Memorials / Memorial Waterslides album launch tour at Alphabet

Posted on 25/10/2024 by brightonmusicblog

Earlier this month Memorials released their debut album Memorial Waterslides on Fire Records (last year’s Music for Film didn’t count as a debut because it was soundtracks, apparently). The duo have just completed a UK tour to support the release, starting in Scotland a couple of weeks ago and culminating in a hometown gig at Alphabet last night, supported by Emma Gattrill. A personal highlight for us was the extended version of the album’s centrepiece Memorial Waterslide II (if you’re wondering about part one, that was released on their Centre Pompidou EP earlier this year), which brought to mind some of Stereolab’s extended psychedelic tracks – indeed both bands share a manager and Laetitia Sadier was spotted in the audience at the gig (Graham Sowerby from AK/DK – playing at Alphabet next week – and David Best from Fujiya & Miyagi were also in attendance). The gig ended early without an encore which gave me the time to enjoy a drink at Alphabet’s gorgeous new bar downstairs, which feels like a sophisticated secret drinking den and might well be Brighton’s best kept secret.

Memorial Waterslides is out now at record shops, streaming sites and at bandcamp:

Von Zon at Green Door Store

Posted on 13/01/2024 by brightonmusicblog

HAPPY NEW YEAR! When we first saw Van Zon supporting Flip Top Head last year we knew it wouldn’t be long before they were headlining gigs, and last night they did, playing their first bill topping gig at Green Door Store. If you missed it, they’ve got a whole bunch more shows coming up – check their instagram for details. Support came from Moon Idle, playing their modern take on trip hop, and Nina Kohout, whose layered vocal tracks definitely pushed our buttons. As usual, click through to view large

Sairie – The Cinder Sheet EP launch

Posted on 23/09/2022 by brightonmusicblog

On Wednesday night we paid a visit to the Folklore Rooms for a gig to celebrate the launch of Sairie‘s new EP The Cinder Sheet. The EP was conceived over lockdown, when Emma and Jon from the band started playing around with covers from film soundtracks. Now expanded to a eight track EP and shared with everyone, the release leaps from French New Wave to Sci Fi to Morricone, all remade in Sairie’s psych-folk style.

Support at the gig from Alex Painter (from Great Pagans) and Maria Marzaioli (from Slum of Legs) new project YOU&TH, who pushed the folk window out to embrace jazz, loops, traditional Italian songs, and field recordings.

(click through the pics to view large)

Great Escape First Fifty at Chalk, featuring Heights and Isabelle Brown

Posted on 23/11/2021 by brightonmusicblog

Let’s talk about the Great Escape. And let’s not mess about, it is probably the single most important event in Brighton’s musical calendar (alongside it’s sister event the Alt Escape). We missed it last year and we missed it this year, but the festival have just announced their first batch of artists for the 2022 festival taking place 11-14 May. They call this release their “First Fifty” and to make a bit more noise about it they put a couple of gigs – one in London (where Brighton was represented by Lime Garden), and another at Chalk where local newcomers Heights and Isabelle Brown supported Sam Ryder. They invited us along, we brought our camera, and you can see our pics below (click through to view large)

The full Great Escape line up can be found here

AK/DK supported by Genn at Chalk : gallery post

Posted on 18/10/2021 by brightonmusicblog

Last Friday AK/DK headlined at Chalk – a gig we had been looking forward to for a LONG time. It was an AK/DK gig that was one of the first cancellations due to Covid, when they had originally been booked in to play Brighton Electric in April last year. It’s been pretty much an eighteen month wait to see them, but they didn’t disappoint, showing that they’re still one of Brighton’s best live bands. Support came from one of our new fave bands Genn. Click through the pics to view large:

Pete Fij & Terry Bickers at the Rialto gallery

Posted on 06/09/2017 by brightonmusicblog

A week ago today, Pete Fij and Terry Bickers played at the Rialto on the Brighton date of their tour to support their new album We Are Millionaires, and we were privileged to be invited along. The album is a beautiful thing, not nearly as downbeat as Pete and Terry described it on the night. Sure, it’s not a cheery pop album, but it’s more reflective than depressing, and the thing that we loved was the quality of the songwriting an musicianship on show. Support on the night came from Les Black. (click on pics to view large) Continue reading →

AK/DK and Fröst at the Hope & Ruin

Posted on 26/02/2017 by brightonmusicblog

On Friday night we were lucky enough to be right down the front for two fantastic bands at a sold out gig at the Hope & Ruin. It’s been more than a year since AK/DK played in Brighton, but it’s been less than a year since Fröst have been going (although both members are have been in bands for over ten years). Here’s our pics – as usual, click through to view large:

And if you missed out because it was sold out, or want to relive the experience, here’s a couple of live videos from both bands, courtesy of Small Pond and BMusic:

Black Honey at Patterns gallery

Posted on 07/10/2016 by brightonmusicblog

We don’t get out nearly as much as we used to, and haven’t been able to support the live scene as much as we ought. Last night though, we pitched ourselves up in the front row at Patterns to catch Black Honey, on the road just in time for their new single Hello Today. They played to a sold out venue for over an hour – not bad for a band who haven’t even had an album out yet, and while their live set gets bigger and better each time we see them they haven’t forgotten their roots, with the old pink flamingo nestled in the back of the set. Here’s our pics, as usual, click through to view large:

Record Store Day Spectrum gallery with Yumi & The Weather, Merlin Tonto, Gang and Tigercub

Posted on 18/04/2016 by brightonmusicblog

Spectrum always has great lines ups, but they pulled out all the stops for Record Store Day – almost a given since the nights are put on in association with Resident, who had people queuing up from 1pm the day before Record Store Day as well as a live 6Music broadcast from Lauren Laverne with Norman Cook and Tim Burgess as guests.

The day kicked off at 2pm and featured performances from Buzz Holly, Underhound, Via Tirana, Jessica Bishop, Normanton Street, Catherine Ireton, Dela Lupa, Lucas and King, Calico, Jonezy and Arif, Barnacles, Squid, Yumi and the Weather, MOSS, Merlin Tonto, Mrisi, Gang and Tiger Cub. We popped along for the last few hours with our camera to catch the action, shooting Yumi & The Weather, Merlin Tonto, Gang and Tigercub‘s sets:

Gallery : Prince Vaseline, Red Deer People and grasshopper at Green Door Store

Posted on 25/01/2016 by brightonmusicblog

We haven’t posted up a gallery of a local gig since October last year, and the last time we featured a gig at the Green Door Store was back in 2014. It’s been a while. So here are some shots from last night’s gig. Prince Vaseline headlined supported by Red Deer People and grasshopper, and turnout was surprisingly good for a grey Sunday in January. Click on the pics to view large: