Beerjacket will be joined by friends to perform his latest album in its entirety
(Photo by Lisa-Marie Ferla)
The horribly clichéd term "singer/songwriter" is thrown around all too frequently these days, with every man, woman and child picking up a guitar in hope of becoming the next Bob Dylan, Regina Spektor or, God forbid, Ed Sheeran. Truth be told, there are very few who have the combined musical ability and lyrical dexterity to truly capture the attention, never mind the hearts, of an audience. Then there's Beerjacket.
With seven releases in the past eight years, one man alt-folk troubadour Peter Kelly is no newcomer to the Scottish circuit. Despite an impressive back catalogue of home-recorded material which has saw him share the stage with (and consequently win over) the likes of Feist, The Guillemots, The National and Ron Sexmith, it was his decision to take a step away from his long time lo-fi, DIY approach and finally take a step in to the studio with producer Stuart MacLeod on latest album The White Feather Trail that helped the music of Beerjacket reach a wider audience, resulting in widespread critical acclaim - and it's this latest offering that will be the focus of tomorrow night's headline King Tut's show, his second of this year.
The usually lonesome figure of Peter Kelly will this time be joined by the lovelyJulia Doogan on vocals and the aforementioned Stuart MacLeod on various instruments ranging from the mandolin to baritone guitar, to perform The White Feather Trail in its entirety for the first time ever before treating his audience to a selection of favourites both old and new.
When I am asked what Scottish bands or artists I would recommend (and I am asked this question on a near daily basis) Beerjacket, without hesitation, is always my first response. Never have I came across a more impassioned, hard working and truly inspiring musician and human being and after the success of his recent venture in to the world of professional recording, I can confidently say this is only the beginning for one of Scotland, dare I say it Britain's, finest talents.
Support on the night comes from the stunning Glasgow based, atmospheric six-piece Quickbeam and husky, Oban lad Mike Nisbet whilst Scotland's favourite music blogger The Pop Cop will be selecting tracks for your aural delectation in the downstairs bar from 7pm.
Louie and Audrey of Hector Bizerk headline the second night of KTSN12
There once was a time when the Scottish accent was frowned upon if it wasn't being performed by two spectacle wearing twin brothers, but with the rise of Biffy Clyro, and more recently Twin Atlantic, the thick Scottish brogue has well and truly found its voice - and guitar driven music isn't the only genre to benefit from the acceptance of foreign ears. You might not realise it but Scottish hip-hop is alive and kicking and tonight's bill firmly cements that fact.
Headlining the second night of King Tut's Summer Nights are Glaswegian two-piece Hector Bizerk. With just a mic and a drum kit, such a minimal set up not only displays the true genius of Louie's lyrics but allows the band to challenge themselves musically, something which they've proved more than capable of achieving. Fresh from their slot on the BBC Introducing Stage at T in the Park last Saturday (which I previewed here and which you can watch here), this dynamic duo are sure to impress even the most cynical of Scottish music fans when they take to the legendary King Tut's stage tonight.
Supporting is an Edinburgh MC who has been tearing up stages the length and breadth of the country with his sharp lyrics and heavy beats. Madhat McGoreis no stranger to the Scottish hip-hop scene, having been writing and producing for the past 12 years, and his knack for rhymes and quick beats has helped put Scottish rap on the map. With the backing of MTV, Radio 1 and even the Daily Record, Madhat's unique blend of dubstep, grime and hip-hop reaffirms his status as one of Scotland's leading MCs.
Rounding off this fine exhibition of Scottish hip-hop is one of Glasgow's best kept secrets in the form of Gaspas well as haunting female vocals with exquisite beats from a personal favourite of mine, Becci Wallace & BilL Breaks. If that wasn't enough to whet your appetite, the girls behind the notoriously awesome MILK Glasgow nights, Aileen and Hannah, will be playing a whole host of tunes from 7pm in the downstairs bar to keep you entertained.
