Featured image and gallery: Gracie Hall
Alaska-based Medium Build, aka Nick Carpenter, opens up the evening with a soulful and rugged set. Carpenter, sporting a blue boiler suit, fills the former church with a growly tone and personal lyrics. ‘Crying Over U’, a song about missing someone deeply, is a standout moment.
Holly Humberstone starts the second leg of her UK tour in Manchester tonight. Having only been releasing music since 2020, Humberstone has seen a speedy rise to fame, appealing to fans of the likes of Maisie Peters and Taylor Swift. Despite the grandeur of the venue, she exudes a down-to-earth charm that makes her instantly relatable.
Backed by a talented band of Seth Tackaberry on bass, Jack Rennie on guitar and Carpark’s Lauren O’Donnell Anderson on drums, Holly delivers a setlist that showcases her impressive range as a songwriter and a performer. Opening with ‘Paint my Bedroom Black’, the title track of last year’s debut album, she flits from introspective ballads to anthemic indie-pop tracks, each song delivered with an authenticity and raw emotion that resonates.
Medium Build comes back on stage to duet with Holly during ‘Cocoon’, Humberstone’s whispery vocals blending seamlessly with Carpenter’s rougher cadence. ‘Flatlining’ is a highlight; it’s more beat driven then most of Holly’s output, more akin to the likes of Girl in Red or Olivia Rodrigo, telling a story of a relationship gone bad.
‘Falling Asleep at The Wheel’ and ‘London is Lonely’ are firm crowd pleasers as the entire hall sings like a church choir back to her. With an encore of ‘Friendly Fire’ and crowd activator ‘Scarlett’, the night closes as the audience screams the words she wrote right back at her.
Manchester Psych Fest has become a true staple of the city’s music scene, marking the end of the summer months and serving as the perfect end to the festival season. This year’s iteration is no different. The day begins on the main stage at Albert Hall with singer-songwriter Marika Hackman. A rare sighting of Manchester sunshine…
By Gracie Hall and Daisy Webb After a weekend full of surprises, Sunday of Leeds Festival 2024 tops off the weekend of fun at Bramham Park on a high note. With an army of young fans racing to the barrier at the Main Stage to watch Lana Del Ray, the final day offers an eclectic…
By Gracie Hall and Daisy Webb After a somewhat unsettling start to the Leeds Festival 2024, Saturday brings brighter weather and a fresh slate. Last-minute changes to the running order mean previously canceled artists such as Ashnikko and Jorja Smith are able to perform, with Smith upgraded to the Main Stage. Today draws an older…
By Gracie Hall and Daisy Webb Leeds Festival 2024 kicks off with a rather unconventional start, as 60mph winds have crew and campers awake early, battling to secure their tents to the ground to avoid a Wizard of Oz-style tornado situation. Despite the tireless efforts of festival staff, the BBC Radio 1 and AUX stage…
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