Live Nation's Ticketmaster CEO Writes Open Letter Commending Ticket Resale (Feature)
As a website that provides a price comparison service for event tickets to our customers, Stereoboard has long campaigned for the secondary sale market to be understood, embraced and also to warn ticket buyers against the various scam websites which appear every time a major UK tour goes on sale (see our Ticket Scam List).
Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Monday, 05 September 2011
Independently Alternative (Banquet Records Feature)
“More than just your local record store - Independently run Banquet Records is thriving at the heart of the music scene in southwest London”
Written by: Mark Molloy | Date: Friday, 02 September 2011
The Return Of The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award (Feature)
On August 28, 2011, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, the words Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award were once again heard at MTV's highest rated Video Music Awards (VMA's) show. Awarded to Britney Spears in recognition of her long and at times distressed tenure in the music industry, in her acceptance speech Spears immediately said that the award meant so much to her because it was, "the night before Michael Jackson's birthday." It was a short but sweet speech.
Written by: Deborah Ffrench | Date: Friday, 02 September 2011
Stereoboard’s Top 10 Live Events in September
With less than a handful of festivals left to go before the summer officially draws to a close, it’s time to start heading indoors to find the best live entertainment that the world of rock and pop has to offer. But there’s no need to fret – those summer nights may be nearing their end and the late-night open-air festivities may be going out with them, but there’s plenty of rock and roll-type fun still to be had. Just look at this small selection we’ve picked out for you from the coming month…
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Kaiser Chiefs - Tickets On Sale Friday 9am
Having successfully predicted the recent spate of riots, Leeds rockers The Kaiser Chiefs will follow-up their winning insightfulness with an extensive tour, featuring no less than 20 whole dates around the country, in early 2012. After the innovative release of their fourth album ‘The Future is Medieval’ earlier this year and next month’s homecoming shows in Leeds, the five-piece will hit the road in January and spend an entire month trekking up and down the UK.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 25 August 2011
Michael Forever Tribute Concert: Will Tickets Go On Sale? Will the Gig Go Ahead?
The situation with the Michael Jackson tribute concert ‘Michael Forever’ has finally reached a boiling point with fans, and many are now calling for the gig, set to take place on October 8th at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, to be cancelled.
Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Friday, 19 August 2011
Bedouin Soundclash Chat to Stereoboard About New Album and Reading & Leeds
Earlier this year, Canadian ska/reggae trio Bedouin Soundclash released ‘Light the Horizon’ – the band’s fourth album to date and their first through their own label Pirates Blend Records following the debut solo release from lead singer Jay Malinowski, ‘Bright Lights & Bruises’. After a successful UK tour back in May, the group will be returning next weekend for an appearance on the Lock Up Stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals. Jay recently explained to Stereoboard that, after a memorable performance at Leeds five years ago, the band are looking forward to heading back…
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 15 August 2011
Michael Jackson Forever Tribute Concert: A Fitting Tribute or a Money Spinner? (Feature)
The 'Michael Forever' tribute concert that is set to take place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on October 8th, which Stereoboard has been closely following, has outraged fans of the late King of Pop. Some Michael Jackson fans believe their loyalty and love for their idol has made them easy targets for the money-hungry organisers of the gig, and the Jackson family members openly supporting the concert.
Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Monday, 15 August 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Ash - Tickets Onsale 9am
Fifteen years ago, Northern Ireland-based rock trio Ash released their debut full-length ‘1977’. Amidst the overhyped and somewhat tedious phenomenon that was Britpop, the album provided a lively breath of fresh air to the crowds of young indie fans that were looking for something with a bit more energy. From its outset, with the sound of a TIE fighter screaming through space – a reference to the album’s title, which was named after the year that the original Star Wars film was released – ‘1977’ gave people exactly what they had wanted from a UK rock band for a long time. With tracks like opener ‘Lose Control’ and lead single ‘Kung Fu’, Ash’s mixture of rock, punk and indie, blended with the band’s own youthful energy, seemed like the ideal way to give Britpop a run for its money – for a short time anyway.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 12 August 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - Tickets Onsale Friday 9am
Well, it’s been six months since the release of Beady Eye’s debut album ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’ and it’s fair to say that, somewhat unsurprisingly, they haven’t exactly taken over the world. While many people held high expectations for the three ex-Oasis boys – most notably, younger Gallagher brother Liam – many others had little hope for what this latest incarnation of the band could offer without Noel. After all, he was of course the guy that wrote ‘Definitely Maybe’ and ‘Morning Glory’ in their entirety – who else in Oasis could claim such a feat?
