Jon Kenzie (vocals), Andy Brown (double bass), Rome Mossabir (percussion), Chris Butler (drums) and Justin Shearn (keys) met during their time at Salford University. They became firm friends and soon realised they all shared the same passion. Out of this passion, Beggar Joe was formed.

This eclectic five piece long for the days when bands weren't determined by how they fitted in to a “scene” or if they had the right haircut. They value the time when musicians were judged on passion, raw talent and, most importantly, how well they played live. As a result, Beggar Joe pride themselves on having a huge soul, jazz and blues infused sound reminiscent of those glory days.

From their regular Manchester haunts of Night and Day and The Roadhouse to the more exotic shores of China and America, Beggar Joe's music has been heard and loved and recently, Jon recorded an unplugged acoustic set that was broadcast on Sky tv.

Beggar Joe are playing live on the following date:

2nd May – Dry Bar, Manchester
 
 

The Strange Death Of Liberal England
plus
Lights
The Wookies
Will Hanson

Wednesday 20th May
@ The Purple Turtle, Camden

Portsmouth's post-rock-doused six-piece The Strange Death Of Liberal England play their first London show of 2009 at Camden’s Purple Turtle

The Strange Death of Liberal England have so far released two singles and one “mini-album”. The first single, titled “A Day Another Day”, was released by Fantastic Plastic early in 2007, it was greatly received by fans and music critics alike, with “Oh Solitude” following in June 2007. The band released their first “mini-album”, called “Forward March!”, on 9 July 2007 which received high praise – “Mute Magic, 7/10” – NME, “quite possibly the best debut album you will leap yourself upon in 2007… 4.5/5” – gigwise.com, “7/10” – Drowned In Sound. In 2008 TSDOLE released the single Angelou which includes the b side “Scared to death”.

“They sound like God's own orchestra” – Uncut

“So unimpeachably huge it would probably need at least three cranes to shift it.”
– Drowned in Sound

“They sound like Arcade Fire with tattoos and have a singer so dreamily effete he makes Neil Young seem like a car wash worker.” – NME

Tickets available here : link={D1471855-0642-47EF-A96A-CFB27ADD7809}&filler3=id1gwerk

The Strange Death of Liberal England – Angelou

Unsigned Act underdogs, Scarlet Harlots are hitting the tour trail. With MySpace plays already exceeding 10,000 a day, the band who’ve previously supported Young Knives, The Twang and Jamie T, are ready to spread their genre bending style, aptly dubbed Punk-Step around the country one gig at a time.

16th April – The Canteen, Barrow
17th April – Elbow Rooms, Leeds
18th April – Bumper, Liverpool

The band, whose sonic aim is to combine elements of Drum ’n’ Bass, Garage and Dub Step within their sound while still retaining the principles of legendary guitar bands like The Smiths and Gang of Four, have recently finished recording with Sheffield crossover producer Toddla T for forthcoming releases and have also been blessed by the remix skills of bass heavy DJ Raffertie.

The Birmingham lads are currently being championed by Radio 1 DJ, Mary-Ann Hobbs, Culture Show presenter and 6 Music DJ, Lauren Laverne and even have won an unlikely fan in the form of famine nemesis and professional Monday hater, Sir Bob Geldof.

By straddling sound and rhythm as if the very concept of genre does not exist, Scarlet Harlots are capturing the cultural zeitgeist of 2009 and setting roofs on fire across the UK in the process.

“Their boisterous charm, inventive yet impulsive timing and acidic delivery of front man Sam Bayliss all ensure a meteoric rise to the very top.” – The Fly

“I thought you were gonna be good before you even picked up an instrument.” – Murf, The Wombats

“Grimey saucepots, Scarlet Harlots are the genre blurring bastardisation of a band that could only be spawned from the culturally rich underground music scene of Birmingham.” – Drowned In Sound

“They possess a Morrissey-Marr song writing dynamic that has spawned impending classics in the shape of ‘Cat’s Eyes,’ ‘Write It Down’ and ‘Explain’ plus looks that will get all five of them on Kate Moss’ to do list.” – The Fly

“The best fucking band on this planet!” – Media Assassin

Strawhouses – 'A Good Night Out'
Single Launch Party
Saturday 11th April 2009
O2 Academy
Hotham Street
Liverpool

“One of Liverpool's most hotly tipped bands of the moment” – Liverpool Echo

Strawhouses is all about that feeling that we're living blissfully unaware that we're on unsteady ground. Built on a forte for intense and emotional live sets, with gripping melodies and soaring guitars underpinned by inventive and unsettling rhythms.

They are Liverpool’s anti-heroes and the bête noire of the ‘Mersey Sound’. They are firing a shot across the bows of British Indie Music with the release on Possible Records of their debut single ‘A Good Night Out’ on 18th May.

It’s a statement of intent that cannot be ignored. A Good Night Out instantly hits you, somewhat eerily, as an anthem of our current times… ‘We got a little greedy, and selfishness became the rule, someone’s got to suffer, I guess that’s just the way of the world…’ Donnelly’s lyrics and their melodies will haunt and delight you in equal measure, lodging themselves firmly within your consciousness.

Recorded at Highfield & JWS studios with their good friend and esteemed producer Jon Withnall (Coldplay/Feeder/Elbow) the band are accompanying the single release with a fantastic home-town launch party in Liverpool's O2 Academy.

Having already gigged extensively across the country and supported Red Light Company and NME favourites Die! Die! Die! Strawhouses have been amassing fans far and wide with their unique and heart stopping anthems. They do not hide the influences of Radiohead, Buckley and The Bunnymen, but these boys are far too good to slip into the familiar territory of tribute or pastiche, rather their influences are mirrored in the incredible musicianship and intellectual weight of their music.

Building towards their debut album, ‘A Good Night Out’ is the most important and enriching single you’ll hear all year… musically, politically, and industrially!

“Deep lyrics are wed to sweeping music that can build from beauty before unleashing its beast!” – Indie-Pendent (Fanzine)

“Hearing a snippet of ‘These are the willing’ by Liverpool band ‘Strawhouses’ energises the soul and certainly stops you in your tracks.” – Glasswerk

“Strawhouses are instantaneously brilliant, their melodies haunting you for days after hearing them only once. Well done them.” – Another Late Night Magazine

Cheeky indie upstarts, Paper Heroes are hitting the road this April.

11th April @ Bumoer, Liverpool
13th April @ Josephs Well, Leeds
14th April @ Music Box, Manchester

Their rapid-fire rhythms, growling vocals and inventive guitar riffs mean that these songs stay hooked in your brain ready for rapid replay. It really is indie-pop-rock at its exciting best.

Paper Heroes were formed in London early in 2008 and singer, Matt Weedon, sent his song, Jenny Jones, into a SkinsLife competition. It was the first ever song posted on the Skins Life site that made it into the show – “we all love this track” wrote Skins Life and it was played on episode 9 of Skins in April with the band picking up prestigious SkinsLife After Party gigs in Cardiff, London and Birmingham.

