LIVE & ALBUM REVIEWS From Deerhunter, Ezra Furman, The Rolling Stones, Snow Patrol and more
ISSUE 5 5 JUNE - 11 JUNE 2018
MUSIC NEWS From IDLES, Paul Weller, Darwin Deez and more
GIG LISTINGS Our recommended listings of gigs in Brighton
OUT OF TOWN Our favourite gigs beyond the Brighton boundary
P ASS E N G E R
HE CAME. HE SANG. HE CONQUERED
L I V E
2 0 1 8 29 JUNE - 01 JULY 2018 AT GLYNDE PLACE, EAST SUSSEX
F R I DAY FESTIVAL OPENING PARTY FEATURING HENRY WU, JAZZ FM PRESENTS… PLUS ABI FLYNN, ALEX HITCHCOCK QUINTET, BRASS FUNKEYS, YAKUL AND MORE
S AT U R DAY
S U N DAY
MAIN STAGE ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS LEVEL 42
MAIN STAGE EARTH WIND & FIRE GEORGE CLINTON PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC
MR JUKES • SONGHOY BLUES PP ARNOLD • MF ROBOTS
TOM MISCH • CURTIS HARDING JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET NATALIE WILLIAMS SOUL FAMILY
BIG TOP PHAROAH SANDERS
BIG TOP STEVE WINWOOD
LALAH HATHAWAY • TONY ALLEN CHRIS DAVE & THE DRUMHEDZ DWIGHT TRIBLE & THE GONDWANA ORCHESTRA ORPHY ROBINSON ALLSTARS
MAVIS STAPLES ZAKIR HUSSAIN, CHRIS POTTER, DAVE HOLLAND NIK BÄRTSCH’S RONIN • YAZZ AHMED • IAN SHAW
THE ARENA PORTICO QUARTET
THE ARENA MOONCHILD
EZRA COLLECTIVE • NUBYA GARCIA • HAILEY TUCK ALFA MIST • ROHEY • BARNEY ARTIST LEO RICHARDSON
KEYON HARROLD • MOSES BOYD EXODUS DENYS BAPTISTE “LATE TRANE” • ZARA MCFARLANE TAL GAMLIELI TRIO • OSCAR JEROME SAMUEL EAGLES’ SPIRIT
A F T E R PA R T I E S CRAIG CHARLES FUNK & SOUL CLUB • HENRY WU • ERIC LAU
ISLAND RECORDS AND FRESHLY SQUEEZED MUSIC PRESENT: VINTAGE REMIX FEATURING SWINGROWERS (LIVE), NICK HOLLYWOOD, WILD FANTASY PLUS DANCE TEAM & AV SHOW • TRU THOUGHTS PRESENTS: ROBERT LUIS & WRONGTOM • JAZZ FM PRESENTS...
B A N D S TA N D 3 LITTLE BIRDS • BRIGHTON JAZZ SCHOOL CHARLOTTE GLASSON • GIWHA AND THE 1618 JONNY MANSFIELD’S ELFTET • PAUL RICHARDS PETE HILL QUINTET • PETER FRAIZE QUARTET RORY INGHAM • ROY HILTON CELEBRATES BLUENOTE • SEN3 • SONNYMOON FOR 3 TOMORROW’S WARRIORS FEMALE FRONTLINE WHERE PATHWAYS MEET
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JAZZ I N TH E ROU N D BUKKY LEO & BLACK EQYPT CELEBRATE FELA KUTI EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY (SOLO) JAMIE MURRAY BEAT REPLACEMENT FEAT. ZHENYA STRIGALEV JAY PHELPS QUARTET • ROB LUFT BAND • SARAH TANDY BAND
B A N D S & VO I C E S CABARET • POETRY • SPOKEN WORD • DANCE AND MORE
PLUS KIDS AREA, BANQUETING, FOOD VILLAGE, WELLNESS AREA, CABARET , SPOKEN WORD, JAZZ LOUNGE & VERDICT BANDSTAND
CAMPING, SUPREMIUM, JUNIOR, FAMILY, GLAMPING AND DAY TICKET OPTIONS AVAILABLE
LOVESUPREMEFESTIVAL.COM LOVESUPREMEFEST
ISSUE 5
CONTENTS 5
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PASSENGER In the midst of a European busking tour, we caught up with Mike Rosenberg after his Brighton show to find out about his new album and more
NEWS
Local releases and more news from the city’s music scene
LISTINGS
PRODUCTION: Adam Kidd
Our recommended listings of this week’s gigs across the city
COVER SHOT: Jonski Mason PHOTOGRAPHY: Jamie MacMillan CONTRIBUTORS: Jeff Hemmings Iain Lauder Ben Noble Liam McMillen Ben Walker Christian Middleton Kelly Westlake Paul Hill Tom Churchill Dan Whitehouse
LIVE REVIEWS Deerhunter, Ezra Furman and The Rolling Stones feature in this week’s reviews
Check out the latest album releases
8 OUT OF TOWN Our favourite upcoming gigs outside of Brighton
CEO: Frank Sansom EDITOR: Daniel White
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BRINGING THE ARTISTS CLOSER TO YOU...
