music, photography and more
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
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
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
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
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
VLURE, United By Music Tour, August 2023
For the third year The National Lottery has partnered with Music Venue Trust to help support the grassroots music sector by underwriting the full touring and production costs of the artists taking part in the United By Music Tour. This takes The National Lottery contribution to grassroots venues through the United By Music Tour to £1.5m, and the tireless work of Music Venue Trust continues to highlight and support independent venues across the country, and their communities.
And if you were to pick an artist to represent the importance and impact of live music right now, you couldn’t find a better subject than VLURE. The last few years have seen them grow into a band whose from the heart performances are intoxicating, momentous and life-affirming. The experience is the musical equivalent of Pulp Fiction’s adrenaline shot scene. People talk about the songs that saved their lives – come and find yours here in their ever growing catalogue of perfectly produced future anthems, this year’s releases Cut It and This Fantasy paving the way for what’s next, a cover of Faithless’ God is a DJ slotting into the set like it was always meant to be there.
I don’t know that the extent of this can be captured in pictures but I’ve had the best time trying, and met some great people along the way. Couldn’t make it to Manchester and Belfast, but the rest are here. Don’t miss this band, they really are something special.
Oporto, Leeds – 21st August 2023
(Support from Trunc)
The New Adelphi Club, Hull – 22nd August 2023
(Support from Ketamine Kow)
Bermondsey Social Club, London – 23rd August 2023
(Support from Human Interest)
The Hope & Ruin, Brighton – 24th August 2023
(Support from Shrimp Eyes)
Strange Brew, Bristol – 25th August 2023
(Support from Mollie Rush)
Future Yard, Birkenhead – 30th August 2023
(Support from Nova Deus & Arch Femmesis)
Photos © Siobhan at 16 Beasley St Photography
Published 1st September 2023
Quitter & Nora Predey at The Tolbooth, Stirling on 24th August 2023
Last night saw captivating performances from Quitter and Nora Predey of Large Brush Collection at The Tolbooth in Stirling, presented by Golden Hum. Alan Campbell was there to capture the night in pictures.
Quitter will release their new album Monument Road on 22nd September via Heavenly Creature Records and Goldmold Records.
Nora Predey – Large Brush Collection
Nora is due to play three more dates in the UK during August: Glasgow – 26th August, Chester – 27th August and London – 29th August.
Photos © Alan Campbell Photography
Published 25th August 2023
Obituary & Pest Control at Concorde 2, Brighton, 22nd August 2023
Earplugs at the ready – US metal giants Obituary are here to blast through their Barely Alive in the UK 2023 Tour, kicking things off last night in Brighton with support from Pest Control. Gallery from Mike Burnell here…
Hosted by Joy Concerts
Photos © Mike Burnell (iso400.com)
Published 23rd August 2023
Blood Red Shoes at Concorde 2, Brighton, 12th August 2023
Performing at yesterday’s At The Edge of the Sea Festival, a brilliant set from local favourites Blood Red Shoes. Gallery from Mike Burnell below…
Photos © Mike Burnell (iso400.com)
Published 13th August 2023
Boomtown Fair Ch 2 The Twin Trail, August 2023
Creating a whole new world and celebrating the huge range of musical genres from around the globe, this year’s Boomtown Fair is in full swing! Check out how amazing it looks in these photos from Mike Burnell…
Photos © Mike Burnell (iso400.com)
Published 12th August 2023
Pulp at Hammersmith Apollo, London, 29th July 2023
From the outset, Pulp stood apart from the crowd. With lyrics full of satire and candour, and a cardigan collection to die for, Jarvis Cocker has led the band uncompromisingly through the decades. Their much anticipated reunion tour culminated in style at Hammersmith Apollo; Adam Hampton-Matthews was there to capture the moment…
Photos © Adam Hampton-Matthews
Published 30th July 2023
The Who & UB40 at Hove Cricket Ground, 23rd July 2023
Drawing huge crowds on their The Who Hits Back! tour, The Who are back out on the road nearly six decades on from when they first got together. During that time they’ve amassed a vast catalogue of hits which are clearly beloved by many. Last night saw their arrival in Sussex, accompanied by a strong support slot from UB40. Mike Burnell was there to capture the show…
Photos © Mike Burnell (iso400.com)
Published 24th July 2023
Kiefer Sutherland & Sari Schorr at Concorde 2, Brighton, 19th July 2023
Making his way around the UK on the Full of Love tour, Kiefer Sutherland played to a sold out Concorde 2 last night, shifting venues from the planned show at Chalk as the aftermath of the Albion fire continues to close off a chunk of the seafront. None the less a great show in another of Brighton’s great venues, and a shout out to Form Presents for ensuring the gig was able to go ahead. Support came from Sari Schorr – photo gallery from Mike Burnell below.
