The Shortwave Set @ London, Manchester

The Shortwave Set
+ The Mentalists / Elmor / Strawhouses
24th November
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
£7 available from Tickets Page

The Shortwave Set
+ Billy Ruffian / Riot of The Century
27th November
Dry Bar
Oldham St, Manchester, M1 1JN
£7 available from Tickets Page

Victorian funksters and Danger Mouse’s favourite band The Shortwave Set headline Brick Lane’s infamous 93 Feet East and Dry Bar.

The band's debut album The Debt Collection was highly regarded by critics and featured in many discerning end of year polls for 2005 and championed across a wide cross section of media tastemakers. Zane Lowe made it his Album of the week on his acclaimed BBC Radio One show, and Lauren Laverne has supported their singles, making Is It Any Wonder her XFM record of the week, and highlighting Slingshot on the BBC television review programme The Culture Show. The Times made The Debt Collection it's album of the week, and it also featured at number 3 in the Observer Music Monthly 'First Ten' for July 2005.

Danger Mouse expressed his admiration for The Debt Collection and invited them to act as support for Gnarls Barkley, it came as little surprise to anyone that it was announced in 2007 that The Shortwave Set were to record their follow up album with the renowned producer in the chair.

As well as this the band have racked up many a fine gig, touring with the likes of Gnarls Barkley, Goldfrapp, Moby and most recently Spiritualized.

“A treasure trove of fuzzy psychedelia, jerry-built pop and seemingly limitless good vibrations” – The Guardian

“A tasteful, mellifluous affair” – The Independent

“Samples and melodies so beautiful” – Drowned In Sound

Gabby Young & Other Animals @ London & Manchester

Gabby Young & Other Animals perform at London’s legendary Hoxton Hall to launch their brand new EP

Gabby Young’s twisting path took her from her rural roots in Wiltshire, through life’s tribulations at an early age before combusting in the London music scene, to cause one of the biggest reactions seen in years.

Causing a reaction is becoming a habit for the instantly recognisable girl with a petite frame, mane of red hair and the vocal ability of a lioness. Although classically trained, her diverse musical tastes include pop, rock, folk, jazz, funk and experimental and that shines through in every song.

The last couple of years have seen Gabby appear at major festivals such as Glastonbury, The Secret Garden, Marlborough Jazz Festival, Standon Calling and many more.

“Imagine Amy Winehouse briefly taken over by the spirit of Jeff Buckley” – UK Music Review

“Instantly mezmerising” – Big Shot Mag

Gabby Plays in London at Hoxton Hall on 12th November with support from Magic Lantern and The Moulettes. Buy Tickets here: link={898C9237-314C-45D0-BEA3-D8AFE1833F78}&filler1=see&filler3=id1glasswerk

And Plays in Manchester at the Dry Bar on 16th November with support from Oddness and Revere. Buy Tickets here: link={898C9237-314C-45D0-BEA3-D8AFE1833F78}&filler1=see&filler3=id1glasswerk

The Research @ Manchester and Runcorn

The Research
Roadhouse, Manchester -1st November
Underground, Runcorn – 2nd November

The Research are an indiepop band from Wakefield. In February 2006 they released their debut album Breaking Up via At Large Recordings, a subsidiary of EMI. Following the album's release, the band parted company with At Large, and decided to seek another labeland announced the single I Think She's The One I Love and a new album entitled The Old Terminal.

On the 1st November @ Roadhouse, The Research will be joined by, Little Tremors, Merchandise and King Pest.

Peter And The Wolf @ Manchester and London

Peter And The Wolf
Dry Bar, Manchester 1st November
93 Feet East, London 19th November

Liverpool band Peter And The Wolf consists of Marc Sunderland, Donna Dosanjh and Hugo Harrison.
Sunday 12th October saw the final episode of
Massive screened on BBC3 and the band's long awaited appearance in the show. The show uses 'Make it Alone' as its title track and for those of you that have enjoyed listening to it over the past weeks you'll be pleased to know that since 13th Oct the band have been offering the track to everyone as a free download from Myspace only.

On the 1st November @ Dry Bar Peter And The Wolf will be joined by, Deadbeat Echoes, D'Kuypa, The Velvetines, The YouBeauties.

19th November @ 93 Feet East Polka Party, Kish Mauve and Ruthie Phoenix are also playing.

Deaf Havana @ Manchester

Deaf Havana
Music Box, Manchester 4th Novemeber

Deaf Havana, initially when meeting in early 2006, as teenagers, wanted to experience more from their lives than anyone who had surrounded them whilst growing up, so started making music that has taken them elsewhere in the country and the world.

After a few EPs and some rather large support bills (Deftones, Enter Shikari, Flood Of Red, You Me At Six, We Are The Ocean) Deaf Havana decided that music could be so much more exciting and energetic. So they sat down and wrote the new EP “Its Called The Easy Life”. Six songs of pure energetic fun, Recorded with Johnny from Devil Sold His Soul, and Mixed/Mastered by Matt O’Grady (Architects, You Me At Six). The EP is due for release on the 6th October through Wolf At Your Door Records.

Not having a music scene to grow up within and to follow or having a trend to become part of, the DH boys made a mix of everything they wanted. With a love of rock riffs mixed with a dual vocal attack, in the vein of Glassjaw, mixed with Jeff Buckley, including enough Pop choruses to make 13 year old McFly fans blush. With over 100 shows in the past year, Deaf Havana are quickly becoming one of the most talked about bands on the underground rock scene.

First Signs Of Frost

From the UK’s capital and originally formed in 2004; the five members of FSOF (Daniel Tompkins – Vocals, Owen Hughes-Holland – Vocals/ Guitar, Adam Mason – Guitar, Simon Poulton – Bass and Will Gates – Drums) have been working hard on the underground scene making a significant and extremely memorable impact. The band have shared the stage with the likes of; Lostprophets, No Use For A Name, Sikth, Architects, Enter Shikari, Flood Of Red, The Blackout, Devil Sold His Soul and The Ghost Of A Thousand to name a few.

Also playing are:
New Blood Stories
The Zero Symphony
Dressed To Kill

Eighties Matchbox Halloween Gig @ Trash, Leeds

The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
Friday 31st October
Trash,Leeds

Originally formed in 1999, Eighties Matchbox are renowned for their intense live shows, where McKnight regularly leaves the stage during numbers to mingle with the crowd.

They have released two full-length albums, Hörse Of the Dög in 2002 and The Royal Society in October 2004. The band have released seven singles on various different formats, each release has had several b-sides included and so the band have a large amount of songs that cannot be found on their albums. The song “Mister Mental” was featured on the 'rom-zom-com' movie “Shaun of the Dead”, the film also contained posters and other references to the band.

The band have played at both The Glastonbury Festival and The Reading and Leeds Festivals for several years running. They have also toured and supported many mainstream bands, including; System of a Down, Placebo, Klaxons, Murderdolls and Queens of the Stone Age and are currently touring with Scars on Broadway in support of their 2008 UK tour.

Jessie @ Madame Jojo's, London – 3rd November

Every now and then a talent comes along that makes even the most hardened music hack sit up and take notice. We recently stumbled across Jessie and even before we heard a note it seemed everything was in place – her look, the fact that one of her songs is the soundtrack to a Nivea TV ad(!), and the knowledge that having already supported the likes of Macy Gray, Girls Aloud and Taio Cruz, she is soon off on tour with Cyndi Lauper and Jools Holland. Clearly a few people in the know have cottoned on to her…

She plays at Soho's Madame Jojo's on November 3rd.