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NIGHTLIFE Hitting the town? Check out our run-down of Brighton club nights this week
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RADIO
NEWS
Jeff Hemmings Mon/Wed
Following last year’s debut Brutalism, Bristol‘s IDLES have released a new single, ‘Colossus’, a typically melodically raging takedown of toxic masculinity. A statement is also set to be released by the band at 3pm on 5th June. Darwin Deez has announced his fourth album, 10 Songs That Happened When You Left Me With My Stupid Heart, will be released in August. He’s also heading on a UK tour, with a date in Brighton on 2nd October.
Tuesday: Interviews with Ryley Walker and Julie Byrne Wednesday: Interviews Don Broco andLaura Veirs
Paul Weller turns 60 with new song release
Friday 25th May saw Paul Weller celebrate his 60th birthday with the release of a brand new song, ‘Aspects’. Available as a free download from his site and to stream or download from the usual outlets, the string-laden and largely acoustic ‘Aspects’ is a taster for his 14th solo studio album, True Meanings, to be released later this year. Weller says, “I don’t know if it’s indicative of the album, but it’s certainly the cornerstone to the record for me. It’s also where I got the title of the album from.”
SCHEDULE: 9 - 11PM
Kelly Westlake Tue/Thurs
Thursday: Interview with Crayola Lectern and Brightonsfinest Listener’s Chart Monday: Interviews with Gruff Rhys and Boy Azooga Brightonsfinest.com/radio
COMING SOON ON RADIO
Following some packed out shows at The Great Escape and the release of their debut album Popular Music, we’ll be chatting to Life before they return for another blast of passionate punk at the Green Door Store.
Snail Mail, aka Lindsey Jordan, was one of the standouts at this year’s Great Escape festival. With her debut album, Lush, due for release this month, we will be talking to the 19-year-old graduate in a future show.
DON’T MISS: PICK OF THE WEEK
Gorillaz have announced a new album, The Now Now, to be released 29th July, a surprise rapid follow up to Humanz. They teased the release to their sixth album with a new website: thenownow. tv hosting a video clip. Kristin Hersh has released ‘Lax’, the first track off her new album, that will be released on Fire Records later this year. She’ll also be touring in June, including a date at the Duke of York’s cinema, 30th June.
