Billy Bragg keeps the faith

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Taken from Billy Bragg’s new album ‘Mr Love & Justice’ (out this week), ‘I Keep Faith’ is released on 17th March on Cooking Vinyl.

You can watch the video here:

www.cookingvinyl.com/video/i_keep_faith_high.wmv

www.cookingvinyl.com/video/i_keep_faith_mid.wmv

www.cookingvinyl.com/video/i_keep_faith_low.wmv

Billy Bragg is playing tonight at the Roundhouse and he’ll also be playing a string of UK dates in April/May. Here are full dates:

Billy Bragg (in-store) 03.07.08 LONDON HMV

Billy Bragg 04.23.08 LONDON Barbican Hall

Billy Bragg 04.24.08 BRISTOL Colston Hall

Billy Bragg 04.25.08 BIRMINGHAM Town Hall

Billy Bragg 04.27.08 GLASGOW ABC

Billy Bragg 04.29.08 GATESHEAD The Sage

Billy Bragg 04.30.08 SHEFFIELD City Hall

Billy Bragg 05.02.08 LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall

Billy Bragg 05.03.08 READING The Hexagon

Billy Bragg 05.04.08 LINCOLN The Engine Shed

http://www.mrloveandjustice.net/






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Rob da Bank launches indoor festival - Bandstand

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Sunday Best and Bestival founder Rob da Bank and Vauxhall Corsa present an exciting new event to kick start summer’s live music calendar. Corsa presents Bandstand steered by Sunday Best is an eccentric, eclectic indoor festival, with much dressing up and letting down of hair. Centred around the sound and imagination of Sunday Best, one of the UK’s leading independent record labels and party organisers, Bandstand is truly individual, totally different and a celebration of British musical exuberance and fun the weather can’t spoil.

Bandstand started life as a reaction to British bandstands falling into disrepair, along with the success of the Bandstand at Bestival, itself a breeding ground for new music and talent. Now, thanks to a unique collaboration with Vauxhall Corsa, Bandstand has become a stand alone event in its own right with two shows, city focused, to take place this coming May. Bandstand launches in London’s Old Billingsgate, an incredible Grade 2 listed building right next to the Thames on the 3rd May and then travels up to Liverpool’s renowned Carling Academy the following weekend. With creative and programming from Sunday Best, together with Vauxhall Corsa they have developed a series of unique, truly British music and entertainment events.

Rob da Bank comments: “We love putting on outdoor festivals so we thought why not do one inside? In fact, let’s do two! Bandstand is a very British, eccentric celebration of music, comedy and performance taking you to another world. We hope this is the start of a series of landmark musical events for the UK.”

Bandstand is a celebration of Britain’s musical creativity and the emphasis is on booking British talent. Rob da Bank has brought together an exciting line-up of some of the UK’s finest live acts and DJ’s, both established and new. Headlining both shows is Mark Ronson. Grammy and Brits winner, London born, Mark Ronson’s top billing at Bandstand is a unique opportunity to experience not only Ronson’s critically acclaimed live show but also his lauded DJing skills. This is not to be missed. Joining Ronson at the Bandstand in both London and Liverpool will be the main man, Mr Bandstand himself Rob da Bank, The Cuban Brothers, who have been a fun element of  Sunday Best’s events for the last ten years, and Sunday Best’s resident DJ’s Sombrero Sound System.

In London, Radio 1’s Annie Mac is set to rock the floor and show Bandstand why she is one of the breakthrough DJ’s of the moment, the hotly-tipped youngsters Late Of The Pier perform live, while the inimitable Greg’s Greats will spin a DJ set of 78rpm records. There will be further additions to be made to this refreshingly eclectic line-up in the coming weeks.

A week later, the Bandstand party transforms the Carling Academy in Liverpool. The European Capital of Culture 2008 will party to the sounds of DJ Kissy Sell Out, and live sets from Liverpool’s very own hotly tipped newcomers The Troubadours and Sunday Best’s teenage rockabilly siblings Kitty, Daisy and Lewis. Bandstand is set to reverberate to one of the first festival soundtracks around. Details about how you too could be on bill are to be announced very soon.

Rob’s better half, Josie da Bank is the creative director of Bandstand and she brings the same extraordinary level of production ingenuity and attention to detail that has made Bestival so special. Josie has even designed a special limited edition Corsa model car so you can put your car in its Sunday Best. The venues are to be transformed in the most unbelievable of ways to help make Bandstand a totally unique experience. In the Bandstand main stage arena, live acts and DJs perform in a traditional Bandstand setting surrounded by park benches, eccentric look-a-likes and paths leading off to different areas. Bandstand is bringing the outdoor experience indoors, so expect the unexpected.

