Thank the lawd it’s not snowing. Having had numerous wintertime gigs nobbled by the road-wrecking sky-dandruff several times before, I gladly get work out of the way and finally zip off to see one of rock’s best kept secrets: Clutch. The Maryland no-nonsense outfit are one of the select few bands working tirelessly for the […]

Cane Hill came onstage to an already packed out 02 Institute main room; the largely mixed demographic audience arriving early to catch most of the bands on this impressive line-up.  The metalcore band from the States showed great confidence onstage, with singer Elijah Witt showcasing his powerful screaming voice, along with some captivating falsetto cleans; […]

Nightwish in Birmingham caused a flurry of excitement through the Birmingham Live team when the tour was announced.  Could they be as good as promised?  Our photographer Chris went to find out. The opening act tonight is Beast In Black.  They formed 3 years ago and recently recruited Anton from Battle Beast. They have a […]

It’s twenty years since The Cardigans released Gran Turismo, the album that eradicated the kitsch indie pop that the band had been famous for. Despite this being their best selling album, the ticket sales are poor with barely a third of the venue being occupied which means you can get a decent view of the […]

There are a few things you can confidently anticipate from a Cypress Hill gig; an aromatic scent across the venue, a penetration of base in your soul, and the kind of language that would give your nan a heart attack. This is what I wanted, and this is just what I received. An alluring scent […]

  It’s always a sign of a kind of maturity when a band like Mogwai get to have their own brand of beer. Like a performance from the band themselves, the drink is understated. Like one of their tunes it’s interesting, full of flavour and has quite a bite. Even the name, Mogwai Beer Satan, […]

Over the past decade, Florence Welch has alongside her ensemble backing band established herself as an internationally renowned artist, hitting her peak in the UK with a highly acclaimed headline set at the prestigious Glastonbury Festival in 2015. Since then, things have been a little more low-key until this year, which saw the release of […]

It was clear from the second you entered the O2 Academy in Birmingham last night for the local date of Greta Van Fleet’s world tour in support of their debut album ‘Anthem of The Peaceful Army’ that it was a sell out show. And as those who regularly frequent the main room of Birmingham’s blue […]

The massive queue of people from the Pagoda island to the venue should have assured me that much has changed in the world of First Aid Kit from when I last saw them live.    Later on, when I start counting backwards I realise that it is more than eight years ago. Back then they […]

Bringing about the best of metalcore Impericon’s Never Say Die! Tour is not for the faint of heart but if metal or hardcore is your scene, it is a night that cannot be missed. With a set list of insane bands the night is poised for greatness. This, however, paired with the tour’s focus on […]