Wednesday, 31 July 2019

TOUR NEWS: Low Island (Autumn 2019)

Some excellent news for your Wednesday... Low Island are heading out on their biggest tour yet this Autumn. The Shut Out The Sun tour sees the band starting off in Leeds on 31st October (spooky!) and finishing up with a hometown headline show at The Bullingdon on 6th December. With seven more shows lined up, they're headlining Electrowerkz in London as a Low Island And Friends show on 6th November - tickets for that one are already on sale and not to be missed! Here's recent (ish) single In Person to whet your appetites...


Pre-sale tickets for the Shut Out The Sun tour went on sale to the band's mailing list this morning and will be on general sale on Friday here - check out the full dates below!

31st Oct: Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
1st Nov: District, Liverpool
2nd: Yes, Manchester
6th: Electrowerkz, London
12th: Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
13th: Rough Trade, Bristol
14th: Think Tank, Newcastle
21st: The Haunt, Brighton
6th Dec: The Bullingdon, Oxford

Follow Low Island - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Tuesday, 30 July 2019

LISTEN: Adam Barnes - 'Edison'

You'll likely long since have gathered that I'm partial to a bit of sad folk music. Adam Barnes is a purveyor of some particularly gorgeous but heartbreaking tunes, and as one of the first artists that I saw live when I started University in Oxford his music holds a special place for me. Having fallen in love with a session video of his a couple of years prior, seeing him play to a small pub crowd and chatting to him after back in 2014 was one of my first "wait, musicians are just like us!" moments.

I'm delighted to say that Adam is back, having just shared brand new track Edison, the first new music since he released his album Vacancy at NASA in early 2018. The track is the first of a few to be released this year - listen and enjoy, or cry, or both. I think that the brilliance of a sad folk song is probably measured by how much it makes you want to weep, right?


Now living in Berlin, Adam is heading back across to the UK for a London headline show later in the year. Grab tickets for the show at The Islington on 19th November here.

Follow Adam Barnes - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Monday, 29 July 2019

LISTEN: Friendly Fires - 'Run The Wild Flowers'

More new Friendly Fires. YES! They're one of my favourite bands in the world and I can't wait for their brand new album to drop in less than three weeks. With recent tune Silhouettes doing the rounds on the radio, they've just shared yet another single from the album - Run The Wild Flowers. This one is a little different and I'm getting a slightly Low Island vibe off of it (a very good thing.) We've heard around half of the new record now and it is shaping up to be as sublime as I'd hoped. It'll likely be in album of the year territory for me! Though it'll have to stave off Maggie Rogers' Heard It In A Past Life first.


While they're currently in the midst of a string of festival dates, the group have just announced a tour to celebrate the album release later in the year. I've got my ticket for the Roundhouse gig - get yours here! A Friendly Fires show, complete with the utterly contagious high spirits and dance moves of frontman Ed Macfarlane, is something you should all experience. 

Follow Friendly Fires - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Friday, 26 July 2019

LISTEN: Liz Lawrence - 'None Of My Friends'

Something ridiculously exciting happened recently - with new music on the way, Bombay Bicycle Club are back (ahhhhhhhh!) and they're playing a few shows soon. Somehow, I secured tickets to their Wilderness Festival warm-up gig on Thursday in London and I can't wait. Supporting them on the evening is their own ace Liz Lawrence. She's recently announced news of her album Pity Party, due for release on 25th October - I'm really enjoying this new track from the album, None Of My Friends, released today.


If you're not lucky enough to be catching Liz opening for Bombay, you're in luck as she's playing an album launch show at The Social on 13th August and tickets are free! Grab yours here.

Follow Liz Lawrence - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

WATCH: Honey Moon - 'Magic'

In our hugely oversaturated internet age music videos can often be a pretty dull affair... London's Honey Moon have hit the jackpot with the video for their latest single Magic. The new cut sees the band encounter themselves in puppet form in an amusing marionette show. Think Thunderbirds if the brothers had quit international rescue and formed a band. The video doesn't take itself too seriously and it's a fun watch!


Catch Honey Moon on 27th July at the Frantic Assembly River Stage Festival on the Southbank (details here!)

