The Loud And Quiet Podcast

Loud And Quiet
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Music Commentary

Artist interviews, discussions and stories about alternative music loudandquiet.substack.com

  1. How to run a festival in 2026: End of the Road at 20

    3d ago

    How to run a festival in 2026: End of the Road at 20

    21 years ago Simon Taffe mapped out an idea for a new type of independent festival. Less than 12 months later he put on the first ever End of the Road at a cost of £450k. The capacity was 5,000; he sold 1,300 tickets and gave away another 7,000 to competition winners. Crucially, it didn’t rain and, against the odds, he made it work. End of the Road has since become one of the UK’s most beloved festivals, still independently owned when a vast majority have been bought out by the Live Nations of the world. Previous headliners have included dream bookings Sufjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom, Patti Smith and an endless parade of great and good artists in not only folk, indie and art-rock but, increasingly, electronica, ambient and experimental too. This year’s festival has Pulp, CMAT, Mac Demarco and the recently revealed secret headliner, Geese. On this episode of the podcast, I ask Simon about the challenges he’s faced over the last 20 years, who there is left to book, was he insane to give this thing a go in the first place, the favourite sets from festivals past, EOTR as a place for fine dining, and if it would be possible to start a festival like this from scratch today. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Support this podcast and read our writing at loudandquiet.stubstack.com Further reading/viewing End of the Road website The story of EOTR on the Music Made Me Do It Podcast This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe

    46 min
  2. Roundtable podcast: Iceage, Feeble Little Horse, Fakemink, Belle & Sebastian’s World Cup song

    Jun 9

    Roundtable podcast: Iceage, Feeble Little Horse, Fakemink, Belle & Sebastian’s World Cup song

    Under the microscopes of our 3 intrepid reviewers this month are new albums by Danish punks Iceage, Pittsburgh noise pop trio Feeble Little Horse and the buzziest rapper in the world right now, Fakemink. Plus, has Drake beaten his career-ending beef simply by flooding the zone with algorithm chum? Who would be on your version of Charli XCX’s new album cover? And how will Sam defend the new Belle & Sebastian World Cup song? Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Support Loud And Quiet here Further reading/viewing Boards of Canada, Inferno review Aldous Harding, Train on The Island review YHWH Nailgun album review in our Album Stock Market feature Anton Corbijn on the podcast Fast Show’s Indie Club How Drake Lost the Plot, from The New Yorker Belle & Sebastian ‘It Only Takes One Lion’ video This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe

    48 min
  3. The perfect level of fame, with alt-J’s Joe Newman

    May 27

    The perfect level of fame, with alt-J’s Joe Newman

    Joe Newman – frontman, guitarist and chief songwriter in art rock band alt-J – estimates he’s recognised no more than twice a year; the dream/improbable scenario for a musician operating at his impressive level of success. Following four alt-J albums, Newman is about to release his excellent debut solo record under the name JJerome87. It’s call The Canyon (coming 27 June) and has a distinctly Californian sound. A big sound, I tell him in this week’s podcast, as abstract as that sounds. What I meant was that it sounds like a million people are playing on it, while Newman’s gift for strange lyrics that mean the world remains. “Baby come away with me / Let’s get lazy eye surgery.” Join us for a discussion around success, Los Angeles, how to tell you band you’re making a record without them, and a slow motion Hobbit orgy. Support this podcast and L&Q at loudandquiet.substack.com Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts Further reading/viewing jjerome87.com Ticket’s for Joe’s album launch show at Bush Hall, London ‘Track and Field’ video This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe

    54 min
  4. Roundtable podcast: Angine de Poitrine, Modern Woman, Lip Critic and a horrible football song

    May 12

    Roundtable podcast: Angine de Poitrine, Modern Woman, Lip Critic and a horrible football song

    Not only do we discuss our customary new albums this month (from Canadian microtonal space aliens Angine de Poitrine, NY electro punk band Lip Critic and new art rock greats Modern Woman) but also the Geese viral mirage, a very horrible football song and what exactly is the Met Gala? Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Further reading/viewing Angine de Poitrine KEXP session Wired’s Geese marketing exposé North London Forever Modern Woman Bandcamp Lip Critic Bandcamp Angine de Poitrine Bandcamp This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe

    47 min
  5. The history of independent music in Sheffield, with author Daniel Dylan Wray