In the Alice In Wonderland inspired room, CS Lewis meets a traditional English garden party with an upscale Mad Hatter’s Tea Party; taste the unique cocktails by the creators of the Bollywood Bar experience at Bestival and immerse yourself in the wonder of White’s Bar, inspired by the C’Mons character from the Corsa commercials. It will have a fancy dress funbox too (of course!), with lots of acting out of Alice In Wonderland themes. There is also the Time Machine Disco. A small and intimate party space with a DJ booth created from a time machine. DJs will make unannounced appearances, transporting you with nostalgic tunes. This is a room to keep your eye on, you never know what you may miss, what you may hear and who might pop in!

Mark Ronson comments: “I’m honoured to be asked to do the first ever Bandstand shows. I am a huge fan of all things Rob da Bank and Sunday Best, and if this indoor festival is a fraction as good as Bestival, it should be amazing.”

3rd May 2008 - London - Old Billingsgate
Mark Ronson (live & DJ set), Rob da Bank, Annie Mac, Late Of The Pier (live), The Cuban Brothers (live), Greg’s Greats, Sombrero Sound System. Hosted by Barry Peters

10th May 2008 - Liverpool - Carling Academy
Mark Ronson (live & DJ set), Rob da Bank, Kissy Sell Out, Kitty Daisy & Lewis (live), The Cuban Brothers (live), The Troubadours (live), Sombrero Sound System. Hosted by Barry Peters

Ticket Details:
Tickets are £25 each plus booking fee and are available from www.bandstandevents.co.uk

Tickets go on sale on the 27th February. Tickets are to be released in phases. Register at www.bandstandevents.co.uk for the latest news and ticket release details.






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Newton Faulkner needs something on 31st March

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The UK’s most successful new singer-songwriter, Newton Faulkner, releases his brand new single ‘I Need Something’ on March 31st through Ugly Truth Records. ‘I Need Something’ is a wistful, passionate and throaty vocal twisted around a beautifully soulful melody captivatingly teased out of his acoustic guitar.

The release of ‘I Need Something’ follows the spectacular success of Newton’s Number One & Double Platinum debut album, ‘Hand Built By Robots’, which has so far spent two weeks at Number One on the UK album chart, as well as being a permanent fixture in the iTunes Top Ten since release (including six weeks at No1). Newton has just been nominated in the Best Male category of the 2008 Brit Awards.

Newton has also started spreading the word globally with his first North American and European live dates - a highlight being an especially exciting performance that took place in a hot air balloon high over the Swiss Alps for a radio broadcast.

A true DIY phenomenon (Myspace plays now well over 1.5 million) Newton has become a genuine grass roots success story as his sell-out EP’s, headline dates and support slots have gathered new fans and rave reviews alike. Newton is playing his biggest UK Tour to date through February and March 2008.

21st Feb Exeter University     01392 263 518
22nd Feb Portsmouth Guildhall     02392 824 355
23rd Feb Cambridge Corn Exchange     01223 357 851
24th Feb Birmingham Academy     0844 477 2000
26th Feb Newcastle Academy     0844 477 2000
27th Feb Aberdeen Music Hall     0870 169 0100
28th Feb Glasgow Barrowlands     0870 169 0100
29th Feb Leeds University     0113 244 5600
2nd March Manchester Apollo     0844 477 7677
3rd March Liverpool University     0870 320 7000
5th March London Roundhouse     0870 389 1846
6th March London Roundhouse     0870 389 1846
7th March Bristol Colston Hall     0117 922 3686

Site/Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/newtonfaulkner
http://www.newtonfaulkner.com






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Old Floyd, Yeahs in China and much more

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I’ve been away, but now I am back. I have a massive box of CD’s to review and mail account bursting at the seams with links and announcements. Better crack on I suppose..