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 04 August 2011
Stereoboard To Launch Great New Daily Social Media Content
Stereoboard fans are in for a treat at the start of next week – as we launch our own brand new feature for Twitter.com/Stereoboard and Facebook.com/Stereoboard, making Stereoboard that little bit better for all of our social-networking users.
Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Wednesday, 03 August 2011
Stereoboard’s Top 10 Live Events in August
With the summer festival season now well and truly underway, it’s already that time of the year when the UK’s two biggest twin events – V Festival and Reading & Leeds – each return to spoil us with another weekend of action-packed musical extravagance. In addition to the usual festival-type madness, August has brought us another month of rock and pop overindulgence to keep us happy until those late summer nights start closing in. So, for the more indecisive amongst us, here are Stereoboard’s 10 top tips to help you take your pick for the month of August…
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Sunday, 31 July 2011
Are Ticket ID Restrictions Good Or Bad For Music Fans? (Paperless Ticketing Feature)
Red Hot Chili Peppers promoters AEG and its subsidiary Kilimanjaro Live announced this week that tickets for RHCP's hotly anticipated UK tour would have very strict restrictions on entry.
Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Saturday, 30 July 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Red Hot Chili Peppers - Tickets Onsale 9am Today!
Few people will argue when we say that this is the one we’ve all been waiting for. After a short hiatus, during which time guitarist John Frusciante left the band for the second time, LA rock gods The Red Hot Chili Peppers have just announced their first UK dates in four years – their last appearances here included their Reading and Leeds headlining sets in 2007. One member down but still going strong, the Chilis will return to our shores in November for a generous nine dates, following the release of their tenth album ‘I’m With You’, which succeeds 2006’s ‘Stadium Arcadium’.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 29 July 2011
London-based Blues-Rock Quartet Scoundrels Speak to Stereoboard About Their Debut Album
Last year, Sire Records founders Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, who were responsible for originally signing the likes of Madonna and The Ramones over 25 years ago, announced that they would be relaunching the British record label Blue Horizon. The label was launched in 1966 by producer Mike Vernon, who has worked with the likes of John Mayall, David Bowie and Eric Clapton during his long career. Throughout its brief existence during the late ‘60s, Blue Horizon helped to establish a number of well-known British blues artists, most notable of which was Fleetwood Mac, who released their first two albums through the label. Last month, London’s Scoundrels released their eponymous debut album – the first to be released through a revived Blue Horizon, 45 years after the label’s inception. The album, which the band recorded in the US with legendary producer Steve Albini, is a blues-inspired indie-rock treat that will undoubtedly prove to be a popular choice for fans of bands like Gomez and The Black Keys. Stereoboard recently caught up with Scoundrels’ frontman Ned Wyndham to find out more about the band and their music.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 27 July 2011
You’re Fired! A Few Of Music’s Most Memorable Sackings (Feature)
Well, The Apprentice is over for another year and, once again, Lord Sugar is done giving the boot to another group of hopeless, young wannabe execs in spectacular fashion. As this year’s winner Tom Pellereau looks ahead to make the most of his new break into the business world, we take a look back at some of history’s most widely-publicised sackings – in the music world. Over the years, fans of rock and pop have been witness to a number of high-profile elbowings in the public eye – ouch! Some, shocking… Others, less so. Here is a list of a few such occasions, where band members on the road to fame and glory have had to make an early stop thanks to those two fateful words – “You’re fired!”