Follow Honey Moon - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Thursday, 25 July 2019

ALBUM NEWS: Pizzagirl - 'first timer'

I'm digging this new track and first taste of the debut album from Liverpool's Pizzagirl, due for release on indie hitmaker label Heist or Hit on October 11th. Pizzagirl is the flamboyant alter-ego of Liam Brown. While he is fairly introverted in daily life, the project acts as a channel through which he can be, say and do things he wouldn't usually. The result is a slightly madcap, hyperactive first single - "a tale of supermarket romance". 

Speaking about the new track, Liam informs that "I have returned with a glimpse of the first of ten children I have given birth to over a record breaking few months - scientists are angry and doctors cannot believe it! A heartbreak ballad for the shopping aisles, a smash hit for the deli counter, a track just for you at the self-checkout." 



Follow Pizzagirl - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Wednesday, 24 July 2019

LISTEN: MF Tomlinson - 'Sum Of Nothing'

Having impressed (me, and plenty of others) with debut single Nature Boy earlier in the year and already racking up a strong live following, MF Tomlinson is back with brand new single Sum Of Nothing. A comment on the climate crisis we're facing, the lyrics explore what the point is of us working towards a future that might not even happen, with the lyrics "ever since I was a youth impending doom has always been on the news... what is the result of all your labour, what's waiting for us at the end of the rainbow? What's the sum of nothing?" These slightly dark (but all too true, sadly) lyrics are set against a far more vibrant musical background of horns, strings and more. Listen below!



MF Tomlinson marks the release of the new single with his biggest headline show to date at Moth Club on July 31st - tickets here.

Follow MF Tomlinson - Facebook | Instagram.

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

LISTEN: Youth Sector - 'Renting Spaces In My World'

I get a lot (seriously... lots) of submissions from artists and their PR folks with tracks to write about on the blog. Unfortunately as this is a spare time pursuit there is never enough time to write about everything that I'm enjoying, but sometimes a track is too good not to share, and I was just reminded of this one from Brighton's Youth Sector while tidying my inbox.

Musically, the combination of 80s-style synths and the almost abrasive guitar and bass lines make for a ready-made indie anthem for the band who have already received support from BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music as well as support slots with Goat Girl and King Nun. Talking about the track, the band explain that it is "about someone struggling to get to grips with reality. The lyrics tell the story of someone who, in their own grandiose delusion believes they own the whole world and all other people are like paying customers, renting the opportunity to exist within it." You know somebody like that, right?



Follow Youth Sector - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Monday, 22 July 2019

LISTEN: Chloe Foy - 'Without You'

As she's a new name to me, let me introduce you to singer-songwriter Chloe Foy. Without You is hauntingly beautiful, with a string section half way through that really pulled me in, but it's Chloe's vocals themselves here that are most sublime here. With influences including Lucy Rose and Laura Marling, she has amassed over 10 million streams for her previous singles and was named one of BBC Introducing's 'Ones To Watch' for 2019. Things seem to be going pretty well!

Talking about the new single, Chloe explains that it is "a song about grief and the loss of someone close to depression. So it talks of the struggles of the person who passes away and then couples with that the exploration of grieving and how it changes from being the worst thing in the world one minute, to possibly seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in the end, and how grief changes with the seasons."


Follow Chloe Foy - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

GIG NEWS: Bear's Den at Eventim Apollo (20th Feb)

Did I mention that I really love Bear's Den yet? Once or twice, probably. After playing a cracking headline slot on the Communion stage at Citadel Festival recently the guys have announced their next London headline show for next February. Having played a gorgeous show there in 2017, they're heading back to London's Eventim Apollo on February 20th and tickets are on sale now!


Tickets for the February gig, as well as their UK tours in August and November are on sale here.

Follow Bear's Den - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Thursday, 18 July 2019

WATCH: Matthew And The Atlas - 'Calling Long Distance'

Take one of my favourite bands (Matthew And The Atlas), one of my favourite music venues (Omeara) and one of my favourite actors (Charlie Cox) and you get something pretty special. Calling Long Distance is taken from the recent Morning Dancer album by MATA, and it's a beautifully understated track, showing off vocalist Matt Hegarty's unique tone. Loved catching the band again this weekend at Citadel Festival on the Communion Presents stage!


