It’s been almost a year since I’ve written one of these – having done it at The Edge for two years – but it’s finally time to pick it back up again now that I have something resembling free time again. July 2018 was a whirlwind of flat hunting and graduating, August was spent making tea at the wonderful Brighton Bird & Blend Tea branch, and from September until January this year I was studying for my NCTJ qualifications.
Now that I actually have WiFi in my flat (I spent six months connecting to a BT WiFi hotspot at the bottom of my road that liked to cut out if I was in the wrong half of my flat), it’s time to highlight the best that Brighton has to offer – and my god, it has a lot to offer. This month’s special mention goes to Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs and their sold out Brighton gig tomorrow at The Haunt, because I still don’t understand them but I love them regardless.
Who? The Manatees
Where? Sussex Arms, Tunbridge Wells
When? April 5
Why? Southampton indie-pop band The Manatees formed back in 2016, and in just three years have quite the active fan base. They’ve been selling out venues across the south, including iconic Southampton venue The Joiners, and it’s clear from their sound that their inspirations include The Magic Gang and Circa Waves. With introspective lyrics and an infectiously catchy sound, these guys are 100% worth checking out. Tickets here!
THE MANATEES – ‘Milan’ | OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
‘Milan’ – The Manatees ************************* GO LISTEN TO OUR MUSIC HERE: ITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/the-manatees/1191915337 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/0Rme7Jn9ZebA8BhkrqF5hy?si=QnDtsB1YQReXdhcLvIJFlw SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/the-manatees-323318027/milan FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA HERE: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/themanateesofficial/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/themanateesofficial TOUR TICKETS: https://www.seetickets.com/tour/the-manatees
Who? Girli
Where? The Haunt, Brighton
When? April 13
Why? My review of Girli‘s gig for The Edge last year is, to my knowledge, the only one to have been written entirely in pink because for it to have appeared in another colour would have done her a disservice. But don’t be fooled by her favourite colour (no prizes for guessing correctly), teenage following and general bubblegum pop aesthetic, because her lyrics cover everything from falling in love to the current state of politics. Basically, she’s a million times cooler than I ever dreamed of being when I was a teenager and her songs are far too catchy. Prepare to have her refrains circling your head for days – get your tickets here.
Who? Nilüfer Yanya
Where? The Haunt, Brighton
When? April 14
Why? Almost a million monthly listeners can’t be wrong – well, they can, but this time they’re definitely not, I promise. 24-year-old Nilüfer Yanya was headhunted at the age of 20 when a music executive found her on SoundCloud and asked if she wanted to join a girl band but she decided to make her own way into the industry, and it’s a decision that’s definitely paid off. She’s toured with The xx, just released her debut album, and was longlisted by BBC for their Music Sound of 2018 alongside the likes of Sigrid, Pale Waves, and Lewis Capaldi. Tickets available here!
Nilüfer Yanya – In Your Head (Official Video)
Nilüfer Yanya’s debut album, Miss Universe, is out now on ATO Records. Order Miss Universe here: http://smarturl.it/missuniverse Follow Nilüfer Yanya: https://www.facebook.com/niluferyanya/ https://twitter.com/niluferyanya https://www.instagram.com/niluferyanyaaaaaa/ https://soundcloud.com/niluferyanya Production company: GiF Production Director: Molly Daniel Producer: Nikola Vasakova DOP: Sonja Tsypin 1st AC: Torin Bradshaw Wardrobe: Angelique De Raffaele Editor: Clémentine Bartaud Grade: Jack Tashdjian Lyrics: I’ve hit bottom rock Swear I’m telling the truth But, down here I’m dark & confused I cannot tell if I’m paranoid Or its all in my head It’s all in my head.
Who? The Hard Aches + Happy Accidents
Where? The Hope & Ruin, Brighton
When? April 16
Why? I recently rediscovered Happy Accidents‘ 5-track 2014 EP Not Yet Jaded and remembered how much I love this effortlessly cool band. I saw them for the first time at The Joiners, my favourite venue in Southampton, supporting The Front Bottoms, my favourite band, so my love affair with them was inevitable really. I even trekked through the snow in March 2018 to see them in a tiny pub, that’s how deep my love for them is, and it’s really exciting to see how far they’ve come over the five years that I’ve been listening to them. As for two-piece rock band The Hard Aches, who hail from Adelaide, their second album Mess came out last April and is widely hailed as an excellent concept album based around mental health problems, with a positive spin. I can already tell this gig is going to be something incredible – as most gigs at The Hope & Ruin tend to be. Tickets available here!
The Hard Aches – I Feel Like I’m Dying (Official Music Video)
‘I Feel Like I’m Dying’ is the latest single from The Hard Aches’ 2018 album, ‘Mess’. Available now www.anchorhead.com.au! Directed, shot and edited by Kieran Ellis-Jones. http://www.facebook.com/crystalarrowfilms https://www.facebook.com/TheHardAches https://twitter.com/TheHardAches https://www.instagram.com/thehardaches/
Happy Accidents – Text Me When You’re Home
Video by Happy Accident and Jono Ganz. Taken from our new album Everything But The Here And Now Out February 16th on Alcopop! Records Thanks to our friends at The Montague Arms for letting us use the space!
Who? The Undercover Hippy
Where? The Brunswick, Hove
When? April 25
Why? Fun fact: every time I’ve seen The Undercover Hippy, aka Billy Rowan, he’s been far too talented and a delightful person to talk to. His reggae-tinged music merges some sweet, sweet rhythms with cutting lyrics and powerful political messages, as well as the reminder to “check yourself before you wet yourself”. If that doesn’t make much sense, do listen to the song below – I promise, it’s 100% worth it. Rowan is what you’d get if you mixed a comedy tent with a protest, and every second of his live shows are ridiculously good. If you can’t make this gig then it’s not the end of the world because the amount of gigs and festival appearances he and his band make are too many to count. Tickets here!
The Undercover Hippy – Bristol Peeps // Harboured Sounds Session
This weeks session we are joined by Billy and friends A.K.A The Undercover Hippy. They took some time out of touring and being undercover to make this session dedicated to our ‘Bristol Peeps’ check it! Unique performances in a unique space. Harboured Sounds is setting sail to the Bristol music scene capturing memories in a harboured media space.
I haven’t been to anywhere near enough gigs this year, so let’s change that! Let me know if you’ve found anything here that’s piqued your interest, and what gigs you’re planning on going to this month.
To listen to each month’s top picks in one convenient place, check out the Spotify playlist below:
https://open.spotify.com/user/1141680305/playlist/3YFLDkO4QCYSy0iQSQCEli?si=3svJ_UI4TlqNrfKU0yjDag
GIRLI – Deal With It
DEAL WITH IT OUT NOW https://girli.lnk.to/DWI FROM MY DEBUT ALBUM ‘ODD ONE OUT’ COMING 5TH APRIL ❤ PRE-ORDER HEREEEEE https://girli.lnk.to/OOO ALSO I’M GOING ON TOUR IN APRILLLL https://girlimusic.com/live/ FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS??? YAY https://www.instagram.com/girlimusic/ https://twitter.com/girlimusic https://www.facebook.com/girlimusic/ Music video by GIRLI performing Deal With It.