In News

Playlist – April 2019

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Another busy and varied playlist this month spanning skiffle and American folk to Neue Deutsche Härte and steampunk. A few things to point to more specifically include something from the original line up of blackened death metal band Darker Shores who soon make their return to the stage under...
April 30, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Robert J. Hunter – Good People and Hurricane

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Robert J. Hunter Band on stage in SpainThe last few years have seen Robert J. Hunter and his band not just gigging relentlessly (including a recent successful trip to Spain and some upcoming gigs even further afield) but also releasing a steady stream of records that have each...
April 6, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Elliot Falla And The Blue Valentines – So Easy

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard It’s been a couple of years since I had a close look at anything by Guernsey born singer songwriter Elliot Falla, but that isn’t because he’s been keeping quiet. Quite the contrary… after his debut EP Screaming At The Sky and regular gigs in Guernsey he made the move...
March 22, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Dan Ashplant – King Of The Country Road

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard With the abundance of music schools in Guernsey giving young musicians a chance to explore things away from the traditional classical basis of the school’s music service, it’s no surprise that more and more youngsters are once again forming bands or creating their own music. One such performer is...
March 20, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey: February 2019 – Lord Vapour and Dan Ashplant

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Click here to listen to the show For February edition of BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey I featured a familiar band along side a brand new artist. Lord Vapour will be well known to anyone with an eye on the island’s music scene through their relentless gigging and well...
February 24, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

The Wildhearts – Dislocated (single)

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Ten years ago, when The Wildhearts released their last album Chutzpah, the very concept of their ‘classic’ line up (Ginger, CJ, Ritch and Danny – who recorded much of PHUQ and toured Earth Vs…) reforming was unimaginable. Now though, several solo and side projects and a slew of excellent...
February 14, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing in Guernsey: January 2019 – Hollie Lucia and Mike’s Magic Trip

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Hollie Lucia and Mike MeinkeClick here to listen to the show BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey started off the new year with a whole load of brand new music. As well as new tracks from new from the likes of BLAKALASKA, Blacksmith, Lord Vapour and Robert J. Hunter I...
January 27, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Hollie Lucia – Scales-Weights

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Cover artwork by Mikal DyasDecember 2018 saw more music released by artists and bands from Guernsey than I can recall in one such focussed period, so that’s why it’s taken me a while to get to this one. Hollie Lucia first came to my attention as half of ‘dream-pop’...
January 19, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Blacksmith – Chapter One EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Power metal, in its myriad variations, is and I think always will be a strange beast, and it’s into this world that Guernsey trio Blacksmith (Adam Powell – Guitar and vocals, Iain Baxter – bass and vocals, Josh Davies – drums) have leaped feet first with their debut release,...
January 8, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Music In Guernsey In 2018

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard A year ago, when I was writing my review of music in Guernsey in 2017, I commented that it felt like a year when the bands and musicians in and from the island had all, collectively, taken a great step forward I terms of the quality of what was...
December 27, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Insurrection – Age Of Fear

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard With a wall of distorted noises we are ushered into Insurrection’s Age Of Fear, the hardcore band’s second full album, thirty years in from their self-titled debut. That thirty years saw the band split for a long while but then reform around a decade ago to play sporadic live...
December 22, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Mike’s Magic Trip – With My Headphones In

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard For the better part of the last year guitarist and songwriter Mike Meinke (most well-known as frontman of the Buffalo Huddleston band) has been travelling Europe working on the music he has now released under the rather suitable name of Mike’s Magic Trip and an album called With My...
December 20, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Lord Vapour – Semuta

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Two and half years ago, already with a formidable live reputation, psychedelic hard rock trio Lord Vapour put out a debut album, Mill Street Blues, that hinted at great things to come. Since then it’s seemed they’ve been on stage somewhere every weekend (including a tour in Europe) and...
December 18, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

The Honest Crooks – Crook, Line And Sinker EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Over the last few years The Honest Crooks have made their now formidable reputation almost exclusive off the back of their live shows (with the exception of a couple of fairly lo-fi demo tracks which have since been removed from circulation). Throughout all that time there has often been...
December 16, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

BLAKALASKA – Joyride EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Three years ago, having gained an impressive reputation through their live shows, electro-rockers BLAKALASKA unleashed their debut EP, Machine, with much fanfare and praise. Since then the band have been comparatively quiet, though they’ve still found opportunity to complete a couple of mini-tours of the south of England and...
December 14, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Kiya Ashton – Sweet Decadence EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Over the last couple of years Kiya Ashton has gone from attending the shows organised by Sound Guernsey to being one of the most interesting performers at them. As well as this she has appeared at both Chaos and the Vale Earth Fair while becoming a recognisable member of...
December 4, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Burning At Both Ends – Hail Apathy

