Category - Live Zone

    Paul Weller took to the stage at the totally sold-out Brighton Centre, tonight a mixed standing and seated audience of maybe 5,500, packed with...

    Darling of the Ibiza club residency scene and bonafide dance music Queen Becky Hill’s first headline arena tour. Can she fill these vast...

  If you don’t know Jack – then you’d best read on…     Talented singer and songwriter Jack Watkins premiered the live...

Hot contender for gig of the year….     Frank Carter and three Sex Pistols: Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock in Brum on Saturday night...

    Day # two of two: This Feeling By The Sea Festival 2024, the second year of the event and after a cracking first day yesterday, when headliners...

    What do you need at an indie rock festival? Especially at the seaside. Why, rock of course. A glance at the merch’ list and there it...

    KAYTRANADA, Tems, Victoria Monét, Thundercat, and Tkay Maidza launched Uber One Presents All Points East 2024 yesterday [Fri 16th August]...

  Wilderness Festival 2024 was a real corker! Great weather and spectacular performances from headliners Faithless, Michael Kiwanuka, Bicep present...

  Day # 2 of the fabulous Love Supreme Festival in East Sussex was much kinder weather-wise, when the rain and wind of Friday was swapped for sunshine and...

  As Liam’s hugely successful “Definitely Maybe” tour winds down prior to his summer festival appearances, a fourth sold out night at Manchester’s new Co...

    Final day of The UK festival for Americana, Black Deer, back for its fifth year to Eridge Park, Kent for 2024. The three day event – 14th, 15th...

    Day # two of The UK festival for Americana, Black Deer, back for its fifth year to Eridge Park, Kent for 2024. The three day event – 14th, 15th...

    The UK festival for Americana, Black Deer, returned for its fifth year to Eridge Park, Kent for 2024 and the three day event – 14th, 15th...

    Blistering. Sizzling. Incendiary. Storming. Stunning. Mighty……All spot on adjectives to sum up Royal Blood’s performance in...

  Saturday we caught Texas, Stereo MCs, The Bootleg Beatles, The Coral, Abbie Ozard, Peter Hook and the Light, Amy Moore, Chris Ostler, Callum Beattie...

        Happy 18th birthday Wychwood Festival. Yes, it’s party time in the sunshine for up to 10,000 music fans and their families on...

    The final day of The Great Escape Festival 2024 in Brighton is here after two cracking days – and a few bits and bobs on Wednesday –...

    It’s back. The Great Escape Brighton. 2024 version. Yaaay! After a bit of a setback when more than 100 acts pulled out in protest of...

    It’s back. The Great Escape Brighton. 2024 version. Yaaay! After a bit of a setback when more than 100 acts pulled out in protest of...

    Gary Numan. At 66-years-old and been at it for 47 years; touring the globe, recording and releasing 23 albums, deservedly recognised as a pioneer...

    Last night, Saturday, in boxing parlance: someone’s ‘0’ had to go. And it did. Unbeaten champ’ Tyson Fury lost to...

      Let’s cut the cr** and get straight to the nitty gritty here. Paloma Faith is a star. As a singer, a performer and a songwriter she...

      Friday the third of May 2024 is a massive date in the diary of Irish band Dea Matrona – fronted by the Belfast duo of school friends...

    If I said that the UK’s latest pop Princess Olivia Dean looks a lot like Linda Rondstadt in some of the lovely pictures our photographer...

    Who says nostalgia ain’t what it used to be? We have funk, soul and r&b royalty in the house tonight for a glorious stroll down memory...

    The venue? Sleek and modern. The crowd? Young and good looking. The band? Novo Amor. Manchester, the penultimate gig of the UK tour, with...

    Back in the day, in the 80s and 90s, Shaun Ryder and his merry band of Happy Mondays men and woman were off their faces more often than not, and...

    Griff won this magazine’s deserved vote for Best EP of 2023, for her wonderful “vert1go vol. 1” (stylised title) released in...

    In around a week’s time, Feeder release the first double album of their three-decade career, “Black / Red” – a record...

