Things Not To Miss In 2016

Do Not Miss These Next Year

Callum Thornhill

                                          The Return of The Last Shadow Puppets

Since Miles Kane and Alex Turner released their first collaborative album in 2008 there has been endless speculation whether or not there would be a follow up. Earlier this year the rumours became reality when a video appeared on their website, giving the biggest hint yet that 2016 will see the return of the band. The only details known as far is that "Spring 2016" is when something will happen. If a new album is announced, a tour will be likely. Maybe even festival performances. Hopefully this band treats the fans that have been playing the album for the past 8 years.
Watch the video and find out more here:
The Last Shadow Puppets Comeback

Catfish and the Bottlemen's Second Album

When Catfish and the Bottlemen brought out their debut album The Balcony halfway through 2014 their long graft was rewarded by thousands of new fans. The follow up to that album should be ready in 2016 after front-man Van McCann has repeatedly hinted that they were in the studio for the majority of the time they weren't touring. The band sold out Castlefield Bowl in SIX minutes a few weeks back and a post on their Facebook page said the gig would showcase new material alongside classics from The Balcony. As soon as the new album is announced I expect a tour to be announced - maybe the last time you see them in Academy size venues before they rip apart arenas.
Get tickets to Catfish and the Bottlemen at Castlefield Bowl here:
Catfish and the Bottlemen Tickets

Red Hot Chilli Peppers at Reading and Leeds Festival

2016 will see Red Hot Chilli Peppers play in the UK for the first time since their 2014 Isle Of Wight Festival headline slot. What makes their Reading and Leeds headline slot even better is that it is a UK festival exclusive. Expect classics such as Under the Bridge and Zephyr Song as well as possible new material. The band have not released material since 2011 so playing live dates could be a hint that new releases are to be given to the fans soon. Alongside Red Hot Chilli Peppers at the festival will be Courteeners, Rat Boy, The 1975, Boy Better Know, Twenty One Pilots, DJ EZ, Hinds, Slaves and Crossfaith. Expect the line up to be filled up with the best talent from around the world in the upcoming months. Get tickets for Reading here and Leeds here.

The Stone Roses Four Nights at Manchester's Etihad Stadium

Comeback band of 2016 will be The Stone Roses for sure. When news broke of their Etihad Stadium dates in November the internet went into meltdown, and when the tickets actually went on sale, ticket websites took a severe battering. Originally there was only a Friday and Saturday announced, however when these instantly sold out a Sunday and Wednesday were put on sale. Other than the Manchester dates, the band will play T In The Park and Dublin's Marlay Park. More dates could be announced soon and more festivals might get the band on board. Here's hoping! Support acts for the Etihad Stadium dates have not yet been announced but expect some excellence on the undercard.
Tickets are available from secondary sites here:
The Stone Roses Tickets

Top Albums Of 2015

LOOSE CARDIGAN OF IDEAS - ALBUM OF THE YEAR

CALLUM THORNHILL

It is that time of year where albums are judged and put into all sorts of weird and wonderful charts. Here though I have simply chose a few of my favourites (only the top three are in order of my favourites) and wrote what made them so special for me.

I hope you enjoy reading the list - remember: this is purely personal and not down to sales figures.

Tame Impala - Currents

Australian rockers Tame Impala shifted their psychedelic roots to a synth laced inter-galactictic dream in Currents. Tracks such as The Less I Know The Better and Let It Happen make Currents my number one album of 2015. Since Innerspeaker was released, Tame Impala have gradually shifted their sound, the journey from Innerspeaker to Currents via Lonerism flows elegantly. The ideas coming from Kevin Parker's mind have came to life are the latest album could soundtrack a lifetime of dreams. Currents has allowed Tame Impala the opportunity to headline London's Alexandra Palace and Manchester's Arena next year - gigs that will inevitably be the pinnacle of their UK career.

JME - Integrity

2015 was the year that grime surfaced from the underground to the mainstream and JME heavily influenced the rise. When this album was released he offered fans a vinyl copy in exchange for their Charizard Pokemon cards. I was first 'introduced' to JME when I discovered his track Radio (with Ed Sheeran) in 2011 and kept close tabs on him since, when Integrity was finally released it was very much 'overlooked' per say, yet still reached number 12 in the UK charts. If you haven't heard tracks such as Man Don't Care and Don't @ Me you have probably spent the majority of 2015 under a rock.

Foals - What Went Down

Foals are unique within their musical ability. Starting off as math rock rookies with Antidotes, the Oxford-based band have gradually developed into one that could tear arenas to pieces. What Went Down cemented their place as one of the best bands in the UK and the fourth album by Foals definitely confirms that they have outgrown Academy venues. A surprise set at Reading and Leeds festival the weekend that the album came out allowed them to showcase Mountain At My Gates and What Went Down. Honestly they are as good live as recorded and a 2016 arena tour will give Foals the exposure they have deserved since Total Life Forever.

Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool

I'll be honest - when I first discovered this band I was far from impressed. However, it seemed that Wolf Alice were Twitter's most talked about band of 2015. Their cult following heavily backed the release of My Love Is Cool so I decided to give them another go. Ellie Rowsell's almost effortless vocals are of the ghostly kind but have the ability to turn into a aggressive, yet still beautiful, growl. The tracks are ordered perfectly, something that is rare to find nowadays. You're A Germ demonstrates this blend of blissful to anger brilliantly.

Swim Deep - Mothers

Drenched in psychedelia, Mothers is a million miles from B-town band Swim Deep's debut Where The Heaven Are We. Is it that different? Definitely. Is it better? Probably. Does the live performance of tracks like To My Brother do the album justice? Absolutely. Austin Williams and co. can be proud of this release. Like Wolf Alice, I did not get the Swim Deep hype at first, but decided to give them a second chance when Mothers was released and I am so glad that I did. Luckily I managed to catch them live in November where they showcased a lot of the album. One Great Song And I Could Change The World - more like One Great Album And We Could Change Your Mind.

The Front Bottoms - Back On Top

Brian Sella's storytelling method of singing is still on point throughout the New Jersey's third studio album. Following on from two massive albums it was always going to be a difficult task, however, tracks such as Laugh Till I Cry bring high spirits to the album. With fun lyrics like: "the DJ just threw up on the dance-floor," it is clear the The Front Bottoms have not lost their wit. Back On Top opens with a chorus effect, sort of symbolising a new start and rebirth for the band, however the magic of The Front Bottoms is definitely still present when you listen to the album in full.

Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit

Bring Me The Horizon are without a doubt one of the biggest bands in the world right now. When you think of a Sheffield band you automatically associate the city with Arctic Monkeys, Milburn etc. but it is Bring Me The Horizon that have 'put Sheffield on the map this year. That's The Spirit was ambitious and Happy Song, despite the misleading name, shows the band are still full of rage and anger. Frontman Oli Sykes said the band could headline Reading and Leeds next year, there is no doubting this after a blistering sub-headline performance and the festival this year.

The Cribs - For All My Sisters

Pink Snow live was one of the highlights of Leeds Festival this year. For All My Sisters is the sixth studio album from the Wakefield indie rockers and the quality has been preserved. With the constant shifting in the music scene The Cribs have done well to keep themselves relevant and fresh. It would have been easy for the band to relax and take their foot off the accelerator, however, their performances at Reading and Leeds and a full UK tour had them smashing guitars on stage. Teenage angst is very much still in the Wakefield band and it is quite a spectacle to see on stage and in their recorded material.

The Libertines - Anthems For Doomed Youth

When The Libertines announced a comeback I was buzzing. When they announced a new album I was sceptical. There was always a risk that they may have lost the ability they had ten years ago. Gunga Din was the first to be released and just by this one track I knew that Pete, Carl, Gary and John had nothing to worry about. Headlining both Reading and Leeds and T in the Park as well as a surprise performance at Glastonbury the Libertines were a blast from the past that needed no settling in period in 2015's music scene. You're My Waterloo and Anthem For Doomed Youth are some of the most beautiful and delicately written pieces of the year.

Peace - Happy People

B-town's favourite children Peace came back in 2015 with the follow up of In Love. Happy People is certainly a more fun filled album and the Koisser brothers, Boyce and Castle giddily toured this album constantly throughout the whole year. The bass solo in World Pleasure is now an essential at Peace gigs and even though the band are still causing massive waves in the indie scene, the band are still as modest as ever. The highlight for me is the heartfelt Someday - Harry Koisser stripped back reminiscing over an acoustic ballad. Brilliant.

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

Released halfway through March of this year, Kendrick Lamar's third studio album received endless praise. Highlight of this album is King Kunta - a track that is influenced by funk, jazz as well as the obvious rap. The whole of To Pimp A Butterfly sticks close to this vibe and during a sub-headline Reading and Leeds slot Lamar played material from said album. Lamar's voice is easily distinguishable and after this album his sound will be known by the masses. Both rap and non-rap fans must agree that the interweaving funk is enough to rank To Pimp A Butterfly up there with the best of 2015.

Jamie XX - In Colour

Possibly the most critically acclaimed album of the past year. Possibly the most recognisable artwork of the past year. Possibly the boldest sound of the last year. From when In Colour opens with Gosh to when it finishes with Girl, Jamie Smith's electronica takes you on a mystical journey. Gliding through the mellow vibes of Sleep Sound to the urban essential I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times) Smith has created an album that is more upbeat and less atmospheric than anything The XX ever have. If you listen to one album before the end of the year, please choose In Colour - you will not be disappointed.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Chasing Yesterday

Noel Gallagher's outspoken personality has came under fire over the past year with many people claiming he is no longer relevant. Wrong. The second album from the Manchester legend shows that Gallagher is still as relevant as he was 20 years ago when Definitely Maybe was first released. The comeback single In The Heat Of The Moment was of typical Noel Gallagher form. Like the Adele he slates so much, you know what you're getting with Noel Gallagher - this certainly is not a bad thing, the fans love it and he has made an amazing career out of doing it.

