Tuesday 28 December 09 - Late Night Fiction, Turismo, The Holy Orders, Fudgey and The Acrobats at The Sesh By Katie Ashworth www.nsrlive.co.uk

Wandering towards Linnet and Lark at 10.30pm and I was impressed. I'd never been to The Sesh before, for some strange reason, so I had no idea what to expect. First impression: the place is packed; the people smoking outside are spilling from the terrace into the car park. Inside, the bar is busy, people filling the dance floor in front of the stage. I could barely move without having to push past someone, but I finally located my friends. The friend was Fudgey, who had been the first act. I'd had prior commitments, so unfortunately I missed Fudgey and The Acrobats. Myspaces are below and I would seriously recommend having a listen.

The Holy Orders were a few songs into their set when I arrived. Sitting down at a table with Fudgey, we listened as Matt Edible (of The Edible 5ft Smiths) fronted what has to be one of Hull's consistently best bands. I've seen Matt perform countless times at The Adelphi, but this was the first time I'd seen him with the full band. They are fantastic musicians, and Matt has a voice that cuts through the powerful indie rock. Very catchy, recognisable and exciting stuff! Turismo were a band that I have heard so much about, but never had the opportunity to see. From the start, they had the audience singing along to their bouncy indie/ska/punk.

Jasper Bolton subsequently took to the stage, boldly barrelling through a soulful clutch of tunes, kicking off with the supremely catchy Shoot The Moon. Still, it was his extraordinary song The Flood, an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions, which seemed to have the most profound impact on the audience, before an exhilarating cover of The Doors' LA Woman sealed his set with a hard and fast flourish.

thisisUll's very own Mich Dee was quite literally going mental stage front, hugging Baggot (vocals) as he descended from the stage to sing to the dancing people at the front ('Isn't he cute?' she yelled at me). I was pleasantly surprised to see that Turismo had loyal, word-perfect following, and it encouraged me to see a local band supported this way. Turismo ran through an energetic, humour-filled set that ended far too soon for its skanking fans. The band were grinning throughout the set, obviously enjoying themselves as much as we were.

Late Night Fiction were up last - unfortunately some people had left after Turismo, so Sesh was not as full as the band deserved. Launching right away into a great mixture of grunge, indie and rock, they reminded me of a more melodic Biffy. Their songs had a characteristic, gorgeous start/stop, heavy/soft, fast/slow pattern that really made you listen. Lead singer Phil was an engaging frontman, delivering lyrical, melodic vocals. These went well with the occasionally jangling, mostly heavy-styled guitar and a bass that wove and rose around the song.

Phil's singing was occasionally joined by bass player Reece's shouted vocals, which added heavier layer to their songs. Great things lie ahead for this Hull band. Late Night Fiction currently have an EP out. Visit their Myspace for more details The last Sesh of 2009 was fun, busy and had some unmissable acts and musicians take part. I would recommend this night to anyone who enjoys live music. Have a good New Year! SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIVE ACTS IN 2010! Links: Late Night Fiction: www.myspace.com/latenightfiction Turismo: www.myspace.com/turismouk The Holy Orders: www.myspace.com/theholyorders Fudgey: www.myspace.com/acousticfudge

Music Reviews - The Yards at York Duchess, Saturday 28th November 2009 By Steve Rudd
	Appropriately dubbed The Last High by the band, this gig in York sadly constituted the final-ever gig to be performed by The Yards. However, it wasn't a sad affair in the least. To the contrary, it provided scant excuse to mourn the band's passing, instead being the perfect opportunity to celebrate all that the York-based outfit achieved in seven years of writing, recording and playing as a unit. Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 25th July 09 - The Talks, Counting Coins and The Bron-Yr-Aurs at The Adelphi Club, Hull By Dick Spring Photos By Cilla
	This was a most eagerly anticipated show by hotly tipped Hull band, The Talks following a couple of low key impromtu local gigs including closing the Springboard festival in Cottingham, and a once more packed Sesh at the Linnet and Lark, where they tore the hot sweaty roof off the place. They have also been playing some high profile shows opening up for two-tone ska legends, The Specials. This was their first headline show back in Hull for some time and with the numbers that were packing into the Adelphi, it did not disappoint. Read more...

Music Reviews - Friday 29th May 09 - Moonbeams Acoustic Evening at the Bell Hotel, Driffield By Steve Rudd
	In light of the fact that it was the final Moonbeams before summer, organiser Leila Slater had gone all out to arrange the greatest line-up imaginable, managing to replace Hayley Gaftarnick with Edwina Hayes at the last minute when Hayley unfortunately came down with tonsillitis. Opening proceedings, resident barman at The Bell, Joe Pickering, Read more...

