Film Review: Non Stop - Neeson, entertaining, slick, ridiculous

An oddly half empty preview screening had us wondering if they knew something we didnt but with a premise not much more believable than Snakes on a Plane, this slickly made thriller entertains us from start to finish by never flinching once. 

It may be utterly ridiculous, but it's played with full-on dedication by a gifted cast and a filmmaker who knows how to ramp up tension out of thin air, so to speak. Yes, it's utterly idiotic, but it's so much fun that we want a sequel even before this film crashes to the ground.

Relapsed alcoholic Air Marshal Bill (Neeson) has far too much personal baggage as he heads to work on a trans-Atlantic flight. Still grieving over his daughter's death as he drinks a bit of coffee with his whiskey, his hopes of a quiet flight are soon dashed when he receives an in-flight text threatening to kill a passenger every 20 minutes if he doesn't pay a huge ransom. So he kicks into action-man gear. But things start getting seriously surreal as he struggles to find anyone on the plane who doesn't look shifty. He seeks assistance from steely stewardess Nancy (Dockery) and too-helpful passenger Jen (Moore). But everyone begins to wonder if Bill might be the real villain here.

Filmmaker Collet-Serra packs the screen with red herrings, as all of the passengers fire wary glances at each other, moan about the general chaos of the flight and do all of those stupid things that make air travel so tiresome. The only thing missing is a screaming baby. Not that you'd hear it above the crazed panic this cat-and-mouse situation induces. It's so frantic that we barely have time to wonder how someone could get on a plane with a briefcase full of cocaine. Or a bomb. So we just hang on as the turbulence escalates.

The actors keep things grounded with realistic performances in an implausible setting. Neeson doesn't have to do much more than struggle to maintain a grip on reality, while Moore and Dockery have a great time keeping their straight faces. Nothing about the plot makes any sense if you think about it. So don't! Just sit back and enjoy the increasingly disorienting tone, which cranks up the suspense without bothering with logic. If you can laugh with it, you'll have a great ride.

Watch the trailer below:

TV: The American - Season 2 Opener a success

True Detective and House of Cards might have a contender in The Americans as its second season impresses the critics.

Returning to a series that has enjoyed a strong first season is always a risk: expectations are doubled, and the job of pleasing fans increasing exponentially the further you go on; the further you desensitise them from what you have to say. The Americans, which is primarily a drama about relationships and marriage while the backdrop of war and espionage provides its steely edge, premiered last night on FX in America with its second season, and re-enters a TV space filled with stern competition. But if the critical response is anything to go by, it’ll soon become one of the most talked about shows of 2014.

“FX's The Americans does the near-impossible of making viewers cheer for Russian spies in America and at the same time for the American FBI agents who are trying to unmask those Russians living in suburbia. It's an incredibly deft balancing act that's accomplished through strong character development all around,” writes Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


Journo Ed Bark is also impressed: “Based on these first five episodes, The Americans shows every sign of maintaining if not exceeding the high bar it set in Season 1. What fate awaits Elizabeth and Philip? And what will become of their children, whether or not they ever learn the truth?” he writes.

“As the new season begins, this series continues to be among the best of the extraordinary number of great TV dramas vying for attention,” says Joanne Ostrow of The Denver Post.

“The series is at its most potent when it reframes the everyday in the context of the Cold War, like Philip comparing notes on home life with a Mossad operative or Elizabeth displaying a flash of vulnerability in front of a government-contracted dupe,” writes Erik Adams of The A.V Club.

For our part we've just watched a preview disc and we have to agree, the show wastes no time in ramping things up and its non stop intrigue. Will it find a place in our heart that so far only 24, Prison Break and Breaking Bad occupy remain to be seen, but the promise is there.. So far no date has been released for a  UK showing although the option for series 2 had been picked up ITV.

Overall, am 89/100 rating on audience satisfaction measuring Metacritic sees The Americans take the ‘Universal Acclaim’ pendant and then some. Well worth a watch and a worthy adversary to HBO’s True Detective and Netflix’s House of Cards, it would seem.

