Looks like Sonic Boom Six are about ready to go into the studio, judging from Laila's FaceBook page, excellent stuff.

I've been having a day listening to The Specials first album today, for a retrospective piece I'm writing. I doubt I've listened to it more than twice in the last five years, but it still seems as sharp as it ever did.

Top stuff.

Anyone got any experience (good or bad) re. rolling up to the MEN Arena (or similar) and buying a ticket off a tout?

I'm thinking that if a gig isn't sold out, there might be a good possibility of less than face value tickets?

I know there's always the risk of said ticket not guaranteeing entry...

Are they any good? I'll be seeing them at Kendal Calling. I've not heard any of their stuff but the look put me off a bit (I know, don't judge a book ...). They looked a bit like Westworld to my mind (if anyone remembers them!).

Well worth a listen mate.

Cheers BG - I'll give them a go.

New Arctic Monkeys album is actually very good!

Can't really lose, every time a new band gets mentioned here I'll go off and have a listen, some good some bloody terrible but I'd never find out if I didn't.

Very true. That's how I worked last year at the festival and I found some cracking bands. Always good to have a recommendation though, to help me prioritise which performance tent to go to

Oh no, I want to tear my ears off, stamp on them and then throw them onto the fire.

They've been subjected to Sharon Corr's BUTCHERY of The Blue Nile classic 'Tinseltown In The Rain'.

It's sung with all the emotion of someone reading out a chinese takeaway menu, and the 'music' behind this dirge is TRASH.

There should be a law against this kind of stuff.

Been listening to Young The Giant this week along with Chapel Club

Any links you can throw out?

PM if you prefer.

This week I have been mostly listening to Kraftwerk. Hard to believe that the really good stuff is almost 40 years old. Still sounds fresh today