WATCH: Sam Beeton 'Hundred Reasons' for Female First

Nottingham based Sam Beeton (sambeeton) plays a support set at Notts Glee Club tonight, and his debut record, In The Yard, is released digitally tomorrow (for physical releases, go here.) Check out this video of Sam performing a new track, Hundred Reasons, exclusively for Female First.

LIVE: Sofar Sounds at Worcester College Chapel (18/3/15)

A few days ago I went to this month’s Oxford Sofar Sounds, events that I’ve been photographing recently. It was hosted at Worcester College Chapel, with Tom Lowman, Gill Sandell, CoCo and the Butterfields and Emily Barker performing. It was once more a superb evening of live music, if a little less intimate than normal - but a beautiful venue regardless. You can find some of my photos from the evening in the second half of the album on SS Oxford’s Facebook here.

The highlight of the evening for me was folk hip-hop band CoCo and the Butterfields. Having heard them practicing outside before the show I was looking forward to their set, and when they rocked up on stage with violin, guitar, double bass, banjo, saxophone and a beatboxer.. my high hopes were ready to be realised. They played a really fun set and the audience seemed to enjoy it, particularly their opening track, a cover of Gym Class Heroes’ Cupid’s Chokehold. They’re touring across the UK in April/May, dates here, I implore you to take a listen!

WATCH: Half Moon Run 'Unofferable' for The Wild Honey Pie

Bringing these guys back, Canadian indie rock band Half Moon Run performing Unofferable for The Wild Honey Pie. After buying their record Dark Eyes on a sale-related whim, I was quick to fall in love with their beautiful sound, particularly the harmonies. Really looking forward to hearing the new music they’ve been working on, and the next time they play some shows in the UK - consider me there!

LISTEN: Sam Beeton - 'Belong'

The “incredible” Sam Beeton got the first radio play of his new track Belong on his local BBC Introducing earlier. Take a listen here at just after 12 minutes. His debut album, In The Yard, is out on the 23rd of this month digitally, and a week later on the 30th on CD and vinyl!

Love this shot I got of Sam on a photoshoot we had together a couple of years ago for a coursework project I was completing at the time. Hoping to get an opportunity to shoot with Sam again soon!

LIVE: Sivu at The Bullingdon (13/3/15)

Had a wonderful chilled evening last night seeing Sivu at the Oxford date of his Feb/March tour, with support from local musician Cameron A G, (whose set was a pleasant surprise, a sort of indie Jake Bugg). Performing with guitar and keys player Lucy, Sivu’s stripped back set included a range of tracks from his debut record, Something On High, as well as a couple of non-album tracks, including my favourite, Cold Hands (video I took). I realise I post about this guy a lot, but his album really is one of my favourites of all time, and his live set is something to behold, always hitting the mark in the various situations I’ve seen him play (support slots at small and massive venues, and a headline London show). More than that, he’s also an incredibly humble musician, and I can’t recommend enough that you take a listen to his record or go and see him at a show!

Sivu contines touring until the end of the month with dates in Nottingham, Coventry, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Gateshead, Bournemouth, Ramsgate and Brighton, and what promises to be a superb London show on the 24th March. Tickets and info for all the shows here.

LISTEN: Muse - 'Psycho'

Well this is all pretty exciting. The legends that are Muse have a record, entitled Drones, coming out on the 8th June, they’re also heading out for some UK dates (all sold out already I believe - and sadly all too far away for me to have ventured to), and just released the first track from the record, Psycho. While admittedly not their best track in terms of lyrics, I absolutely love the riff in this, quite a catchy track, and how good does it feel to have Muse back?

LISTEN: Mumford & Sons - 'Believe'

I’ll let you make up your own mind on this fairly dividing new Mumford & Sons track, Believe. Being particularly well known for their banjo-enthused music, the lack of this element has put many a listener off. Fine, I love the band’s older stuff, but often a change in sound is needed for various reasons, often in order to keep the band passionate in making music together, and I quite like it!

WATCH: Post War Years - 'Volcano'

Let me introduce you to the superb Post War Years... was totally gutted that these guys split up a while back, I saw them supporting Mumford & Sons in 2012, and they released an album shortly after and it quickly became one of my favourite records.

LIVE: Sofar Sounds at Art Jericho (21/2/15)

Source: Megan Seekings

I recently started taking photos for Sofar Sounds shows in Oxford, and went to one last month at Art Jericho gallery. It was a brilliant evening with sets from Monument Valley, Benedict Benjamin (who wins on name alone..), Twin Hidden, Tom Terrell and Rachel Sermanni. What I love about Sofar is the interesting and unique choices of venues, having been to three of their shows now in an art gallery, a museum, and a university common room. It mimics no other live experience out there and the audience are always particualrly respectful to the performers, even if the music might not all be their cup of tea. On the evening I was particularly impressed by Tom and Rachel who performed together for a few songs and had beautiful harmonies! I definitely reccommend having a look at the Sofar website to see if they have shows in your city!

WATCH: Sam Beeton - 'The Yearling's Song'

Will probably be posting about this guy a lot in the lead up to his album release later this month.. but totally zero shame - love his music! Here's a new acoustic session from the super talented Sam Beeton, of the track The Yearling Song, taken form his upcoming record In The Yard! 

WATCH: Jack Savoretti 'Home' for imagesound

Beautiful performance of Home by Jack Savoretti for Imagesound!