Excellent support comes from Kelli Ali, Shezar and Bianca Bohl.
Ali is a Birmingham based folk singer and former lead singer of Sneaker Pimps. Ali focuses on whimsical vocal work and sparse arrangements, crafting unique explorations into modern folk, medieval melodies and contemporary classical music.
“Stunning – it is immense. A sprawling lament to lost innocence” – Wound Magazine
Shezar is a soul and house diva with an excellent knack for experimentation. Now a solo star in her own right, she has preiviously performed with a seemingly endless list of musicians, including Natasha Bedingfield and The Guillemots.
Bianca Bohl is a folk songstress with a classical edge.
“It takes a fine touch to blend this many sounds and musicians without muddying the waters and the classically trained Bohl has this touch, with each element of the music giving something extra to the overall sound.”

VV Brown @ Dry Bar, Manchester – 30 October

VV Brown
20 October, Thursday
Dry Bar, Manchester

VV Brown is a 24 year old singer-songwriter who describes her music as do wop indie from outer space.

On writing 'Crying Blood' VV Brown (Vanessa)says: 'I got a cheap guitar and started to write in my room I was renting. Was starting to listen to a lot of old rock n roll music, especially Ruth Brown, after working with a few producers who were sweet but a little imposing, and began this journey. The first song I ever played that I was like cool, from coming home from LA to London, was written on the one string of a guitar and I used my nail varnish to show the fingering, as the piano was my main instrument, but I didn't have a piano as I sold it to get a ticket back to London from LA. Writing was all on the guitar. Then I started to record and trust my instincts… producing was a trusting yourself thing, do I like it, that's all I based it on, pushing out the thoughts of what could be right for everyone else, which was the slavery I had experienced before. Just right humble songs.'

Trash Fashion Tour

Pioneers of 'warehouse rock' Trash Fashion bring their lumicoloured-mathrock-electrocore noises across the UK.

“Convincingly menacing and cute, Trash Fashion are Motley Crue meets The Muppet Show with a splash of Beastie Boys chucked in the mix.” – Super Super

“Trash Fashion really know how to throw a party” – NME

“My new obsession” – Jodie Harsh

Dates are as follows:

25 Oct Bumper, Liverpool
29 Oct Barfly(14+), London
30 Oct Underground, Runcorn
31 Oct Elbow Rooms, Leeds
4 Nov Classic Grand, Glassgow
6 Nov Nines, Barrow-In-Furness
7 Nov Dickensian Disco @ Dry Bar, Manchester

Paper Heroes @ Nambucca, London – 23rd October

Paper Heroes were formed in London early in 2008 when 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. The band release their first EP on the 6th October.

The Bishops @ Dry Bar, Manchester – 14 October

The Bishops
14 October, Tuesday
Dry Bar, Manchester

Armed with addictive melodies, compulsive rhythms and striking suits, The Bishops are rightfully carving their ascension towards the heights of indie prominence. Heralding from London, The Bishops have been together since 2002 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).

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 while you can!

Holy Ghost Revival October Tour

Holy Ghost Revival will be playing the following dates:

18 October, Saturday
Dry Bar, Manchester

24 October, Friday
Underground, Runcorn

25 October, Saturday
Elbow Rooms, Leeds

Holy Ghost Revival is a style cult disguised as a rock 'n' roll band. The Seattle band encourage the crowd to throw objects, hurtle verbal abuse, move their bodies, or leave, and usually the audience does neither of the above. They merely stand with mouths agape afraid to make any conclusions on hating or loving the music even after getting verbally or physically berated by the band.

You've been warned!

Imperial Leisure @ Scala, London – 23rd October

Imperial Leisure
+ The RGBs / Barefoot Confessor / Laid Blak
plus special guests Mr. B

23rd October
Scala, Kings Cross

Imperial Leisure are a phenomenon: a ten-piece band playing their own particular blend of hip-hop, ska and rock music, complete with live brass section, keyboards, DJ, two MCs and a singer, who have been mates since North London secondary school, and in some cases, primary school. Their music is a killer combination of great beats, great tunes and irresistibly memorable lyrics.

Influences come from all over the place: as well as a group admiration of great British bands such as The Specials, Madness and The Prodigy, there is a Motown-inspired soulfulness to singer Jel's vocals, and a rock sensibility to MC Denis's delivery.

The sense of unity and familiarity that comes from 15 years of friendship and hanging out together is very much evident both in the band's sound and in the relationships between members. Based in their own rehearsal/recording studio in Wood Green, they work together and party together, and put equal energy into both things. This energy is what sets the band apart on stage: electric performances at festivals around the country supporting bands such as The Happy Mondays and The Levellers, and at venues from the Water Rats to the Shepherd's Bush Empire have inspired the following comments:

'Like the Beasties and De La Soul, playing Less Than Jake at a cult-rock party with the best cover I've heard in ages. Amazing live band.'(SA) drownedinsound.com

“…all you can do is pity the fools that came in late.” London Metro

'This band had an air of something unusual and interesting even before they play a note. Imperial Leisure definitely have a stage presence which is quickly established by the Afro-haired rapper who seems to have had his legs replaced by pogo sticks. It is quite evident that these guys remember the most important thing about what they do, having fun. Aside from the energy and humour, this band remains intelligent, versatile and melodic.' Monsterbagel.com

'you have a band capable of captivating any

Glamour Of The Kill @ Roadhouse, Manchester – 1st October

Glamour of the Kill are a post-hardcore band hailing from York. Glamour of the Kill is made up of Davey Death, Chris Carnage, Mikey Massacre and Ben Brutal. The band's uprising was greatly thanks to Metal Hammer Magazine rating their début album 'Through the Darkness They March' 10/10. Leading them to tour with Bullet For My Valentine, Darkest Hour and Avenged Sevenfold. This year the band signed to Siege of Amida Records and were nominated for Best British Newcomer at the 2008 Kerrang! Awards.

The Rushes, London

25 September 2008
Nambucca, Holloway Rd.

The Rushes
+ The Ruling Class / Super Smiler / The Gin Riots
Tickets £6 / £5 (adv/flyer)

Nambucca is host to London’s hottest new band The Rushes who play their own brand of British rock and soul with influences ranging from John Martyn to Van Morrison to Pearl Jam to The Verve. However while you might hear traces of these acts, The Rushes songs take the bloodline and forge something new and vital.

“…clipped, powerful vocals with urgent, jerky guitars. A blistering debut release from the London band who really have arrived with a bang.” The Sun

“…impressively widescreen.” NME

Also on the bill are The Ruling Class, who create music reminiscent of when indie was really indie, with strains of the Smiths, Jesus and Mary Chain and Stone Roses, and the excellent Super Smiler and The Gin Riots

Chaosanct@ The Fly, London – Sunday 21st September

Chaosanct formed in 2006 and features the guitarist James McIlroy (ex-Cradle of Filth), drummer Matt C (ex-Biomechanical), guitarist Andrew Ongley, bassist Tilman Wolff-Moore, all fused together with the vocal talents of Dave Kuchta. Combining elements from the extreme metal spectrum with melody and layered, wide ranging vocals, the band forges together a wide array of influences, creating it's own niche.

