trio of acts were a hit to the senses for sure.
Opening act BABY HAIR look a perfect fit for the alt/experimental festival scene, coming complete with ritualistic chants, a wailing violin, recorders that play something other than Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and a bag of feathers that fills the air in their closing bars.
Next up, launching onto the stage with a well earned confidence, Polite Bureaux have an infectious energy coupled with a whole bunch of tracks filled with cleverly sardonic lyrics. Loved this set from start to finish – keep an eye out for more live dates and catch them if you can.
Headliners Trigger Discipline are an intriguing mix of dark screaming goth and bouncy dance tunes, recent single Babble Babble Babble and a cover of 80’s anthem Cruel Summer getting the biggest response from the crowd. Still, vampire capes, saxaphones and a bit of Bananarama are a hard combo to beat, and the incongruity of the band is probably also the attraction. It will be interesting to see what comes next.
Hosted by Love Thy Neighbour
Words and photos © 16 Beasley St
Published 21st September 2023
Bill Ryder Jones – This Can’t Go On
One of those artists who just knows how to capture emotion and release it back into the wild in its purest form, Bill Ryder Jones shares new single This Can’t Go On ahead of the January release of album Iechyd Da.
If the single is anything to go by, we’re in for another treat full of leaps between the hopeless and hopeful, songs that will dig into your sides and refuse to leave until you promise to listen again.
Described as being ‘rooted in love, loss, pain, heartache and often a deep darkness, but also one that frequently ends up in places of profound beauty, hope and joy’, Bill says of Iechyd Da, “I love this album…I haven’t been this proud of a record since A Bad Wind Blows in My Heart… It’s my most produced record, it’s basically me carrying on with myself again, but this time around I’m a bit more competent as a producer”.
Watch the video for This Can’t Go On below. Whatever you’re doing when you listen to this, you’ll forget you were doing it until you drop back into the world at the end. And the album? Can’t wait.
Tour dates announced as follows:
27th September – The Lexington, London
2024:
12th March – Room 2, Glasgow
13th March – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
15th March – The Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
16th March – New Century Hall, Manchester
17th March – Thekla, Bristol
19th March – CHALK, Brighton
20th March – Islington Assembly Hall, London
21st March – Content, Liverpool
23rd March – Paradiso, Amsterdam
24th March – Hafenklang, Hamburg
25th March – Kantine am Berghain, Berlin
27th March – Trix Bar, Antwerp
28th March – La Maroquinerie, Paris
30th March – The Workman’s Club, Dublin
31st March – Black Box, Belfast
Words by Siobhan
Photo Marieke Macklon
Published 20th September 2023
When you need a break from the bustling city life of Bristol there’s plenty more to discover, with Clevedon and Portishead both just a short drive away.
Small but perfectly formed, Clevedon is a seaside town in North Somerset, complete with Victorian pier and TV filming credits including Broadchurch. On a sunny day, the beach is filled with canoeists, dog-walkers and a general feeling that nothing needs to be done in a hurry.
Probably best known for trip-hopsters of the same name, Portishead has a long history as a fishing port. Though much of its industrial area has been redeveloped, it still has a more dystopian feel than its neighbours, Portishead Point Lighthouse (more commonly known as Battery Point Lighthouse) sitting at the edge of the coastline.
Photos © Morgan Elliott
Published 18th September 2023
Exhibitions, MAKE Southwest, Devon, 16th September – 4th November 2023
Responding to Light | EMERGENCE
Header image: © Charlie Waite – Towards the Rock of Gibraltar
A really clever idea here from MAKE Southwest, running two exhibitions parallel, one featuring established photographers, the other showing the work of newer photographers, looking at how craft and photography overlap. If you’re interested in seeing the contrast between the two, details from the press release are here…
‘Marine plastic debris, camera-less photographs of tidal waves, unique views of rockpools, communities of trees, and camera techniques dating back to the Victorian era are among works featuring in a major exhibition celebrating the diversity of modern photograph as a medium that straddles fine art and craft at MAKE Southwest, the gallery and crafts education charity formerly known as the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Literally ‘drawing with light’, photography is an increasingly accessible artform: one that has been responsible for some of the most memorable images of the 20th and 21st centuries. Photography has ultimately changed the course of history through its ability to convey a concise and immediate message.
In Responding to Light, MAKE Southwest showcases seven leading photographers who exemplify the link between photography and craft in contemporary British photography. Together in one exhibition, their work reveals photography’s many guises and wide-ranging techniques, which span digital, analogue, and camera-less. The exhibition is curated by Susan Brown FRPS, and the exhibited artists are:
Marianthi Lainas
Susan Derges
Joe Cornish
Ray Spence
Valda Bailey
Mandy Barker
Charlie Waite
Left: © Susan Derges – Ocean Flowers, Right: © Ray Spence – Bird Skull
Running alongside the exhibition in the Riverside Gallery (open from 2nd Sept) is EMERGENCE, a group show of seven photographers at the start of their careers which shines a spotlight on emerging photography talent from across the Southwest. Those featured are:
Nick Cooney
Imogen Bastone
Jake Tebbutt
Olivia Eden
Louis Izard
Miles Critchley-Hope
Jake Varker
The two exhibitions deliver a celebration of photography throughout MAKE Southwest’s building’.
