Who We're Listening To This Month - April

Whilst we do love festival season, we haven't been gushing over Coachella like most of the people we know. Yes, sometimes British festivals could be doing with a bit of Californian sunshine and a little less rain (as the people who were at Y Not festival last year may agree) but it wouldn't be Reading festival or Download without the mud.

 

What we have been doing this month instead, is eyeing up this year's festival season and playlisting some of our current favourite tracks, which this month come from the likes of Vistas, Sea Girls, Isaac Gracie, The Indigo Project and a final favourite from Trash.

Soundcloud Sunday ft. Wallows, Dear CAROLINE + The Bedroom High Club

Our favourite time of the year is right now. Everyone seems to be on tour and our cities are buzzing with new music. With that being said we've narrowed down a few of our current favourite tracks from this week including Wallows, Bedroom High Club and BBC Introducing favourites Dear CAROLINE.

Summer Playlist 2017

We are playlist people. (You probably already know that.)

New Music : 28/05/17

For the next few weeks, we’re focusing on UK acts. Not to ignore the rest of the great new music out there, but we hope you understand our reasoning.

 

The heartbreaking Manchester attacks six days ago left us speechless. The event came as a huge shock to us all, and as frequent gig goers, we questioned our own gig habits. Then we decided to stop.

 

We decided not to live in fear. We chose to go to Slam Dunk yesterday and we are still writing about music today. No one can stop us from doing what we love. No one should be made to feel unsafe anywhere, especially not at gigs and live music events, which are supposed to be celebrations of artists, musicians, new albums, band break-ups and a time to share your love for music with other people. You shouldn’t be made to feel scared. (If you want to know our thoughts on the horrendous event you can read our full post here.)

 

Now more than ever do we need to celebrate and fall in love with our music.

Soundcloud Sunday : Eric Frisch

In my almost mourning state, I came across a video and band which reminded me of the two bands I championed in 2013. With a sound similar to Two Door Cinema Club and group, not-so-serious videos like Vampire Weekend, Eric Frisch just may have became my new favourite musician.

 

 

Reading And Leeds 2016

 

 When does summer end ? For me, its the end of Reading and Leeds.

 

Hide & Seek Interview

Photo : Hide and Seek

Earlier this year I came across Hide & Seek. With only two live demo tracks on Soundcloud and a few videos on Youtube, it felt like a tease to say the least. I instantly wanted to see them live and, alike so many other fans, needed more music. 

 

Then their debut EP was announced.

Study Leave 2016 Playlist

 

 

Four weeks. Four exams. No school. Its that time of year again.

Interviewing Alicewell

If there is one unsigned band who belongs at Reading and Leed's this year, it is this band. 

 

Earlier this month I caught up with the band to talk about influences, favourite tracks and what's next for this breaking-out arena-ready band.

 

JAKL Interview

Luna Rosa Interivew

I think their one of the most exciting bands in the world right now. Impossible to hate and addictive, a small band with a big sound who could quiet easily be part of the soundtrack to this summer.

 

Viola Beach: The Next Big Thing ?

Young, talented and ready to take on the world Viola Beach may just be the next 'big thing.' 

When Thieves Are About Interview

Things don't come easy in this world, and maybe When Thieves Are About effort is about to pay off as they seem to be nearing the edge of something huge. 

 

 

 

Already playing alongside Man Overboard and We Came As Romans this band are destined headline Vans Warped Tour, and on the way will become your new favourite band.

 

 "We play music you don't like in places in you don't visit."

 

 

 

Soundcloud Sunday - Fox Chapel

Nearing the end of last year I came across Fox Chapel. Like something out of an indie summertime haze, I instantly found a band I adored.

Sound Of 2016 : The Sherlocks

Hailing from Sheffield and made up of brothers, The Sherlocks seem to be the perfected British indie band.  

 

Sound Of 2016 : Neon Waltz

I fell in love with Neon Waltz when Bare Wood Aisle was released and it became one of my songs of the summer.

Narrow Plains Explain Themselves

There is an indie three piece from London, Narrow Plains, who I love but can't even begin to explain. Earlier in the year I thought it would be best if I got them to help explain themselves.

 

First of all, who are you ?

We are Narrow Plains. An acoustic-indie, trio based in London, consisting of Charlie Ferriday (guitar/vocals), Stuart Connick (drums/back-up vocals) and Roger Connick (bass/back-up vocals).