Pronto Mama kick off the first night of King Tut's Summer Nights 2012
Since releasing their debut, home recorded EP back in May last year, Pronto Mama have been turning heads with their self proclaimed brand of polyrhythmic indie-rock and it's easy to see why. Almost a year on from their previous sold out King Tut's show, the boys will be using tonight to celebrate the launch of their latest EP, Lickety Split. Clever lyrics are regularly delivered in stunning harmony like a proud Scottish barbershop quartet to the backing of glorious horn sections in a manner so grand that you simply can't ignore it. These guys aren't just all about the elegant harmonies and instrumentation however, they also know how to write a good old fashioned guitar tune or two. Having already been live session guests on Radio 1's BBC Introducing and with support from the likes of Ally McCrae, Jim Gellatly, Vic Galloway and even comedian Robert Florence who directed their recent music video, it's been a year to remember forPronto Mama and tonight will no doubt be a night to remember for both band and audience alike.
Support tonight comes in the form of trumpet laden pop from Stirling's Brazil Exists, Aberdonian indie disco kings The Little Kicks and anthemic four-piece Lost City Soul from Dundee. Doors open at 8pm and there are tickets available on the door, but get down early to catch the Detour boys, Ally & Weaver, who'll be spinning some tracks in the bar from 7pm.
After the success of the previous two years, King Tut's Summer Nights returns bigger and better than ever with another two weeks of some of the best new musical talent Scotland has to offer.
With over 60 up and coming bands and artists appearing at Scotland's most loved music venue over fifteen nights, there's enough diversity to cater for every taste. If that wasn't enough to make you spend a little of your hard earned cash, there will be DJ sets from bloggers and various people involved with supporting Scottish music before the doors to each gig open. So whilst you are enjoying one of Tut's special Summer Nights' offers such as Tacos or an Enchilada plus a bottle of beer or a margarita for £4.50 or a bargain £8 for two, you can also enjoy an array of handpicked tracks from the likes of the Pop Cop, Favourite Son, the MILK girls, Glasgow PodcART and the Detour boys to gear you up for the night ahead. I'll even be spinning some tunes before Midnight Lion so feel free to hurl abuse at me whilst I force some Destiny's Child down your lugs. Each night will also feature a secret midnight guest after the headline act has finished performing so stick around; you never know who you might come across.
Tickets for each night are available in person from King Tut's Wah Wah Hut but I'd rather you clicked the "Tickets" link below after each listed night where you will find cheap tickets, directly from the artists themselves. DJ Sets will begin at 7pm in the bar and all gigs are over 18s unless otherwise stated. To listen to a selection of the selected artists via a King Tut's Summer Night's playlist on Spotify, click here.
So begins the return of the part-time blogger, and what better way to return than by listing some of this weekends best alternatives to Cher Lloyd. T Break, like every year, is the place to be however there are a few spectacular gems to be found on T in the Park's newly resident BBC Introducing Stage.
If you like your music delivered with a swift, metaphorical punch to the face then look no further than Glasgow four-piece, United Fruit. Be prepared for a perfectly executed cacophony of vicious guitars, fierce vocals and ferocious drumming that will blow your mud soaked wellies off your sodden feet.
Glasgow based, Kilmarnock three-piece Fatherson bring their unashamedly Scottish brand of powerpop back to Balado. Following an impressive performance on the T Break stage last year in front of a packed audience, expect an impassioned set filled with rousing vocals and mass sing-alongs.
Last year, Madhat McGore represented the Edinburgh hip-hop scene. This year it's Glasgow's turn in the form of one of the city's freshest duos, Hector Bizerk. Armed with just a mic, a drum kit and plenty of sharp lyrics in a thick Scottish brogue coming at you faster than a 62 down Union St, the setup is simple but the beats are slick. It's this back to basics take on hip-hop that creates such raw energy that can only be truly appreciated in a live setting. Drums. Rap. Yes.
