The ‘South is Shining’ and this is the sound of the ‘North Rising’: At Shake Online we recently hooked up with a raft of new talent and help bring to the surface all the great new ‘un-discovered’ in North Wales! The last 18 months has seen so many new bands emerge that we thought it was time somebody grabbed them all and started to push out into the world. Someone recently said to us that North Wales was ‘The New Seattle’… They ain’t far wrong!

Over the last gasp of 2010 and the first six months of 2011 Shake Online hopes to bring you the best of that talent via our website, the radio, the computer screen, the digital album and from early 2012 a monthly ‘Showcase’ Live… + a @Sound City special in May. Stay tuned…

But to get the ball rolling we give you a brief snapshot of the scene… * If u see anything missing? Gis’ a nudge and we will add!

‘Drum With Our Hands’ is an independent record label based in North Wales. Amongst plenty of other awesome stuff, we also run this indie label specialising in music by guitar bands, as well as folk, electronica, and experimental artists. Et c’est fun!

dRUM wITH oUR hANDS released Camera’s second album ‘For When You Wake’ in October this year. The first single from the album, entitled ‘Happiness’, is available to download. Get it here: http://camerahq.bandcamp.com/ the band will be setting up more shows for the rest of the year. Check out their YouTube channel here: www.youtube.com/cameratheband  and their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/camerahq

Rachel Lloyd

From the acoustic folk of Mooi, to the chilled grooves of Afterlife, to traditional folk influenced duets with Gorky’s Richard James and Camera’s Matt Nicholls, Rachel Lloyd moves effortlessly through genres. Through her work with Afterlife’s Steve Miller, and producer James Bright, Rachel has reached audiences worldwide having appeared on numerous compilation albums from Café Del Mar and Hed Kandi amongst others.

The end of 2011 will hopefully see the release of Rachel’s long awaited debut solo album on dRUM wITH oUR hANDS. This promises to be a mix of heartfelt soul and delicate folk songwriting, with ambient atmospherics reminiscent of Brian Eno and Aphex Twin. The first song released from the album is called ‘Calling’. Rachel will be performing live in support of the record so watch this space!

Matt Nicholls is something of a newcomer to the world of folk music. Hailing from Wrexham, North Wales, he has been playing acoustic guitar and singing since the age of eleven and for many years has fronted the indie rock band Camera. http://www.myspace.com/mattnichollsacoustic

Two other artists working with DWOH are:
Orient Machine http://www.myspace.com/orientmachine /
Baby Brave:  http://www.myspace.com/babybrave