Pink Floyd hit a little legal problem with the 40th anniversary edition of ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn”. The booklet has a page just reading “This particular page has been left blank for legal reasons”, as they couldn’t get clearance for an image included in a collage by Syd. Not sure why you’d bother putting that in when you could just go on to the next collage? Anyway the high lords of prog have bundled a three CD reissue, one in stereo, one in mono and one with all the 1967 singles, some B-sides and previously unreleased versions of songs, with a little booklet containing some previously unseen notebooks from the late Syd Barrett.
The track listings are as follows for CD 1 and 2 (the stereo/mono versions of the same album remember):

1. Astronomy Domine
2. Lucifer Sam
3. Matilda Mother
4. Flaming
5. Pow R. Toc H.
6. Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk
7. Interstellar Overdrive
8. The Gnome
9. Chapter 24
10. The Scarecrow
11. Bike

While the bonus CD has the following,

1. Arnold Layne
2. Candy And A Currant Bun
3. See Emily Play
4. Apples And Oranges
5. Paintbox
6. Interstellar Overdrive (French Edit)
7. Apple And Oranges (stereo mix) Previously unissued
8. Matilda Mother (Alternative version) Previously unissued
9. Interstellar Overdrive (Take six) Previously unissued

Moving on now to something more recent. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are playing in China according to their MySpace blog at www.myspace.com/yeahyeahyeahs. Also, in case you missed it, the band’s Ep “Is Is”, err, is out now with its five videos, one for each track, co-directed by KK Barrett (Sofia Coppola films) and Lance Bangs (video director - Sonic Youth, Nirvana and producer of Director’s Cut series of DVDs - Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham. See them in the media section at www.yeahyeahyeahs.com.

Northampton based band called Bruises, fronted by guitarist (ex-departure) Lee Irons, have a single being realeased by a small independant label as a 500 run limited edition 7″ vinyl, followed by a small uk tour.  Check www.myspace.com/wakeupwithbruises for details
The Go! Team are going to release their new album ‘Proof of Youth’ on September 10th - it is all streamed from they MySpace page www.myspace.com/thegoteam - To help big it up they are playing 3 shows next week:

12 Sep 2007- Electric Ballroom - London
13 Sep 2007 - Ritz - Manchester
14 Sep 2007 - ABC - Glasgow, Scotland

Get tickets, Go see them, you won’t be dissappointed.

Siouxsie Sioux is going to play the Eiffel Tower as part of a set of gigs by Coke (cue cries of SELL OUT!!, etc) to big up the soft brown drinksmongers unsigned bands thingy. No mention of Banshees but there will also be The Magic Numbers playing Frikirkjan Church in Reykjavik. In both cases the support acts will be unsigned acts from the aforementioned ‘unsigned band thingy’ (Yes, I can’t be bothered to look at the coke site and find out. If you are interested go there yourself and find out).

The (very good IMHO) DAB radio manufacturers PURE, along with Marshall Amplification, Planet Rock and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy are going to ‘turn it up to 11’ in October by having a charity auction, called RockStarRadios (www.rockstarradios.com). You can bid for special edition DAB digital radios signed by rock stars old and new. The donors are…

{deep breath} Bill Wyman, Graham Coxon, Ronnie James, Dio, Andy Powell, Trivium, Guy Pratt, Steve Wilson, The Answer, Scott Gorham, Jon Lord, Liam Gallagher, Sandi Thom, Joe Walsh, James Dean Bradfield, Annie Lennox, Biff Byford, Nicky Wire, Mark Ronson, Bob Catley, Paul Weller, John Legend, Thunder, Steve Cradock, Ronnie Wood, Ian Anderson, Jim Davies, Mark Knopfler, Hawkwind, Alice Cooper, Jet, Phil Manzanera, Bruce Dickinson, Eric Clapton, Ray Manzarek, The Feeling, Dave Grohl, Toby Banks, Keane, Editors, Mike Rutherford, Queens of the Stone Age, The Proclaimers, Marillion, Peter Hook, Gene Simmons, Roger Hodgson, Noel Gallagher and Steve Hogarth {phew!}

One Night Only release their first single ‘You & Me’ on Vertigo on the 29th October and their debut album follows in January.

Press release

Formed in 2003 (which seems an awfully long time ago when you consider that singer George has only just turned 17), One Night Only started out as a bunch of school friends ‘just making noise’ in their rural hometown of Helmsley, North Yorkshire. They went on to spend the following two years tearing the vaulted roof off the local scene with unrefined gigs showcasing punk bastard pop way beyond their tender years. It was only a matter of time before One Night Only broke out of Helmsley. They knuckled down, wrote some songs and last October Steve Lamacq began spinning the demo of ‘You And Me’, prompting the band to really take themselves seriously. One Night Only signed to Vertigo, home of Razorlight and The Killers and then hit the road for months, supporting The Enemy, Milburn and The Coral and embarked on a jaunt around the nation’s Club NMEs.