Movie Review - Cuban Fury, shamelessly crowd pleasing

This is the kind of British rom-com that sneaks up on you when you least expect it and leaves you with a huge smile on your face at the end. It's not particularly clever or sharp, but it's packed with terrific moments that grow on us. And the characters are particularly engaging, making far more of the film than its one-joke gimmick: fat man dances salsa.

Nick Frost plays Bruce, a chubby office worker who was a salsa champion as a child but turned his back on dance after some nasty bullying. Now he learns that his sexy new American boss Julia (Rashida Jones, Parks and Recreation, The U.S. Office)) is studying salsa herself, and her flirty manner suggests she might be interested, against the odds. Especially since swaggering office rival Drew (Chris O'Dowd) is after her. So with the encouragement of his sister Sam (Olivia Colman), Bruce looks up his old mentor and gets to work. His fellow lonely-hearts pals  think he's nuts, but encourage him. And he finds an unlikely ally in over-eager fellow dance student Bejan.


Both predictable and rather implausible, the plot certainly isn't what holds our attention here. It's the colourful people on-screen, each played to perfection by a gifted cast. Frost holds the film together with a lively performance that's surprisingly never played as a comedy of embarrassment (he can actually dance). Jones is clearly having a ball, even if generating any real chemistry with Frost eludes her, while Colman lights up the screen in a small role. And the shameless scene-stealers are O'Dowd, as a sleazy low-life, and especially Kayvan Novak in one of those side-roles that becomes a comedy icon. We want to see a spin-off about him.

All of this gets off to a relatively slow start, with few laughs and only mildly amusing situations, but as the story progresses it gets a lot funnier and ultimately shamelessly crowd-pleasing. By the end, this is the kind of feel-good comedy we long to see every weekend: undemanding but genuinely endearing. And it might give us a flicker of hope that, even if we've given up on our childhood dreams, it could be worth giving things another go. There's certainly no reason to just sit around being lonely: get out there and tango!

Watch the trailer below

Suede - 22 Year Box Sets - Ltd to 1000 Worldwide

Suede are to release a single box set on April 14th 2014 from their 22-year discography.

On April 14th Suede will release two brand new (and limited to 1000 copies worldwide each) CD and 7" single box sets featuring all 24 Suede singles from 1992 - 2013.

The CD Singles box set will feature nearly every Suede b-side across all previous formats of each single, including a number of hard to find tracks that were omitted from the 2011 reissues ('Digging A Hole' (Neil Codling vocals), 'Rent' (feat. Neil Tennant, live at the Roundhouse, December 1995), 'Saturday Night' (feat. Neil Tennant, live at the Roundhouse, December 1995), 'Down' (demo), 'Obsessions' (radio edit), 'Weight Of The World' (Neil Codling vocals) and 'Saturday Night' (original demo). The box also includes for the first time CD singles of the three 'Bloodsports' era singles and B-sides from 2013.

The 7" Singles box will feature reproductions of the 11 x 7" singles the band have previously released, along with for the first time on the format 13 x 7" singles, with B-sides personally selected by Brett Anderson.    
    
The first 250 pre-orders on either box set will be treated to an exclusive Suede print of the lyrics to 'Trash' signed by Brett Anderson, which fans can also have their name added too.
Suede will close this year's series of Teenage Cancer Trust shows at The Royal Albert Hall on March 30. The band will perform their hugely acclaimed second album Dog Man Star to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its release. The lauded album, which was also re-released in 2011, is often regarded as the band's masterpiece, cementing their influence as the pioneers of Britpop. Suede credit their performance for Teenage Cancer Trust in 2010 with getting the band back together. Brett Anderson said, "It's great being involved with Teenage Cancer Trust again. It's a fantastic charity and we have a proud history of involvement with them. The gig we did for them at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010 was possibly my favourite ever show in 25 years of playing live."

