David Ford, Hannah Peel Live
View 2 Gallery, Liverpool. 24 February 2010.
On the night in Liverpool that Lady Ga Ga was packing them in at the Liverpool Echo Arena, we visited a gallery venue in the city to witness a performance by a singer/songwriter who I regard as one of the very best in the UK. I first saw David Ford back in 2006 when he supported Susanne Vega, also in Liverpool. I subseqently acquired both his albums and relived that incredible performance. I recently learned that he has released a new album but I didn’t realsie he was playing this show until my associate knocked on my study window while I was selecting songs for our radio show. So what’s wrong with the doorbell, you may well ask. Well, when picking songs I listen to them with radio earphones, so I am totally deaf to any other sounds, which JJ is well aware of. Anyway, I was so engrossed I missed his email saying he would pick me up at 7:30 to go to the David Ford show. Five minutes later we were on our way to the city on the Mersey, the rock capitol of the world, and appropriately heading for a small venue close to the Cavern club.
There were actually three artists on the bill, including the wonderful female, Liverpool-based singer/songwriter Ragz, who we regretfully missed. But we were on time to catch Hannah Peel, Ford’s instrumentalist and backing vocalist who has decided to forge her own solo career and tonight was showing her wares. Peel is young woman of Irish descent and during her short set performed two beautiful Irish folk songs, along with a gentle and charming version of ‘Tainted Love.’ She also sang a couple of her own compositions during a faultless and endearing performance. I wish her luck.
David Ford is about to tackle the USA again, following in the footsteps of Damien Rice and Fionn Regan who have both caused something of a stir over there. Ford has already crossed the big pond with some succcess, but I get the feeling this trip will be a more planned campaign, and could make an even more substantial impression. He is a singer/songwriter firmly in the protest tradition. Listen to ‘Requiem’ from his last album (SONGS FOR THE ROAD) and you’ll understand why I say this. His voice and songs are edgier than any other UK singer/songwriter I know, and it’s in the live arena where the full force of that anger and passion are most evident. But he also sings about relationships, usually in bittersweet terms…
Ford is a self-contained, one-man sound system and so it’s took a while for him to ensure that everything is working to his satisfaction. He has a bedside cabinet loaded with electronic gear and numerous other fancy-footwork items in addition to his two guitars and keyboard. He explained that he is going to perform the whole of the new album in song-list order and opened with a self-confessional ‘Panic’, a song with a short fuse that finally explodes after the middle-eight. It’s a storming song in the style of ‘Requiem’ and delivered with real venom. ‘Making Up For Lost Time’ is a road song with hints of darkness, while ‘Waiting For The Storm’ has a reflective, cautionary, country vibe, and meanders along like a slow-moving river tide with some telling harmonica moments.
Kiuas: LP4: Lustdriven
FINNISH HEROIC METALLERS SET TO RELEASE ‘LUSTDRIVEN’, THEIR FOURTH FULL STUDIO ALBUM, ON APRIL 26th 2010 VIA SPINEFARM RECORDS UK…
FOLLOWING ON from ‘The New Dark Age’, their Finnish Top 10 album released in 2008, epic metallers KIUAS (pronounced ‘Key-wass’) have confirmed that latest outing ‘Lustdriven’ will be made available through Spinefarm Records UK as of April 26th 2010.
A 10-track affair produced by Janne Joutsenniemi (Ensiferum, Suburban Tribe and Stone) and mixed by Mikko Karmila (Children Of Bodom, Nightwish), ‘Lustdriven’ sees the Finnish five-piece – from the town of Espoo, near Helsinki – further creating a signature style that draws from a broad range of influences; these include both power metal & prog, with death, symphonic & folk metal also playing a part, the whole thing topped off with a healthy sprinkling of myth & legend, plus the soul-stirring vocals of high-energy frontman Ilja Jalkanen.
As well as lead track ‘The Quickening’, the album features songs such as ‘Cry Little Angel’, ‘Of Love, Lust And Human Nature’ & ‘Lights Are Many’ – ambitious compositions displaying the development that has taken place in the band’s 10-year history.
“On this new album, we’ve kept the most aggressive elements of KIUAS,” says guitarist Mikko Salovaara, “everything is very raw and in your face. At the same time, however, we’ve pushed the epic, orchestral side to new heights, and although you’ll find some of our fastest and heaviest songs here, we’ve tried to maintain a real sense of melody throughout.”