They will be supported by troublesome twosome – Fran and Josh – who have recently been featured on MTV’s second series of ‘Living On The Edge’.

Rising solo-starlet Jessie J celebrates her 21st Birthday with a live performance at Sway on
Friday 26th March, and you are all invited!

A self-confessed ‘eighties funk-fan’ Jessie, hailing from Essex, recites her main influences as B-Train, Heatwave and Lauren Hill. However while you may hear traces of these acts, Jessie J does by no means stick to this field, with a genre-hopping back-catalogue which would impress even the most hardened of soul divas.

After a hectic year of supporting the likes of Macy Gray, Girls Aloud, Taio Cruz, Cyndi Lauper and Jools Holland, Jessie J caught the attention of all the big-wigs and fat-cats of the music industry with Universal being the lucky ones in the fight for her signature.

Doors will be at 10pm with DJs spinning the best dancefloor fillers in each of Sway’s three rooms until the early hours – expect 70s, 80s, R’n’B, hip-hop, funk and house so don’t forget to
dress to excess!

Cheap list entry of just £6 is available from 10pm till midnight – email names to mail

All proceeds from the night will be going to charity of Jessie J’s choice.

Sway · 61-65 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5BZ

14th April
Night & Day, Manchester

Born and raised just outside of Colchester, this 21 year old began concocting her bittersweet brew 10 years ago when, aged 11, she found a guitar under the stairs in her parent’s house. Built around fractious yet pretty guitar and piano (she plays a Stylophone and accordion, too), Polly Scattergood’s peculiar talent conjures up a looking glass world where nothing is quite how it first appears to be.

More creative than a person has a right to be, Polly not only writes brilliantly unsettling odd pop, she also writes poetry and makes films.

Currently putting the finishing touches to her debut album due out in March 2009 through Mute and soon to unveil a live show that is as arresting and powerful as her recordings, expect more revelations from this extraordinary young artist in 2009.

The Anomalies
4th april @ Dry Bar, Manchester
14th april @ Barfly, London

Indie, D&B, swing, funk, big band, hip hop; just some of the influences that musical magpies The Anomalies have chopped, blended and mixed to create debut album ‘Free Soup Social’.

Taking in musical elements from across the board, both in electronic sample based form and live instrumentals, The Anomalies, aka Sam Meehan and Mouthmaster Murf, have created a fluid and modern album that across twelve tracks delivers a slice of sonic alchemy to appease everyone’s ear lobes, whilst retaining an authentic and alternative twist on the music they love. From the cinematic opening of ‘Population’ through to the quick-step, sing-a-long of ‘Margarita’, ‘Free Soup Social’ is a fusion of styles and influences.

The pair have already won over fans including Jo Whiley, Edith Bowman and Huw Stephens with previous single releases, and even been invited to the BBC’s Maida Vale studios to record a session. The jumped up funk of ‘Employee Of The Month’, the riff-led stomp of ‘Bamboo Beats’ and ‘Kid Riot’s stark, but effective message (complete with D&B breakdown mid–way through) showcase their laidback and experimental approach to music making and the effortless eclecticism that defines their sound. Forthcoming single ‘Oldskool’ further cements this, throwing an electro-rock chorus against distortion, guitars and pared down percussion and surprising yet again.

But who are The Anomalies? Writers, producers and vocalists Sam and Murf (AKA Mouthmaster Murf), two Hereford music obsessives, met through a natural boredom of the surrounding area and a constant exposure to relatively new and untouched musical past-times…mainly going out to clubs and learning how to experience and enjoy music. “We got into music by accident really,” explains Murf. “We used to go to a local club and put nights on there doing drum and bass and breaks. There wasn’t much going on elsewhere, so we thought we better do something. It was a small place and we met everyone else in the city that was a music fan. Because there aren’t many places to go, that tight knit community and the many tastes had an effect on us. It’s easier to form a band and develop in a place like that.”

And form a band is exactly what the pair did in order to create The Anomalies live show. Joined on stage by live turntablist DJ Mayhem, bassist Pete Cooper and drummer Joey Holmes, Sam takes care of guitar while him and Murf wax lyrical in a frenetic performance that has already earned them support slots for the likes of Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Lethal Bizzle, DJ Yoda, Goldie and Grandmaster Flash.

Them Is Me
18th April, Dry Bar Manchester
£8adv / £10 door

Them Is Me are fast establishing themselves as one of the best new bands on the UK music scene. Following the break up of the much loved Reef, bassist Jack Bessant and vocalist Gary Stringer took a break from music until they started jamming together again in 2005 and putting together new material. An intensive period of songwriting ensued and after being joined by guitarist Jonas Jalhay and drummer Nathan Curran (ex Bassment Jaxx), Them Is Me were formed.
 
Having played a few select gigs around the UK to great critical acclaim and winning the hearts of new fans as well as the old lovers of Reef, the band released their debut album ‘Them Is Me’ through Garston Records last June.  Although staying true to their classic rock roots, the band also draw on influences from many different musical styles, mixing in what they know best with something a little different to great effect.

www.myspace.com/themismeofficial
www.themisme.com

EXIT TEN
Barfly, Liverpool
Friday 13th March 2009

“We have put every piece of ourselves into this, and now we are ready. We have something to show you and, trust us it will have been well worth the wait.”

In a day and age of identikit bands with bubblegum squeaks and matching flicks, it is a stunning and welcome proposition when a group as innovative and impressive as EXIT TEN stride your way.

First hitting the UK heavy music scene in 2003, the band are breathing new life into a genre that was slowly losing its steam. With watertight riffs, thundering rhythms and a soaring vocal narration, EXIT TEN have genuinely something fresh and astounding to offer the world’s heavy music fans.

Frontman, Ryan Redman, explains “We have that epic edge. We have big choruses and big grooves. These guys around me are an insanely heavy metal band, and my melodic vocals work as such a contrast to those extremes. I do think that we are totally different to anyone else around…”

With influences ranging from such extremes as epic-prog metal such as Tool, to chart-topping UK heroes Muse, Norwegian black metallers Dimmu Borgir, and cult songwriter Jeff Buckley – it’s easy to see why EXIT TEN have such a unique crossover appeal. “Sonically, we have so many doors to open, so many options to choose from,” explains Ryan. “As we’ve developed there have been so many directions that we can go and different ways that we can write. It gives us much more freedom and much more scope as a band to be this eclectic, and that comes across in this recording.”

With shows under their belts with the Deftones, Avenged Sevenfold, Every Time I Die, Protest The Hero, Soilwork, InMe and Devil Sold His Soul – their jaw-dropping live performances are not something to be missed. Hard work on the UK circuit has perfected their audio assault upon your senses and from the precision perfection of the instrumentals to the amp-scaling, spine-tingling delivery of the charismatic frontman, EXIT TEN have held fans of all ages captivated nationwide. From the UK’s infamous Download festival – where the group converted thousands to their musical manifesto – to intimate shows at some of the country’s most respected clubs –

EXIT TEN have consistently shown their flair for great showmanship and professional execution.

