Miles Kane - ‘One Man Band’ Tour
Miles Kane lit up Glasgow’s iconic King Tut’s on Sunday night with an electric performance, on his “One Man Band” Tour. This gig marked his final Scottish date, following stops in Edinburgh and Aberdeen before heading South, and it was clear from the start that Kane had saved something special for the famous Glasgow crowd.
NOAHFINNCE: Live at XOYO, Birmingham
On November 7th, NOAHFINNCE brought his autumn UK headline tour to Birmingham and the evening proved to be not only an electrifying pop-punk experience, but a celebration of both talent and inclusivity in the music scene, as the show commenced with sensational support from South Arcade and featured special guest Taylor Acorn.
An Evening with They Might Be Giants: “Flood, Book and Beyond” Tour at Belfast’s Mandela Hall
After a few years off touring, They Might Be Giants returned with a vengeance, delivering one of the highest-energy shows I've ever seen. The band was constantly jumping around and improvising different parts of their sets. That's right—"sets." This show consisted of TWO sets with a short intermission between them. Each set lasted around sixty minutes and was entirely new each night. You could follow them for the whole tour and never see the same set twice. With a total of twenty-three studio albums, the band has a vast repertoire to choose from, making each night different and exciting.
Sam Tompkins Brought his “hi, my name is insecure tour.” to SWX, Bristol
On the gloomy autumnal night of 6th November, Sam Tompkins graced Bristol’s SWX with an aura of blessed light, illuminating his audience’s hearts with his heavenly vocals and healing lyricism. Named after his phenomenal debut album, the Brightonian artist’s “hi, my name is insecure tour.” is sizably and vocally his greatest yet, beginning in Manchester, embarking across Europe and eventually culminating in Paris in December. With support from the remarkable Kerr Mercer and the magnificent Martin Luke Brown, Sam’s Bristol show was a stunning celebration of positive masculinity, as the trio of male artists respectively showcased their emotionally rich artistry.
Ice Spice: “Y2K Tour” at Birmingham’s O2 Institute
After briefly postponing the date and switching venues, Ice Spice brought her energetic energy and catchy hits to Birmingham’s O2 Institute on 5th November for the final show on the UK leg of her “Y2K World Tour”. The concert was originally supposed to take place nearby at the O2 Academy but, due to the rapper having to change plans and attend a Fortnite event in her hometown of New York City, the venue was altered. The venue change was not an issue for me personally, as I always appreciate how much character the venue possesses and how grand the interior feels, and the alteration meant I could experience the main room of the O2 Institute after first attending an intimate gig in the venue’s ground floor room earlier this year.
Lindsey Stirling Meets The Royal Albert Hall
There are artists you like, there are artists you love, and then there are those artists who are so intrinsically woven into the fabric of your day-to-day life that you feel a personal sense of gratitude toward them. For more than ten years, Lindsey Stirling has unknowingly ridden life’s rollercoaster with me. She has been my go-to artist when I’ve felt unbridled joy, desperate sorrow, crippling anxiety, or total serenity.
Liana Flores at The Louisiana in Bristol
After the release of her album Flower of the soul in June, Liana Flores embarked on her ‘tour of the soul’ and is currently on the UK leg. Her sold-out show at the iconic The Louisiana venue in Bristol on October 28th was a beautiful night of folk and ethereal melodies.
SOFT PLAY Live at O2 Institute Birmingham
SOFT PLAY's recent Birmingham show at the O2 Institute on 18th October, supported by Wonk Unit and Panic Shack, was an exhilarating night that perfectly encapsulated the raw energy and spirit of live punk music.
Good Neighbours: Live at The Joiners in Southampton
For their penultimate show of the UK stretch of their world tour, Good Neighbours performed at The Joiners in Southampton; previously recognised as NME’s Best Small Venue in 2013, this establishment certainly lived up to its positive reputation. The venue, which happened to be the smallest of all the band’s stops in the UK, with a cosy 200-person capacity, treated fans to an incredibly intimate and memorable experience.
Mallory Knox’s Return to Birmingham After 6 Year Hiatus
Mallory Knox's Birmingham show on 16 October was an electrifying return for the English alternative rock band after a six-year hiatus, and the energy in the room was palpable. The night kicked off with HRTLSS, a British rock/emo artist who set a solid tone for the evening, but it was electro-rockers Call Me Amour who followed that left a bit to be desired. Despite their best efforts, including engaging with the crowd from the barrier, the audience seemed somewhat subdued. Perhaps the dreary weather outside had dulled the spirits of the attendees, but it was evident that they were waiting for something to ignite the night.