Tracklisting:

Suede - CD singles
24 x CD singles
1 x DVD
1 x booklet                                                                                                                                         
#1
The Drowners                           
To The Birds                               
My Insatiable One                       

#2
Metal Mickey                              
Where The Pigs Don't Fly         
He's Dead

#3
Animal Nitrate                           
Painted People                              
The Big Time                              

#4
So Young                 
Dolly                                            
High Rising
                                     
#5
Stay Together                           
The Living Dead        
My Dark Star                              
Stay Together [extended mix]    

#6
We Are The Pigs
Killing Of A Flashboy
Whipsnade

#7
The Wild Ones                          
Modern Boys             
This World Needs A Father       
Eno's Introducing The Band       
Asda Town

#8
New Generation                        
Together                                      
Bentswood Boys       

#9
Trash                                           
Europe Is Our Playground            
Every Monday Morning Comes Have You Ever Been This Low? Another No One        

#10
Beautiful Ones        
Young Men                
Sound Of The Streets
Money                        
Sam
                                   
#11
Saturday Night       
WSD                          
Jumble Sale Mums                      
This Time                  
Saturday Night [original demo]

#12
Lazy                                             
These Are The Sad Songs         
Feel                            
Sadie                          
Digging A Hole

#13
Filmstar                    
Graffiti Women         
Duchess                                      
Rent [live with Neil Tennant, Roundhouse, 15.12.96]
Saturday Night [live with Neil Tennant, Roundhouse, 15.12.96]

#14
Electricity                 
Popstar                                        
Killer                          
See That Girl                                 
Waterloo                                        
Implement Yeah!
                                   
#15
She's In Fashion                       
Bored                                           
Pieces Of My Mind                     
Jubilee                                           
God's Gift                  
Down [demo]
                 
#16
Everything Will Flow               
Weight Of The World                 
Leaving                                        
Crackhead                                     
Seascape                                     

#17
Can't Get Enough                    
Let Go                                          
Since You Went Away                
Situations                                     
Read My Mind          

#18
Positivity                                    
One Love                   
Simon                                          
Superstar                                     
Cheap                                          
Colours                      
Campfire Song                            

#19
Obsessions [radio edit]             
Cool Thing                                   
Instant Sunshine                            
UFO                                             
Rainy Day Girl
Hard Candy                                 

#20
Attitude                                      
Golden Gun
Oxygen                                        

#21
Barriers                                       
Nothing Can Stop Us
Howl                                            

#22
It Starts And Ends With You Dawn Chorus            
No Holding Back                         

#23
Hit Me                       
Falling Planes                             
What Violet Says                        

#24
For The Strangers                    
Darkest Days                                
Human Tide                                

DVD
SINGLES VIDEOS
The Drowners
Metal Mickey
Animal Nitrate
So Young
The Drowners [US version]
Stay Together
We Are The Pigs
The Wild Ones
New Generation
Trash
Beautiful Ones
Saturday Night
Lazy         
Filmstar
Europe Is Our Playground
Electricity
She's In Fashion
Can't Get Enough
Everything Will Flow                  
Can't Get Enough [Australian edition]
Positivity
Obsessions
Attitude [with Brett]
Attitude [without Brett]
Barriers                                       
It Starts And Ends With You       
Hit Me      
For The Strangers

Suede - 7" singles
24 x 7" singles
1 x booklet
                                                                                         
#1
The Drowners         
To The Birds                               

#2
Metal Mickey                              
Where The Pigs Don't Fly         

#3
Animal Nitrate         
The Big Time                              

#4
So Young                                   
High Rising                                 

#5
Stay Together                           
The Living Dead                          

#6
We Are The Pigs                       
Killing Of A Flash Boy                

#7
The Wild Ones                          
Modern Boys                               

#8
New Generation                        
Together

#9
Trash                         
Europe Is Our Playground            

#10
Beautiful Ones                          
Sound Of The Streets                 

#11
Saturday Night                         
This Time                                    

#12
Lazy         
Sadie                                            

#13
Filmstar                                      
Graffiti Women                           

#14
Electricity                 
Implement Yeah!                         