Is there any meaning behind the name 'Narrow Plains' ?

Narrow Plains doesn’t really mean anything special – we just liked the sound of the words together and thought that it fitted our type of music.

Who are your influences as a band ?

There are lots but we all love to listen to acts like Goo Goo Dolls, Ben Howard, Newton Faulkener, Mumford, Bon Iver.

The most difficult part for me as a music blogger is trying to describe a bands style/sound. What would you describe your sound as ?

We call it “acoustic-indie” but our music probably crosses a few genres and many people term our music “folk rock”. We just try to write and perform songs that are acoustic-based, have strong lyrical content and are fairly simple and straightforward in terms of the melody.

 

As a sound comparision, what other bands have a sound similar to yourselves ?

That’s a bit difficult for us to say but we are really honoured to have been compared to some great modern artists, like the ones I mentioned and Ed Sheeran. Also even to other amazing artists like Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel.

2015 is quickly coming to a close. A year of big festivals and huge announcements in the world of music. What was 2015 like for you as a band ?

It has been a brilliant year! There have been a lot of exciting things for us, like winning the Hard Rock Rising competition at the Hard Rock Café in London. We also won a US-based talent competition, Bands4Good and got the chance to go over to North Carolina and record with John Davenport at his Deep River studios.

We have also signed an album deal with Smart Indie and have spent a lot of time in the studio recording our debut album. This has meant though that we didn’t have as much time to play live so we are all looking forward to getting out on the road next year and sharing our new songs with audiences.

Your an upcoming band with a lot going on. As you mentioned, you haven't toured much this year, so what has been the best show you've played so far and what is your ideal venue/festival to play ?

We have been fortunate enough to play a lot of great gigs at places like The Cavern Club, 100 Club and Barfly as well as a lot of festivals. However, our favourite show to date was at O2 Academy in Islington. It is a great venue and a very special audience who really supported us and sang along to all our songs. We are playing the same venue for our album release show and hope that will be an even better experience!

There are a lot of amazing festivals but for us the pinnacle would be to play at Glastonbury. We have all been there many times as fans and seen some brilliant acts. It would be amazing to play there!

Glastonbury's your pinnacle place. Who would be your perfect band to play alongside ?

Any of those great bands and acts we mentioned before (Goo Goo Dolls, Ben Howard, Newton Faulkener, Mumford, Bon Iver, Ed Sheeran) would be a dream to play with!

All great musicians and bands. What advice would you give to bands who are just starting out, earlier in the music making process than yourselves ?

We would just say that it’s important to stick at what you do best and keep working to improve.

Is being in a band all you thought it would be?

Being in a band has been a great creative experience but has also been a lot of hard work. We do look forward to every new challenge though.

Talking of new challenges, the new years coming quick. Do you have anything planned for 2016 ? Any challenges to overcome ?

Well, our debut album is due out in January 2016 so that will obviously be the major event for us. We will release another single ahead of the album (our double A-side single So Rewind and Keep You Anyway will both feature on the album but we have recorded new versions). Then we will have to see how the album is received before we can really make any other definitive plans to tour and so forth.

Finally, what would you like to say to your fans?

We are really grateful to all our friends, followers and fans for all the amazing support they give us as a band. We love playing to and recording music for people who really appreciate our songs. We really hope that you all enjoy our new songs on the album.

Don’t forget that our debut album is coming out on the Smart Indie label in January 2016!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Two Yeak Break Interview

This year I've fell in love with so many bands and musicians. Some brand new, unheard of and unsigned. Others are supporting huge headline bands, making a name for themselves on an international level. 

 

 

 

Strange Behaviours Returns For Another Year

Can you blame me for planning to head back through to Stirling for this year's Strange Behaviours Festival?

 

Brightlight City Interview

 

Brightlight City are the only band I have ever come across who sound similar to so many other bands, while having their own sound. I find it just incredible.

The start of 'Reaction' could slot into Fall Out Boys Folie A Deux album. 'The Finish Line', with a few changes could be a You Me At Six single. There's hints of Biffy Clyro and Jimmy Eat The World's sound. I just find this band mesmerizing. Instinctively I knew I just had to talk to them, to discover their influences and who they see themselves like.

Here's what happened when I caught up with Brightlight City, where a shared love for Biffy Clyro and the quest for world domination ensue.