There was an earlier start on Day 2 of Takedown Festival but at least I knew where everything was now and my leg muscle memory kicked in as I started to dart between all the musical goodness on offer across the three stages. From a punter’s point of view, this festival was extremely well organised. … Continue reading Festival Review: Takedown Festival 2025 (Day 2) – Portsmouth Guildhall (5th April 2025)
Author: SteveD
Musical explorer, proofreader, bookkeeper, chicken whisperer
Takedown Festival had to be cancelled last year and so I was very pleased to get the green light to attend this year’s festivities instead. Having been brought up in Fareham (a kind of no-mans-land between Pompey and Southampton), I went to some of my earliest gigs at Portsmouth Guildhall, Hawkwind being the very first. … Continue reading Festival Review: Takedown Festival 2025 (Day 1) – Portsmouth Guildhall (4th April 2025)
The ers Arms in Southampton is a compact venue with quite some history behind it. They are celebrating their 55th Anniversary as a live music venue this year, which is pretty incredible in this day and age, when you think about it. All I can say is: long may this friendly and welcoming venue continue … Continue reading Gig Review: Raging Speedhorn / Kill The Lights / Sunk – The ers Arms, Southampton (18th March 2025)
Having had such a great time at Hammerdown Festival earlier in the year, I decided to brave the wind and the rain to make my way to a stormwave-lashed Brighton for their shorter, winter cousin. This one day event was not on my social calendar until a rather desperate post was put out on social … Continue reading Gig Review: Hammerdown Winter Militia 2K24 – The Arch, Brighton (7th December 2024)
The Green Door Store is a characterful little venue hiding under the arches of Brighton Railway Station and I have seen some interesting up-and-coming acts play in its industrial surrounds over the years (including Missouri punkers Radkey, no less). The first thing to comment on is the fantastic quality of the sound mix this evening. … Continue reading Gig Review: Crimson Veil / Crowgod – The Green Door Store, Brighton (5th November 2024)
And so, on to Sunday’s festivities. I made my way to the Firestarter Stage, hair of the dog in hand, and expected to see Big River cranking up but no… the rumour was that they had to pull out for personal reasons (hope all is ok now guys). Medway trio Gianni Scalera and The Jury … Continue reading Festival Review: Maid of Stone 2024 Part 2 – Sunday 21st July