“It feels like we have got better and better at this, and now we have created something to attract the world’s attention,” states Ryan. “We are more rounded now, we have the songs, we have the show and this is not a fad. We love what we have done, and we can’t wait for other people to hear it.”

EXIT TEN are:

Ryan Redman (vocals)
James Steele (bass)
Stuart Steele (guitar)
Chris Steele (drums)
Joe Ward (guitar)

Bolton-born Rob McCulloch taps into the folk music that he heard as a boy, his dad’s Elvis and Dylan records, and his mum’s albums of showtunes. But his biggest influences are men from the north west who combine singing and acting and comedy – men like the so-called ‘Bolton Bullfrog’ – Bernard Wrigley, the Bolton poet and comedian Hovis Presley, and even stand-up comic Alun Cochrane.

McCulloch’s first single Wandering is a powerhouse tale of ‘getting off your head out of boredom’, in a futile search for something better going on. Delivered in McCulloch’s signature raspy northern tones, reminiscent of early John Cooper-Clarke, Wandering is a Friday night anthem for any British town.

Rob McCulloch’s Wandering is released on February 23rd on Gladrag records. To support the release Rob will be touring the UK, the dates are as follows:

February

26 February – London, Cross Kings
27 February – Leeds, Elbow Rooms 

March

1 March – Chepstow, Five Alls 
3 March – Manchester, Dry Bar 
5 March – Liverpool, Bumper 
6 March – Runcorn, The Canal Walk 

11 March – Edinburgh, Whistlebinkies 
12 March – Glasgow, Twisted Wheel 
13 March – Mansfield, The Mill
14 March – Canteen, Barrow

Experimental acoustic offerings from InMe's charismatic frontman Dave McPherson as he heads out alone on a UK tour.

Since 1996 Dave McPherson has fronted melodic metallers InMe. A natural singer-songwriter from Brentwood, Essex, he first picked up a guitar at the age of 12 and immediately started penning songs.

McPherson has crafted his art of stage presence through experience and developed his vocals into the unique style InMe fans know and love. Dave sings from the heart whilst adding a little venom and humour into the mix to suit his personality.

Literally one man and his guitar, the stripped down solo shows provide the basis for a very intimate setting and personal experience.

Check out tracks from his latest EP 'A bridge for burning' at link

Tour Dates

12th March – Jabez Clegg, Manchester*

14th March – Bumper, Liverpool*

Glasswerk are pleased to announce they have once again teamed up with Pete And The Pirates in organising a last minute, pre SXSW gig. The band are giving their fans a chance to hear brand new songs before anybody else. About to head out to Austin, Texas to play a string of dates at America’s biggest music industry festival South by South West, the band will showcase brand new material on Thursday March 12th, as part of the “Glasswerk presents Revelry” club night at Plug N Play. On returning to the UK these songs will be recorded for the follow up to “Little Death” due for release in the summer of 2009 (date TBC).

Tickets for this last minute show are available online now and will cost a measly £5 at the bands request.

This is fantastic news for Reading’s brand new club night “Revelry”. With bands such as Ipso Facto, Pure Reason Revolution, Goldie Lookin’ Chain and Pete And The Pirates, Revelry continues to go from strength to strength.

Plug N Play is certainly the place to be for those in Berkshire who crave live music from touring bands and the latest indie tunes spun by resident DJ Ginger Olly.

Ticket link:
link
Note: Physical tickets can be bought at this Friday’s gig at Plug N Play featuring Ipso Facto. These will cost £5 with no added booking fees.

Contact links

Pete And The Pirates – link

Glasswerk – link

Glasswerk presents Revelry – link

Plug N Play – link

Email – mail

March 26th Roadhouse, Manchester

“Artrocker favourites. Set to start 2009 with a fervent bang” Artrocker

“Expect them to be one of the worst kept secrets of '09” Clash

“Thunderously exciting” The Guardian

Once upon a time, in a land known as Leeds, Thomas Burke (vocals, guitar), Lawrence Diamond (bass) and Alexander MacKenzie (drums, vocals) bonded over Television’s Marquee Moon and The Band’s The Last Waltz. However, it is fair to say, that Official Secrets Act only became complete once Michael Evans (guitar, harmonium, synths, drums, vocals) came on board after seeing the band play a characteristically exuberant early show in Edinburgh.

The band have shared stages with the likes of Art Brut, Thomas Tantrum, Pete And The Pirates, and Dirty Pretty Things (on their final tour), gradually furthering their cause as one of the country’s most exciting live bands. The recent Offset Festival found the band making their main stage debut, in a superb show preceding Gang Of Four.

The debut Official Secrets Act album, Understanding Electricity, from the London-based 4-piece is released on 30 March 2009 on One Little Indian. It is an exuberant set of romantic indie-rock-synth-pop with a dark side, the album hosts killer singles and tracks sophisticated far beyond that of your average debut.

Official Secrets Act take indie-rock as their starting point but love to jump off in different directions, with a tight sense of 70’s punk-funk giving way to a 60’s brooding torch song or a heartfelt paean to 80’s synth pop – all with a crystal-clear 21st century sound that has retained a real organic warmth. The eclectic yet coherent set of adventurous pop songs on Understanding Electricity deal in love, death, religion, anxiety, innocence, morality and more, in an intelligent but accessible way.

Steve Lamacq has described them as “the most lyrically erudite band I’ve heard in a while”, and Artrocker were on the money when speaking of their “acute sense of poetic lyricism, incredible knack for pop harmonies and wonderful sense of Englishness.”

Deaf Havana / All Forgotten

“…best British alternative noise Rock Sound has heard in a while…”
-Rock Sound

Two of the UK's hottest new melodic hardcore talents are hitting the road together in March 2009.

Deaf Havana and All Forgotten are joining forces and traveling the length of the country to prove that, although they may be newcomers to the Britcore pack, they certainly know how to rock.

Deaf Havana have heard every band from a rural area throw about the old cliché, “there's nothing to do where we come from, so we started this band.” However, these boys guarantee none of those bands have experienced life in Norfolk. For the kids growing up there, the vast flat lands of the East coast provide no hope for inspiration.

With no particular music scene to grow up in or having a specific musical trend to inspire them, Deaf Havana make the music they want to hear. An eclectic mix of the music they love, culminating in a barrage of tasty rock riffs, a dual vocal attack and enough pop choruses to make 13 year old McFly fans blush!

All Forgotten a 5 piece rock band from Woking in Surrey found their roots quickly in the local scene. The band began to tour the country in early 2008 after establishing themselves amongst local fans.

Their high energy, perfectly executed blend of post-hardcore has already dealt them a very impressive year, completing 5 tours in the space of 9 very short months with the likes of You Me At Six, We Are The Ocean, and Forever The Sickest Kids and rounding up their year with an incredible appearance at the London Astoria date of the Taste Of Chaos Tour alongside Atreyu, As I Lay Dying and Story Of The Year, and an opening slot at the Leeds Slam Dunk festival.

