The Independent | Music Magazine

A Month In Music: October

The summer may be a distant memory but festival fever’s still alive and kicking thanks to Oxjam. Oxfam’s October-long fezzie features hundreds of events throughout the country, promotes local acts and at the same time raises money for the charity. Well worth checking out then. Head to www.oxjam.org.uk to find out what’s happening in your home town.

Independent Record Store Standing: The Diskery Records, Birmingham

Following on from our extracts of Graham Jones' Last Shop Standing comes this feature short on one of Birmingham's record shops that's been a well-loved institution since 1952.

Band of the Week: Arcadian Kicks

’19 Days’, the self-released, Mike Chapman produced, Charlatans funded, gem of a single from Birmingham’s Arcadian Kicks is something of a mongrel of the pop industry. Something about the band doesn’t quite seem right at first, something not quite “organic”, but the more this debut single slams your record player, the less your guard is up, and the more genuine the band seems to feel.

Festival Review: The Secret Garden Party

“Moustaches bring you love!” I turn around and am embraced by a trio of muddy girls with voices like blackboard scraping, hay hanging from every nook, and lipstick smudged all over their faces. It is Sunday afternoon at the Secret Garden Party 2010, and despite 2 days and 3 nights of mischief, the spirit of the Garden Party is still being secreted with passion at every juncture. It is impossible not to fall in love: with the legions of beautiful people, with the intimate feel of the festival (despite having doubled in size to over 20,000 people this year), with the perfect range of music, and the endless supply of shenanigans, side-shows, and moments of sheer brilliance.

Festival Gallery: Secret Garden Party 2010

Phoenix supported by James Yuill, Roundhouse, Friday 30th July

The iTunes festival pulled another spectacular performance out of the bag, within the ever-trendy walls (wall?) of Camden's Roundhouse. The ridiculously popular but rarely spotted French band Phoenix (who will also be playing at this year's Field Day, in partnership with The Independent) were supported by "folktronica" artist James Yuill.