At the moment, UK shows are being lined up for later in the year, and of course KIUAS are no strangers to these shores, having played here with both Children Of Bodom & Firewind; they also appeared at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Prestatyn, Wales, back in 2009.
http://http://www.kiuas.net | http://www.myspace.com/thespirtofukko
http://www.spinefarmrecords.co.uk | http://www.myspace.com/spinefarmrecordsuk
One Taste: Little Dragon
OneTaste Concerts & Mean Fiddler present - LITTLE DRAGON with support from Jono McCleery & DJ John Hendicott
Little Dragon, radiant Swedish soul/electro band, are blazing a new trail for live electronic music and this is their night!
Dynamic, organic, beat-driven and soulful, Little Dragon released their debut album in 2007 and their second album ‘Machine Dreams’ was released at the end of last year. They also gave us their favourite song ‘Blinking Pigs’ from their latest album for our ‘OneTaste Compilation Vol. 1′, which can be purchased from our website, Amazon.co.uk or iTunes etc.
Little Dragon have had numerous sell out shows including the Jazz Café, Cargo and co-headlined our 5000+ strong crowd at our 2008 event in association with The Royal Parks at Exhibition Road Music Day in Hyde Park.
“Universally hailed as a masterpiece of free thinking soul”, One Week To Live.
http://www.myspace.com/yourlittledragon
Supporting Little Dragon will be the wonderful Jono McCleery, who is a London based solo artist signed to Ninja Tune. As well has his growing loyal following throughout the UK he has toured Switzerland and supported Fink. His debut album ‘Darkest Light’ was completed independently, which was self-produced and funded by his fans, including folk-star Vashti Bunyan and radio DJs Tom Robinson and Fiona Talkington. Jono has also collaborated with The Part Time Heroes with songs Realise & Angels Fly. http://www.myspace.com/jonomccleery
With DJ John Hendicott on the decks spinning some beats to take us into the early hours! A true all rounder! John Hendicott, international DJ and music producer John specialises in electronic hip hop, funk, and broken beats with a tendency to lean towards the big epic sound.
Producer of the hit single Chip Diddy Chip with Chipmunk, Hendicott is has planned releases with Lady Lykez and PinkPunk. http://www.myspace.com/johnhendicott
Relentless Garage
20-22 Highbury Corner
London, N5 1RD
Tickets: £12.50 - available through Ticketweb
STRICTLY OVER 18s (PHOTOGRAPHIC ID REQUIRED TO GAIN ENTRY)
More info see: http://onetaste.co.uk/events/2010/little-dragon-in-concert/
OneTaste blurb:
OneTaste, the renowned music and spoken word collective, made their name by helping launch some of the UK’s most amazing talent; Portico Quartet, Newton Faulkner, Little Dragon, Tawiah, Scroobius Pip, Jamie Woon, Polar Bear, Jono McCleery, Wallis Bird, Beth Rowley, to name a few, have all performed as part of OneTaste. Founded by Producer Dannii Evans and singer Jamie Woon in December 2004, the night was created to throw a spotlight onto the talent that was arising from the underground London arts scenes. With continuous sell out London events at the Jazz Café & The Bedford in Balham, two summer festival tours, the launch of the OneTaste Collective and headline slots in Kensington Garden’s contribution to La Fete De La Musique 09, this tight knit group of artists have fast become one of the UK most noted underground arts collectives.
Quotes about OneTaste:
“…a series of MCs, poets, witty musicians, and beat boxers each took turns on stage, none of them outstayed their welcome and all of them were red hot. OneTaste deliver a night out that’s both theatrical and b-boy sharp. I wandered into the Glastonbury night with that rare, gleeful feeling I’d made a great discovery. OneTaste will go far….” Thomas H Green - The Telegraph
Voted No. 1 Spoken Word night - The London Paper
No. 2 in the Top Ten things to see at Glastonbury 2008 - The Telegraph
Quotes about OneTaste Collective Volume 1 (available via iTunes):
“This compilation seamlessly combines the acoustic, story-telling and electronic faces of OneTaste and our artists, providing a totally unique listening experience from beginning to end. ” – Dannii Evans, founder of OneTaste.