Already a fan, Zane Lowe picked ‘You & Me’ as his ‘Hottest Record In The World’ this week and demo versions have already been played on Radio 1 and Xfm. One Night Only are also confirmed to do a session with Steve Lamacq on the 10th September. They have a busy Autumn ahead. They are currently in the studio with the legendary producer Steve Lilywhite (U2, Morrissey) putting the final touches to their debut album due for release in January 2008. One Night Only have been confirmed as support for The Pigeon Detectives UK tour, have a bunch of dates with The Rifles, more Club NME dates and a headline show at the London Barfly (full dates overleaf).

One Night Only are: George Craig (Vocals/Guitar), Mark Hayton (Guitar), Sam Ford (Drums), Dan Parkin (Bass) and Jack Sails (Keyboards).

Full live dates:

September:
21st - Koko, Club NME, London
22nd - The underground, club NME, Stoke
25th - The Barfly, Camden, London
28th - Ku Bar, Stockton-On-Tees
29th - Empire, Middlesbrough

October:
1st - Soundhaus, Northampton (with the rifles)
2nd - Brook, Southampton (with the rifles)
4th - Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London (with the rifles)
5th - Leadmill, Sheffield (with the rifles)
6th - QMU @ The University of Glasgow (with the rifles)
15th - -Lemon tree (with the pigeon detectives) - Aberdeen
16th - Raigmore (with the pigeon detectives) -Inverness
18th - Fat Sams (with the pigeon detectives) -Dundee
19th - B.A Club (with the pigeon detectives) - Fort William
20th - Village Hall (with the pigeons detectives) - Ullapool
21st - Arches (with the pigeon detectives) - Glasgow
24th -Union (with the pigeon detectives) - Durham
25th - University (with the pigeon detectives) - Newcastle
26th - Vivaz (with the pigeon detectives) - Scarborough
28th - Academy (with the pigeon detectives) -Manchester
29th - Empress Ballroom (with the pigeon detectives) - Blackpool
30th - SINGLE LANCH PARTY! -Fibbers - York
31st - Carling Academy (with the pigeon detectives) - Liverpool

November: (all with the pigeon detectives)
2nd - Embassy - Skegness
3rd - Octagon - Sheffield
4th - Cressett - Peterborough
5th - Waterfront - Norwich
6th - Rock City -Nottingham
8th - Central Station - Wrexham
9th - University - Bangor
10th - Wulfrun Hall - Wolverhampton
11th - University - Keele
13th - Union - Swansea
14th - Anson Rooms - Bristol
15th - Lemon grove - Exeter
16th - Pyramid Centre - Portsmouth
17th - Fire station - Bournemouth
19th - Hexagon - Reading
20th - Zodiac Oxford
22nd - Forum - London
23rd - Forum - London

RIP to keyboardist Jeffery Carter Albrecht of the New Bohemians. News reports are that he has been shot dead in an incident with a burgler. More here http://news.google.com/news?q=Jeffery+Carter+Albrecht

Just in is news of The Rakes hosting their very own club event in London this autumn. Tickets officially go on sale on Wednesday 5th September at 10am. The event will run across four rooms featuring eight bands plus a room hosted by Adventures In The Beetroot Field DJ’s.

Friday 9th November, SeOne Club, St Thomas St London, SE1, 9pm – 3am

From the press release

So far confirmed to join The Rakes at the event are The Metros, We Start Fires and The Ghost Frequency with a secret special guest and more yet to be announced. The DJ room will be hosted by Adventures In The Beetroot Field DJ’s Crispin Dior and Casper C and will also feature Terry Hall (The Specials) and the Filthy Dukes.

Tickets will be priced at £17.50 and will be available from 0207 403 3331 and 24 hour CC Line 0871 2200 260 and www.gigsandtours.com.

Alan Donohoe Singer from The Rakes added “It’s a dream you’re outside a club with all your friends, entering you discover the best DJ’s and the newest cool bands in the UK. You drink n dance and meet the boy/girl of your dreams. It’s the perfect club and then The Rakes headline the whole lot. You wet your pants. It’s not a dream. You’re at the best night ever, watching The Rakes holding hands with the lover of your dreams… and you’ve wet yourself.”

Finally, well done to Klaxons for the Mercury gong they picked up for “Myths Of The Near Future” last night, well done to Amy Winehouse for being able to perform and well done for the bookies for not losing a ton of cash on Bat for Lashes.






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THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL 2007

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Betweenplanets was lucky enough to send Ryan, our roving reporter, to cover this years Great Escape Festival, here is what he found out for you….

