The Whinachi Tribe live at City Square, Etihad Stadium , Manchester.

It’s a wet and windy Tuesday night and I’m heading to the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. However it’s not the Manchester City FC VS Borrusia Mönchengladbach match I’m here to see. The Winaichi Tribe are performing a pre match mini gig on the City Square stage. It’s been quite a year for the tribe. They’ve taken Scotland by storm, Played with the Happy Mondays and the now legendary Shiiine festival at Minehead. In fact 2015 has been good to the Winachi Tribe. Upon arrival I’m greeted by the boys. We all agree on one thing…Its ferkin cold. Not cold… ferkin cold. Vertical rain is not our friend tonight. It’s been a few months since I’ve seen the boys and they tell me of great times in Scotland and the support slots with the Mondays. But they are all looking forward to tonight’s performance which goes out live to the world via TV and radio. And what a show it is. Three songs, Yeah Fool, Everybody-Everyone and the massive Time for Love are performed in front of a crowd that are loving every moment. To me that short performance proves they have what it takes to be a headlining band that should be filling theatres around the UK in 2016. In case you don’t already know, The Winachi Tribe Are Liam, Inder, Richie, Anthony, Sam and Jamie. Formally known as China White, They have been causing quite a stir in the music circles with talk of the group scoring some major support slots next year with an infamous group that are returning to the UK arenas and stadiums during the summer months. They already have had tracks mixed by the legendary Danny Saber and have an L.A. based management team. Things look good for the Winachi Tribe. Catch them on tour next year.

Levellers Live

The Levellers: Blackpool Empress Ballroom 05.12.15 Spellbound in Blackpool It may be winter outside but, inside, there was another kind of storm brewing… See the full review here http://www.subba-cultcha.com/reviews/1300

Bingley Music Festival...the best small festival....might get bigger

http://www.subba-cultcha.com/festivals/bingley-music-festival-possibly-best-small-festival-uk/

Public Image....New album review

http://www.subba-cultcha.com/music/public-image-ltd-arent-ready-quiet-life-just-yet/

Charity gig

Please show your support for this local gig and a great charity.

Kendal Calling

 For a full review please see here http://www.subba-cultcha.com/festivals/kendal-calling-celebrates-10-years-true-style/

The Membranes – Rebellion 2015

The Membranes – Rebellion 2015

‘Towering above all else’

So, here we are, four days into Rebellion festival packed with both quality and quantity. It’s Sunday night, the audience are tired and suffering from festival fever and overindulgence on a grand scale, but just one more band to see before we call it a year and head home for a well-earned rest and recovery period.

There was absolutely no indication that we were about to be blown away by what, in my opinion, was simply the best performance of the entire event, by some margin too.

The Membranes are back with a vengeance. It may be 26 years since their last album, but they have certainly made the most of the break and now look like a bunch of youngsters on the road for the first time. The sound at ‘The Pavilion’ stage also played a part and has been drastically improved since previous years and the master of the stage, John Robb, took every advantage. In modern times (and a lesson to be learned from some other front-men here this weekend), Robb is a master in stage craft, he owns the audience and plays like every gig is his last and he needs to leave behind a long lasting legacy.

It was a set designed to challenge the weary. It was fast and furious, dark and dirty. The opener, the rather lengthily titled ‘The Universe explodes into a billion protons of pure white light’ (that also opens their latest album Dark Light/Dark Energy’) was truly magnificent. Followed by Do the Supernova, Spikes, In the graveyard, Space junk, Myths, Tatty seaside town (Dedicated to Blackpool!!) 21^st Century man and Hum of the universe.

Of them all, ‘In the graveyard’ was my favourite. Punchy, heavy, reminiscent of The Birthday Party and Nick Cave in delivery and design, worthy of staying till the end in itself. Of course Robb is animated throughout and even manages one of his many sojourns into the audience for good measure. Well it is a show and he is a showman after all, so what did we expect.

This is not the teeny-bop material of Goldblade, this is special and something to be witnessed over and over again. I take my hat off to you all, the band for delivering the perfect piece de resistance, and the crowd for still being there, on their feet till the very end. Their patience was regally rewarded. See you next year Blackpool.

Pic and Words...Mark Eastwood