Karen Pudner
@kpudner.bsky.social
So much music, so little time.
Another hypnotic performance from a singer/songwriter, this time Vashti Bunyan, whose gentle, almost fragile voice had us all mesmerised
October 5, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Another hypnotic performance from a singer/songwriter, this time Vashti Bunyan, whose gentle, almost fragile voice had us all mesmerised
Kristin Hersh is always wonderful live, whether she's fronting one of her bands or, as in this case, performing solo with selections of her vast and wonderful back catalogue. And thanks to the woman who was giving out free "Kristin F**kin' Hersh" badges, I will be wearing mine with pride.
October 4, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Kristin Hersh is always wonderful live, whether she's fronting one of her bands or, as in this case, performing solo with selections of her vast and wonderful back catalogue. And thanks to the woman who was giving out free "Kristin F**kin' Hersh" badges, I will be wearing mine with pride.
Our last gig at the legendary, soon to be closed White Hotel, a properly old school, rough and ready Manchester venue. And it was a great gig - Carla del Forno bringing some tuneful dubbiness to the industrial surroundings.
October 3, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Our last gig at the legendary, soon to be closed White Hotel, a properly old school, rough and ready Manchester venue. And it was a great gig - Carla del Forno bringing some tuneful dubbiness to the industrial surroundings.
I got to see Superchunk, one of my favourite bands of the early 90s, at Yes last night. Still sounding as racous and exuberant as ever, and making me feel very nostalgic for my early 20s
June 30, 2026 at 3:45 PM
I got to see Superchunk, one of my favourite bands of the early 90s, at Yes last night. Still sounding as racous and exuberant as ever, and making me feel very nostalgic for my early 20s
We had a great time at Manchester Pop Festival over the weekend, even though we almost melted on Friday and Saturday.
Highlights included Cowtown, BMX Bandits, The Chop, Gina Birch, Black Brunswicker, April Magazine and Trash Kit.
Highlights included Cowtown, BMX Bandits, The Chop, Gina Birch, Black Brunswicker, April Magazine and Trash Kit.
June 29, 2026 at 3:32 PM
We had a great time at Manchester Pop Festival over the weekend, even though we almost melted on Friday and Saturday.
Highlights included Cowtown, BMX Bandits, The Chop, Gina Birch, Black Brunswicker, April Magazine and Trash Kit.
Highlights included Cowtown, BMX Bandits, The Chop, Gina Birch, Black Brunswicker, April Magazine and Trash Kit.
Some lovely folktronica (are people still using that term) from Me Lost Me at Aatma last night.
June 3, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Some lovely folktronica (are people still using that term) from Me Lost Me at Aatma last night.
An incredible gig from The Ex on Saturday night, their new music is as intense and intricate as ever. They also used an intinteresting array of implements on their guitars- screwdriver, cup, scrubbing brush and here, a drumstick.
May 25, 2026 at 8:26 AM
An incredible gig from The Ex on Saturday night, their new music is as intense and intricate as ever. They also used an intinteresting array of implements on their guitars- screwdriver, cup, scrubbing brush and here, a drumstick.
Another great gig in a small venue, and yet more pedals. Hypnotic motorik beats from Memorials, supported by Thorn Wych, with with great folky weirdness and home made instruments.
May 2, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Another great gig in a small venue, and yet more pedals. Hypnotic motorik beats from Memorials, supported by Thorn Wych, with with great folky weirdness and home made instruments.
Pedals and drones galore from the mesmerising Thraa. Nice to go to a gig at beautiful Sacred Trinity Church again.
May 1, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Pedals and drones galore from the mesmerising Thraa. Nice to go to a gig at beautiful Sacred Trinity Church again.
An enchanting evening listening to Jane Weaver and her band play her "The Fallen by Watchbird" album, with beautiful but slightly creepy fairy tale backdrop images.
April 18, 2026 at 9:27 AM
An enchanting evening listening to Jane Weaver and her band play her "The Fallen by Watchbird" album, with beautiful but slightly creepy fairy tale backdrop images.
Our final gig of the Manchester Folk Festival, a collaboration between Rachel Sermanni and Joshua Burnside. We've seen Rachel Sermanni before and she's always great, but nice to hear new takes on her songs and be introduced to Joshua Burnside's work too.
March 22, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Our final gig of the Manchester Folk Festival, a collaboration between Rachel Sermanni and Joshua Burnside. We've seen Rachel Sermanni before and she's always great, but nice to hear new takes on her songs and be introduced to Joshua Burnside's work too.
More from Manchester Folk Festival. Shovel Dance Collective with a fine variety of instruments and some impressive folk bellowing.