Having played BBC Introducing Stage back in 2010 before going on to sell out venues such as Glasgow's ABC, I think it's safe to say there were a few surprises when Admiral Fallow were announced as one of the twenty chosen "Introducing" bands, not least because of the marvellous reception their second album, Tree Bursts in Snow, received from critics and fans alike on release earlier this year. Nevertheless, whether they deserve to play a bigger stage or not is irrelevant. What is relevant however is the stunning performances Louis Abbot and co deliver time and time again. One of the highlights of the weekend, guaranteed.
Multi-instrumentalist and producer Julian Corrie, aka Miaoux Miaoux, has been creating, producing and performing colourful, synth-infused, dance-pop for a number of years. Already a much loved talent among Scottish music aficionados, Miaoux Miaoux has taken 2012 by storm with the release of his latest album, Light of the North, on Chemikal Underground Records. Now with the backing of a full band, this is truly a performance you don't want to miss. Even if it is just to witness some mesmerising dancing by his (rightly) adoring fans.
I confess, I broke the first rule of my blog. Well, probably the only rule. "Thou shall not feature non-Scottish musicians on thy blog"... or something like that. But I am more than happy to ignore that for a moment to honour one of many fine talents that Northern Ireland continue to breed. Catchier than a STD from a wee dirty in the toilets of the Savoy, let Belfast's own More Than Conquerors win you over with their charm, passion and bucket loads of talent. Normal service will resume shortly.
Glaswegian "Fail-pop" four-piece's debut single TRAPS
I featured this delightful Glasgow quartet on the blog almost a couple of years ago upon the release of their demo EP, Your House Is A Hospice, describing them as "one of the most new, exciting and promising Scottish bands of 2010". It's now 2012 and after the release of their debut full-length EP, Eulogy, and having been signed to Glasgow label Overlook Records, that opinion has only been reinforced by their latest release.
TRAPS, released today on Overlook Records, is a whirlwind of infectious guitar pop. Delivering angular, jittery but finely crafted guitar melodies along with fervent vocals and heartfelt harmonies, this latest effort from So Many Animal Calls exudes a naturally youthful energy that's as charming as it is raucous. The B-Side, The Best Way To Be Broken, is far more refined as the pace slows and the vocals are beautifully complimented by delicate piano melodies before the guitar and drums gradually rise to perfectly layer the vocals for a rousing finish.
So Many Animal Calls will be launching their single at MILK in Flat 0/1 this Wednesday along with Paisley riff kings Carnivores. So until then, here's the video of the single (filmed, directed and edited by Emily Wylde) to whet your appetite.
You can purchase the single by clicking here and visit So Many Animal Calls official website here.
Now in its third year, the Scottish Alternative Music Awards are growing from strength to strength. Giving well deserved recognition to the dedicated, talented and hard working musicians across the length and breadth of Scotland, the awards also provide a platform to showcase the best of what the Scottish music industry has to offer.
Having recently been commended by the Scottish Parliament for his creativity and passion for Scottish music, founder and creative director Richy Muirhead has been hard at work to make this years awards bigger and better than ever. With the introduction of a new category, Best Hip Hop, the awards are striving to represent the diversity of a booming Scottish music industry. This year the awards will be run in association with retro clothing store Vintage Guru with various sponsors including Bar Bloc, Ignite Records and the Cathouse Rock Club having been secured for each of the seven categories.
Official Launch Night @ Bar Bloc
To celebrate its much anticipated return, Bar Bloc will be hosting the official launch party on Wednesday night featuring performances from some of this years nominees including Brown Bear & the Bandits, Athos and A Fight You Can't Win. As always with Bloc, the event is free from 9pm but it's set to be a busy one so get down early to avoid disappointment.
