Personally, I think 2015 has been a great year for music. I've seen some awesome bands, and listened to some fabulous records.

Strangely, this year has also seen my transition from a writer to managing editor. It wasn't at all expected on my part, and I'm very grateful to Kenny McMurtrie and Joe Watson for their faith in my abilities. As with 2015, I'll still be writing, and look forward to hearing more music, both old and new. If you’re a band or label of the garage persuasion, and would like me to review your show / new releases then please drop me a line via the page or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

One of my favourite live shows this year has to be The Missing Souls at the Cosmic Trip Festival back in May. The Cosmic Trip, on the whole, was a very big disappointment. Not really the fault of the bands (although I still can't understand some of the choices of bands playing e.g. The Warlocks) but more to do with the sound / venue. The main stage was just too big, and the presence of any band playing there disappeared into the ether. Luckily The Missing Souls managed to avoid this by playing a pre-festival gig at a small bistro in Bourges town centre. I was knocked off my feet by their enthusiasm and most excellent choice of covers. They have since released their first single, a cover of 'You Just Gotta Know My Mind', and it looks like they have another 7" in the pipeline for early 2016 so very much to look forward to from their camp.

My favourite weekender this year was without a doubt the inaugural Franklin Fest in Edinburgh, which took place in June. Three days of the best rock 'n' roll on offer from bands as far flung as the the Medway! I was astounded by the performance of The Baron Four, who were just sheer brilliance in terms of energy and authenticity, not forgetting musicality (you can read about that show here), as well as the appearance of old favourites The Masonics with special guest Ludella Black, The Wildebeests and The Thanes. Also, it was really good to see the promoters showcase some of the lesser known bands on the opening night, such as The Phlegm. I'm really excited about Franklin Fest 2016, and cannot wait for the line-up to be announced.    

The Franklin has been a constant this year in terms of the quality of bands playing, and the enjoyability of the shows. For a tiny wee shack in the middle of a field, it has something really special. Yes, I know - I've said it all before! More recently they've hosted bands from further afield such as red hot property Les Grys Grys from France, who gave a performance of monumental proportions (see here for more), and the fabulous Oh! Gunquit from down south (review here). Furthermore, it's one of the only places where you can guarantee that the support bands are likely to be just as good as the main act, notable supports this year having been Geek Maggot Bingo, The Brutes, The Black Needles and The No-Things.

All day spectacular Buckfest which took place in Glasgow, is also worth a mention. With many thanks to organiser Alan Gemmel for chatting with Musoss. We saw sterling performances from such bands as The Kosher Pickles and The Bucky Rage (review here). A thoroughly enjoyable day of weird and wonderful rock and roll. Again, I'm looking forward to the same in 2016.       

As for LP's, The Arrogants - No Time To Wait, did it for me. However, The debut LP's from The Baron Four and Oh! Gunquit are very close behind. 

Next year I'm hoping to provide coverage from the Green Fuzz festival in Spain in April, and of course the Franklin Fest in June. 

Finally a huge thanks to all the bands / labels / promoters who've been so co-operative this year - it's truly been a pleasure to make your acquaintance. So please, put on your old-school 3D glasses, and watch this space.

But follow it it did. On balance it probably actually even surpassed it, a feat in no way thought possible a mere 24 hours before.

Newcastle’s Ferriday Fireballs started us off tonight with their stripped back and primitive (lap steel guitar aside) rock ‘n’ roll. Clear winners in the least amount of drumkit stakes they pounded their way through recent single ‘Your Love Must Be Destroyed’ and plenty of other original material along with The Damned’s ‘I Feel Alright’ and Bo Diddley’s ‘Who Do You Love?’, a tune fast becoming ubiquitous this weekend. Well received by those sensible enough to be in a the start of the night theirs was a pithy reminder of the basics required to whip up a crowd.

Next up was an act that, for a few of us, were practically a litmus test of the whole event. Having seen The Baron Four just a couple of months ago at Cosmic Trip and been pretty underwhelmed (not that they were too pleased with the set up themselves) their performance here had a lot riding on it. What followed was like the difference between black and white. In intimate surroundings and with practically perfect sound to boot they were little short of wonderful. On record their commitment to authenticity clearly belies the fact that they can thrash it out and leave a crowd breathless when playing live.

Described later by one festival goer as almost a “religious experience” their interpretation of Swingin’ Blue Jeans numbers as well as their own recent single on State Records and many more originals, Mole being a highly entertaining drummer to watch and Mike Whittaker getting in amongst the audience elevated this to one of the finest performances I’ve seen at home or abroad in the last few years. Incendiary is probably the best way to sum it up in a single word.

Following this was always going to be difficult but Hipbone Slim & The Kneetremblers, providing Bruce Brand with his third stint of the weekend behind the drums, were on hand to give it as good a try as possible. Opting for the jumping on the table method Sir Bald Diddley managed to create some excitement at the risk of personal injury (it wasn’t a large table) and as with the opening night it was good to see an upright bass being put to good use. They inspired plenty of dancing and upcoming single ‘You Ain’t Got A Leg To Stand On’ shows they’re not slacking off in terms of new product.

The penultimate act tonight were what passes for a supergroup in the confines of the UK garage scene, featuring as it does a Thane, a Masonic & a Milkshake. The Wildebeests combine that wealth of experience and musical knowledge into a package that sees them time and again play as both the utmost covers band and one with at least as many classic originals as they’ve been part of in their day jobs. At times there’s almost telepathy going on as they joke, heckle each other and hammer their way through a set that proves, by dint of the lateness of the hour, too short but which nevertheless once more boiled the audience to a frenzy.

A state that was further improved upon by closing act The Shook Ups! Playing like men running out of time the Wigan sextet invaded the crowd, surfed atop it, tried to kiss it, had more exits than your average shopping centre and generally entertained with a level of theatricality seen nowhere else over the previous two days. Larger than life and with a comic book-like aura provided by their all black attire & singer Dan Coyote's exuberant persona they were definitely the right band in the right place tonight. A highlight at Hipsville in 2013, in the enclosed atmosphere of the Franklin they were like a controlled detonation from 1967 only now being felt in its entirety. “Mental” was the thought that kept occurring as they sweated and pounded to a close (helped in no small measure by some of Cornwall’s finest fortified alcoholic export) and they could no doubt have gone on for a few numbers more had the bar not had to shut. Amazing stuff and a glorious finale to an exceptional event. 

Angus, Calvin, Colin & the rest of the team behind putting the festival on can all feel justifiably pleased with themselves as it did exactly what it said on the tin. A thoroughly entertaining few nights of top class music and performances from some of the best acts of their kind that the UK has to offer. The future is bright, the future is Franklin.