I bloody love The Dollyrots. Everything about them is a smile generator. They’re an explosion of happy pop-punk where you’re never more than 3 minutes from a “Whoo!” The Dollyrots are Kelly Ogden on bass and vocals and Luis Cabezas … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: The Dollyrots
“If I could kick his head in, fickle little boyfriend, I’d be satisfied If I could smack some sense into his senses, I might feel alright” Lines from ‘Wishing He Was Dead’ there, a song which encapsulates what I love … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: The Like
“Whenever I tell people I’m a misanthrope they react as though that’s a bad thing, the idiots. I live in London, for God’s sake. Have you walked down Oxford Street recently? Misanthropy’s the only thing that gets you through it. … Continue reading Creator Spotlight: Charlie Brooker
Gor’ blimey, strike a light and welcome to the artist spotlight of Chas n Dave. Pioneers of ‘Rockney’ music, which is rock and roll, pop and boogie woogie thrown together. In a Cockney accent. They are a weird act in … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Chas and Dave
Bienvenido a la Artist Spotlight of Francisca Valenzuela, American-born Chilean Singer/ songwriter multi-instumentalist, model, fashion designer and published poet at the age of 12 So, fairly accomplished. Also entertaining as heck. How much fun is this? Quiero Verte Mas, from her … Continue reading Artist Spotlight- Francisca Valenzuela
So, this is a primer on the works of Jeremy Dyson, Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton who were collectively ‘The League Of Gentlemen’ By way of introduction, here’s an excerpt from an interview where they discuss their youth. … Continue reading Creator Spotlight: The League Of Gentlemen
Neil Marshall is, I think , the most interesting director of the so called ‘Splat Pack’, the group of film makers grouped together because of their low budget/high gore ethos. He’s certainly had the most varied career. While some like … Continue reading Director Spotlight: Neil Marshall
Lethal weapon opens to the strains of ‘Jingle Bell rock’ , A beautiful scarlet nailed woman in a penthouse apartment snorts railroad lines of something. She blearily wanders to the balcony, looking out at the nightlights of the big city. … Continue reading Director Spotlight: Shane Black
Howdy folks. Artist spotlight time on a man who could fit in a lot of categories if these were separated. Comedian, actor, presenter, musician, there is a hell of a lot to cover. BAFTA gave him a lifetime achievement award … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Billy Connolly
This Artist Spotlight is a salute to the internet. Also, the inter-connectedness of Latin American music.Without which, I would never have heard of Ms Lafourcade. I was intoduced to Mala Rodriguez by a Spanish friend. I found her duet with … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Natalia Lafourcade
Buenos Dias, and welcome to the artist spotlight on Louise Wener and some blokes Sleeper. They were the apotheosis of bands with the star power chanteuse with , you know, some instruments behind them.‘Sleeperbloke’ became the term used for the guys at … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Sleeper
Buenos ding dong diddly dias. I’ve used ‘Eres Para Mi’ in two previous spotlights for Ana Tijoux and Mala Rodriguez. This time I’m focusing on Julieta Venegas herself. Here’s her solo take She’s not a bad rapper, as well as … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Julieta Venegas
Evening all. Welcome to a discussion of a scene that was dear to my heart. The scene that convinced me dance music was a viable art form, not just a drug accompaniment. The ‘second summer of love’ in 1988 had … Continue reading Scene Spotlight: Big Beat
Buenos dias/tardes . I’m going to try something different today. Rather than an artist spotlight on someone I’m a total fan of and want to see better known, I’m going with someone who’s massively famous anyway and has made some … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Kelly Clarkson
Good afternoon/morning/evening. I’d like to talk about one of the first cool bands I got into, and got into ,at least at first , because they were cool Look at them in that video. Dean Garcia just looking both insouciant and … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Curve
Tank fly boss walk jam nitty gritty, You’re listening to the boy from the big bad city pleasant coastal town this is jam hot. Welcome to the Artist Spotlight for Norman Cook AKA Fatboy Slim, AKA Pizzaman, AKA…..well a lot of acts. … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Norman Cook
Good Evening and welcome to another in the occasional series “Artist spotlights on Female Spanish language rappers who’ve recorded versions of ‘Eres Para Mi’ with Julieta Venegas. (I feel this could run and run) Raised in Seville, she became involved … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Mala Rodriguez
Hell and welcome to a spotlight on Ana Tijoux, an artist you may remember from such TV montages as Born in France to Chilean parents in exile from the regime of Augusto Pinochet , it’s no surprise that her music … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Ana Tijoux
Hopefully a properly formatted spotlight on James from 1994 to now.o So, I left my James spotlight after the double whammy of Laid/Wah Wah. Which, when I realised it was more than 20 years ago, slightly horrified me. The band … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: James 2 – The Re-Jamesening
Sit down while I write a little on my personal musical constant, the Manchester band James. They were the first proper band that I became a fan of. My friend’s sister played Strip Mine all the time when it came out and … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: James
With Belly gearing up for a new tour and releases (Yay!) It seemed a good point to cover the hugely talented and hugely underrated Tanya Donelly. If you don’t mind, I’m going cover this from my viewpoint and start with … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Tanya Donelly