    Not many singer songwriters can play a large venue such as the close to full 1450 capacity 02 Academy Leicester, and make it feel like they are...

  Second night of a nine-date tour, and then a clutch of shows in Europe. Glasgow kicked off the tour to mixed reviews – a tour that sold out in the...

    Being an X Factor or BGT [Britain’s Got Talent] contestant seen by millions and not winning it, may well still have a bit of a stigma...

* EXCLUSIVE *     Psssst….Wanna know a ‘secret?’ There’s a big movie and TV star plotted up in a rural gaff in East Sussex...

    “We’re all family here”, implores Ryan Guldemond as he addresses the front, the back, the balcony of this great venue in Leeds. It’s true...

    The 2,500 capacity Portsmouth Guildhall is the venue for the final night of You Me At Six’s penultimate UK tour, after their recent...

    From the off; I promise no gags or mentions about The Vaccines name and you know what. OK? Er, I just did, didn’t I? Moving on… Third...

    Back to basics for The Libertines – but it is their choice. A band who like most, started out playing intimate grass roots venues back in...

      Flames, lasers, smoke, awesome lighting, giant video screens, crystal clear sound…all on the wish list of any discerning rock fan...

  US country and Americana singer and songwriter Eric Paslay is no stranger to these shores, and tours here now and again. Last here in 2022 and before...

  Ashnikko is different. Ashnikko is a must see. She is like a jack in the box on speed on stage. Part ace dancer, part contortionist, part acrobat and...

  How can Anne-Marie be on the tele’ box on The Voice at the same time as wowing circa 15,000 fans at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena last night...

    Cian Ducrot in Nottingham. He opens with the title track of his debut album, “Victory”, released in August this year and claiming top...

    Nottingham is the fifth of British pop star Maisie Peters’ 13 UK shows, dubbed “The Road To Wembley” – many dates sold...

    Could tonight be the first time in this venue’s history there has been a classical music trio open proceedings as the support act? Kinu...

    A heck of a lot goes in to organising tours overseas for bands and artists, not to mention the financial costs and the question mark over how...

    Birmingham concert audiences have been spoiled for choice lately for TV and film stars popping in to the city with their music side hustle. Movie...

      Storm Antoni Met office amber warnings of 50+mph gale force winds and heavy rain, on top of no trains on Saturday, failed to keep many...

    There are some shows that really are extra special, where you get that excited feeling way before it has started. It begins with the buzz of the...

    Hollywood Vampires. Supergroup. Are they? Star studded, for sure. Alice Cooper, Joe Perry of Aerosmith and movie star Johnny Depp among their...

    New York legend Billy Joel headlined last night’s show to kick off the final weekend of this year’s American Express presents BST...

    ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ seemed to be the motto of rock juggernauts Kiss, as this was pretty much the same show...

    American Express presents BST Hyde Park’s final weekend of shows kicked off with a four-day live music extravaganza with headlining artist...

    Dog Day Afternoon: Billed as “The Ultimate Punk Celebration.” The line-up was very, very decent indeed: Iggy Pop, Blondie, Stiff...

    The British pop legends Take That, who have sold more than 45 million albums worldwide, headlined the Great Oak Stage as a special one-off show...

    A cat’s whisker away from 20,000 people flocked through the gates of the Lytham Festival last night for the second of five days’ of...

    They came, we saw (and they/we danced!), and they conquered. Who?  The Jacksons. Music history’s first family… To borrow a couple of...

      Royal Blood are a stadium rock act right now – out with Muse for big outdoor shows and about to open for headliners Arctic Monkeys...

      The site of the annual rock pilgrimage to Hellfest is located in the small and pretty village of Clisson in West France – normal...

      The site of the annual rock pilgrimage to Hellfest is located in the small and pretty village of Clisson in West France – normal...

            The site of the annual rock pilgrimage to Hellfest is located in the small and pretty village of Clisson in West...

  The site of the annual rock pilgrimage to Hellfest is located in the small and pretty village of Clisson in West France – normal population 8,000...