March 21, 2026 at 10:02 AM
More from Manchester Folk Festival. Shovel Dance Collective with a fine variety of instruments and some impressive folk bellowing.
The always captivating Angeline Morrison on the first night of the Manchester Folk Festival. The Sorrow Songs is one of my favourite albums of the last few years, but we got a preview of some songs from her new album which sounded equally wonderful.
March 20, 2026 at 9:37 AM
The always captivating Angeline Morrison on the first night of the Manchester Folk Festival. The Sorrow Songs is one of my favourite albums of the last few years, but we got a preview of some songs from her new album which sounded equally wonderful.
Our first of 4 gigs over 4 nights - starting with some nostalgic indie pop with Heavenly (35 years after I first saw them), supported by label mates Tulpa.
March 19, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Our first of 4 gigs over 4 nights - starting with some nostalgic indie pop with Heavenly (35 years after I first saw them), supported by label mates Tulpa.
The Monochrome set performing the whole of The Lost Weekend, plus some other favourites, at The Deaf Institute.
March 16, 2026 at 8:42 PM
The Monochrome set performing the whole of The Lost Weekend, plus some other favourites, at The Deaf Institute.
I’m out of the habit of posting photos after a winter gig drought, but here’s one from last week. Lisa O'Neill and band with some gorgeous tunes at the equally beautiful Halle St Peter's.
March 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
I’m out of the habit of posting photos after a winter gig drought, but here’s one from last week. Lisa O'Neill and band with some gorgeous tunes at the equally beautiful Halle St Peter's.
Another fine performance from Manchester City Women yesterday. Goals from Shaw, Miedema and a hatrick from Kerolin who did some excellent goal celebrations.
February 2, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Another fine performance from Manchester City Women yesterday. Goals from Shaw, Miedema and a hatrick from Kerolin who did some excellent goal celebrations.
The always excellent Stereolab at the Ritz last night with their usual mix of dreamy pop melodies and incisive critiques of capitalism. Great support from Brazilian band Mombojo.
December 12, 2025 at 12:23 PM
The always excellent Stereolab at the Ritz last night with their usual mix of dreamy pop melodies and incisive critiques of capitalism. Great support from Brazilian band Mombojo.
Got free tickets to see Corinne Bailey Rae at Factory International last night. She has an amazing voice, and I especially enjoyed the more spacey newer stuff and her rock wig-out to New York Transit Queen.
December 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Got free tickets to see Corinne Bailey Rae at Factory International last night. She has an amazing voice, and I especially enjoyed the more spacey newer stuff and her rock wig-out to New York Transit Queen.
Obongjayar mixing soul, afrobeat and rap and showing off his amazing vocal range at Gorilla last night.
November 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Obongjayar mixing soul, afrobeat and rap and showing off his amazing vocal range at Gorilla last night.
Our second round of Sheffield nostalgia this week, ABC doing the whole of Lexicon of Love backed by an orchestra, conducted by the wonderful Anne Dudley.
November 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Our second round of Sheffield nostalgia this week, ABC doing the whole of Lexicon of Love backed by an orchestra, conducted by the wonderful Anne Dudley.
Our second time seeing Cabaret Voltaire on their reunion tour, this time at Gorilla in Manchester. Still sounding simultaneously unsettling and danceable, and I had a better view this time. Great found sounds and crunchy electronics from support act I Am Fya
November 19, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Our second time seeing Cabaret Voltaire on their reunion tour, this time at Gorilla in Manchester. Still sounding simultaneously unsettling and danceable, and I had a better view this time. Great found sounds and crunchy electronics from support act I Am Fya
Another fine performance from Manchester City women's team at the local derby. Goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp, but also a shout out to Aoba Fujino for her Bobby Gillespie haircut, her tenacity and her ability to be seemingly everywhere.
November 16, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Another fine performance from Manchester City women's team at the local derby. Goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp, but also a shout out to Aoba Fujino for her Bobby Gillespie haircut, her tenacity and her ability to be seemingly everywhere.
Gwenno was fantastic, doing songs in Welsh, Cornish and even a bit of English. And being a cat at one point. And great support from Quinquis, who sang in Breton about mermaids. Obviously.
November 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Gwenno was fantastic, doing songs in Welsh, Cornish and even a bit of English. And being a cat at one point. And great support from Quinquis, who sang in Breton about mermaids. Obviously.
Another great gig, with Kathryn Joseph doing her usual beautiful, dark and haunting songs with some added banging beats.
October 30, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Another great gig, with Kathryn Joseph doing her usual beautiful, dark and haunting songs with some added banging beats.