Otis Threading
There’s something deep’n’dark going on under that hat, beard and spectacles, says Martin Longley.
Sonics attack
Martin Longley savours the B’ham debut of The Sonics, 55 years after the US garage punk combo’s formation.
Polar bear around the corner from polar bear
Oh maan, how Polar Bear have grown over the years, mists Martin Longley.
Clinton for President
The mastermind behind Funkadelic and Parliament gave one of his very best performances in Birmingham, shouts Martin Longley.
Vienna roll
Martin Longley reels to the Fizzle free jazz improvisatory permutations, quaffing Equinox beer at the same time.
Havana morbid time
Martin Longley feels ambivalent about the Buena Vista Social Club’s Symphony Hall show.
Apex trim
Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Slim Gaillard lived again in Solihull. Martin Longley tapped his pedal extremities.
Coventry (vibra)cathedral
Saturday nite’s alright for droning and throttling, says Martin Longley.
Dronewashed Wranglers
A fan of Cabaret Voltaire, Tuung or John Foxx? Then you will be lassoed by Wrangler, Martin Longley guarantees.
Brass on ass
Martin Longley could barely scribble fast enough to track this prime Balkan gypsy posse.
Red branches in Kings Heath
Martin Longley was still feeling the Saint Patrick’s Day emanations two days after the event, with a stirring gig from Belfast’s Craobh Rua.
Robin 2, Alabama 3
Welcome to Bilston. Or Wolverhampton, as main man singer Larry Love kept insisting. Martin Longley lost his way in the miasma.
Mammal hands support penguins at Hare and Hounds
Martin Longley stalked a pair of sturdy UK math-jazz trios up the hill to Kings Heath.
Coates of many colours
Martin Longley crossed the Digbeth border, to discover the hidden back rooms of free improvisation.
Sticking to Bostic
Young horners blew oldies by Bostic, Dizzy, Prez and Mulligan in Solihull. Martin Longley was glued to the dancefloor.
Handsome gab
Martin Longley climbs to The Institute’s eyrie, for a rare sighting of Albuquerque’s noir country ambassadors.
Silver machine inoperable
A time-transplanted Martin Longley slides back to the heyday of prog-jazz space-rock.
Sunday lunch gluttony
Martin Longley discovered Moseley’s hidden Sunday lunchtime jazz treat.
Blonde Sabbath
Blondie snuck War Pigs in amongst their own hits, impressing Martin Longley with their local sensitivity.
Great wolves
Martin Longley sampled yet another fine night of rootsy sounds in Kings Heath.
Pedigree chums
Rather than play bowls on the sunny Solihull British Legion lawn, Martin Longley elected to open his jazz umbrella indoors.
Bukka white noise
Martin Longley got sprayed with beer, heckles and distorto-feedback, all in the name of rockaboogie.
Woke up this evenin’…
Can da blooze get much heavier than this? Martin Longley doesn’t think so.
Gone lennon!
Martin Longley witnessed a transcendent chip off the old block of John Lennon.
No Stella by starlight
Martin Longley finally reaches the end of the road at the Gent Jazzfest.
Lambic Gent-o-meter
It’s a mixed-up kinda day at the Gent Jazz Festival, decides Martin Longley.
Trappist artist
Following a three-day breather in the city’s groovy bars, Martin Longley jumps into the second weekend of the Gent Jazz Festival.
Gent chick-fest
Martin Longley has survived the first long weekend of the Gent Jazz Festival.
Holland in Flanders
Martin Longley’s third nite at the Gent Jazz Festival.
gent ale men prefer blondes
Martin Longley continues his quest for higher percentages in Belgian Trappist brews.