Has The X Factor Lost It's Impact? (X Factor Feature)

The X Factor is the show that regularly guides our Saturday night viewing from late summer right up until Christmas. At first, we watch young hopefuls wow the judges and some downright madness occur on stage from the occasional oddity; then, theoretically, we follow our favourites through the series up until the live shows, basking in the glory as they win the final. That is, of course, the theory to it at least. 

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Brooklyn-based Indie Rockers Deadbeat Darling Talk to Stereoboard About New Album

Earlier this year, New York’s Deadbeat Darling spent some time here in the UK working on their new album with Grammy Award-winning producer Ken Nelson. Nelson is probably known best for his work on the first three Coldplay albums and on Mercury Prize winners ‘Bring It On’ by Gomez and Badly Drawn Boy’s ‘The Hour of Bewilderbeast’. Ahead of the release of the band’s debut UK single ‘Promises’ later this month, frontman Joseph King spoke with Stereoboard to tell us more about the forthcoming album and Deadbeat Darling’s music. He was even kind enough to reveal the album’s title…

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 18 November 2011

Stereoboard Tour of the Week - Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All

Controversial hip-hop? Whatever next? OK, so maybe the rap world has seen more than its fair share of hype and notoriety over the years with the various Eminems, NWAs and Ol’ Dirty Bastards that have been and gone. However, that isn’t to say that LA’s Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All don’t have something more to offer, as anyone planning to catch them on their 2012 UK tour is no doubt hoping to find out.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 18 November 2011

Stereoboard Predict Remaining Download & Sonisphere Headliners (Download & Sonisphere Feature)

The moment I saw James, the editor of Kerrang! Magazine, tweet that an upcoming issue was going to feature all the Download headliners, but not announce it I immediately thought “I know, I’ll do a prediction feature. That’ll be interesting”. My plan was to buy Kerrang!, scour the pages and try work out the three headliners. I had it nailed, my friends and I even had a plan on how to work it out; then, last week, two of three headliners were announced. Being an avid festival goer, I spend far too much time trying to work out the line-ups regardless, so this seemed a good idea. 

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 17 November 2011

Replacing CDs with MP3s (Digital Music Feature)

With news making the rounds that major record labels could stop producing CDs as soon as 2012, the key question is why? Understandably technology progresses and we’re living in a digital age, but is the music market ready to go 100% digital? Personally – I don’t think so. I admit I’m often a downloader; my iTunes eases my boredom but a high percentage of my catalogue comes from physical CDs. In fact, I have quite the collection; but fully relinquishing the availability of physical music? I’m not for that at all.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 14 November 2011

Stereoboard Tour of the Week - The Presidents of the United States of America

If you’ve had the incredible misfortune over the past 16 years to miss out on the experience of seeing Seattle rock trio The Presidents of the United States of America in all their live glory, then you’re in luck – they’ve just announced some new UK dates for next year. What makes this latest string of gigs all the more welcome is the fact that the band will be playing their eponymous debut album in full.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 10 November 2011

Movies Vs Music (Movie & TV Stars In The Music Industry Feature)

Stars of the screen and musicians are two staples in the realm of celebrity. Take the likes of Lady Gaga to Angelina Jolie as extreme examples; these two industries can throw you to completely dizzying heights of fame, but the industries of screen and song are not exclusive (David Hasselhoff asking us to jump in his car being a stark reminder of that...). 

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Friday, 04 November 2011

Stereoboard’s Top 10 Live Events in November (Feature)

As we turn the clocks back and those cold winter nights start drawing in, you may have noticed that Fireworks Night isn’t the only thing that will be going off with a bang this November. That’s right, the autumn touring season is packed with enough post-Halloween treats to scare off any winter blues until it’s time to start your Christmas shopping. So without further ado, here’s this month’s top tips from Stereoboard to help you choose which of November’s many tours and gigs you’ll be adding to your calendar. Enjoy…

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 31 October 2011

Stereoboard Tour of the Week - The Stone Roses - Tickets Onsale Friday 9.30am

Rizzle Kicks, The Ting Tings, You Me At Six, NKOTBSB, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah… Oh yes, it certainly has been a good week for tour announcements, with enough impressive bands confirming dates that are likely to keep us happy well into 2012. As you’ll no doubt agree, any one of the groups that have released forthcoming concert details over the past few days are entirely worthy of the weekly honour of claiming Stereoboard’s Tour of the Week. At least, in any other week they would be anyway.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 20 October 2011

Stereoboard Speaks To High Contrast And Lung Prior To Hospitality Cardiff

For all the drum and bass-heads across the country, Hospitality nights are one of the most anticipated and appreciated club nights that comes around. Hosted by the massive Hospital Record label, who are home to the likes of High Contrast, Netsky, Camo and Krooked, Danny Byrd as well as Lung, Joe Syntax Unquote and Bop on their sister label Med School, Hospitality showcases the best of the best in drum and bass every time one of their prestigious shows comes to town.

Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Thursday, 20 October 2011

Stereoboard Pay Homage To Music's Halloween Heroes (Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie Feature)

Halloween is considered that time of year for many to indulge themselves in dress-up tomfoolery without risk of embarrassment, albeit mimicking a cartoon character to terrifying others as a blood covered zombie. As a child, you would throw on your costume and dabble with Trick or Treating and, as an adult, it’s just a good excuse to dress as a superhero and go for a pint without looking too out of place. To others – more in America than perhaps the UK – it’s a time for turning homes into houses of horror, scaring their friends and co-workers and submerging yourself in anything gory.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 17 October 2011

Stereoboard Preview Supersonic Festival 2011 (Supersonic Festival Feature)

Connoisseurs of the noisy, avant-garde and downright obscene will no doubt already be aware of this year's rapidly approaching edition of Supersonic festival (held at The Custard Factory in Birmingham from October 21st to 23rd). However, for the few amongst us who remain blissfully ignorant to this unrelenting sonic onslaught, Stereoboard has a wee taster of what's in store for punters over the course of the event. If we do say so ourselves, we've concocted such an unbeatable list of things to check out over the weekend that you'd be foolish to follow even your own thoughts or instincts in preference.

Written by: Jack Pudwell | Date: Friday, 14 October 2011

Stereoboard Tour of the Week - Roots Manuva - Tickets Onsale Friday Oct 14th

So, what has happened to British hip-hop in the past decade? Dizzee Rascal has gone from Mercury Prize-winning newcomer and respected underground grime rapper to a fully-fledged pop superstar. Tinie Tempah has quickly followed in his footsteps by becoming the UK’s new favourite hip-hop artist. And Example has left the rapping behind in favour of a bit of singing and dancefloor chart-toppers.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 13 October 2011

Vocal No Shows At The MOBOS (MOBO Awards Feature)

Celebrating ‘Music of Black Origin,’ Wednesday night’s MOBO ceremony honoured some of the most successful R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, Urban and Rap artists of recent years. Most successful on the night was Jessie J, who won four awards and performed live for the Glasgow crowd. There were also performances from Jason Derulo, Dappy and a guest appearance by Ms Dynamite among others.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Friday, 07 October 2011

Stereoboard’s Top 10 Live Events in October 2011 (Feature)

You’ve been well and truly spoiled for choice with the amount of gigs on offer this autumn, so having to pick just 10 from the list of top gigs in October was far from an easy task. However, as always, we struggled and strived and eventually managed to dwindle the seemingly endless list down to just a couple of handfuls for you to choose from. Enjoy…

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 30 September 2011

Stereoboard Tour of the Week - Kerrang! Tour with New Found Glory & Sum 41

10 years ago – or thereabouts – two bands from across the pond burst into the punk scene with their own brand of catchy pop melodies that would add a new, slightly more light-hearted angle to the world of alternative rock. While many people may have criticised them for making a mockery of punk rock and maybe even pushing it past the boundary of cheesy pop, others were having far too much fun to care.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 30 September 2011

'Mama Mia' A Feature By David Evans (Music Through The Ages Feature)

Although some mild-mannered parents still pin their hopes on a call for volunteers to do the washing up, when it comes to clearing a room of unwelcome teenagers the sight of a Sounds Of The 60’s CD is a much better bet ...and although my dread-of-acne days are long behind me, there’s every chance I’d be leading the stampede.

Written by: David Evans | Date: Monday, 26 September 2011

Ebay's Stubhub Set To Launch Fan Resale Site In The UK (Ticket Sale Feature)

The UK's secondary ticket sale market is about to get even more competitive as eBay have confirmed they are planning to launch their own secondary sales site 'StubHub' for the UK. The move is expected to signal the end of eBay tickets which never truly competed in the market.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Friday, 16 September 2011

Stereoboard Tour of the Week – The Black Keys - Tickets Onsale 9am (Sept 16th)

Since the break-up of The White Stripes earlier this year, the music world has certainly been missing the irresistible noise of their two-piece garage rock racket, which provided us with a glut of simple but satisfying tunes during much of the past decade. Fortunately, fellow Midwestern duo The Black Keys are back to replace the king and queen of guitar ’n’ drums blues-rock and to once again prove themselves as the definitive dukes of that particular niche genre.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 16 September 2011

Stereoboard Tour of the Week – Smashing Pumpkins - Tickets Onsale 10am Friday

As the return of grunge approaches with the imminent 20-year anniversary of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’, we’re sure you’ll be somewhat over the moon to learn that another ‘90s alt-rock icon Billy Corgan is back once again with the latest incarnation of his ever-changing Smashing Pumpkins. In addition to the band’s most recent line-up, Corgan also brings with him a new tour and a new album… kinda.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 09 September 2011