Such is the dynamism of Ellie Gowers & her zest for sharing new music with you  that despite the popular & critical success of her last single ...

In my preview of the tenth birthday celebrations for FarGo Village not only did I unfortunately reduce it to a two day affair, but in so doing ...

Out today is John Connearn's new EP ‘One Track Mind' which is made up of the songs "Brighter", "Somewhere New", "Simpler Times", "Hold On To ...

On October 25th, Duke Keats' latest EP, ‘Bornstar' is completed with the addition of the final, title track (joining previous singles "Android", ...

One of my strategies in writing reviews is to limit the subjects to those which arouse genuine enthusiasm in me so I can pass that onto you in ...

And so we come to what might be the third in a trilogy of singles released so late in the summer of 2024 that we might wonder if the timing is an ...

I suppose that if you are a smart & witty artist in the mould of Euan Blackman, and you have recorded a song called "Sneak Attack", then it's ...

Such is the modesty of  Louis B Scheuer that although I chatted with him at COVtember over the weekend, he never mentioned that he had a new ...

As with last year's event, COVtember 2024 must rate as a roaring (in every sense) success.

The release of "Lucky Luke" by Lemon Boy marks a moment when after my mentioning so many times that the artist behind the name is called Luke ...

Pretty much exactly one year after Yes Princess' debut album ‘It's No One's Fault But Ours' (whose track "Conversation" is featured upon ‘Hot ...

I do hope that you are already aware of the celebrations planned for the 10th birthday of FarGo Village in Coventry on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th ...

Out, right now, is "Black Cat", The Muthas' second single (following their debut "Circles (Tell Me Something I Don't Already Know)" which we ...

Having published my review of their single "Japan" which comes out tomorrow, it was serendipitous that Monday Nights were playing this afternoon ...

It's been a while since the last Monday Nights release ("Seasonal Aisle" back just before Christmas of last year) but they've been honing their ...

The latest (Dan) Bygrave single "Falling" is currently out on Beat Rebel Records: following up "Long Road Home" from last May.

As noted in my round-up from the 2024 Warwick Folk Festival, one of my personal discoveries was the duo Yonderland whom CVFolk's Pete Willow had ...

Following my interview with Coventry Music Lead Mark Steele (which in turn was prompted by my enthusiasm for that organisation's "Live On Stage" ...

Well, after reviewing releases by Eight Miles High last October (new songs)  & this July (from a 1991 live session), I think that we can safely ...

I had a very pleasant couple of hours in this afternoon's late summer sun enjoying those fine acts The Twin Flames & Hannah Woof.

Some artists like to tease new releases: others keep them more strictly under wraps to spring them upon us as surprises.

I have been fortunate enough to hear Ellie Gowers' new song "Love in a Park (on a Sunday Afternoon") live twice this year in very different ...

I'm glad to say I caught some great performances of original material from highly talented musicians yesterday at Coventry HMV Empire's all day ...

It occurred to me while checking out Abz Winter's new single, "Rock Girl Summer" how I ought to credit her various producers over the years for ...

On reviewing their "My Mamma Lives In a Bottle" single by Some Kinda Earthquake in March 2023, I reflected upon the delights of telling you about ...

I don't know if you follow the "Hot Music Live Presents" Spotify playlists, but I try and include new releases by artists we feature on the ...

We are delighted to announce ‘Hot Music Live Presents Volume Thirteen': fourteen more of the finest original songs from Coventry & Warwickshire ...

Volume 13 (opens in BandCamp)

This collection is the thirteenth in a series celebrating the inspiring & diverse talent of Coventry & ...

A fortnight after releasing "Brighter", John Connearn is back with "Somewhere New".

I'd say "finally" here is the new Trust Club EP ‘Slump' but such is the pace of its arrival (only three days after the most recent single "The ...

I first alluded to Indira Lakshmi in the magazine when reviewing a Bar Pandora gig as she plays bass & other instruments live alongside Charlie & ...

As promised, here is notification of "The Fear", the third single in remarkably short succession by Trust Club and like the previous two ("All I ...

In the weeks since our last check in on Daffod'i'll, the score has risen by twenty more albums to the latest which is number 186 ('Mars'): that's ...

So enthused am I with Coventry Music's "Live On Stage" project that my previous article on the subject burst through the confines of the "Hot ...

And in a flash, the second single from the upcoming Trust Club EP (‘Slump') is upon us.

Having had to lower my expectations of the musical aspects of Leamington's "Art in the Park" over the years, with 2023 representing something of a ...

As previously noted, when it comes to new releases by John Connearn, my technical knowhow & vocabulary usually runs out pretty quickly & so my ...

Back in May 2022 I received an excited message from John Rivers at Woodbine Studio: he was recording a young musician about whom he was so excited ...

After my over-enthusiastic attempt to visit the Vortex Creates "JOY: Inspired by Nature" exhibition at the Herbert on July 3rd (well before it was ...

I am delighted to be able to bring you a great deal of excellent news from Ellie Gowers.