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Laura Veirs - Komedia - Monday 11th June 2018 Following the release of The Lookout, her tenth solo album, Laura Veirs brings her inimitable and exquisite folk-pop to Komedia for an intimate night. The Bella Union singer-songwriter has been in the business of writing personal songs of heartfelt romance and social commentary for almost 20 years. We can’t wait for a night of the same during this performance. For more information visit Brightonsfinest.com/listings
R E G N E S S PA
M M IN G S E H F F E J TALKS TO
He came. He sang. He conquered. Mike Rosenberg, aka Passenger, took to his home streets of Brighton on a baking Bank Holiday Monday to perform a busking set, as part of a four-day busking tour of the UK. Using the opportunity to promote his Brighton show later in the year at the Dome, 9th September, and to talk up his forthcoming album, Runaway, which is out at the end of August, Rosenberg was in his element. Thousands congregated to witness the Brightonian doing what he does so well; singing and performing, with just a semi-acoustic guitar, and that appealing mix of self-deprecation, humour and heart-on-sleeve passion. Before the career changing Ed Sheeran support slots, and the worldwide success of ‘Let Her Go’, Rosenberg had spent a decade trying to make a career of it, releasing albums, gigging and busking most everywhere. It’s in his DNA, this need to write and perform. While not immediately recognisable like Sheeran, it’s not so easy nowadays to just rock up, find a pitch and sing some songs. In true rock’n’roll fashion, Rosenberg appeared via North Street, and strode to the makeshift stage, guitar in hand and sunglasses on head. Performing a set made up of the likes of ‘Let Her Go’, ‘Life for the Living’, and new song ‘Hell and High Water’, Rosenberg cracked some jokes and
engaged the audience in some uplifting sing-alongs. As well as putting up with the obligatory car horns, he won over the hearts of those familiar with his work, and those who just happened to be in the right place, at the right time. “It was so much fun to get back. The weather was amazing. Busking is less pressure than a gig or a festival, so it helps to ease back into performing. And I remember how much I love doing it. I was blown away by the turnout. It was fantastic,” says Mike.
“Busking is less pressure than a gig or a festival. I love doing it. I was blown away by the turnout. It was fantastic. ” “We’re up to London today, and then Manchester, and then busking in Copenhagen, Hamburg and Berlin at the weekend. Chockers, but all fine. It’s really just the beginning of the madness.” For the most part, Mike revels in the hustle and bustle of gigging. However, he was glad for a break this time around. “I’ve had some time off, and I feel more rested and prepared this time, which is a novel feeling. It’s crazy, man. I find it
really difficult to stop. I write so much, I get really excited about a group of songs. I record them and then once you’ve got an album you want to tour it. It’s turned into this relentless cycle, and I had to work quite hard to break it. It was really good to do, come off the road, come down a little bit.” Releasing an album a year since 2014’s Whispers II, this will be Passenger’s tenth album. “The concept behind Runaway is American, but in a good way,” laughs Mike. “I am half-American. My dad is from the States. I feel very at home there, but there is so much I haven’t seen. I only get to see the cities I’m playing in. We were really off the beaten track for a lot of it, and I saw a different side of America. I decided to film all the songs, and go on a road trip with some mates. We ended up making 20 videos; ten official videos, for each track on the album, and then we shot ten videos for each acoustic version (on the deluxe album version). The plan is for a song to come out every three weeks, and within that three week window there will be an official video, an acoustic video, and some behind-the-scenes stuff. I think it’s a nice way of doing it, with the way people are consuming music now, I think it’s a nice way of giving each song its own window to shine.” To read the full interview visit Brightonsfinest.com/passenger
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GIG LISTINGS Concorde 2
Green Door Store
Giant Sand Wednesday 6th June Tickets: £20 Presented by AGMP
Slowcoaches Tuesday 5th June Tickets: FREE Presented by Neat Neat Neat
The Sugarhill Gang Saturday 16th June Tickets: £17.50 Presented by Beatdown
Commands Wednesday 6th June Tickets: £5 Presented by Scruff of the Neck
The Beat starring Dave Wakeling Sunday 17th June Tickets: £18.50
FLOAT Friday 8th June Tickets: FREE Presented by Green Door Store
Belly Tuesday 19th June Tickets: £20 Presented by Crosstown Concerts Miles Kane Monday 25th June Tickets: SOLD OUT Presented by SJM Concerts
Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar Bel Esprit Wednesday 6th June Tickets: £5.50 Presented by CloseUp Promotions Calva Louise Saturday 9th June Tickets: £5 OTD Presented by SB Live AJJ (Andrew Jackson Jihad) Friday 15th June Tickets: £11 Presented by Neat Neat Neat Courts Saturday 16th June Tickets: £11 Presented by CloseUp Promotions Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown Monday 25th June Tickets: £12.50 Presented by Lout Promotions Valeras Friday 29th June Tickets: £6 Presented by Hidden Herd
Hove Cricket Ground Lionel Richie Saturday 23rd June Tickets: £50.75 Presented by UK Gigs and Tours
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PREVIEWS
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Big Ups Wednesday 13th June Tickets: £9.90 Presented by Green Door Store
Don Broco - Concorde 2 Tuesday 5th June 2018 Ahead of their slot at Download, Don Broco will be rolling into town for a warm-up show at Concorde 2 which is certain to blow the doors off the venue. This year’s Technology saw a huge advance in both their songwriting and in their sound and saw the Bedford band firmly pitch a tent in the territory of the biggest stadium rock bands out there.