There seems to be no stopping All Forgotten, and after beginning the year with a bang by supporting Escape The Fate on their UK tour, 2009 promises to see them shoot to the forefront of the UK scene. Their forthcoming EP is called 'Transitions' and it’s being recorded early '09 and planned for release in time for summer.

March 2009 Tour Dates:

8th – Middlesbrough, Warehouse
9th – Leeds, Joseph's Well
10th – Manchester, Music Box
11th – Liverpool, Academy 2
12th – Leicester, The Shed
13th – Bedford, Esquires
14th – Colchester, The Twist
15th – Brighton, Engine Rooms
16th – London, Islington Bar Academy

Will and the People
20th February 2009
Dry Bar
Manchester

Journalists are finding Will and the People’s unique blend of ska, pop, indie, electro, reggae and rock a bit tricky to pigeonhole, but the incomparable innovation of this new sound is glaringly obvious.

Frontman, Will Rendle, is passionate about music you can sing along to. “For me, music is first and foremost about melody, I don't give a s**t who plays it. I don't care whether it's cool. If it's a good tune, it's a good tune. I'm tired of all these dreary indie bands who forget about melody. I just f*****g love good songs. It doesn't matter if they're by Britney Spears or Bob Marley.”

Luckily then, this is precisely what his band provides. Put simply, Will And The People have a whole bunch of songs which are Very Catchy Indeed. Your radio is going to love their boisterous, latter-day mash of The Specials and The Police.

Will and the People have written so many belters that the band are having major difficulty deciding which ones to put on the album. Certainly among the top contenders will be the delirious outsiders’ anthem, Weirdos, and the stomping paean to love and infidelity that is Eyes. They'll also surely have to find room for Salamander, the bounciest song ever to be inspired by a Thom Yorke quote and the ludicrously catchy People, which Will penned in just 10 minutes. The band's debut single, Knocking is the glorious sound of someone stuck in a flat trying to overcome intense paranoia. Every one of their tracks is a potential hit.

Not surprisingly, Will is pretty excited about 2009. “I've always believed it could happen for us,” he says, “but now it feels like it really might. I can't wait to get out there on the tour bus, playing as many shows as possible. We're gonna have a ball. To be honest, it feels like we're blagging life at the moment. And I'm going to enjoy every single minute.”

‘Knocking’, the debut single, is released 4th May 2009

On Tuesday March 31st Glasswerk.co.uk again brings a well known touring band for Reading to revel with. So far we have seen Pete And The Pirates, Ipso Facto and Pure Reason Revolution all sign up for Reading’s best new club night, “Revelry” at Plug N Play. Now Newport’s finest have confirmed also. Goldie Lookin Chain…….you knows it.

After a string of self released (and now heavily bootlegged) albums, Goldie Lookin Chain finally broke big in the summer of 2004. Subjected to a bidding war from several major labels, the band signed to Atlantic Records earlier that year, and released the now legendary Greatest Hits album, which reached no 5 in the UK album chart and spawned four top forty hits including the number three smash Guns Don’t Kill People, Rappers Do. The band’s success continued to grow, with appearances at a series of major UK and European festivals as well as a string of headline UK and European tours.

2005 saw the release of the top twenty album Safe As Fuck, which once again littered the charts with a new collection of party anthems including the titanic Your Missus Is A Nutter and the romantically tinged You Knows I Loves You. Once again, touring as far afield as Japan and the USA and a plethora of UK festivals kept the show on the road, and the party continued to grow into a worldwide phenomenon.

The GLC’s popularity continued to spread, yet outrage was sparked when, in 2006, after selling eighty thousand copies of Safe As Fuck, the major label bigwigs decided to drop the band and concentrate on selling James Blunt albums. Fans across the globe were outraged and messages of condolence and support came flooding in from as far a field as Tokyo, Los Angeles and Cwmbran, the home of south Wales’ finest under cover shopping centre.

Nonetheless, the band where not disheartened and put themselves into a self imposed exile whilst deciding which step to take next. During this time, self-sufficiency became the key and the GLC discovered the true meaning of the term ‘rugged individualism’. A communal house was rented in
Newport, and the band went back to the drawing board, creating a new catalogue of musical delights.

By day, members of the band worked simple jobs in order to keep the GLC cogs oiled and running smoothly. Not even illness and a near death experience could slow down the creative whirlwind that was going on behind the doors of the residential equivalent of Abbey Road. Samples were replaced with real instruments, scribbled lyrics became word documents, and at one point the band even worked towards creating the ultimate male voice choir.

After two years in solitary confinement, the band are ready to unleash their brand new album ASBO4LIFE in 2009.
Tickets are available now for the gig at Plug N Play and are extremely limited as demand will easily outweigh supply so get in quick!
For more information for this gig and the Revelry club night please visit: link

Tickets:
link={9EC4F59F-C3A8-4F56-9874-B551D6AA5AA9}&filler1=see&filler3=id1glasswerk

In Feb-March 09 Reading favourites Pure Reason Revolution return to the live music scene and will undertake their most ambitious headline tour so far. Expected to be between 30-40 shows it will cover, The Uk, The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia and more….

The UK tour kicks off with a much anticipated live return to Reading on March 5th at Plug N Play as part of Glasswerk’s “Revelry” club night. This is the first night of the fore mentioned 40 show tour and promises to be a blast. If you haven’t been lucky to catch them live in the past, Pure Reason Revolution bring all that is good in rock ‘n’ roll, an infectious blend of contemporary dance rhythms, pop hooks, sublime vocal harmonies and ‘huge’ rock riffs to our musical taste buds.

Now signed to Superball Music their second album is due for release in early 2009 and promises to be equally provocative as the debut The Dark Third. As yet untitled it is likely to once again take a musical journey but this time of a very different kind…with influences as varied as Justice, NIN and Depeche Mode. Angry in parts, a few shades darker elsewhere but still with their signature harmonies and those big riffs! Unlike their debut album two is produced/recorded and almost exclusively mixed by songwriter/guitarist/front man Jon Courtney but Paul Northfield (who co-produced The Dark Third) appears with a mixing credit on two tracks.

The live band are; Jon Courtney (vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming), Chloe Alper (vocals, keyboards, bass), Jamie Wilcox (guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Paul Glover (Drums)

Supporting Pure Reason Revolution at Plug N Play on March 5th will be Fox Cubs before they head out to SXSW, Americas biggest showcase of new music talent.

Tickets available now link

The Bishops
Plus The Suns

Tuesday 3rd March 2009
Dry Bar
28 Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JN
Tickets £5 adv.

When the Bishops first emerged onto the scene in 2002, they were a vision in black and white. A Hives-esque retro-flavoured power trio in Winklepickers and Mod fashions.