Main Event @ The Garage
The main event will see an upgrade in venue as the SAMAs 2012 take over The Garage on Thursday 1st March. The show will be hosted by stand-up comedian Billy Kirkwoodwith tickets priced at £10 via Tickets Scotland. There is also the addition of an exclusive VIP Experience for a mere £20 giving you the chance to experience the buzz of backstage with access to the balcony, complimentary drinks and an exclusive "Meet 'n' Greet".
The nominees across each of the seven categories for the SAMAs 2012 are as follows:
Best Rock/Alternative
(sponsored by Ignite Records)
You can visit the Official SAMAs site here or visit the Facebook page here. The event page for the Official Launch Party at Bloc can be viewed here and tickets for the Main Event at the Garage can be purchased online here. To download the Official SAMAs iPhone and Android app, click here.
Formed in early 2011 and fusing members of the now defunct Think:Fire and All My Logic, Holy Childhood are an alternative five piece from Glasgow. Bursting with melodic hooks that gently caress the eardrums, the gentle Scottish lull of vocalist Bruce McKenzie lends to an earthly sound that floats effortlessly into beautifully constructed instrumentation. With haunting melodies and poignant lyrics wonderfully complimented by piano et al, Holy Childhood are set to make their mark on 2012 beginning with their debut show tonight at Classic Grand. Having sold out of their original batch, the gig has been moved upstairs to the larger hall to accommodate the demand for tickets providing you with a chance to snap up one of the few remaining. Tickets for tonight's show are selling very fast with only a limited amount remaining on the door, so get down early to avoid disappointment. I predict we'll be hearing a lot more of Holy Childhood as the year progresses, and I for one can't wait.
You can find out more about Holy Childhood here where you can also stream some tracks, or visit their Soundcloud page here.
Yesterday was a special day for music, Scottish music in particular. January's never been a month jam packed with musical excitement what with everyone being skint and miserable and hungover, but yesterday broke the tradition in spectacular fashion. Despite not even a month of 2012 having passed, three albums were released that are already strong contenders for my album of the year.
Thirteen Lost & Found - RM Hubbert
RM Hubbert's debut album, First & Last, was an emotional masterpiece of flamenco inspired, finger picking mastery. Thirteen Lost & Found (Chemikal Underground) however is a whole different masterpiece entirely. By using music as a way of reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances, RM Hubbert has shown the diversity of his song writing talents and in turn widening his musical reach and accessibility without reduction in quality. Accompanied by the likes of Aidan Moffat, Emma Pollock, Alisdair Roberts, Hanna Tuulikki and Alex Kapranos (who produced the record) to name but a few, Hubby takes the listener on an exquisite musical journey that simply takes the breath away.
Edinburgh four-piece Django Django have been creating gentle waves across Scotland for the past year or so but you may be wondering whether or not you've heard them before. 2009 single Storm was an instant hit with music fans and reviewers alike, creating much hype, before the band simply disappeared and the reviewers who hailed them as the "next big thing" began to look rather silly, or so it may have seemed. That initial hype has been firmly backed up by the release of their self-titled debut album (Because Music) almost three years later. It's quirky, it's silly, it's ludicrous but it's always perfectly crafted, pop tinged, electronic goodness. After already receiving widespread critical acclaim and judging by the reaction of a lot of the reviewers, I think it's perfectly acceptable to make the bold claim that Django Django have invented the wondrous new genre of tropical psychedelia. You heard it here first. [EDIT: It's apparently already been used to describe various artists, but none are as good as Django Django.]
After an E.P. and two albums spanning six years, Errors seem to have finally discovered themselves by combining all of their greatest elements in to one mammoth sound and boy is it huge. Imagine floating through the atmosphere whilst a chorus of angels lull you in to a state of serenity before smacking you across the face with a glowstick the size of a garden spade and then gently laying you to rest amongst a bed of rose petals. Complete with the odd burst of hauntingly ethereal vocals, Have Some Faith In Magic (Rock Action Records) is exhaustingly excellent. I suggest you experience it for yourself.