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 20 July 2011
'With Thanks To Harry Chapin For A Better Place To Be' - A Feature By David Evans
Now that all the fuss and palaver has died down, it would be interesting to know how many readers have yet to hear about Rebecca Black … and in case you happen to be one of the few, she’s the teenage chirper whose bile-inducing ditty was an internet hit for all the wrong reasons.
Written by: David Evans | Date: Saturday, 16 July 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Snoop Dogg - Tickets Onsale Now
Hip-hop legends don’t come much bigger than Snoop Dogg these days, so it’s always a particular pleasure when a rap star of his magnitude chooses to grace the stage at any one of our great British venues. Yes, that’s right – the Doggfather is back, with a full headlining arena tour set for October. Just a couple of months since his last batch of UK dates, it seems that Snoop couldn’t wait to get back to playing for his hordes of British followers. If that’s not enough, the rap superstar will be back again this weekend for a headlining performance at London’s Lovebox festival, where he’ll be performing his classic 1993 debut album ‘Doggystyle’ in its entirety.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011
Singer-Songwriter Nerina Pallot Chats to Stereoboard About Her New Album and Forthcoming Tour
It’s been quite a year for Nerina Pallot, as I’m sure you’ll agree. After co-writing a couple of songs for Kylie Minogue’s album ‘Aphrodite’, the London-based singer-songwriter concluded 2010 by giving birth to her first child in September. Her young son Wolfie then went on to become the inspiration behind the title of Nerina’s fourth album ‘Year of the Wolf’, which was released last month. The album also marked Nerina’s return to a major label after the 10 years since her debut ‘Dear Frustrated Superstar’. In August, she will be releasing ‘Turn Me On Again’, the latest single from the album following May’s ‘Put Your Hand Up’, before heading out on tour around the country in October. Stereoboard recently caught up with Nerina to find out more about ‘Year of the Wolf’, her opinion on TV talent shows and what it was like to work with Kylie.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Stereoboard Speaks to Drum and Bass Prodigy Icicle Before His Performance At Clwb Ifor Bach
Dutch producer Icicle is one of the hottest drum and bass DJs around at the moment, and with a brand new LP recently released and a whole new approach to his live performance, things can get only get hotter – unless, of course, Icicle melts.
Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Sunday, 10 July 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Rammstein - Tickets Onsale Friday 9am
If a spectacular live show is what you’re after, you can forget about U2 and Muse and instead check out a performance by German industrial metallers Rammstein. Fans of the Berlin-based sextet will be able to confirm that, if you want to get your money’s worth from a gig, then you can do no better than to check out a Rammstein concert, which has everything you could possibly ask for in an action-packed live show – fire, fire and more fire. Obviously, there’s a few songs thrown in there as well, but mainly, there’s the fire. That’s right, Rammstein aren’t known for pulling any punches when it comes to pyrotechnics. An average night on the band’s tour will feature enough fireballs and flamethrowers to give the front rows a half-decent tan – and that’s when the group members aren’t on fire themselves.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 07 July 2011
Hardcore Band Letlive Talk to Stereoboard About Their Chaotic Download Festival Performance
Last month, LA-based hardcore band Letlive - who released their widely-acclaimed new album ‘Fake History’ earlier this year - played what was meant to be a relatively low-key slot at Donington’s Download Festival. After an extraordinarily eventful and somewhat chaotic half an hour, the performance ended up becoming one of the most talked-about sets of the weekend. Stereoboard has since got in touch with Letlive to find out more about the incident straight from the horse’s mouth. The band’s bassist Ryan Jay Johnson kindly offered us his own version of events, although you may want to take a look at the video below to make up your own mind. You were here in the UK a few weeks ago for Download Festival. Those of us who didn’t get to see the performance have been hearing stories about various altercations with security etc. So what really happened? Jason actually flew in via parachute and the security guards were helping him down from the rafter his chute was snagged on, much to the surprise of onlookers. It was perceived as a scuffle of sorts. Whatever videos have been released were documenting the struggle to get out of certain parachute lines.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 05 July 2011
Has Glastonbury Lost Its Political Clout? (Glastonbury Feature)
Back in the seventies, Glastonbury was leftist and anarchistic; a festival firmly rooted in critical, political commentaries. This year, despite the fact that Beyonce was headlining and that the likes of Wayne and Coleen Rooney and Kate Moss were "glamping" (what a repellant tabloid word); Michael Eavis had promised us that the forty-first Glastonbury was going to be a field of political discontent, a "sounding board of unrest", as he told The Guardian.