With their second album For Now, released on W2 Records on 9th March, they have a new sound and a new look. Returning as a more contemporary-sounding act, taking in new influences including rootsy blues and broadening their strict guitar, bass and drums sound, The Bishops include horns, harmonica, piano and slide guitar in their set up.

“We like being involved in today, not yesterday!” says Mike Bishop, who cites Last Shadow Puppets as a great influence on The Bishops’ new album. “I truly don’t feel that we are purely a retro band and we wanted to prove it.”

Preceding the album is the single, If You Leave Today, released on 16th February. It is an infectiously breezy romp with an insistent bass line and lyric about love, loss and uncertainty. The B-side By Your Side has, in the words of the band, “a bluesy riff running through it, and a serpent-like groove.”

Heralding from London, The Bishops have been together for seven years during which a steady development and growth of the bands unique sound has emerged. The band are fronted by twins Mike Bishop (vocals, guitar) and Pete Bishop (vocals, bass) and completed by Scotsman Chris McConville (drums). This power trio is the perfect vehicle for those tight twin harmonies and even tighter trousers.

Having played hundreds of gigs internationally over the last few years, their 'electric, effective, dizzily exciting' live show has seen the band tour and play in twelve different countries. Catch them at the Dry Bar in Manchester while you can!

Following on from the sold out launch night featuring Pete and The Pirates, Glasswerk’s newest club night “Revelry” in Reading returns for 2009 on Friday February 27th at Plug N Play. Featuring the much talked about queens of ‘dark garage-pop’ Ipso Facto, “Revelry” is again set to offer the Reading music scene a visit from another nationally recognised up and coming band as they tour the UK. Having played support for The Last Shadow Puppets on their UK tour in 2008, 2009 sees Ipso Facto go it alone. Watch out for their releases and tours as you definitely want to check these guys out.

Tickets are available now and are sure not to last too long.

The Glitterati
+ Imperial Vipers, Linchpin and Agressive Stereo
@ 93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane
London E1 6QL
Wednesday 18th February
Tickets £6 available from link

The Glitterati bring their rock n roll riot 93 Feet East’s stage on Wednesday 18th February.

The Glitterati released their first top 40 single ‘You Got Nothing On Me’, and followed this up with the debut self titled critically acclaimed album, recorded in Los Angeles with legendary producer Mike Clink, the man behind Guns n Roses world beating ‘Appetite for destruction’ in 2005.

They built up a large and loyal fanbase through constant touring with bands such as Kings of Leon, The Wildhearts, The Killers and Evanessence amongst others; their exciting, enigmatic live show not only received glowing reviews but also a nomination as ‘Best British Newcomer’ at The Kerrang awards.

After 2 years of constant touring the Glitterati started work on their 2nd album, yet still found time to fit in two lengthy US tours. The album titled ‘Are You One Of Us’ was completed in September 2008 and is set for release in early 2009

With two new members Baz Morrison and Gaff now onboard The Glitterati are bringing a new enthusiasm and dynamic to their exhilarating live show.

Support comes from three of the most exciting up and coming acts of the UK’s rock scene – Imperial Vipers, Linchpin and Aggressive Stereo.

Vagabond

Plus The Riots and Dovestone
Tuesday 10th February 2009
Dry Bar
28 Oldham Street,
Manchester,
M1 1JN
Tickets £5 adv.

“Top shelf pop with international ambitions” Music Week

The first band signed to the newly-revived Geffen label, Vagabond, have roots in Uruguay, Denmark, East London and Huddersfield.

Otherwise known as, Alex Vargas (vocals, acoustic guitar), Stephen Carter (guitar), Luke Fitton (guitar), Sam Odiwe (bass) and Karl Penney (drums).

“We were a band before we even knew it” says Luke. “It's luck I guess, being in the right place at the right time. Just so happens we found each other in a studio in Kent.”

We should be grateful for this twist of fate and chance meeting. If you haven't yet found your new band of the year, introduce yourself to Vagabond.

Their début single on Geffen ‘Sweat (Until The Morning)’, due for release in early 2009, is the perfect introduction to the Vagabond sound – laid-back blue-eyed soul featuring twanging, Parliament-style guitars and a seductive vocal.

Although, there may be countless bands vying for attention in 2009, Vagabond need not worry. In Alex Vargas they have a bold and ardent front-man, a cross between Michael Hutchence and Bryan Ferry, with a voice that holds a secret plan for world domination. Musically, they flit between earthy, soulful pop and synth-tinged rock—every track is steeped in melody and eager for the airwaves. A band this persuasive is sure to have a promising year ahead.

“Soul is the thread that runs through everything we do,” explains Alex. “Our tastes span pop, rock, lounge, funk and blues, but it's these clashes that make us interesting, that make us who we are”.

“Otherwise we'd be just another indie band”, says Luke with a grin.

John Cooper Clarke
Friday 13th and Saturday 14th February 2009
Dancehouse Theatre
10 Oxford Road,
Manchester,
M1 5QA

Tickets £15 adv.

Doors 9pm

The “Bard of Salford” will be back on stage at the Dancehouse Theatre, Manchester on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th February.

Johnny Clarke, “the name behind the hairstyle”, initially achieved recognition in the late 1970's. He cemented his image as a punk poet by opening for acts such as The Sex Pistols, Joy Division, Buzzcocks and New Order.

In a vain attempt at bourgeois credibility, Manchester's sharp-dressed, sharp-delivering punk poet Lenny, changed his name to John Cooper Clarke and embarked on a polysyllabic excursion though Thrillsville. Clad in the slum chic of the hipster, he issued the slang anthems of the zip age in the desperate esperanto of bop.

More recently he performed a duet with Jon McClure of Reverend and The Makers, which was later released as a b-side on the hit single “Heavyweight Champion of The World.” JCC's poem “Out of Control Fairground” was printed on the inside of the CD single release of the Arctic Monkeys “Fluorescent Adolescent”. Alex Turner has often cited Cooper Clarke's work as lyrically inspiring and some of his favourite.

When you see John Cooper Clarke live expect a mix of hilarious anecdotes of life in a Northern town interspersed with machine-gun fast delivery of some of his best poems. 'If you think poetry is dull and boring, or posh and erudite – you haven't seen JCC!'

“Looking like a gonk stick insect in Raybans, Manchester University librarian Clarke jumped the Punk bandwagon, took it over and made it fly. Looking and sounding like a fright wigged Ginsberg on speed and an out of control crash-diet, Mr Clarke is still the roll model for any young performance poet not suffering from premature brain death.” – NME

“His razor-sharp wit and machine gun delivery of outrageous punk poems have remained intact. Even when jokes fall flat they are soon forgotten as he launches into another hilarious rhyming rant about anything and everything.” – Daily Express

New Rhodes
+ guests
@ 93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
19th February

New Rhodes journey from Bristol to Hackney in London has seen them release 4 singles – “I Wish I Was You”, “From the Beginning”, “The History of Britain” and the Top 40-bothering “You've Given Me Something That I Can't Give Back”, all of which received support from the likes of MTV2, The Amp, XFM, Radio 1, Radio 2, Virgin and the critics.

