Tag: livemusic
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A Distant Flame
It is with deep regret that I was unable to ascend the Alm this Midsummer. A consistent, welcome retreat in my yearly travels, Abtenau has brought me to many heights, tempered by occasional lows. This is the only time I have been absent since first attending in 2015, outside of travel restrictions beyond anyone’s control.…
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Never Mind The Molochs
Back in March, the entire second year of the Academy’s Live Event Production course were assessed together across all disciplines. Tasked to put their fledgling talents to the test by collaborating on a video, lighting, and audio production with a live band. Although my (wall of) sound mixing skills were later channelled for indie-rockers Tummyache,…
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Seven years of Solstice
2018-2025 It is a great relief to finally declare my departure from Solstice. Although we went our separate ways last June, I chose to embargo any revelation until the band were good and ready to say it themselves. Nine months later, their Equinox announcement offers opportunity to reflect on the seven years I spent on…
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The Ruins of Beverast – Hamburg
A few weeks back, I crossed the sky to a snow-stricken Hamburg, honouring one of my favourite bands, The Ruins of Beverast, as they launched new album Tempelschlaf. Although the rigmarole of the journey is another story altogether, there remains much to be said about the gig itself. No stranger to shows in and around…
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Another Time, Another Space
With the world breaking down over ever more partisan unpleasantness, it seemed almost frivolous to make my way towards Tilburg last weekend. But as a self-confessed (and obsessed) “Ayreonaut”, I was compelled to take amazing flight to honour thirty years of phenomenal music. AYREON is the Prog-Metal project of Dutch musician mastermind Arjen Anthony Lucassen…
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Green Fields and Reckoning
After the triumphant experience of managing the main stage at Metal Magic, I lingered around Denmark for another fortnight. Working on a gruelling festival tour that took me around the country and to the limits of endurance. Celebrating its forty-third summer, Grøn Koncert is a mainstay of Danish Pop Music, raising money for Muskelsvindfonden –…
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For the Magic of Metal
I never had “Backing Dancer for Arthur Brown” on my 2025 Bingo card… Metal Magic has always been one of my favourite festivals, having only missed out on a single accessible year since 2014. I’ve always found the chilled out ‘Garden Party’ atmosphere to be appealing, a reflection on the friendliness I’ve experienced in all…
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Ten Years of Blood and Fire
Nearly a fortnight has passed since the Summer Solstice on Neudegg Alm, and life has barely calmed since that wondrous night of flame and belonging. With the heat of the moment propelling once-aching feet towards new possibilities, I must take pause to reflect and release before moving on. It was my tenth year on the…
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Dornenreich / Vinsta – Dortmund
Braving the thorny shutdown of London’s Heathrow Airport a week ago, I recently travelled to Dortmund by way of Düsseldorf on very little sleep. Awaiting an evening in attendance of Austrian Black Metal / Neofolk veterans (and fellow Prophecy labelmates) Dornenreich‘s recent Arcane Ceremonies acoustic tour. Hosted in the atmospheric surrounds of Dortmund’s Pauluskirche, the…
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Wolvennest / Nachtmaer – Aalst
A few photos snapped at a sneaky sold-out sojourn to watch Wolvennest at the weekend. With the Cinema venue in Aalst, Belgium hosting a very special show indeed. Openers Nachtmaer, a side project of locals Kludde, showcased a succession of singers. Howling Black Metal both atmospheric and primitive, appealing muchly to an already-eager crowd. Atmosphere…
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The Year that radicalised me
Although I knew there were challenges ahead as the world ticked into 2024, I had no expectation of the struggles that would manifest from week one. Launching straight into the Mentors tour as festive fireworks still echoed was hardly the wisest timing; but through grit, good humour, and the able help of the Witchfinder, we…
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Triumph in Turku
The midpoint of the recent Solstice Finland tour, the entirety of the Turku set was captured for posterity by YouTube user Tyggerghast. Playing to a packed out Nirvana club on the 21st of September, the Saturday crowd was treated to quite possibly one of our best shows yet. Although I feel I could have personally…
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