Whitelands – Esquires, Bedford
London shoegaze quartet Whitelands have been on tour following the release of their new album Sunlight Echos and headlined Esquires this week. I managed to check out these guys at…
Big Special – O2 Institute, Birmingham
Big Special returned to Birmingham for the closest thing to a hometown gig for the duo as part of their UK tour supporting their latest album National Average. I've been…
Deftones – bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
There's been a huge reassurance around Deftones in recent years so it's no surprise to see them playing and selling out arenas. I was lucky enough to catch them a…
Melanie Baker – The Black Prince, Northampton
Melanie Baker headlined The Black Prince as part of a short run of gigs by the Newcastle singer-songwriter. Melanie was previewing tracks from her forthcoming debut album 'Somebody Help Me,…
IVW – Dylan LeBlanc – The Black Prince, Northampton
Rounding off Independent Venue Week at The Black Prince was Dylan LeBlanc. The US singer-songwriter has been playing a host of dates across the UK as part of an intimate…
IVW – Will Varley – The Black Prince, Northampton
Will Varley's headline gig at The Black Prince as part of Independent Venue Week was another I went into not knowing much about. The singer-songwriter is one of the founding…
IVW – The Clause – The Black Prince, Northampton
The Clause returned to The Black Prince in Northampton for the venue's second sold out show of this year's Independent Venue Week. It was the second sold out show by…
IVW – EEVAH – The Black Prince, Northampton
It was another busy Independent Venue Week gig at The Black Prince for alt-indie duo EEVAH. The Halifax duo comprise of singer and bassist Nicole Hope and guitarist Richard McNamara…
IVW – VC Pines – The Black Prince, Northampton
VC Pines headed to The Black Prince for the second gig at the venue as part of Independent Venue Week. The project of Jack Mercer, VP Pines released his latest…
IVW – The Molotovs – The Black Prince, Northampton
The Molotovs kicked off Independent Venue Week in Northampton with a sold-out gig at The Black Prince. Fronted by Siblings Matthew Cartlidge and Issey Cartlidge the band headed to the…
TTSSFU – Esquires, Bedford
There's quite a bit of hype around Nicole Stephens - AKA TTSSFU and rightly so. The Manchester based singer-songwriter headed to Esquires in Bedford as part of a short run…
Biffy Clyro – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Scottish rock icons Biffy Clyro are out on tour and brought their Futique tour to Birmingham the Utilita Arena this week. After 30 years and 10 studio albums, it’d have…
Return Of The Mac – The Black Prince, Northampton
There's always 'one' gig over the Christmas and New Year period which everyone is out for - and this year it was Return Of The Mac. I don't usually go…
Lawrence Jones – The Black Prince, Northampton
Blues rock guitarist Lawrence Jones returned to Northampton to headline The Black Prince to play his final 'band' show. Jones’ latest album Bad Luck & The Blues topped the official Jazz…
Mumford & Sons – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
It’s been a while since I last checked in on Mumford & Sons - quite a while it turns out. Having previously seen the band headline the main stage of…
Northants Sings Out – Royal & Derngate, Northampton
Britain's Got Talent finalists Northants Sings Out returned to Royal & Derngate for their annual show and the latest date on their Club Classics UK tour. Joining the choir was…
Young Knives – The Black Prince, Northampton
Indie trio Young Knives returned to Northampton to headline The Black Prince as part of their UK tour. First time seeing this band in about 15-years - certainly since their…
Kneecap – O2 Academy, Birmingham
It's been a bit of a high profile year for Kneecap. In and out of the national news on a regular basis, their UK tour pulled in to Birmingham on…
The Horrors – The Crossing, Birmingham
The Horrors' latest album, Night Life, is probably going to be my album of the year. Having seen them at the end of 2024 over at Esquires in Bedford ahead…
Benefits – Esquires, Bedford
Alongside Night Life by The Horrors, Benefits' album Constant Noise is one of my favourites of 2025. While the core of the band has always been Kingsley Hall and Robbie…
Blood Club – The Lab, Northampton
Chicago post-punk goths Blood Club were back in Northampton and at The Lab for a headline Halloween gig. The band released their latest EP sufres porque quieres earlier this year…
Kunt and the Gang – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
After a couple of tours with his punk band The Kuntz, Basildon's greatest synth pop artist Kunt has been back on the road as a solo act. Kunt headed back…
NewDad – XOYO, Birmingham
Galway trio NewDad returned in September with sophomore release Alter – their second album in as many years. Picking up plaudits upon its release the band are currently out on…
Katy Perry – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Sometimes, all you want is a big OTT area show - and Katy Perry's Lifetimes tour delivers this and a whole lot more. The US singer-songwriter was in town for…
Lightning Seeds – Roadmender, Northampton
Liverpudlian indie-pop legends Lightning Seeds have been out on an a 35-th anniversary tour and returned to Northampton to headline the Roadmender. Of course, to many Broudie is the man…
