Here at Birthday Cake For Breakfast, we like to get to the heart of what an artist is all about. We feel that what influences them is just as important as the music they make. With that in mind, ahead of releasing their debut album ‘The Grievance’ (out May 1st 2026 via Wrong Speed Records), Newcastle Upon Tyne outfit IRKED talk us through a number of influences. To sweeten the deal, we’ve also…

What’s On Michael Portillo’s iPod: WITCH FEVER

Here at Birthday Cake For Breakfast, we like to get to the heart of what an artist is all about. We feel that what influences them is just as important as the music they make. With that in mind, off the back of releasing their debut album ‘Congregation‘, we’re delighted to have Amy Walpole of Manchester’s WITCH FEVER talk us through a number of visual and literary influences they had during its…

This One Song… Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs on Mr Medicine

Tell you what – we love hearing from artists when things go right. We equally love hearing from artists when things go dreadfully wrong. A song that was a piece of piss, written in 20 minutes? Or years in the making and a bastard to write? Whether it’s a song that came together through great duress or one that was smashed out in a short amount of time, we’re getting the lowdown from some of our…

Album Review: Rubber Oh – Strange Craft

Words: Ben Forrester Some of you may know Rubber Oh as Sam Grant, a hard working musician and studio owner from the north east. As well as producing and engineering a whole heap of bands at his Newcastle based studio ‘Blank’, he’s also the axeman for sludge-rock mavericks Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs. Amidst all his other various projects, Sam decided to use his time wisely and have a go…

This One Song… Rubber Oh on Hyperdrive Fantasy

Tell you what – we love hearing from artists when things go right. We equally love hearing from artists when things go dreadfully wrong. A song that was a piece of piss, written in 20 minutes? Or years in the making and a bastard to write? Whether it’s a song that came together through great duress or one that was smashed out in a short amount of time, we’re getting the lowdown from some of our…

EP Review: Fast Blood – Fast Blood

Words: Nate Holdren Newcastle punk quartet Fast Blood’s self-titled debut EP – out soon as a cassette on Cruel Nature – is melodic, vulnerable, and anthemically powerful. It’s a punk for wounded but resourceful survivors sound, a carrying on in the aftermath sound, a getting out of bed regardless of whether you feel like it sound. It feels to me like midwestern punk, but then I’ve always thought…

What’s On Michael Portillo’s iPod: Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

Here at Birthday Cake For Breakfast, we like to get to the heart of what an artist is all about. We feel the music they listen to is just as important as the music they make. With that in mind, we’re delighted to have Sam Grant, guitarist in the skull-crushing Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, talking us through five releases that helped shape and inspire their latest album ‘Viscerals‘!

Words:…