Fruity Water + Fragile Creatures Friday 15th June Tickets: £TBA Idigo Husk Wednesday 20th June Tickets: £8.80 Presented by Live Nation Ye Nuns Saturday 22nd June Tickets: £8.80 Presented by Dictionary Pudding Distant Monday 25th June Tickets: £6.60 Presented by Anivian Promotions Bongzilla Tuesday 26th June Tickets: £16.50 Presented by Green Door Store
Hell Is For Heroes - Concorde 2 Thursday 7th June 2018 Another pre-Download show, post-hardcore band Hell Is For Heroes are here to take no prisoners in an explosive show at Concorde 2. Whether there will be any new music post-hiatus remains to be seen. However, what is of the upmost excitement is the fact that Hell Is For Heroes are back. For how long, who knows? Enjoy it while it lasts.
Samana Wednesday 27th June Tickets: FREE Presented by Green Door Store
Rialto Theatre Mama’s Gun Thursday 28th June Tickets: £13.75
The Brunswick Gil Landry Tuesday 5th June Tickets: £10 Presented by Lout Promotions
Rolo Tomassi - The Haunt – Thursday 7th June 2018 Bringing their aggressive post-hardcore vibes to an intimate venue, Rolo Tomassi return to The Haunt with their reputation for an energetic live show. Back in March they released their fourth album, Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It, a record which hits all the right notes. It will be amazing to see them translate this killer album into a live performance.
GIG LISTINGS The Hope & Ruin Drahla Tuesday 5th June Tickets: £6.90 Presented by One Inch Badge Reminders Wednesday 6th June Tickets: £4.40 Presented by The Hope & Ruin Big Boss Man Friday 8th June Tickets: £6 OTD Presented by Acid Box Warmduscher Saturday 9th June Tickets: £8.05 Presented by One Inch Badge Pink Narcissus Monday 11th June Tickets: £4 OTD Presented by Bouncing Skull Cape Cub Friday 15th June Tickets: £7 Presented by CloseUp Promotions The Ex Tuesday 19th June Tickets: £13.20 Presented by Dictionary Pudding
The Haunt Rolo Tomassi Thursday 7th June Tickets: £10 Presented by Lout Promotions Waxahatchee Saturday 16th June Tickets: £12 Presented by Neat Neat Neat Rostam Wednesday 13th June Tickets: £10 Presented by One Inch Badge Starcrawler Tuesday 19th June Tickets: £11.50 Presented by Lout Promotions Modern Life Is War Monday 25th June Tickets: £14.30 Presented by Neat Neat Neat
PREVIEWS The Prince Albert The Vibrators Saturday 9th June Tickets: £8.80 Presented by Cheating Snake
Brighton Dome The Shires Saturday 9th June Tickets: £25.50 Presented by SJM Promotions Travis Wednesday 20th June Tickets: £30.25 Presented by SJM Promotions
Komedia
Julie Byrne - St George’s Church, Brighton – Saturday 9th June 2018 In her only major UK appearance this year, Byrne is returning to Brighton for a performance at St George’s Church. The American enjoyed a breakout year in 2017 as her sophomore album, Not Even Happiness, gained widespread critical acclaim, and locally was named Resident’s number one album of 2017. This is certainly not one to be missed.