THURSDAY 17TH MAY AT THE AUDIO

FEAR OF FLYING

Fear Of Flying are a three piece from London. They are made up of three young upstarts. They were playing downstairs at Brighton’s Audio. I was a bit sceptical about these young lads, although as soon as they entered the stage they proper got into it. They were just banging through their top classy tunes that were amazingly catchy. I was surprised that they were unsigned - they should be! They completely nailed their set - Got the crowd jumping to proper alternative new wave pop. These lads were well worth seeing they deserve their chance.

THE KISSAWAY TRAIL

Well this Danish band are a 5 piece and a 5 piece too many. Trying to imitate Arcade Fire but going severely wrong somewhere! It was always going to be hard to follow such an amazing set after Fear Of Flying but this was truly shocking. The crowd were split 50/50 but the severe heckling from some of the audience must have had an affect on their performance. Altogether it was a poor set and largely disappointing.

THE 1990’S

Cookies A fantastic three piece from Glasgow. I had heard a lot of good stuff about this band and I’m pleased I stayed to watch them - they were awesome! For me the best tune they played was the brand new single “see you at the lights”. They had the crowd singing back their tunes and any new band that can make that happen deserves total respect. Well worth seeing and I would encourage anyone to go get their album “Cookies” released on Rough Trade.

THURSDAY 17TH MAY AT THE PAVILLION THEATRE

THE ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT

So bad you barely noticed they were playing. Didn’t seem to get much appreciation from the crowd. They had no stage presence or crowd interaction. The only thing that stood out from this band was a beast of a hairy beard on the singer.

THURSDAY 17TH MAY AT KOMEDIA UPSTAIRS (1 AM GIG)

GALLOWS

I had been hearing good things about Gallows and after seeing the massive queue outside I knew they would live up to my expectations. Not the best of starts for the band as Frank Carter’s brother Steph split his head open after getting smashed round the head with his guitar during the first song. Steph disappeared to get his head sorted and for the next five minutes the band barracked with the crowd – highly amusing! Once Steph returned the band completely kicked arse - this gig was going to be intense. The highlight was the single “abandon ship”. To me this was an immense brutal gig. Gallows went down a storm.

FRIDAY THE 18TH MAY ON THE PIER (SECRET GIG)

FOALS

This was a secret gig in a pub on the pier. I had heard one song by Foals and loved it. The sound was a bit on the dodgy side but considering the venue I think you can let that issue go. They certainly got a crowd through the door. The likes of Preston from the Ordinary Boys and the Maccabees were hanging out watching the band. Poor ‘ole Preston thought he was going to get a fair bit of attention instead of Foals ……but no one cared about his presence, people were fixated on this banging live set from Foals.

FRIDAY 18TH MAY AT THE CORN EXCHANGE

THE HEIGHTS

From Wales via London. If you like you classic 1990s Indie bands, such as Embrace, then these are pretty good. However, boring to watch and slightly tame for me. They just didn’t really stand out enough. The crowd seemed to like them ….just not for me.

ART BRUT
Bang Bang Rock & Roll
THE best gig I have ever been to!! It was Bang Bang Rock & Roll’. Young Eddy Argos came on stage in a very retro 70’s shirt, trousers and socks. A band that begin every song by saying, “Art Brut… GO” and just oozing confidence. They played loads of songs - old and new. He jumped into the crowd who all worshipped this icon. This was not just a gig….. this was a lesson in life! Absolute amazing !! Makes you want to form a band…… Art Brut did just that.

SATURDAY 18TH MAY AT THE BEACH

REVERAND AND THE MAKERS

Really catchy little tunes. The beach crowd were loving ‘The Reverend’. He came across as slightly arrogant and I was unsure if this was part of the act! Respect though, he was meeting people after and giving them the time of day, unlike one other solo artist playing at this venue a bit later that evening!

THE NOISETTES

Whats The Time Mr WolfThe LOUDEST band I have ever seen - I thought my eardrums were going to bleed. Starting out at the very front I quickly retreated to the back of the venue where I could then fully appreciate these awesome performers - sporting amazing haircuts and dishing out catchy heavy tunes. People go on about Beth from the Gossip’s powerful voice….. but sorry, Shingai Shoniwa voice is a truly powerful voice with soul AND body. An ace gig.

JACK PENATE

This Young shy bloke from London left me disappointed. His sound is possibly more radio friendly but as a live performer he appeared lifeless! His repertoire for me was far too weak and all sounded the same. Hit or miss…..miss!






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The Horrors - Tour and a new single

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Strange House The Horrors are set to release a brand new single on Loog on the 18th June 2007.