With new drummer Tim Desmond joining James Williams (Vocals and Guitar), Joe Gascoign (Guitar), and Jack Ashdown (Bass) the line up was complete for the long awaited release of debut album “Songs From The Lodge” in October 2006. The album recieved critical acclaim both in the UK and abroad, including winning Best Unsigned band award at the Vodafone Music awards. Since then the band have been busy working on new material for their second album which will be launched at 93 Feet East on 19th February.

The Ghost Frequency
+ Turbowolf
@ 93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane
London E1 6QL
Wednesday 25th February

The Ghost Frequency formed in a bedroom in Spring 2005 and begun writing songs and recording demos on a 4 track recorder. Drummer Ben Chetwood joined the band in November of that year and the band began rehearsing for live shows in 2006.
After a year of writing and gigging, the band were signed up by City Rockers and begun work on their debut single ’Nightmare’ which was released as a limited edition 7” red vinyl in August 2007, with the accompanying video becoming a favourite on the MTV2 channel as well as on YouTube. The band receiving extensive coverage in the music press and online, including an article in NME’s coveted Radar Section.

The band toured the UK throughout the autumn, including joining Hadouken! on their UK tour as main support.

On December 10th 2007 The Ghost Frequency released their second single ’Never Before Have I Seen a Man Alive That Looked So Exactly Like a Skeleton’, again on limited edition 7” vinyl. The band recorded a suitable macabre video as a promo clip for the song, which received play on MTV2, NME TV, and E4 music among others, and was again popular on YouTube. The single was also popular on Radio 1 receiving the support of DJ Zane Lowe, and XFM’s John Kennedy among others.

In December of 2007, the single ’Nightmare’ was voted 2nd in NME’s club chart of the year, the band were also tipped in other magazines’ “Tips for 2008” section.

The band have remixed numerous acts including a remix of Outcry Collective’s single “New Franchise Mess”, This City’s “Kid’s with Fireworks”, and Death Ciggarettes “Bleed You Dry”, and are currently working on songs for their debut album set for release in 2009.

Support come from the brilliant Turbowolf, who are equal measures high energy speed-rock and computerized disco-hell fury, forming the most exciting and electrifying music your senses are likely to taste. Formed under the red light of a Bristol swingers club, the wolves have been smashing together their varied influences, everything from Japanese synth-pop to black metal, to create a sound that burns into the stratosphere on wings made of future noise. Turbowolf have established a reputation for behemoth godzilla-size guitar riffs, pounding double-kick rage, evil buzz keys, dancefloor-heavy bass and blood spitting vocals, to create the most explosive, high energy live shows, keeping those kids angry.

Like A Thief
Plus Stiff Kitten and The Lucky Pennies
Saturday 24th January 2009
Bumper
14-18 Hardman Street, Liverpool, L1 4AR
Tickets £4 adv.

Holly Jazz Lowe brings her psychadelic, melodic soul pop to Bumper in Liverpool on Saturday 24th January, in the form of Like A Thief.

This lady is certainly no stranger to the music biz, she was signed to Mercury Records when she was just 17 years old. They were supposed to release her debut album, but at the last minute someone pulled the plug and it never happened. Now, six years later, she is ready to unleash her swirling, mellifluous brand of pop on to the world under her own terms.

Holly has an eccentric take on the usual singer-songwriter themes like; growing up in a small town and love and loss and manages to twist them into beautiful swirling tales that just sweep you in. She is, essentially, a piano playing solo artist but she has been known to turn her hand to a plethora of other instruments including flutes, harmonicas and snare drums.

In her own words: “I think I play pop music essentially. I mean, I like melodies and stuff and I like things you can get hold of. But I like words and I like stories and I like ideas and feelings and atmospheres and so somehow I think I like to create these whole scenes within the music but still keep it popsy.

“I like having fun with songs and on stage and in studios. I think that that's really important that the fun and enjoyment comes across. I think that's possible even with serious moments. But that enjoyment becomes something more heartfelt and intense.”

The single “Wasn't I Always The One” is released on Monday 2nd February 2009.

Arlo Guthrie
Plus Special Guests
Saturday 31st January 2009
Dancehouse Theatre
10 Oxford Road
Manchester
M1 5QA
Tickets £25 adv

“Sometimes you just want to do things yourself,” says Arlo Guthrie, as he sets off across the globe, guitar in hand.

Brooklyn born Arlo Guthrie is the eldest son of legendary folk pioneer Woody Guthrie, and professional dancer Marjorie Mazia Guthrie. He grew up surrounded by creatives, dancers, musicians and philosophers: Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, The Weavers, Leadbelly, Cisco Houston, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, all of whom were significant influences on Arlo's musical career.

Over the last four decades Arlo has toured throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia winning a broad and dedicated following. In addition to being an accomplished musician—playing the piano, six and twelve-string guitar, harmonica and a dozen other instruments—Arlo is a natural-born storyteller whose hilarious tales and anecdotes are woven seamlessly into his performances.

He took to the stage for the first time on his own in 1961 and has never looked back since. Arlo has toured all over the world, playing as far afield as Japan. Woodstock Music Festival in 1969, marked the end to those hectic, never ending solo tours and although he continued to perform, he rarely played solo.

Alongside his music career, Arlo has launched his own record label, Rising Son Records and set up The Guthrie Center and The Guthrie Foundation. Both of which are not for profit organisations dedicated to providing a wide range of local and international services. He also raised over $100,00 to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Now, Arlo continues on alone – rambling through songs and tales.

“Guthrie is philosophical in a naturally funny and folksy way and, as with great storytellers such as Will Rogers and even his own father, he always manages to pluck a gem from a lot of dirt.” – The Los Angeles Times

“Some people think a folksinger is someone who just sings their own songs. That’s a shame. It’s like being of the tradition, rather than in it. I’ve taught myself to make any song I like my own.” – Arlo Guthrie

Let's Tea Party
Plus Crafty Freddie and The Morning Club
Thursday 29th January 2009
Bumper
14-18 Hardman Street,
Liverpool,
L1 4AR

Tickets £4 adv.

The Bristol based 3 piece, indie pop sensation are coming to Liverpool's Bumper on Thursday 29th January.

Let's Tea Party have been heavily tipped as the next big thing by everyone from BBC Radio 1 to XFM to NME magazine.

This band have been in high demand following their packed out shows last year. They have had numerous festival slots, including Glastonbury, Rose Tree Jam (on the same stage as Mark Ronson and Calvin Harris) and a sold out headline slot at the South West Fringe Festival, where BBC Introducing… chose them as their “favourite act of the festival!”

These three, cardigan clad boys successfully infuse catchy pop gems with an endless array of instruments and riotous performances, meaning Let's Tea Party are definitely not to be missed.