As you've probably noticed (and I fear when I overdo it, been bored by it), I do try & go beyond mechanistic reviews where possible & try & ...

Out today is the single "NOTHING2U" on Ripe Records, instalment number three from artist Euan Blackman's ‘Thunderstorms' EP (his third).

Trust Club's new EP ‘Slump', which comes out on 16th August (there is a launch gig the previous night at Leicester's Firebug), is of course the ...

So here we are with the third instalment of Duke Keat's forthcoming ‘Bornstar' EP (pretty apt title eh?)  as "Android" joins "Data Machinery" ...

There can be few more civilised pleasures than sitting by Stratford Upon Avon Bandstand on a sunny summer Sunday afternoon & listening to such ...

The world is a strange & dynamic, wonderful place. Roughly a year ago, when reviewing Jono Wright's debut solo album ‘Special Measures', it ...

Do you like irony? I usually do, though this one has left me looking a bit foolish in terms with my keeping up with the zeitgeist….

Thankfully there has been a short turn around between my live review of the Dirt Road Band at The Arches In which I explained that my review of ...

You will have noticed my considerable respect for & excitement concerning the Live On Stage project if you've been reading my article over the ...

Having previewed the Glastonbury debuts of Izzie Derry & Dolly Mavies for you, I thought readers might like a follow up piece on their experiences.

Only a week ago, I suggested that "expect the unexpected" was a thread running through the artistry of those of whom I wrote.

As you'll have read in my in my article about Matthew Mansfield (aka Matt Hernández) earlier this week, my intention had been to pop down to the ...

This article is pretty much a mirror to my anticipatory one on the 2024 Godiva Festival which I wrote a month ago: having looked forwards to ...

Frequently actual songs grab me passionately and draw me into their embrace, but very occasionally I engage even earlier when the very title is so ...

Is this now a thing? The other day, I was flexing myself to review "Data Machinery" by Duke Keats and then he dropped a guerilla release of ...

Although her magnificent album ‘Til We Reach The Sun' was in part a striking manifestation of what I dubbed "Angry Izzie" with her tearing ...

I am completely shocked by the news of the death of Matthew Mansfield (aka Matt Hernandez).

I am so pleased that if you read the magazine & check out the tracks on "Hot Music Live", one of the stories it tells about the exceptionally ...

For ages, I regarded Eight Miles High as some form of heritage band: one whose star shone & then went out & that was the basis on which we ...

One of the phenomena I experience with live reviewing is to enjoy the moment (and why not?) and then have subsequent reflection suggest bigger ...

Alas: it's been over a year since I was able to review an Ivy Ash release ("Stop, Rewind"), although thankfully I have caught her live a couple of ...

It's great to be really getting into reporting on the next generation of emerging bands in the local area: artistic quality is always welcome but ...

Please look out for another release by Batsch: "Knew No Different". Like most of their activity, since they come from the underground, they tend ...

Sometimes what can variously be described as either serendipity or random good luck drives a first review of an artist for me.

Well that might be described as a double ambition fulfilled in one trip.

I set off on Sunday to catch Katherine Abbott at Pete Willow's ...

As Stone Bear continue on their ceaseless evolution, once again they've let some marvellous music slip almost without mention let alone fanfare.

So many musicians whom we write about can in some way or another be said to be moving forwards and making progress: artistically, careerwise or in ...

It's that time of the year again: with Godiva Festival 2024 now mere weeks away (it's on from Friday 5th July to Sunday 7th July) and lineups are ...

This is another of those odd "I'm not sure what category this fits into" article which crops up from time to time as the artists of whom we write ...

Out today is a new single called "BB33": their first since their debut "Rollin' On" came out eighteen months ago (it can also be found on ‘Hot ...

Reviewing multi stage festivals when I have limited time generates its own dynamics and when the event itself, like Motofest 2024 in Coventry has ...

I left you in mid-April when Daffod'i'll had reached album number 156 ('Friday').

Out right now (at the very generous "pay as you see fit/can afford" rate on Bandcamp) is the "biblically anticipated" sophomore EP ‘Kreuzberg' ...

I'm not sure that Tony Ally, the Eyes of Isabel songwriter, is keen on ambiguity as such in his songs: clarity seems more important.

It seems so recent that I was telling you about Euan Blackman's last single "Butterfly" that to discover that a month has in fact passed is a ...

The first release from Luke Concannon since his staggering 'Ecstatic Bird In The Burning' collection came out over three years ago is now ...

Out right now is the debut solo EP by Karen Killeen-Jones, one half of the K C Jones duo (check out their "Stronger" on ‘Hot Music Live Presents ...

I don't think that Duke Keats is terribly likely to adopt "Expect the Unexpected" as his mission statement, but it would certainly fit snugly.

Her press strapline for Abz Winter's new single "Sike", which is released on 24th May is that it will "have the listeners unsure of what to expect ...

It seems ages since I last wrote a Silver Wye review: in fact it was over two years ago when their "Hitman" single came out.