‘She Is The New Thing’, the follow up to ‘Gloves’, is taken from their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Strange House‘ which was released on Loog on the 5th March. Produced by Ben Hillier, the new single is released on CD and two limited edition seven inch vinyl featuring exclusive new tracks, including a Cavemen remix of ‘She is The New Thing’ and ‘Sister Leonella’ produced by Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner.

The Southend five-piece, who recently completed a sell out headline tour of the UK, are currently finishing off their European run of shows, before heading off on an extensive tour of America through June. The Horrors line up of Faris Rotter - Vocals, Tomethy Furse - Bass, Joshua Third - Guitar, Spider Webb - Organ and Coffin Joe - Drums kick off the thirteen date tour with 2 dates in New York, before winding up with a Seattle show on 20th June. They then return to the UK for a slot on the John Peel stage at Glastonbury, kicking off their Summer festival run which culminates in Reading/Leeds.

The dates are:

June 2007

04th New York, US Luna Lounge
05th New York, US The Filimore
07th Boston, US Paradise Rock Club
08th Washington, US Rock n Roll Hotel
09th Philadelphia, US North Star Bar
10th Montreal, Canada Petit Campus
11th Toronto, Canada The Mod Club
12th Cleveland Heights, US Grog Shop
14th Chicago, US The Abbey
15th Minneapolis, US Triple Rock
18th Los Angeles, US El Rey Theatre
19th San Francisco, US Popscene
20th Seattle, US Crocodile Cafe
24th Glastonbury, UK Glastonbury Festival
29th Borlange, Sweden Peace & Love Festival
30th Tromoy, Norway Arendal Hove

July 2007

06th Turku, Finland Turku Ruisrock
13th Dour, Belgium Dour Festival
15th Manchester, UK International Festival
20th Benicassim, Spain Benicassim Festival

August 2007

11th Tokyo, Japan Summer Sonic Festival
12th Osaka, Japan Summer Sonic Festival
24th Reading, UK Reading Festival
25th Leeds, UK Leeds Festival

The Horrors acclaimed debut album ‘Strange House‘ is out now






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Legendary 10cc Members Reunite To Record New Music

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The Very Best of 10cc 15 May 2007,London - For the first time in over three decades original 10cc members, Kevin Godley and Graham Gouldman, have reunited to record new music. Best known for such classic 10cc hits as “Rubber Bullets”, “I’m Not In Love” and “Things We Do For Love”, as well as Godley and Creme’s mega-hit “Cry”, Godley and Gouldman have recorded five new songs available for download on their official website www.ggo6.co.uk.

Kevin Godley, former half of the pioneering duo Godley and Creme, who has also directed and produced some of the most successful music videos in rock and roll for such artists as Duran Duran, U2, Peter Gabriel, Herbie Hancock, Rod Stewart, Keane and The Police to name just a few, graces all five tracks with his tremendous voice - arguably one of the great vocalists in music today. “I always figured Kevin had the best voice in the band,” complements Gouldman, “ironic that he never sang lead on a 10cc single… Even I managed that. Now justice has been done. Kevin’s voice and razor sharp lyrics take us places we haven’t visited before… Always a good place to start!”

Graham Gouldman, a prolific songwriter since 1965, who still maintains a touring 10cc, before joining the band penned such classic songs as “For Your Love”, “Heart Full Of Soul” and “Evil Hearted You” for The Yardbirds, as well as “Look Through Any Window” and “Bus Stop” for The Hollies and “No Milk Today”, “Listen People” and “East West” for Herman’s Hermits. He has also worked with the likes of Andrew Gold and The Ramones. “It was exhilarating to hear a haunting Graham Gouldman chord sequence,” says Godley about their recent collaboration, “wrap some words around it and feel something actually come to life, in real time, again. These first five tracks are pretty lean by our previous standards. They’re more heartfelt, focused, less layered and lyrically they’re tougher.”

Get ‘The Very Best of 10cc’ from Amazon.co.uk

The five new Godley and Gouldman songs are as followed:

1) “The Same Road ” - A burned-out, homesick, American executive, snarled up in traffic on the Westway, fantasizes about finding a soul mate in a pressurized, loveless world.

2) “Johnny Hurts” - In a dark hotel room, late at night, a man tries to comfort his best friend’s new wife as a disastrous wedding party winds down in the bar.

3) “Beautifulloser.com” - A rich man recalls, with regret, his lost youth and his part in an extraordinary woman’s downfall.

4) “Hooligan Crane ” - Years after the event a victim of school bullying meets his vicious tormentor. Old wounds re-open. For the victim nothing’s changed. For the bully everything has.