In the aftermath of his departure from Cradle, James came up with the idea of putting together a band combining both experience and young blood with a view to writing music that would be the sum of individuals influences, rather than writing to a fixed genre or template. From this point the band spent it's time writing material and finding the right member chemistry, with Andy and James going through several line ups before settling, in late 2007 / early 2008 with the arrival of Dave, Tilman and Matt, and culminating in the recording the 4 track “I of Goliath” EP

Dirty Skirts@ 93 Feet East, London – Thursday 18th September

The Dirty Skirts have always had clear intentions as to where they were headed: to rise to the top of the South African music scene, and to take their music to the world. Driven by the awareness that it must be possible to reverse the tide of American/UK musical imports that washes through South Africa year to year, they’re on a mission to sell those pesky colonial powers something new, something very Cape Town.

It’s been, and continues to be a hero’s journey conducted in their inimitable style. For four years they remained independent of the South African music industry… unsigned, unmanaged, maybe unmanageable. However2008 has seen the band sign their colossal new album Daddy Don’t Disco to SONY BMG.

The Dirty Skirts formed in Cape Town after a fortuitous braai-side meeting between Jess and David; a meeting of compatible hard working dreamers. They immediately set out to etch the band onto South Africa’s Musical Hall of Fame by independently recording and releasing their eponymous debut mini-album in 2005. Singles such as “Feeling the Pressure” and “Set Me Alight” scorched up the local and student charts. Their first full length debut album On A Stellar Bender followed in 2007, with the barnstorming single “Homewrecker” reaching 1 on a number of national radio charts. In late 2007 they began writing the follow up album Daddy Don’t Disco, which was released on the 27th of June 2008.

Featuring Jess de Tolly on lead vocals, synthesisers and guitar, David Moffatt on lead guitar, Passion Paliaga on bass and Markie de Menezes on drums, theirs is a mixture of alt pop, punk and rock – with a solid dose of electronica thrown in for good measure.

An essential part of The Dirty Skirts experience is their live performance. They are an astonishing proposition on stage, a heady combination of effervescent joy, humour, passion and raw animal power. They favour a punchy, “nose bleed set”, with improvised jams interspersed between their material.

Revere @ Proud Galleries, London – Tues 9th September

Get yourselves down to Proud Galleries and check out Revere, SonVer and Captive State. Headliners Revere are becoming increasingly difficult to categorise. Incorporating violin, cello, keys, trumpet and harp into a three guitar-led sound. Revere touch on numerous musical reference points, combining elements of gypsy marches, klezmer, post rock, film scores and gospel into a truly unique sound.

Also up are SonVer, the band’s music has attracted the attention of several film production companies, who have used SonVer’s work on the soundtracks to their films. Recently, SonVer were commissioned by Dutch production company Orphic to write a soundtrack for their film ’Fade’

And finally we have Captive State. Captive State can mostly be found holed up in their Whitechapel studio, writing, recording and developing sounds and songs for their first LP. Their first release, a double a-side single of 'Mona' & 'China White Doll', will be released 1st September 2008, followed by a 4 track EP on 22nd September.

Captive State’s Tom Bootle and Joseph Kennedy were first encouraged by Brian Eno’s enthusiastic response to their earliest demos and then teamed up with Lemon Jelly’s Nick Franglen at the tail end of 2007 and found the perfect producer to bring life to their creation. The first fruits of these labours, which provides a sweet taster of what to expect, is the four song EP called, ‘Elmore Grove’.

Aspen Grove + guests @ Bumper, Liverpool – Club Glasswerk Launch Night in Liverpool

Club Glasswerk arrives at Bumper for weekly live music bringing the select indie and electro talent to the most popular cool kids indie venue in Liverpool. Love or hate the bands, Club Glasswerk promises to stretch the boundaries of taste.

Kicking of the new term of music are Aspen Grove, a seriously un-serious band. They spent the first year of their existence playing around with a noise so as to find a tune and define their sound. Having done this they then played a gig and released a single which had people fainting with joy. The single was called 'The Swerve' and the release party sold out. The media have also recognised their greatness with regular plays on regional radio and you may have seen them on The Culture Show. So what is this noise like that took a year to define? Indie-rock with twisting catchy choruses and hooks.

See you there.

Dickensian Disco – September, Manchester

The Victorians were all about innovation and pushing things forward, with Manchester's boom in the Industrial age it seemed appropriate to call the night The Dickensian Disco, plus everyone likes a bit of alliteration.

The Dickensian Disco aims to be an alternative Indie night in the heart of Manchester. We may remember the Manchester classics but you will not hear them here. The Dickensian Disco aims to play cutting edge music by cutting edge bands from all genres. The myspace page says if it fits we'll play it and this is the case.

The Dickensian Disco's home at Dry Bar, Oldham street, may have the ghosts of Manchester's great musical past looming over it, but you'd hope that they'd be looking down and appreciate that there is an innovative group of individuals, coming out of Manchester, who are looking forward and trying to do something different, just as they did in their day!

September Listings

Saturday 20th September
Stage 1
Cut Cut Shape
My Captive Audience
CityLights
The Sandells

Stage 2
Grace Emilys
Throw Catch
The Corsairs
W3

Saturday 27th September
Stage 1
Tigerside
Elivation
The Stolen
The Acension

Stage 2
Romanov
The Sneakypeeks
The Insanity Factory
I Am Blackbird

Doors 8pm all shows

K2 & AUY – 26th Aug @ Jabez Clegg, Manchester

26th Aug @ Jabez Clegg, Manchester
Doors 8pm, £5

“K2 are a 3-piece Industrial rock-metal band from Krakow who surprise the audience with the energy and unusual shape of their live show. K2 band was
founded in 2000 and is known in Poland for their multi-sense, spectacular performances. One of those shows was honoured by the Polish edition of Metal
Hammer Magazine, which granted K2 “The Show of the Year”.

AUY are a 5-piece Progressive rock band from Krakow who formed in 2005. They have played over 40 gigs in clubs, bars and festivals. They recently won 1st
place in a National Battle of the Bands in Poland. Their influences are other progressive rock bands such as Riverside from Warsaw, and their music
is a mix of hard rock, metal and melodic rock.”

Damaged Gods 18th Sept @ Dry Bar, Manchester

Damaged Gods
Thursday 18th September
Dry Bar, Manchester

“Enter Damaged Gods armed with huge riffs, grinding rhythms and terrace-chant melodies, they cut a welcome swathe through the trivia masquerading as entertainment like a razor through flesh. But this isn't just music, it's a manifesto, a social document&183; They provide balance in this intolerant climate of suppression of free speech and artistic expression.

“Musically, we're anti-everything that's going on right now, because what's going on right now is appalling…” Says B “We're the alternative to the bland, faceless bullshit that people have had to accept for far too long”.

With a disturbing air of malevolence, hard-hitting lyrics and a sense of melody which turns dark hymns of anger into sing-along friendly anthems, Damaged Gods would like to introduce themselves.”