Despite the considerable enthusiasm (mine right up there on the list) for the cumulative build-up of tracks on her ‘Doomsday Was Yesterday' EP, ...

It's always uplifting: morally, emotionally & physically to witness a Liam Vincent and The Odd Foxes' gig (I was sufficiently rendered ...

Following his collaboration with Brudez ("Here and Now": you can find it too on ‘Hot Music Live Presents Volume Twelve'), Beat Rebel Records ...

In several ways, the Sink or Swim promotion at The Tin on Saturday (John Douglas supported by Rebecca Mileham & The Sunbathers) which I reported ...

The sad news is that there was less music than usual at this year's Earlsdon Festival.

The latest top class Sink or Swim promotion (look out for a lengthier appreciation of what Joe Colombi does in the magazine shortly) was John ...

The new Dean MacDonald single "Polarised" comes out as a "Bank Holiday release" (which is a bit unusual in itself) and as always is a classy piece ...

I hope that on the relatively rare occasions (but each one is a blow to my self esteem) when I miss a release date & have to write a slightly ...

It can be a discombobulating role reviewing. There I was, just preparing myself in all respects for the 17th May and his scheduled release of ...

From time to time, "severe weather events" with their own names hit the UK: earlier this month we had Storm Kathleen and now Hurricane YNES has ...

As you will know, I always greatly enjoy the music of Clemency and usually preface my reviews with an element of regret over the period of time ...

Following the well received  ‘Rent Free On My Brain' EP (his second after debut ‘You Are The Rain'), today Euan Blackman starts letting us ...

When I told you back in February a little about new band Everything We Do, I was keen to try and tease out what member Joe Dolman was achieving ...

As you know, with my finite resources (especially time), I have to handle my caseload for "Hot Music Live" by prioritising those artists whose ...

I am reliably advised that the debut album by the Dirt Road Band (appropriately enough it'll be called ‘Righteous': because they are) is now ...

This summary of the output of Daffod'i'll is actually rather different: he has only advanced from album number 152 where we left him last time to ...

Most of the cast both musical & cinematic for the new Eyes of Isabel single "Every Single Day" will be immediately familiar to readers of past ...

Ironically, the tremendous personal enjoyment I got out of attending "A Celebratory Cruise on a Tiny Boat with Lauren South & friends" at the ...

I'm sure that my review of the debut album ‘New Beginnings' from Project Overload left you in no doubt of my excitement at the emergence of this ...

As foretold in my recent account of my visits to two workshops for Streets Arts Project, the professional musicians who facilitate them came ...

It's been some months since I last wrote about Danny Ansell (amazing but true considering his prolific releasing and gigging) but he's back now ...

There is not a huge lot I can offer in reviewing terms regarding Stylusboy's new release of a new acoustic version of "Fourteen Days" since I ...

As I've said before, I'm obliged that Duck Thieves provide their own self description for the aid of potential audience members & reviewers: while ...

I'm really pleased to be reporting on the latest single from Rheo Uno: "Dead and Done".

As you'll know from various earlier reviews, both of Street Arts Project releases & of their associated launch gigs, I thoroughly support this ...

Keeping tabs on the output of Daffod'i'll is frankly one of keeping score of album releases.

It's very exciting to be able to share 'Hot Music Live Presents Volume Twelve' with you: eleven more examples of how diverse & original the music ...

Volume 12 (opens in BandCamp)

This collection is the twelfth in a series celebrating the inspiring & diverse talent of Coventry & ...

I have to confess that reviewing releases by John Connearn are among the most challenging for me.

By now, I think many of us think we have a handle on the shape of an Eyes of Isabel release: Tony Ally conceives it, then he takes it to John ...

Out today is the much anticipated new EP from Green Hands, whose title is (as hopefully you were already aware) ‘Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime' ...

Reviewing a band's live performance when you saw them only a fortnight earlier presents its problems of finding what new to say, but given the ...

One of the things I do like about the musicians we feature is their sense of community and personally a fair percentage of artists whom I review ...

It's always great to catch up with John Rivers about what he's been up to at Woodbine Street Studio in Leamington: though he's been so busy that ...

Thankfully, reactions to all forms of art are by their nature subjective. That is very liberating for me as I can concentrate my reviewing ...

It's been much more than a year (nearly two in fact) since our last Kenzie Webley review: it was in fact for her debut album ‘All of the Fallen ...

There are (I'm glad to say), many great original musicians around currently in our locale & one characteristic they share is producing a ...

A few weeks after dedicating ‘Hot Music Live Presents Volume Eleven' to "Gus" Chambers, I'm able to review a release by one of his comrades in ...

It seems high time that we say a little about the newish band Everything We Do since it features Joe Dolman whom we have written about so often.

Among the various categories of concerts one can go to, there exists the one where the artist can not just slip one new song into their setlist ...

I can't imagine that any regular reader of my reviews could doubt my enthusiasm for the music of Septic and the Tanks, so after a lengthy fallow ...