#15
She's In Fashion                       
God's Gift                                    

#16
Everything Will Flow
Leaving                                        


#17
Can't Get Enough                    
Let Go                                          

#18
Positivity                  
Simon                                          

#19
Obsessions [radio edit]          
Instant Sunshine        
                   
#20
Attitude                                      
Golden Gun                                 

#21
Barriers                                       
Falling Planes                             

#22
It Starts And Ends With You 
Dawn Chorus                              

#23
Hit Me                       
What Violet Says                        

#24
For The Strangers                    
Darkest Days

MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.suede.co.uk

Deacon Blue announce Summer Forest Gigs

Deacon Blue have announced concerts as part of the Forestry Commission’s Forest Live music series. Performing in spectacular woodland locations around the country the gigs will be their only headline shows in England this Summer. 

Deacon Blue are one of the most respected of all Scottish bands. Their melodic pop-rock style gained a fervent fan base through the release of several classic albums like ‘Raintown’, ‘When The World Knows Your Name’ and ‘Fellow Hoodlums’. With jazz and soul inspired melodies, the song-writing skills of front man Ricky Ross coupled with the soaring vocals of band member and wife, LorraineMcintosh are illustrated through the diversity of their repertoire with defining singles including ‘Real Gone Kid’, ‘When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)?’, ‘Chocolate Girl’, ‘Wages Day’, ‘Fergus Sings The Blues’, ‘Twist and Shout’, ‘Your Town’ and ‘Dignity’.

In 2012 Deacon Blue released their first album in over a decade, The Hipsters, which went Top 20, gained four stars from us “Deacon Blue have returned with all guns blazing and produced a record of incredible quality befitting the past and yet sounding new and exciting”  and was supported by a sold out UK tour. 

Watch the classic Real Gone Kid below..



Forest Live is an independent programme organised by the Forestry Commission bringing music to new audiences without commercial branding or sponsorship. Income from the concerts is spent on improving the woodland for both people and wildlife.

Commenting on the Forest Live dates, Ricky Ross told us, “This is a new adventure for the band. We are looking forward to bringing the full Deacon Blue live experience to these unique locations and we really hope you can join us.”

Deacon Blue plus guests will be performing:  
Saturday 28 June: Dalby Forest, Nr Pickering, N Yorks
Sunday 13 July: Thetford Forest, Nr Brandon, Suffolk
Saturday 19 July: Westonbirt Arboretum, Nr Tetbury, Glos 

Tickets £40.70 (including booking fee) go on sale from 9.00am Friday 28 February from 03000 680400 
or buy online www.forestry.gov.uk/music 
Info: www.deaconblue.com

James announce new album

Manchester band James make welcome return with ‘La Petite Mort’, on June 2nd, the first new full length James album in six years. Produced by Max Dingel (Killers. Muse, White Lies) and written as ever, by the band, with Tim Booth lyrics, predictably this new album is being described as ranking among their finest in their 30 year career.

The lead single ‘Moving On’, together with the anthemic ‘Curse Curse’ and ‘Frozen Britain’, which will be previewed from today online at www.wearejames.com


The band have been announced as headliners for ‘Summer in the City’, Castlefield Bowl, Manchester July 11th (which sold out on Friday in under an hour) and Camp Bestival, Dorset August 1st with more major festivals and a UK Arena tour to be announced shortly.

‘La Petite Mort’ was recorded in the wake of Tim Booth losing his mother and best friend in quick succession and understandably many of the songs deal with mortality, hence the album title. However, ‘La Petite Mort’, is described as an incredibly uplifting record, the initial tracks we have heard do bear this out.. 

We hope to have a full review shortly.

Review: Prince Live at Manchester Academy 21/2/14

Prince & 3RDEYEGIRL took their ‘Hit and Run’ tour out of London for the first time last night when they took over the Manchester Academy. Some questioned why the show cost £77 per ticket when some London shows were a tenner but once inside it was worth every penny. There was ahem controversy later though when a planned second show was cancelled..