Imperial Leisure, London

THE PLAYGROUND AT PROUD GALLERIES:
FRIDAY 15TH AUGUST, 7.30pm-2.30am

LIVE: IMPERIAL LEISURE, THE RGBS, MINUS IQ, NIXA, MISS ODD KIDD
DJS: BIOUX, GOLDIELOCKS, FUTURECOP, BLONDE AMBITION

Address: Proud Galleries/ The Horse Hospital, The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, London, NW1 8AH
Phone: 0207 482 3867
www.atproud.net
Tickets: £6 adv
Or £8 on door before 10pm / £10 after 10pm
TICKET SALES THROUGH WWW.GLASSWERK.CO.UK
link 08700 600100

The Playground at Proud presents one of the most exciting UK bands of recent
times. IMPERIAL LEISURE are currently XFM Album of the week and are on the
cusp on breaking big so don't you dare miss this incendiary performance.
As if that's not all, expect astonishing performances from THE RGB'S, MINUS
IQ AND NIXA. The fun doesn't end there – DJ sets from GOLDIELOCKS, FUTURE
COP, BIOUX.
And what about ZELDA SAINT WILD AND THE GLITTER KITTENS?
>>>>Burlesque dancing is the new rock'n'roll.
The Playground: “Slipping enough pills into dance music's pint until it
finds itself curled up in the corner of the room with rock's dangly bits in
it's mouth”

IMPERIAL LEISURE
“…If you thought UK rap had to be as clumsy as The Streets, if you thought the British ska revival ended when the Ordinary Boys sold out, if no-one else can help, then go and see Imperial Leisure, because they are the A-Team. People of the UK, your champions have arrived.” mysongbird.com
“…all you can do is pity the fools that came in late.” London Metro
“…Like the Beasties and De La Soul, playing Less Than Jake at a cult-rock party with the best cover I've heard in ages. Amazing live band.”(SA) drownedinsound.com
www.myspace.com/imperialleisure

RGBs
Electronic outfit RGBs are just three hot British girls and a nice French guy
but we're a tiny bit worried they might blast the roof of the Horse Hospital
with their power pop hurricane ! Their unique mix of beautiful soaring vocals,
catchy electronic tunes, uplifiting performance and refreshing sense of fun
makes for a party vibe at every gig they play. Which got them to support none
less than Groove Armada, thanks to Tom Findlay's enthusiasm who begged :
“Mesmerising – like Kate Bush at an Ibizan rave – please can they support
us?!”. Selected by Rob Da Bank and Colin Murray for Radio 1, this summer will
see them all over the place, playing festivals such as Lovebox, Creamfields or
Bestival.
link

MINUS IQ
Their sound is an enthralling mix of Rock and Electro, Dance and Indie. Their look is 80s with thin ties and glittery stuff and their songs explore the eternal appeal of sex, girls, partying and drama. Their single Ultraviolet amply illustrates all of the above and is out as a free download single at the start of July. You would have to be in possession of a very low IQ indeed not to like it!
www.myspace.com/minusiq

Nixa
Nixa songs combine addictive melodies, intertwining
vocals, riotous screaming, ferocious guitars, pulsing drums, and dirty bass to
create an energetic morass that just makes sense. Nixa was born in the summer
of 2006 after a massive gangbang involving Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro, Soulwax
and Death Cab for Cutie: the custody battle still rages…
link

MISS ODD KIDD
Now indigenous to London and fully integrated in the capital’s ‘image is everything’ electro scene, Odd One insists she once again stands out from the crowd. “I’m into fashion obviously, and I like my garms like the next person, but I just wear what I wear. There are no rules man… I just do what I fancy.” Her music also adheres to the same code. “I’m influenced by American hip hop, but since I found MySpace you can just listen to so many different genres. I don’t really have any rules, if I’m feeling it, I’m feeling it.” With comments and messages from all over this here globe, it’s clear her so growing fanbase are feeling her too.
www.myspace.com/missoddkidd

DJS:

DJ Bioux provides the perfect musical accompaniment to the evenings performances, spinning a potent mix of 50s Garage, Sleaze and Exotica. A regular name at Proud with his own following, that increases week on week.

GOLDIELOCKS
I'm a producer and 'rapper'. I'm not very techy, I don't like wires or being a computer boff, it takes me a while to work things out but when I work it out it sounds amazing. To me anyway.
People always ask me what style my music is. I don't know really, a bit of electro, a bit of grime, a bit of garage, a bit of pop and a bit of hip hop
www.myspace.com/goldielocksmusic

Futurecop! was found by manzur iqbal from Manchester about one year ago, when he started with absolutely no knowledge about music production and wanted to create a sound inspired by 80s teen flicks, especially the movies of john hughes and sci-fi cartoons like transformers or thundercats, not caring about being different or trying to be commercial, even though his music might as well be called pop music. later on peter carrol from london teamed up with him and together they are now recreating the atmosphere and vibe of the soundtracks to the best 80s movies that never existed. Crystal Castles, The Whip and Van She Tech have already shown Futurecop! some love and we'll show you why…
www.myspace.com/thefuturecop

BLONDE AMBITIONS DJ'S…
whoever let these 2 crazy blondes on the wheels of steel?!
playing only the biggest of sounds to get those juices flowing, toes a tapping & pulses well & truly raised!!!
This duo are a sure fire party-popper personified, with their excitable gyrations and funky fresh mixes they rocked the party last time we did a Birdwatching and we had to have them back. The duo consists of Deanne Oliver-Evans, who can be spotted at most musical events in the city wielding a funny long poky microphone and probing bands in more ways than one, for their particulars. She presents on Shoreditch Radio and records refreshing pod casts for Itunes which you can subscribe to from the link on our profile link. Gabby Sanderson swooped into London from Ibiza, early this year, having spent most of her adult life there promoting, presenting and pretty much permanently partying. She is a superstar TV presenter, currently fronting the 'Gaymers Grass Roots Gigs' show which is on channel 4 on Thursday nights.”

link

Edgar Prais, Runcorn

Tuesday 5th August @ The Doghouse, Runcorn
Edgar Prais
The Melodicas New Reed
Slut Puppy
Systems DMC

“Casting my net slightly further north, to the sunny climes of Aberdeen, I just got a demo through from three guys calling themselves Edgar Prais. If Modest Mouse were jamming with Teenage Fanclub in Rivers Cuomo’s basement, the results would bear some similarity to the punchy, crunchy pop these tykes make. I was so excited by the demo, I jumped on a flight to see them supporting our boys The Twang. They didn’t disappoint. Seriously, they’re one of the most energetic new bands in the UK.”
Paul Harris, A&R manager @ B-Unique Records, talking in NME

Slut Puppy :
runcorn based blues collective with funky yet dark melodies and vocals

The Melodicas New Reed
are a light airy blues band with deep lyrics and beutiful melody

Systems DMC in preparation for there huge Creamfields debut, Systems DMC are taking live hop hop to a whole new level.

Summer Rockwerk, Liverpool

What better way to enjoy a good old British summer than by escaping indoors out of the biting cold and steely rain. Welcome, welcome to the barfly for a 3 stage music festival. Summer Rockwerk is here. A mish mash of genres, music to interest and enrapture everyone and anyone, with three stages of music to burn your ears, soothe your soul and dance till you drop.

Its not rocket science – it’s a night out with music to bewitch and entertain, of fun and laughter, of thumping dancing. Camaraderie of summer times. Its Summer Rockwerk

Saturday 16th August @ Barfly, Liverpool

Stage 1
The Pioneers
Sound Of Guns
The Arkanes
Cedar Falls
The Time Flies

Stage 2
Forgotten Angels
Founded By Thought
Colossus In Ruin
Eighth Day Army
The Day Before Mortality
In City Light

Stage 3
The Crew
The Compulsives
The Renno’s
Bad Precedent
Crafty Freddie
The Trigger Hippies
Jo Bywater

Doors 6pm, £5adv

Tickets from here – link={4DF52282-6945-463E-BE88-0C96E138D7CE}&filler1=see&filler3=id1glasswerk

Mica Paris, London

Fri, 22nd August 2008

Proud Galleries

Mica Paris
+ Special guests and DJs

7.30pm – £10

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Mica Paris to Proud Galleries. A fantastic night will kick off at 7.30pm with Mica on-stage at 9pm, followed by an excellent mix of top dj's playing soul/funk/house classics til 2am

If you have not been to Proud Galleries yet, you are in for a treat. Nestled inside the Camden Market complex, the building is actually called The Horse Hospital. The 400 capacity main-room doubles up as a cutting-edge art gallery by day – right now there is a Sid Vicious photo exhibition on. Carrying on through the main room you come to the stables where the main bar is situated. There are a dozen “stables” in here, converted into comfortable reclining areas with cusioned seats and tables. Great for a drink and a chat. Carry on still further and you come to the garden terrace where you can have a drink and a smoke, complete with deckchairs! Proud is an unmissable experience.

