22nd Carefully Planned All-Dayer @ Gullivers, 17.05.14

“Punching your door through / Smashing windows”. Well it was the hottest day of the year so far, so add to the mixture more flammable components of a Saturday afternoon, plus alcohol, and it doesn’t seem an unusual news report from most town centres.

On this occasion it’s Emma Kupa (aka Cooper) who is reciting the lyric from one of her songs. Accompanied by a drummer, the low-key acoustic set is a series of tales whose music may be light and summery, but with lyrics containing dark, threatening and at times humorous tones. The Lemonheads/Evan Dando came to mind while listening to the duo. When you discover her collaboration with Darren Hayman, formerly of Hefner, the connection seems obvious.

A performer can put so much effort into creating an atmosphere to match the mood of the songs, yet the trill of a mobile phone’s ring tone can easily break that mood. Congratulations to Tekla for not allowing said tone to disturb her concentration. She is the first artist to appear on this Carefully Planned event bill. Sat on a stool, she gently picks the guitar strings, softly relaying stories about storms and the pitter patter of raindrops, whilst sun cracks the flagstones outside.

The running order of the bands is planned carefully so that the pace of the music increases steadily throughout the day, with the joyfully delivered thrash of Bad Grammar being eagerly received. Ben (guitar) and Lucy (drums) look like they are enjoying the music as much as the audience. Almost.

Beware of the quiet ones the saying goes. The four who make up Axes just seem too, well, polite to deliver the crashing noise that their set conjures up. A math rock fury engrossed the steadily increasing crowd. Think 65daysofstatic flecked with touches of Rolo Tomassi (two Sheffield-based bands) smelted together with their own individuality and you will end up with Axes.

There were other bands performing during the day, so people could nip out for the FA Cup final knowing that the event went on till after 11. With this taster for the annual two-day festival spread over several venues, which was recently announced for October, the future looks bright.

Words & photos: Ged Camera

Swing Dance Collective Presents @ Kraak, 17.02.13

How ironic that the organisers are titled the Swing Dance Collective, conjuring up images from the ‘30s when a band was more likely to comprise a brass section than a guitarist, and everyone wore the group’s uniform. Tonight’s event is a maelstrom of furious intensity, plus a more unusual type of uniform.


First up are Bad Grammar, a duo comprising of Lucy Brown on drums and Ben Forrester on guitar. Forrester has a voice that at times resembles Dave Grohl’s, as fiery riffs bounce around. At this time of the weekend, a Sunday night, most people are winding down in preparation for a return to work the next day, but they let fly with a fairly brutal display that clears any lethargy.


The more unusual uniforms are worn by Alpha Male Tea Party. Looking like they have walked from a crime scene, Tom Peters (guitar), Ben Griffiths (bass) and Chapman (drums) are dressed in all white, zip up radiation suits. Or it could be a giant condom. As they invite people closer to the stage they do apologise for the smell. Well they have played the last few nights in Hartlepool, Northampton, Liverpool (their home town) and now Manchester in the same outfits which they acknowledge as being drenched in sweat. Plus some other types of fluids.

Loud and proud in performance, the recent gigs have allowed the trio to develop their harmonies and timing in an intense manner. How apt for times like these that a band should have a song titled ‘Tastes Like Dog’, presumably recorded in a more prescient moment. They announce that they have some CDs on sale but after their tour the only change they have is in the form of “Durex Pleasuremax or Euros”. I’m not sure how well that went down with the parents of one band member, who were in the audience.


A second band from the west end of the M62 is Vasco Da Gama, who comprise of John Crawford, Chris Lynn, David Kelly and Joe Falconer. With a more intricate weave of sounds, full of stop-start arrangements and intricate guitar works, they more than keep their followers here tonight entertained.


Axes close the night, which is probably a good thing as I think they arrive 15 minutes before they go onstage. They are almost a distillation of the three bands that precede them; loud, vibrant and entertaining. The stage is barely able to contain the four-piece as the front three move across the stage furiously attacking their guitars with a swinging (yes, I know) onslaught of strings to provide a suitably fiery climax to a swinging night.

Words & photography: Ged Camera.