WATCH: George Ezra - 'Listen To The Man'

George Ezra's new video for Listen to the Man, a really simple idea but excellently executed and starring Sir Ian McKellen - how could it get any better?!

WATCH: Dry The River 'Alarms In The Heart' for The Line Of Best Fit

Dry The River performing Alarms In The Heart acoustically for The Line of Best Fit - love this!!

LIVE: Dry The River at Truck Store (11/10/14)

Source: Megan Seekings

My photo of Dry The River playing an acoustic set at Truck Record Store in Oxford before their show at O2 Academy last week!

LIVE: Nick Mulvey & Sivu at O2 Academy Oxford (12/10/14)

Last week I saw Nick Mulvey play to a sold out O2 Academy Oxford, with support from Sivu. It was a mixed crowd to say the least - screaming young girls to the left of me and a family with some young (8/9 year old) boys to the right. The appeal of Nick's music is clearly wide, which is never a bad thing. Furthermore, appeal is clearly quite big considering the show, and many of the others on the tour, was sold out.

Having only really taken a few listens to tracks from his debut album First Mind I wasn't exactly sure what to expect of his live show, but I knew that the Mercury Prize 2014 nomination the record received could only be a good sign. And with Sivu supporting I knew I was in for a treat regardless. His set, played solo and acoustically, was stunning and the crowd (though slightly restless from waiting over an hour after doors were opened) were respectful. Sivu, aka James Page, admitted being nervous as he usually played with a band, though these nerves didn't show in his performance.

Mulvey came out to screams, and set the tone of the evening straightaway with the atmospheric April. I found his set incredibly captivating, and was blown away by the way that he made his style of playing guitar look so effortless.

The set contained tracks mostly from the debut record, to the pleasure of the crowd, and even included a couple of solo performances. Much to the crowd's excitement the band even played their Radio 1 Live Lounge cover of Drake's Hold On, We're Going Home cover (video) igniting a loud sing along and livening up the crowd leading up to the encore and title track, First Mind. 

All in all, meeting both Sivu and Nick after the show and purchasing two fantastic CDs (that I have since been playing on repeat) and making it back to my halls easily after my first solo outing to a gig whilst at uni, I had a wonderful night.

Live dates for Nick Mulvey can be found on his website here, his UK tour continues until 31st October, with Sivu supporting throughout. Later this year, Sivu supports Bombay Bicycle Club on their UK tour.

Sivu released his debut album on the 13th, more info here.

LISTEN: Sivu - 'Something On High'

This week James Page, aka Sivu, released his debut album Something On High. Describing his music as 'alternative pop' and citing influences from Wild Beasts to Frank Sinatra, he's likely to appeal to fans of artists such as Bombay Bicycle Club, who he tours with later this year alongside Peace. 

You can stream the whole album above, and get it on iTunes, Amazon, in record stores etc, and I wholeheartedly recommend that you do - it's already one of my favourite records of the year. Particular favourites of mine from the album include Sleep and the hidden track Family Tree.

Currently touring as support act for Nick Mulvey, Sivu took a day out from this tour to play a stunning headline London show (video) at Oslo Hackney on Tuesday night. In the past he's also played alongside the likes of Rae Morris, London Grammar, Marika Hackman and The Staves.

He's certainly one to watch and has already received critical acclaim from The Guardian, Sunday Times and NME. Furthermore he played in session for Huw Stephens on Radio 1 earlier this week.

WATCH: Dry The River - 'Gethsemane'

Dry The River perform Gethsemane acoustically for Reading & Leeds festival.

The band's second studio album, Alarms In The Heart, was released this week, and they tour the UK in October! 

WATCH: Peace - 'Lost On Me'

Decided to check Peace out as they're supporting Bombay Bicycle Club in December when I see them, loving this song, Lost on Me, and the video is pretty cool too. Look forward to their set!

TOUR NEWS: Bombay Bicycle Club (December 2014)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/bombaybicycleclub

A little late to the party but Bombay Bicycle Club are going on a UK tour in December - tickets here - starting in Leicester and finishing up with the band's first arena show at London's Earls Court.

Support on the tour comes from the brilliant Sivu and Peace, but I expect that appearances by the likes of Rae Morris and Lucy Rose might occur at some points on the tour as well!

WATCH: Dry The River - 'Everlasting Light'

New Dry The River video for Everlasting Light - a track taken from the band's upcoming album Alarms In The Heart which is released on 25th August!

WATCH: Rae Morris (feat. Fryars) - 'Cold'

I recently bought tickets to see Bombay Bicycle Club at Earls Court in December, and on their latest record So Long, See You Tomorrow Rae Morris features on the track Luna. I decided to take a listen to some of her music and I really like this track which is getting some airplay at the minute and features Fryars!