And so, we come on to Mica Paris, an artist of great versatility and talent, who has built up a massive global fanbase over her distinguished career.

As a teenager, despite possessing a voice rich in maturity and evocation, Michelle was keen to narrate her romantic and personal concerns. She started on this path by joining dance act Hollywood Beyond and appearing on their album, If (1985). After a brief period recording and touring with the band, Paris signed a solo record deal with 4th & Broadway when she was 17 years old.

“My One Temptation”, the lead single from her debut album So Good (1988) was the mid-tempo hors-d’oeuvre of material to come. The album highlighted Paris’s vocal and personal perspectives – from the sexy (Breathe Life Into Me), the artistically contemplative (Nothing Hits Your Heart Like Soul Music) to the slyly buoyant (Like Dreamers Do). Paris’s duet with acclaimed singer Will Downing was a collaboration that illustrated her professional far-sightedness and vocal competence (they covered Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack’s Where Is The Love?). In just one album Paris was debutant, duet partner and co-writer.

Just a year later, the album’s successor, Contribution (1990) was released. It featured the track If I Love U 2 Nite, written for Paris by Prince, who during a London after-party performance handed her his microphone in the crowd while he accompanied her on guitar, on stage. Producers were always keen to work with Paris, and she found no shortage of collaborators. The benefits were obvious: their joint success raised their individual profiles and could lead to further commissions within the music industry at large.

With Omar Lye Fook, a classically trained musician with an unparalleled street soul reputation, Paris created arguably the greatest British street soul track in I Should Have Known Better (1990). It was issued on the b-side to I Never Felt Like This Before, which was promptly embraced as a club classic. Ray Hayden, an east London-based producer and singer-songwriter, also teamed up with Paris to make the most of her gospel background and romanticism. They recorded three tracks: the ballad Waiting For The Morning, the haunting gospel Bless The Day and the duet One on One (1992).

Despite sealing her status as one of the leading Black-British soul singers by collaborating with the rising production talents of the day, even more collaborations and featured projects followed. From recording with Anita Baker, Bonnie Rait and Natalie Cole on the album “Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute For A Free South Africa” (1990) to providing the title track to Isaac Julien’s Young Soul Rebels movie soundtrack (1991) to working with saxophonist Courtney Pine (Redemption Song/1992), British dance act The Stereo MCs (Don’t Let Up/1992) and the legendary Bobby Womack (I Wish I’d Never Met You/1991). In the midst of all these projects, Paris gave birth to her daughter, Monet, and later released and co-produced her third album, Whisper A Prayer (1993). After nominal collaborations on album tracks with the likes of US rapper Guru on his rap meets jazz concept album series, Jazzmatazz II, (Looking Through Darkness/1995), Mark Morrison (Tears For You/1996) and Maxwell (Mantra – Uncut/1996), Paris released the album Black Angel (1998/Chrysalis). It contained an unexpected and powerfully delivered cover version of U2’s One, and a duet with James Ingram, but it failed to find favour with fans. More collaborations followed with Seraphim Suite (Heart/2003), Omar (Confection/1994), percussionist and actor Max Beesley (High Vibes, Fast Response/1994), Dubversive (Police & Thieves/1998), the Mobo ‘All Stars’ compilation (1998), Mister Exe (One Million Smiles/1998), Prince (Just My Imagination/2000), Boy George (I Could Be Someone/2000) and Jools Holland and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour (I Put A Spell On You/2001). A Best Of… collection was released in 1999 around the time that Mica became one of the first British soul singers to feature on a Walt Disney soundtrack, High Heels & Lowlifes which was later included in the Primal Screen soundtrack compilation album (2001).

In 2005, Mica Paris released the album If You Could Love Me (Wounded Bird Records), which featured backing from the Brecker Brothers on the title track. Also in 2005, Mica released an album, Soul Classics, a collection of the most celebrated and loved soul tracks chosen by listeners of her BBC Radio 2 programme 'Soul Solutions'.

Tickets are £10 available here: link={37790358-16DB-48D8-955E-341A26823896}&filler1=see&filler3=id1glasswerk

Sparkadia, London

Wed, 2nd July 2008 @ Catch, London

Sparkadia
Citizens
Butterfly Bangs
Junior Victors
Tall Stories

7.30pm – £5

Filthy Beggars Clubnight returns to Catch in Shoreditch on Wednesday 2nd July with a fine line-up of bands and djs. It's the coolest place to be, providing the air-con is working, so make sure you head to East London for free drinks, dancing girls and great music. Only one of those is actually true.

Wednesday July 2nd
Catch, 22 Kingsland Rd, Shoreditch E2 8DA
doors 7.30pm, tickets £5.00 adv.

In no particular order we have…

SPARKADIA – over from Sydney OZ and playing O2 Wireless the following day, they are a melodically potent, optimistic pop group, and in this day and age, that’s a brave thing to be. ”We didn’t care about what was going on around us”, Alex explains. “We did things to please ourselves artistically and emotionally. If a song doesn’t make you feel, what’s the point?”
www.myspace.com/sparkadia
Sparkadia will be filthy beggars at 9.15pm

BUTTEFLY BANGS – one of the most exciting tips of 2008… Vivid melodies and two-fisted performances… intense, shape-shifting, timeless and offhandedly confident…a thing of wonder”. Dorset Echo
“The best band I've seen in years” Daily Star
“Beguilingly beautiful melodies…performed with proficiency and swagger…instantly recognisable classics…a precocious song-writing ability”.
'The Insight' Brighton
www.myspace.com/butterflybangsuk
Butterfly Bangs will be filthy beggars at 9.45pm

THE JUNIOR VICTORS – “Imagine Gary Wilmot wrestling a bear on the top of a Lidl for a rare Faberge Egg that looks strikingly like Jagger”
– This is how the band like to describe their music.
Although a more accurate description would be an
IndiePunkRockRollPowerPop extravaganza. The Junior Victors are truely a joy to behold for anyone who comes across their music God save The Junior Victors!
www.myspace.com/thejuniorvictors
The Junior Victors will be filthy beggars at 9.45pm

CITIZENS – Citizens was created in our fair capital less than 6 months ago, fed by a collective appetite for grimy basslines, frenetic beats and angled guitar lines. Brimming with twitchy aggression and trippy soundscapes in equal measure, the band owe much of their sound to their affection for Death From Above 1979, Radiohead, Soulwax & The Strokes to name a few.
www.myspace.com/citizenstheband
Citizens will be filthy beggars at 10.30pm

TALL STORIES – are the song-centric bastard brainchild of North London residents Rob McCabe, Liam Ward and Saul Eisenberg. Since forming early 2007 they have performed variously in several London venues including Hackney squats and Chinese restaurants, mostly to bemused audiences though nowdays they seem to be enjoying themselves better. Their sound could best be described as Lonnie Donnegan skipping bail at The Kinks’ house.
www.myspace.com/tallstorieslondon
Tall Stories will be filthy beggars promptly at 8pm

See you there!