    Fans have had to wait more than four years to see Chvrches in Nottingham since their last visit to this same venue. Was the wait worth it? Hell...

    Beyoncé has wrapped five sold-out nights at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on her “Renaissance” World Tour. A staggering...

    Respected UK singer and songwriter Billie Marten closed her successful 11-date UK and Ireland spring tour with two sold out shows at Lafayette in...

      2023 was the fifth year of Neighbourhood Weekender, which kicked off in 2018 and missed a year in 2020 for obvious reasons. This magazine...

    The first 150 people to go through the gates on day one this year were given a voucher for one free drink at the festival courtesy of a Mr Paul...

    It’s that time again. The start of festivals season with The Great Escape 2023 in Brighton. More than 500 bands and artists across the entire...

It’s that time again. The start of festivals season with The Great Escape 2023 in Brighton. More than 500 bands and artists across the entire city – circa 32...

    It’s that time again. The start of festivals season with The Great Escape 2023 in Brighton. More than 500 bands and artists across the...

    Stanley Jordan is in his fifth decade of touring, and a chance to see him live is always a privilege. Tonight being no exception… He has...

    Tonight, red hot pop star Mimi Webb packs Nottingham’s 2,000 capacity Rock City. But what does pop mean? Well, popular, of course. And for...

    So. Friday night. Dublin. 12,500 fans of Sam Smith were treated to a superb performance from rising star London-based artist Cat Burns as opening...

    No set list. Instead, a master list of circa 65 songs for the tour and from that, Black Francis and the band decide on the night which songs...

    US four-piece indie rock outfit Slow Pulp kicked off early at 7pm, when the room was about three quarters full. Offering up a decent set of...

    There was little holding back the fans of Utah four-piece The Backseat Lovers last night in Leeds. As soon as the doors opened, the queue that...

    He’s red hot right now. The weather was not. Snow, freezing temperatures and dodgy driving conditions kept some fans away from this sold...

      “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” So wrote A.A. Milne for Winnie The Pooh. A poignant quote that rings...

    At the bottom of the A4 sheet of the set list for tonight’s show in Birmingham, a simple sentence is printed: “You now own a piece of history!”...

    Award-winning Aussie band Spacey Jane may not be a household name in the UK, but they filled legendary London venue The Roundhouse to bursting on...

    Kane Brown is a hot ticket on the UK comedy scene as a rising star of stand-up. So, to see his name on the front of the famed Eventim Apollo in...

      You know those bands or artists you just cannot wait to see live; you adore their records; but are left feeling underwhelmed and...

      Sunday night, “a school night”, Rock City is rammed. 2000 fans in, and they are well up for it. James Bay is in town and he...

    While millions are glued to the TV on a Saturday night to watch a serving MP, a champion footballer, a soap actor and a champion rugby...

    A current pop star cancelled a show with just a few hours notice in the UK this week, as he was feeling “really unwell.” No exact...

    Even when some live music venues are rammed, and even if the band or artist on stage are in good form, sometimes the atmosphere in the room can...

    There’s a lot of it about, lately! And there is no vaccination or protection either. That is: awesome metal! Tuesday in Birmingham it’s a double...

      Light and shade in a live set is a delicate balance between the rambunctious in-yer-face stuff and the more chilled tracks, such as...

    What to do on a cold Wednesday November night in Leeds? Stay in and watch a bunch of C-list celebs’ and a Pantomine-villain MP eating...

Celebrity photographer Rothschild and music writer Steve Best bring you all the action from one of THE gigs of the year….       Superstars...

    Acting legend Kiefer Sutherland and his band brought some Hollywood sunshine with them on a chilly, wet Tuesday night in November, to grace the...

    If you have ever worked in a music store and had to listen to guitar noodlers and out of tune shredders day in, day out, there’s a universal...

    It was one of those special gigs. You know the ones; when a less than full venue (“intimate”) hosts a brilliant band or artist and...

      It went off bigtime in Nottingham last night (Sunday). The Amazons were in town – fourth stop of a 12-date tour – and Rock...