Circa Waves - Young Chasers

Circa Waves have undoubtedly been one of the biggest breakthrough bands of 2015. A spring tour just before the release of debut album Young Chasers allowed the Liverpool band to gain much deserved exposure. The tracks are all indie-feelgood that could soundtrack the summer. Well, possibly their biggest hit T-Shirt Weather was played so much and featured on several soundtracks, making Circa Waves one of the most watched bands at different festivals around the UK. It will be interesting to see how they do in 2016.

My 5 Favourite Gigs Of 2015

Top 5 Gigs Of The Year

Callum Thornhill

2015 has been a fantastic year for gigs. From my local pub to Shepherds Bush Empire, I have been all over this year to see some of the best live bands about. I have narrowed down thirty-odd gigs to five and gave a brief description on why they were so good.

I already have bands such as The Stone Roses and The Front Bottoms booked in for 2016 - a year that can only get better for gigs.

1.

Catfish and the Bottlemen | Shepherds Bush Empire, London | 1/4

The second of two nights that I saw Catfish and the Bottlemen on the March/April tour at Shepherds Bush's beautiful empire tops the list as gig of the year.

The set list included everything from The Balcony and when tickets for this gig sold out, they became gold dust for fans that wanted to see what the hype was about.

When their autumn tour almost instantly sold out, it prompted discussion that this band could soon be selling out arenas - just last week they sold out Castlefield Bowl in SIX minutes!

This was the seventh time I had seen Catfish and the Bottlemen and by far the best. From social clubs to packed festival appearances, this topped the lot.

Read the full review here:

Catfish and the Bottlemen - London Review

2.

The 1975 | O2 Academy, Newcastle | 15/11

Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I used to hate the 1975. However, when their EPs came out on record for Record Store Day this year I gave them another go and fell back in love with them.

Tickets went on sale for the tour and I wasn't bothered about getting tickets, but the more I listened to the band, the more I knew I had to go. The gig was the day after my birthday and I spent my birthday on a (very cold) Stagecoach bus doing a two hour round trip to pick up tickets for what was my second favourite gig of the year.

Matty Healy and co. can be proud of the performance - both the audio and visual aspects.

Support came from Rat Boy who was as fabulous as always.

Read the full review here:

The 1975 - Newcastle Review

3.

Tame Impala | Olympia, Liverpool | 9/9

After waiting to see Tame Impala for as long as I can remember, I finally got to see the Aussie psych rockers in Liverpool - a 300 mile round trip.

Playing warm up shows at Liverpool and Glasgow before a festival performance, I simply could NOT miss out on seeing the band that contributed the massively catchy Elephant to endless adverts over the past few years.

When their latest album Currents came out I became even more excited to see Tame Impala in the flesh and the setlist (included my personal favourite Nothing That Has Happened...) did not disappoint.

Was the six(ish) hour journey worth it? Definitely! I look forward to seeing them again in Manchester  next year and hopefully they will play 2016's Reading and Leeds Festival.

Read the full review here:

Tame Impala - Liverpool Review

4.

Courteeners | Heaton Park, Manchester | 5/6

My favourite band selling 25,000 tickets to sell out Manchester's Heaton Park was a special moment for every Courteeners fan around the country. When I got tickets I was absolutely buzzing, when support was announced as Peace, Blossoms and Bipolar Sunshine the buzz got bigger.

I had already seen them at a warm-up show at Leeds O2 Academy three days before so I knew that Liam Fray and co. would blow the park away.

Flares and smoke bombs lit up the Manchester sky for the full night and the 25,000 strong crowd belted the lyrics back at the stage that Courteeners have learned to fill so well.

Hopefully this gig will be released on DVD just like Castlefield Bowl was - if not I can just watch and rewatch the Small Bones video for three minutes of reminiscing.

I did not review Heaton Park, but read the review from Leeds Academy here:

Courteeners  - Leeds Review

5.

Foals | O2 Academy, Newcastle | 11/11

Like Tame Impala, Foals were a band that I had never seen until this year. But the Newcastle gig wasn't the first time I saw them - they played a secret set at Leeds Festival.

Oxford-based Foals have a massive sound, one that will surely rip arenas apart next year when they tour some of the biggest and best venues in the UK with Everything Everything.

The setlist couldn't have been complained at - merging tracks from Antidotes, Total Life Forever, Holy Fire and latest album What Went Down. Yannis Philippakis surfed the crowd, necked shots on the back bar and gave his soul to the Newcastle crowd.

Foals are undeniably one of the greatest bands that the UK have ever produced. If you ever get a chance to see them live I beg that you do.

Read the full review here:

Foals - Newcastle Review

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Best of the rest: Circa Waves, Jaws, Palma Violets, Blaenavon and many more here.