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard A little over two years ago, and after only a short time together as a band, Burning At Both Ends released a debut album that marked them as a band to watch. Since then their reputation has grown considerably not just through a series of stand out performances at...
November 8, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Out Of The Box – Various Artists

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Every few years it seems someone strikes on the idea of releasing a compilation album celebrating something of Guernsey’s music scene. From the Guernsey Rock Album in the early 1980s through Twist Records GBG series they have acted as a glimpse into what’s happening in the island’s ‘scene’ at...
October 13, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

2018 Summer of Music in Guernsey

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Honest CrooksI’m sure it’s a trend I’ve mentioned in the past but more than ever the ‘summer festival season’ in Guernsey is, like it’s larger counterparts in the U.K. and Europe, getting longer and more packed each year. Barely a weekend went by without some event happening and...
October 1, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

BBC Music Introducing in Guernsey: September 2018 – Robert J Hunter live

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard The Robert J. Hunter Band at The Long Road Festival (BBC Music Introducing)Click here to listen to the show While it might be well and truly autumn I continue to revel in a packed summer of festivals on the September 2018 edition of BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey –...
September 29, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Citizen-X – Giant Steps EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard For a few years the being known only as Citizen-X has been marking out a groove both in his local scene and in the wider, if somewhat niche, world of iOS produced electronic music. In that time he’s played most of Guernsey’s main festivals and events as well as...
September 21, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Robert J. Hunter – Say What? (live)

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard With four full length albums and a few EPs already under his belt, Alderney born bluesman Robert J. Hunter has taken the slightly unconventional (for an independent artist at least) step of releasing a live album, capturing his and his band’s live set as it stands in the summer...
September 13, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Joe Corbin – Brixton Sky EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard A little over a decade ago, when I first began reporting on music in Guernsey, one name was going round as being the next big thing to watch, particularly as a guitarist, Joe (then going by JJ) Corbin. At the time ‘JJ’ was fronting The Spitshine Blues Band and...
August 24, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Savage Sons – Howlin’ EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Savage Sons emerged onto the scene about a year ago as a full band and quickly set about bringing their own take on the blues to Guernsey’s pub circuit. Now they have released their debut EP, Howlin’, and continue that trend on record. The band combine a classic blues...
July 10, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Tiger Army – Dark Paradise EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard As Tiger Army albums tend to come along only every once in a while an EP from the band two years after their last full album, V…, is always going to be something for fans to celebrate. With that in mind the band held a pair of special shows,...
June 26, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Seigneur Hedge Veg – Eggs And Honeycomb

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard This latest band on Guernsey’s (sort of) folk scene also seem to be, in one sense, it’s most enigmatic. Seigneur Hedge Veg are a band whose name I’ve heard in vague mentions for a little while but had never heard anything from until, a few weeks ago, their leader...
June 18, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Of Empires – Suzie

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Hot on the heels of double a-side Waist Up In Gold/Gunslingers in March, Of Empires are back with another single, Suzie. While it remains firmly placed in the 60s retro stylings of their last few releases, Suzie sees the Brighton based rock ‘n’ rollers in lighter mood with much...
May 31, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

The Recks – The Beast From The Sea

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Formed over a cold dark winter on the tiny island of Sark more than half a decade ago The Recks have had a tumultuous history that’s seen them go from local pub The Mermaid Tavern, to Boomtown and Isle of Wight festivals, to a near devastating break up to...
May 11, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Track Not Found – Science (Gone Wrong) – Record Store Day Single

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Track Not Found (l-r Grace, Emma and Maisie)Hot off the heels of their debut EP, The Only Way Is Lost, released a matter of day before Christmas, teenage trio Track Not Found return with a new single to help mark Record Store Day, Science (Gone Wrong). While releasing a...
April 20, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Toby Falla – Watch This Space EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Over the last few years Toby Falla has built quite a reputation for himself on Guernsey’s live circuit for his solo shows where, and Ed Sheeran like, he uses an acoustic guitar, his voice and a loop station to play a mix of his own songs and covers to...
March 27, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Of Empires – Waist Up In Gold/Gunslingers Double A-Side

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Brighton based and Guernsey born retro-rockers Of Empires have just completed their latest mini-tour of the UK, including their much delayed first foray north to Manchester, and to cap it off have released their new ‘double A-side’ single Waist Up In Gold/Gunslingers (oh for it to be a real...
March 9, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

The Robert J. Hunter Band – Self-titled

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard A little over a year ago Robert J. Hunter was in something of a reflective mood as he released his third album, Where I’m From. Now though, a year on and many more gigs under his, and his band’s, belts all over the UK and he’s to be found...
February 27, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Tantale – Tightrope

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Two years ago when Tantale released their second album, Just Add Vice, I said they were a band who felt somewhat overtaken by the scene around them, now though, as they release they third full length record, Tightrope, it seems they’ve found their place. Rather than this making them...
February 10, 2018 by Tom Girard