I’ve heard it said that falling in love is giving someone the power to destroy you and trusting them not to. There’s danger inherent in being so vulnerable with another person, to let so much of your own happiness ride on them. Holly Humberstone’s latest single embraces the danger. ‘Die Happy’ is all about throwing yourself into love, fully and recklessly. Whatever the outcome, the rush is worth it. Holly’s soft heady vocals carry a dreamy quality in the vein of Lana Del Rey, while the wistful synth work imbues the track with the same level of nostalgia and romanticism as a John Hughes movie. The beating heart of it all though is its gorgeous, bittersweet chorus. That earworm refrain of “if we crash and kiss the dash, baby, tragically, To die with you is to die happy” feels like a line lifted straight out of ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’. This kind of airy gothic romance suits Holly down to the ground, and leaves me eager to hear what other delights her next record will have in store.
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Live Review: Holly Humberstone, The Engine Shed Lincoln, 10th March 2024
One live music hill that I’d be proud to die on is that more acts should play gigs in forgotten corners of the country instead of just the same handful of big cities. Creative minds don’t just make music in London and Manchester, nor are they the only places where music lovers reside. Music lovers and makers can be found in every town across the country, so why should live music be any different. That philosophy is just one of the myriad of reasons why I was excited to see that Belwood favourite Holly Humberstone was playing Lincoln as part of her latest UK tour. Not that the show would have been all that surprising to anyone that’s been following her career. Holly’s always been proud of her home and family in Lincolnshire, never forgetting where she came from and the people that have been by her side. In fact one of the greatest strengths of her delightful debut album was how it felt so earnestly true to herself. Freshly armed with an album full of heartfelt homegrown alt pop, her gig at The Engine Shed seemed like a triumphant, home-turf victory lap in the making. Continue reading
Belwood Music Awards 2023
We’re mere hours away now from 2024 – which, as it happens, is the year that Belwood will be celebrating its 10th anniversary! But before we set our sights on celebrations to come, it’s time to bid one last fond farewell to 2023. It has been a truly outstanding twelve months for new music, and it’s been a joy and a privilege to share it with you. Here’s one last look back at some of our highlights of 2023! Continue reading
Top Ten Songs of 2023
We’re halfway through this year’s Listmas, which means it’s time to give our eyes a rest from all the visual splendour and instead provide a feast for the ears as we finally dive into the best music of the past twelve months. The melodies that played on repeat in our heads, the words we kept absentmindedly singing along to each day, the tracks that most engaged, excited and enraptured us. From old favourites to sensational new discoveries, here our our favourite songs of 2023. Continue reading
Album Review: Holly Humberstone – Paint My Bedroom Black
Live Review: Barn on the Farm Festival 2023
Between the general post-pandemic challenges that faced live music as a whole, an uncharacteristically wet and windy weekend, and a line-up and sweeping festival layout changes that both felt like a mixed bag, Barn on the Farm had a shaky return in 2022. It forced me to keep my expectations in check for whatever came next, but with every addition to this year’s line-up adding more buzzworthy names, farm favourites and artists from my ultimate Barn wishlist, I felt anticipation rising that 2023 would be something special. Little did I know just how special… Continue reading
Live Review: Barn on the Farm Festival 2022
After two years away from my favourite place on Earth, to say that I was excited to return to Barn on the Farm this summer would be a massive understatement. Over the years it’s become such an integral part of the calendar, like Christmas, that having summers without it due to Covid felt like missing a limb. Still clutching on to my original 2020 ticket, stepping back onto Over Farm at long last felt like coming home. But after struggling through two years of pandemic upheaval, and with the dizzying highs of their stellar ten-year anniversary being a tough act to follow, expectations were high. Continue reading
Top Ten EPs of 2021
Delving into a given year’s finest EPs often feels like gazing into a crystal ball for a brief glimpse of the future. It’s with releases such as these that many up and coming artists first make their mark on the world and become the name on people’s lips. It’s often here that the brightest stars of tomorrow are forged, and so this list in particular is one of our favourite ways to sing the praises of the wealth of talented new artists on the scene, alongside outstanding projects from old favourites. Continue reading
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