Alex Kapranos and Aidan Moffat join RM Hubbert on stage at Stereo
First & Lastwas RM Hubbert’s debut album, and I’m glad the title only rang half true. I hailed that album as my favourite of 2010 and barely a month in to 2012, Hubby’s latest is already a strong contender for my album of this year with his brand new release, Thirteen Lost & Found.
Tonight was always set to be a special show. Not only because it was the album launch but because it might just have been, well and truly, the first and last live performance of the album in (almost) its entirety. As the gig title suggests, Hubby wasn’t to be alone in this celebration of fine talent, of which was in abundance. Instead, he showcased a whole new side to his music accompanied by various musicians ranging from the wonderful Emma Pollock and Alasdair Roberts to the ever-impressive and utterly captivating Aidan Moffat and producer of the album, Alex Kapranos.
From the outset, RM Hubbert captivated the audience with his trademark fingerpicking as he was joined by Marion Kenny on the Chinese harp and Hanna Tuulikki who gave a beautifully ethereal vocal performance reminiscent of Joanna Newsom. Another highlight was the performance of Gus Am Bris An Latha(which I’ve just discovered translates from Gaelic as Until the day breaks and is a common inscription on gravestones) with John Ferguson on banjo wonderfully complimenting Hubby’s intricate guitar picking. Despite all the collaborations on the album, there was still room for a few solo efforts from the man himself with For Joe being a particular highlight as I, and much of the rest of the sold-out audience, looked on in awe, eyes transfixed on the hands of a master at work. The finale before the rousing encore was definitely a special moment that I’ll treasure for a long time to come. This time joining RM Hubbert was Aidan Moffat who grasped the microphone and told us all a story with a haunting melody in the only way he knows how, performed to the backing of Alex Kapranos on melodica and RM Hubbert’s melodic guitar picking. If the reception after that was enough to take the roof off and shock the punters in the upstairs cafe, the following before, during and after the encore was enough to shake the whole foundations of the building to the ground.
To some, dealing with such depressing topics and depicting it in what may be deemed as melancholic music may be utterly depressing. Like he said, “It usually takes until you’ve died before I dedicate a song to you”. But to me, creating such extraordinary and awe-inspiring music during a time of deep, dark depression not only signifies hope in a world full of misery but shows the remarkable strength that some people possess in the face of adversity. And to me, along with RM Hubbert’s music, that is truly phenomenal.
RM Hubbert's website can be found here and you can buy a copy of the album in various formats here.
This review was originally posted here on the 28th January.
Yesterday saw the long anticipated release of the full length debut video by new Glasgow band Arches, and what a stunning debut it is.
Consisting of previous members of various Glasgow bands, Arches are certainly no strangers to the struggles of the music industry. Vocalist Michael Rice (Yashin), guitarist Barry Morrell (Young States), drummer Niall McGarvie (Jocasta Sleeps) and bassist Andrew Johnston come together to produce a wonderfully promising debut and stamp their mark on the music scene. Like Fireworks features delicate guitars and alluring vocals which build to huge choruses and rousing harmonies, completing a perfect introduction as to what this Glaswegian four piece have to offer.
With almost a thousand hits on YouTube in it's first few hours of release and having already gained support and airplay from Alex Baker on his Kerrang! radio show, it's safe to say this won't be the last we hear from Arches.
Blue Sky Archives seem to be the words on everyones lips at the moment and, as usual, I'm behind the rest of the blogosphere in featuring this cracking post-rock/pop five piece from Glasgow. Peenko, Kowalskiy and the lovely Wull Swales of Define Pop have all featured the band at some point or another as have For Folk's Sake where someone lazily compared BSA to Paramore. So I'll avoid a long winded introduction and any dodgy comparisons and let the band introduce themself.
