[Photo by Theo Cottle, www.theosphotos.tumblr.com] As a tribute to my first review on HOLDUPNOW I have decided to review the live performance of Mala's album Mala In Cuba  at Motion, Bristol for the Outlook Festival Launch Party on February 23rd. The night was headlined by Mungo's HiFi who graciously also brought along their renowned sound system for the event and supported by such acts as Prince Fatty, Gen ...

What I'm drinking to this week isn't an album for once. Instead, I have opted for an all vinyl mix by Worcestershire born, Will Holland, better known as Quantic. Famed for producing and performing alike, the Colombia based master of all trades takes influence from soul, jazz, funk, bossa nova and hip hop from all over the world. As a producer he has worked with the amazingly talented vocalist Alice Russell ...

What I'm drinking to this week is Celtic punk rockers Dropkick Murphys' hot of the presses new album Signed and Sealed In Blood. Still going strong since 1998 (albeit with several line up changes) the Boston boy's latest release is very different to their last, the concept album Going Out In Style with bassist Ken Casey calling it 'just us having fun and making the most catchy, singalong kind of songs we ca ...

What I'm currently drinking to is the second record by supergroup Bad Books, simply and aptly titled (especially for this review) 'II'. When Kevin Devine joined forces with front man Andy Hull along with other members of Manchester Orchestra in 2010, their self titled debut album 'Bad Books' was loved by fans of both artists as a great collection of songs they'd wanted to hear since first word of their coll ...

It was insanity from start to finish that included not only a dead body, but gorillas handing out bananas. Welcome to Bristol, a definition of 'city' in itself. With its grand architecture and bustling streets, the adventure was yet-again going to start. I set off from a meeting in Fishponds to the designated hostel in Bedminster. Having no idea where I stood wasn't a problem, as usual I was ready to explor ...