The Pioneers, Liverpool

Saturday 28th June @ Carling Academy, Liverpool
The Pioneers
Aspen Grove
The Kid From Argentina
Branco Heist
Doors 7pm

pi•o•neer –noun: one who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress

The Pioneers are not the first band from the Wirral with ambitions to musicalise the masses, but this young moody band of cooler than thou ragamuffins are striving for melodic perfection. Capturing teenage angst while it still can be called angst and expressing simple longing and desire – washed in with a bit of hormones.

Don’t let the age fool you though. Hidden amongst the developing skills and song writing is a belying maturity, waiting to blossom.

They are supported by Aspen Grove, another young band who are hard at work on breaking free of the shackles of Liverpool – appearing in Bremen, Germany for Breminale Festival. They are all signing melody and tune indie rock, with enough chipper to brighten most days.

Opening are The Kind From Argentina for a more wall of sound rock variety and Branco Heist modern indie sleaze who spend half their time in London and half in Liverpool

This amazing lineup is once again brought ot you by Glasswerk 😉

Electric Eel Shock, Liverpool

Wednesday 23rd July @ Magnet, Liverpool
Electric Eel Shock
The Sporting Life
Inferno
Doors 8pm

Beat Me! Shouts the naked drummer from some sweaty stage, somewhere around the world. Japanese ninja metal – brought up on diets of Metallica, Iron Maiden et al – its not a twist but a full on wrench of hair metal.

Kerrang: “There are places on the sun that are less hot than 'Rock & Roll Can Rescue The World', its one of the catchiest songs you will ever hear…”

NME: “The NME have always dreamed of a band like Japan's Electric Eel Shock. A band willing and able to rid the world of sexually retarded indie schmindie dullards while spunking in the accepted notions of cool!”

If you are a serious scenester then don’t bother turning up. If you want to jump around like a mess with a cheesy grin on your face, then by all means please make your way to the front. See you there!

Dickensian Disco

It’s a Glasto special for Dickensian Disco. Not because we are shipping in tons of mud, not because we are all going to turn into hippys and sit round camp fires singing songs about trees and vegetarianism. No, it’s a Glasto special just because I said so.

Merchandise are a little bit twee, a little bit pop, a little btit electric. Its sugary indie for the masses – the masses of Glastonbury. Hmmm.

Sideways Down

Fugitive

W3

Bad Precedent

Lee Cluskey

Wildflowers

Plus the usual Full Leather Jacket DJ’s bringing indie, dance, pop and tom-foolerley. Playing new and established tunes. Breaking the Manchester mould of club anthems.

Mark Morriss, Tour

Mark Morriss of the Bluetones solo skills drive on. 8/10 in the NME, plaudits from us here at Glasswerk, charming the insatiable Jonathon Ross on Radio 2. August sees the release of the second single off his debut solo album ‘Memory Muscle’. Playing a short South East tour (as the South East has been neglected so far on his solo touring) pus a quick jaunt up the country to play at the magical Wizard Fest in Scotland.

Catch him live on the following dates:

(Mark Morriss & The Mummys)
7th August – The Boileroom, Guildford
(w/Kieran Leonard / The Boy. The Girl. And All The World + guests)

11th August – Hoxtons Bar And Grill, London
(w/Kieran Leonard / The Junior Victors / Richard Walters)

12th August – The Horns, Watford
(w/Kieran Leonard / Langley Road / Team Husband)

(Mark Morriss solo)
21st August – The Doghouse, Runcorn
22nd August – The Royal, Coatbridge
23rd August – Wizard Festival, Aberdeenshire

Northern Lights

Friday 20th June @ Carling Academy, Liverpool
Doors 7pm, £5adv

Pop Art Poem returns to Carling Academy with its eclectic indie mix up of merseybeat, wall of sound, summer tunes and indie indolence.

Headlining are Liverpool stalwarts Northern Lights bringing attitude and melody to the party. Expect strutting and angry emotion.

Main support is Red Night Cities – twinning Smiths-esque undulation with cacophonic swells and lows.

The Sunshine Rule sound like they should. Summer pop tunes blithely meandering and creating beach scenes and lazy picnic in the park scapes. Tunes to dream to.

The Crew open the proceedings with a mushed up blues trip that strikes into indie with the devil’s own riff.

Saving Aimee, North West

Sunday 22nd June @ Jabez Clegg, Manchester
Monday 23rd June @ Barfly, Liverpool

The newest emo pop darlings to grace the stage – having supported Mcfly on an arean tour last year, been snapped up by all the top industry brass but still without a record deal. They must be holding out for the big one 😉

Emo electro pop tunes delivered with eagerness and elacrity – they belie their age with insightful tunes and electric stage performance.

Supports for Manchester are:
drink.dance.party / The Chase / Agent Ape

Support for Liverpool are:
The Sporting Life / Founded By Thought / The Chase / Vacancy In 305

Doors 7pm, £5adv both shows

The Tunics, UK Tour

With an ever-growing crowd of fans and media supporters, The Tunics will hit the road again on June 27th with their first UK tour in association with Glasswerk.

The three-piece, hailing from Croydon, recorded their debut album “Somewhere in Somebody’s Heart” in late 2007 with James Lewis (Cajun Dance Party, Wombats, Arctic Monkeys), and spent the year taking their local scene by storm, with local police called in to close down over-capacity shows, and the local council even trying to ban the band in their hometown.

In 2008, they decided to break out of Croydon, supporting bands like The Others, Death Can Dance, The Littlans, and Yeti in the last few months, and taking their show on the road to Universities and student club nights.

As a way of thanking their fans, The Tunics released a limited edition of their debut album in selected stores nationwide on June 2nd, but not before giving away all their music for free on their webpage for weeks before the release.

“Another brilliant track from The Tunics,
love this band”
‐ HFM

“a talented young band that are definitely
worth watching. If there’s any justice in the
world these guys will have a long and
successful career.”
‐ Sceneslut

The Tunics will Play:
June 27 Rose Bruford Uni., Sidcup
June 29 The Boileroom, Guildford
July 2 The Venue, Derby
July 3 Trash, Leeds
July 4 Classic Grand
July 5 The Arc, Edinburgh
July 6 Guilfest, Guildford
July 9 The Shed, Leicester
July 10 Bernacchia, Newcastle
July 11 Jabez Clegg, Manchester
July 12 Magnet, Liverpool

The Tunics Website link
The Tunics Myspace link
The Tunics Facebook link

Voodoo Six, London

Voodoo Six
Decora
Work
My Echo
Decco

8.00pm – £6 (£5 adv/flyer)

Work
Attention grabbing, hard hitting head banging band from the hip East End of London.

My Echo
This ever evolving diverse sounding band are gigging constantly in London and are worth seeing more than once. Mixing synth with grimy riffs, for a show thats unforgettable.

Voodoo Six
“Its hard rock with heavy tattoos, a cocky swagger and a bad attitude” -Kerrang!

Decora
Jo Whiley of Radio 1 has championed this band 'energetic,awesome, edgy and loud!' this band aren't worth missing.

Decco
This Anglo-American duo make sweet sweet music. Their music is carefully crafted and full of emotion.

The Purple Turtle is situated in the heart of London’s music scene, this venue brings together the best of London’s nocturnal talent, showcasing some of the most exciting new indie and rock acts. The venue is an intimate and interesting venue, the perfect venue for any type of music.

