Live Review: Wilderness Festival (Day 2)

In addition to the Wilderness Olympic medal awards handed out by youngest sprat (see Mrs Mackerel’s post here) Saturday at the festival was another day of glorious sunshine, bizarre moments (badminton matches joined table tennis, the official skinny dipping world record attempt, miming cats and much much more) and a stellar musical line-up. The timeless, beautiful harmonies of The Staves set everyone up perfectly in … Continue reading Live Review: Wilderness Festival (Day 2)

Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Sunday (12th August)

Since Friday, we’ve been in the midst of the Wilderness, just a stone’s throw from Mackerel Mansions. The atmosphere is easy-going, good-natured, anything goes – and this couldn’t be better surmised by my youngest sprat’s wry observations on life in camp. In keeping with the Happy Olympics drawing to a close today, he awarded bronze, silver and gold awards for his key festival moments… Bronze … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Sunday (12th August)

Live Review: Wilderness Festival (Day 1)

We are lucky to live on the edge of the Cotswolds and on the fringes of the beautiful Cornbury Park Estate. Previously it was home to the Cornbury Festival, which was unfortunate in, for a few years, consistently having the worst musical line-up you could contrive to put together. It was a source of constant disappointment to us. However, last year the Cornbury Festival thankfully … Continue reading Live Review: Wilderness Festival (Day 1)

Mad Mackerel Recommends…Panda Riot

Drawing comparisons to Helium, the Breeders and Stereolab (if they had grabbed a drum machine and danced a bit more), Panda Riot’s Serious Radical Girls 7” is an enthralling collage of ghostly vocals, dance-y drums (real and otherwise), dub-y bass lines and blurry guitars. Golden Age (Precursor) is, if anything, even better – they describe it as “an acid peak on your sunny day” and that pretty … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Panda Riot

New Single From Sissy & The Blisters

Although they seem to have been very quiet for a long time, it is good to hear that Sissy & The Blisters have returned with a new single. In fact, aside from the excellent Vicious, a Record Store Day split 7” release with Devin (and available now from Sissy’s Facebook page now as a Free Download), it will have been a long eleven months from … Continue reading New Single From Sissy & The Blisters

MM Shorts 206: The Deadline Shakes

Sweeten The Deal is the debut release from The Deadline Shakes. They are a Glasgow based band who have played only a handful of gigs. There are no reviews. But don’t let that put you off. Because from first listen what is immediately apparent is that this band have an abundant gift for melody. The download single is out 5th November. Have a listen. a Continue reading MM Shorts 206: The Deadline Shakes

MM Shorts 205: It’s Insound Mixtape Time Again

It is that time again – another free mix from the fine folk at Insound, available only for the next few days. This one includes thirteen tasty cuts from, amongst others, Slug Guts, Ariel Pink, Grasscut, Lightning Love, Bearcat and Fergus + Geronimo. Head here to grab the whole thing for free, or check out a couple of our choices below from Poor Moon and a stormer … Continue reading MM Shorts 205: It’s Insound Mixtape Time Again