Sounds of an Eccentric

The organisers of Reading and Leeds Festival, FestivalRepublic, have faced criticism in recent years for their male dominated line-ups. Melvin Benn, the managing director of Festival Republic,   told the Guardian that the reason behind theirmale-centric line ups was because "they sell tickets... if there was a female act in the rock genre that sold the same amount of tickets as any of the headline acts... I'd book them". However Benn recently announced that Festival Republic is launching a new initiative in 2018 that positively discriminates towards female artists. The Leeds based 'ReBalance' project will run for three years and each month will provide a female musician, solo artist or female fronted band with a week in a recording studio, with all the expenses, travel and accommodation paid for by Festival Republic. However, is positive discrimination the best way to showcase female talent and create a more equal music industry? On one hand ...

Psychedelic- punk group The Brookes return with two new singles - 'Bleed Me Dry' and 'Open Road'.  The first single, 'Bleed Me Dry', opens with lingering, ambient synth, then suddenly explodes into a ferocious frenzy of brutal drums and distorted guitar, before welcoming front man Benjamin Keal's suave vocals. It's a monumental track that showcases the bands strengths perfectly. Poetic, political (yet not preachy) lyrics, brooding bass, menacingly moreish guitar riffs and punchy percussion, all delivered with a radioactive energy. It's undeniably enigmatic. The snarling vocals paired with the aggressive instrumentals creates an ominous yet hypnotic sound. It's unnerving but makes you want to dance at the same time - exactly what a clever neo-psyche / post-indie group should be doing. It's not a pretty song, it demands your undivided attention. The B-side 'Open Road' has a gritty, unpolished charm. Simple piano and gui...

It's time for the annual 'Thank You Post'. The one time my blunt, no-nonsense front melts away, I become a massive softie and take the time to thank everyone who has supported me and my writing over the past year. As many of you know, I had a break from writing earlier in the year. There were a variety of reasons behind the break, but the majority of them stem from an identity/existential crisis after leaving home and starting university in a new city. However, after a bad breakup and half a bottle of wine I decided that I wanted to dedicate the bulk of my spare time into my writing and this blog -  starting with a constructive review of Elliot Duke's 'I Could do This Shit All Night'. Thanks to my degree and wonderful lecturers, I have developed my journalistic and technical knowledge which has allowed me to give the blog a makeover and given me the confidence to develop my own individual writing style (ruffling a few feathers on the way). And it appe...

Either Way Events returned to Verve bar on Thursday 14th December, hosting a night of up-and-coming talent from across the country. Kicking the night off was Southampton five-piece Bel Esprit , who's brand of happy-go-lucky tunes and warmed the room through a series of catchy melodies and peppy vocals. Although their sound is pleasant, all their songs are very upbeat and chirpy. To broaden their sound, the group should experiment with something a bit grittier and incorporate beefier bass lines.  When the bass was accentuated, it elevated their sound, giving it a solid backbone that if used cleverly could provide their music with the refreshing edge it needs. Up next was Havanas , whose eclectic sound combined elements from early 00s indie and classic rock with an intermittent undertone of pop-punk. Their tracks were fuelled by bold vocals and catchy guitar riffs but could be heightened by bolder bass lines or an additional guitarist. Main support for the eveni...

'I See Faces' is the latest single from Mancunian electronic-pop trio Ambiere . Their sound is akin to the likes of The xx and Glass Peaks, combining lilting vocals with ambient synth and sturdy beats, creating a suave lullaby sound. The group released their debut E.P, 'Tree of Life' earlier this year and 'I see Faces' is a gorgeous, atmospheric addition to their set. The track opens with brooding synth, heightened by an intricate guitar riff and a siren-song vocal hook. As the track progresses a stronger drum beat is woven in and the vocals adopt a suave tone, emitting a cool, surreal vibe. It's deliciously dark with a toe-tapping beat. Ambiere have a wonderfully versatile sound: the chilled vocals have a soothing effect on the listener whilst the percussion gives their tracks a dancey edge, making it appeal to a wide variety of moods and audiences. FOLLOW SOUNDS OF AN ECCENTRIC FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM FOLLOW AMBIERE F...

Middlesbrough pub and rock music venue; Doctor Brown's ; has caused outrage after implementing a ban on female fronted bands, stating their customers believe that women can't sing rock music well. The story gained national attention after The Northern Echo published a damning article on the situation.  Consequently, residents and musicians have started to boycott the venue. I contacted Doctor Brown's to hear their side of the story. Had the situation been blown out of proportion on social media, or were outdated, sexist attitudes being called out? Paula Rees, the pub's manager cited that the Northern Echo had lied and "twisted her words" and she was eager to talk to me to "set the record straight". She said that was more than happy to talk, asking me to ring up later when the pub was a little quieter. Rees also confessed that she wasn't a "big rock fan" and was just going with what her customers wanted, stating that they had...

Manchester indie-rockers Carnation , are set to headline a riotous show at The Peer Hat on Friday 15th December . The Manchester gig is the final date of their winter tour. The group have already played Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield and Kazoopa Festival  and have received rapturous praise for each performance. Their sound is characterised by suave, angsty vocals, distorted riffs and gritty bass lines, all delivered with an unrivaled herculean energy. Supporting the ballsy three-piece is Messengers and AutoPilot  - both of which are renowned for their feel good indie-rock in their respective scenes. Front man Saul Backhouse describes the band as: "a three piece comprising of an Italian, a ginger and a gypsy - our riffs are heavier and more exciting than Kim Kardashian's left arse cheek". The band have expressed their excitement for their final show of the year, stating that the night "will be carnage". GET YOUR TICKETS HERE ...

