Russell Baillie

Bill Nighy reveals a life possessed by Bob Dylan, altered by ageing rocker Billy Mack and enlivened by his new Blitz-era movie. Bill Nighy enters the room, all sharp elbows, navy suit and black-framed glasses. He approaches like an express train of…

In these parts, Sharon Van Etten will now forever be known as The Woman Who Made John Campbell Cry. She was a surprise musical guest on the superfan's current affairs show last night, her live-cross performance of Tarifa leaving the guy damp of cheek…

Welcome to the great folk music time machine. Just keep an eye on the ol' year dial though. It acts up sometimes. Like just now - Billy Bragg is closing the first half of his show. The now grey-haired 54 year-old English singer-songwriter who came to…

So here we are again - nearly 24 years after the Police last played Western Springs at what was the height of the band's fame and what turned out to be the beginning of the end. Back then a record 60,000 or so of us packed into the arena in an era…

By RUSSELL BAILLIE He's standing near the front, about the same distance he was when he saw Blam Blam Blam in his mid-teens, all those years ago. They were the first great band he saw. He still knows all the words. And as the songs reconstitute…

By RUSSELL BAILLIE As far as pre-landing instructions go, they're short, to the point and slightly worrying. "Hold on behind the pilot's seat here," shouts a crew member into my earplugged ear, "hold on with your other hand up there. And bend your…

By Russell Baillie Ani DiFranco, Karen Hunter Powerstation, Tuesday, January 19. Describe Ani DiFranco? Well, imagine Alanis, but with a sense of humour, a real grounding in music, an emotional range, a political conscience, a DIY ethic, a certain…