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written by Robert Pollard Manchester Cathedral, a stunning, centuries old church that sits proudly in the centre of the city, opened its time-worn doors to the public once more as Laura Marling continued her tour of British cathedrals. This beautiful building is fast becoming the most popular music venue in the city, with its outstanding […]
April 1, 2011
written for High Voltage It has long been acknowledged that Deerhunter are one of the most enterprising bands in the world, with their influence on other contemporary musicians already highly noticeable. We can now add ‘consummate professionalism’ to their growing list of attributes. This performance at Manchester’s Sound Control was highly impressive, once again demonstrating […]
March 19, 2011
written for High Voltage Manchester’s Deaf Institute played host to three bands tonight as Woods, Spectrals and The Doozer were each given an opportunity to impress a room full of organic food lovers and long beards. Each band had their own approach and each band had differing fortunes on the night. First up was The […]
February 3, 2011
written for High Voltage Since their inception at the turn of the millennium, The Walkmen have become known as an underachieving band, struggling to fulfill their early promise. Tonight they proved why success has thus far eluded them with a lacklustre and uninspired performance at the Central Methodist Hall in Manchester. The Walkmen are, quite frankly, an infuriating act. […]
December 12, 2010
1 – Laura Marling at the Lowry, Salford This was a truly spectacular performance from one of this country’s most gifted artists. Laura Marling’s stunning arrangements and incisive lyricism left her audience at the Lowry amazed at the depth of her talent. Later nominated for a Mercury (which she was cruelly denied), 2010 has offered […]
November 21, 2010
If this tour really is to be the last hurrah for LCD Soundsystem then they will leave behind a large void in the music world – as well as some very disappointed fans. It hardly seems believable that they will disband since they possess such an incisive ability to translate impressive studio work into marvellous […]
November 2, 2010
written for High Voltage Spectrals may not be the most well-known band around at the moment but expect that to change very soon. They have long been heralded as one of the most exciting new bands in the UK and their career is now starting to take off. Their stylish brand of short and sweet […]
November 2, 2010
written for High Voltage Marina Diamandis has had a very successful year indeed. She sits proudly in the pantheon of new-wave female pop-singers and projects a clear desire to stay there. With her first big tour nearing its conclusion and her following growing rapidly it seems safe to say that her success will continue. However, […]
October 25, 2010
Formed in Los Angeles back in 2004, Warpaint are an ambient rock group that combine experimental tendencies with post punk rhythms. Having undergone various changes in personnel, the band’s progress had been somewhat stifled in the past but anyone inside last night’s sold-out Deaf Institute gig would agree that they are now set to become […]
October 21, 2010
written for High Voltage Within the space of two studio albums, Yeasayer have managed to accrue a string of first-class hits. Although these albums display dramatically different sounds, the quality of each is undeniable. Tonight, at Academy 2 in Manchester, they delivered a set containing the very best songs from their career to date and […]
September 20, 2010
written for High Voltage The Palace Theatre opened up its well-worn doors for an evening of top-class folk music tonight, as Roy Harper and Joanna Newsom combined to create a wonderfully inspiring evening. When a legend of music and a true modern-day great share the same bill it usually makes for a terrific spectacle, and […]
August 6, 2010
written for High Voltage The Wu-Tang Clan are the absolute embodiment of true hip-hop. Despite some shaky record releases during their time, they continue to shine like a beacon of authenticity when compared with their contemporaries. There was a time when rappers were political activists and serious thinkers but the hip-hop world has become increasingly […]
July 23, 2010
written for High Voltage The music industry has become an increasingly fickle entity. Record labels are now far more inclined to drop underperforming artists, making musicians seem disposable and temporary. Stories of record labels showing blind faith in a band they have a passion for seem a distant memory, with most music acts now lucky […]
May 15, 2010
Last Friday saw the official launch of I Am Blackbird’s fantastic new EP ‘This Town’ at the Night & Day Cafe in Manchester. Recently named Piccadilly Records’ ‘Record of the Week’, a truly deserved accolade, the EP is excellent and there is a review available on Passions Just Like Mine for anybody not familiar with […]
May 4, 2010
written for High Voltage I Am Blackbird are Manchester’s finest new music act and this week sees the release of their long-awaited debut EP ‘This Town’. It is a breathtaking collection of songs that should act as a catalyst for the band to go on and achieve great things. Unquestionably the best live act in […]
April 25, 2010
written for High Voltage Tonight saw yet another Brooklyn-based band descend upon The Deaf Institute and provide an impressive display of musical ability. Bear In Heaven are little known in the UK at present, but expect them to become more widely recognised in the not too distant future. They create vast musical landscapes that contain […]
April 16, 2010
written for High Voltage The Paris Riots demonstrated tonight that last year’s appearance at FIB was not a fluke, and that performances on larger stages may become habitual in the future. Their stage presence is exemplary, and they write pretty impressive stadium rock songs, meaning they are quickly outgrowing the smaller music venues, and, judging […]
April 7, 2010
The Magnetic Fields played an extraordinary 29 songs at the glorious Manchester Cathedral tonight, and their set was as impressive as it was long, offering a beautiful sound that matched the spectacular visuals inside one of Manchester’s oldest buildings. Even with a back catalogue as extensive as theirs, it was an unexpected but pleasant surprise […]
April 1, 2010
written for High Voltage Manchester’s Deaf Institute was packed to the rafters as The Drums made their much anticipated return to this growing left-field venue. An expectant audience did not leave disappointed as the New Yorkers provided an energetic performance full of vocal hooks and superb dancing. Support tonight came in the shape of Uranium […]
March 31, 2010
written for High Voltage Band on the Wall is one of Manchester’s finest venues and the music on display this evening was more than a match for the splendid setting. Karima Francis was the headline act, though a stunning performance by I Am Blackbird ensured that the audience left with a new name imprinted firmly […]
March 17, 2010
written for High Voltage Karima Francis has established herself as one of the stand-out singers to have graced the Manchester music scene in recent years. Some breathtaking Manchester performances, including an impressive In The City date, caught the eye of many; and she was eventually signed to Kitchenware Records and performed live on Jools Holland. […]
March 1, 2010
Manchester has a renowned reputation for being a hot-bed of musical talent, though occasionally that can feel like an over-played myth. There are seemingly endless amounts of bands with very little talent or direction and many gig nights in Manchester will leave you disappointed. Still, every now and then a band will come along and […]
February 10, 2010
It is instantly obvious when listening to Crystal Stilts that their musical diet is somewhat limited, however, this does not detract from the quality of their sound. Their songs are simple in technical terms, with stripped down drum patterns and uncomplicated chord structures, but their minimalist approach and dark, crooned vocal, together with reverb-heavy guitar […]
February 3, 2010
Written for Student Direct photography by Sam Ellis After a breathless 2009, which saw the release of 2 new albums and 2 re-released classics, as well as endless touring across America, UK and Europe; […]
Passions Just Like Mine 
October 29, 2011
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