After overcoming a handful of hurdles that the last few years have thrown at Ash Costello, the charismatic performer returned to the UK & Europe with New Years Day for the Californian’s first jaunt to these shores in 5 years (the worldwide lockdown curtailed their trek in 2020 that saw …
Read More »Review: H.E.A.T /Art Nation/Chez Kane – Club Academy, Manchester
For fans of melodic hard rock, the early stages of 2025 are shaping up to resemble the famous scene in ‘The Two Towers'” where Gandalf comes to the rescue at the Battle of Helm’s Deep. “Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to …
Read More »Review: Trivium/Bullet For My Valentine – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
With January bringing chaos, bewilderment, and destruction in the form of a new Trump presidency, Elon Musk saying “Hold my beer” to anyone within earshot, and the arrival of Storm Eowyn, 2025 has gotten off to a shaky start. And with Trump and Musk doing their damnest to make The …
Read More »Review: Brothers Osborne – O2 Academy, Glasgow
After performing at the multi-national Country 2 Country Festival in March 2024, where they appeared in the main support slot to the headliner Old Dominion (although, most in attendance will confirm that the headliners had a tough act to follow), Maryland-duo Brothers Osborne made good on their promise to return …
Read More »Review: Del Amitri – Perth Concert Hall
The beautiful glass-fronted Perth concert hall looks warm and welcoming surrounded by twinkling Christmas lights, bar staff visible, lined up, ready to start sticking some money in the tills. Unfortunately, despite the queue snaking around the street by 6.30, the doors remain stubbornly closed til 7, and it is …
Read More »Review: The Damned – Cambridge Corn Exchange
If you were to ask the average fan of The Damned to name their favourite record, it will more than likely be a toss-up between two; 1980’s The Black Album and 1982’s Strawberries. Both albums helped the London punk legends seek further success within the punk rock community, thanks to …
Read More »Review: Those Damn Crows / Sophie Lloyd / Himalayas – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Those Damn Crows / Sophie Lloyd / HimalayasCardiff Utilita ArenaSaturday 14th December 2024It feels somewhat fitting that my final gig of the year that I turn 60, is to travel home, to within a few hundred yards of where I was born, to witness the coming of age of …
Read More »Review: GUN – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
As much a regular Christmas fixture as train strikes, memes suggesting that “You can’t say Merry Christmas anymore”, and guys leaving Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve, GUN are back at The Barras for their annual knees-up. This time around they come bearing gifts in the guise of a new studio …
Read More »Review: Black Stone Cherry / Skillet / Ayron Jones – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Cardiff Utilita ArenaSunday 16th November 2024Review and photos – Rob Wilkins/Danni WilkinsThe last in a series of gigs that has meant travelling around the bottom half of the UK is to head “home” to Wales to enjoy one of my favourite bands, Black Stone Cherry. Various offers on tickets suggest …
Read More »Review: VOLA/Charlotte Wessels/The Intersphere – The Garage, Glasgow
Danish-Swedish quartet VOLA throws up a lot of conundrums; the eclectic nature of their material for one, and the excellent contrast between light and darkness that causes those who like things to be straightforward to scratch their heads, is another. But the biggest one would have to be that although …
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