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Jan 14, 2025 | 
sussexbylines.co.uk | Rudi Banfield
My evening began with a can of pre-mixed rum and a vegan chicken burger on the streets of Camden; I’m not prepared to pay the fancy prices of booze in London’s pubs. Content and rather jolly I made my way to the Electric Ballroom to witness one of the greatest products of Australia, The Chats. I was greeted by a friendly bouncer who informed me I would not be able to take my banana, hidden at the bottom of my bag, into the venue.
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Jan 3, 2025 | 
sussexbylines.co.uk | Rudi Banfield
Before the days of streaming platforms music artists and labels would make most of their revenue through physical record sales. But since streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music came along, while it’s easier for consumers to access new music, it’s also harder than ever for artists to make money. The United Musicians and Allied Workers found that in 2023 the maximum an artist is paid per stream on Spotify is just $0.003.
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Dec 11, 2024 | 
sussexbylines.co.uk | Rudi Banfield
After a blazing year in which Idles headlined Glastonbury’s ‘Other Stage’, topped the UK album charts with their fifth studio album ‘TANGK’ and even featured on CBeebies Bedtime Stories, the Bristol five-piece played a sold-out gig at Sussex’s Brighton Centre. This marked Idles’ first gig in the city since their 2021 performance at Brighton’s Concorde 2 venue.
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Dec 5, 2024 | 
sussexbylines.co.uk | Rudi Banfield
In a strong display of worker solidarity, on Tuesday 5th November around 150 London bus drivers and UNITE union members marched to the Transport for London Head Office. Speakers demanded better working conditions and improved safety measures. London bus driver and UNITE union member Peter Skinner described to me the daily lack of support and facilities for workers. “It’s the basics, things like toilets. You can be driving two or three hours without the use of a toilet.
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Nov 12, 2024 | 
rocksins.com | Jamie Giberti |John Layland |Rudi Banfield
Three brand new headliners for Download 2025! For the first time since 2010 the Download Festival has an entirely fresh set of headliners for the Donington faithful to enjoy. With punk rock legends Green Day making their Download bow on Friday night, the mysterious phenomenon of Sleep Token on Saturday and nu metal icons KoRn on Sunday, its a very varied choice of headliners for 2025.
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Oct 21, 2024 | 
rocksins.com | Jamie Giberti |Daniel Ackerley |Rudi Banfield |Nick Allan
A historic night for Dream Theater at London’s biggest arena. The first night of their 40th anniversary world tour, their first headline show at The O2 Arena, and their first live show with returning original drummer and Dream Theater founding member, Mike Portnoy, in over 14 years. A show with this significance was going to need a very special setlist. Dream Theater delivered on this, in spades.
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Oct 6, 2024 | 
rocksins.com | Rudi Banfield |Nick Allan |Jamie Giberti
In a somewhat shocking turn of events earlier this week, Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes have announced via social media they’re taking a break after their current UK/EU tour. Following their nine year musical career as one of the most iconic names in British punk rock. During their near decade at the forefront of the UK punk scene, the band have released five studio albums. The most recent of which, “Dark Rainbow” was released in January of this year.
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Apr 6, 2024 | 
rocksins.com | Nick Allan |John Weightman |Lottie Cook |Rudi Banfield
As the lights dimmed at Islington Academy, anticipation crackled in the air, heralding the arrival of Hot Water Music for their 30th-anniversary tour. The venue pulsed with energy as the legendary punk rockers took to the stage, kicking off the night with their timeless anthem, Remedy. With a career spanning three decades, Hot Water Music wasted no time delving into their extensive catalog, delivering a setlist that seamlessly blended old favourites with newer tracks.
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Mar 28, 2024 | 
rocksins.com | John Weightman |John Layland |Lottie Cook |Rudi Banfield
Hot Mulligan have just released a new song called Stickers of Brian. This is the band’s first new song since their popular album ‘Why Would I Watch‘ was released last spring. The new single is an energetic and dynamic track that expresses frustration with the monotony of a day job.
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Mar 27, 2024 | 
rocksins.com | Lottie Cook |John Weightman |John Layland |Rudi Banfield
We’re at a Fightstar show. No, you haven’t been sent back in time to 2008, so there’s no point trying to log in to MySpace. The band have reunited for a 20th anniversary show at the OVO Arena Wembley, their first time playing live since 2015. Frontman Charlie Simpson is probably best known for his role in another band that also reunited recently to great success (Busted, in case you didn’t know), so now it’s time to see if the post-hardcore quartet can do the same.
