Event Reviews

As I already had plans to go down to The Big Smoke to see Spike and Tyla’s Hot Knives, and inflict myself upon my brother, I was pleased to see that The Poodles were doing a one off UK gig in Camden the same weekend. I haven’t heard much of their …

The second morning of the inaugural Rockingham fest dawns overcast and mizzly, but that doesn’t darken or dampen the spirits of the early risers making their way from all directions for the slightly earlier start to Saturday’s proceedings (well, we have gone from six to seven acts performing over the …

First there was Firefest.  An annual celebration of classic melodic rock which, despite being hugely popular and attracting some of the top names in the genre – many of them catalyzed to reform by the event – as well as fans from all over the globe, sadly came to an …

Tonight’s gig kicked off with a set from Shawn Jones, a Californian musician who has worked with the likes of Waylon Jennings.  It’s a very simple setup – just him playing guitar and singing.  It maybe a simple setup but it works well – there’s nothing to distract from what …

Last night, the small town of Holmfirth played host to a monumental collaboration of Hard Rock and Soul from the Rock Legend Glenn Hughes, and the insanely talented Doug Aldrich. For a Sunday evening, in this intimate picture house venue, you wouldn’t anticipate such a lively turn out of eager …

The Deathcrusher Tour is currently ongoing featuring a host of death metal royalty battling for supremacy each night. Carcass, Obituary, Napalm Death, Voivod and Herod rolled into Dublin’s Vicar Street on Monday 26th October. Touted as the “extreme metal event of the year” (a tag that doesn’t even do it …

Now this is a night I had been anticipating eagerly.  It’s a rarity that every band on the bill is this talented and delivers such a powerful live performance, and I am so happy to say I was not disappointed!  This show was one of my favourites I’ve attended this …

Over the last 11 years I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen Cradle of Filth perform, they were really important to me growing up; I remember ‘Midian’ was one of the first cds I ever bought!  Tonight the Koko is packed out after the successful release of Hammer …

Arriving at the O2 Institute Library there was already a pleasingly a large queue for tonight’s show. Unusual in its design, you enter the venue through a set of doors onto the small balcony, which provided a good view of the already growing crowd at the barrier. It was disappointing …

It doesn’t matter how many times you attend, the Marble Factory in Bristol is a very odd venue, even more so when people don’t usually start turning up for a gig until about fifteen minutes before doors open – and that’s taking into account them opening late as well. Nevertheless, …

Joe Bonamassa makes a welcome return to these shores since his four night residency at London’s Hammersmith Event Apollo back in March. The current tour is only eight dates though, and a most are sold out. Joe’s popularity has skyrocketed since he played his first UK date to less than …

In these straitened economic times – marked from the music business’ perspective by increasing numbers of venues closing down and promoters going bankrupt – success stories are few and far between and thus should be acclaimed, celebrated and heralded at every opportunity.  Which is exactly what today’s proceedings were all …

Tonight’s show was completely sold out, and if you’ve seen Joanne Shaw Taylor perform then you’ll know why.  Unlike most shows I attend in London where it gets a lot busier in time for the headline act, audiences at the Stables are very good at turning up early to watch …

Together with autumn chills and colours the concert season knocks on your door.  October, November and December seem to be the busiest months gig wise.  So if you are in Glasgow, then after seeing the dark and mysterious Sisters of Mercy (or the charming Devin Townsend) on Monday, you are …

A veritable Smörgåsbord came to Manchester Club Academy last Monday. With Michael Monroe from Finland and his band, which brings together celebrated musicians who have played with such greats as Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, Dogs D’Amour and Danzig, to name but a few. I was anticipating some top notch …

Sometimes you just can’t beat a night of good old-fashioned heavy fucking metal.  No airs.  No graces.  No genres.  Just heavy fucking metal.  And that’s exactly what we got tonight, as the titanic (sic) triple Swedish attack of Wolf, Enforcer and Dynamite rolled into Belfast on this early Autumn afternoon. …

Victoria Hall in Stoke is steeped in tradition. Built in 1888 for the Queen’s Jubilee, I’m sure it could tell many a fascinating story. Tonight is another chapter in the venue’s wonderful story as the Bullet For My Valentine Venom tour rolls into town on a dank October evening with …

It’s a chilly Friday night, so where would you rather be than in a darkened basement?  And, that’s exactly where Team PM finds themselves, together with the rest of the assembled Belfast press corps:  making our long overdue first foray into the refurbished Bar Sub, the smallest of the three …

It’s not often that a night out turns into a chance to review the bands you are going out to see, but with a plethora of gigs happening in nearby Belfast, PlanetMosh just didn’t have enough hands at the pump to cover an evening of rock and rollery in my …

It’s just gone seven o’clock on a cold and damp October eve- the second night in a run of six gigs in five nights for your PM Belfast team, and we have been joined by a healthy turnout of our fellow metallians for the debut appearance here of Wisconsin psyche-doom goddess …