5) “Son Of Man” - Hotlegs morph, noisily, into 10cc via self -medicating, mutant primate and northern work ethic. (This is part one of “The Son Of Man Diaries”, a sporadic, mostly audio but occasionally visual look at Godley and Gouldman’s collective history).

Why a reunion now after so many years? “In a nutshell… unfinished business,” explains Godley. “In all the years we’ve known each other we’ve only written three pure, Godley/Gouldman songs. That, and a desire to find out if the music muscle still worked with someone I enjoyed and didn’t have to spend weeks getting to know.” Upon listening to the duo’s new work unquestionably the spark is still there, picking up where they left off in 1976 but with a newly found, contemporary edge. Says Gouldman, “Kevin and I have always stayed in touch even though we haven’t actually worked together for many years, so I was delighted when he called to suggest we write some songs. When I asked ‘Why?’ He said, ‘No reason… just to do it and see what happens.’ A good enough reason for me!”

Much to the elation of Kevin Godley/Graham Gouldman fans worldwide, new material by the dynamic duo are currently in the works.

For downloads and more information visit the official Godley and Gouldman website: www.gg06.co.uk






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Fuze showcase their wares at ULU

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First chance to hear how a string septet, fifty piece choir and a world champion beatboxer mix up modern music

Seven of the most talented string musicians on the London scene have joined forces to produce Fuze: a unique string septet which performs in collaboration with World Champion Beatboxer Wan Dan and fifty piece Bermondsey choir ‘The Heard’ to produce a prodigious new sound mixing contemporary edge with classical excellence.

The core all girl seven-piece, signed to Warner Music Entertainment, consists of classically trained musicians from the UK and Australia, with Cat Parker (violin), Willow Stahlut (violin), Marianne Haynes (violin), Polly Wiltshire (viola), Chantal Leverton (viola), Rhian Porter (cello) and Lizzie May (cello).

The group brings together experience spanning the realms of classical to jazz and pop, with members performing from Birmingham to Bahrain, in venues ranging from the Symphony Hall to the Big Chill, and with a variety of artists from Zero 7 to Elton John!

Together with artist and producer Jim McWilliam, who has arranged for the likes of Pavarotti to Jeff Beck, Fuze has taken a variety of contemporary pop, rock and dance classics from revered artists including Radiohead, Bjork, Lamb and Massive Attack, and reworked them instrumentally to find the most beautiful way of representing the piece.

They have also created original material which shows off the scope of their sound – from punchy rhythms led by Wan Dan to dreamy, cinematic soundscapes from the strings to a cappella harmonies from The Heard.

This ambitious new line-up will play by themselves and in conjunction with high profile artists at a series of festivals and events this summer.

Catch Fuze first at their inaugural showcase at ULU on 12th May. Doors are from 7.30 pm.






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Coley Park new album out in June

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On 25 June 2007, Coley Park are to release their new album, ‘Rhinoceros’ on new label Big Potato Records. Formed in the late 90’s as a tin pot, fuzz, banjo and clarinet wielding Sonic Youth inspired 4 tracker outfit, they soon acquired a mythic status amongst locals, surfacing for (deliberately) unrehearsed gigs, then disappearing back to whatever makeshift studio they were holed up in. Coley Park began working with local-like-minders such as Jamie Lee Martin (poet), Ian Parton (now the Go Team), Neil Halstead and Ian McCutcheon (Loose Salute & Mojave3) and started filling suitcases with cassettes of songs, noodles and ideas.

Neil Halstead decided to work with Coley Park on his solo album “Sleeping on Roads” (4AD Records) after borrowing them for many Mojave3 recordings. Together, they played a one off performance at Spain’s Benicassim Festival, following which Coley Park returned to the studio to record the “Hands Of The Sun” album, from which most of the songs on the subsequent “Across The Carpet Stars” EP were drawn. Released in late 2003, the album received the following praise:

“Anglodelic sensations Coley Park, have come from nowhere in particular & on the basis of their debut album, are headed somewhere peculiar. Coley Park boast a murderous innocence all of their own. There’s a touch of Syd Barrett’s creepy childlike psychosis throughout.” Bang 4/5

“The shimmering melodies, happy-sad voices and mix of Americana and Anglo pastoral-psychedelia” - Syvie Simmons / Mojo

“Coley Park do a very fine line of marrying skew folk, alt.country and nu-psychedelia, and the results are continuously joyous.” - Rock Sound 8/10

By the album’s release the band had written and recorded most of the follow up, the stripped-to-the-bone “Down At The Devilin Tree”, which veered from surf to dark folk. Released on Shadylane Records in January 2005, the band again enjoyed a great press reaction:

“Coley Park manage to strike a telling balance between the pastoral vibes of little England & a warm Americana-come-west coast sound rooted in the 1960s. Detailed by studied lyrics, they stir up a woozy psych sound of a high standard” 4/5 The Independent.

