Man Made @ The Joiners 21/3/16 (with support from Novellas)

Nile Marr (son of The Smiths legend Johnny Marr) and co have been making a name for themselves in the UK indie scene, having built quite the reputation. Supporting acts such as Badly Drawn Boy, Bright Eyes and even Jake Bugg, these boys have become known for their unique take on the genre and hard working ethos, being on their second headline tour in as many years.

Having not been back to Southampton in quite some time, it seemed appropriate for Sotonians to welcome them back at the city's most iconic venue, The Joiners.

Portsmouth boys Novellas were both the openers and main support for this very short two band bill. The three piece played a great blend of 80s rock, pop and more alternative styles. A solid set with a great mix of slow paced grooves and fast, foot tapping riffs, even throwing in some heavier sections which gave off a JAWS-like vibe. Frontman and guitarist George Mansfield's unique voice perfectly blended with the music and even busted out some top quality shuffling on stage. A fantastic set with great energy and a real feel good vibe, Novellas are definitely one to keep an eye on.

Man Made hit the stage soon after. The band wasted no time in showing Southampton what they were capable of, with a great mix of pounding basslines and soft guitars. Nile Marr proved to be a capable frontman and excellent guitar playing, having his own unique style and creating his own sound. Latest single 'Raining In My Head', went down a treat, blending a more melancholy tone while still keeping the upbeat rhythms. Man Made are very much rooted in the Manchester influences of the past, with hints of The Smiths and Stone Roses underlying much of the set while still remaining to create their own original style.

Man Made proved to be quite the band, and definitely not one to miss when they're on tour next.

Photo credit: ModernWay Photography

Black Peaks at the Talking Heads: 13/02/16 (Support from Physics House Band, Hercules Morse and Faux)

With their debut album on the horizon, Black Peaks have embarked on their first headline tour across the UK. Establishing a reputation as one of the best live acts on the scene, it was only fitting that they played Southampton's premier live venue, the Talking Heads.

Openers were local boys Faux, who played an interesting blend of indie and hard rock. Their melancholy tones were captivating and the set was tight, a solid opening despite not having a huge crowd.

Up next were Hercules Morse who brought a very different atmosphere than Faux. Heavily inspired by Queens of The Stone Age, Hercules Morse had big riffs, pounding drums and some excellent guitar solos. While being the odd band out on the bill, these boys put on a fantastic show.

The main support were the Physics House Band. Probably one of the hardest bands to describe, they are quite the experience. A prog three piece that combines heavy riffs, keyboard sections, ambient and electronic music. While lacking vocals, they make up for that with some expert and complex playing, a weird yet wonderful live show.

Now the headliners, Black Peaks. Quickly setting the tone of the set with opener 'Crooks', the band relentlessly hammered at your ear drums. Fast paced choruses, a huge sound scape and fantastic energy showed why these guys are making a name for themselves. Vocalist Will Gardner commanded the stage with purpose and an amazing vocal range rivalled by very few front men in the UK. A blistering, chaotic but utterly fantastic live band. Black Peaks are certainly one to keep an eye out for.

Credit: Amie Kingswell Photography

The Trump petition and why it's wrong

I want to make one thing clear before I begin, I absolutely do not agree with the opinions of Mr Trump, in fact I despise them.

(However, here's where the crucial BUT comes in.....)

But I do not believe anyone with views I disagree with should be banned from travelling to the United Kingdom, and if you signed that petition to ban him, you are no better than Donald for wanting to ban Muslims from the US.

In case you forgot, we live in a Liberal democracy and one of the key principles of said democracy is the freedom of speech and freedom of expression. In theory we all have the right to voice whatever opinions we feel like and there should be no repercussions.

In reality this is slowly being eroded, with flimsy 'hate speech laws' and questionable spying charters.

Freedom of speech is also a human right, not just one of a liberal democracy. We are quick to defend those who have no voice in countries like Iran, China and North Korea, so we should not lower ourselves to the same depths of these countries either.

If we can allow hate breeders such as Anjem Choudary remain in this country we can surely allow Mr Trump to visit as well. Banning him from the UK also hinders another fundamental human right, the Freedom of Movement. Something we are very quick to defend whenever immigration is brought up.

Whether you like it or not, someone will have a viewpoint you will not agree with. It is not acceptable to silence them or prevent them from visiting our country because you do not like what they have to say.

As Voltaire said 'While I disagree with what you say, I will fight for your right to say it'. I would rather a man visit this nation who holds abhorrent views than silence them because I don't like him.

If we do ban him,  how does that make us any better?

Child Safety Press Release News Story

Child Safety Week comes to Southampton

The Child Accident Prevention Trust has organized a 'child safety week' in Southampton to allow families to learn more about accident prevention in their homes. 

Sure Start Weston Children's Centre has teamed up with the charity and has organized various activities where families can learn how to keep a safe environment for children and how to properly assess and manage risks. 

The Week will run from the 23rd - 29th November and will coincide with Child Safety Awareness Day on the 25th. 

What personal achievement makes me most proud?

As I'm sure people are aware we had an election this year. In my home town we had had our local elections in which we choose councillors for local government. Being extremely unhappy with the performance of our long standing incumbents, I decided to run for it myself.

Lack of funds meant I had to look for a party to represent and could not run as an independent like I originally intended. This was a difficult choice as my political ideas are not in line with any of the major parties. Ultimately I chose to represent the Conservatives after meeting their PPC (and now MP for Bath) Ben Howlett. His vision for my home town was very clear and thought out and had similar ideas of what I wanted for the city myself, so it felt natural to join his organisation. 

I didn't win, but having the opportunity to be able to represent my local community and try and make a difference there was amazing. Being able to see my name on a ballot paper and crossing it was a surreal experience. It increased my love for politics as a result.