Chase & Status – Bournemouth International Centre
The Chase and Status live experience at Bournemouth International Centre wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-throttle sensory overload that left everyone dazed, elated and completely speechless. A full show for the eyes and ears, it demanded your full attention and rewarded it tenfold.
Viagra Boys – O2 Academy Bournemouth
From the first note, the crowd were hanging onto every word frontman Sebastian Murphy delivered - as always, shirtless, tattooed from neck to waist, gliding around the stage in trackies and socks. There was a beautiful contradiction in watching a heavily inked man dance with such fluidity - his movements elegant, loose-hipped, playful and magnetic. Think of a post-punk ballerina!
Interview: Big Special
Big Special have never been a band afraid to feel or to laugh. The Black Country duo, made up of childhood friends Joe Hicklin and Callum Moloney, are known for channeling big emotions with bigger noise, mixing poetry, post-punk and plainspoken truth into something strikingly sincere. With the deluxe edition of their debut album Postindustrial Hometown Blues now out in the world, we caught up to talk about everything from Brum venues and emotional gigs to how they really look after each other on tour and which dog would play the drums if Big Special ever needed a canine replacement..
Razorlight – O2 Guildhall Southampton
By the time Razorlight hit the stage for the first date of their Planet Nowhere tour, it felt like we were all greeting old friends. The band launched straight into their set with energy and enthusiasm. Though there wasn’t much conversation or banter between songs - allowing the music to speak for itself - the moments of excitement came in waves, particularly when they played their well known hits.
Interview – The Manatees
Fresh from the release of their explosive new single Headspace, indie five-piece The
Manatees are showing no signs of slowing down. I caught up with Jay and Tyler to talk about all things songwriting, live shows, and their plans for the debut album. From the early gigs that lit the initial spark, to the venues close to their hearts, the conversation offered a real glimpse into where they’ve come from and where they’re heading next.