Monday 23 December 2013

TOUR NEWS: Story Books (March 2014)

Source: Story Books' mail-out
The magnificent Story Books, who I saw earlier this year supporting King Charles are going on their first headline tour in March. If any of the shows are close to you I very much recommend getting along to one, they're really cheap and this band are excellent live. If that isn't enough for you they'll be playing new material as the tour coincides with the release of their new EP From Post To Post, and the band have uploaded a track from the EP onto their Soundcloud which you can listen to here (it's great, and if you want to listen to more I recommend All Those Arrows from their EP Too Much A Hunter which is one of my favourite musical purchases of the year.)

EP and tour info here.

Friday 25 October 2013

WATCH: Jack Savoretti 'Written In Scars' for Mahogany


Here is a brilliant new Jack Savoretti track Written In Scars performed acoustically for The Mahogany Sessions.

WATCH: Arctic Monkeys - 'One For The Road'


tractors, girls, fireworks - just a normal music video, right?

Check out the video for the latest Arctic Monkeys single One For The Road taken off of their fifth consecutive number 1 album, AM. The track is one of my favourites from the album alongside Snap Out Of It and the wonderful R U Mine?. The band are currently on a UK tour and a few of my friends have gone to London to see them tonight.. not jealous, nope, not at all.

Sunday 6 October 2013

LISTEN: Sam Beeton - 'The Yearling's Song'



Listen to Sam Beeton's latest track The Yearling's Song - played on BBC's The Beat recently. The track is the latest release of Sam's unique Record Club, a subscription service through which fans get Sam's latest songs (on a physical CD) as and when they are written, recorded and produced. You can find out more about the Record Club here.

Thursday 3 October 2013

LISTEN: Franz Ferdinand - 'Right Action'


Loving this, Franz Ferdinand performing Right Action on Later... with Jools Holland. I wasn't aware of their new record (Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action) until I saw it in HMV and I wasn't sure whether to buy it, and worried that I might be disappointed because I really loved their older stuff when I was growing up. Fear not, however, the new record (which I've since bought on vinyl) is fantastic, one of my favourite new albums of this year in fact.

The tracks are catchy and showcase quite a range, a few start pretty slowly but the album retains the band's fun sound which you can't help but want to dance to. Alone, a lot of the tracks stand out as having single material. What's more, it's clearly a Franz Ferdinand record, you can hear clear elements of their older records in this one, which is great as it was the only worry I had about the album! The above video is one of the best tracks of the album, alongside my personal favourites Stand On The Horizon, Evil Eye and Bullet.

Monday 23 September 2013

LISTEN: The Hoosiers - 'Somewhere In The Distance'



The Hoosiers (who you'll probably remember them from tracks including Goodbye Mr A, Worried About Ray and Cops & Robbers) have released a new track, Somewhere In The Distance. They've just announced details of their third studio album, The News From Nowhere, which you can pre-order now!

The record is almost finished, and is set to be released on the 3rd March 2014. It'll be released then for download and on CD, but you can currently pre-order (and you'll receive the album earlier than everyone else) through The Hoosiers own website. To fund things such as promoting the record, the band are running their own Kickstarter/PledgeMusic type project. You can pre-order an array of different bundles, with different things such as a t shirt, mug, vinyl, or your very own The Hoosiers gig. Part of the money you spend will be helping the record so it's win win really!

There is a lot more information on the contents of the different bundles and their prices on the band's website here, but for now, take a listen to the new track and share it with others if you like it.

Tuesday 10 September 2013

WATCH: Big Fin - 'More Than Love'


This guy, Big Fin, is honestly one of the best musicians I've started listening to this year. He's currently Dry The River's guitar tech and supported them when I saw them at an intimate show in June, and his set was probably one of the best sets I've listened to. No gimmicks, just him and his guitar. The songs have a great sound both recorded and live - especially if you're into artists such as Dry The River - and the set was just so lovely because everybody was really quiet and respectful, no talking, which is quite rare at gigs, and especially during support slots.

Overall a really great set and I've since bought his Tether EP (which you can listen to/buy here) and absolutely love it. (Well, I can think of worse ways of spending £4 - absolute bargain!)

Thursday 22 August 2013

WATCH: Story Books - 'Peregrine'


Story Books performing Peregrine for Les Accords Dehors at this years Leefest, a really stripped back and stunning performance. This band are so great live... and if you don't believe me then you're in for a treat as they've just been announced as support for Fossil Collective's October tour!

Monday 19 August 2013

WATCH: The Vaccines - 'Melody Calling'


I've been meaning to listen to this track since it has been online and eventually did last night as it was played on XFM. Lovely track and a funny video that sees Arni get relationship advice from the rest of the band...

Saturday 17 August 2013

WATCH: King Charles - 'St. Peter's Gate'


Here's the wonderful King Charles performing his track St. Peter's Gate for Off Guard Gigs at Latitude 2013.

TOUR NEWS: Spector (Oct/Nov 2013)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/spector
Ticket's for Spector's upcoming tour 'Spectour V' went on sale yesterday. It's cheap and they're visiting a lot of places in the UK so if you can try to get along to a show! You might recognise their songs Celestine and Chevy Thunder.

Friday 16 August 2013

WATCH: The Kooks cover Foster The People's 'Pumped Up Kicks'


An oldie (not that old..) but a goodie. The Kooks' cover of Foster The People's Pumped Up Kicks for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.