Photos © Mike Burnell (iso400.com)
Published 20th July 2023
Seaview Festival, Bexhill on Sea, 8th July 2023
Brought to life by Austerity Records, the first (hopefully of many) Seaview Festival took place on Saturday on the lawns of the prestigious De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.
The early slot at any festival can be a tough one, but if the crowd needs a little motivation then Office for Personal Development are the act to provide it – their office planner included children in suits, a water cooler doubling as a stage light, a pot plant and beach balls. Well crafted pop songs mixed with motivational speeches made for a fun start and saw the lunchtime rain off for the rest of the day.
Next up, Winter Gardens took to the stage, it’s interesting to see how their sound has evolved and they seem to have found their niche, adding heavier layers to their baseline shoegaze sound. Ironically and happily, the sun came out and we had summer gardens from thereon in.
Time to get lively as punk trio SNAYX gave the Bexhill crowd a taste of what’s giving them a reputation as a must-see live band. A change in vibe with some early afternoon moshing, and thankfully no-one fell down the slope at the back of the stage area. There weren’t too many people wearing music T-shirts in attendance but, largely speaking, those who did were repping SNAYX loud and proud.
On to Pale Blue Eyes, and it’s difficult to describe their sound as it weaves through different eras and influences. From Ian Brodie undertones on the opening track to shades of Joy Division towards the end of their set, it was definitely worth waiting to see how things evolved. There’s a subtle optimism to their sound, and it won a lot of people over on the day.
Lots of industry buzz around the next act, and Heartworms made a strong impression – intense and intriguing with a delicate precision to the songs and performance, nudging towards art school poetry and reminiscent of the sardonic delivery of Audio Books at times. Edgy with a soft edge if you will. Ones to watch for sure.
And so to a much anticipated slot on the line-up from local heroes Aircooled – if anyone can be described as ‘musicians’ musicians’, this is the band. Lots of love for these guys from some huge names in the music business and deservedly so. Their combined CVs are enough to leave you in awe, their talent undeniable and best of all, they look like they’re having an absolute blast.
The penultimate act of the evening came in the shape of BC Camplight, complete with full band playing together for the first time. The soundcheck was a curious mix of their array of instruments interspersed with a DJ driven Bollywood-esque backdrop. Thankfully overcoming initial obstacles, the Pavilion lawns were soon complimented by the mastery of deftly written songs old and new, a great fit for the ambience of the location.
So how do you end a day filled with the eclectic pot of talent that’s come before? Whoever booked Warmduscher made a seriously great decision in answering that question. Non-stop relentless talent, no dips, no filler, Warmduscher deliver every time and showcased what a solid band they are, popular of course but still way under-rated. The perfect headliner for a remarkable day by the seaside.
Seaview was a really well planned event – a beautiful location, an outdoor festival with indoor facilities (game changer), a fine line-up with no clashes, some inspired between-set tunes spun by James Endeacott, and a lovely space to catch up with friends and hear/see some excellent music. All in all, a great value day out and everyone left happy – let’s hope for more of the same next year.
Review/photos by Callum/Siobhan
Published 10th July 2023
Pet Shop Boys at The Brighton Centre, 26th June 2923
The last time I saw a queue like that at The Brighton Centre, it was being used as a vaccination station – this time was a lot more fun. With a back catalogue bursting at the seams with hits from the 80s onwards, there would never be room for everything, but a two hour set full of one massive track after another kept the crowd singing and bouncing along from start to finish. The staging was perfectly executed, Tenant and Lowe ably backed by an accomplished backline and an ever moving pair of lamp-posts to lean on and spin around. There is sometimes debate about whether live performances should be called gigs or shows. This was undoubtedly a show but equally one of the best gigs I’ve seen. Pet Shop Boys are celebrating their greatest hits and it’s a party not to be missed.
Words and photos © Siobhan
28th June 2023
Colours Festival, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, 24th June 2023
Sunshine, an excellent line-up and an impressive backdrop all combined to make the first Colours Festival a huge success. Bexhill’s iconic De La Warr Pavilion played host to a mix of talented bands and artists yesterday, treating the crowd to a day filled with great music and performances from UK and international acts, with a nod to showcasing some of the vast local talent on offer.
Mike Burnell caught every set; check out our gallery below.
Photos © Mike Burnell – iso400.com
25th June 2023
Breaking Glass Magazine 