Sunday 16th December 07 - Lucy Kaplansky and Miles Cain at York NCEM By Steve Rudd

York native Miles Cain opened proceedings with aplomb, drawing the humbly assembled crowd into his Folk-infused music with affable charm. His strong, superbly soulful voice perfectly complimented his lush acoustic guitar melodies, with the fantastic acoustics of the venue - a church, no less - serving his songs well. Any fan of Martyn Joseph is bound to love his music, with the universal themes of love and loss dominating his beautifully conceived tunes of wonder.

Visiting York on a whistle-stop four-date tour of the UK, this was Lucy Kaplansky's first time back on English soil in five years - and even though she was only over here for the week, she admitted that she was missing her daughter like crazy. Singer-songwriter extraordinaire Lucy Kaplansky grew up in Chicago and started singing in bars when she was young. It was when she moved to New York, however, and began performing in Greenwich Village when her career in the music industry began to take off.

Ingratiating herself with the burgeoning Alt.-Folk scene at the time, she soon became friends with the likes of Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin. In 1994, Lucy got around to releasing her debut album, with her latest release - Over The Hills - being her sixth long-player.

Given that she was playing so few UK dates, it was even more of a treat to get to see her - and in no way did her extraordinary set disappoint. Performing a glorious mixture of songs spanning her glittering career, a great many tunes were understandably from her latest release, including Manhattan Moon and her spirited cover version of Johnny Cash's legendary Ring Of Fire anthem. She openly admitted that she was full of cold, going so far as to munch cough sweets during her set, but her voice still somehow sounded sublime.

A natural performer, Lucy has the ability to win over crowds in an instant, not least because she appears to be so at-ease on stage, rewarding the crowd with witty anecdotes galore concerning the back-stories to many of her songs.

For the majority of her set, it was just her and her acoustic guitar up on stage, yet she did glide over to the piano for a few songs, including an astounding rendition of The Beatles classic, Let It Be, telling the audience how Paul McCartney penned the song in tribute to his mum (the Mother Mary in the lyrics) who often used to tell the young Paul to Let it be. This was Lucy's first-ever visit to York; still, she'd squandered no time earlier in the day when she visited the world-famous Shambles, where she bought a Christmas present for her daughter.

And it isn't just on-stage where she's at her most charismatic either, because as soon as she'd finished her frankly brilliant set, she headed into the lobby to sign CDs for people. She might have been feeling lousy, but she looked radiant and seemed genuinely thrilled to be meeting and greeting her fans. Let's just hope that she doesn't wait another five years before she returns to our shores... www.lucykaplansky.com/site.html www.myspace.com/lucykaplansky www.milescain.com www.myspace.com/milescainukinformation

People - An Interview with Lucy Kaplansky By Steve Rudd
	New Yorker Lucy Kaplansky is a renowned Folk/ Country singer-songwriter who recently unleashed her latest album, Over The Hills. Born and raised in Chicago, Lucy moved to New York in her late teens, where she got involved with the Folk scene in Greenwich Village, going on to play with the likes of Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin. In 1994 she released her much-anticipated Read more...

Music Reviews - Friday 28th December 07 - The Sorry Loves, Fact is Fiction and Kick Riot at ThisisUll Live at The Adelphi By Michelle Dee
	Every one of you did us proud. We thank you from the bottom of our memory cart. Fact is Fiction delivered despite their nerves and cowbell issues, they pulled it off with their forward thinking, sparkly indie sounds. A new looking band that given time, will become a regular on the local circuit. Think Pigeon Detectives but from Ull. So Kick Riot turned Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 13th December 07 - It's A Happening at The New Adelphi By Martin Wellbourne
	When an event is promoted as a 60s-style melange of music, spoken word, and visuals - a tribute to the sort of binge that kept hundreds of Deadheads from stinking the Frisco streets out with patchouli oil and savage body odour for hours at a stretch - the experienced reviewer grits his teeth; it will be, he knows, a mixed bag. This sort of thing, back 'in the day' Read more...