"I croon, play percussion and synth." says Lauren. "Paul croons and plays guitar. Pete plays bass and acts as the 'producer' type person (hello, free recording!). Ross plays kit, percussion and bits of synth but refuses to croon. Ever. Under any circumstances. Matt plays guitar and croons in the background, but has just run off to Japan for six months, so a very lovely man called Dave is pretending to be him in the meantime. Thanks, Dave."
While I can safely say they sound nothing like Paramore, I wondered how the band them self would describe their music."It can be pretty tough to describe your own music without the usual genre-centric jargon and cloying comparisons" explains Paul. "I would just say that we write really simple soulful pop songs, and then play them in as raucous and rousing a way as possible. Loads of percussion, loads of vocals, loads of guitars, and loads of fun." Lauren isn't entirely sure either, "Whenever people ask that question, we always give the stock answer 'post-rock pop' but it's been described in a bunch of ways. Whether it's indie or folky or whatever else, there's definitely a melodic base to it, with lots of harmonies and rhythms because that's what we're good at".
With a lot of experience and an impressive list of previous bands such as Dance Lazarus Dance, Titus Gein, Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Dead or American and Holy Mountain, Blue Sky Archives are by no means newcomers to the music scene. However, Lauren felt she needed a change, "I used to play drums in a band that died a death and wanted to try something new" she tells me. "Paul and Matt were also bandless and Pete and Ross wanted to try playing something different to the other bands they're in, so we all stumbled together at the end of last year."
Paul elaborates, "Each of us within the band have a very definite need to be musically creative. We must have collectively been involved in enough musical projects to start a scene in itself, so we were pretty familiar with each other as friends and peers before starting BSA." he explains. "The band was born out of a few initial songs and the process of finding the right people to do them justice. The line-up was finalised around December last year and we haven't looked back since then. It feels very natural making music together, like we've been at it for years."
As far as influences go, each band member's personal taste helps keep the band grounded and accesible and combines to form a healthy and refreshing mix. "The things that influence each of us in terms of how we write or play our instruments probably sound horrifying when all put together, but I suppose that's part of the fun." says Lauren. "I'm a big fan of people like Sleater-Kinney, Dirty Projectors and Broken Social Scene but the others never let me go full-on girl rock, which is probably a good thing, if only to preserve their manliness."
"Don't let Lauren fool you, she's more of a man than any of us." adds Paul. "She's right though, our influences are pretty diverse as musicians and as people, and I suppose we're all a product of our influences separately. I reckon that's the biggest strength of this band. If we were all brought up on the same music we'd be pretty one-dimensional but it's quite the contrary and it shows in our music. I've been pretty much steeped in a combination of Scandinavian ambiance (Sigur Ros, Efterklang, Album Leaf, etc.) and American indie (Cursive, Rilo Kiley, Elliott Smith) for my whole adult life and I unavoidably play and write in that style. The rest of the gang have their own individual musical heritage though and it only adds to the mix"
Having released their impressive, self-titled, debut EP back in April, Blue Sky Acrhives have already proved they have a knack for writing beautiful, melodic pop/rock. So how does a wealth of experience and such an eclectic mix of influences combine during the song writing process? "It's developed a bit as time has gone on." explains Lauren. "Paul had written a bunch of material before the band which made up much of the early tunes in the set. But since we became a full band everyone has been bringing ideas to the table, writing songs in different ways and finding different formats." Lauren explains further, "Usually we'll come up with a basic soundscape, then add some vocals to see where the emphasis is going to go. With 'Crash Your Face', it was only really once we found the gang vocal hook that we knew where we wanted it to go. That was a nice moment."
As with all my other Exposure artists, I asked Lauren if there were any unsigned or unknown Scottish artists she had been enjoying recently. "I'm dead keen on Meursault (what pipes) and Young Fathers (what beats) but they're both becoming more reknowned, and rightly so! More locally, Stomachs have some pretty sweet guitar jams."
So what does the rest of 2010 have in store for Blue Sky Archives? "We've just finished recording another EP (thanks, Pete) so will be putting that out after summer. We've got some Scottish shows lined up over the next couple of months and are playing at a festival in Belgium in October too with some English/European dates round about, so are brushing up on our languages."
