John W. King

The Toy Dolls – New Album and UK Tour!

Posted by John W. King | Friday 13 September 2019 | News & Previews

Like most people of my age I suspect, my first introduction to The Toy Dolls was through “Nellie the Elephant” on Top of the Pops. It was a mad but great single, and I eagerly awaited their next Top 40 hit which never materialised (according to Wikipedia their next single “She Goes to Finos/Spiders In The Dressing Room” peaked at number 93). In those days there was no internet to go and check out bands other work, so it was around 1989 before on a whim I bought “Ten years of Toys” the compilation album on CD, and I...

Edwyn Collins

Gabi Garbutt & The Illuminations

Edwyn Collins

Gabi Garbutt & The Illuminations

Edwyn Collins + Gabi Garbutt & The Illuminations – Gorilla, Manchester – Review

Posted by John W. King | Tuesday 10 September 2019 | Gigs

Edwyn Collins with support from Gabi Garbutt & The Illuminations Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 5WW Back in 2015 I saw Edwyn Collins and his wife/manager Grace Maxwell being interviewed by Dave Haslam (talk about 3 legends!) about his music and of course his double-cerebral haemorrhage in 2005 that affected his speech and movement on 1 side. Something that would have ended the music career of many, but Edwyn is a fighter! Having chatted to him briefly afterwards about Edinburgh and stuff, it was clear that he’s also a lovely gentleman. After the talk he performed 3 songs...

Madness

David Rodigan & the Outlook Orchestra

David Rodigan & the Outlook Orchestra (Bitty McClean)

David Rodigan & the Outlook Orchestra (Hollie Cook)

David Rodigan & the Outlook Orchestra (Bitty McClean)

David Rodigan & the Outlook Orchestra

David Rodigan & the Outlook Orchestra (Hollie Cook)

David Rodigan & the Outlook Orchestra

Trojan Soundsystem

Bjorn Again

OMG! It's the Church!

Madness on the Downs – Review

Posted by John W. King | Thursday 5 September 2019 | Gigs

Madness on the Downs Stoke Road, Clifton, Bristol BS6 5RR Madness on the Downs took place at the same location as The Downs festival the day before. In a way it was like a 2 day festival, though today the 2nd stage was closed and this was very much Madness’s day. Before we got near to the site we saw lots of people with red fez, who were clearly looking fwd to Madness. This tour celebrates their 40th year and this was the last date on the tour. Whilst there had been threats of rain the day before, which...

Grace Jones

Ms. Lauryn Hill

Idles

Neneh Cherry

Fontaines D.C.

Nightmares On Wax

The Downs Bristol 2019 – Review

Posted by John W. King | Thursday 5 September 2019 | Festivals

The Downs Bristol Stoke Road, Clifton, Bristol BS6 5RR The Downs is a 1 day festival held on the beautiful Downs in the Clifton area of Bristol, which is now in it’s 3rd year. It’s one of the best family-friendly festivals we’ve been to, and our 5 year old made full use of the crazy golf, soft play, fun fair rides, lego, and even bread making over an open fire, as well as shows for the kids with plenty jokes to keep the adults amused. The only thing I couldn’t persuade him to try was the Aardman Animations model...

Tacocat

Twen

Tacocat + Twen – Gullivers NQ, Manchester – Review

Posted by John W. King | Thursday 29 August 2019 | Gigs

There must be something in the water in America at the moment, because some of the best new bands I’ve seen in the past year or so have been American. The Coathangers, The Nude Party, Pinky Pinky, Vera Sola, Dan Mangan (ok, he’s Canadian), Laura Gibson, the list goes on, have all been superb, and yet some have played to relatively small crowds, which is disappointing when they’ve traveled all that way to entertain us, especially when you consider some of the mediocre bands who can sell out arenas and stadiums. So it was nice to see that Tacocat’s...

Author: John W. King

The Toy Dolls – New Album and UK Tour!

Edwyn Collins + Gabi Garbutt & The Illuminations – Gorilla, Manchester – Review

Madness on the Downs – Review

The Downs Bristol 2019 – Review

Tacocat + Twen – Gullivers NQ, Manchester – Review

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