Back from seeing a secret little show from Tom Walker at The Scotch of St James. It was a short and sweet set – the vocal is still immense!
Category: Gigs & Reviews
Live: Tom Walker at OMEARA London
Probably one of the loudest, happiest gigs I’ve been to this year so far. Tom Walker loves his fans, and his fans certainly love him back…
Support from Etham was pretty special too.
Live: Jessie Reyez at Miranda London
Back from watching a short set list from one of the most anticipated Canadian exports over the last year, Jessie Reyez.
Intensely beautiful blends of hip hop and RnB mixed with the most innocent sounding voice you could imagine!
Live: Dua Lipa + Off Bloom at Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Live: Rhys Lewis at Borderline London
Rhys Lewis played London’s Borderline last night where he showed off a pretty likeable pop-rock vibe. Fun night.
Live: Sailor & I at Pickle Factory London
I saw Sailor & I last evening at London’s intimate Pickle Factory. The sound coming out of this Swedish talent through a good sound system is one thing, but hearing the synths and beats live was on another level! Debut album ‘The Invention of Loneliness’ is out now via Skint.
Live: Harlea / Petrie at Sebright Arms London
2016’s Random List
What a year, eh. I was almost tempted to not write up a random list for 2016 on the count of me wanting it to end as soon as possible. But alas, in a year of many disasters, there were a few nice things to come up which made everything OK for a little while. It’s a condensed list this year, so here’s looking to an awesome 2017. Anyway…
The guy who made a song two years ahead of it’s time
This song by UK talent Ragz Originale is basically a view of the future for me. It bounces between dark samples while keeping a gritty rawness. All the while still sounding slick. I see this sound taking off majorly in 2018.
The song most likely to turn you into an emotional wreck
I am not a huge fan of covers, however, when I stumbled across this Kanye West rework by Daniel Caesar I was an emotional mess. Stunning, beautiful, flawless… Everything that reminds you that the world can still be a beautiful place.
The boyband that got it right
Ireland. Home of the type of boyband that you love, and love to hate. Until this year. HARE SQUEAD are a bunch of kids crafting a sound that is on-point.
Most epic Scandi pop
Smith & Thell have been on my radar for a really long time. This Swedish duo haven’t been afraid to change musical directions, and with the release of ‘Row’ this year I can’t think of any other Scandi act that has managed to come up with a song as intense and catchy as this one.
Most listened to song on my iTunes
I’ve surprised myself with this one. And I’ll be honest, I did consider leaving this category out for 2016, but f*ck it. For the second year, Dua Lipa is behind my most listened to song on my iTunes. This time it’s with ‘Hotter Than Hell’ – a pop banger through and through. It’s not edgy, nor does it push any boundaries. But it’s everything you want from a big pop sound, and that’s all I need to hear a song on loop.
Most likely to be huge in 2017
It’s been a while coming but I am finally excited to see that Rag’n’Bone Man is certain to be the biggest new act to hit the mainstream in 2017. Well deserved too.
Live: SG Lewis at Koko
Saw SG Lewis this evening at Koko. I’m a sucker for electro soul vibes so I was in bliss throughout.
Live: HONNE at The Roundhouse
Probably the most anticipated gig of the year for me. I’ve made no secret of how much I love HONNE so seeing them at London’s Roundhouse last night was just… Epic.
Live: M.I.L.K at Ja Ja Ja
https://soundcloud.com/m-i-l-k-4eva/if-we-want-to
I went to the monthly Ja Ja Ja night at The Lexington this week just to see one of Denmark’s most exciting pop exports, M.I.L.K do a short set list.
Effortlessly cool (with tons of sax) and easy to fall in love with.
Live: Huntar at Camden Assembly
So I caught Huntar at London’s Camden Assembly last week and realised that I never posted about it…
Anyway – it was a packed house and the effort into the production that this kid put in was spectacular.
Live: William The Conqueror at The Islington
Just back from seeing Cornwall’s William The Conqueror at London’s Islington, hearing a unique blend of mellow, trippy psych and Americana. Random and very cool.
Live: Snakehips at Koko
Live: Ady Suleiman at The London Edition
Just back from the Ady Suleiman showcase this evening at The London Edition. Intense voice…
The October show at Scala is now sold out but you can still catch him here.
Live: Phlake at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
I caught Danish RnB/ pop/ soul outfit Phlake this week in London. It was their first show in the UK and it was pretty awesome. I don’t know why, but I have a sense that these kids will get buzz internationally. Who knows…
Live: Sway Clarke at The Victoria London
Sway Clarke has been on my radar longer than I can remember. By chance I found out that he was in London for a couple of shows so I shifted my ass from Shepherds Bush to Dalston (was I the only one there over the age of 30?) to catch him supporting HAUS. I’m glad I did- the kid has so many stories with his tracks. I really hope he takes off… He deserves it.
Live: BROODS at Electrowerkz London
New Zealand duo Broods hit London this evening at one of my favourite spots, Electrowerkz.
As expected, these kids showed off their unique brand of electro pop on an epic scale. The new album, ‘Conscious’ is out June 24th on Capitol.
Live: Demo Taped + NAO at Village Underground
This was by far my favourite show of the year. Demo Taped pulled off an incredible set completely on his own (and doing it pretty flawlessly), while NAO just proved to me even more how she’s taking 2016 by storm.
Live: SLOWOLF at Oslo Hackney
Caught some of SLOWOLF’s set from last night’s Warchild gig at Hackney’s Oslo. Immense hip hop.