“A fusion of kazoos, woodblocks and dirty bass teamed with catchy vocals and a wardrobe your grandpa might be proud of.” – NME magazine

“Your next favourite band” – BBC Radio 1

“Bristol's brightest young things for sure.” – Lo-fi Hi-fi

“Colourful, multi-instrumental disco-folk mayhem and tunes catchier than tonsillitis” – NME magazine

Paper Heroes (Skins)
Plus Fran and Josh (MTV)
Tuesday 27th January 2009
Music Box
65 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6QF
Tickets £5 adv.

Cheeky indie upstarts, Paper Heroes are coming to The Music Box in Manchester on Tuesday 27th January.

Their rapid-fire rhythms, growling vocals and inventive guitar riffs mean that these songs stay hooked in your brain ready for rapid replay. It really is indie-pop-rock at its exciting best.

Paper Heroes were formed in London early in 2008 and singer, Matt Weedon, sent his song, Jenny Jones, into a SkinsLife competition. It was the first ever song posted on the Skins Life site that made it into the show – “we all love this track” wrote Skins Life and it was played on episode 9 of Skins in April with the band picking up prestigious SkinsLife After Party gigs in Cardiff, London and Birmingham.

They will be supported by troublesome twosome – Fran and Josh – who have recently been featured on MTV’s second series of ‘Living On The Edge’.

Scanners
Plus Special Guests
Wednesday 14th January
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
Tickets £5 available from link

Scanners bring their post-punk party to 93 Feet East on Wednesday 14th January.

After storming South By South a couple of years back Scanners released their full debut ‘Violence Is Golden’ to widespread critical acclaim – it’s melodic with bittersweet lyrics filling the void between the mainstream grandiose pop of The Killers and the raw credibility of Sonic Youth.

“I'm bloody obsessed with snarling London rawk types Scanners whose singer Sarah is a shining bright star in its ascendancy. They're like all the songs Kim Gordon sings in Sonic Youth, but played by Motorhead at their early-'80s peak.” – NME

“Scanners might well be providing us with Yeah Yeah Yeahs style thrashy kicks in the new year…dripping with highs and lows…alluring throughout” – Artrocker

Their infectious tunes are both beautiful and dark as well as upbeat crystalline harmonies… brooding Mazzy Star-like epics… deathlessly sexy electronic pop…” – Drowned In Sound.com

Kill The Arcade
Plus Special Guests
Friday 9th January 2009
Jabez Clegg
2 Portsmouth Street, Manchester, M13 9GB
Tickets £5 adv.

Kill The Arcade bring their eclectic, story-telling brand of rock straight up the M6 to Manchester’s Jabez Clegg on Friday 9th January.

Hailing from Reading, this band are no strangers to the open road and are dedicated to travel and to their fans and the last twelve months have seen them on several sold-out tours.

Debut album ‘Lead The Way’, due to be released this year, takes as much from the classic British song writing styles of The Smiths and Bowie as it does from rockier American counter parts such as The Get Up Kids and Band Of Horses. This band like doing things their own way, and playing by their own rules.

Clockwerk 06/12/08

The first instalment of Clockwerk comes your way on Saturday 6th December. If you’re fed up of the generic, run of the mill band nights Clockwerk promises to bring you round and restore your faith in bloody good music.

We will bring you four acts all of which bring there own flavour to the musical table putting on a spread desirable to the most critical of ears.

Opening the night with a rock fist firmly in the air is Soldiers of fuzz. They put any hard rock band to shame with their soaring vocals and solos that make you physically sick!

We bring the tone down with a folk acoustic act called Misery Guts. With influences like Nick Drake and James Taylor these boys have really captured something special. With Beautiful Melodies and lyrics comparable to Mr. J Lennon you will be in love with their songs by the end of there set.

Accidents never happen is the name of our third band. With there wild and at times un predictable show you can’t help but feel their name is ironic. These guys will appeal to the music mogul and the happy go lucky pop lover. They have it all and certainly have the potential to go to the top.

To top of this mish mash musical extravaganza. Flown in from New Zeland especially, Disaster Radio brings with him an electro, disco, crazy, style of music. Armed with a keyboard and some fine dance moves, you are guaranteed to walk away from his set confused but definitely happy that you saw it.

The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster bring their psycho-gothobilly party to 93 Feet East, London and Carling Academy, Liverpool for Glasswerk’s Nightmare Before Christmas and to the Dry Bar, Manchester for a New Years Eve spectacular.

18th Dec @ 93 Feet East, London
29th Dec @ Carling Academy, Liverpool
31st Dec @ Dry Bar, Manchester

Frontiers of the darkest of blues rock with a demonic twist Eighties Matchbox stormed onto the music scene with their debut ‘Horse Of The Dog’ followed by ‘The Royal Society, both receiving widespread critical acclaim with the NME hailing them as the ‘best new band in Britain’.

Eighties Matchbox’s live show is a face-melting proposition, they inspire mayhem with their thrashing hillbilly rock of riffing, pounding rhythms and singer McKnight, with his grisly baritone vocals, is the perfect front man for such an entity.

Eighties Matchbox will be joined by some very special bands and DJs to see in a Nightmarish Christmas Party, miss it at your peril!

‘Safeguarding rock's future for the next few decades’ – The Guardian

‘The band have been busy re-inventing rock music’ – The Fly

‘Sheer unashamed majesty’ – Kerrang

Very special guests soon to be announced!

Venue – Studio, Hardman Street, Liverpool L1 9AS
Date – Friday 28th November
Time – 10pm until 3 am
Entry – Wristband holders only
Over 18's only

Everyone is invited to the second Cool Ninja party of 2008.

Last time we brought you the mighty RZA from the Wu Tang Clan.This time we celebrate launch of the Cool Ninja website on 1st December with the Party For The People with an exceptional line up.

In these so called ” Credit Crunch” times, Cool Ninja is throwing a free party for the first 500 people to complete the three simple steps below.

The first 500 people to complete these three simple steps will win a wristband for entry

Step 1

RSVP and Invite your friends to the Facebook event here
link

Step 2

Become a fan here to get updates on new video's,tracks,interviews,future releases and much more.
link

Step 3

Email your Name and Mobile number to mail

Wristband winners will be notified via email.