    May 5

    The history of independent music in Sheffield, with author Daniel Dylan Wray

    Support this podcast by subscribing to Loud And Quiet for just £3 per month Considering the city of Sheffield’s music heritage – from the future pop of The Human League to stadium rock giants Def Leppard, industrial pioneers Cabaret Voltaire, legendary electronic label Warp, Pulp, ABC, Arctic Monkeys, Self Esteem, hundreds more – it’s borderline impressive that it’s never been chronicled in one book. Other music cities (Manchester, Liverpool, New York) have been 100 times over, but the people of the Steel City are a modest bunch. Writer Daniel Dylan Wray has now written that book, spanning from 1960 to the early 2020s. It’s called Groovy, Laidback & Nasty, and is publish this week, on 7 May. I spoke with Dan about his first book, from Peter Stringfellow’s forgotten life promoting Jimi Hendrix to the 150+ artists he spoke with to help tell this story. There’s also some good advice for fellow writers, and some hard truths about how writing a book actually works. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Further reading Order a copy of Groovy, Laidback & Nasty Tickets to Dan’s book launches in Sheffield, London and Brighton Dan’s first article on Sheffield, about historic night club Niche Jive Turkey for The Guardian David Lynch interview for Loud And Quiet Just What is an Industry Plant Anyway? for Loud And Quiet David Byrne interview for Loud And Quiet This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe

    56 min
  6. WU LYF’s new model for releasing music without Spotify

    Apr 19

    WU LYF’s new model for releasing music without Spotify

    When WU LYF were the band that every label wanted to sign in 2010 they rejected all offers, recorded their debut in a church with the help of their fans, and split up. 15 years later they’ve unexpectedly returned with a second album. Less surprising is how they’ve released A Wave That Will Never Break, sticking to their original ethos of building a community of their own. This time around, what they’re rejecting most of all is streaming platforms, instead building their own via their website WORLDUNITE.ORG, which is the only way to hear the new record, other than buying a copy in a store. The site also features an Instagram-like journal, tickets, a fan chat and merch, all for fans who become members. Ellery and Tom from the band joined me to discuss why they felt they had no option but to do things this way, and what it was like to be the hottest band in the UK in 2010. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Support Loud And Quiet and this podcast by subscribing to our Substack Further reading/viewing WU LYF on the Culture Show Is WU LYF’s return the most perfectly timed in indie history? WORLDUNITE.ORG This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe

    51 min
  7. Roundtable podcast: James Blake, Harry Styles, Fcukers and an Arctic Monkeys quiz

    Apr 15

    Roundtable podcast: James Blake, Harry Styles, Fcukers and an Arctic Monkeys quiz

    Once a month 3 members of the Loud And Quiet team (Sam Walton, Gemma Samways and Stuart Stubbs) meet up to review 3 albums released over the last 30 days – usually records that had everyone talking. This month, it’s the turn of Harry Styles’ pivot to electro pop, James Blake’s first independent release, and the debut from NYC duo Fcukers. Revisited is the debut phenomenon from Arctic Monkeys, with the help of a quiz that is FUN. Remember that! It’s a fun thing to listen to and play along with. This episode is not sponsored by Gary Barlow’s wine company. Sadly. Further reading/viewing The New Yorker article on album launches not hanging around James Blake’s plate-spinning album cover Support this podcast and all things Loud And Quiet via our substack newsletter This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe

    55 min
  8. Not caring what people think of you, with Tanya Tagaq

    Mar 25

    Not caring what people think of you, with Tanya Tagaq

    Before Canadian Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq starts any show she announces where the exits are in case anyone isn’t into her often aggressive and improvised performance. She’s completely fine with the walkouts, and we’ve perhaps not had anyone on the show before who’s as comfortable within themself as Tanya is. Also an author, visual artist, activist for the protection of indigenous rights in Northern Territory Canada and around the world, theatre maker, teacher and, recently, an actor in True Detective and North of North, Tagaq has just released her 7th album, Saputjiji. It’s a record that features her also singing conventionally for the first time. This episode of the podcast turns into something of a therapy session as Tanya talks of her life spent not caring what strangers think of her. We also get into how Björk ended up featuring on her 2005 debut album, if more acting is in the works, and how all of her life experiences have simply come to her, almost by accident. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Further reading/viewing Tanya’s performance at the 2014 Polaris Prize Support the podcast and Loud And Quiet by subscribing to our newsletter This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe

    53 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Artist interviews, discussions and stories about alternative music loudandquiet.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Loud And Quiet
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Loud And Quiet
  • Show Website
    The Loud And Quiet Podcast

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