The Shacks Tuesday 5th June Tickets: £7 Presented by Lout Promotions Dawn Penn Tuesday 5th June Tickets: £15.50 Presented by Global Beats Martin Carthy Wednesday 6th June Tickets: £17 Femi & The In Rhythms Wednesday 6th June Tickets: £12.50 Presented by Joyful Noise Productions Lindi Ortega Tuesday 12th june Tickets: £16 Presented by One Inch Badge
The Shires - Brighton Dome – Saturday 9th June 2018 A country-inspired pop duo, The Shires are the first English country act ever signed to Universal Music Group Nashville. Their second album, My Universe, was the fastest selling UK country album in history back in 2016 and now they’ve returned with Accidentally On Purpose. Their show at Brighton Dome is sure to bring colourful, feel-good vibes.
Mt. Desolation Wednesday 13th June Tickets: £13.50 Presented by SJM Concerts Boo Hewerdine Tuesday 19th June Tickets: £17.50 Presented by A Startled Chameleon The Wave Pictures Wednesday 20th June Tickets: £13.50 Presented by One Inch Badge Lydia Evangeline Thursday 28th June Tickets: £6
Utopia All-Dayer - Green Door Store - Saturday 9th June 2018 If you like a good solid eight hours of music then Utopia’s All-Dayer is well worth checking out. The show has a great line-up of acts, headlined by TOY, with support from FEWS, Is Bliss, Bad Nerves alongside Brighton regulars Atlas Wynd, Strange Cages and Sun Scream. There is something for everyone during this full day of music at a great location.
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LIVE REVIEWS
ALBUM REVIEWS Snow Patrol – Wildness Out: 25th May 2018
Deerhunter showcased some new music and some old favourites in a very intimate show at Concorde 2 doing what the band does best. As a live indie group, you’d be hard pressed to find one more entertaining, and this feels like the dawning of a new era for the Atlanta-based band.
Ezra Furman’s rise through cult status into international stardom is secured, as he looked and sounded every bit the superstar during this Brighton Dome show.
The Rolling Stones’ energy and stamina is unbelievable, and it is their sheer power to rock that is most impressive. Time may be ticking on but it’s diminishing none of their potency.
Read the full reviews at Brightonsfinest.com/live
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Snow Patrol have returned with their first album in seven years. While the record can sometimes feel like a retread of their biggest moments some 15 years ago, for fans this will be a roaring success and, for the casual listener, it’s hard not to be impressed by the passion they’re showing 25 years and seven records in.
Jo Passed’s debut release Jo Passed – Our Prime is an 11-track record in Out: 25th May 2018 which the band haven’t been afraid to break the social norms of rock and roll and have cleverly integrated their own twists and turns within each track, making them incredibly colourful and memorable from start to finish. It is a phenomenal debut release and, on the whole, there is very little to fault here. Read the full reviews at Brightonsfinest.com/albums
NIGHTLIFE
OUT OF TOWN
Ed Solo b2b Deekline b2b Serial Killaz Friday 8th June Concorde 2 11pm - 4am
Foundations First Birthday: A History OF Dubstep with Plastician Friday 8th June Patterns, 11pm-4am
The Zombies Wednesday 6th June De La Warr Pavilion 7pm
Ty Segall Saturday 9th June O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, 7pm
Coyote Records Friday 8th June Hideout 11pm - 5am
B.Traits Saturday 9th June Patterns 11pm - 4am
Thom Yorke Friday 8th June Roundhouse, London 7pm
Lebeaux Monday 11th June The Ned, London 6:30pm
Staff vs Promoters Friday 8th June Volks 11pm-7am
Goldie Saturday 9th June The Arch 11pm - 5am
Fragile Creatures Friday 8th June Pavilion Cafe Bar, Worthing, 7:30pm
Black Honey Tuesday, 12th June Omeara, London 7:00pm
Idris Elba Friday 8th June The Arch 10pm - 5am
Artificial Intelligence Saturday 9th June Volks 11pm - 6am
Fierce Friend Saturday 9th June Paper Dress Vintage, London, 7:45pm
L7 Tuesday 12th June Electric Ballroom, London 7pm
Full event listings at Brightonsfinest.com/listings
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