With their debut EP The Line, Cornish quartet Haunt The Woods made it immediately apparent that they are one of the most exciting new acts in the country. Combining rustic folk, imposing prog proficiency, and the raw, unbridled passion of artists such as Jeff Buckley, I’d struggle to conceive of a better combination of sounds if I tried! With a panache for pastoral vibes, an ear for detail, and a simply spine-tingling delivery, naturally I just had to chat with them about their new release: Continue reading
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Top Tracks: Something Mechanical – Gunn
Canadian rockers Something Mechanical are back with their first new music since their eponymous 2015 debut album. Taken from their upcoming EP Less Than Human, released 17th March, their latest single ‘Gunn’ is a no-nonsense, hard-hitting rock anthem, firing shots at disloyal friends from days gone by. The gritty vocals, driving rhythm and furious guitar work is sure to appeal to fans of the classic grunge sound, as well as of modern hard rock heroes such as Shinedown and Alter Bridge. Focussed and finely tuned, the new track from the Edmonton quartet is a sure sign that their upcoming EP is going to be a real force to be reckoned with. If you’re looking for some straightforward, in-your-face rock then look no further.
Live Review: Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles, The Leopard Doncaster, 25th Feb 2017
Belwood Music has found plenty of new favourites over the past couple of years. One act that has certainly earned a place in our hall of fame is former Bottleman Billy Bibby and his new band The Wry Smiles. Post-Catfish he has maintained his high standard of songwriting and has made an assured and promising start to his solo career. Billy was our first ever interviewee and his track ‘Are You Ready?’ found its way into our top ten songs of the year. All that has been missing was the chance to see the lads in action up on stage. I caught up with them at The Leopard to see if they could keep up their high standard for the eager Yorkshire crowd. Continue reading
Interview: Ren
These days singer/songwriters are ten-a-penny, but the best among them, those that genuinely move you and earn a place in your heart, are worth their weight in gold. Conor Owen, better known by his moniker Ren, is set to be one of the finest new acts to emerge this year. His debut EP is one of the most assured and affecting collections of songs you could hope to come across. I caught up with him to talk about the release:
Foo Fighters to headline Glastonbury 2017
Yes, the rumours are true, Foo Fighters are returning to Worthy Farm. The band announced the news at a secret intimate gig in Frome in Somerset, which they broadcast globally via a livestream. This follows after they had to pull out of their 2015 headline slot due to Dave Grohl’s broken leg, with Florence + the Machine filling the slot. The Foo Fighters will be joining fellow headliners Radiohead on the Pyramid Stage this summer, with the third and final headline act still yet to be announced.
Album Review: Holy Holy – Paint
Holy Holy – PaintTop Tracks: The Lunar Year – Porcelain
How often can you say, in all honesty, that a song took your breath away? That was exactly what happened when I first heard ‘Porcelain’, I daren’t do anything to disturb the divine calm of this song’s delicate beauty. This heavenly piano ballad is the kind of track that pulls you into a trance and makes you forget the rest of the world exists. Philadelphia band The Lunar Year have crafted a song that captures the atmosphere of confession, that fragile moment when you first tell someone that you love them. When you are at your most vulnerable, when you risk your whole world falling apart, but you cannot keep that long overdue declaration of devotion within you for even a second longer. Listening to this song, it’s difficult to tell whether it reminds you of being in love, or whether it’s making you fall in love all over again.
Top Tracks: Maggie McClure – Be Right Here For You
There is a right time for every song, whether it’s a somber ballad for late night reflection or a rock anthem for walking down the street in full badass mode. For those rare times where you start your day on cloud nine, and you just want to joyously dance the day away, there are tracks like this bright and bubbly little pop hit. Singer/songwriter Maggie McClure’s latest piano driven track ‘Be Right Here For You’ is so shamelessly upbeat it could practically summon the sunshine on a cloudy day. Keep this lovely little number close at hand for the perfect pick-me-up on those rainy days and monday mornings. This pure and simple perky pop is just the right dosage of that much-needed feel-good factor.
The Brit Awards 2017
Continuing the trend set by this year’s Grammys, the Brits also managed (for the most part) to make the most of a bad hand. David Bowie received posthumous awards for best album and best male for his stunning final album Blackstar. Belwood favourite Rag’n’Bone Man started the year in style by becoming the first act to ever win both the critics choice award and best breakthrough act in the same year. Emeli Sande won best British female solo artist and The 1975 beat Radiohead and Biffy Clyro to take best band. There were few surprises in the international categories with Beyoncé and Drake winning best female and best male respectively.
Top Tracks: Julia Carlucci – Take Me Down
The ways of the heart are a fickle thing. Despite our better judgements we can’t choose who we fall in love with, sometimes it just blindsides you and takes your breath away. The latest single from this pop powerhouse tells just such a tale. Julia’s slick, soulful vocals and the intoxicating brass section on ‘Take Me Down’ are simply a match made in heaven. A perfect blend of old school soul and the pinnacle of modern pop, this Canadian songstress has provided an inescapably feel-good hit. Just take the chorus, with the stunning line “drowning in those oceans that he calls eyes”; a lyric so good you find yourself baffled as to how no one has come up with it before now! You can’t choose who you love, but you’d be hard pressed not to fall for this track.
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