With a run of US and European shows coming up, the band return to the London stage with a headline show at EartH in Hackney on 20th November - full dates here.

Follow Matthew And The Atlas - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Wednesday, 17 July 2019

ALBUM NEWS: Geowulf - 'My Resignation'

A few weeks ago I saw the first headline show from contemporary classical duo Pêtr Aleksänder and it was a lovely surprise for them to bring out special guests Geowulf (and later Rae Morris!) to sing a reworked version of their track Saltwater from last year's album Great Big Blue. I'm really chuffed to share the news that they've released a date for their second album - My Resignation is due out on 25th October and their latest single He's 31 will feature on it.

Singer Star Kendrick explains that "trying to balance expectations and disappointment seems to have been a bit of a theme the last few years for me. I guess thing song is a love song about disappointment. When writing it I felt very raw & upset which I think comes through in the lyrics. Music has always been that space for me; where you can take all your disappointments/expectations and then try to make something of them. Feel pretty lucky to have that." 


Follow Geowulf - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Tuesday, 16 July 2019

LISTEN: Rhys Lewis - 'What If'

I haven't yet found time to do a write-up of the incredible time I had volunteering for the second year in a row at Bushstock Festival about a month ago - it was a total joy to look after headliners Novo Amor and the rest of the gorgeous line-up we had playing at St Stephen's Church. One of those acts was Rhys Lewis - I've been a fan of his music for years and it was a dream to finally see him live. His powerful and unique vocals carried poignant, emotional lyrics around the church beautifully, performing to a packed out crowd. With the announcement of an Asian headline tour for August and his first ever UK headline tour in November, Rhys is back with brand new single What If. As always, it's a little bit of a heartbreaker.

Rhys explains that the track "came from the regret I felt from letting go of something good too soon. My mind was a mess at the time and I rushed into a decision to end things. Now thinking about her has become a bad habit, a kind of accepted addiction, like checking my phone. She changed me, and breaking up with her changed me, all in ways I'm forever grateful for. So it's hard to keep my mind away from the idea of going back to her, especially when the ways in which I've changed make me feel closer to her. I understand her more, I understand myself more. I never understood either when we were together which is why it didn't work at the time."


Rhys is currently working on his debut album, which is expected for release around the start of 2020 - his UK dates for November are below. Grab tickets for those here.

15th Nov: Roisin Dubh, Galway
16th: Glassworks, Derry
17th: Button Factory, Dublin
18th: King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
20th: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
21st: Deaf Institute, Manchester
22nd: Thekla, Bristol
23rd: O2 Institute 3, Birmingham
25th: EartH, London
26th: Komedia, Brighton
28th: O2 Academy 2, Oxford

Follow Rhys Lewis - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Monday, 15 July 2019

LIVE: Citadel Festival 2019

On Sunday I had the absolute pleasure of joining thousands of music fans in (very) West London's Gunnersbury Park for this year's Citadel Festival. My third one-day metropolitan festival of the year, it was a gorgeous day of live music, surprisingly decent weather and brilliant company. I was there to review and found it particularly amusing when the guy on the press box office asked "what publication are you with?" to which I bemusedly gave the name of my tiny blog as confidently as if it were the NME itself.

A reduced train service combined with a fault on the line held me up and meant that we missed the start of MarthaGunn's set but thankfully caught the majority of it, heading in the direction of recent single Saint Cecilia once we'd made it through security. Playing on the stage closest to the festival entrance, they opened up proceedings beautifully for those just arriving, showcasing brand new tracks and old favourites to the crowd at the Communion Presents stage. Closing the set, early single Heaven was a highlight, and I'm quickly realising that lead singer Abi is my hero.


As if all of my 2017 Communion dreams had come true, next up on the stage were Banfi. I caught some of their set at Bushstock recently, but couldn't see much from the back of the venue so it was great to see them again - my tenth time seeing them live and always a treat! Newly appointed manager/bassist Scott Miller (of Dry The River fame) fits into the band perfectly. They too delivered a set combining old favourites She Comes Home, Never Really Cared and Happy When You Go seamlessly with brand new tracks from the debut album they're working on. (Can't wait!!)


