Saturday March 8th was the date, The Depo in the heart of Plymouth was the venue that played host to the Sound Factory Festival, an all day sonic extravaganza that featured 11 bands and 2 DJ sets. The day started at 12:45pm and ended at 2:45am the next morning, leaving just 15 mins for the security team to usher everyone out into the wild before the clean up exercise began.

Click on the link below to listen to the latest instalment of the GIG LIFE RADIO show, you can expect some great music from new and established acts and artists, the usual features and an interview with Devon based rock quartet 3 Days of Wonder.

Interviews from Gig Life Gathering in January 2025.

We chatted outside, upstairs, in rooms with no lights, I chatted to Johnny from Pet Needs whilst he was in bed with two groupies, I don’t have photographic evidence but I guarantee that it happened!

International non-binary beatbox star SK Shlomo has collaborated with Bjork, Ed Sheeran and Gorillaz, toured the world and performed on main stages at festivals like Glastonbury. And now they’re back on tour with their 5-star sell-out show Shlomo's Beatbox Adventure for Kids

We caught up with the mouth-musician to find out more.

FEATURING SOFT PLAY, THE VOIDZ, LAMBRINI GIRLS, HINDS AND MORE

*TICKETS ON SALE HERE*

Announces new album, Metalhorse, out 16 May 2025 via Invada Records - pre-order / pre-save HERE

Releases the first single, “The Test” - listen HERE / watch visualiser HERE

Album release week instores announced in Nottingham, London, Brighton & Coventry

Live dates include headline slots at Ritual Union in Bristol on 29 March and Cro Cro Land Festival, Croydon, London on 5 April

★★★★★ “Mesmerising!” Primary Times

★★★★★ “Staggering!” Families Edinburgh

★★★★★ “Super Mega Awesome” Deadline News

★★★★★ “Joyous...the parents were having just as good a time as their kids” BroadwayBaby.com

★★★★★ “Outrageously talented” The List Edinburgh

★★★★★ “A perfect show… sets young imaginations alight” The Times

CELEBRATING WOMEN ACROSS THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, 2025

Go Directly to the Programme: https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/international-womens-day/

08 - 17 MARCH, 2025

In the modern music industry, the release of albums in multiple formats has become a common practice. From vinyl in a rainbow of colours to deluxe edition CDs with exclusive tracks, artists and bands are offering fans a plethora of options. While this strategy has its merits, it also raises questions about its necessity and impact on fans. Let's explore the for and against cases for releasing music on a variety of formats.

The Beautiful Days Festival returns to Escot Park just outside of Exeter from 15th to 17th August with an impressive line-up that promises an unforgettable weekend of music and entertainment. The 2025 event features headliners such as the Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Levellers, Shed Seven, Mercury Rev, Kate Rusby, The Mary Wallopers, Kula Shaker, and many more.

Get ready to witness an unforgettable musical extravaganza at the Exeter Phoenix on Saturday, 8th March, with the event aptly named "SOUTH WEST DOES IT BEST." This unique event is set to showcase the vibrant and dynamic musical talent from the South West, brought to you by The Rock Project Devon and Studio 54 Exeter.

Boneyard Promotions has once again outdone itself by bringing the Burn It Down Festival back to the Torquay seafront, boasting a stellar new line up that’s sure to make waves. This award-winning festival, recently crowned the UK Festival Awards’ Best Metropolitan Festival 2024, is set to make an even bigger splash with acts like Zulu, Blood Command, God Complex, Feed the Rhino, and many more gracing the stages.

After a good night's sleep after show #2999 (that's a lie, I had 5 hours!) it was time for the main event, show #3000 for the legend that is FRANK TURNER and what an incredible night we had in the amazing Alexandra Palace.

With just over a week to go, we wanted to share with you some tracks from the incredible bands performing at the SOUND FACTORY FESTIVAL which is taking place at The Depo in the heart of Plymouth’s city centre on Saturday 8th March.

The road to show #3000 had one small step for Frank Turner to take and those who got to witness the small gathering at 93 Feet East, London were greeted with lesser played deep cuts and covers from 21 years of touring. Show #2999, a benefit gig for Warchild, was going to be one for the ages.

“If there was ever a Dionysus for the music industry, then The Dare is it. Inspiring carnage, frenzy and a little bit of debauchery, with his debut album ‘What’s Wrong With New York?’ he injects some much-needed ecstasy and pleasure into the world.” - 5/5 DORK

“A hedonistic pop bible. Coming at the end of BRAT summer, The Dare’s debut intercepts the baton perfectly…ingeniously timed for an audience hungry for stylish and nostalgic catharsis.” - 4.5/5 DIY 

“Tastefully rambunctious, ‘What’s Wrong With New York?’ is a sonic melting pot of millennial and Gen Z sounds. Don’t throw out the cigarettes just yet. ‘brat summer’ may be over, but I have a feeling that we’re in for a Dare-ingautum” - 8/10 CLASH

“A superstar in the making” - THE GUARDIAN

Watch the video for new single 'Hangman' HERE

UK instore performance + UK headline tour dates in MARCH

‘The Wonky Sessions: Volume 1’, the first compilation album from Wonky Plonk Electronk, brings together a remarkable collective of artists pushing the boundaries of sound. Featuring renowned and unconventional artists Mieko Shimizu, Dhangsha, Shape Navigator, Analogue Mechanic, and the late Gagarin, ‘The Wonky Sessions: Volume 1' is a bold exploration of experimental sound, weaving together intricate glitchy rhythms, immersive ambience, and absorbing sonic textures that stand firmly outside convention.

Leading lights of British metal, Employed To Serve, release new single, the title track from their forthcoming album, ‘Fallen Star.’ 

The Magic Mod - aka Ben Taylor - a card magician, entertainer, member of the exclusive Magic Circle fraternity and friend of Paul Weller, Liam Gallagher, Shaun Ryder and (really) Eamonn Holmes, will play a full UK tour in May, following the recent announcement of a one-off date in Brighton in April. Full dates as below.