British rock veterans Kasabian  played a ram-packed show at Leeds First Direct Arena last night, proving that after twenty years and six albums, they're stronger (and ballsier) than ever. Kicking off the night was neo-punk duo Slaves . Their brand of no-nonsense, aggressive punk rock resonated with a gritty, bold energy, enlivening the crowd through a series of  ebullient riffs and snarling vocals. The highlight of their set was their track 'Cheer Up London'. After enticing the audience with an candid, brooding monologue, the band exploded into the ferocious track. Fuelled by the infectiously catchy lick of: "You're dead already, dead dead already ready", Slaves invigorated the crowd into a full blown riot. At 9pm Kasabian swaggered onto the stage, all dressed in white like an edgy Clockwork Orange gang. A low rumble echoed through the arena, heightened by lilac strobe lights, before a pulsing drum beat pierced the atmosphere, filling the roo...

Last Saturday Kazoopa Festival hit Leeds city center, showcasing the finest up-and-coming musicians from across the country. I spent the day running from venue to venue, seeing and chatting to as many bands as I could. INTRO SONG - STILLIA '4AM' FOLLOW SOUNDS OF AN ECCENTRIC FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM

Kazoopa Festival hits Leeds city center this Saturday, showcasing the best up-and-coming bands and artists from across the country. Here are my top picks for the day. The Wholls - The Lending Room 21:30 Avalanche Party - The Lending Room 8:30 Naked Six - The Packhorse 14:30 Berries - Verve Pabst Blue Ribbon Stage 18:30 The Jackobins - The Lending Room 15:30 Carnation - Milo 21:00 Glass Peaks The Lending Room 16:30 Atlanta House- The Lending Room 14:30   Liberty Ship - Verve Pabst Blue Ribbon Stage 22:30 Mint - Oporto 16:30 Kiziah and the Kings - Milo 18:00   Breed - The Packhorse 17:00 Sheafs - The Lending Room 19:30 Spinn - Verve Pabst Blue Ribbon 16:30 Sons - The Packhorse 18:00 Louie James - Bad Apples 18:45 FOLLOW SOUNDS OF AN ECCENTRIC FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM

Newcastle post-indie group Static Blue return with not one, but two new singles: 'Rabbit Hole' and 'Tarra'. The two singles are due to be released on 5th December, and will be launched at their headline show at Little Buildings on December 9th. The first track 'Rabbit Hole' opens with a charmingly nostalgic guitar riff, before introducing a disco drum beat and hazy, daydream vocals, creating a post-indie and disco hybrid. It's a lot more reserved then their previous singles, which have grittier (and occasionally camp) undertones. The ambient harmonies and lilting vocals work well together to produce a really pretty tonality and the group have the solid foundations for adding an ethereal, tranquil side to their music. The track could have been elevated if the bass line was more pronounced - there's some really delicious riffs but we only get a little nibble of its flavour. Also the screaming in the final chorus is a bit distracting and spoi...

Double Denim Live returned to Verve Bar last Saturday, hosting an electric night of music from Bonsai , The Black Roses and The Brookes . Kicking the night off was Stoke-on-Trent  based group Bonsai . Their music itself was good, and they're definitely all decent musicians. There were glimmers of optimism with the guitar solos and heavier bass lines, but their sound isn't quite fluid yet. They need to ditch the cheesy pop lyrics and go down the heavier route. Their  biggest sin however, was their overly animated front man, who just cheapened their act. His stage presence was so over the top that it was cringe-worthy and distracted from the music. He needs to reel it in and let their music do the talking. They need to give their songs more character, rather than relying on a zany stage presence. Up next was North-London indie group The Black Roses . The quartet incorporate blues and punk undertones into their music, which when combined with their gritty, dist...

Local musicians and artists paired up with the mental health charity Mind , to raise money and promote awareness of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The event took place at the Corn Exchange and showcased work from local artists and live sets from eight acts. Mind describes SAD as: "a form of depression that people experience at a particular time of year or during a particular season. It is a recognised mental health disorder... If you experience SAF, the change in seasons will have a much greater effect on your mood and energy levels, and lead to symptoms of depression that may have a significant impact on your day-to-day life." Click here for more information.   The iconic building was decorated with an array of fairy lights, vines, flowers, tapestries and grass blocks, bringing spring back into the colder months. Inside the arches of the building there was virtual reality games and a mindfulness workshop. The event was organised by Ben Schrodel and Daniel Parke...

Last night Brighton rock duo; Royal Blood ; played an enthralling show at Leeds First Direct Arena. Kicking the night off was indie-rock group Black Honey . Their sound is driven by punky riffs, beefy bass, ebullient percussion and stentorian vocals. Their instrumentals often adopt a blues or surf rock undertone, giving their songs a sating depth and a distinct sense of character. The highlight of their set was their track 'Spinning Wheel'. Their enigmatic front woman Izzy B Phillips opened the track with her bewitching vocals, before the track exploded into an energetic frenzy of bold bass lines, aggressive percussion and surf rock inspired guitar riffs. Up next was American punk-rock veterans At The Drive In . Their brand of heavy, raucous noise subdued the crowd, engulfing them in a electric atmosphere. Their singer, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, emitted a radioactive stage presence. From jumping on top of the drum kit to throwing the mic stand around, the man...

 Kazoopa Festival returns Leeds city center next Saturday. I caught up with NAKED SIX , SONS, Louie James and  GLASS PEAKS to talk about how they were feeling about their upcoming performances and why inner-city festivals are invaluable to up-and-coming-artists. Music by GLASS PEAKS READ HOW THE JACKOBINS ARE FEELING ABOUT KAZOOPA FOLLOW SOUNDS OF AN ECCENTRIC FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM CHECK OUT MY KAZOOPA PLAYLIST