Prince arriving at the Academy

On a wet and cold night Prince and the band turned the Academy into a furnace, creating a steamy atmosphere that started with a fifteen minute version of ‘Funk N Roll’, complete with lucky members of the crowd being pulled on stage to dance, and ran through without let up until the show finished after its fourth encore two and a half hours later!  My mate put it bluntly: "I think Prince got Manchester pregnant tonight!"


Underlining that no two performances on the ‘Hit and Run’ tour have been the same, Prince and the band changed gears again from their midweek fusion jazz set at the legendary Ronnie Scotts to send the Manchester audience wild with an explosive set of heavy rock and funk that included brand new tracks from the forthcoming 3RDEYEGIRL album ‘PLECTRUMELECTRUM’.



During the set the band performed a mix of catalogue classics and surprises that included ‘She’s Always In My Hair’, ‘A Love Bizarre’ and ‘I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man’.  Moving effortlessly from guitar to bass to keys, Prince threw down magical versions of rarely performed songs including ‘Sign of the Times’ and a full-length 'When Doves Cry' before encoring with a spine-chilling rendition of ‘Purple Rain’. Truly, many in the audience were overcome by tears.  

The show was the latest in Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL’s spontaneous ‘Hit and Run’ tour following history making performances at the Electric Ballroom, Shepherds Bush Empire, Kings Place, Koko and Ronnie Scotts. 

The band were due to play a second show immediately after this one, it was confirmed on twitter by the bands management but it was thought only 150 people turned up..at a reduced price of £35

Later, Martin Laws, commercial operations director, told us that Prince had had a 'change of heart' and decided to play for longer instead of playing a second show when only 150 people turned up for it.

The price had been dropped from £70 to £35 to reflect that, he added - but the reason for the reduction was not communicated to fans, who had waited for more than an hour in the rain.

"Not long after the announcement of the second show tonight they had a change of heart and another tweet went out saying they would be playing for longer and that anybody who was here inside the show already or who was in the queue was welcome," he said.

"That's why the second show was reduced to £35 and not £70.

"We have since agreed with them, immediately after the event, that it was only fair and proper that all the customers who had bought those 150 tickets and are able to produce them would be able to come in free on Saturday.


"Anybody who wishes to contact us and attend tomorrow can do so and they will get the full show."

The ‘Hit and Run’ Tour continues tonight, Saturday 22nd February with a further show at the Manchester Academy. As we went to press we heard rumours that a £1 per tickets show will happen either in the early hours of Sunday or on Sunday evening.

Leeds v Boro 27/2/2014 - Ikea Beckons..

And that was us having a go..

Against a team who haven't scored since the days when Curling was something we did sat on the bog, we mustered precisely no goals, no shots and no threats, Boro meanwhile conspired against themselves but subbing their most inventive and dangerous player, Butterfield mid was through the second half.

Butland made his debut and made us realise that in Kenny we have a good keeper, but could have a great keeper instead. Butland was decisive and brave, agile and alert.. a great start.

Elsewhere the jury is well and truly out on Kebe and Stewart, anonymous for the most part and insipid and timid when they did show. Where has the dangerous, attacking midfielder that ripped us apart when in his Reading colours.. Austin confirmed that relieving him of the captaincy has not infact freed him up to be the attacking inventive player he very occasionally suggests he could be. Noel Hunt, well you have to question his intelligence before anything else...if you are the furthest upfield player there will be nobody to flick your headers on to. Bless him though he did it not once, not twice.

If Mario Zaliukas can get banished after one bad game, v Sheff Weds, then those players and more must be making plans to have a wander around Ikea next weekend. 

