marcusa
@marcusa
Tech journalist, analyst, IT director and indie music and film fan. Up the Boro. Available for writing.
Headliner Bill Ryder-Jones played an 80 minute set with a five-piece band on the opening night of a two gig warm up for a summer of festival appearances.
According to Google the support Jolie Skye, is a singer-songwriter who plays jazz and R&B-influenced pop. I'd say more pop than jazz and very little R&B.
Out tonight to the Boileroom in Guildford to see Bill Ryder-Jones and band, supported by Jolie Skye.
Deaf School have had many many years to practice their craft and it shows. 90 minutes of non-stop entertainment. Prince Albert, Brighton.
⁰Off again to the Prince Albert, Brighton. This time it's Deaf School on their "2nd Honeymoon 50th Anniversary tour" supported by Disco in Sochi. Opening night of the short tour ending at two nights at the Liverpool Philharmonic.
Headlines were Opal Mag. I haven't seen them for a year and I'd forgotten just how good they are. A perfect end to a great night.
Third support for the night is Black Viiolet a jazz burlesque side project for Nicole Laurenne who normally fronts female garage-punk band The Darts. Their first UK gig and almost the last gig for their massive US and European tour. Go see them!
Second support for the night were Girl Apocrypha another Brighton four-piece. Who were more rock than pop. Another band to follow.
First up tonight were Pleasance, a Brighton four-piece who want to be rocky but are just bit too tuneful and melodic. For fans of a quiet version of MBV and PJ Harvey.
Out tonight to the Prince Albert Brighton to see Opal Mag and supports Black Viiolet - a side project of Nicole Laurenne from the US garage-punk band The Darts - Girl Apocrypha, and Pleasance.
Sunday morning reading Tish Murtha "Vandalism on a grand scale" - This is the '80s I remember, not the sacharine nostalgia fest that certain parties seem to recall. @britcultarchive.bsky.social
Headliners were big long sun, an eight piece fronted and masterminded by Jamie Broughton and who reminded me of the Polyphonic Spree. One of the best bands I've seen this year.
Lindow man are a Brighton four piece. Second time I've seen them in the last few weeks and they seem to have improved leaps and bounds.
Out tonight at the Green Door Store to see big long sun supported by Lindow man and Thimble. A night of music followed by the footie - well some of it. First up were Thimble. The audience loved them. I didn't.
Headliners were Little Grandad who are now at full stadium rocking readiness. A very hot and sweaty set - it must have been 40° in the George. Definitely a gig of the year.
Next up were Tesni a three-piece made up of Eve Hancock, a Welsh singer-songwriter based in Manchester supported with bass and drums. Strong classic Joni Mitchell vibes. Also worth a further look.
London two-piece Painted Bird (Angus Rogers and Maisy Bird) remind me a bit of Tom Hickox - which is no bad thing - dark lyrics and just a single guitar or piano accompaniment and ethereal vocals. Definitely will be looking out for more.
Out tonight to see Little Grandad, supported by Painted Bird and Tesni at the George Tavern, Stepney and boy is it hot!!!
I was there! A great gig. Supported by Lavolta Lakota, unfortunately nothing written in my 1983 diary for that day but looks like I had a busy few days gig going.
Headliner tonight was Gretel on the opening night of her stripped-back acoustic set to promote her new album Squish. Augmented by Gabriel on guitar the set included lots of the new album and a few new numbers that her and Gabriel had been working on. 10/10 get the album and go see her.
First up tonight at the Folklore rooms was Grace without her band playing a short 25 minute six number acoustic set. Think CMAT but from Leeds with a passion for The doors and Austin Powers.
Out tonight to Brighton to the Folklore rooms to see an acoustic show from Gretel supported by Gloria, an indie country band from Leeds.
Final day of The Fall weekend rounded off with The Fallen Women and an array of Mark E Smith guest stars taken from the audience and organisers. Including Grant Showbiz, Stephen Titley and Daryl Easlea. With some help from the Hanleys on bass and drums.
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage being interviewed by the Hanley Brothers for a live recording of their “O Brother” podcast. Can confirm that Middlesbrough Rock Garden was indeed "very rough". I had to seek sanctuary in the women's loos when the skinheads decided they didn't like me.
A great start to day 3 of The Fall weekend. First a lecture on The Fall in academia - wish my lectures had been this interesting - The church of The Fall from Stephen Titley, followed by the side-splittingly funny Mass-Termined quiz hosted by Frank Skinner.
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage currently on the wheels of steel and has segued The Fall's "Pay your Rates" into "Cruisers Creek" it is 3.45 on a Sunday afternoon and I'm not hallucinating.
A screamingly funny hour with Jim Moir's tall Fall tales. Finished off by an interview with the original cast of Hey Luciani, and Graham Duff's new production with the Look Back Bores.
Last part of day 2 of The Fall event at the Band on the Wall included a long no holds barred interview with Fall record producer Grant Showbiz. Una Baines Poppycock, two DJ sets from Mark Riley and Craig Scanlon.