Wildbirds & peacedrums
Wildbirds & Peacedrums
by Meg
Swedish duo Mariam Wallentin and Andreas Werliin (who also happen to be married) make a strange kind of pop music. Using the bare minimum of instrumentation - namely Andreas' drum kit and Mariam's powerful, sassy vocals - their music is difficult to compare to anything that's come before them. With influences ranging from punk-rock to post-rock and everything inbetween, Wildbirds & Peacedrums really do have to be seen to be believed - and the fact that they're mesmerizing live is just another reason to catch them on their current UK tour.
See Wildbirds & Peacedrums tour dates >
Tinariwen
Tinariwen
by Ben
An 11-piece band of political exiles from the deserts of Mali, Tinariwen (whose name means 'Empty Places'), have been playing since 1982 when they formed in Moammar al-Qadhafi's camps of Tuareg rebels. However, only in the last decade have they started to receive worldwide attention, starting with their first album on CD in 2000 and culminating in 2007's Aman Iman album ('Water is Life'), produced by Justin Adams (Robert Plant's guitarist). Singing in French and Tanashek, Tinariwen conjure up sandstorms of chiming guitars, both in long swirling drones and shorter, angry flurries of notes, coupled with galloping percussion-led rhythms, snaking basslines and eerie call-and-response vocals.
Mugstar
Mugstar
by Alex
Liverpool's bold upstarts of psychedelic heavy rock, or 'the sound of 10,000 suns exploding, pulsing with repetitive beauty, pounding like a supersonic mantra'. Mugstar exist to satisfy anyone who's ever enjoyed loud music, guitars, psychedelia or good things. With their colourful, searing sound they've graced supports with Acid Mothers Temple, Mogwai, Melt-Banana and Mudhoney so far, and it's no wonder. Go and see this explosive riff-fest as soon as possible.
Kurt Cobain
Forever 27
by Graham
Unless you’ve been living in an igloo in the northern regions of Canada for the last 50 years, you will no doubt have heard of the infamous 27 Club. Consisting of the untimely deaths of some rock'n'roll greats, the 27 Club has a long and growing list of talented musicians that have quite literally 'burnt out' at this tender age. Camden's Proud Gallery is exploring this fascinating musicians club with a photography exhibition highlighting the lives of its most popular members; Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrison. With rare and unseen images from famous photographers, this is an exhibition to be investigated by any avid music fan. Oh, and check this out; the exhibition is free. Very handy.