Blue Sky Archives' debut EP is available now from Bandcamp.
North Lanarkshire trio Campfires in Winter are set to release their debut EP, Cardboard Ships, and it's certainly worth the wait. For two years the band have been piecing together and perfecting their sound and their hard work has definitely paid off.
I hate to use such lazy comparisons but it's hard not to compare this band to The TwilightSad. Both share a love for powerful vocals, combining heavy emotions with rousing choruses and blazing guitars and both do it exceptionally well. Even when listening to the title track, you would be forgiven for thinking someone had leaked a rare TS song.
However, comparisons aside, Campfires in Winter are more than capable of standing on their own two feet as the rest of their epic EP shows. The word epic may be over used nowadays but for a three track EP at almost twenty minutes long, epic seems to be the most appropriate word. As an introduction to a band, I would usually expect the EP to be short and snappy, a teaser if you like of what a band is capable of. Yet, despite two of the three tracks exceeding seven minutes in duration, this EP never loses my attention. It's a risky move but they might just have got away with it.
To celebrate the release of the EP the band will be embarking on a mini 'Flat Tour', seeing the guys play intimate acoustic sets in people's living rooms. The tour kicks off on the 26th of July to coincide with the release of Cardboard Ships and will end with an appearance at the Pin Ups Festival on Friday 30th July at The Flying Duck. The dates and locations are as follows:
Mon 26th - Halina's flat Tue 27th - Steven and Jenny's flat Wed 28th - Sean's flat Thu 29th - Lloyd's back garden Fri 30th - Pin Up Festival @ The Flying Duck For more information contact Lloyd Meredith (who has now turned his hand to band management) at peenkoblog@gmail.com
Cardboard Ships is avilable as a free download from 26th July or at gigs in the form of 50 hand-made, limited edition CDs. You can find Campfires in Winter on Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
After the success of the first collaboration, two of Scotland's finest bloggers have teamed up once again to bring you another night of fine music. Tomorrow night, The 13th Note will play host to Aye Tunes Vs Peenko II and what a night it's going to be.
On the bill are an incredibly young, Glasgwegian four piece by the name of Little Yellow Ukuleles. The Yooks have been kicking up a storm over the past year, gigging the length and breadth of the country as well as being Introduced by 6Music's Tom Robinson. I'm not the biggest fan of Little Yellow Ukuleles but they are a much loved and well supported band who I'm sure will more than entertain the crowd at the 13th Note tomorrow night.
Also taking to the stage will be my personal favourites, Randolph's Leap. These guys make cheery, alt-folk nonsense with the odd Scottish ballad thrown in for good measure. Humourous lyrics, infectious melodies and lots of fun, their set (just like their songs) is sure to raise a smile.
Last but not least are We're Only Afraid of NYC. I only recently discovered this band and gradually fell in love with their dark, loud/quiet, melodic rock. They are an exciting band with massive potential and it's easy to see why both Jim and Lloyd rate them so highly.
Tickets are a steal at only £5 but make sure you get down early as it's sure to be a busy night.
What with taking a break from blogging and catching up on a backlog of emails, I've yet to find time to declare my love for Mitchell Museum - and what better time to do so than now.
Mitchell Museum are a breath of fresh air in the Scottish music scene, combining the oddities of The Flaming Lips and Animal Collective with spirited harmonies to create wonderfully wacky power-pop anthems. Don't let the comparison to the Lips put you off though, what Wayne Coyne and co have been lacking in the past few years, Mitchell Museum duly deliver in abundance. Regularly crossing the border between genius and downright madness, the only way to experience their music is to let it take you on a weird and wonderful journey. I guarantee it won't disappoint.
Since I've been playing catch up in the world of music blogging, this provides me with the perfect opportunity to whore out some free MM downloads and tie it in with their debut album release.