Next, with a gap in our schedule we had a break from the music, and explored more of the festival site. Near the main stage we found an area hosting a range of comedy, science and circus performances. We were drawn in by some dance, and were shortly being a little bit mesmerised by some diablo skills in the Roundhouse Presents area.

After a while of watching and repeatedly exclaiming "how? HOW?!" at the mind-boggling talent on show, we headed back towards the Communion tent, walking via the main stage and catching some of The Coronas on the way. After enjoying their new track So Caught Up recently I was really looking forward to checking out what Melbourne's The Teskey Brothers had to offer. Despite their early afternoon slot, they filled out the tent and played blues rock to a hugely enthusiastic crowd, hanging off their every word and over the moon at the addition of a harmonica to the mix. As their bio says, "onstage, singer Josh Teskey's smoke whiskey voice defies expectation, flooring audiences." Their new album Run Home Slow is out August 2nd!


We stuck around at the Communion stage afterwards - as I said in my preview of the festival, the quality of their booking means I could've happily stayed there all day. Next up was Matthew And The Atlas - my fourth time seeing the band, but the first out of the surroundings of a church venue (twice at Bushstock Festival and once at a special Bear's Den Christmas show.) Vocalist Matt Hegarty and his incredibly talented band ran through a set featuring two of my favourite tunes, On A Midnight Street and Pyres, before treating us to a peaceful rendition of Elijah. Watch out for a post on his brand new video later this week!



Cue a dash for food and a rush to the main stage, where we managed to catch the end of the DMA's set. Hailing from Sydney, I'd never listened to them before and quite enjoyed what we saw - it was pretty clear that they were well loved. In parts it felt like the vocals of Blossoms tied with the guitar lines I love from The Vaccines - a solid combination indeed. We managed to make our way through the crowd and get much closer to the front for the set I'd been most excited for, the opportunity to see one of my absolute favourite bands live again.

Friendly Fires delivered a hell of a performance, with frontman Ed Macfarlane showing us his signature (and frankly marvellous) dance moves from the first notes of opener Lovesick right through to closing track Kiss Of Life. I'm not really one for much dancing at gigs but it's impossible not to find your hips swaying along to these guys. In a completely joyous set (complete with a LOT of singing along on my part) the band ran through tracks from their self-titled debut album, the utterly sublime second album Pala and singles from upcoming album Inflorescent, due for release 16th August. It's been a long wait and from the tracks we've heard so far, I think it'll have been worth every second.


Feeling completely elated from their set, we quickly headed back to the Communion stage to catch the second half of Jade Bird's set. She was a last minute addition to the line-up, replacing Matt Corby due to illness, and what a welcome addition. I've been wanting to see her live for a while and really enjoyed the set, full of tracks from her recent self-titled debut - the only sad thing is that I think I missed her playing my favourite track, Uh Huh. I guess I'll just have to go and see her play again!


In a miraculous turn of events, we managed to get back to the front row in time for the stage's (reasonably early, at just after 7pm) headline set from one of my favourite bands, Bear's Den. It was my fourth time seeing them on the So that you might hear me run of shows and it was an absolutely triumphant return to the hometown stage after months of touring the album across Europe and the US. In a typical 21st century move, a guy on the front row was streaming the cricket live on his phone, holding it up for those around him to watch before the band started, and an amusing moment in the set arrived when the crowd cheered and clapped for a while after the second or third track. The band looked chuffed and I joined in, thinking it was sweet that the crowd loved them so much, before realising that it was because we'd just won the cricket.

In an hour long set (my only complaint is that this passed far too quickly) showcasing favourites from all three albums, the crowd proved themselves to be very much in love with the group, singing at the top of their lungs and clapping along at every opportunity, and occasionally resorting to cries of "we love the Den!!!" between tracks. It was my 11th (I think) time seeing the band but felt just as exciting as the first, with the opening banjo notes of final track Agape still instilling a lot of joy. After a Highlands & Islands tour of Scotland next month they're touring the UK later in the year, and have just announced a show at London's Eventim Apollo for 20th February - full dates here.