It is open from 7.30pm-1am Monday to Thursday, 7.30pm-3am Friday to Saturday and is strictly over 18’s, please bring ID if you are lucky enough to look under 21.

The venue is hard to miss, being right just over the road from the bright lights of Koko.

If travelling on the tube, Mornington Crescent and Camden Town stations on the Northern Line are both just a couple of minutes walk away.

The Hussy's, Tour

Tuesday 17th June @ Dry Bar, Manchester
w/ Citylights, The Ragamuffins, The Bionides

Wednesday 18th June @ Purple Turtle, London
w/ Brandon Steep, Artisans, Eventide

Quirky indie-popsters The Hussy’s are Glasgow’s hottest new export, headed by singer Fili and ex-Supernaturals frontman James McColl.

They play unashamed pop, but it's pop with more than half a brain; the songs are all brilliantly constructed with refreshingly off-kilter lyrics, producing a huge and polished sound, topped by Fili's powerful and witty vocal delivery.

The Hussy’s released debut EP, “Tiger” in late 2005, followed by “Napoleon EP”(2006) and “Necklace EP”(2007), all championed by BBC Radio 1 / 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, whilst also receiving extensive radio airplay from BBC Radio 2 and XFM

The release of the critically acclaimed mini-album “We Expected”, released exclusively in Japan has resulted in BBC sessions and a track being featured in an American TV advert, leading to international interest for this six-piece.

“Smart, wry and melodic” – Evening Times
“A poptastic slice of summery heaven” – Daily Record

Mark Morriss (Bluetones), Tour

Promoting his first solo album the mercurial Mark Morriss is out on tour with his backing band The Mummy's. Catch him at the following dates.

Wed 11 Glasgow, Barfly
Thu 12 – Dundee, Dexters Bar
Fri 13 – Edinburgh, Henrys Cellar Bar
Sat 14 – Leeds, Trash
Sun 15 – Derby, The Venue
Mon 16 – Shrewsbury, B Side @ The Albert
Wed 18 – Peterborough, Met Lounge
Thu 19 – Mansfield, The Mill
Fri 20 – London, The Round Chapple
Sat 21 – Manchester, Dry Bar
Sun 22 – Exeter, The Cavern
Mon 23 – Doncaster, The Leopard

Best known as the frontman in The Bluetones, Mark Morriss releases his debut solo album Memory Muscle on June 2, 2008. Getting his hands dirty with his own set of songs has been an inspiring experience for Morriss who started trying them out acoustically at open-mic nights in London way back in 2004: 'I'd just turn up with my guitar, play five or six songs, along with everyone else. I didn't want any special favours, and just enjoyed the experience of stripping things right back down.'
Last year he started recording the material with producer Gordon Mills, enlisting Grammy award winning composer David Arnold along the way. ''We first met on the set of Little Britain, ironically. We were both making a cameo in the same scene, and it was here that I learnt that he really liked the Bluetones' music. In fact it was when he was composing the soundtrack to Independence Day that he first heard Expecting To Fly. I was naturally, incredibly flattered, and never dreamed that I'd ever have the chance to work with him.”
Arnold arranged the strings for 'How Maggie Got Her Bounce Back', 'I'm Sick' and 'Lay Low' – and he plays piano on 'Unwanted Friend'. The album also features two covers: a light, mellotron-enhanced twist on Teenage Fanclub's raucous 'Alcoholiday' and the album's closer is a take on Lee Hazelwood's 'My Autumns Done Come'. 'If I view myself as anything it's as an underdog', says Morriss, 'and I relate to the fact that Lee Hazelwood is a songwriter who has been really underrated – most people don't know him beyond 'These Boots Are Made For Walking.'
Another major inspiration on the album's pithy, world-weary observations about life, ageing and betrayal is the writer Kurt Vonnegut, especially the track 'So It Goes.' 'That's a phrase he used a lot in his books, especially Slaughterhouse Five,' explains Morriss. 'He's something of a misanthrope, I guess but with a pitch black wit and despite everything, a real humanist at heart.'
The lightness in Memory Muscle is often in the music itself – dark lyrics with warm, sunny arrangements: 'I wanted to make a Californian kind of album,' he reveals. 'I wanted to re-create the sounds of my favourite records when I was a callow youth. It wasn't stuff from my own generation really, it was music from the West Coast of America in the late 1960s and early '70s – things like Forever Changes, Rumours and Harvest.'
On the first single, 'I'm Sick', there's even a Latin feel, as a sweet counterpoint to the song's 'sense of disappointment. It's a collage of images, from childhood in the '70s to being drunk and confused in casualty. 'Bienvenido' is also about those dark nights of the soul.' he adds. 'That misplaced sense of wisdom at three in the morning when you're in a noisy nightclub and you've got your 'new' best friends around you and you're making a mess of yourself again.'
Memory Muscle is also balanced with humour. Now in his mid-30s, Morriss clearly revels in the lines from Hazelwood's 'My Autumn's Done Come' – 'Let those 'I don't care days begin'/I'm tired of holding my stomach in.' 'I think a lot of comedians want to be rock 'n' rollers and a lot of songwriters want to do stand up,' says the singer who himself has appeared in episodes of Little Britain and Spaced. “…and performing these songs as a solo artist over the last few years, I've more often than not found myself feeling stuck somewhere between those two worlds.”
Since those early acoustic days however, Mark has now formed his own backing band The Mummys and with the release of Memory Muscle will be hitting the road to share these newly embellished songs with whoever enjoys a persuasive melody and a nifty way with a word.

Out From Animals, Tour

T-Mobile Unsigned finalists Out From Animals are out on the road promoting their debut single 'National Curriculm'

See them at the following dates:

5 Jun – The Hive, Edinburgh
6 Jun – The Canteen, Barrow In Furness
9 Jun – The Croft, Bristol
10 Jun – Freebutt, Brighton
11 Jun – 100club, London
12 Jun – The Venue, Derby
13 Jun – Dry Bar, Manchester
14 Jun – Trash, Leeds
17 Jun – Joiners, Southampton
19 Jun – The Leopard, Doncaster
20 Jun – Retox, Sunderland
23 Jun – Bar Academy, Birmingham

Out From Animals are not a normal band. They’re a highly evolved beast that has passed through a long and winding evolutionary chain, from primeval ska through metal and indie into electronica and mutated into a genre-munching ubermensch. They’re a category-defying proposition existing a million years ahead of most bands. They’re the sound of 2008, when 2008 finally catches up with them.

“We got bored of being just an indie band” vocalist, guitarist and programmer Andy says of their multiple transformations, “so one day we put a couple of horns in, then we put some electronic sounds in. The ska punk kids didn’t like it. We were getting older and they were staying the same age. So we fucked off our old band and left it a good year, then completely wrote what we wanted to do and took it out again.”

Being the genre magpies they are, they decided to look to the world of extreme metal for their drummer, and found Sean. “It’s weird having this death metal, blast beat drummer in our band,” bassist Paul declares, “hearing double bass drumming without someone screaming over the top. But it works.”

Out From Animals are a joint product of their fearless experimentation and their natural habitat – that cultural vacuum known as Chester. They developed amongst the city's frenetic free party/illegal rave scene, which ranged from huge out-of-town all-nighters to their own DIY parties. “There’s nowhere to go, so we make places to go where you don’t have to deal with the Chester drinking culture.” Andy explains, “everyone’s up for all-nighters rather than getting pissed and having a fight. All our friends write dance music, from psytrance to techno, and we take a lot from them.”

