It was 40 years ago that THE SPECIALS released their debut eponymous album to an unsuspecting world, produced by the one and only Elvis Costello, the album is seen by some as THE defining moment in the UK ska scene.

We were at The Great Hall in Exeter to see if they still had what it took to entertain, enthral and amaze the capacity audience that had congregated tonight, read on to see how the evening unfolded…..

PRIMAL STATIC are an alternative rock/blues/electro duo who hail from Austin, Texas.

Their music seduces with the soulful essence of blues, and fearlessly rocks with trance rhythms and beats. Song writer/singer/guitarist G. T. sings and plays without reservation, dripping with raw emotion. His exquisitely thought provoking lyrics are second to none. Keyboardist/bassist Houfei brings up the rhythm section with her elastic soulful bass and wonderful classically trained keyboard playing. The band uses innovative trance beats to round out their incredibly unique sound sculpture.

We caught up with them to chat about their musical upbringings, dream producers and lineups and what they’d be if they weren’t musicians, here’s how we got on….

Bear’s Den arrive at Bristol for the 12th date of their huge 40 date world tour, supported by Tusks, they are set to perform in front of a sold out crowd at the O2 Academy in Bristol tonight. 

Read on to see how the evening unfolded….

The Stranglers are one of the longest running and most accomplished punk bands of all time, their remarkable 45+ year career has included a stunning 23 UK top 40 singles, and 17 top 40 albums. Having already enjoyed such an incredibly successful career, some bands may choose to go easy on the touring, but not The Stranglers. They were out on the road again in March for their ‘Back On The Tracks’ tour.

We caught them live at Bristol’s O2 Academy, click below to see how the evening unfolded….

Having just completed a SOLD OUT tour in the USA accompanied by Shinedown and Asking Alexandria, PAPA ROACH recently embarked on a 13 date UK tour taking in shows at Southampton, Exeter, Bristol, London, Manchester and more.

We were invited along to the Exeter show to see what all the fuss was about, read on to see how we got on…

Sam Fender is pleased to announce details of his debut album, Hypersonic Missiles which is to be released on 9th August 2019. 
 
Hypersonic Missiles was written, recorded and produced at Fender’s own self-built warehouse studio in North Shields. It was recorded alongside long-standing friend and producer, Bramwell Bronte. 

Mork's newest album, Det Svarte Juv (or, roughly translated to English, 'The Black Abyss') set for release on April 19th is the follow-up to their album Eremittens Dal, which was released in 2017 when Mork was signed to Peaceville Records.  It has made quite an impression on fans and musicians in the black metal "scene", if you will - positive in every way.

Check out our review….

Ahhhh, the 5th of September 2017, this was the date a CD titled 'The Water of Leith' landed on my doorstep, it was written by a guy called Ross Wilson who goes under the monicker Blue Rose Code and after a couple of plays, I was hooked…..

Imagine my surprise when I saw that he was playing at The Phoenix in Exeter, I just HAD to be there, I sorted out a couple of tickets for me and Rhod (esteemed photographer) to attend and away we went.

It was 6:30am by the time I rolled into Newton Abbot, the town was quiet (as you’d expect) but as I neared the bottom of Queen Street, there was a buzz in the air as today was no ordinary day, yes folks, it was the day of the 12th annual RECORD STORE DAY….

The multi-platinum rock group Five Finger Death Punch has teamed up with the legendary Brian May of Queen and two of the biggest names in country and blues rock, Brantey Gilbert and Kenny Wayne Shepherd to record a special version of the song 'Blue On Black' mixed by Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Shania Twain, Disturbed).

Watch the video NOW….

Since Saturday 6th April 2019 – in fact, no, wait – on Saturday 6th April 2019, during the first 2 minutes of Murder Capital’s short support slot and by the end of the first two songs from the headliners IDLES, I knew.  I was actively reflecting, in the moment. Those gigs that have impacted on a life, seared themselves into one’s conscience. I remember and memories are what help us become more than just insignificant souls on this tiny planet, mere specks in the universe. Memories push us forward, reclaiming the past from the present and propelling us into the embrace of the future.

Tonight was the night that, after 34 years, I was finally going to see a band that had intrigued me ever since I heard their early offerings on John Peel’s radio show back in 1985.

Yes folks, Half Man Half Biscuit were to perform at The Phoenix in the heart of Exeter and I for one made damned sure that I had a ticket and a prime vantage point on the balcony to enjoy the evening’s entertainment, read on to see how the night unfolded….

CLEAN CUT KID is an English band from Liverpool. The band consists of four members; Mike Halls on lead vocals and guitar, Evelyn Halls on backing vocals and keys, Ross Higginson on drums and Gareth Bullock on bass guitar. The band formed in 2012 and released their debut single ‘Vitamin C’ in summer of 2015 followed by their debut album Felt in 2017. We caught them performing live at The Joiners in the heart of Southampton, here’s how we got on….

‘WITH YOU’ ADDED TO RADIO 2 PLAYLIST - NEW PIANO VERSION OUT ON FRIDAY
 
NEW EP THE BED YOU MADE OUT MAY 10TH - LISTEN TO THE TITLE TRACK HERE
 
LIVE SHOWS THIS MONTH
CAMDEN ASSEMBLY – APRIL 9TH

The Specials, one of the most electrifying, influential and important bands of all time have announced a 31-date European and UK tour in support of their just announced brand new album, Encore. 

Bianca Del Rio, real name Roy Haylock is a drag artist, comedian, designer and actor who made his... or her name on Ru Paul's Drag Race. Born in Louisiana, USA, Roy was blessed with a sharp tongue and an even sharper sense of style and before Roy'a alter ego Bianca was created, he was an award winning costume designer. That all changed in 1996. He donned a wig and tights, plastered his face with makeup and never looked back, winning the New Orleans Gay entertainer of the year for three years in a row.

Bianca Del Rio is to perform at Plymouth Pavilions on 18th September, tickets are selling FAST….

British Folk Rock duo Bears Den are on the road again after announcing a 40 date tour to accompany the release of the new album So That You Might Hear Me which will be arriving on the 26th April 2019. The tour started in the Netherlands on the 1st of April and finishes in Los Angeles mid June and covers Europe, UK, USA and Canada....Bears Den have new music and they want the world to hear it!

After a four month wait, ticket holders rejoiced as IDLES once again travelled the well trodden streets of the UK gig circuit treating venues to incendiary performances that literally shook their inner cores. Having kicked off the UK leg of their 2019 tour in Sheffield the night before, we were lined up outside The Tramshed in the heart of Cardiff to witness THE most important band on the planet perform to a sold out audience….

I received an email out of the blue a few weeks ago from a guy who’s in a band called THE EXPERIMENTAL, he said that we’d met at the South West Music Expo in Bath a while ago and I must admit that having met loads of talented people that day, I can’t say I recall the encounter. Fast forward a few weeks and I find myself driving to Totnes to attend the launch party of ‘What Do We Want’, the new album by The Experimental, I was running late and I half hoped that they were also running behind schedule as I really wanted to check out all three acts on the bill!

DEATH BLOOMS release ‘Filth’ with music video
From forthcoming EP ‘You Are Filth’ out 26 April
Headline shows in May