Sounds of an Eccentric

Artwork by Kat Willaims Welcome to the first episode of our brand new music podcast: Contra Cast. This week Ben and I will be showing you our inner madness and reviewing music from: DUDS, Hello Operator , Sam Fender, Red Rum Club and KOYO. Check out our Patreon Page and any spare pennies would be greatly appreciated, so we can continue to create the show. So without further ado, here is the show. Let us know what you thought either in the comments or on Facebook .  (Here's our Twitter and Instagram for good measure!) Big Love, Sal and Ben x Download it hear!

Photo by Alethea Shephard This year is flying by! Don't be a fool this April - go support your local music scene. 1st - Arcades with support from The Americas, Bad Bug, Follow the Giant at The Lending Room 2nd - La Rissa, Mutabase, Cynthias Persiscope, Work, Tom Bramfoot at Wharf Chambers 3rd -  Veda at Hyde Park Book Club 4th - Ivory Wave, Northern Comfort, The Brackets, Spearmint Tongues at The Lending Room 5th - SG Lewis at Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen 6th - Tuesday's Secret, The World Keeps, Elastic Waste, Fudge at The Lending Room 7th - Double Denim Live Presents: The Brazen and Neon Dolls Co-Headline at Key Club 8th - Myles Manley at The Carlton Club 9th - Queen Zee at The Castle 10th - This Feeling Presents: Trampolene, Himalayas, Sophie and the Giants at The Junction 11th Keyon Harrold at Brudenell Social Club 12th - Goat Girl at The Shipping Forecast 13th - Orielles at Brudenell Social Club 14th - Double Deni...

Photo by Alethea Shephard Sounds of an Eccentric is three years old! When I spontaneously wrote a review of a Little Comets gig three years ago, I never thought anyone (apart from my mam) would read it,   and to see how the blog has grown over the past few years is incredible and really humbling. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and my writing. Every band, artist, photographer, promoter, writer, or live music fan - you let me indulge in my two greatest passions in life and for that I am so grateful. In particular I'd like to thank Cath Wilcox (my darling Mama Soul and Number One fan), Jack and Carly Bowden, Shaan Sira, Ben Marcano-Olivier and all the Tranqua Lite Boys,  Russel Poad, Karl Hodge, Martina Topic, Richy Southern, Phil Mitchell, Mick Dolman, Chantel Littlewood, Arianne Jessop, Nathan Robinson, Alethea Shephard, Adam Gallagher, Cal Ruddy and all the team at Spotlight UK and Indie Central Music. You're all fabulous and have giv...

Photo by Hayley Rawlings Last Friday Manchester based psyche-folk artist Solis christened her debut E.P, with an intimate and profoundly charming gig at Leaf on Portland Street. From the hand-painted tapestry to the feather scattered floor, the evening radiated a quintessentially bohemian vibe. The interluding chatter was minimal due to the hypnotically captivating energy of her performance. She was able to orchestrate the room, simultaneously summoning a gentle sway and raising the hairs on the back of your neck. Supporting the enigmatic artist was fellow Mancunian groups  Plume ,  Hark  and  Different Oceans , all of which amicably played stripped back versions of their set, heightening the tranquil aura of the evening. The eponymous E.P. features four of her most celebrated tracks: 'Spirits', 'Home', 'Osmosis' and her stand out track 'Be Together'. Fuelled by lilting vocals and an ethereal chorus, 'Be Together' is a dreamy ...

On Sunday night, Nottingham musician Jake Bugg played an intimate, acoustic gig at Leeds Grand Theatre. All the dates on the tour are at seated venues, creating a relaxed ambiance from the get go. Over the past few years, Bugg has established a prestigious brand for himself. The mainstream commercial success of his debut album has provided him with a wide fan base, which has consequently allowed him to be more creative with his later albums, earning his stripes with the critics. Kicking the night off was singer-songwriter Georgie. The artist is known for her soulful vocals and witty lyrics. The young artist captivated the room with her charming stage presence. The highlight of her set was her track 'Too Much TV' (the title track of her upcoming debut E.P.), a gritty, tongue-and-cheek ballad with a punchy chorus. Bugg then graced the stage, playing a ninety minute, stripped back acoustic set. It was a bold move that highlighted his skilled musicianship and demand...

Enigmatic art-rock group Velvoir return with their explosive single: 'Jackboot' The track opens with a frenzy of pulsing bass and aggressive guitar before welcoming front woman Verity Jasmine Bee's gritty, alluring vocals. The single has a more of a rock edge than their previous tracks, with a bigger focus on the raw, ferocious energy that makes their live sets so compelling. However, like their previous releases the lyrics are evocative and thought-provoking, resonating with an intense, twisted sermon-esque vibe. As the track concludes, Bee channels her usual theatrical flair through a belligerent belting verse before erupting into a banshee-like scream. This is reinforced by an uninhibited wave of ebullient bass, herculean guitar and punchy percussion, emitting a colossal sound. It's a track that is easy to envisage in a live setting - it radiates with a nuclear buzz. Although their recorded material is great, Velvoir are a group that you have to experi...

'Never Mind' is the debut single by Newcastle born artist Amy Marrianne. The twenty year old singer-songwriter has combined her background in musical theatre with her love of pop and folk music to create a bewitchingly mellow track. It's clear that she has been heavily influenced by French artist Bon Iver - as the single sounds like a middleman between 'Holocene' and '715 - CRΣΣKS'. The songs opens in an acapella style, delicately layering ethereal harmonies with vulnerable vocals, to create an hauntingly beautiful ambiance. Occasionally there's a glimmer of a Geordie accent tickling the vocals, which gives the track an endearing warmth and sense of character. As the song progresses, minimalist piano and flute accompanies the vocals, adding a sweet depth to the tranquil melody without compromising its gorgeous simplicity. Overall, it's a very promising debut single that highlights Amy Marrianne's ability to craft engaging and compos...

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 ...