Written by: Rachel Preece | Date: Monday, 04 July 2011
Stereoboard Tours of the Week – Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly - Tickets Onsale 9am Friday
Now that a Pogues-shaped hole has been left in the world of Celtic punk following the band’s final Christmas tour at the end of last year, it seems that there are few groups around that could possible take their place as the reigning survivors of that particular genre. However, although Shane MacGowan may have slurred his last Fairytale of New York for the time being, the good news is that everyone’s favourite pretenders to the Celtic punk throne, Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys, have both announced new UK tours this week.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 30 June 2011
'Dont Talk To Me About Slash' A Feature By David Evans (Slash Feature)
I know I’m not the first to come up with the idea, but after this last fortnight I’m seriously thinking about getting my jaw wired. First off, it would stop me stuffing my face with chocolate fudge cake … and yes I know I could always liquidize a few slabs with a half-bottle of brandy and drink it through a straw; I’d already thought of that. But no matter what lengths I’d go to satisfy my cravings, at least there would be no chance of me saying anything that would make me look a fool...
Written by: David Evans | Date: Monday, 27 June 2011
ATP: I'll Be Your Mirror - Alexandra Palace, London - 23rd & 24th July (Feature)
As ever, All Tomorrow’s Parties have managed to provide something delightfully eclectic for us all with the inaugural London “I’ll Be Your Mirror” festival. Taking place at Alexandra Palace on the 23rd and 24th July, the festival is being co-curated with ATP organisers by none other than Bristol trip hop legends Portishead, whose relationship with ATP stretches back many years.
Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 24 June 2011
The Fiasco Of Ticket Entry ID At Alicia Keys' London Concert (Feature)
A little over a week ago, June 13th to be precise, American superstar Alicia Keys performed a special one-off show at London’s Royal Albert Hall to rave reviews. The soulful singer was celebrating the 10th anniversary of her multi Grammy award winning debut album ‘Songs In A Minor’ in a stripped down performance without the usual glitz and glamour, instead wowing the audience with just her voice alongside her piano.
Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Thursday, 23 June 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Machine Head
Just a year after completing a marathon three-year tour of their album ‘The Blackening’, Californian metallers Machine Head are back with a new album and another UK tour. Last week, the band released their new single ‘Locust’, the first track to be taken from their as-yet-untitled seventh album, which is expected out in September. Following the album’s intended release date, Machine Head will return to the UK for the first time since early 2010, when they were nearing completion of their mammoth ‘The Blackening’ tour. Expectations for their latest offering will undoubtedly be high following the critical and commercial success of its predecessor. Upon its release in 2007, ‘The Blackening’ became widely regarded as one of the best heavy metal albums in a number of years. It earned the band their first-ever Grammy nomination as well as the prize for Best Album at both the Kerrang! and Metal Hammer Awards. The latter magazine went on to award ‘The Blackening’ Album of the Decade last year. It was also the first Machine Head album to enter the Top 20 in the UK since 1999’s ‘The Burning Red’.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Stereoboard's Review Of London Feis 2011 (Feis Feature)
Day One Things were all set for a storming start to Finsbury Park’s inaugural London Feis festival, which marked 21 years since festival founder Vince Power brought his raucous Irish musical tastes to North London with the first Fleadh in 1990. Storming that is, in every sense of the word. Yes we were to be treated to birthday boy BOB DYLAN’s only UK performance of the year, and have a Sunday send-off with the world’s grumpiest Irishman VAN MORRISON, but the clouds looked like they could have come straight over from the soggy Irish moors.