“At times lovely. At others as on the Dr Who through Leslie speaker-cones of “Sleeping Apart”- mildy freaky.” Uncut

“Opener “Milky Moon” is made of blinding Californian sunshine mixed with soulful backbeat…” Rocksound 8/10

Coley Park’s almost hermitic existence has been spent crafting a set of honey sweet, alt country gems, with hard hitting drumming, steel guitar and hooks-a-plenty. The well honed tunes are made to shimmer with the odd flicker of wigged out instrumental flurries - bringing to mind the likes of Teenage Fanclub at their best.

Inspired by a play by Lonseco, ‘Rhinoceros’ was recorded and mixed over one year at their own studio. Featuring the T-Rex meets Roxy Music trumpet blast of “I Never Believed A Word You Said”, the hypnotic steel groove of “Devils Tree” and the uplifting pop of “Hip Hip Hooray”, the album is the prefect soundtrack to a hazy set of woozy country-rock campfire sing-alongs. In the band’s own words: “psychedelic banjo wielding shit kicks.”

Those suitcases are now beginning to creek and groan, and new label Big Potato Records are hoping to keep up with them through a string of EP releases and Summer dates.

Coley Park Line up

Nick Portnell - most of the singing, guitar, backwards guitar & tambo.
Kevin Wells - singing, banjo, recorder, guitar, clarinet, jaw harp & lap steel.
Mark Smith- bass, guitar & backing vocals.
Nick Holton- keyboards, guitar, banjo, gloc & backing vocals.
Dave Barrow- drums & backing vocals.

myspace/bigpotatorecords
bigpotatorecords.co.uk
myspace/coleypark
coleypark.com






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Duke Special announces new single

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Songs from the Deep Forest New Single ‘Last Night I Nearly Died’
Released May 21st on V2

Having toured Europe with The Divine Comedy, scored glowing reviews across the board and recently announced a major UK tour, Duke Special - the enigmatic performer with dashes of Gershwin and orchestral swing - releases his stunning new single ‘Last Night I Nearly Died (But Woke Up Just In Time)’ on V2, May 21st.

Taken from the critically acclaimed album ‘Songs from the Deep Forest’, the new single is produced by Paul Wilkinson and Dave Lynch.

Available exclusively to download, the new single comes with bonus live tracks from Belfast’s Ulster Hall. To coincide with the release, the critically acclaimed Irish wonder has announced an 11-date tour, opening in Southampton on May 11th and features a show at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire, May 15th. The full list of dates is overleaf.

Hailing from Belfast with a sound that is self-confessed “hobo-chic”, he is once heard, never forgotten. Tinged with a Northern Irish lilt and lyrics that could feature in a modern-day fairytale, ‘Last Night I Nearly Died’ is the perfect balance of old and new. Boasting the appeal of a three-minute pop song with the incessant charm of an old-school music hall, it’s clear why he wowed audiences on Later with Jools Holland and was nominated for this year’s Choice Music Prize Awards – the Irish equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize.

An accomplished performer, Duke has toured with a host of artists including Rufus Wainwright and Van Morrison – one of Duke’s biggest influences. “My sound is a bit vagabondy, but pure and soulful too,” he explains. “What I’m trying to put across is something that’s more than just a singer-songwriter playing an instrument.”

Since it’s release, the LP ‘Songs From The Deep Forest’ has won critical acclaim across the board, including 4-star reviews from Metro and The Independent. It was also listed in Q’s Top 100 albums of 2006.

Duke’s forthcoming live dates are:

May
11th SOUTHAMPTON, The Brook
12th GLASGOW, Oran Mor
13th MANCHESTER, Academy 3
14th CARDIFF, Point
15th LONDON, Shepherd’s Bush Empire
16th BIRMINGHAM, Academy 2
17th LEEDS, Irish Centre
18th EXETER, Lemon Grove
21st CORK, Savoy
22nd DUBLIN, Vicar Street seated
23rd DUBLIN, Vicar Street standing
24th GALWAY, Town Hall Theatre

www.dukespecial.com
www.myspace.com/dukespecial






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