      Machine Gun Kelly’s first arena tour, the UK leg part of a 52-date run across North America and Europe, tonight, sold out in Birmingham...

    If the energy levels of the fans’ reaction to thrash metal legends Anthrax first night of their UK tour is anything to go by, then the...

    “Awesome”. “Bloody brilliant”. “Magnificent” “Just the best”. “Come back soon, you were magic”. “Wow, better than sex”. Just some of...

  Finnish post-hardcore, “violent pop” collective Blind Channel came, played and conquered their short but sweet UK tour dates to promote...

    A sold out 19,000 people had a fabulous time on Saturday (10th Sept 2022) in Sherdley Park, St Helens on Merseyside at Reminisce Festival...

      Painted faces. Flying fish. Film stars. Football stars. Folk stars. Rock stars. One of my weird dreams after eating cheese? One too many...

  (SUNDAY) – Review & Photos       I’d liked to have been in that meeting… “Right chaps, let’s form a new band. Better get...

(SATURDAY) – Review & Photos       Thursday was the day many campers arrived, but the main stage kicked off on Friday with some superb acts...

(FRIDAY) – Review & Photos       2022 is the first year for Camp Bestival at Weston Park in Shropshire – 18-21 August – a stone’s...

  DAY TWO COVERAGE –  Sunday – Review & Photos…       Nottingham boasts Torvill and Dean, Brian Clough and Robin Hood...

  DAY ONE COVERAGE – Saturday – Review & Photos…       There were tears (of emotion) and there were tantrums...

  Day Three –  Sunday 10th July 2022 – The final ever Cornbury after 20 years….         Sunday was the hottest I...

  Day Two: Saturday 9th July 2022       Day two at Cornbury brought more red hot weather, and after a late night, especially for the...

* Day one – Friday 8th July 2022 *       Déjà vu time….In 2017, festival organiser Hugh Phillimore fought back tears to announce to the...

      The 02 Institute in Birmingham was turned into a sauna for one night in July 2022, and not just because the nation was sweltering from an...

    After numerous delays, Haim finally hit town for the first of two sold out nights in support of 2020’s “Women In Music Part III” from which the...

    On the trip home after this sweaty, raucous gig on a cold Wednesday night in March 2022, the Birmingham stop-off on a tour re-scheduled from...

    The Human League’s Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley were in celebratory mood tonight – half way through a 12-date...

    British female singer-songwriters are currently smashing it in the UK – including Griff, Celeste, Maisie Peters, Grace Carter, Holly...

    When you have been poorly for a few days and feeling pretty low, you need family and friends around to perk you up. Well, for chart star Becky...

    My diary has been emptier than a hermit’s address book for the last 19 months or so, due to the dreaded Damn Panic; I mean, pandemic, pulling all...

    The last time I saw Erasure three years ago, I noted that their career was experiencing a resurgence, and it seems to be gathering pace. Since...

    Bubble gum pop and “slacker rock” artist Lauran Hibberd was joined by hand-picked support acts Spyres and Abbie Ozard last night at the Bodega...

      With their return to Tampa Bay, Scottish rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks kicked off the 12th show of their tour with a sold-out night...

      American singer songwriter and actress Grace Potter left her fans wanting more after her last show in St Petersburg – for some seven...

      There’s an allotment-owning bearded bloke with some spare time on his hands, who lives a stone’s throw from tonight’s venue. If he had...

    A triple threat tonight – with not one, not two, but three headline bands plying their wares at Nottingham’s Bodega venue when the West London...

    He’s red hot. He’s sold out an entire 20-date tour, literally in minutes. He’s only released one album thus far and it blasted straight into the...

        If you hear an artist on the radio or a streaming service, buy the album and go see them in concert, it’s a good bet that you will...

      Brighton-based rock quartet Yonaka are seemingly committed to not making their fans wait too long between tours, and tonight they are back...

    It’s been six years since Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men called in to Nottingham… That was February 2013 when Platinum-selling debut album...