Written by: Jamie Rathbone & James Conlon | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Green Man Festival Returns (Green Man Festival Feature)
The 2010 ‘Best Medium Sized Festival’ winner returns with another outstanding line-up, boutique stores, taste bud adulterating food outlets, incredible cinema and plenty of hidden gems to be sought out
Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Alice Cooper Talks About His Upcoming Halloween UK Tour & New Album 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare'
After bringing his Halloween show over to the UK for two nights of terror in London in 2010, Alice Cooper has taken it upon himself to return once more for the Halloween season, claiming, “The UK doesn’t really celebrate Halloween as much as it should. It’s a very theatrical place and I don’t think they’ve quite latched on to the idea that you get to dress up as anyone you want to dress up with and get candy.”
Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Saturday, 18 June 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – The Darkness - Tickets Onsale Friday June 17th
One way ticket to Hell… and back? It certainly seemed that way five years ago, when glam rock revivalists The Darkness decided to call it a day after a mere three years in the limelight. In 2006, just a year after the release of their second album, the Suffolk-based quintet chose not to continue without their frontman Justin Hawkins, who had recently left the band amid well-publicised stories of problems relating to drink and drugs. Following a Number One album, four Top 10 singles, numerous sell-out tours and a handful of festival headline slots, all within just a few short years, it suddenly appeared that things were not all as they had seemed. The rock and roll dream was over for The Darkness, almost as abruptly as it had begun. The future of the band was discussed briefly, but it soon became obvious that The Darkness were little without their flamboyant, cat-suited, glass-cracking singer.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Stereoboard's Round-Up Review Of Download Festival 2011 (Download Feature)
Chills and thrills certainly seemed to be the order of the day at the rock extravaganza that was Download 2011. Despite hosting one of the hottest line-ups on the heavy music calendar, the Donington event was noticeably cooler than usual thanks to an icy breeze that was doing its best to send the throngs of attending metallers running for their sleeping bags. However, the occasionally inhospitable weather at this year’s festival was far from enough to put a dampener on the event, which saw Linkin Park and Def Leppard both returning to top an outstanding bill of metal that yet again proved to appeal to the nu and old school alike.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Keep On Trucking (Truck Festival Feature)
Picture the scene: There’s 100,000 people around you. The beer is a fiver for a can poured in a (hopefully) sterile plastic cup, and you can’t see the Main Stage from your vantage point but know it’s over there somewhere as your favourite band take to it. Probably. Somehow you’re covered in beer and the only way to change is to head back to your tent which is about seven miles away in a different field.
Written by: James Ball | Date: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Gruff Rhys
Reaching the age of 40 is never a welcome occasion for anyone. Unlike most birthdays, this one seems to represent something much less joyous and exhilarating and far gloomier with just a tiny bit of dread. While most people prefer to greet the big 4-0 with a brave and somewhat obligatory grin, the truth is that the four-decade mark is a day that many would prefer to skip. Sorry to go all depressing, but try and picture this from a different perspective. As much as most people despise turning 40 with every ounce of their being, try to imagine how much worse this milestone must be for a highly-respected rock singer. You’ve been cheerfully going along, releasing killer albums and touring for the best part of 15 to 20 years, knee-deep in sex, drugs and rock’n’roll the whole way. Then suddenly… bang! You’re 40. What now? Must it all stop? The touring? The lifestyle? The music? More importantly, are the kids going to take you seriously as a musician anymore? Or are you destined to be forever smirked at for any sorry attempt at showmanship?
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 27 May 2011
A Stereoboard Interview with Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin of Cults
Well, Lily Allen may have given up making music for a while, but that hasn’t stopped her from helping other people out with theirs. In the two years since the release of her second album ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’, the singer has opened a boutique and launched a fashion collection with her sister. Now, for her latest project, she has opted to try her hand at being a record company exec. The first act signed to her newly-founded In The Name Of label, if you haven’t already heard, is the New York-based duo Cults. Cults, comprising Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin, are a musical couple – and, incidentally, an actual couple – from San Diego in California, who first caught people’s attention when some of their songs started getting noticed on Bandcamp, the online music store for independent artists.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 25 May 2011
“Seven Curses”: Bob Dylan’s 70th Birthday – A Look Back In Seven Stages (Bob Dylan Feature)
For a man that's had more rebirths in his career than any other, it seems strange to be celebrating Bob Dylan's 70th birthday. But when half a century since 1960 passed last year, and Dylan was still reinventing himself abreast of the times in his 60s, there could be no doubting the size of the man's shadow over music and popular culture over the past half a century.
