No Direction Home Festival || Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire || 8-10 June 2012 The omens were not good for the inaugural No Direction Home music festival, setting out in heavy rain that only got heavier as the traffic got slower the further north I went. However, despite the slate grey skies and constant brake lights of the M1, a journey of over 5 hours was rewarded … Continue reading No Direction Home Festival: A Review
The wonderful Daytrotter recently announced their 2,000th session and managed to get none other than Country music legend Glen Campbell in to record it, followed swiftly by a new session from the brilliant Delta Spirit. For those that don’t know Daytrotter sessions are typically four songs in length, recorded live to quarter-inch tape in a matter of a couple hours, with no overdubs. They are then made available … Continue reading Daytrotter Reaches 2,000
So, the penultimate entry before Mrs Mackerel finishes off this year’s set of Top Ten postings tomorrow is my very own. Without further ado… 10. Milk Music – Beyond Living Although it was released early in the year, I only discovered it recently. A full on, no holds barred, nihilistic 70s punk attitude and the very best of the heavyweight riffs of the grunge era is … Continue reading MM’s 2011 Top Ten Series: No 8 Mad Mackerel
It is true to say that our first visit to the End of the Road Festival last year was without doubt the best music event (bar SxSW) we had ever attended. A superb line-up, brilliant layout, and festival goers who were there for the music rather than the ‘experience’ ensured three days of superb entertainment. It meant we bought tickets immediately they went on sale … Continue reading The End of The Road Festival: A Review
Today Barry-Sean and I head off, pop up tents in tow, to the marvellous End of the Road festival in lovely Dorset. Once again sold out, last year’s inaugural trip turned into the best festival visit we’ve ever had, and we’re looking forward to more of the same over the next few days. Even the weather forecast is good! Once again we have a huge … Continue reading Free End of the Road Festival Mix
The coming week sees a much welcomed change to the working week, for me any way. A little more time to listen to a bit more music (maybe), and write a bit more (hopefully). My early working life was a bit feral really when I look back – in style rather than substance. And that rather suited me – it took me an awful long … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (13th May)
This is so good it is a repost of a repost. The ultimate in lazy blogging, but totally justified when it is (MM faves) Strand of Oaks covering the sublime Wolves by (MM faves) Phosphorescent. So thanks to the great Slowcoustic for alerting us, and to The Key for the original posting. This just needs to be heard by as many people as possible so no apologies … Continue reading Wolves by Strand of Oaks (Cheers Slowcoustic)
Here is our regular round up of the best of January’s posts plus a couple of new tracks for your listening pleasure – all beautifully designed to make one perfect mixtape. Download Wooden Wand – The DNR Waltz mp3 More classic down-tempo folk from greatly underrated MM fave. Download Phosphorescent – Are You Ready For The Country? mp3 Riff-heavy, mean-assed cover which brilliantly captures the double-edged viciousness … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: January
Following hot on the heels of our plug for the latest edition of Uncut magazine, comes this one for the latest edition of Mojo. The cover CD is another classic album reinterpretation – this time of Harvest and features artists such as Villagers, the Smoke Fairies, Danny And The Champions of the World and Sam Amidon. Of particular interest to us was the inclusion of … Continue reading Phosphorescent cover Neil Young for Mojo
Here at MM we share, chat, argue, bury and praise music on a pretty regular basis…like daily. So throughout the year, the Mackerel crew (Mrs Mackerel, Barry-Sean, Christy-Popper, Dr Roddy, Polly Pocket, Starbar, MM and others) keep their own ever-changing top tens ready for publication at the climax of the festive season. So here are MM’s ten favourite tunes from 2010 – no claims on … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s 2010 Top Ten Series: No 7, Mad Mackerel
The Mad Mackerel 