Tag Archives: Manchester

Understanding Vinny Peculiar – in conversation with Alan Wilkes

Posted on November 5, 2019 by

It would be all too easy to point out that Alan Wilkes, the inspiration behind Vinny Peculiar, has flirted with indie stardom but never quite attained that elusive crossover fame. But don’t think for one moment this Worcestershire-born and bred … Continue reading →

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Stone Foundation – Manchester Gorilla

Posted on November 3, 2019 by

The idea was to take the soul train to Manchester on Friday night, but Northern Rail shenanigans put paid to that, the state of the nation’s railways more ‘What’s Going On?’ than ‘People Get Ready’ right now, discussions over whether … Continue reading →

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Edwyn Collins / Gabi Garbutt and the Illuminations – Manchester Gorilla

Posted on September 11, 2019 by

Amid the post-summer holiday trudge back to work, I reckon we all need pick-me-ups, familiar despondency at days getting shorter and temperatures dropping – irrespective of global warming crises – taking its toll. Meanwhile the Government and UK itself is … Continue reading →

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Cutting It Fine: from Making Out to Poldark, and beyond – the Debbie Horsfield interview

Posted on August 8, 2019 by

Until she took on the most recent screen adaptation of classic Cornish historical literary saga Poldark, writer Debbie Horsfield was best known for a string of Manchester-based dramas. It’s now 30 years since the first of her three series of … Continue reading →

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Still living the Impossible Dream – the Bez interview

Posted on July 17, 2019 by

Four decades after crossover indie/dance combo Happy Mondays set out on their initial adventure, and 30 years after their biggest-selling LP, the legendary Manc outfit have announced a marathon greatest hits tour for October, November and December this year. And … Continue reading →

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Charmed to meet ya – in conversation with Paul Hanley

Posted on June 21, 2019 by

Some books come your way with elaborate press releases. Others arrive on your desk in a more convoluted fashion. And the latter was certainly the case with Paul Hanley’s Leave the Capital. It was broadcaster Pete Mitchell who lent me … Continue reading →

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Fylde under nature – talking The Membranes’ new record and much more with John Robb

Posted on June 5, 2019 by

It’s 35 years since music writer, Louder Than War founder and Membranes/Goldblade bass player/vocalist John Robb left the ‘Tatty Seaside Town’ later celebrated on 1988’s Kiss Ass … Godhead! LP. But he clearly still has plenty of time for his … Continue reading →

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Pip Blom / Talk Show / Jacob Slater – Band on the Wall, Manchester

Posted on June 4, 2019 by

Champions League Final? Well, there was no way that could ever live up to either semi, and perhaps this was my show of support for Ajax, nipping down to Manchester, erm, City to catch another Amsterdam outfit with youth on … Continue reading →

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Whatever floats your Boat – the Pip Blom interview

Posted on May 30, 2019 by

In a sense, perhaps it was almost inevitable that Pip Blom would follow her parents into the alternative music market. It’s now three years since this Amsterdam-based singer-songwriter first shared her somewhat raw, lo-fi brand of indie guitar pop with … Continue reading →

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Robert Forster – Band on the Wall, Manchester

Posted on May 27, 2019 by

I missed out on The Go-Betweens live during their defining 1978/90 spell and the 2000/6 second coming, that latter period providing three LPs now nestling among my favourites of all time. But I had the pleasure of witnessing Robert Foster … Continue reading →

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