Certainly the on watching Criminal must be wondering what we all see in Brian McDermott and for the first time I questioned myself today. I do believe in him and can honestly think of nobody I would rather have in charge. But as the squad become increasingly, signed by Bri rather than signed by Warnock, are we any better off, do we have a better shape, more options? Are we really any further forward. I suppose we can acknowledge that with the glorious deep pockets of GFH seemingly dry at the moment we continue to get players we can afford rather than the ones we truly want or indeed need. Thats why we believe in McDermott, he hasn't had a fair crack, lets hope that the crim recognises that and gives him the kind of support we think he deserves.

We still talk of a top 6 players, and its more due the fact that most of those above us fail to show any consistency that indeed it may still be possible but truth is, this was a game that screamed three points. Tricky games ahead will either raise our game - see the Leicester game at home, ok we lost but... - or see us sink into mid table nothingness.

With the takeover increasingly seeming to be settled early next week, interesting times are ahead, rumours of exciting young Italians coming to Elland Road will either excite Brian or terrify him and signal his days are numbered. It all depends on whether he learns about it first on twitter or not..

Scrap the Brits and the musical tosh

OK I will come out and say it, The Brits are getting worse and should be stopped from appearing on worldwide screens as it paints a shocking picture of this country and what a desperate state it in generally never mind musically.

I can hear you already, oh you are old / don’t like dance music / hanker after Britpop etc… Well one of these is partially true, one is totally true and one well just isn’t.

I have just watched last night’s Brits at 30x fast forward and while it wasn’t the Emile Sande show of 2013 it was depressing in the main as merely a vehicle for karaoke acts offering nothing new, not challenging anything and displaying a negligible level of talent. I won’t mention any names…

Music is an incredibly sensitive subject. Everybody has a different opinion on what constitutes a “good” record. That is down to people’s different tastes and predilections.

But in terms of “Pop” music, we can see that the years it has defined or at least reflected the new trends and appealed on a very broad scale to a lot of people. You can trace the history of popular culture through what was topping the music charts, or the fashion trends as they evolve over time.

But has pop music faltered of late? 

For while there have been different styles and trends having their effect on the chart music scene, the basic principles of a hit song have largely remained constant.

It used to be that an act was discovered through live performance. Now you cannot move for a new act being churned out of the industry like a machine gun with the trigger held down. Part of that is down to how cheap an act can be put together these days. Shows like the X-Factor get people on their phones paying them to do it.

It’s also down to how easy it is to make a professional record. The studio used to be a hallowed place you were lucky to get to. Now, any kid with a Mac with ProTools on it can do produce a record like a lot of the songs we hear now.

Will I Am tells us how many original ideas
he has ever had.

Will.I.Am calls himself a producer. Essentially what he “produces” is an unyielding electronic beat, some random lyrics about love or dancing, playing around with autotune and a guest singer – and repeat. Its not hard. That same process has been going on for years now among many acts because it is simple to do, and when it is played in a club people will move to it. Can anybody explain to me the specific difference between Calvin Harris and Example for, er, example. What precisely sets apart One Direction from the other boybands that have gone before them, apart from the fact they are younger?


So with everybody making music on their computer and pop acts just living in the studio, we end up with a very similar product that leaves little room for evolution.

Take a band like Coldplay who wouldn’t normally fit into the kind of category I am talking about. When they first tasted success with ‘Parachutes’, those songs were primarily written for and developed though live performance.

The second album ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’ gave them a chance to record in a proper studio but still retained their live creativity because it was still largely instrumental. The next album ‘X&Y’ involved more studio time, more computers and an overall more insular feel.

Similarly with Muse, a colleague of mine tells me how they read an article before the release of The Resistance where Matt Bellamy explained how they had lived in his house in Italy where he had a studio and recorded the whole album in there. Listening to the record, I could disappointingly tell. No matter what you can do with technology, you cannot replicate other human beings or another environment. Three guys in a small room with a computer sounds exactly that.

Now with popular music we have an influx of “real” musicians such as Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons, Jake Bugg, Emeli Sande among others. While I can respect their musicality, what they produce is something that is in no way groundbreaking, or challenging, not invigorating, and not entirely exciting.

