Goat Girl: The Journey, Not The Destination

Photo: Holly Whitaker Goat Girl’s ‘Below The Waste’ finds the south London band taking a voyage of discovery into the personal and political, where the journey itself is more important than the destination. Pieced together like a collage, the record explores different soundscapes and genres, transitioning effortlessly between expansive, industrial-tinged noise-rock, psychedelia, delicate folk experimentation, stark minimalism, candid, fragile ballads and engaging electronica.

Written by: Jeremy Blackmore | Date: Tuesday, 25 June 2024

The 10 Songs We NEED To Hear At Cyndi Lauper's Upcoming Shows

Photo: Ruven Afanador For more than 40 years, Cyndi Lauper’s idiosyncratic sense of cool has maintained her spot as one of pop’s most unique figureheads. With a voice you could pick out of a 1000-person choir and a body of work that boasts iconic singles, global-hit musicals and needle drops in cinema classics, she recently announced that her forthcoming tour would be her last as she hangs up the mic (bar the occasional hometown show, maybe). So, with just a handful of opportunities remaining to see her live — including a slot at this weekend’s Glastonbury Festival and a newly announced European tour next February — we have rounded up the 10 songs we NEED to hear at her upcoming Royal Albert Hall show and beyond.

Written by: Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Monday, 24 June 2024

One For The Books: Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Pairs Spectacle With Sincerity In Cardiff

All photos: TAS Rights Management I’ve learned that red lipstick and a confident stomp are all it takes for a couple of strangers to throw their lot in with someone. I’ve barely taken 10 steps off the bus and a mother and son from Gloucester have pegged me as someone who knows where they’re going — luckily I’m Cardiff born and bred, so I do — and soon I’m guiding them through the droves of pink cowboy hats on sequin-flecked streets towards the Principality Stadium, where Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is about to light up the Welsh capital. As we walk, I hear about how tonight will be the 10-year-old boy’s first gig — mum surprised him with tickets and took him out of school that day. Cool points: maximum.

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2024

The 10 Songs We NEED To Hear At P!nk's Summer Carnival Shows

Almost 25 years on from the release of her debut album, P!nk has become a multi-hyphenate. As well as being a stadium-filling songwriter and performer, she’s also now an acrobat, daredevil and human cannonball thanks to the high-flying exploits that drive her stage show.

Written by: Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Tuesday, 11 June 2024

Richard Hawley: Kindness as an Act of Resistance

Photo: Dean Chalkley Sheffield is in Richard Hawley’s DNA, his albums infused with the indefatigable spirit of the proud northern industrial city even as he plays music inspired by American rock and roll, country, bluegrass and gospel. While many of his albums have borne the names of its landmarks, it is from the camaraderie and resolve of the place’s people that the songwriter draws the most inspiration.

Written by: Jeremy Blackmore | Date: Monday, 10 June 2024

The Setlist Draft: Curating Our Perfect Foo Fighters Show

Foo Fighters don’t really do downtime. This summer they’ll return to Europe for another run of truly massive shows, including enormous stadium dates in Manchester, Glasgow, London, Cardiff and Birmingham.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 06 June 2024

'I Enjoyed the Heck Out of It': Reflecting on The Beach Boys With The Beach Boys

Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios For more than half a century The Beach Boys have represented the endless sound of summer against a backdrop of the Californian surf, set to some of the most gloriously transcendent harmonies ever committed to tape. In a remarkable run of success that produced some of the 60s’ most memorable and beloved hit singles, the band also produced one of that decade’s most revered albums in ‘Pet Sounds’, one that rivalled even The Beatles in ambition and creativity.

Written by: Jeremy Blackmore | Date: Thursday, 30 May 2024

Summer Noise: Stereoboard's Ultimate Guide To Festival Season 2024

Festival season is almost upon us (again) so it’s time to dust off your tent/flags/Doc Martens/wellies/fold-away chair/cooler/camping stove/disregard for societal norms and get back in a field. Here’s our one-stop selection of the best this year has to offer.

Written by: Huw Baines & Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2024

Bruce Springsteen Delivers a Celebration of Life and Rock and Roll At Euro Tour Opener

Photo: Rob DeMartin Fancy mulling over the passing of time, grief, and death for three hours or so? Normally, probably not. But if you’re spending a Sunday night with Bruce Springsteen at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium? Hell yes.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Wednesday, 08 May 2024

'It's a Perfect Ending': Ville Valo on Signing Off From His 'Neon Noir' Era At The Royal Albert Hall

Ville Valo isn’t quite sure what to do with himself. When he speaks to Stereoboard, he’s had his feet in one place – home, specifically — for longer than normal, such is the fast-moving nature of touring life. The ordinariness is unsettling. Should he sing? Should he hoover? Both at once? (The latter is our suggestion, and as he laughs he promises to take note, thinking it could be a good vocal exercise).