    A couple of hours or so after superstar Cher had belted out one of her biggest hits, “If I Could Turn Back Time” as the penultimate...

        Tonight was Gary Numan’s 15th performance at this hallowed Midland’s live music venue, since it opened its doors almost 40...

        Nearly six years after John Newman’s debut single, “Love Me Again”, topped the UK chart, the North Yorkshire-born artist more than...

        After a pretty quiet summer gig-wise in Nottingham, we are in full swing again – welcoming back one of the East Midland...

      It was a raucous and fittingly triumphant farewell to the Prime Minister of funk, when the galactic mothership that is George Clinton and...

    Spot the bass player. Spot the drummer. Spot the horn player. Easily done at almost any gig on the planet where these US soul legends rock up...

      He’s had two. She wants one, and preferably very soon. He is Mr Ezra. You can call him George. She is known by just one name, Sigrid...

    The weather’s gone nuts lately. Record breaking temperatures in February, which gave us a premature burst of summer heat and sunshine for a...

    Only a handful of years ago, Twenty One Pilots were playing gigs in sweaty backrooms of pubs and clubs to a hundred or so and flogging their self...

    Last night we were “jamming good with Weird and Gilly and the Spiders from Mars” – almost. With unquestionable credentials, Holy Holy was very...

    The UK’s favourite Acid house and Trip Hop DJ/producer is back in the game in a big way with his 2019 ‘In-The-Round’ tour – and he...

    Manchester’s current favourite sons The 1975, have a unique chemistry that only comes when the ensemble know each other inside out. Still only...

    The chill wind of a November evening was left outside a sold-out Islington Assembly Hall tonight, when 800 people filled the Grade II listed...

  The Boy is back in town – Boy George that is and Culture Club. Well, most of them… London’s Wembley Arena gets to host one night of the...

    What could bring people to church on a Monday night? But, this is not just any old church. The answer to my question though is music! Not just...

      It is two decades since Ash last stormed the stage of the 02 Forum in Kentish Town, London. The Northern Irish trio have come a long way...

    There’s a right old Royal connection tonight. First of all, this lovely £30 million venue was opened by The Queen in 1991. A few days ago, a...

      Spent all day thinking up puns around this band’s name, and around vampires and horror movies. Bringing the likes of Bela Lugosi, Vincent...

  It’s not often that a slice of Nashville finds its way into the backstreets of London. But city dwellers were in luck when a young rising star of the US...

      The 1960s probably spawned more distinctive and instantly recognisable British pop lead singers and soloists than any other decade. The voices...

  One thing is certain: There are a LOT of people releasing music and, to put it in the nicest possible way, the good stuff is by far outnumbered by the...

  This young Norwegian superstar-in-waiting gave her sold out Birmingham audience a masterclass in how to be yourself as an artist. And enjoy every last...

    The place was rammed, upstairs and downstairs; the capacity is 3,009, and many had already seen the band at least once on this 19-date tour. Gig...

  To say that post-hardcore band At The Drive-In have had a tumultuous relationship would be something of an understatement. Formed in 1994 in Texas, the...

    “I’m back with a bang” spits Wiley on his newest track “Been a While”, and he certainly was not lying. Kicking off in Dublin, his show in...

  So, here’s my Erasure story. A song played by the sixthformers on the bus, a furtively copied C90 passed in the playground. The Innocents. (I promise I...

    The Damned were always the band who put the fun into punk – 42 years later they are still doing just that. It was hard to define a punk...

  The people who braved the snow, the ice and the near-Arctic temperatures to pack the sold out Symphony Hall in Birmingham, paid top dollar to be sat in...

  “I love you Imelda”. That was yelled out at her several times during the Irish star’s triumphant sell-out gig at Leicester’s De Montfort...

  There’s a line I use sometimes which goes like this: Nostalgia’s not what it used to be, is it?” A rhetorical question, but it actually deserves an...

The most fun you can have legally, with your clothes on…The annual Bearded Theory Festival celebrated its 10th birthday in fine style this year, and...