After catching up with some friends we headed back through the festival site to the main stage to watch some of the headline set from Catfish and the Bottlemen. For some reason I've never really taken a proper listen to the band, and mostly know them from what I've heard on the radio, but as we walked across the park, I could hear their first album hit Kathleen and couldn't help but speed up to get closer ("I know this one!"). With the morning's train woes in the back of my mind, we didn't stay for the whole set so that we could beat the crowds back to the tube, but from what I did see they proved themselves more than worthy of the top spot on the billing.


All in all I totally loved my first Citadel Festival and would certainly recommend it to people looking for a family friendly Summer festival that has things other than just music on offer. If the line-up next year is anything as strong as yesterday's (bear in mind that I missed Bastille and a host of other brilliant artists) then you'll be in for a treat.

LISTEN: Dizzy - 'Heavy'

"isn't it endearing, wearing all these problems on my sleeve?"

On Friday Dizzy released the Heavy / Twist EP, featuring recent single Twist, brand new track Heavy and remixes from Cecile Believe and Mystery Jets. In the bands own words, the two tracks form a middle ground between their debut album Baby Teeth and the next - "we're going away to write a record now. see you on the other side of it". I'm really enjoying the new track and absolutely can't wait to hear what they do next - I've come to really adore their debut, playing it in the HMV store I worked at tons and getting various colleagues to fall for the band too. Katie Munshaw is one of my favourite vocalists around at the moment, for sure.


If you like the track, there's a recent session performance that the band did with CBC Music in Canada below - equally gorgeous!


Follow Dizzy - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Friday, 12 July 2019

LISTEN: MarthaGunn - 'Honey, Let Me Know'

This one isn't strictly new, but it's super exciting to have this track back! MarthaGunn took their previous releases off of the likes of Spotify to start from scratch with recent singles Saint Cecilia and Love & Emotion - but fans have called for the old tracks to come back and they've re-released Honey, Let Me Know. The best news. I can't wait to see these guys for the first time in a couple of years this weekend at Citadel Festival - looking forward to hearing old tunes and new!


Follow MarthaGunn - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Thursday, 11 July 2019

LISTEN: Christof van der Ven - 'Lucky'

"How lucky are we to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?"

It's probably quite obvious from my posts that I am partial to a quality sad folk song. Christof van der Ven is delivering (as always) with new track Lucky - featuring such tear-jerking lyrics as "right now you occupy just everything, I find it hard to let you go" - taken from his upcoming second record You Were The Place. It's due for release on September 6th and as I've had a sneaky listen (I'll share a review closer to the time) I can tell you that it is a gorgeously heartbreaking (but also hopefully optimistic) album, written in response to the end of a brief and intense fling. If you can't wait until September, you should most definitely check out his debut album Empty Handed and recent EP Beneath The Ordinary Load, both beautifully crafted collections of tracks.


In support of the album, Christof plays a run of European shows including Brighton's The Hope & Ruin on October 7th and London's The Lexington on the 8th. He'll also be opening up for touring buddies Bear's Den (and playing in the band) on their upcoming Highlands & Islands tour around Scotland in August - full tour dates here.

Follow Christof van der Ven - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Wednesday, 10 July 2019

LISTEN: Heavy Heart - 'Cry Ice'

Since first listening to London alt-rockers Heavy Heart back in March or April, I've spotted their name cropping up a lot - with recent radio support from Phil Taggart and Steve Lamacq and shows and support slots for the likes of Communion Presents. 

New song Cry Ice, the third of a trilogy of singles that the band are releasing in 2019, is an atmospheric and emotionally charged track. The quartet describe it as being "about the end of a love affair; the glacial, slow, final moments of it all. Specifically, the song is about two people dying together on the side of a mountain, frozen forever just out of reach of each other." The dreamiest of dream pop.



Follow Heavy Heart - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Tuesday, 9 July 2019

WATCH: The Teskey Brothers - 'So Caught Up'

Really really digging this one. Australian four-piece The Teskey Brothers are a new name to me and I have a feeling I have certainly been missing out. They may be from down under, but they've been gaining a following here since the release of their debut album back in 2017, with sold out shows in London's Omeara and Union Chapel over the last couple of years. With new record Run Home Slow on the way in August, they've shared latest single So Caught Up - check out the video for the track below! Those fans of a husky vocal will want to give this one a listen - vocalist Josh Teskey (yes - there are actual Teskey brothers in the band) has some beautifully unique gritty vocals on showcase here!


