In photos // Kendrick Lamar @ The Ritz

How have I not posted since last year?! I'm sorry dear blogsphere, I'LL NEVER ABANDON YOU AGAIN! Now that deadline season is no longer (REJOICE!), my Artrocker column will be back next week and more interviews are on the way along with exciting writing news for moi, sit tight! In the mean time, Kelly and I went and caught Kendrick Lamar's debut Manchester show last night and I took some shots of which you can see below- BIG thankyou to Stephanie at Universal for getting us in, you are a god among (wo)men! It was amazing, overwhelming, humbling and Kendrick is just absolutely off the scale, no debate...

Words and Images by Yours Truly X

In Photos // Dan Deacon @ Islington Mill

Don't worry guys, I'm alive- freshers week didn't quite kill me off (although I did gain my second facial injury of the year, UGH)! I've been reuniting with everyone via corndog catch-ups, visits to friends' wonderful new apartments and working even harder, so much so that I swear I'll be glad to finally get back to uni! Also, Wednesday's #VICElaunch for The Weird Science Issue was super fun thanks to Girls on Film playing non-stop Madonna and Prince along with Lil Silva dropping Zomby to a load of confused first-years- oh and shoutout to Bench for the free drinks and giveaways! Last night, I also finally caught Dan Deacon live (Dent May supported too and he even did the infamous tunnel into the streets of Salford ♡) at one of my favourite venues ever involving Budvar and dance-offs; it was beautiful, no-one rocks a show like this man- some snaps are below! It's bloody good to be back, interviews coming soon!

Words and Images by Yours Truly X

In Photos // Japandroids @ Soup Kitchen

Remember I said I was going to see Japandroids on Wednesday? Well, I did and it was totally off the scale RAD- if you're lucky enough to catch them on this tour, don't miss it! Oh and Cadence Weapon supported which was also cool and included Kuhrye-oo providing the beats and sampling Eight. I missed the encore as I had to rush across Northern Quarter to get to work on time but here are some pictures from the gig on FS and below, now, stop sitting inside, pre-order their new album Celebration Rock and get in the sunshine, HOLLLAAAAAAAA X

Words and images by yours truly

Freedom Spark Playlist // March

WHAT. A. WEEKEND. Friday I caught Sleigh Bells live on their 'Reign of Terror' tour (seeing them on their 'Treats' tour back in 2010 blew me away and I'm not the biggest fan of their second full-length but they have certainly got me back on side after this show.), followed by a Saturday catching up with old friends, making new ones, getting drunk and watching fabulous bands in Wakefield- ALL before seeing The Cribs up in Leeds- and bloody hell the Jarman Brothers have still, inevitably, got it. Also, I curate monthly playlists' on FreedomSpark, don't you know, and March plays host to the first one that doesn't follow a theme. You can catch it here, although if I know you and you're reading this, you're probs annoyed with my overplayed choices from this month (My bad, flatmates!), otherwise crank up the volume and enjoy the sunshine! Happy Monday! x

Ryan Jarman of The Cribs, taken by yours truly