Albums: Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear
Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear Audacious; Everyday Dreamer; The Doctor; Hooked; Build it Up; Night and Day; Tell Me Should I Stay; Cats; Black Eyelashes; Bar Lonely; The Birds (Domino) In 2004, when Franz Ferdinand released their self-titled debut album, guitar bands were no longer in vogue.
Albums: Thin Lizzy - Acoustic Sessions
Featuring 10 of their choicest songs, the album sees the original studio vocals by Phil Lynott partnered with new guitar parts by Eric Bell. Acoustic Sessions showcases the key songs in a very different spotlight. Their newfound intimacy beautifully showcases the real depth of their songwriting.
Classical Music: Resonance
In her latest album, trumpet virtuoso Matilda Lloyd explores the multifaceted concept of resonance through a compelling journey across diverse 20th-century compositions. This meticulously curated collection reveals Lloyd's exceptional artistry and profound musical intelligence.
Classical Music: Busoni Fantasia Contrappuntistica, For Two Pianos
The album's centerpiece, Fantasia contrappuntistica, emerges as a profound musical statement. Donohoe is joined by concert pianist, lecturer, and broadcaster, Karl Lutchmayer, for a collaborative performance that reveals the work's intricate contrapuntal architecture with remarkable clarity and intellectual depth.
WOVEN Festival Returns To Kirklees For 2025
WOVEN, the biennial festival celebrating textile heritage and innovation in Kirklees, will take place from 1 to 30 June 2025. Established in 2019, the festival has helped communities across Kirklees celebrate the region’s textile heritage and find out more about the future of textiles in the region and further afield.
In conversation with Mogwai's Barry Burns
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Grammy Award-winning producer John Congleton joined Mogwai in the studio as they recorded their upcoming album, The Bad Fire, in Lanarkshire. A Scottish colloquialism for Hell, The Bad Fire draws inspiration from a series of tough personal moments that the band found themselves in following on from their chart-topping tenth album, 2021’s As The Love Continues.
Harmony Works Secures £3.5m From Arts Council England For Canada House Restoration
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Harmony Works Trust has secured £3.5 million in funding from Arts Council England to transform the historic Canada House in Sheffield city centre into a vibrant new home for music education.
Harmony Works Secures £3.5m
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Harmony Works Trust has secured £3.5 million in funding from Arts Council England to transform the historic Canada House in Sheffield city centre into a vibrant new home for music education.
Poem Of The Week: October Dawn By Ted Hughes (1930-1998)
October Dawn October is marigold, and yet A glass half full of wine left out To the dark heaven all night, by dawn Has dreamed a premonition Of ice across its eye as if The ice-age had begun its heave. The lawn overtrodden and strewn From the night before, and the whistling green Shrubbery are doomed. Ice Has got its spearhead into place.
In Conversation With Harriet
Often compared to the legendary Karen Carpenter, storytelling songstress Harriet is set to celebrate ‘70s nostalgia as she kicks off her extensive 2025 UK headline tour later this month, having completely sold out all her live shows last year, and with 2024 culminating in three special Christmas shows in London as special guest of former Pop Idol winner Will Young.
Albums: Tremonti The End Will Show Us How
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He appears to possess a talent for crafting melodic rock tunes with a hint of Black Sabbath and contemporary bands like Nickelback, Black Stone Cherry, and, predictably, Alter Bridge.
In Conversation: Jason Donovan Doin' Fine 25
It’s been 36 years since Jason Donovan released his first single, the No.5-charting Nothing Can Divide Us. Already a star through his role as Scott Robinson in Neighbours, he followed this hit up with a string of successful releases, including the Kylie Minogue duet Especially For You, and the chart-topping Too Many Broken Hearts and Sealed With A Kiss
Claire Baxter’s Beautiful Worlds Of Art
Andrew Liddle talks to a Harrogate lass voted one of the Most Popular Published Artists. Welcome to the wonderful worlds, of Claire Baxter, the Knaresborough-born artist with a nationwide following. Yes, there are two of them, actually, both heart-warming. Firstly, Yorkshire, which as we all know is a wonderful world in itself.
Classical Music: Anna Lapwood
The recording showcases a choir operating at exceptional levels of musicianship. Under Lapwood's direction, their sound is characterised by immaculate tonal control, masterful dynamic balance, and phrase-shaping that would impress in any context, let alone from young performers.
Classical Music: Dvořák Symphonies 5 & 6
If this release is any indication, the MSO's complete Dvořák cycle promises to be a significant addition to the catalogue, offering fresh perspectives on these less familiar symphonic landscapes.
Classical Music: William Walton Complete Song Collection
Here, rising soprano Siân Dicker and pianist Krystal Tunnicliffe present a compelling case for Walton's overlooked contribution to the English art song repertoire.