Exhibition Dates: 16th September–4th November 2023
MAKE Southwest, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AF
You can find more details to help you plan your visit at makesouthwest.org.uk
Content reproduced with permission
Published 12th September 2023
Legendary punk pioneers Buzzcocks will be inducted into the Music Walk of Fame in Camden tomorrow, where they will take their place alongside illustrious artists such as David Bowie, The Who, Madness and Amy Winehouse. It honours the phenomenal impact that the band have made with their constant, ever-evolving presence over the last 45 years of pop culture – and particularly that of the much-missed Pete Shelley and the band’s remaining member of their classic line-up, Steve Diggle.
The ceremony will commence at 10am, hosted by two high-profile Buzzcocks fans: Carl Barât of The Libertines and BBC Radio London presenter Gary Crowley. The ceremony will include speeches from both hosts, the official unveiling, further tributes and archive video footage before concluding with an appearance from Steve Diggle.
Steve Diggle says, “It’s a great honour to be inducted in to the Camden walk of fame. Camden has always been a magical musical inspiration – like Buzzcock’s music the two have walked the path of greatness”.
Carl Barat says, “Massive congratulations to Buzzcocks on their inauguration into the Camden walk of fame. They are among the true greats and the first of their kind, and it is only fitting that they should embody a part of Camden tangibly as well as culturally”.
Buzzcocks will commemorate the achievement by playing the Camden Music Festival on Saturday, where they will hit the Hawley Crescent Stage at 5pm. They will also return to Camden in 2024 for a special show at KOKO on March 22nd. It will see them perform their seminal Singles Going Steady in full, along with a selection of fan favourites. The band proved that their live powers are completely undiminished at Iggy Pop’s Dog Day Afternoon festival this summer, where they attracted a huge cross-generational audience during their set. Tickets for the KOKO show are now available HERE.
There will be much more to come from Buzzcocks in 2024. They will release a 45th Anniversary Edition of Singles Going Steady via Domino Records, and are also working on a brand new studio album. Steve Diggle will also share his perspective of the band’s remarkable story with the release of his book Autonomy.
Buzzcocks immediately set the standard for combining the rush of punk with instantly addictive pop hooks with their first two albums, Another Music in Another Kitchen and Love Bites, but it was their Singles Going Steady collection that really cemented their reputation. Songs such as Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve), Orgasm Addict and What Do I Get? cast an influence over the subsequent US alt-rock scene of the ‘80s and continues throughout the contemporary pop-punk world. After the tragic loss of Pete Shelley in 2018, Steve Diggle forged ahead to release Sonics In The Soul, the first Buzzcocks’ album in eight years. It lived up to the band’s storied legacy, as Classic Rock praised “the sound of a band rebooted and reinvigorated” while Uncut’s review concluded, “there’s easily enough here to steer the trusty old craft into new, uncharted waters, just as Shelley wanted.”
Press release via Fear PR
Photo by Chris Grabin
Published 7th September 2023
Tiffcuff Festival at The Roundhouse, London, 2nd September 2023
A festival with no need to worry about the weather or your favourite artists clashing, Tiffcuff set up home at Camden’s legendary Roundhouse on Saturday. With two stages and each set scheduled to start as the last one finished, there was an opportunity to catch all the acts from an impressive line-up. Something for everyone with performances on the day from (deep breath) Hongza, Manny, Kitty Trigg, Slaney Bay, Shelf Lives, October Drift, Snake Eyes, The Pale White, Sad Boys Club, Spector, Wings of Desire, Glasvegas, Another Sky and The Cribs.
The Pale White | Sad Boys Club
Of the bigger names, Spector raised things up a level with a bunch of crowd singalongs and plenty of stories to tell in between to keep the crowd entertained. It’s no surprise that they have legion of fans who have stuck with them from early days.
Following on from them on the main stage, to have Glasvegas and The Cribs on the same bill was an absolute pleasure, and both bands gave immaculate performances.
10 years to the day since the release of Later… When The TV Turns To Static, Glasvegas left no doubt that they have become a force majeur on the music scene, every show a thing of beauty, every song a pull on the heart strings. Nobody else does what they do; an inspired booking.
And speaking of inspired bookings, The Cribs never disappoint live and an incredible set-list full of songs old and new had the crowd bouncing from the outset to the end. A masterclass in no-nonsense, straight down the line perfect indie tracks, the Jarman brothers are a class act – always have been, always will be.
Big thanks to everyone involved for a great day – look forward to seeing what comes next from the Tiffcuff crew!
Words and photos © Siobhan (16 Beasley St Photography)
Published 5th September 2023
Breaking Glass Magazine 