Written by: Chris Norman | Date: Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Interview with The Suzukis – Wigan’s Newest Hard-Rocking Hopefuls
When you think of Wigan and its musical contributions to the world, which examples spring instantly to mind? Northern soul? The Verve? George Formby? It’s true that this great mill and mining town has a long and colourful history in music that has, at brief intervals over the past 50 years or so, given us a number of notable movements and artists along the way. But what of the latest pretenders to the title? Wigan’s newest young hopefuls The Suzukis are finally here with their no-nonsense blend of raw punk rock and shameless Northern indie to put the town back on the musical atlas. Following some well-received shows at Brighton’s The Great Escape festival and Liverpool Sound City, The Suzukis are now getting ready to unleash their eponymous debut album, which is due out in July. Stereoboard catches up with The Suzukis’ vocalist Chris Veasey to find out more about the band and Wigan’s music scene.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Toots and the Maytals - Tickets Onsale Now
"Everybody knows the UK is like a second home to me," said reggae legend Toots Hibbert of his forthcoming UK tour upon its announcement earlier this week. This probably helps to explain why the Jamaican singer chose these shores as the setting for his upcoming dates, when he will be celebrating no less than 50 years in music. That’s right, the great Toots has been making music for half a century. He was there, with the first incarnation of his group The Maytals, during the earliest days of ska – several years before anyone even knew what reggae was. In fact, it was they who were the first to officially use the term “reggae” in a recording, in the title of their 1968 track ‘Do the Reggay’. Toots has previously claimed to have come up with the term himself, although its actual origin has been widely debated.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 20 May 2011
Interview with The Bluetones – Mark Morriss Speaks to Stereoboard About The Farewell Tour
After 18 years, six albums and numerous hit singles, Britpop survivors The Bluetones have sadly decided to call it a day with the recent announcement of a farewell tour this September. Following the news, Stereoboard caught up with frontman Mark Morriss to find out more about the history of the band and why they chose to wrap things up now.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 19 May 2011
In Defence Of Illegal Music Downloads
Even as I typed the title of this article just then, I flinched a little bit in my chair, half expecting a SWAT team to rappel down through the window and take me out. “Tango down” they’d say, in a ridiculously deep American accent, high-fiving each other as the contents of my head slowly stained the carpet. I didn’t flinch because I’ve necessarily got anything to offer that isn't regulation-grade journalistic drivel, however, but rather because the topic of file sharing is one so vehemently opposed in the press that it’s hard to even approach the subject without that little bit of hesitation.
Written by: James Conlon | Date: Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Eurotrash (Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Feature)
Pop music television shows come and go. In my time The Tube, The Roxy (remember that one ?), The Word and even the weekly Top of the Pops show have become distant memories. However one show still remains with us, and that show is the Eurovision Song Contest. Terry Wogan’s years of amusing commentary about the show have turned the contest into a bit of a joke for many Brits. Britain hasn’t done too well in the Contest in recent years so there was a lot of interest in British entry Blue’s performance this year. I thought I’d take a look at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest Final and cast my critical eye on the acts.