They’re a genre-twisting rock-rave monolith influenced as much by RX Bandits as they are by Chemical Brothers, Soulwax or The Faint, and have bagged themselves several celeb fans already. During their tenure on T4’s Mobile Act Unsigned they wooed Calvin Harris and were told by Jo Whiley they were the most relevant thing she’d heard all day. Blur’s Alex James meanwhile thought new single ‘National Curriculum’ was “the best thing he’d heard all year”.

Oh yes, ‘National Curriculum’. The math-rocking post-hardcore electro new single that lassoes everyone from Foals to Men, Women and Children and hits the shops on June 16th. It’s a dense mass of sine waves and pounding drums, a multi-layered monster that began life – like most of their tracks – during laborious sessions in front of the computer, but is destined for the dancefloor.

Andy says of their unique songwriting process: “we like to keep our music digestible, but at the same time keep it interesting”. Interest is piqued by everything from samples of 1949 public domain films about how your ears work to loops of Paul playing the violin, and programs stolen straight off their DJ friends’ hard drives.

Driven home over all this are Andy’s lyrical concerns, about everything from his own materialism (‘Greed’) to the current education system, as on ‘National Curriculum’. “All we’re taught at school is how to pass a test at the end of the year” he says, “what exams say to you is that if you pass that test you don’t have to learn anything again. The song is saying that learning isn’t finite. Everything you do in your life is about learning and figuring things out.”

Thanks to many years of trial and error – and unerring musical obsession – Out From Animals hit 2008 a fully-formed being that’s perfected every aspect of being in a band, right down to the website and t-shirts, designed of course by themselves. They don’t have any grand goals, except for finding “somewhere to rehearse where the neighbours aren’t keeping a noise complaint list”. “We write music to entertain the people we know” Andy says, “but if it can reach beyond our little group in Chester, then great”. Chester is only the beginning.

The Chase, Manchester

**PLEASE NOTE DEAF HAVANA HAVE PULLED OUT OF THIS GIG. THEY ARE ABELY REPLACED BY THE CHASE**

12th June @ Jabez Clegg, Manchester
Deaf Havana
Ward Corner
Pinups & Pullouts

Deaf Havana are another one of those bands that are rolling off the conveyor belt of UK post-hardcore, screamo, time-change riff and wonderfulness. Chasing the likes of Enter Shikari, We Are The Ocean et al, Deaf Havana are bringing the rage to a stage near you. Manchester in particular on the 12th June @ Jabez Clegg.

Supported by Ward Corner and Pinups And Pullouts – it’s a scene gig you should be at.

“East Anglian's Deaf Havana are no fucking farmers. Gigging extensively across the UK and Europe with the likes of Deftones, Flood of Red, Across Five Aprils, Dividing The Line, We Are The Ocean and You Me At Six has given the 5 lad's screamo, post-hardcore and southern rock music a unique sound, much like slapping Daryl Palumbo (Glassjaw, Head Automatica) on stage with Everytime I Die and Comeback Kid. The result crushes the balls of the underground scene gone stale and leases crowds with a new sense of fresh talent, intoxication, and deviancy.”

Ward Corner were born in November 2005. Blending every musical style under the sea (except opera), a startling array of facial hair and a rusty A – Team 'Van' – Ainsley Harriot has never seen a better screamo band. Professional critics has described us as everything between 'The Crazy Frog having its bollocks ripped off', 'A heavy gay pride disco' and 'shit'. We're gonna come round your house, not wipe our shoes, use your toilet and not put the seat down and conquer your musical minds… and they all lived happily ever after.

Hide and Seek Festival

The Hide and Seek Festival is committed to narrowing the gap between new, developing and upcoming independent bands and their representatives, and professionals from the music industry, by providing a platform which will promote the sharing of skills, knowledge and expertise.

The line-up for the 30th and 31st May for Manchester's Dry Bar is below, along with a little something about the headliners.

Headling stage one on Friday 30th May are, Silhouette Behind The Gun. Influenced by early punk rock, mixed with original manc indie and rock, Silhouette Behind the Gun are bringing back the good old days, when Green Day were good, and Oasis were just some lads from Burnage. This is Punk Rock with a twist, hard hitting and nothing like what you'd expect.

Over on stage two will be The Reveres, a five piece Manchester indie rock band. Stating a wide range of influences the band also effortlessly brings together strong melodies and poetic lyrics to create a unique sound.

Saturday 31st May sees Syd Bozko headling stage one. A band to watch out for, after only playing a hand full of gigs the band entered and went on to win the YGG Irish National festival. Recently the band also got their first airplay on XFM Manchester with Clint Boon. After being holed up in the studio during April Syd Bozko are now back with “some more Manchester music for the world to hear…”

Kong, a three piece punk band from Manchester who’ve managed to grace the pages of the NME. Whilst also having BBC radio one’s Dan Carter feature them on his rock show will be headlining stage two on the 31st May.

The full line-up is as follows…

Friday 30th May – Stage One
7:30- Tin Pot Dictators
8:40- Uranium Lake
9:50- Brandon Steep
11:00- Little Volcanoes
12:10- Silhouette behind The Gun

Friday 30th May – Stage Two

8:05- Hans Island
9:15- Jacs Creation
10:25- The Antix
11:35- The Reveres

Friday 30th May – Stage Three
7.45pm – The Ice Band
8.30pm – Vanir
9.15pm – Napoleon III
10pm – Seaside Riot
10.45pm – Friends Of The Bride
11.30pm – Seven Miles Out

Saturday 31st May – Stage One

7:30- Contact Mo
8:40- Russian Dolls
9:50- Onions
11:00- Tea For One
12:10- Syd Bozko

Saturday 31st May – Stage Two

8:05- League Liege
9:15- The shameless
10:25- Hideaways
11:35- Kong

Saturday 31st May – Stage Three
7.45pm – The Furs
8.30pm – Stop The Blackout
9.15pm – Rivers
10pm – The Uncomfortables
10.45pm – The Hazy Janes
11.30pm – Shadow Call

To find out a little more about the aims of the Hide and seek Festival read on…

The music industry covers many business types and models, and it is difficult, if somewhat confusing, for unsigned bands to find the direction which is right for them in order to fulfil their goals/aspirations. It must also be understood that many bands, when starting out, manage themselves and self release their music, or they have friends/family members managing them who have to try and find their feet in a very competitive and what, at times, feels like a closed-shop market.

The music industry is filled with many myths – for example about how bands should progress; what they should be doing to attract the attention of professionals who may assist in furthering their career; how they should best package their image and music – the list is endless and it is no surprise that many bands eventually give up.

The purpose of the seminar programme at the Hide and Seek Festival is to demystify the music industry, and to put a face to the industry i.e. the businesses and their models. It is set out to enable unsigned bands and those seeking advice and tips for development access to industry professionals.

By bringing together professionals from all backgrounds, including record labels, music lawyers, digital distribution companies, publishing and management companies, media, industry bodies etc, the Hide and Seek Festival are making essential advice and industry information readily available to those whom need it the most, thereby nurturing grassroots talent and aiding in the building of sustainable careers.

The aim of these seminars is to REVEAL THE FACE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. No longer should this information remain hidden behind a smoke screen of jargon: the Hide and Seek organisers are seeking it out so that others may benefit from it, therefore making an effective contribution to the development of emerging talent.

A career in the music industry is filled with extreme highs and lows, and one which can take many years to nurture without any financial gain. These seminars will show unsigned independent bands and their representatives how to get their foot in the door of the industry whilst making effective use of all the resources currently available to them.