Tuesday 13 August 2013

WATCH: Panic! At The Disco - 'This Is Gospel'


Watch the video for Panic! At The Disco's new track This Is Gospel, taken from their upcoming studio album Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! which is set to be released later this year. The album also features the recent single Miss Jackson.

Sunday 4 August 2013

WATCH: Mumford & Sons - 'Hopeless Wanderer'


Check out the new Mumford & Sons video for their track Hopeless Wanderer (which is in fact a favourite of mine from their second record Babel.) It's quite hilarious and features some American actors that you might recognise...

Thursday 1 August 2013

WATCH: Vampire Weekend perform 'Unbelievers' at the Lewes Stopover


Vampire Weekend performing Unbelievers at the Lewes Stopover! Getting more and more excited to see these live in November...

Wednesday 31 July 2013

WATCH: To Kill A King 'Cannibals With Cutlery' for Leefest


Ralph of To Kill A King performing the track Cannibals With Cutlery acoustically at this year's Leefest. The track is taken from their debut album of the same name which was released earlier this year.

WATCH: The Vaccines perform 'If You Wanna' at the Lewes Stopover


Check out this video of The Vaccines performing If You Wanna at the Lewes Stopover.

Saturday 27 July 2013

WATCH: Biffy Clyro - 'Victory Over The Sun'


Check out the new video for Biffy Clyro's Victory Over The Sun, a track which comes from the Scottish alternative rock trio's album Opposites, which topped the UK charts when it was released earlier this year.

Wednesday 24 July 2013

LISTEN: The Sea & I - 'Improve'



Have a listen to The Sea & I's beautiful track Improve, taken from their debut EP.

WATCH: We Were Evergreen - 'Leeway'


Love this video of We Were Evergreen performing their track Leeway live at NOVA.

WATCH: Vampire Weekend - 'Cousins'


In the past few weeks I've completely fallen for Vampire Weekend. Can not wait to see them (with Noah & The Whale!!) in November!

Monday 22 July 2013

WATCH: King Charles - 'Coco Chitty'


Superb King Charles performing Coco Chitty at Tramlines Festival 2013.

GIG NEWS: Sam Beeton at Glee Club Nottingham (November 2013)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/sambeeton
Sam Beeton headlines the Glee Club Nottingham on 2nd November. You can get tickets here.

Here's a video from Sam's last headline slot at the Glee Club: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCR-EskNaro

WATCH: Dry The River - 'Gethsemane'


Clip I got of a new Dry The River song called Gethsemane from their gig at the Portland Arms in Cambridge. This and the rest of the set was wonderful, especially after wanting to see them live for quite a while!

Monday 15 July 2013

WATCH: Panic! At The Disco - 'Miss Jackson'


Panic! At The Disco have today released a new track called Miss Jackson, along with the news of a tour, and that their new album Too Weird To Live is to be released on October 8th worldwide! A good day on all accounts.

Sunday 14 July 2013

WATCH: Mumford & Sons - 'Babel'


The new (ish) video for Mumford & Sons' track Babel, the title track from their new album.

Friday 5 July 2013

TOUR NEWS: Vampire Weekend (November 2013)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/VampireWeekend

Vampire Weekend have just released details of a 5 date UK tour in November, with support from the superb Noah & The Whale!

Tuesday 2 July 2013

WATCH: The Sea & I 'Improve' for Sofar Sounds


The Sea & I performing their track Improve at a Sofar Sounds show in London.  What I particularly love about this (apart from that Irwin Sparkes of The Hoosiers is a member of the band), is their really beautiful harmonies that come together with an array of instruments to create a very unique sound that is extremely pleasing to the ear!

Sunday 30 June 2013

WATCH: Noah & The Whale - 'Lifetime'


New video for the Noah & The Whale track Lifetime, taken from their record Heart Of Nowhere.

TOUR NEWS: Arctic Monkeys (Oct/Nov 2013)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/ArcticMonkeys
Arctic Monkeys recently announced that their 5th album AM is to be released on September 9th. To coincide with this, they're completing a UK arena tour starting at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on 22nd October and visiting Manchester, Birmingham, and London among other cities. Support will come from The Strypes, and tickets go on sale at 9am on 5th July.

Thursday 23 May 2013

WATCH: Sam Beeton 'Good Natured Child' for The Old Vinyl Factory


Sam Beeton performing Good Natured Child for the Old Vinyl Factory Sessions (wonderful set of sessions.. check out more on their Youtube.)

Saturday 30 March 2013

WATCH: Kodaline - 'High Hopes'


Really enjoying this track High Hopes from Kodaline at the moment! Hailing from Dublin, this alternative rock quartet are releasing their album In a Perfect World on 10th June 2013, and have already received much critical acclaim, with their track All I Want having been Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton's 'Record Of The Week', and after recently completing a Radio 1 Live Lounge session. Not to mention that they have over 4 million views on their Youtube.

The video for High Hopes stars Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, and tells quite a heart-wrenching story, and the track itself is wonderful - I seriously can not stop listening. Lead singer Steve describes their sound as "emotional indie" and this is certainly the case for this track..

With their unique sound and beautiful harmonies, I really hope they achieve the success that they deserve with the album In A Perfect World which you can pre-order on iTunes here.