Lewis Capaldi – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Lewis Capaldi has been touring across the UK in support of his latest album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent. The Scottish singer-songwriter has returned to touring after a…
Self Esteem – O2 Academy, Birmingham
Self Esteem kicked off her UK tour in support of her latest album A Complicated Woman at Birmingham's O2 Academy. I'd previously photographed Self Esteem when they played across town…
Funeral. Bloody / Bath – The Garibaldi, Northampton
Bloody / Bath were back at The Garibaldi for a hometown headline gig as part of their 'all-nighter' Funeral. Joining them at the Northampton venue were Test Plan, Die Verletzt,…
NMF – Northampton Music Festival 2025
The Northampton Music Festival returned on Sunday, with headliners Unpeople and more than 80 acts performing across nine stages. Rock quartet Unpeople headlined the main stage and were joined by…
Opus Kink – The Black Prince, Northampton
Opus Kink were back at The Black Prince as part of the band's latest UK tour for another night of jazz infused post-punk. It's at least the third time I've…
Shambala Festival 2025
The Shambala Festival returned to its 'secret location' in Northamptonshire for the 25th edition of the acclaimed event. This was my first time at Shambala - despite having written previews…
Tribes Unite / Pendulum – The National Bowl, Milton Keynes
Pendulum played their biggest UK headline gig to date when they returned to The National Bowl in Milton Keynes for their Tribes Unite all-day festival. The band, who meld EMD…
Teenage Fanclub – Esquires, Bedford
Scottish indie icons Teenage Fanclub headed to Esquires for two nights at the venue. The band was out on a short run of dates across the UK which included two…
Public Image Ltd – Roadmender, Northampton
After about a decade away, Public Image Ltd returned to Northampton to headline the Roadmender. It'd only been about a month since I last photographed John Lydon and the rest…
Thistle. – The Garibaldi Hotel, Northampton
Thistle. returned to The Garibaldi to mark the release of their new EP 'It's Nice To See You Stranger'. Great to see this trio getting better and better. Their new…
bdrmm – The Black Prince, Northampton
Hull shoegaze quartet bdrmm returned to the region to headline The Black Prince as part of promoter Picky New's second anniversary celebrations. bdrmm released their ace third album Microtonic this…
Electric Six – The Roadmender, Northampton
Detroit rockers Electric Six returned to Northampton to headline the Roadmender as part of the band's latest jaunt across the UK. More than 700 packed inside the Roadmender to see…
Metal 2 The Masses Final – The Black Prince, Northampton
Kettering rockers Backseat Juliet will be playing at this summer's Bloodstock Festival after winning the Northants leg of annual new band competition Metal 2 The Masses (M2TM). Heats have been…
Crywank – The Black Prince, Northampton
Anti-folk duo Crywank headlined The Black Prince as part of a short run of UK gigs. Usually a trio, the gig at the Prince featured singer and guitarist Jay Clayton…
Forever Now – The National Bowl, Milton Keynes
German electronic icons Kraftwerk headlined the inaugural Forever Now Festival at The National Bowl in Milton Keynes. The sister festival of Cruel World in America saw bands from post-punk and…
Bludfest – The National Bowl, Milton Keynes
Bludfest returned to The National Bowl in Milton for the second edition of Yungblud's festival. The Doncaster musician, who released his fourth album Idols the day before the festival, again…
Pulp – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Pulp are back with their first new album in 24 years and headlined Birmingham's Utilita Arena. No support tonight, with Pulp playing two sets to an absolutely packed venue. In…
Gaz Brookfield – The Black Prince, Northampton
Gaz Brookfield topped a line-up of a trio of acoustic singer songwriters at The Black Prince. Brookfield was joined by Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq and Chris Tavener. Wasn't quite sure…
Weirdoe – The Lab, Northampton
Weirdoe released his latest singer Petty in April and returned to The Lab to headline the Northampton venue. It's been a busy few years for the Northampton rapper who released…
Yungblud – The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
Yungblud is bringing Bludfest back to The National Bowl in Milton Keynes next month and ahead of the festival headed to the Craufurd Arms to take part in a Q&A…
Wet Leg – O2 Academy, Birmingham
Wet Leg kicked off their UK tour with a headline gig at The O2 Academy in Birmingham - treating fans to a set packed with tracks from their forthcoming second…
Bradley Simpson – O2 Institute, Birmingham
Having headlined the venue's smaller room six months ago, Vamps frontman Bradley Simpson played a sold-out hometown gig at Birmingham's O2 Institute as part of his UK tour. Simpson released…
AJ Tracey – Esquires, Bedford
AJ Tracey played a headline gig at Esquires as part of a short run of gigs at intimate venues across the country. The rapper's Not Even A Tour tour headed…
Twenty One Pilots – bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
Twenty One Pilots have been gigging across the UK in support of their latest album Clancy which was released last year. I wont lie - besides the duo's obvious huge…
Banké – The Lab, Northampton
Banké played her debut headline gig at The Lab - previewing a host of new material from her forthocming EP. The Northants singer-songwriter was joined by a host of talent…