With performances at Love Supreme Festival and Cornbury last weekend under their belts, the group play the Communion Music stage at this weekend's Citadel Festival (can't wait to see them!) and a slot at Latitude on the 19th.

Follow The Teskey Brothers - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Monday, 8 July 2019

LISTEN: Flyte - 'White Roses' (featuring The Staves)

Stop what you're doing. Flyte are back with White Roses, the first track "of many to come". (Ahhhhhhh!!!) Somehow their debut album is almost two years old - it was one of my favourite records of 2017 - a gorgeous collection of tracks showcasing their often Beatles-esque breezy acoustic pop style, and those wonderful harmonies. One of my favourite videos of the guys is their cover of Arcade Fire's The Sprawl because the harmonies are completely unreal (watch that here.) So what better way to improve their sound than to release a track featuring The Staves - harmonies upon harmonies! Lot of love for this one.


Follow Flyte - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Friday, 5 July 2019

LISTEN: Annabel Allum - ‘When The Wind Stopped’

Guildford's Annabel Allum recently shared When The Wind Stopped, the latest slice of punk-pop (if that's still a thing?) taken from her upcoming six track EP due for release in Autumn. I'm enjoying the subtle (but still very much present) fury that presents itself in the track, bubbling away at the surface. I'm not sure I'm digging this one quite as much as previous track You Got It Good, but that's more a compliment of the previous single than anything as that one was very, very good. The EP is going to be something special, I'm sure!

Talking about the new track, Annabel explained that "when I was a kid I had such big expectations of how life was gonna be. I think most people do. But somehow we lose track of our dreams and what we really want from life. It's so easy to shut yourself in a societal box and put your dreams to bed. I say fuck that. If you want something, go fucking get it. Less moaning, more chasing." (... mic drop.)


After a run of festival slots in the next couple of months and to celebrate the release of the EP, Annabel heads to the capital to headline The Waiting Room on 11th September, before playing at and running her own all-day festival at The Boileroom in Guildford on 22nd September and headlining Moles in Bath of 26th. All the info and tickets here.

 Follow Annabel Allum - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Thursday, 4 July 2019

PREVIEW: Citadel Festival 2019

Ridiculously excited to share that I'll be heading to this year's Citadel Festival next Sunday (July 14th) to watch some of my favourite bands and write about it for the blog. One of the coolest blog related perks to date. It's my first time at the festival, a single day event in Gunnersbury Park in West London which started back in 2015 with the particularly impressive co-headliners Bombay Bicycle Club and Ben Howard. The likes of Foals and Tame Impala have since headed line-ups full to the brim with a programme of live music, talks, workshops and even a spot of yoga. Fun and educational for all the family. With Catfish and the Bottlemen heading up a very strong line-up this year I am very much looking forward to it and keeping my fingers crossed for good weather on the day!

Testament to the quality of the line-up, I'm probably most excited about the artists playing (and headlining) one of the smaller stages this year, as Communion Music (that indie label that I ramble about quite a lot) are curating the secondary stage. MarthaGunn and Banfi kick off proceedings, before Cleopatrick, The Teskey BrothersMatthew and The Atlas and recent Bushstock Festival headliner Matt Corby. The stage's headliners (and some of my favourite chaps in the world) are Bear's Den, returning to the UK for a huge hometown set after a pretty much non-stop run of touring across Europe and the US since the release of their album So that you might hear me back in April. The latest Communion Presents on Radio X show is worth a listen - Maz was joined by Davie from Bear's Den for a Citadel takeover with music from acts playing across the festival - listen here.


You could in all honestly stay at the Communion Music stage all day and go home feeling that you've got your money's worth.  Personally, I'll be tearing myself away from the barrier there and heading to the main stage to catch another of my absolute favourite bands, Friendly Fires. I've been a big fan of the band for years and finally got to see them live last April at their comeback O2 Brixton show - lead singer Ed's dancing was as infectious as I'd expected and if you're heading to the festival these really should not be missed. With their last album released back in 2011, they'll be playing tracks from upcoming record Inflorescent, due for release in August.