Some good news just in from Brudez (hopefully you remember his "Cold Strange World" which we featured on ‘Hot Music Live Presents Volume Six ...

Years ago, being a reviewer may have been in some respects a little easier: music arrived as artefacts and you knew that to do so, the artist had ...

Arriving on platforms today is ‘Rent Free On My Brain' the new EP from Euan Blackman: a follow-up to his debut ‘You Are the Rain' from last ...

Good news for all of you who have been as excited as I have by the emergence of Green Hands over the past couple of years: their new EP ...

A mere seventeen days after my previous review of AfterKnights (their single "Breathe Juliet") here I am writing about them again as their ...

I'm delighted to be posting my first live review of 2024 so early in the year & indeed it's my first for quite some time: too long.

I must say how exhilarating I find it starting 2024 with articles on so many artists I'm just learning about & then sharing my experiences with ...

Stone Bear, despite releasing a nine track album (‘Calm The Sea') less than a month ago have already issued the follow-up today: the new single ...

Yet another quality to admire in artists is resilience and a determination to overcome obstacles on the road to ensuring that as many people as ...

Since our last visit to the ever-expanding catalogue of Daffod'i'll he's proceeded to add twelve new albums plus one compilation to the 123 (not ...

Just very occasionally I experience a phenomenon in my musical experience where I hear a band play (a usually unreleased) song which so impresses ...

Many thanks to James Knight of the Stingo Collective for alerting me to the latest band to emerge from under their nurturing umbrella: Floating ...

I've commented often enough of late on the prevailing wisdom of our days in which discerning artists write great songs & then not only share them ...

On reflection, I think it's an exciting thing that the first "Hot Music Live" review of 2024 should be for artists appearing for the first time in ...

I really ought to have known better when I wrote my comments the other day about Levi Washing releasing a Christmas single after Christmas as now ...

By now you must have some inkling for what sort of things excite my interest: a marked preference for originality over the "much as we expected" ...

It's been some six months since we reviewed Lemon Boy's ‘Imagination' EP for you & here he is closing the year with a brace of songs: "She Makes ...

A great many reviews which I try to write fall into a fairly regular pattern in terms of how I find out about the releases, how the artists intend ...

Until yesterday, I honestly had no idea whatsoever as to whether I'd ever be able to write a new YNES review again.

I'd say with certainty that every artist we mention in this magazine has a significant degree of popularity but some of them are what you might ...

That prolific releaser of music Daffod'i'll has managed eight new albums' worth of music in the month since we last checked in on him (I imagine ...

As  I mention from time to time in the magazine, I relish long anticipated releases (though I do get frustrated sometimes waiting to be able to ...

If, very much like me, you've been following the release by instalments of the Monastery EP & not only enjoying the great music but also trying to ...

The release of the Septic and the Tanks' Christmas single, "Spiders" took me by surprise this morning (I knew that one was imminent but not when ...

Out today is the new Bright Black single called "Fire", their final to feature lead vocalist Alice Clarke who is off to pastures new (I gather ...

Local rap-master Brudez is no stranger to this magazine (check out too his "Cold Strange World" on ‘Hot Music Live Presents Volume Six'), but ...

As I neither want you to think of me as a Grinch or Scrooge figure nor to think of myself, I have had to adjust myself to special Christmas ...

Out today is the latest Abz Winter single: "Are You Good?" is the question it poses.

I must say that I'm intrigued and pleased not only by what appears to be a resurgence of fresh, original punk orientated music in Coventry & ...

'Hot Music Live Presents Volume Eleven' is dedicated to the memory of Gary Kenneth "Gus" Chambers (16th January 1958 to 13th October 2008): one of ...

Volume 11 (opens in BandCamp)

This collection is the eleventh in a series of collections celebrating the inspiring & diverse talent ...

We are delighted to announce the release of ‘Hot Music Live Presents Volume Eleven', the latest in a series celebrating the inspiring & diverse ...

So busy has Rebecca Mileham been with Liam Vincent & the Odd Foxes that her debut solo  EP ‘Underground' seems to have been out longer than the ...

Today is release day for the second Bar Pandora EP ‘Recreate This', which follows her eponymous debut in that format from last summer.

Out on Friday is the latest Euan Blackman single called "The Last One".

It's also the third track from his upcoming second EP ‘Rent Free ...

Debut albums arrive in all sorts of contexts, but ‘Tiny Boat' by Lauren South, which comes out tomorrow, relates to an artist whose career ...

In my regular attempts to make sense of how music works in our time (or to be more accurate, in the creative ways in which our local artists try ...

Coming soon from Alchemista lead singer Caroline White is a new single which includes two of her own compositions, "Space In Time" and "Honey in ...

I'm afraid keeping tabs on the output of Daffod'i'll is becoming more and more difficult.

As promised in my review of the teaser single "Black Sheep", Tattoo Molly's debut studio album, ‘Power' is going to be released on November ...

 In May 2021, I reviewed the debut single, called "A Friend" by In Emerald Sea within an hour of being aware of either its existence or that of ...

Following her last single "The Model" which came out in July, and acting as a trailblazer for her imminent second EP ‘Recreate This', (look out ...

Once again I find myself apologising to a band for their belated first mention in the magazine: this time it's the turn of Black Water Fiend whose ...

Making their debut in "Hot Music Live" today are The Muthas: the reason being that their debut single "Circles (Tell Me Something I Don't Already ...

I have been very pleased to reflect in my writings & compilations the renewal of the vitality of the local punk scene through newer bands such as ...

Liam Vincent and The Odd Foxes fans will I'm sure be aware of & anticipating that band's Hallowe'en single (the lyric video will be live on 27th ...

Out right now is the latest HEK single, namely "Cold Sweats". HEK are one of the most talked about Coventry bands at the moment (and it's ...

At the moment, the activities of the innovative artists who've been emerging recently have almost overwhelmed my capacity to chronicle them all.

Some years back, I was lucky enough to attend the live debut of the Folly Brothers (back when they were a duo) and in the intervening time, I've ...

Out tomorrow morning will be the new single, entitled "Laughing Now" by the most exciting band to break out of Leamington in the past couple of ...

Now available for your pleasure and emotional uplift is "Calm The Sea" by Stone Bear.

Released today is the latest Izzie Derry single, which is called "Til We Reach The Sun".

When we included the Eight Miles High track "These Days" on ‘Hot Music Live Presents Volume Three' back in 2020, it was pretty much on the basis ...

Following the release of "Burn", the lead single from his upcoming second EP (which we reviewed in July), Euan Blackman today shares the second ...

The latest Eyes of Isabel single (produced as ever by John Rivers with Eddy Hewitt at Woodbine Street Studio in Leamington) is called "Crime ...

Out now is  the "Powerhouse Sessions 001: The Mintakaa Collective" which is the first in a planned series of films ...

The first thing to note about COVtember 2023 which was held over the weekend (three days' worth) is that as ever, it raised money for Coventry ...

Many thanks to Yes Princess  who have kindly reached out to us in advance of the release of their debut album ‘It's No One's Fault But Ours' ...

If you've following the saga of successive singles in advance of her new album which Izzie Derry has been releasing, then presumably, like me, the ...

Out tomorrow (scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Peace) is the new Ace Ambrose single entitled "A Town Called Love".

Some artists develop & evolve at a steady rate. Such is the nature of music though that some are phenomena who appear as if out of nowhere ...

Many thanks to Ciaran Corkerry  for brining to my notice the impending release of Blind Orbits' new EP ‘The Time, The Tide' on September 29th.

One recurring irritant for me is the spread of the use of the word "iconic" when "reasonably well known" would usually be more appropriate.

 As the follow-up to her single pushing back against HS2 ("Waking Up To Stone"), Ellie Gowers today releases "The Stars Are Ours": her first new ...

After much deliberation & consultation with members of the local musical community, I've decided that since matters are getting worse in terms of ...

I'm delighted to be able to tell you about ‘Recovery', the new album by the Street Arts Project, which comes out on 1st September, with a launch ...

I'm delighted to announce the release of 'Hot Music Live Presents Volume Ten': I hope that you'll enjoy listening to it as much as I have & ...

I'm pleased to enable heavy rock band Tattoo Molly to make their first appearance in the magazine to mark the release of their third single, ...

The latest Stone Bear release is now out & it is called "When You're On The Run".

Unfortunately, life intruded and my plans to attend both days of Leamington Food Festival turned into just seeing Carrick perform on Leamington ...

For those of you following the proliferation of Daffod'i'll releases, I can report that in the last month since my previous update on the ...

If you explored the Electrik Custard double album 'Dyslexic Mustard' which came out on Leamington's Beat Rebel Records a year ago, you'll have ...

Here you go: the first (and hopefully not last) article in the magazine telling you about a relatively new (2022) band who are attracting more ...

As noted previously, Jack Telford (you can hear his track "Middle of Nowhere", made by his new band Green Hands with vocals by Kate Stapley on ...

As noted in my review of ‘Recovery', the new Streets Arts Project album, the launch event was held at Stratford Playhouse last evening & it was ...

It's been a while since I'd seen, or reported on, the Jack O'Bones (apart from all the issues we all know about, the band are so in demand in ...

The release date for the ‘This Is Trust Club' EP has finally arrived (I'm not sure I need to remind you of the name of the band in question), as ...

Rather more through luck than anything else (see below), I caught excellent sets by Hannah Woof and Monday Nights on Leamington Bandstand this ...

In my last review for Hannah Woof, I dubbed her current single "Rendezvous" her best work, and I can't be shaken from forming that opinion.

Volume 10 (opens in BandCamp)

This collection is the tenth in a series celebrating the inspiring & diverse talent of Coventry & ...

As most of you probably know from various sources, including our previous articles, the Dirt Road Band has evolved from an initial single event ...

Out right now from Vieon (hopefully you remember their collaboration with Jenny McLaren "Transmission" which featured on 'Hot Music Live Presents ...

You'll be glad to know that I'm keeping up my record of seeing nearly every Ivy Ash gig ever.

Dave Pepper has form in revisiting his past bands (of which there are many) and approaches rediscovering gems from them with the same level of ...

It's always a big moment when the national media pick up on the talent we already know has been manifesting itself in Warwickshire, so how ...

Many thanks to that great supporter of what we do (you can find him on no fewer than four tracks on "Hot Music Live Presents"), Jools Street, for ...

There is no "one size fits all" aspect to how I end up reviewing music for the magazine (that would be very dull): some material I have the luxury ...

Thankfully despite the rain and despite some very disappointing sound (I made an incautious comment in the magazine some weeks ago about the ...

Inspired by the artistic paradigm shift of Izzie Derry, I'm going to challenge the format of my review & start with a comment on the artwork.

Following very hot on the heels of their last singles "Figure It Out" and "Higher Hopes" (it's less than a month since I told you about that one), ...

The latest batch of Daffod'i'll albums has brought the total up to 71 (the seventy-first is called ‘IP' and contains the songs "Want To Be", ...

Today's debutant in the magazine is Jono Wright (you may know him from the Mos Eisley Brothers) whose debut album  ‘Special Measures' came out ...

I am fairly sure that I've never before had the opportunity to tell you about a (female) boxer's story told in song, so with this review of the ...

Like so many of the best local original artists, releases from Man Made Moon come along insufficiently frequently to meet our wishes but are all ...

It was fourteen months ago when I wrote an article in the magazine introducing Septic & the Tanks to our readership: looking back, I think my ...

As previously & regularly noted, that purveyor of finely & perfectly honed gems, Hannah Woof, releases new material less frequently than perhaps ...

Following the success of their last single "Devil's Call", Monastery will release "The Shore" on the 29th of July.

Released today is the new EP ‘Another Life or Two' by one of the bands which has most impressed me over the last twelve months: Green Hands.

Many thanks to  Lauren South, fresh from being a guest star on the latest Stylusboy release, for the heads-up on another collaboration of hers, ...

Bar Pandora is not one of those artists whom you ought to second guess, unless you like being wrong.

As promised earlier this week, Stegosaurus Sex Party are unveiling their new EP ‘Helicopter Party Trick' on Friday, following the trailer of ...

As I often say, the Godiva Festival is an event which offers so much to the lover of local music and to the reviewer of the same.

Do you like dinosaurs? Do you like sex parties? Then you may be interested in Stegosaurus Sex Party whose latest single "Ugotowned" is now out, ...

Out on 21st July is the latest Euan Blackman single & this one is called "Burn", which was created entirely by Euan & his home studio & was ...

It's been quite a while since I last wrote about Trust Club in the magazine (not since their Live EP was reviewed back in November of last year) ...

It's asking probably a great deal more than I dare ought to, to wonder if you remember my review, almost exactly four years ago, of The Rising's ...

It's always a pleasure to give "Hot Music Live" magazine readers my impressions of the Godiva Festival: just not quite as big a delight perhaps ...

A theme I return to from time to time is my surprise & admiration for artists whose "prime" releases seem so rooted in their arrangements and owe ...

I was probably tempting fate when with last week's attempted update on all things Daffod'i'll I purported to be up to date.

In the second of my post-Godiva Festival 2023 reviews, I'm now able to tell you a little more detail about the forthcoming Stylusboy EP ‘Back In ...

As promised in yesterday's broad sweep review of 2023's Godiva Festival, here is more detailed focus on the new Chasing Deer album ‘Diamonds in ...

A bit of a milestone for me here: this is the first review of a Monday Nights single by me which involves a song I heard them play live before I ...

I like artists with trajectories: apart from anything else, in my role as a reviewer, trying to write subsequent pieces on someone whose work ...

Since my last update on the prolific releases of Daffod'i'll, at which point we had reached album number fifty five, he's managed to put out ...

This is quite a weird one.. which suits me fine. Today I'll be telling you about the new Rob Halligan single called "Small World".

Out now (in fact released yesterday to mark World Music Day) is the latest Satsangi song, namely "Ultraviolet".

This is going to be another unusual review as technically the song at the heart of it has already featured in the magazine as part of my article ...

The latest Eyes of Isabel production to emerge from Woodbine Street is called "In a Girl's Paradise".

I wouldn't write as regularly as I do I think if it wasn't for being continually surprised by local music.

Readers of my now several Green Hands reviews will be under few illusions as to my respect & liking for the band: I've certainly not concealed it.

June 23rd will see the release of the new Abz Winter single "Wasted Energy" and with her usual kindness (and enthusiasm to let others hear ...

One of my favourite bands for a long time was Batsch: both on record and as a live act.

I've never really emphasised over my various reviews how Gemma Leahy Waddell used to share with me periodically some of the tracks which were ...

First of all, credit to Rob Halligan for pulling the music together for Coventry MotoFest 2023 (and previous years of course) & managing it over ...

When Lemon Boy (aka Luke Bates) tipped me off about his new EP with the title of ‘Imagination', he suggested that it might be ".

Out right now is the latest Chasing Deer single "Orchards" which acts also as a taster for the ‘Diamonds in the Rafters' album which will be out ...

Here we go again: I keep promising to not dub any new release as "the artist's best" but once again, with the new Jake Rizzo single "Hard To Be ...

I have tended, while praising Massasauga singles, to warn readers of a delicate disposition of the power & impact of listening to them.

I'm not sure I often discuss in these pages the potential problem an artist might need to address in terms of responding to success: I hope I do a ...

After the pleasures of catching The Old Flames at last week's Open Arts Festival gig on Leamington Bandstand, the weather was even more glorious ...

It was back last March when I was privileged to be present at the live debut of The Old Flames: as part of the Open Arts Festival on Leamington ...

Sometimes, far too long elapses between the releases of a given artist (lord knows that COVID19 affected this).

What an historic day! I refer of course to the launch of ‘Fabric of a Flawed Society', the debut album by Liam Vincent and The Odd Foxes, which ...

"Allesley Park" is not only the name of a Coventry amenity, but that of the latest Eyes of Isabel single which arrived yesterday, in the principle ...

It's not that difficult really to envisage some of the issues which specialist drummers face in putting together solo records.

Today has for some momentous reason been a bumper day for brand new, exciting & thought provoking material to be released in Coventry & ...

I'm pleased to report to readers that the brand new Joe Dolman single, "Sabotage Myself" has been released this morning.

Out today is the new (Dan) Bygrave single "Long Road Home".

The follow up to "Friday Night", this one is a co-write with Ryan Stanley and ...

You can tell that "Wasted Love", the new single from Izzie Derry which is out today, takes another huge step along her road of self discovery and ...

Stylusboy (aka Steve Jones), whose latest single, "Fourteen Days" is out today on his own Tortoise Recordings (it is taken too from his ...

After declaring my enthusiasm for the new Andy Beglin single "Vale of Avalon" last month, here I am telling you of another release he's part of: ...

After a (too) long break from experiencing live music, it was a joy to be there for the sets from the ever excellent Shanghai Hostage, The ...

I can't say that I'm surprised by the release of "Waking Up To Stone" as a single today by Ellie Gowers: it's the fourth of her ‘Dwelling By The ...

That top & beloved local band The Primitives are currently gearing up for the shows celebrating the 35th anniversary of their debut ‘Lovely' ...

As the most cursory reading of my articles will tell you, I like artists who are confident in standing out from the mediocrity of the crowd & ...

I had better start with an apology: this is one of my occasional (too frequent?) articles where I realise that I ought to have written about the ...

Like all good part works, Euan Blackman has been allowing you to build your collection of his debut EP ‘You Are The Rain' if not by stealth, ...

In another of those moments of serendipity which I keep finding when I review for "Hot Music Live" magazine, within a week of writing about the ...

You never know what to expect from that restless musician Dave Pepper…. Most of the time he takes you unawares by mastering some new musical ...

Back in May of last year when I reviewed Chessi O'Dowd's ‘Wine Glass Filter' album, I ventured the opinion that "…every track has the ...

Here is something of another venture into new territory for me in an article for the magazine: telling you about a specific radio broadcast.

The length of the heads up that I'm able to give you in relation to the new Duke Keats EP, ‘Dirty Glamour' while not quite a record for the ...

Out now from that indefatigable artist Daffod'i'll is an album for Easter, (".

Out next week (though please consider pre-saving your copy right now, as such action helps artists) is the latest Abz Winter single and its name ...

One of the several reasons I (admire, respect & appreciate the art of Danny Ansell is that I don't know what to expect from his releases before I ...

If there were an Andy Beglin fan club, then I'd surely be a paid up member. I often muse on why artists from the past never got the recognition ...

I have to declare an interest, if not some downright sense of favouritism in regard to my review of "No Matter How Far Away", today's single ...

It's yet another of those serendipitous coincidences that, so soon after telling you about the song which  Jackie James & Shanade Morrow put out ...

How on earth that dynamo of self produced solo albums on such an epic scale as Daffod'i'll can have found the time to return to the work of the ...

Out today is the latest single from Euan Blackman's debut EP: namely "Bad Things" (and it comes coupled with the previous releases "Busy Doing ...

Out today from the prolific Daffod'i'll are four new albums of his original, solo, music.

I obtained my high regard for & enjoyment of the work of Liam Vincent and The Odd Foxes only last year: I started by listening to their ...

It's a big ask of you I'm sure to remember that back last August I mentioned, during my review of Ivy Ash's debut live performance (at ...

It was very pleasing to report that the latest (and sadly final) collaboration between "Hot Music Live Presents" and Earlsdon Carnegie Community ...