It is simply because to balance the amount of manufactured acts we have on the one hand, the industry puts out these artists as if to say “Here’s some REAL musicians – they are just like you except they sing a couple of nice songs”.

It comes out quite pedestrian and safe. They make a lot of money for their respective labels because they appeal to so many – and in that broad appeal, they have to play it safe for everyone. 

Even any acts who have some real talent and originality are lead down this uniformed path. Looking back to previous issues of our mag Just Music,, we see how in late 2010 we were pointed by a friend to YouTube to check out this new singer called Jessie J. We watched her perform in a clip with her singing her song ‘Big White Room’ with just her and a man playing acoustic guitar. We really enjoyed it and said as much.

So then in 2011 when we heard her name being advertised we looked forward to her release. I was surprised when it turned out her first single was the musically repetitive, autotuned vocals and uninspiring processed beat number ‘Do it Like A Dude’. Even with her big voice, her music could have come from so many other acts vying to be number one. So then the only thing that set her apart was her fashion, the way she acted, or her photo-shoots.

The same can be said of Lady Gaga – her songs could very easily belong to many others. There is a thought also that if a song remains in your head, it’s a good song. That argument doesn’t stand up – any repetitive hook can remain in your memory, that doesn’t make it a triumph of composition. (E.g. “I know a song that’ll get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get on your nerves…”) That’s the thing, there is little musical identity, and the lines blur even further with the endless records So and so featuring so and so….

I have always think that if a song sounds good just yourself and a guitar or a piano, then it’s a good song. Because when you strip everything away, a good song should have a significant melody and quality lyrics. That’s what a song is; words to music. And exactly how many big songs of the last few years could do that?

So yes, to paraphrase Mr Turner from the Arctic’s Rock and Roll won’t ever go away, it might just have to shout a bit louder. Maybe take a leaf from Spinal Tap and turn it up to 11 (man)

Bingley Music Live - for under a tenner a month??

Bingley Music Live 2013 party was one hell of an event last year and was attended by 15,000 people. CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers were undoubtedly the star of the show, and were so priviledged to have been up on stage with him, The Human League and Primal Scream were the other headline acts turning in amazing set. As ever, businesses in the local area also benefited with several of them reporting an increase in trade by up to 200 per cent over the weekend.

This year's event will be on 29 - 31st September and the first few acts will be announced later this month. But a better bargain you will not find, a 3 day festival for less than £50 a ticket. BOOM

Adult tickets are an amazing £49 + bf so it doesn’t make sense to miss out. 

This year Bingley Music Live are launching their new monthly payment plans mean that BML stays affordable to all! Sign up before the end of March 2014 here and pay just £9.80 in five installments on the 28th of each month and receive a free lanyard and laminate (worth £5) thrown in for good measure! For the latest news on the event visit www.bingleymusiclive.com or follow them on Twitter @BingleyFestival or Facebook at www.facebook.com/BingleyMusicLive

Don’t worry - we’ve not forgotten the kids. A limited number of child tickets are also available (3 - 12 y/o) at just £34 + bf for the whole weekend and as we will be availaling ourselves of this year with babies first festival, under 3's go absolutely FREE!

24 hr ticket hotline Tel: 0871 220 0260

Treat Yourself, Hospitality at the Leeds First Direct Arena

You all know what we think of the Leeds First Direct Arena, its the best arena, and is fortunate to be in this countries greatest city.....and we aren't biased... The readers of our Just Music voted it overwhelmingly the best arena in our 2013 end of year poll, so we aren't alone in our thinking. 

But how about sampling one of the glittering shows they have coming up this year from a different perspective, go on, you know you are worth it..

Last month the arena launched its new The Luxury Experience package, offering added indulgence for an extra special and unforgettable Arena experience.

The new Luxury Experience package, available for select events throughout 2014, offers first direct arena patrons the opportunity to add luxury to their visit from start to finish. With amazing restaurants and hotels in the city, its an opportunity to have an amazing weekend, short break or even just night out. 