Mitchell Museum released their debut single Warning Bells early last month and to celebrate the release the band gave (and are still giving) away not one, not two but six free downloads. These unoffical B-sides are a selection of remixes of the band's debut single by We Were Promised Jetpacks and Coach-a-Cola to name but a few. You can purchase the debut single at iTunes or Amazon as well as downloading the free Warning Bells Remixes from Bandcamp. Whilst on Bandcamp, why notdownload We Lost 1st Prize, a collection of older recordings, B-sides and demos, for free? Cannae complain about that.
Yesterday saw the release of the much anticipated debut album, The Peters Port Memorial Service. A lack of pennies means I've yet to get my hands on a copy but I'll stick my neck out and say, I'll be surprised if it isn't a strong contender for my album of the year. Already picking up numerous favourable reviews, this release is set to propel Mitchell Museum into the limelight where they belong.
The band will be playing an instore gig at Glasgow FOPP (Union Street) tomorrow afternoon before their "Semi-secret album launch party" later that night. For more information on the launch party email mitchellmuseum@gmail.com and you might be lucky enough to recieve a 'secret free entry passcode'.
2010 is definitely the year of Mitchell Museum.
The Peters Port Memorial Service is available now from iTunes, Amazon and all good record shops.
Folk fever has swept across Britain with the folk scene in Glasgow gradually blossoming into a beautiful flower. This, however, makes it harder to get yourself noticed with such a wealth of talented musicians (and some not so) vying to be heard. It's just as well then that Julia and the Doogans debut EP is simply stunning.
Despite being released at the tail end of May, this is already a strong contender for my EP of the year. Julia's voice is truly beautiful. Her dulcet, soothing tones help to wash away your troubles as she tells tales of love, loss and longing. Subtle melodies and exquisite instrumentation flow around honest and beautifully poetic lyrics as Julia wears her heart firmly on her sleeve. Trust me when I say, it's hard not to fall in love with this EP.
Julia kindly agreed to give us a little insight into each track.
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Come Home
"This song is basically about losing someone close. When they're gone life goes on as normal but even though everything looks the same, everything has changed. And for a long time after, everything reminds you of the person."
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Hummingbird
"I wont say who this song is about but the idea was someone doing loads for you and meaning a lot. So much so that they become so special to you that you'll never be as giving as them. If tables were turned, you would be selfish. Something like that."
--------------------- Borderline
"No one writes about that stage in the middle, it's either being in love or falling out of love. When you're in between it can go either way; you can progress to love, or go seperate ways. After a while a decision has to be made."
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New York City
"This is a song about someone leaving for bigger and better things. Quite simply, you wish them success and know that they will prove you wrong and do well."
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"But that's what they mean to me. They can mean anything to anyone."
...and that's the beauty of it.
Come Home EP is available now from the Julia and the Doogans' Bandcamp.
You can also buy tickets (at a slightly cheaper price) for Julia's King Tuts gig with Kitty the Lion. Just follow the link to her Bandcamp page.
To kick start what is set to be a busy week, The Cinnamons' second single of their 5 Songs of Summer EP is released today.
Leave If You Want To is a throwback to the electronic 80s, choosing a more synth-driven approach as opposed to the guitar pop of the previous single. Even as I write this at 03:06 am in preparation for later on in the day (it's not like me to be organised) I've had it on repeat for the past fifteen minutes. It's a lovely wee track, pure synthy goodness.
Just as a reminder, or for any one who hasn't read my previous post, The Cinnamons will be releasing five singles at various dates throughout Summer 2010 each of which will gradually form the band's next EP set for release in mid August.
So far the band have released two singles, both of which are available as a free download from the band's Bandcamp. Here is a list of the three remaining tracks and their release dates:
July 26th - Where we're Going
August 9th - Soul for Sale
August 16th - Analog Man
Two down, three to go.
Leave If You Want To is available to download now from Bandcamp.