From Pop Idol To Producer: Gareth Gates Takes Centre Stage In A New Chapter
Group Editor Andrew Palmer caught up with Gareth Gates at York Barbican ahead of two new shows he is bringing to the north. Twenty-three years after shooting to fame on Pop Idol, Gareth Gates is embracing a new role behind the scenes—while still commanding the spotlight.
Classical Music: The Brüggen Project - Lucie Horsch
What sets this album apart is Horsch's extraordinary deployment of fifteen different period recorders – ranging from sopranino to tenor – each bringing its own distinct voice to the carefully curated repertoire. The inherent fragility of these historical instruments adds an element of dramatic tension; some pieces could only sustain two complete takes before risking damage to these precious artifacts.
The Wombats & Ocean Colour Scene Announced To Headline 'At Trentham'
Trentham has announced that The Wombats will headline the opening night of a brand-new concert series, At Trentham, on Thursday 29th May 2025. The concert series forms part of the Stoke 100 celebrations, they will be joined by Pale Waves and Red Rum Club, delivering an unmissable night of live music against the stunning backdrop of one of the Midlands’ most iconic outdoor venues.
It's Easy To Love Life With Opera North
Opera North's production of Weill and Lerner's Love Life has opened at Leeds' Grand Theatre. With all the classic showbizzy razzmatazz you might expect of a Weill and Lerner piece, this one allows Opera North to let its collective hair down and explode with American cheesiness.
Two Days Of Magical Ballet The Nutcracker & Swan Lake
On Sunday, 12th January, at the Grand Opera House, York, we all lost ourselves in the enchanting fairytale written by E.T.A. Hoffman, of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, a delightful post-Christmas treat for all the family presented by Mergaliyev Classical Ballet. Since its debut in Russia in 1892, the ballet has continued to captivate audiences.
Colin Neville’s Decade Of Art For The People
When Colin Neville began his big arts’ project in Bradford, he little imagined that its tenth anniversary would fittingly coincide with the 2025 City of Culture status. ‘What started as a small local project confined to Silsden is now district wide. I thought it would keep me busy for a few weeks, and here we are - a decade on.
Bradford 2025: The UK City Of Culture Rises With A Spectacular Launch
For the last twelve months, Bradford has been having a bit of a spruce-up in readiness for a year in the limelight as the UK City of Culture 2025. Despite the upheaval that comes with renovation and refurbishment, many residents have referred to Bradford as the City of Clutter. Will it all be worth it? Ask that question in twelve months time, and you might have an affirmative answer.
King Effers &The Puncturists Heading For Sheffield
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In 2019, having got fed up with censorship and silly social media algorithms, Sheffield’s long standing politico-punks The F*kwits changed their name to King Effers, perhaps a little easier on the tongue. Mr Keef and Chris (The F*kwits) were joined by Tank (Freekspert) on drums, and Muzz (Artery/Faerground Accidents) on bass.
Heinous Whining Presents...
And now for something completely different! What a way to start my live music adventures for the year, taking in a Heinous Whining Presents event for the first time. I’ve been aware of the Heinous Whining events for a while but had not been to one. As a goal for the year, I went to Wharf Chambers in Leeds in the freezing weather for the first event.
Poem Of The Week: Waiting For Spring By Robin Hargreaves
Waiting for Spring No song rides on the chill breeze this morning and the oak and hazel keep their buds tight, tucked up their sleeves like tiny hands. I’m counting the impatient days with only the nodding snowdrop to show for winter’s end. It can’t be long until the bracken uncurls to breathe the wild garlic and the bluebells play their blue notes under the wind-borne curlew’s call.
Albums: Crossbone Skully - Evil World Machine
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While the album is described as a concept album, each song stands up in its own right, from the title track, which also comes with the deep drum sound of Def Leppard, to the Alice Cooper-like Ima A Bone Machine.
Classical Music: Wolf Hall - Wolf Hall - The Mirror And The Light
How does Debbie Wiseman do it? Her scores are always alluring, drawing the listener into the heart of the story. She manages to capture the essence with compositions that seem to radiate presence and make time stand still while at the same time having an immediacy.
Classical Music: Busoni Violin Sonatas & Four Bagatelles
Lombardi’s dynamics in the 'Andante piuttisti grave' are perfectly judged, and as she lifts her hands from the keys, Dego rounds off the short movement with aplomb. The pair masterfully expresses the quiet ending.
Classical Music: Brahms early & Late Piano Works
Brahms early & Late Piano Works Llŷr Williams Klaviersonate in f minor Op. 5; Klavierstücke Op. 118; Fantasias Op. 116; Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann Op. 9; Drei Intermezzi Op. 117; Klavierstücke Op.