In Depth by Jim Bowes
Last night I was blown away by a truly amazing live performance from one of the
UK’s hardest working bands. So is it cool to go out and listen to funky
Hammond and jazz guitar? Who cares? 400 people were dancing last night and even
the most sceptical were grooving before the end.
The James Taylor Q»
Review
by Jim Bowes
The opening line "The September Sun burns through my window and I wonder
if I'll ever see you again" sums up The Beat Collective;
bitter sweet tales of love, served on a tangy bed of jangly guitars with a consommé
of laid back beats which together taste of summers we can»
Review
by Jim Bowes
It's not very often you go to a gig and get blown away, it's evening less often that two bands on a line-up are amazing, and it's pretty unique when neither of those bands are headlining.
Tonight though that’s exactly the case at The Fez in Reading . As I arrive at the venue The Dat»
Review
by Jim Bowes
‘Tonight, gonna make this a night to remeeember. Get ready (get ready) tonight…”
Locked inside a Gala bingo hall when all you can hear are disco hits going round and round is no place to be when Vex Red, Vacant Stare and Mantaquila are on stage in a matter of hours at The Fez club in»
Review
by Jim Bowes
It's truly exciting to be going to a new music event in Reading, tonight
The Fez club is playing host to local bands Turner and
Scarlet Soho and Bristol based Sony S2 signings Halo. As the anticipation
builds I find my way to the balcony bar from where I can jus»
In Depth by Jim Bowes
Walking into a venue filled with 270 people out to see live music, on a Wednesday
night in Reading, is fantastic, the fact that the bands are pretty much
unknown makes it a delight. The venue is 'The Fez' and tonight Reading
is enjoying one less garage-event than normal.
When known as »
News
by Jim Bowes
The revival of Reading's fortunes as a tour stop-off will be boosted from next month when the venue formerly known as 'The Alleycat' (now 'The Fez') opens it's doors to live music one again.
Following a launch party two weeks ago the weekly live music events start on the 3rd of April. Halo, »
Review
by Jim Bowes
Remakes don't always live up to originals, especially when the original is a Frank Sinatra rat-pack classic and also one of the few old movies that I REALLY like. But this remake has all the elements of the original brought in to the 21st century and an all-star cast to match.
Dapper Danny Ocean (»
Review
by Jim Bowes
In terms of quantity, output and blockbusters per square inch the British film
industry is a flea on the shoulder of a very large American dog. Beethoven, perhaps,
or even K9.
However there are some things we do that the American movies cannot, we can
do stupid English likeable fool (see Hugh Grant), Englis»
Review
by Jim Bowes
I haven't really seen many films with Nicole Kidman in so I take my seat
(following some rushed fast food) with no pre-conceptions about her other films
or her ability to carry a film with a relatively small cast...
»
Review
by Jim Bowes
The only place to see a horror film is in an old cinema, the screen is smaller, the seats deeper, the corners darker. Perfect.
The only downside is that I can’t find an old cinema that serves nachos, and nachos well; they make a trip to the cinema for me. Consequently a film has to be extra good, as with no na»
In Depth by Jim Bowes
The festival has gone for another year but some people live there all the time...
Reading is a funny place, it has a young population, 'city' status, it's very
own annual festival, huge shopping centres and loads of bars - but is it too
close to London to have its own identity?
Next year Rea»
Review
by Jim Bowes
Ok so I know this is becoming a bit of a theme but I totally forgot to find
out whereabouts in Reading the After Dark club is and I know that I even
promote in Reading but I just didn't know, ok!
Anyway after apprehending some locals and discovering they are going to the
very same gig I follo»
Review
by Jim Bowes
For some reason tonight I've managed to get lost on my way to the Kings Head,
this is an impressive feat given that I have spent the last 7 months working 10
minutes away.
Anyway I've found the venue, in fact I'm in the venue and Resound are
just walking on stage.
They're a 5 piece ba»
Review
by Jim Bowes
I am desperate to see a film, I have been waiting weeks for something I want to
see, and finally I have worked out why this just won't happen until September
Summer is a time when music festivals happen across the world, a time when
TV schedules change, a time when everything seems just a little better»
In Depth by Jim Bowes
I am an hour late for my interview with Tom McRae at the University of London, having got lost in my car, dumping it and getting a taxi to the interview I am feeling a little nervous. For once though things are very much on my side and as I walk in to Tom's dressing room he is chatting to his band and they have»