They'll be followed up by Bastille - a brilliant live act who's stage set up at Glastonbury (currently catching up on the iPlayer) was on another level. The festival happens to coincide with lead singer Dan Smith's birthday (Bastille Day) so it's bound to be a bit of a riot! Welsh indie-rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen bring proceedings on the main stage to a close, with tracks from their recent album The Balance which reached number two in the album charts back in May. I've not seen them live before so I'm intrigued to catch their set as I know a lot of people who have a lot of love for the band and their shows!


The likes of DMA's, Tinariwen, Dream WifeFontaines DC and Talos complete the music line-up across a few stages, while a range of workshops, talks, quizzes and other events take place during the day - Peppa Pig is even making an appearance. Not to mention a bunch of London's best street food outlets to choose from.

Between Friendly Fires, Bear's Den and more I'm excited to see some of my favourite artists and to hopefully discover some new bands next weekend. Tickets for the festival are available here and you can download the official Citadel app to check out timings and other info on the day.

WATCH: Jean Tonique - 'like you'

I was intrigued on finding this track in my submissions inbox and was a fan from the first few notes. Throw in a Golden Retriever in the music video and I was completely and utterly sold (take note - musicians and music video creators of the world.) I won't spoil the video because it's absolutely brilliant and well worth four minutes of your time. The track is from French DJ, producer and singer Jean Tonique, who has announced details of a new mini-album entitled sunny side up alongside the video release. He says that the new track is about finding your soul mate, but most of all "it is a song which makes you want to drive around in a convertible by the sea." 


Follow Jean Tonique - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Wednesday, 3 July 2019

LISTEN: Mosa Wild - 'Tides'

With just two songs released so far, Mosa Wild have already begun to make quite a name for themselves with support from the likes of BBC Radio 1 DJs Annie Mac and Huw Stephens and support slots with Maggie Rogers and Tame Impala. They've just released third single Tides and announced details of their debut EP Talking In Circles. Released via Glassnote Records on 2nd August, the EP brings together the new track with previous singles Night and Smoke, alongside two brand new tracks.

Talking about the new song, the band explain that "this song was written during a time where a lot of my friends (myself included) felt pretty stuck in life. And I guess this song was born from the realisation that you can sometimes free yourself from the quicksand."


After selling out their first headline show at London's The Waiting Room earlier this year, the group have announced a show at Omeara in the capital on 18th September. The show comes just before a run of dates opening for Jade Bird. Full dates and tickets here!

Follow Mosa Wild - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Tuesday, 2 July 2019

LISTEN: Swimming Girls - 'Existential Fears' EP

I've been meaning to write about this for a few weeks now so here's a quick and slightly belated recommendation. Bristol four-piece Swimming Girls have been sharing some of my favourite new music of the past couple of years and their debut EP Existential Fears is a total joy to behold. Previously released singles 1 2 Many (which is brilliant) and more recent Pray In Silence, a slower track which shows off Vanessa's powerful yet fragile vocals, are joined by two new tracks. I Don't Want To Get To Heaven is a highlight of the whole EP for me and a track I am sure must go down a treat at gigs - check it out below!


Check out the full Existential Fears EP over on Spotify.

Follow Swimming Girls - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Monday, 1 July 2019

LISTEN: Gaffa Tape Sandy - 'So Dry'

I never got around to sharing their last release (the list is never-ending, so much superb new music to tell you all about!!) so here is the latest offering from Bury St. Edmunds three-piece garage rockers Gaffa Tape Sandy. They first came onto my radar when they were touring alongside Indoor Pets but they've also supported IDLES and Peace and played slots at Latitude, The Great Escape and Live At Leeds. In short things are going pretty well for the trio.

So Dry is taken from the band's upcoming second EP Family Mammal, due for release via Alcopop! Records on 9th August. The band talk about the source of the track...  "generally as a band we try to keep spitefulness and vehemence out of our songwriting, but sometimes it seeps through and So Dry is a result of that leak. We don't really like arguing as a whole, but expressing yourself is very important, so we like to think of this song as us raising our voices anonymously at the people who make us mad as hell." I'm pretty sure most of us can relate to that sentiment.



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