Music Reviews - Friday 23rd November 07 - ThisisUll Live at The Adelphi Featuring Awful Scenes The Cliques And The Charge By Michelle Dee
	New Brit rock band The Charge opened the night with self assured style, amidst much shouting from a whole bunch of unruly fans. It's back to the mid nineties for these lads so if you are in the mood for a window back to those mad for it days, and some rowdy optimistic sing along tunes such as Voodoo and She Goes On then these are the ones for you. Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 15th December ThisisUll.com Christmas Bash At New Adelphi Club With Dirty Dreamers (featuring Dave Meilhan original Dreamers drummer) The Favours, Fifty Nine Violets with special acoustic sounds from Martin Clappison By Michelle Dee
	Hey everybody huge thanks and Merry Christmas to everyone who came to our gig last night and a bigger one if you happened to buy a teeshirt, CD or car-sticker. The turnout was good with a healthy mixed crowd of young fans and older heads, each one getting into the groove in their own way. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 21st November 07 - Plugged Press Night by Phil James
	Production Values have organised two exciting showcase events in aid of the Viking FM For the Kids charity. Plugged boasts a diverse range of electric and acoustic acts in an 'East meets West' Yorkshire celebration of new music and live music talent. At the press event, held at the Riverside Theatre, Hull, I was welcomed by an enthusiastic ... Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 21st November 07 - Circus Envy and Stickpin at Durty Nelly's By Nicki Stylianou
	Having read Martin Wellbourne's review of the Circus Envy/Stickpin gig at Durty Nelly's I feel inclined to write one of my own. Stickpin played well and showed potential with their songs. They played against the England v Croatia background which was on the telly, not easy, but most people paid attention to the band and gave them support. Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 17th October 07 - TopGun At The Adelphi Club By Michelle Dee
	It was a strange night in Adelphi, when I saw these two crazy ass mofos do their DJ thang, it was another crazy night when I saw TopGun the band. They took to the stage in giant sumo suits and proceeded to play electro fuzz stoner pop. They kicked the proverbial posterior. The crowd lapped up their hapless madcap routines and shambolic stage show. Read more...

Music Reviews - Friday 9th November 07 - Mostly Autumn at York Grand Opera House By Steve Rudd
	Back playing in York for what lead guitarist Bryan presumed must have been the first time in some ten years, the eight-member-strong Prog-Rockers in Mostly Autumn ceremoniously brought the house down. One of the finest live bands in the land, Mostly Autumn are an incredible band that belts out truly epic songs, incorporating all manner Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 21st November 07 - Circus Envy and Stickpin at Durty Nelly's By Martin Wellbourne
	The Band Apart night at Durty Nelly's has - should you not already be aware - been running for some time now, allowing bands the chance to showcase their talents (where applicable) in a slightly more intimate setting than the frenetic, scene-driven skinny-jean-maelstrom of such events as The Sesh et al. Generally well attended, it's a relaxed Read more...

Music Reviews - 26th September ThisisUll Live Presents Kill Surf City, Riley and the Mumps and Michelle Dee At The Adelphi Club By Michelle Dee
	It's Friday night. It's the end of the month and despite GST Cardinals getting discombobulated over which month they were playing, ThisisUll Live is showcasing two very fine bands and a bit of spoken word, verse and vibe down the Adelphi. As is now customary at ThisisUll Live shows I got up on stage to welcome the crowd and introduce the acts. Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 24th September 07 - Six Nation State and The Cherry Cobb Cartel At Lamp By Michelle Dee
	It's Tuesday evening and a host of text messages fill my phone begging my presence at this gig at that gig. My poor tortured synapses threaten to snap. I'm drowning under a sea of demands when one more text alerts me. This one of the personal nature addressed to me, and describes the feelings of utter pleasure their band would have on seeing me. Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 24th October 07 - Shoot the Moon, The James Dean Syndrome & Santa's Buggerboyz at Lamp By Philip Wincolmlee Barnes
	What's in a name? I do think about names a lot, not so much as a profound philosophical inquiry, but probably because I simply have too much time on my hands. So, what's with Shoot the Moon? I might have been being dense (and it wouldn't be the first time), but it wasn't a moniker that conjured up a specific sound or musical ethos - unless it's some sort Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 11th October 07 - Battle Of the Bands Wild Card Semi-Final at Ringside. Words and Photographs by ChrisWPhotography
	Just looking at the line up for tonight got me excited! Five of the best bands in Hull are competing for a place in the final of Battle of the Bands. As soon as I arrived at the venue, I could feel the electricity running through the room; every band ready to play and I couldn't wait for it to start. Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 27th September 07 - Music Exchange featuring Dave Abbott Jess Banister The Harri Watts Band and Ernest (Rare Acoustic Performance) By Michelle Dee
	The Music Exchange night organised and run by Dave Watts and Derek Harrison from The Harri Watts Band is most certainly a civilised way to enjoy live music in the city. I remark as much, to early arrival, Jim (Ernest bassist) as we tuck into the chicken curry and chips included ... Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday 5th August 07 - Piney Gir, Analogue Consumption and Wendy at The Adelphi By James McGuire
	The evening saw the Piney Gir Roadshow come to The Adelphi, supported by Analogue Consumption and the Adelphi's own Wendy. First up was Wendy, with her sweet vocals and calming acoustic sounds. Even though there were a few minor technical hiccups with the backing track, the audience loved her cat related performance. Read more...

