Even Butterflies Make A Sound
Hot Box was the venue when, in January 2020, this blog* took the plunge into gig promotion and set up a headline show for Giant Drag. This was back in the day when COVID-19 was mostly in the news as a problem in other countries. Just a few weeks later the UK was in lockdown. […]
The third album by Fatoumata Diawara, the legendary Malian musician, is out today. She co-produced London Ko with Daniel Florestano and Damon Albarn and includes a galaxy of guest musicians, including Albarn, Angie Stone, Roberto Fonseca, M.anifest, and Yemi Alade. Fatoumata Diawara: a vibrant musical trailblazer Hailed as one of the most vital standard-bearers of modern African music, Diawara’s music remains […]
It’s said the road to ruin is paved with good intentions. Glasgow’s psychedelic travellers Helicon disagree … we should be wary of God Intentions.
Certain elements of Our Final Invention may well be familiar to those who took more than a passing interest in Britpop. Or what followed that scene to be precise. That’s because the nucleus of Our Final Invention (Mark Gill [guitars/programming] and Richard Nancollis [vocals]) were also in Manchester’s The Rain Band. The Rain Band certainly […]
I set up Emjaymedia following the demise of Pinnacle, in 2008, following the banking crash. Out of necessity, I took another job to finance it at the start. I had no idea then whether it could be successful or not. It took a few years to even decide its direction. Much experience to bear when […]
Things are moving along very smoothly thank you for Chicago-based four-piece showgaze rockers Slow Pulp. Major UK/Europe support tour completed with heavyweight US band? ✓Debut LP still receiving glowing plaudits and continuing to release cracking singles? ✓Newly signed to esteemed record label? ✓ Given the challenges thrown in front of them recently, these achievements of […]
PVA, the Grammy-nominated, South London electronic music trio, has announced a new UK headline tour. They will play in February and March, culminating in a headline show at London’s Scala. The live dates come hot on the heels of the group’s biggest UK/EU tour to date, which saw them headline a packed-out Village Underground in […]
Much-loved creative anchor of US alt-rock band Sparklehorse, Mark Linkous, would have been 58 today. One day in 2010, after an argument with his estranged wife he exited the premises, walked down an alleyway, and shot himself through the heart with a rifle. Dark Night of the Soul: a constellation of collaborators He had recently […]
The Asteroid No. 4, Magic Shoppe, and Magic Seas come together for a sensational psychedelic session at Chelmsford’s Hot Box on November 7. Please click here to purchase tickets. Psychedelia from the Bay Area to the Bay State to Essex The Asteroid No. 4, (San Francisco, California) and Magic Shoppe (Boston, Massachusetts) fire up a […]
The incredible Hedvig Mollestad Trio visits the UK for a few September dates. Hedvig tells us more in an EXCLUSIVE video interview.
What is the link between MetroGlow, Martin MacInnes, Donna Haraway, and William Faulkner? Read on to find out!
Manchester’s World of Twist should have been huge. Co-founder Gordon King tries to explain why it didn’t happen in his biography When Does the Mind-Bending Start? Simon Dickinson, whose band toured with World of Twist, guest reviews for Even Butterflies Make A Sound.
Drone-pop duo Erasers embark on a short European tour in August. They kindly stopped suitcase packing to answer some questions.
Rupert Thomas and Rebecca Orchard release Constant Connection, their third LP, and will play a handful of UK shows.
The mighty Helicon is back on the road with local heroes Magic Seas as support. Furthermore, both bands will be involved in a workshop to help young adults gain an understanding about how a venue stages shows.
Even Butterflies Make A Sound presents a live show by Alison Cotton as part of her tour of England.
Read on to discover the inspiration behind MetroGlow’s debut EP Kraftwerk Mein Leibe.
Exciting goings-on at the Fuzz Club label as it releases the new EP by Helicon (Glasgow) and signs The Jesus and Mary Chain.
Ireland music legends Cathal Coughlan and Jacknife Lee have been dubbed up by Jah Wobble.
