Pearl Jam’s three “eras” form an unevenly distributed Neapolitan ice cream: zeitgeist-defining megastars and monolithic rock lifers either side of oddball fugitives from fame. Eras one and two are boldly flavoured slivers, the latter is an oversized slab of strawberry that extends into infinity. The most interesting of the three isn’t the one that placed Pearl Jam on a collision course with Nirvana for the title of Seattle’s most important band. It’s what happened immediately after. The double whammy of Ten and Vs brought overwhelming popularity but also introduced artificially constructed feu ..read more

The course of musical history is paved with heartbreak, whether it be lamenting the loss of someone, or longing for the touch of another. But a less trodden path is the notion of patching things up again. Rather than looking upon the ache of conflict, focussing instead on the ability to mend and move forwards. When looking at The Beatles back catalogue, ‘We Can Work It Out’ is something of an anomaly.  It’s this theme that gives Thompson Twins’ hit 1983 single ‘Hold Me Now’ such resonance, and allows for it to have created such a unique and unwavering connection with the band’s loyal supp ..read more

Gabby Martin has been hovering at the fringes of the indie pop scene for a couple of years now; a compelling songwriting talent for whom a breakout track seemed only a matter of time. New track ‘Cologne’, released just last month, appears to be it – the song has attracted a whole host of new listeners to Martin’s warm, jazz-tinged sound and has seen her pop up at multiple industry events, including this year’s Brit Awards. It’s also helped her to fill The Lower Third with a crowd who, if not fanatic yet, are hooked by her presence, powerful vocals, and conversational performance style. This is ..read more

For the past ten years Montreal’s Corridor have been honing their sound – jangly and jagged, motorik and melodic – but found their breakthrough in 2019 with their mighty third album Junior. It’s been a long five years since then, with the band’s fanbase left wondering of a return, but the (now) five-piece are finally back with their fourth full-length Mimi, released 26 April via Sub Pop. Ahead of Mimi‘s release, we get to know the band a little better as bassist and vocalist Dominic Berthiaume talks us through Corridor’s influences, getting to work on the new album and heading to The Great Esc ..read more

It’s hard to believe that American Broadway star Stephanie J. Block is yet to fully experience the London theatre scene. But if she was waiting for the perfect role to come along, she’s been vindicated for her patience, as she’s set to star in Cole Porter’s timeless musical Kiss Me Kate. Alongside her is a more surprising yet equally compelling cast-mate in Adrian Dunbar, who puts down his Line Of Duty detective’s hat to don something a little more flamboyant. With rehearsals taking place ahead of their June launch at the Barbican, we met them on the same day they first met one ..read more

The K’s released their debut record this month, claiming the No.2 spot on the UK Official Albums Chart – just behind their idols The Libertines. As they tour the record, Boyle says that he couldn’t be more excited to play it live. “We just can’t wait for everyone to hear the album. We’ve worked so hard on it, and we’re so proud of it.” For the K’s, this has been a long time coming. First gaining notoriety on the pre-COVID live scene, the band quickly amassed a passionate fanbase, who have been patiently waiting for a debut record through lockdown, label difficulties and a slowly repairing musi ..read more

Usually, it takes a few years for bands to jump from 2,000 to 10,000 capacity rooms. Pierce The Veil have done it in less than 18 months. It’s a stellar feat in itself, but it’s an almost uncanny one for a band over a decade-and-a-half deep into their career, whose members are edging into their forties and who left a seven-year trench between their most recent album and the one before it. They’ve been bolstered not only by that album, but by the rejuvenating magic of the TikTok algorithm, meaning swathes of teenage emos now stand squished between fans who have been there years longer.  Th ..read more

You might not have come across John Smith before. Raised in Devon, and steeped in US and UK folk traditions, he’s a charismatic singer-songwriter with filigree guitar skills, an ever-expanding pool of thoughtful tunes and a voice like a deep drink of beer. Once you see him play, however, you won’t forget it. Having perfected his sound in folk clubs and pubs through the 2000s, Smith has worked his way up to selling out mid-range venues like the CCA. Now on his seventh album, The Living Kind, it’s as if he’s on a mission to win over the masses song by song, show by show. He doesn’t disappoi ..read more

“I’m so nervous I’m shaking,” Sky Ferreira admits to London’s KOKO after performing the first song of the night, ‘Boys’, drenched in a sea of purple and green light. Despite taking to the stage nearly an hour and a half late (fans have now come to expect this, made clear by the historic venue packing out last minute), the singer, model and Tumblr icon looks anything but trepidacious on stage in black sunglasses and an ever on-brand shabby-chic jacket.  Sky’s hour and a half set is mostly padded out with songs from her seminal debut (and still only LP), 2013’s Night Time, My Time – and it ..read more

Manchester’s biggest festival (as well as the largest metropolitan festival in the UK thank you very much) is returning to Heaton Park in June, and this year the dedication towards a line-up packed with homegrown talent and women is commendable. “Male, pale and stale” Parklife is not. The two day festival is returning for the 13th time on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June, and its line-up is essentially a big ribbon waiting to be cut declaring summer is open. With electronic faves like Disclosure sharing the bill with pop’s most powerful and promising artists as well as plenty of DJs to make sure t ..read more