Monthly Archives: May 2015

Living the genre non-specific rock dream with Polly and the Billets Doux

Posted on May 28, 2015 by writewyattuk

Polly Perry, lead singer of Polly and the Billets Doux,  is on a train somewhere between Devon and Hampshire, heading back from a weekend of fossil hunting. Yes, fossil hunting. Not very rock’n’roll? Well, there’s plenty more of that deviant … Continue reading →

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Band of brothers’ friendly fire – The Cribs interview

Posted on May 21, 2015 by writewyattuk

When it comes to loyalty, it’s an ethos built on brotherhood for indie favourites The Cribs. While the West Yorkshire outfit complemented their sense of cool by recruiting Manchester guitar legend Johnny Marr between 2008 and 2011, the brothers Jarman … Continue reading →

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In from the rain again – doubling up with Inspiral Carpets and The Rainkings

Posted on May 21, 2015 by writewyattuk

It’s a busy life for Stephen Holt, his day job in North Manchester supplemented by roles as the singer in two acclaimed bands. As well as Inspiral Carpets, the outfit he co-formed in 1983 and rejoined in 2011 after a … Continue reading →

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Looking Glass Girl by Cathy Cassidy – a writewyattuk review

Posted on May 16, 2015 by writewyattuk

In the year Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland turns 150, we can expect a number of events set around that influential work and all it led to. Alice is a little too Marmite for some tastes, and I totally … Continue reading →

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Taking the Long Road home – the Milltown Brothers interview

Posted on May 15, 2015 by writewyattuk

Matt Nelson is on his way home from work to Burnley, having moved back to the North-West around a dozen years ago. Milltown Brothers’ chief singer-songwriter is a family man these days, a dad-of-three who runs a visual effects film … Continue reading →

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Experiencing eclipses and supersonic flight – the Smoke Fairies interview

Posted on May 8, 2015 by writewyattuk

Katherine Blamire was roaming around rural Yorkshire with fellow members of the band Smoke Fairies when I called her, enjoying a day off from a UK tour supporting Public Service Broadcasting. To add to 13 shared dates, the band headlined … Continue reading →

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The Astounding Broccoli Boy by Frank Cottrell Boyce – a writewyattuk review

Posted on May 4, 2015 by writewyattuk

Frank Cottrell Boyce has a lot to live up to when it comes to publication time, not least considering the quality of his first three children’s novels, Millions, Framed and Cosmic. I also enjoyed the Merseyside author’s re-imaginings of Ian … Continue reading →

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Public Service Broadcasting / Smoke Fairies – The Ritz, Manchester

Posted on May 1, 2015 by writewyattuk

It’s ironic that the night we decided to do without the car and took the train to Manchester, my better half and I were let down by public transport. Not so much Public Service Broadcasting as Replacement Bus Service, cheated … Continue reading →

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