Music Reviews - Live Music Reviews - Saturday 22nd September Metieval Festival Beverley Memorial Hall By Michelle Dee 14 Page Photo Gallery by Cilla and Michelle
	A heavy metal festival in Beverley? Sounds like fun, so donning my Sworn Amongst tshirt, Cilla and I drove down to the sleepy market town. Cilla announced almost as soon as we were inside the darkened confines of Beverley Memorial Hall that she was really up for it, and immediately began snapping Face of Scars who were already on stage. Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday 26th September 07 - Acoustic Gathering II at Peasholm Park, Scarborough By David Wright Photographs By Danielle Millea from efestivals
	Peasholm Park looks beautiful tonight. Headliner Chris Helme is singing a gentle song called Pure, his fragile voice floats above flickering candles, up to the recently rebuilt oriental Pagoda. Blinded By The Sun, a song he wrote for his former band The Seahorses sounds refreshing, stripped down to just guitar and voice. A.G. 2 began perfectly at midday, with 15 year old Alastair Schmuck; his version of Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 17th September 07 - Open Mic Night at the Adelphi Club featuring So So Modern By Michelle Dee Our (Kiwi) Friends Electric
	Another open mic review from Adelphi - that must mean Paul Jackson is booking some great bands for the very popular Monday nights. Yes it may be free but it's still hugely popular with the growing hip hop and rap fans. They take to the stage after practicing their rhymes in the cold and wet giving the smokers something to listen to Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 13th September - Hull Explosion - The Talks and The Favours At The Welly Club By Michelle Dee
	Much anticipated by local media, laudable attempts by BBC Look North to promote The Favours and The Talks recently, via coverage of Grassroots, and Favours interview plus live performance of their new single, Islands the night before the Hull leg, should have made this one of the hottest tickets for months. As it was, the Hull date Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 21st July 07 - Over The Wall at Gallery 49, Bridlington By Katie Ashworth
	A poetry and music night in an art gallery in Bridlington? Sounded fun - so off we went to Gallery 49, which although small, managed to fit in a lot of people! Performers that night included a French accordion player named Jon Pierre, Fudgey playing some acoustic songs, Phill Wilson/MyOneManBand with a more stripped-down pedal arrangement and a band called Over The Wall. Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 10th September 07 - The Skies At Open Mic Night at Adelphi Club By Michelle Dee
	You never know what you're going to get at Adelphi on a Monday, the flyer states featuring the best and sometimes worst that Hull has to offer, but ever so often there's a full band on, after the individual slots. I've seen a great band Alfa 9 on one of these nights as well as artists like, Paolo Nutini, Paul The Girl, and others, so if you pick the right Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 1st September 07 - East Park Rocks Hull By Michelle Dee
	I arrive at East Park and make my way straight to the main stage. I'm late due to having been to see Tonik and new singer/songwriter Tom Dorridge. Both were in fine fettle at Alderman Kneeshaw Park open day on Amethyst Rd. A good sound being provided by the Springboard chaps from Cottingham and a bright sunny day to listen to Read more...