In the fourth and final part of a series of articles about his hometown, proud Mancunian John Freeman talks to local promoters Now Wave about their role in making Manchester such a wonderful place to experience new music.
John Freeman
Sounds of my City / Manchester : Introducing Patterns
In the third part of a series of articles about his hometown, proud Mancunian John Freeman talks to local favourites Patterns about how a community spirit has helped create the current buoyant music scene within the city.
Sounds of my City / Manchester : Manchester’s Best Venues
In the second part of a series of articles about his hometown, proud Mancunian John Freeman highlights The Deaf Institute and Islington Mill as two shining examples of why, when it comes to watching live music, his fellow citizens have never had it so good.
Introducing // Keaton Henson…in pictures
John Freeman puts some questions to London-based singer-songwriter Keaton Henson. Keaton draws the answers. The results confirm that a picture does, indeed, speak a thousand words.
Sounds of my City / Manchester : Introducing Ghost Outfit
In the first part of a series of articles about his hometown, proud Mancunian John Freeman talks to local noiseniks Ghost Outfit about making music in a city defined by its musical heritage.
Introducing // Milagres
John Freeman met up with Kyle Wilson of Brooklyn-based Milagres to find out how a month-long mountaineering expedition inspired their excellent new album, Glowing Mouth. However, he forgot to ask about his favourite chocolate-based snack.
Introducing // Stealing Sheep
Stealing Sheep singer Becky Hawley talks to TLOBF about furtive recording sessions at Abbey Road, jamming with Paul McCartney, and Norwegian death metal.
Introducing // Odonis Odonis
Odonis Odonis make a noise like a slightly cuddlier version of Steve Albini’s seminal Big Black. John Freeman spoke to head-honcho Dan Tzenos about their seismic debut album Hollandaze, and a shared taste in vertigo.
“Once you lose romance, there is nothing left but darkness”: Best Fit meets Richmond Fontaine’s Willy Vlautin
After the recent release of their phenomenal new album The High Country, Richmond Fontaine’s Willy Vlautin sits on a bench with TLOBF to discuss girls in auto-part stores, the endless writing of love songs and just why his first novel permitted him a triumphant return to Reno.
Influences: Big Deal
Take a love of hoary Yank rockers Dave Matthews Band and a youthful emo-ska-punk phase and what do you get? The beautiful new Big Deal album, Lights Out. We meet Casey Underwood and Alice Costelloe to chart out an unlikely musical journey.
Introducing // Shimmering Stars
“You’ve never been dumped? You poor bastard.” TLOBF meets Vancouver’s Shimmering Stars to talk about heartbreak, the Everly Brothers and Samoan teenage strife.
Introducing // The Stepkids
After a sonically and visually spectacular debut UK show in London earlier this month, TLOBF caught up with Connecticut psychedelic-soul trio The Stepkids to find out why the three seasoned musicians finally decided to form a band. And we were also intrigued to discover just how big a twat 50 Cent actually is.