Reiss Pinder is what I might call a restless creative spirit: always looking to the future & not resting particularly on past laurels.

I really appreciate the unusual in music and so reporting on the first single I can recall being released for Mothering Sunday is a pleasure & I ...

Out right now is the latest Eyes of Isabel single, "To See The World".

As ever accompanied by an evocative video assembled by Andy McGeechan ...

Just released by (Dan) Bygrave is "Friday Night": his first release of 2023 produced by Wigz for Beat Rebel Records.

When we featured the 1989 track "Mean 'n' Moody Rockin' Machine" by Some Kinda Earthquake on the very first edition of "Hot Music Live Presents", ...

Out now is the new Croissant single entitled "Shadow, Honey", the follow up to "Winter Days" (which you can also hear on ‘Hot Music Live ...

New out from Euan Blackman is his single "Busy Doing Nothing", taken from his EP of the same name which also contains the song "Everybody Lets You ...

Returning to the festival for the first time in 15 years, indie-rock superstars The Enemy will be headlining the Main Stage at the 2023 Godiva ...

When I told you about the last Rheo Uno release, "Blur The Lines", I held back (so as to let the light shine on the single in question) on telling ...

If it seems like ages since I was able to review an Izzie Derry release, that's because we are nearing the third anniversary of her last one.

I try (when I know the date) to wish "Hot Music Live Presents" featured artists a 'Happy Birthday' on the appropriate day.

When I reviewed "Standing In The Shadows" by Green Hands back in November, I am pretty hopeful that my own enthusiasm for the track & the band ...

After a run of Stone Bear releases which were effectively solo releases by David John, you'll be pleased to hear that he's managed to get into the ...

Just released by Chasing Deer is the perhaps appropriately titled "Now", which as collaborator Ollie Hayes is co-credited as a featured artist, ...

Daffod'i'll has today announced the release of his forty-ninth solo abum ‘Dilluvian' which includes the nine songs "A Hand", "Follow", "ii", ...

I'm sorry to say that what with other recent distractions, I failed to spot the new RobinPlaysChords single "The Dream" when it was released, so ...

Some (many I hope) of you may follow Horace Panter's in depth & highly entertaining diaries of life on the road with The Specials and the Dirt ...

I'm pleased to introduce another new name (to the magazine at least) today: that of Alys Rain whose ‘In Tension' EP is now out on Holy Crow ...

Despite the official date for festive gifting being still a few weeks off, YNES' many fans will feel more than blessed this winter morning with ...

Just when you thought it was safe… back come Massasauga with another of their tales of the predatory.

Coming soon from Jackie James will be her Christmas single: "Lights On".

Described by its composer as a "lullaby", it features her six year ...

Dirt Road Band gigs tend to be special affairs (please pardon the slight reference dropped in there): despite the fact that they are now gigging ...

Today is the day on which Jake Rizzo has released his new single, "Same As You".

Released today is the new single "The Reason I'm Here" from Jonny Olley, the follow up to "Tunnel Vision" which we reviewed back in May.

"Hot Music Live Presents" are very pleased to announce the release of 'Hot Music Live Presents Volume Nine' today.

Out today from Trust Club is their new live EP which, not messing around nor trying to confuse us, they've named ‘Live'.

When you are as skilled as Joe Dolman at writing material, unusual things can happen.

Most articles I write for "Hot Music Live" tend to fall into a few broad categories and my main job is to try to be as objective as possible when ...

Volume 9 (opens in BandCamp)

This collection is the ninth in a series of collections celebrating the inspiring & diverse talent of ...

So here it is: our first seasonal/festive release review of the year (and I'm glad it's coming at a sensible & tasteful date), namely "Winter ...

As I indicated back in June when I covered a Greg Brice live performance at Stratford Playhouse Folk Club, anticipation of his debut solo album ...

You probably haven't failed to notice that after a pretty much weekly review of the prolific Levi Washington, I haven't been able to do so now for ...

One of the great pleasures in the reviewing I do for "Hot Music Live" is that it introduces me to original & individualistic artistic voices.

I rather enjoy coincidences & rather too often perhaps see meaning in them where maybe there is less than I imagine.

When I stood on top of Long Compton Hill on Tuesday, the day after Hallowe'en, the November wind whipped across the Rollright Stones & blew the ...

Quite a few years ago now, one of the bands I'd have been raving about in "Hot Music Live" had I actually been writing for them at that time, was ...

As a big fan of Rikki & Tyron Hansel from their days in the Hansel Brothers through to Evergreen & on to today, I am consequently one too of their ...

The new Monday Nights single "Dorian Gray", is, I'm pleased to announce, released today.

So.. another day, another bolt from the blue release, this time the phenomenon being "A Long Way From Home", the new Ollie Bond single.

After something of a sabbatical from his previous heavy schedule with Chasing Deer, Rob Hodkinson has followed his "comeback" single "On Standby" ...

There I was working on a review to appear next week and suddenly, to my surprise (but presumably not theirs) The Primitives dropped a new single ...