Category Archives: Music

Cool as you like it – Stephen Holt on the return of Inspiral Carpets

If you’d heard the album Inspiral Carpets in recent weeks without knowing the full story, you could be excused for thinking this was a debut LP. Not just because the band chose their own name for the title, but the … Continue reading

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‘Eddie’s my name!’ In conversation with Eddie Holman

Eddie Holman was up at 5am the day I called him, and two hours later the 68-year-old Baptist minister and soul legend was definitely on a roll. That was Philadelphia time, five hours behind the UK, the man credited with … Continue reading

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Still Stiff, after all these years – the Richard Balls interview

Right now, the chief organ-grinder at writewyattuk is tackling Richard Balls’ Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story, a compelling biography of the legendary and ground-breaking indie label. A review will follow on these pages, but until then here’s an interview with … Continue reading

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Here She Comes (again) – The Hazel O’Connor interview

Hazel O’Connor has lived ‘up in the hills’ of County Wicklow for around 25 years now, based just under an hour from Dublin. She has Irish roots, Hazel’s Dad having left Galway for Coventry, where he worked at a local … Continue reading

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Paul Carrack/Elliott Morris – Preston Guild Hall

From Satisfy my Soul through to a show-stopping How Long, those at the Guild Hall on Wednesday night were left in no doubt as to why they call Paul Carrack ‘the man with the golden voice’. Whether tackling classic ‘60s … Continue reading

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The Eve of the Final Tour – the Jeff Wayne interview

More than 35 years after Jeff Wayne’s first musical adaptation of HG Wells’ classic 1897 science fiction tale, it appears that there’s still plenty of life in The War of the Worlds. But while Jeff is about to embark on … Continue reading

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Going Overground – In conversation with Damian O’Neill

This week saw the release of a new solo single from one of my musical heroes, a certain Damian O’Neill. I’m tempted to not even bother with an introduction, but this Derry-raised, London-based guitarist made his name alongside brother John … Continue reading

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The Everlasting Yeah – Anima Rising

It’s arrived at last. The pledges have been counted, the funds have been crowded, and the cats are finally out of the bag. So welcome one and all to the mighty sound of The Everlasting Yeah and their debut album … Continue reading

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Peace in our time – the Armistice Pals charity project

In the week legendary American folk singer and activist Pete Seeger died – back in late January – a Lancashire band paid their own emotional live tribute. In so doing, Wigan octet Merry Hell revisited their own past as The … Continue reading

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Stepping Stones to the big time – the Paul Carrack interview

When I introduce myself to Paul Carrack on the phone, telling him I’m putting together something for a Lancashire publication, his gruff Northern response is, “You don’t sound very Lancastrian.” I add more detail, explaining how I’ve got around a … Continue reading

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