Music Reviews -Monday 19th May 09 Musicians Night featuring Disaster Radio New Zealand, By Michelle Dee
	Annie, budding stand-up comic from The Willows women's centre begins a night where it seems the strange and the stranger have come to congregate in the Adelphi. Annie has an old style ghetto blaster on which she is attempting to record her homework. Was she funny? Yes, but it wasn't easy to pin down why. A bizarre opening to a night that was to get steadily more fantastical. Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 12th May 09 - Silent Revolution Magazine Presents 59 Violets, The Shadow Cops and Kill Youth Culture at New Adelphi Club, Hull By Michelle Dee
	Barton's 59 Violets have been busy writing and recording new material for their forthcoming album. The band remain a four piece with Lee Drinkall on vocals/guitar and Matt Cade on drums alongside Digsy vocals/guitar, and John Amos (known as Bill to his friends) on bass. The new material sounds more considered with Lee taking on some of the vocals from Digsy; on one number Digsy was just doing backing vocals and chorus. Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday March 25th 09 The New Beautiful South At Nottingham Rescue Rooms By Julia Grant Live Pictures By Dave Cowan
	I wasn't planning on going to see The New Beautiful South. From the moment I heard about the band reforming without guitarist/co-songwriter Dave Rotheray, bassist Sean Welch and most importantly, without lead singer/songwriter/band leader Paul Heaton, I thought that it was an awful idea. As much as I liked the remaining band members, I just didn't ever think they'd be able to pull it off. I have to Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 21st March 09 - Jody McKenna And Friends At Adelphi Club By Michelle Dee
	Jody has just headlined a fine musical programme watched by a spirited crowd numbering fifty or so. Tonight was to be reggae artist, Finley Quaye's second gig at the Adelphi club but he has cancelled last minute and left Jody somewhat in the lurch. However, his friends and supporters rallied to put together a varied programme, featuring some of the artists that I'm sure will benefit Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 26th March 09 - Daisy Riots And GST Cardinals At Kick Out The Jams Nags Head Hull By Michelle Dee
	I hear you went to Kick Out the Jams at the Nags Head on Newland Avenue how was it? It was good; loads of people there. Saw Marv and Rachel, Alfie, Carlos and Uncle Dave, Flo, Maddy, Laura and Brum too ... Brum bought me an NBA, he is a good egg. So who was playing, were they any good? It was GST Cardinals with a bunch of new songs and a new band member called Ryan. Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 7th March 09 - The Kings Of Lyon At The New Tower Nightclub, Hull By Michelle Dee
	After the success of The Beards (2nd HDM Talent Trail 07) and multiple successes with The Riffs (Global Icon TV Winners!, Channel 4's 4unsigned, Radio 1's One Music, Tune Tribe, UK Undiscovered Radio and Live and Unsigned UK) Newly formed Kings Of Lyon KOL tribute band were ready to rock the Saturday night Hull crowd. Described as..."the most astounding, vibrant tribute to the Kings Of Leon, playing the best music Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 24th February Silent Revolution Magazine Presents New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack Plus Special Guest Joolz Denby With Support from 5-7-5 At Adelphi Club By Michelle Dee
	Tonight's event by dissident fanzine Silent Revolution run by local artist and performer Karl Whiting is another example of a artistic venture that remains unsupported, unfunded and ignored by the established creative sector in the city. Adelphi Club on De Grey Street provides the perfect setting to host this auspicious convergence of spoken word and live music, seeing that the club and Proprietor Paul Jackson Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 6th December 08 - Love Music Hate Racism at Hull City Hall By Michelle Dee
	Saturday was going to be a busy day. I had offered my services to Arts Development Worker Stewart Baxter the driving force and helmsman behind the Hull LMHR event at the City Hall. Through hard work he had gathered support from many different groups including the local City Council to stage the LMHR event in the town centre. Read more...

Music Reviews - Friday 28th November 08 - Flossie Malavialle and Dave Dave & Zoe Bottomley at Moonbeams, The Bell Hotel, Driffield By Steve Rudd
	For the final Moonbeams of 2008, Leila Slater - the organizer and promoter of the Acoustic nights - had pulled out all the stops to ensure it was an unforgettable night of superb music. First up, a local lad called Jeremy wowed the crowd with two delicately finger-picked numbers which were both rapturously received. Having previously performed at this summer's Kelk-Fest Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 29th November 08 - Scouting for Girls at Bridlington Spa By Caitlin Middleton
	There's a cinematic countdown and blinding strobe lights as Roy and co. take to the stage assuming god-like status to the sea of screaming teenyboppers. After two long hours, a somewhat confused Sam Beeton and relatively generic The Days and Scouting for Girls are finally on stage warbling on about being James Bond. Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 25th November 08 - DVA Studios Showcase featuring Timmy D, Frank Johnson, Alex Stork, Jamie Gray, Telenovela, Great Northern Hotel, Day In The City At Sharkeys George Street By Michelle Dee
	Last night Dave Abbot of DVA Studios held his second showcase of artists he has been working with supporting and recording in his home studio. Dave set up DVA in order to support new musicians give them access to a studio do early demo recordings in order to give them something solid to market themselves with. Look out for a DVA Sampler CD from DVA Studios featuring some of the musicians from tonight's showcase event. Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday 16th November 08 - Guillemots at The Plug, Sheffield By James Marsters
	The venue was small, the crowd was quiet and the songs were surprisingly new but that didn't stop The Guillemots from rocking out Plug in Sheffield on a freezing cold Sunday night. Opening with a new song may seem like a daring thing to do to a rather sedate crowd but it definitely set the tone for the rest of the night. Playing many fresh tracks interspersed amongst several from their first album, Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 11th November 2008 ... HYRMC01 at The Sesh. By Michelle Dee
	The live music in the evening of HYRMC 01 came from a high spirited GST Cardinals and possibly the hardest working band in the city right now namely The Cliques. Also on the swollen bill down at the Sesh hosted by DJ Mak were singer songwriter Jody McKenna, Jesus Stole My Girlfriend and The Gang. Jody opened proceedings with some highly listenable Read more...