SpideWriter

Metronomy: Greatest Hits c/w BBC Sessions Straight Outta the Bedroom Do the tracks on this album capture the essence of the band’s performances, or of a full-on DJ set by Joseph Mount?  How loud do I have to play this music to get a feeling of depth, a sense of weight?  Not that Mount ever claimed his music, which led him from his Totnes bedroom laptop to a life of professional music-making, was to ever be taken more seriously than pop music ever should.   The Look  is a singular piece of plastic pop perfection.  Opening the album of ‘Greatest Hits’ The Look is the sound of Metronomy, but, it is for many, all that has ever stuck, it is a perfect ear worm of a single.  Initially tapped out on a laptop in a few moments, in a Parisian apartment with a view of Sacré Coeur, it is what pop should be, uplifting, a tune that might be whistled and catchy. The sound of Metronomy is electronic and boppy, a ‘wonky pop’ band.  This puts th...

UB40 ft. Ali Campbell Announce Forest Live 2026 Headline Shows: Delamere:  19th June 2026 High Lodge, Thetford: 21st June 2026  Westonbirt Arboretum: 25th June 2026 Cannock Chase: 27th June 2026 UB40 Ft. Ali Brown coming to a forest near you in JUNE 2026 Photo: Press Supplied In the late 1970s,  catching the number 50 bus into Birmingham city centre, I would often see the trio of musicians from Fashion boarding as the route went past the Post Office in Balsall Heath.  You’d get used to seeing the black jackets and the wild hair of the tall Luke Sky coming up to the top deck, where they would chat, smoke and enjoy the views as the bus wound its way down into Digbeth, then up to the Bull Ring.  At Barbarella’s, one very warm June evening, these lads were headlining and the opening act was a very callow set of youths doing their first tour with an electronic oriented set. I think they called themselves Duran Duran , the name based on a character played b...

The Perfect Pitch for Norwich: Wild Paths Festival, Norwich 2025 Tuesday, 14th October - Sunday, 19th October 2025 Norwich has many diverse music venues, many potential music venues and with St Andrew’s Hall being totally refurbished, more music venues to come.  Each has unique qualities, from the intimacy of The Bicycle Shop cellar bar, to the cool vibe of Gonzo's Two Room , to the best dive bar in the country, Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom , to the enormous cathedral, Norwich has something for every genre of music.  To underline this, after soulless arenas and cavernous halls, the appeal and perfect acoustics of the Norwich Arts Centre often moves international touring acts, such as Alan Sparhawk of Low, or the late Martin Phillips of The Chills, to speak in awe of the venue, but there are other old churches that Wild Paths 2025 has teamed up with, such as St Peter Parmentergate , the wondrous  Octagon Chapel   and St Laurence.    Brown Horse w...

The Paper Kites - Seventh Album and European Tour 2026 Photo copyright: Tim Harris Quietly doing their thing, The Paper Kites have been steadily accumulating a substantial global following.  January 2026 will see the release of their seventh album of embroidered Americana.  Seen by many in the industry as a defining act of the genre, fan comments revolve around the band’s ability to produce music that counters much of the noise and conflict all around us.  Singing of enduring love and the ideals of family and friendship, the music of The Paper Kites draws listeners into a reflective and occasionally mournful inner world, which given our planet’s stressed and stressful direction, is an understandable attraction.   With an album launch European tour due in February 2026 , the band has been booked to play at the Roundhouse in Camden Town, the O2 in Manchester and smaller venues in Leeds, Bristol, Belfast and Glasgow. The bigger shows lock onto London’s ...

Going Down A Storm at The Holloway Ross Stewart Launches Debut EP 'Purpose' with Acoustic Set    Friday 5th September, 2025 It has been said that my reviews often could be summarised by “I loved it!” This is true to an extent, because if a band is not my cup of tea then I am not going to use precious time writing about them.  I suppose if an act were to be wholly offensive and worthy of a story, then I might write something, but as I was a teenager when Punk Rock arrived, it is unlikely that I’ll be shocked by weak re-treads of the publicity-seeking antics of the Pistols – who I loved, (obviously).    I thought it best to share that by way of introduction, as I am still glowing with pleasure at hearing a superb set from Ross Stewart and his band at the Holloway, 2 St Lawrence Steps, off St Benedict’s, Norwich, last Friday, 5 th  September.  Stewart released his debut EP the previous Friday and this sold out show for thirty paying music lovers...