Few musicians can claim as distinctive a sound as Robin Guthrie. After a 40-year career, he continues to produce music that captivates and enthrals. Read on to find out more about Guthrie’s creative burst.
Former The Boo Radleys songwriter and guitarist announces new solo single and forthcoming Bandcamp subscription service
Thee Lucifer Sams’ frontman, Ivan Thunders, kindly provided his thoughts on Syd Barrett, psychedelia, and spontaneity. The band is currently touring with Pete Bassman supporting.
Uncle Kid makes dark, brooding, understated trip hop with spoken word. Read on to discover why Tom Robinson hailed his previous single as “a song for our times”. Uncle Kid’s new single ‘Lamplig’ is out now.
Why not read on to discover how Placebo created ‘Beautiful James’ – the band’s first single in five years.
Dot Allison’s new LP, Heart-Shaped Scars, is a triumphant return for one of the UK’s finest songwriters. Furthermore, it shows her uncanny ability to gather like-minded musicians to facilitate her musical vision. She released Room 7½ in 2009. And then mostly silence apart from the occasional dip into soundtracks and the odd collaboration. In that […]
Several neurodiverse young graphic score composers will highlight global concerns using the G7 summit as a backdrop.
NYC-based rock-punk-funk fusion outfit Dope Sagittarius returns with a new LP Sacred Places. It showcases frontman Luqman Brown’s uncanny ability to channel many of the Big Apple’s musical strands into a sound of his own.
Ok, it’s a rubbish heading, but it brought you here, right? But, please, read on, it gets better… In a remarkable twisterella, two current bandmates have been involved in extracurricular projects. Léanie Kaleido’s third album was produced by Mark Gardener; while Andy Bell has a solo single out. Keen shoegazers will note that both Gardener […]
Climate change scientists have stated that humanity has less than 10 years to take meaningful, lasting measures to safeguard the planet’s future. The Black Chapel collective made an award-winning film to raise consciousness and awareness of the situation.
The co-founder of Fuck Buttons returns with his second solo album and a video that’ll change your opinion of fruit salads forever.
Marie Naffah, former MTV Best Unsigned Act, is about to take the world by storm. Check out her new single ‘Wasteland’ and it’s clear why world domination awaits.
Independent Music Week exists to publicise smaller music venues. This year could be its most important campaign yet.
Thankfully, touch wood, I have avoided the worst the pandemic has had to offer. Obviously, the forced estrangement takes its toll; my job being made redundant was a blow. But it’s the lost time that hurts. My children’s youth being insidiously drained from them. Identikit days flying by. No real break in the routine to […]
Dot Allison first found fame with One Dove before enjoying a successful solo career. Andy McCulloch reviews some of his old writings and provides a snapshot of their separate lives, which do in fact have an element of synchronicity. ‘So, I saw that Dot Allison article in The Independent and it made me think of […]
Tidal Love Numbers is the mesmerising new LP by Andy Bell and Masal. While great musicians seem to gravitate towards each other, there certainly was good fortune that led to such a remarkable collaboration. Lucky in the way that Ride guitarist and songwriter Andy Bell and Masal’s Al Johnson and Oz Simsek met each other […]
So, I was invited to DJ for the first time and provide a psyche set. At least that’s what I think my brief was. I ran with that anyway. After a couple of lessons on the ones and twos with the event organiser, and feeling a bit nervous, I took the plunge at Voodoo Keller, […]
It’s not everyday that your music is wholeheartedly endorsed by the 41st best stand-up ever! But, as we know, these days aren’t ordinary days anymore. These days. But … Brighton-based psyche-folk Sairie received a nod from none other than the great Stewart Lee. Some context. In a seemingly light-hearted departure from their “Original and traditional […]
The Long Run are taking the not-so-long run from Canvey Island to Chelmsford (19 miles actually) for a headline show. The Oil City four-piece will play at Chelmsford’s Hot Box as part of Folk Sunday on 26 March. Please click here for tickets. Before the main act, the floor will be open for guest acts […]