Lucy Spraggan wows crowds with an intimate acoustic set at The Warehouse

Imogen Harper on 23 November 2021

Almost a decade since she first graced our screens, Lucy Spraggan played an acoustic show at The Warehouse on the 4th of November. With support coming from Billy Lockett, a Northampton-based singer-songwriter, the night was a roaring success. In the intimate set, she took the audience through the story of her career. A showcase highlighting the ups and downs of her journey from the X-Factor stage to her latest album Choices.

In true Lucy Spraggan fashion, she got the audience up and dancing from the very beginning with her first major hit ‘Last Night (Beer Fear)’. Joined on stage by keyboardist Josh Cana, the night was highlighted with fan favourites such as ‘Mountains’ and ‘Lightning’ as well as a cover of the classic ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ by The Proclaimers. The latter being a cover that demonstrated her amazing vocals and musicality.

The hour-long set featured upbeat songs from previous albums such as ‘Lighthouse’ from her first album Join the Club in 2013 and ‘Lucky Stars’ from the 2019 album Today Was A Good Day. Spraggan also performed some of her more stripped-back and emotional songs such as ‘Grown Up’ from the 2017 album I Hope You Don’t Mind Me Writing and ‘Choices (Don’t Be Afraid)’- this being the title track of the new album. The line-up of danceable, foot-stomping moments contrasted with moving acoustic numbers made for a beautiful set that left crowds with their hands in the air and tears in their eyes. No song made us more emotional than the downtempo and vulnerable ‘Sober’, taken from the 2021 album Choices. A song exploring her decision to stop drinking and become the person she always wanted to be.

Between musical numbers, Spraggan candidly detailed her life over the past decade. Speaking of the highs she had achieved, such as getting married, touring the UK, and becoming sober. As well as exploring the lows she has faced: her divorce, her addiction, and the loss of record deals to name a few. Hearing her talk about her stories made for an authentic and truthful night that made the audience love her more.

Spraggan ended the night with four songs from her latest album Choices, released in February 2021. The album is a collection of songs reflecting on her personal struggles over the previous year. Whilst the slower ‘Choices (Don’t Be Afraid)’ and ‘Sober’ showed her vulnerable side; it was clear that ‘Run to The Hills’ and ‘Run’ were the songs to leave the crowd with high spirits and demanding more. Lucy and Josh returned to the stage to perform an encore, the first of their tour. A perfect end to the night; an amazing gig from start to finish.

Heirs to the Throne: DMA’S wrap up mammoth UK run in Leeds

GryphonEditorAdm on 21 November 2021

‘Never Before’ (if you’ll excuse the pun) has a band from the other side of the world slotted in so perfectly into the indie scene of the North of England. DMA’S – the honorary Northerners, who actually hail from Australia – finally brought their seminal third album The Glow to our shores with a colossal UK tour that climaxed with two sold-out nights at O2 Academy Leeds.

The reports from Manchester and London’s Alexandra Palace were outstanding. Tales of the best shows of their lives, and of frontman Tommy O’Dell’s voice levelling up to unprecedented heights, were proved incredibly accurate as the band stacked the first part of the set with new material. Matt Mason’s lead tone roared through ‘Dawning’ after the crowd was sent into pandemonium during ‘The Glow’, a mighty release of pent up emotion after such a long wait to hear the track live.

Two offerings from their surprise EP I Love You Unconditionally, Sure Am Going To Miss You came in the form of the epic, nostalgic ‘We Are Midnight’ and the sombre ‘Junk Truck Head Fuck’. In a genre where so many fade into mediocrity, the songwriting ability of these three talents has risen to new heights on each occasion, with their sound a distinct but direct evolution of their dearly loved earlier work.

‘Delete’ and ‘Silver’, as expected, saw the crowd take control with perhaps the loudest sing-along the Academy has seen in recent history, yet it was ‘Hello Girlfriend’ that stole the night. Sounding absolutely gigantic in the flesh, the pounding drums and driving rhythm makes one wonder why the glorious track was not released as a single.

Which brings us to the inevitable climax of ‘Play It Out’ and ‘Feels Like 37’, two tracks that epitomise why DMA’S are such an unbelievable live band. Mason’s enormous tone transforms the room into a stadium, and the magnificent instrumentals of these two tracks, in particular, solidify just why DMA’S will soon be filling arenas and stadiums all over the UK, inheriting the void left by the megastars of the North who came before.

Sydney’s Gang of Youths set to support Sam Fender in Leeds

GryphonEditorAdm on 18 November 2021

Following the announcement of their third album Angel in Realtime, Gang of Youths are out to impress in Leeds later this month. As the guests of Sam Fender on his sold-out arena tour, they have traveled the UK playing to crowds of thousands. They will be making their stop at First Direct Arena, Leeds, on the 24th of November. 

Sydney’s Gang of Youths set to support Sam Fender in Leeds

Imogen Harper on 18 November 2021

Following the announcement of their third album Angel in Realtime, Gang of Youths are out to impress in Leeds later this month. As the guests of Sam Fender on his sold-out arena tour, they have traveled the UK playing to crowds of thousands. They will be making their stop at First Direct Arena, Leeds, on the 24th of November. 

First formed in Sydney back in 2012, the indie rock group are on par with the likes of Arcade Fire, Muse, and The National. With a mix of cinematic soundscapes, stunning vocals and influences taken from indigenous music; Gang of Youths create an unforgettable sound for anyone who listens.

The release of their new single ‘Tend the Garden’ marks their fourth preview of the new album, to be released on the 25th of February 2022. Singles released so far this year include ‘The Angel of 8th Ave’, ‘Unison’, and ‘The Man Himself’; all tracks to be found on the upcoming album. When describing the LP, the band said the album is “about the life and legacy of Dave [Le’aupepe]’s father”. With themes of grief, death, and faith; the album is set to be an emotive and compelling collection.

The group is described by the Guardian as “a band who always swing for the fences”. In addition to their shows with Sam Fender, Gang of Youths have recently announced a headline tour of the UK and Europe in March of 2022, during which time they will visit Leeds again – this time at Leeds Beckett student union on the 8th of March. This tour will be quickly followed by a North American tour, before the group return to Australia to play some shows in July. 2022 is set to be a busy year for Gang of Youths! With the release of their new album and their world tour, fans can expect great things over the coming year.

Gang of Youths are set to support Sam Fender on the 24th of November for the sold-out show at First Direct Arena. If you didn’t manage to get tickets for the show, the group is returning to Leeds in March – tickets for that show go on sale on the 19th of November and can be found via the Live Nation website.

Two Months On…Is ‘Donda’ Kanye West’s Magnum Opus?

Charlie Lake on 15 November 2021

Over two months have passed since the release of Kanye West’s (now formally known as Ye) 10th solo studio album, Donda, which came to life following three performative public listening events. But how does the final version of the album stack up against his past releases, and the other big-name releases of the year?

Foy Vance hits all the right spots with new album ‘Signs of Life’

Imogen Harper on 27 October 2021

Born out of the hardship of 2020, “Signs of Life is about re-emergence”. Whilst also exploring topics such as grief and addiction, Foy Vance’s fourth studio album is inspired by the cycle of death and rebirth, the dawn after despair and the revival of hope after the isolation and depression of lockdown. 

Sapling was the first single released and provides the opening to the album. Capturing the  essence of renewal, the song is marked by hollow piano chords and soaring vocals. In true Vance fashion, the song is a poetic self-expression of overcoming his addiction and the importance of making a start. It may be a long road, but the first step is the beginning.  

Pairing his typical Folk style with Soul, Country and Alt-Rock influences, Vance has created an album full of impassioned and heartfelt records. However, as with any amount of hits, there is always a miss. For me, that comes in the form of ‘People Are Pills’, a song about human  inconsistency. The song feels like a step out of line with the rest of the album, a mix of  jarring chromatic movement and jazzy harmony that acts as a hump in the road for the otherwise well-put-together album. It is a song, for me, that falls into the background, hiding behind the others – falling short of the mark that tracks like ‘System’ and ‘We Can’t Be Tamed’ smash through. 

‘If Christopher Calls’ was the penultimate single before the album release. In the song, Vance pairs a pop-infused musical scape with deep and sorrowful lyrics, creating a song that catches the listener unaware. The catchy melodies and harmonious setting lure the audience into a sense of familiarity. After enticing the audience into a false sense of security, the listener is caught off-guard by the deep and sorrowful lyrics about the loss of a loved one, creating a truly heartfelt and emotional song that pulls at the heartstrings. 

All in all, Vance has written and released an album that hits all the right spots, an album that has done well not just with his audience but critics alike.