There will be 250 Wristbands available on the door priced at £10 each

Line Up:

Mr Bang On
Fresh off appearing on front cover of Hip Hop Connection Magazine,Touring with Necro,GZA, Mr Bang On is the number One rapper from Liverpool right now, download his mixtape from his myspace

Adam F
Drum N Bass Legend and producer of Hip Hop Classic Smash Something ft Redman, Adam F plays an exclusive set in the city of his birth

Skinnyman
Filming his new video Music Speaks Louder Than Words live on the night and performing classics from Council Estate Of Mind with a 16 piece Brass band

Riot Jazz
Incredible brass band fresh off the back off shows with Dizzee Rascal and Sway

Fallacy
UK Legend performing the classics Groundbreaker and Big N Bashy plus brand new material

J Soul
Caleb
DJ Buddha
Jon Dean

plus surprise guests

Check out Manchester band Dutch Uncles on the following dates:

8 – London, The Fly

11 – Barrow, Nines Club

13 – Leslie, Greenside Hotel

14 – Glasgow, Twisted Wheel

18 – Liverpool, Bumper

19 – Leeds, Elbow Rooms

20 – Manchester, Dry Bar – Dickensian Disco

What the critics say…

“Dutch Uncles have come on leaps and bounds over just this year, and tonight they're even to the point of striking. Stronger, more vibrant melodies and a casting aside of frustrations, their spring is now so nearly enough to push them to another level.”
High Voltage UK

“For a band with more raging hormones than an episode of Byker Grove, this is a remarkably polished single……passionate, memorable indie pop that makes most teenage bands look like floppy-fringed underachievers.” Is This Music? UK

Anthony Hannah – Thursday 4th December @ Bumper, Liverpool

Support from:
Diego Franklyn Trio
Kush

Anthony Hannah has been singing from the age of 3. At the age of 7 he appeared on Michael Barrymore's TV show “My Kind Of People” He also took part in many competitions when he was younger, Which include a karaoke competition on “The Saturday Show” which he won and got to sing “Spirit In The Sky” with Gareth Gates. He also came 2nd in a “Top Of The Pops” competition and won a £6,000 scholarship for the Academy Of Music in Guildford, the final was held in Leicester Square London. He was the winner of Musical Theatre in Festival4Stars for the North West of England, Liverpool in 2004. A very important place in his life is the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral where he sang for many years as a child.

In 2006 Anthony appeared on the “x factor” as part of the boyband Eton Road where he stunned millions of viewers with his amazing vocals and unique look. Eton Road were put out of the competition then to be brought back as one of the final 12 acts in the live shows of the x factor 2006. They managed to come 5th in the competition and win over thousands of fans. Eton Road then went on to perform gigs all around the UK in which they did over 100 and were due to release a single. Although on the 12th of August 2007 Anthony chose to leave Eton Road and become a solo artist. Anthony is now in the studio working on his music.

Official Secrets Act describe themselves as 'like a honey-trap sturm-und-drang disco hedgehog, seconds before it's squashed under the merciless wheels of the giant “rockadecker” bus, driven by Kitchener with a tear in his eye and war on his radio. As the explosions in the distance grow nearer we shelter behind cheap guitars and old synths. We keep our ear to the shipping forecast and our eyes on the horizon.'

So if that sounds like your thing check out the following dates:

Official Secrets Act

2nd Dec @ Dry Bar, Manchester – supp by Boomin and Drive Like I Do

4th Dec @ Underground, Runcorn

9th Dec @ Barfly, London – supp by Bad Robots

Pete & The Pirates – Revelry Launch Night @ Plug ‘n’ Play, Reading – 20th November ‘08

Pete & The Pirates are bright, young commanders of a brand of unique Englishness; their blend of smooth edged punk and pop produces music that is sweet, raw, joyous, melancholic, raucous and tender.

“Perfect pop without the pretence” – NME

“Babbling bass, rattling guitars, and infectious-as-ringworm melodies” – Pitchfork

Following their storming sets at Reading and Leeds festival Reading-based Pete & The Pirates make their eagerly anticipated homecoming at the launch of Reading’s hottest new club night ‘Revelry’, in association with Glasswerk.co.uk.

The highly acclaimed quintet have just finished a European tour and are now about to head back onto the road to treat the UK music public and Reading gig goers once again.

Reading’s newest regular night of live music kicks off on Thursday November 20th and is sure to offer a blast of life into Berkshire’s live music scene. Pete and The Pirates headline as part of their full UK tour with support from Tripwires and a set or two from Oakford Social Club regular DJ Olly.
 
“Revelry”, powered by Glasswerk.co.uk and run by local promoters Tom Manning and Peter Pearce, will take place once or twice a month at Plug N Play – Reading’s Best Live Music Venue 2008.

Tickets for the launch party on November 20th at Plug N Play are available online now.

Press enquires:
Adam Taylor: mail / 0207 561 0030

Useful links

Ticket Link: link
Glasswerk presents Revelry: link
Pete and the Pirates: link
Tripwires: link

The Parlotones
+ Minus IQ / The Philbys
& Special Guests
10th December
Scala
275 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NL
£7 available from Tickets Page

South Africa’s hottest exports The Parlotones bring their arsenal of electrifying indie for a full-out invasion of London’s legendary Scala.

The Parlotones kicked of their professional career in 2003 rising to the forefront of South African music by 2006 when they signed a European license deal on the back of their debut single beautiful being used in a Fujifilm commercial.

Since then The Parlotones have become the biggest selling band in South Africa and have delivered over 200 shows in 2008 across SA, UK and Europe with key performances including Live Earth, Coke Fest and V Fest.

Audiences watching The Parlotones are swept up in a whirlwind of energy and rock orchestrated by front man Kahn Morbee. Not adverse to experimentation, the band merges innovative and authentic ideas into a comprehensive sound, which lends itself to mammoth live performances, the likes of which audiences have rarely seen.

“The Parlotones are a supremely good band” – Tourdates.co.uk

“The Parlotones are the worlds new anthemic indie group sweeping audiences away every where they play” – NME

Support comes from feisty electro-pop-rockers Minus IQ and local London lads The Philbys.

Jamie Scott & The Town
+ Special Guests
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane E1 6QL
Wednesday 3rd December
£7 available from Ticket Page

Jamie Scott & The Town
+ Tim Allen / Second Hand Wings
Dry Bar
Oldham St M1 1JS
Thursday 4th December
£6adv from Ticket Page

Jamie Scott & The Town return from their European invasion to headline Brick Lane’s 93 Feet East and Manchesters Dry Bar.

For a man who first picked up a guitar aged seven and taught himself to play, music was clearly a natural compulsion, and the one he was used to giving in to. Scott’s musical loves and influences now are one and the same as the varied bunch he grew up listening to.

From his mother, Jamie developed an appreciation of James Taylor, Cat Stevens and Carole King. “Tapestry was the first album I ever heard through my mum playing it in the house all the time. I was seven years old and I remember staring at the sleeve and listening to the music, just being totally mesmerised by the music. I didn’t know what it was about then but I was just touched by it.”

The previous comparisons to Jamiroquai that he once attracted seem pretty one-dimensional, probably an observation based on his dextrous and soulful voice. In truth, the Jamie Scott of Park Bench Theories is less easy-on-the-ear funk and, if comparisons must be drawn, somewhere between Jeff Buckley meets Stevie Wonder.

“So easy on the ear it's like having your lobes tickled by seraphim wearing silk mittens”
– guardian.co.uk

“A cross between James Morrison and Jeff Buckley with the addition of a stunning soulful voice and some commercial funk” – ents24.com

“A pleasure to listen to” – unrealitytv.co.uk