The package includes level 1 seating with spectacular views and early VIP entry into the Arena. Luxury Experience guests can also enjoy private access into the exclusive Premier Lounge, a reserved table, welcome drink and the option to pre-order gourmet dining before the show starts. 

The Luxury Experience packages have a very limited availability for each event and early booking is advised, Eric Clapton has sold out of luxury packages (although  a very limited number of standard tickets have become available today 18/2)  but availability for shows as diverse as X Factor, Torville and Dean, Miranda Hart and more. Visitors can find out more and book The Luxury Experience on the ‘Hospitality’ page of the first direct arena website www.firstdirectarena.com or, click on ‘The Luxury Experience’ next to the event.

The ever helpful Tony Watson, Director of Sales & Marketing told us: “We are thrilled to be launching The Luxury Experience and offering guests of the Arena something really special.  More often than not, families and friends are visiting the Arena for an occasion or a special night out so it’s great to be able to add indulgence to the experience for a truly unforgettable time.” 

To book, click here and have a look at the current packages available, or phone 01133 863 608

These luxury experience packages are sure to delight and impress those you care about the most! Now who is going to treat us??

Review: Atlas Pub Leeds, A Sunday Treat

We are always looking for new places to have a good old fashioned Sunday lunch, nothing pretentious just plenty of meat, roasties, yorkie puds etc...the works. Now that's not to say The Atlas pub on King Street in the centre of town ticks every box - new tats rather than roasties - tut tut but it does impress on almost every other level.

The Atlas is the latest offering from the people who brought you Pour house and Epernay in the city and that was sufficient pedigree to bring us here again.

Inside its a high-ceiling-ed, modern alehouse in sober shades of brown and tan. A crystal chandelier glints above a chrome spiral staircase which sweeps up towards the more intimate drinking space overhead
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Dining with my wife, two friends and their 12 year old son, we have previously visited for drinks as its one of relatively few bars in the city to serve both Leeds Pale and Ilkleys, Mary Jane on draft, our favourite pale ales, and so we availed ourselves while perusing the menu.

Now its not possible to check out the menus on line in advance as they have no website. Sort your it out chaps, how long has it been "coming soon" I am sure I don't need to tell you how important a tool it is these days..

And so to the food, opting straight for mains, tow of us opted for the sunday lunch, which proved a good Yorkshire plate full, tasting freshly prepared and with the exception of roast potatoes, everything you would look for. Elsewhere we had the seabass with crayfish risotto and which was impressively served but desperately in need of side orders. The swirl of butternut squash and sliver of parma ham would not suffice. The wife however described it as gorgeous and flavoursome and so we found ourselves with a healthy bowl of proper chips to share across the table, not exactly chunky but not yer skinny runts either.. A side note though, the side dishes available are limited and do not offer anything that could be remotely described as a salad, this would have been a preferred option for my wife at least.


 Deserts were to be had, having a penchant for salted caramel then the chocolate torte with aforementioned caramel, honeycomb ice cream and whiskey crumble was going to be hard to resist, and it taste and looks more than matched the words...superb. Again our more healthy friends opted for a cheeseboard the size of which prompted one of them to question if this was not the board from which to choose the cheese they wanted rather than there own to devour.


The bar was quiet, just three or four other diners and based on the selection of beers and quality of food on offer we hope it thrives. Its a sad fact that the location, on the corner of King Street and St Paul Street has failed to support, well, almost anything in recent years, most recently Create.

Service was friendly and swift, price point, £88 for 4 mains plus 1 childs, two pints draught, one glass wine and two soft drinks, two deserts, one and a half cheese boards represent good value for the the city centre. 

Our first dining experience at Atlas wont be our last, the fact that it couples as an alehouse with an impressive selection of cask ales and beers - a great shame that Leeds pale was off today - makes it more than likely it will be seen. Its family friendly, foodie friendly and beer snob friendly too so should do well. For our part we hope it does. Impressive.

Atlas Pub Leeds https://twitter.com/AtlasPubLeeds
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