With festival season just around the corner, May is a time when lots of bands are out on the road, and fortunately for us a whole host of excellent acts will be stopping by in Cambridge.
The Fall will play Cambridge Junction on 6 May. Formed in 1976, the iconic band’s ever-rotating cast of players has never threatened their status as one of the UK’s most influential post-punk bands. They have over 30 studio albums and a history of chaos to their name. There’s also a thrilling alternative option on the same night at The Portland Arms.
After spending most of 2013 writing their new album, Pulled Apart By Horses are already on the road, on their first tour since 2012. Award-winning British songwriter Blair Dunlop returns this May with his brand new album House of Jacks. A collection of beautifully crafted songs that are influenced, but not confined, by his folk roots, Blair’s trademark guitar styling is enriched with a broader palette of instruments to create a more contemporary sound. Blair plays the Cambridge Junction on 26 May.
Sugar-sweet We Were Evergreen finally release their debut LP this month and play The Portland Arms on 1 May. Support comes from Cambridge outfit Seeds and Bones, a trio who create a delicate lo-fi pop sound, mixing an arrangement of instruments with perfectly pitched harmonies.
Ezra Furmann has a back catalogue of hip-shaking back alley rock ’n’ roll jam. He brings his glam, fuzzed-out soul/psych mutant slop to The Portland Arms for a gig on 7 May. Wolf Alice finally play Cambridge in a headline capacity, having previously been here supporting Peace and then Swim Deep, on 14 May at The Portland. The grunge fused four-piece have gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months, becoming arguably one of Britain’s finest guitar bands.
Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett is the queen of cool, o ffering a refreshing style, with music that is gripping and moving whilst hilarious and infectious. Barnett will bring her woozy sounds to The Portland Arms on 12 May. Teleman release their Bernard Butler produced debut album this month, and are on tour, playing The Portland Arms on the 18th. Teleman produce sparse, welcoming minimalist synth tones, gentle motorik beats and balloon-light melodies which equals some hypnotising alt pop. And legendary Japanese noiseniks Melt Banana make only their second ever visit to the UK this month too, gracing The Portland on 31 May. And earlier in the month, on the 4th, also at The Portland, there’s a metal and punk all-dayer: Chewie Fest. The line-up at the time of writing includes two-piece rock band Bro, Crossburner, frenetic punkthrash band Project Mork, Cambridge acts Molasses, Austere and Mussels.
