Reeves & Mortimer. Hammersmith Apollo. 15th February 2016.

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer made me laugh so hard that my head nearly fell off. 

There were times when I laughed so much that I missed the next half a dozen jokes, at the Hammersmith Apollo, on the penultimate night of their 25th anniversary tour.

There was a wonderful moment early in the set where Vic answered the telephone and no one was there. The manner in which he did so consigned me to fits of laughter, uncontrollable. 

I didn't realise how funny Vic Reeves was, live and onstage. During the Dr Shakamoto sketch onstage he looked like he was only trying to make Bob laugh, consequently causing the ripples of laugher to increase in the audience. 

The audience featured some heavyweight names in the world of British comedy. Frank Skinner, Rhys Thomas and Noel Fielding (along with his brother) were all spotted, showing what a broad influence these characters have. 

"The man with a stick" and "Geordie Jeans" were my favourite sketches of the evening. Seeing Ulrika Jonsson in the video package a nice nod to work of theirs in the past. Indeed, the last act of the evening was the "Dove from Above" segment from Shooting Stars. 

 

BBC 6 Music Festival. DAY THREE. Bristol. 12th - 14th February 2016.

The third and final day of proceedings at the 6 Music Festival was a bittersweet affair. I felt an element of sadness as the train pulled away from Temple Meads to Paddington on the Monday lunchtime.

The night before, there was much hooting and howling from all involved. The venue heaving to the rafters to see Foals in the main room at Motion.

Beforehand, we were treated to three different performers, showcasing a variety of talent on display. Frank Turner, ever the energetic crowd pleaser, had everyone's arms in the air. Polica rocked everyone's socks and ears off with ginormous bass lines. Everything Everything had everyone bouncing up and down to their unique razzmatazz.

Headliners Foals then launched into their set like a plane taking off. It was a thrilling adventure. Along with more recent numbers, older tracks like Olympic Airways and Two Steps Twice were utterly joyful to hear. 

Motion is possibly one of the smallest venues that Foals will play to this year. Yannis Philippakis and the gang pumped out so much energy, and the crowd went nuts. Exuberance onstage, reflected by chaos offstage. A dramatic, fitting end to a superb weekend.

BBC 6 Music Festival. DAY TWO. Bristol. 12th-14th February 2016.

Arriving almost as soon as the doors opened, I made my way to the front of stage one. I wasn't the only one who had the same idea; by the time Roisin Murphy kicked off her early tea-time show, there was a packed crowd watching on in the main room at Motion. 

Murphy's set was extraordinary. "Do you want to take a our relationship a little further, Bristol?" she asked, coyly, before a note was played. Through her personality and her witticism's she won everyone over immediately. Throughout the forty minutes, Roisin changes clothes continuously. This makes her act so compelling. "Will the REAL Roisin Murphy please make herself known?" she asked aloud between songs.

Her set comprised of many cuts from her most recent record Hairless Toys; an album which was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2015. Gone Fishing and Unputdownable so subtle in delivery and yet so listenable. The opening number Dear Miami equally beguiling.

I think the minimalist aspect of Murphy's music is a joy. I cannot think of another artist making spacious records like Murphy at present. And yet Murphy continues to use those spaces. The lengthy silences at the beginning of Unputdownable create such suspense, alongside lengthy chords from her four piece band backing her. Murphy's drifting vocals almost acting like a lullaby. I will add that the best time to listen to Hairless Toys is just before bed.

Following Roisin Murphy, was Daughter. The lights dimmed, and there was a haunting echo. Deep blue lighting lit up the three-piece band. The spaciousness of Daughter's records also apparent live. In the track Numbers, there is reverberation that rocks the crowd. Lead singer Elena Tonra's "oh, oh, oh!" sounding duplicitous.

Daughter are compelling, with foreboding and hollow lyrics. Guitars are swapped frequently, enhancing a variety of sounds from a jangly guitar to a storming bass line. Tonra's vocals rise and fall above the drums throughout.

You can't dance to Daughter, but one must appreciate their heavy sound, and their moody atmospherics. This was a confident show from a band who have cut their teeth and are now starting to soar.

BBC 6 Music Festival. DAY ONE. Bristol. 12th-14th February 2016

Sometimes being at a loose end can mean you can take advantage of opportunities in your calendar. This Valentine's weekend, I spontaneously decided to head to Bristol for the weekend, for a date with the BBC 6 Music Festival.

Situated next to the waterside in Bristol, is Motion; the centre of my universe for the next three nights. A dark basic venue, with the two music rooms separated by a food and drinks area. Two well-lit stages, and very accessible. 

Warming up the crowd on the Friday evening was a dizzying tea-time performance by Savages. My abiding memory of this gig will be singer Jehnny Beth clambering over the crowd during her hair-raising rendition of "Husbands". Being so close to the front of the action, I found myself looking directly into the darting eyes of Jehnny as she delivered the chorus. Savages are good at whipping a crowd full of anticipation into a frenzy, Fay Milton's drum rhythms are so toxic that one cannot help but move. The same can be said of Ayse Hassan's bass riffs and Gemma Thompson's heavy guitar playing. It's a very tight organised sound; during "The Answer" there is a feeling of utter intensity. The newest addition to the set is the chilling "Adore life". It was so good I wanted the band to repeat it immediately. 

Reflecting upon this I caught the joyful !!! (Chk Chk Chk) in the second room, the amount of hands in the air and heads bobbing back and forward showing it was well received. Maybe not so well received was lead singer Nic Offer's shorts. 

The act I was most excited to see was Yeasayer. Scheduled at 10:15 up against the vastly popular Primal Scream, meant a slightly smaller crowd than I anticipated. Yeasayer, with little fuss or pomposity, delved back in time to play from their back catalogue everything from "Henrietta" to "Ambling Alp", to "2080". This was a dream setlist from the four piece. 

Singer Chris Keating is witty in between songs. I like his reluctance to play new material, however at one point he threatens to play Silly Me twice. Their hour set finishes with an unscheduled encore of Sunrise and Madder Red. Anand Wilder's bass notes sending me spiralling into a giddy paradise. The promise of new Yeasayer material in the next few months also exacerbating my giddiness. 

As I leave the old venue (Yeasayer joked it reminded them of an abattoir) I realise I'm so glad to be returning the next day. The 6 Music Festival is off and running.