Written by: Rob Burns | Date: Monday, 16 May 2011
Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Motorhead - Tickets Onsale Friday May 13th at 9am
No prizes for guessing who we picked for this week’s Stereoboard Tour of the Week. However, if you are struggling to figure it out, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover who we chose. It is, of course, Motorhead. That’s right – after reaching the 35 year mark with 2010’s anniversary tour, did you really think Lemmy and co were going to call it quits? If we’ve learnt anything about the legendary mutton-chopped rocker over the past three and a half decades, it’s that this is a man who doesn’t quit anything. Ever.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Tour of the Week - Slash - Tickets Onsale Friday 9am
After two years out of the limelight, guitarist Saul Hudson – known to most as Slash – returned with a bang in 2010 with his own long-awaited solo career. Many would argue that, this time around, the legendary axeman was bigger and better than ever. While former bandmate Mr Rose continued with his lifelong tradition of turning up late and generally frustrating fans wherever he showed his face, Slash’s year proved far less disappointing.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 05 May 2011
Permanent Ability Interview - Frontman Brian Lanese speaks to Stereoboard
Following in the footsteps of rock luminaries such as No Doubt, fellow Californians Permanent Ability recently headed into the studio with producer Jim Wirt to work on their latest release ‘Bring It On!’. Wirt, who is best-known for producing a string of groundbreaking rock albums like Incubus’s ‘S.C.I.E.N.C.E.’ and Hoobastank’s 2001 debut, spent some time working with Permanent Ability on the funk-rock quartet’s second EP last year. However, despite only having a short history, this isn’t the first time that the LA-based group have collaborated with a well-known artist. For their 2008 debut EP ‘From the Womb to Hollywood’, Permanent Ability were joined by funk legend Lige Curry, who was formerly the bass player with George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 04 May 2011
If You Bump Into Ozzy, Don’t Tell Him Where I Am … (Feature by David Evans)
I’m not being boastful on her behalf, but my grandma was a great cook. Even my fuddy-duddy cousin, who seemed to live on mashed up boiled eggs with salad cream and pineapple yoghurt without the bits, never turned her nose up at any of gran’s puddings and pies.
Written by: David Evans | Date: Wednesday, 04 May 2011
Michael Jackson Legacy - The Lies That Bind
April 29, 2011. London. Westminster Abbey groans under its own weight in flowers and a nation prays for the sun to shine. A centuries old country hyperventilates as it waits for a young Prince and a young woman who would become a Princess – well, Duchess as it turned out – to kiss. The level of anticipation and interest in Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, building in the weeks and days before the big day, powered not only by a media whipped frenzy, but out of the massive desire to see the eldest son of the late ex-Princess of Wales make his choice before an audience of billions. Lady Diana Spencer, self-confessed ‘Queen of Hearts,’ was for many both in England and overseas, the real heroine of the Royal Family. And it was the memory of the joyous potential a young Diana’s own wedding represented and the huge sorrow and anger her death precipitated – that gave her son’s wedding the pathos and historic power it did.
Written by: Deborah Ffrench | Date: Tuesday, 03 May 2011
Skindred Interview – Frontman Benji Webbe speaks to Stereoboard about ‘Union Black’
After recording their first three albums over in the US and spending much of the past seven years riding high over on that side of the pond, Newport ragga-metal quartet Skindred have decided to bring things back home for their fourth and latest effort ‘Union Black’. On the third night of the band’s current tour, we ask frontman Benji Webbe whether it was their intention to target this Great Britain-themed album at the UK audience.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 03 May 2011
Tour of the Week - Wu Tang Clan - Tickets Onsale Now
Three years ago, Glastonbury Festival’s organisers announced New York rapper Jay-Z as one of the three Pyramid Stage headliners for their 2008 event. Despite Glastonbury’s long reputation for having one of the most musically diverse line-ups on the UK festival circuit, which has often seen them include hip-hop artists on the bill, the announcement proved somewhat controversial and a large number of people – most famously Noel Gallagher – slated the decision.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 15 April 2011
Record Store Day 2011 – Saturday 16th April: Interview with Organiser Spencer Hickman
We’re still a couple of weeks away from Record Store Day and it already looks set to be a major event for 2011. After last year’s annual festivities, which marked the third and most successful Record Store Day yet and saw special edition releases from the likes of Blur, it seems that they might be difficult to top. However, with Foo Fighters, Gorillaz and Arctic Monkeys among the artists getting involved this year, expectations are high for another massive event. Last year, Stereoboard spoke to Record Store Day UK organiser Spencer Hickman, the manager of Rough Trade East in London, about the history of the event and the future of record shops. In the run-up to Record Store Day 2011, we caught up with Spencer again to find out more about this year’s celebrations.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 04 April 2011
