2020 ⋆ THE SHONK

DAVID HOPEWELL

December 29, 2020 dukeofearl 4,057

The corridors and offices of Shonk Towers are empty and dark. The causation, a global pandemic that has led to the extermination of most of our staff, with nothing more than an intern popping in […]

CARDIACS

July 22, 2020 dukeofearl 3,808

For months, maybe years I kept thinking about writing this piece, to just talk about my love for Cardiacs. Tim might have said ‘there’s no rush’ but those words can carry a lot of foreshadowing. […]

CHEW

July 8, 2020 dukeofearl 5,389

Alas, a component of my life I have missed this year is the ability to walk into a gig ‘ear-blind’ – It’s an amazing way to install new music into one’s mind. Clearly the solution […]

JERSKIN FENDRICKS

July 2, 2020 dukeofearl 14,988

Since I saw him opening for Black Midi at Rough Trade in a Bristol a couple years ago I have been awestruck by Jerskin Fendrix. I remember watching the show bewildered and excited by what […]

From sunny and exciting Brighton, the town I talk about visiting but never do comes a three-piece who has peaked my aural appeal with their latest single Digital Depression. The band is MI-HI and within a […]

The Old England

June 30, 2020 dukeofearl 6,004

Tucked away in Montpelier amidst a venous of narrow roads that climb steep hills, hidden in plain sight aside a surgery carpark is the magical haven that is The Old England. Akin to the shop […]

SUB CULTURES

June 19, 2020 dukeofearl 4,627

On the 12th of this month history was made when up and coming quartet Sub Cultures released their second single Alone. Despite these tense and trying times, unchartered by many and quite possibly the most unsettling […]

HEAD NOISE!

June 6, 2020 dukeofearl 2,887

Aberdare, Mountain Ash, the welsh valleys, places known for trapping genres like metal, rock and punk, a timeless inescapable region where leather jackets, black T-shirts and down tuned guitars have roamed free and easy, occasionally […]

TWIN STRANGERS

May 13, 2020 dukeofearl 1,938

I was recently informed that much of my music collection conjures up the notion of a melancholy summer and perhaps the most melancholisest of the summers we can expect is the one in this, the […]

JAMES OLIVER

May 7, 2020 dukeofearl 1,531

Every now and again you come across a musician who not only leaves you in awe but also makes your blood boil due their incredible talent. James Oliver is one such person, it’s almost impossible […]