Written by: Emma Wilkes | Date: Tuesday, 07 May 2024

The Setlist Draft: Curating Our Perfect Bruce Springsteen Show

Life is full of thankless tasks. Chief among them used to be guessing where Bruce Springsteen might wander during one of his marathon setlists. Of late, though, the Boss has wound in the grand deviations in favour of something more streamlined and, one can assume, kind to 74-year-old joints. But that doesn’t mean he’s misplaced his appetite for the odd surprise.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 02 May 2024

Blueprints: The Nuts and Bolts of Olivia Rodrigo's Stardom

Photo: Supplied by the label Olivia Rodrigo occupies an interesting spot in our collective consciousness — she is both young and of the moment but also a keen observer and interpolator of classic tropes from the past four decades of pop music. It’s a heady mix that has made the California native one of the biggest stars on Earth, capable of internet-shattering virality seconds after talking about Bikini Kill with someone from a broadsheet newspaper. Basically, she’s an ideal candidate for the latest edition of Blueprints, our ongoing series that pulls apart the backstories of interesting writers to see what makes them tick.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Thirty Years in the Sun: Grant Nicholas Reflects on Feeder's Past and Present

Photo: Steve Gullick “If you’d asked me if we’d still be doing this at 56, I would have said we’d be retired by 40,” Grant Nicholas says with a laugh. His back wishes he’d stuck to that. The band’s frontman is speaking from a hotel room in Birmingham, midway through a month-long tour of the UK promoting their new double album, ‘Black/Red’. “I’m going to be walking about a lot if that’s okay,” he adds. “Every time I sit down, it seizes up again and, well, I have to play tonight.”

Written by: Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Wednesday, 24 April 2024

Shine a Light: Kula Shaker Talk Positivity and 'Organised Chaos' Live Shows

Photo: Nicole Frobusch When mystical ‘90s mob Kula Shaker reformed their original lineup for their latest album ‘Natural Magick’, it was a matter of the planets aligning. “There was a long period where we would only do an album every few years, then all go off to do other things,” says frontman Crispian Mills, dialling in from the band’s rehearsal space. “We've played in other bands and we all have kids. But now Jay [Darlington, keyboards] is back and we are all 100% focused on being prolific and productive.”

Written by: Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Tuesday, 23 April 2024

A Queen's Queen: Tia Kofi Talks RuPaul's Drag Race UK Vs The World Tour And New Ambitions

Earlier this year, Tia Kofi pulled off a remarkable comeback. The Essex-born drag queen and singer-songwriter, who is based in Clapham, south London, won the latest season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World and was crowned Queen Of The Mothertucking World. It’s a far cry from her last brush with RuPaul’s smash hit show, where she placed seventh on Ru Paul's Drag Race UK in 2021. Back then, she was awarded the tongue-in-cheek but harsh title of ‘Baroness Basic’ in one task.

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Thursday, 18 April 2024

'I Want to Give People Hope': Vukovi on Growth and Facing Their Demons

It has been a whirlwind couple of years for the Scottish rock duo Vukovi. Last month, at a sold out Electric Ballroom in London, they celebrated their third album ‘Nula’ by playing it in full, capping off a rush of information that also included critical acclaim, riotous live shows and signing with SharpTone Records.

Written by: Will Marshall | Date: Tuesday, 16 April 2024

The 10 Songs We NEED To Hear At Dream Theater's Upcoming 40th Anniversary Tour

It was a long time coming. On October 25, 2023, the moment that prog-metal heads the world over had been manifesting for more than a decade finally came to pass when drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy made his triumphant return to Dream Theater. 

Written by: Dan McHugh | Date: Thursday, 11 April 2024

Never Standing Still: Metz talk 'Up on Gravity Hill'

Photo: Vanessa Heins There’s no hard and fast rule on how musicians should progress, because history has shown it to be a minefield. Those who push forward might alienate existing fans, but those who opt to shelter-in-place draw criticism for stagnating. Sometimes, though, the inverse happens. Playing to your strengths is regarded as just that, a strength, while creative evolution is hailed as vital risk-taking and reward for ambition. 

Written by: Tom Morgan | Date: Wednesday, 10 April 2024

Becoming the Modfather: The Evolution of Paul Weller

The recent buzz surrounding Paul Weller’s new record and accompanying autumn tour only served to underscore the Modfather’s reputation six decades into his career. Not only is he still finding fresh sonic avenues to wander along, his shows have become winding journeys into a past studded with some of the most important, exciting songs in British music history.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 02 April 2024

Better Together: Bob Vylan on Building a Community in Times of Trouble

From folk through blues, jazz, punk and hip hop, music and politics are inextricably linked by social conscience and the need for self-expression. Unfortunately, some political bands tend to lose their way over time, but not Bob Vylan. The reason, observes vocalist Bobby Vylan, is simple. “Bob Vylan isn’t a political band, we’re a community-based band,” he says.

Written by: Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Wednesday, 27 March 2024