“This compilation draws its magic and cohesiveness from its wonderful eclecticism, from Jono through Polarbear, via Bridgette Amofah, we feel chuffed to be involved with OneTaste and this new release!” - Portico Quartet
“OneTaste basically run London, so having a song on their compilation is a real flip…A good compilation is like a mix-tape, a true statement of friendship.” - Gideon Conn “As a band, we’ve always straddled a world outside of just music. In OneTaste we found a stable of artists who are similarly trying to take acoustic based music and spoken word into the 21st century.” Daniel Marcus Clark (The Hat)
Check out our listings for each month, ticket prices and directions to the venue on our websitehttp://www.onetaste.co.uk/events/
Main website: htpp://www.onetaste.co.uk
Other web pages you can find us at are:
http://www.twitter.com/onetasteuk
http://www.facebook.com/pages/OneTaste/396785100153
http://www.muzu.tv/onetaste
http://www.myspace.com/onetaste
http://uk.youtube.com/user/OneTasteUK
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onetasteuk
http://www.last.fm/group/OneTaste
Badlands: Best Indie Store
BADLANDS WINS BEST INDIE STORE VOTE
The votes have been cast and the results are in and Cheltenham-based Badlands has been declared the best indie record shop in the UK, so well done them. As previously reported, a new website set up by the Entertainment Retailers Association to promote and support the UK’s remaining 300 independent record stores recently encouraged music fans to vote for their favourite indie retailer.
Founded in 1986 by Steven and Philip Jump, Badlands is not only one of the largest CD sellers in the South West of England, but they also have a successful online and eBay operation, run a Bruce Springsteen fan club and since 2002 have run a travel agency that specialises in organising trips to concerts by major rocks acts, a service which grew out of them organising regular trips to see The Boss perform at various places around the world.
Commenting on his business’ win in the indie store vote, Philip Jump said: “We’re thrilled to win this award especially in our 25th anniversary year and would like to thank all our loyal customers for voting for us. We’ll invest the prize money in the pub with our staff on Saturday night!”
ERA chief Kim Bayley added: “We have been overwhelmed by the public reaction to the site which has revealed the genuine affection music fans feel towards indie shops. Badlands is a very worthy recipient of this honour”.
ERA’s indie store website is at wwe.indierecordshop.org while you can find out more about and buy a CD off Badlands at www.badlands.co.uk
Exit Festival 2010
EXIT FESTIVAL 2010: PETROVARADIN FORTRESS: NOVI SAD, SERBIA: 8th - 11th July 2010
www.exitfest.org
Having already released first round of artists that were the Chemical Brothers, Mika, Royksopp, Crystal Castles, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Ricardo Villalobos, Moderat live, Josh Wink, Crookers, Boys Noize, Erol Alkan, Ed Banger’s SebastiAn, Busy P, DJ Mehdi and Ida Engberg. EXIT are excited to announce another round of impressive artists for this year’s festival!
Joining the already diverse line up, on the Main Stage are the eagerly anticipated vital and emotive sounds of Placebo, the undisputed Queen of hip hop Missy Elliott, electronic punk, disco lords LCD Soundsystem, and renowned Aussie drum’n'bass crew Pendulum live.
Heading up the line-up for one of only three European Festival shows this summer is The Chemical Brothers. Their exclusive live shows have never been anything less than staggering and this time around with the promise of something very special up their collective sleeve it’s bound to be one of their most incredible gigs yet! Also taking the stage by technicolour storm will be Mika, with his striking poptastic productions, Norwegian duo Röyksopp with their beautiful melodic electronica and rising stars Crystal Castles and Does It Offend You, Yeah?.
The Dance Arena kicks off on Thursday with electro kings Crookers, Boys Noize and Erol Alkan. Friday sees the long awaited arrival of the don of techno Ricardo Villalobos, a highly anticipated show from Moderat live, and Josh Wink celebrating 15 years of Ovum. Sunday will be full of fun with Ed Banger’s SebastiAn, Busy P and DJ Mehdi, with Saturday’s line up and even more acts to be announced in the coming months! The Dance Arena is regarded by many as the best in Europe - if not the planet - and the experience of dancing with 20,000 people as the sun rises over the fortress walls is truly mind blowing.
If that wasn’t enough, EXIT is crammed with 25 stages featuring a broad and staggering array of artists. The Fusion Stage is where you will find cool bands such as Does it Offend You Yeah?, Midnight Juggernauts, Jamaica, Antenat and Bambi Molesters to name but a few. While the Happynovisad Stage in Association with Resident Advisor this year continues to showcase some of the best cuttings edge and upcoming talent from the world of electronic, featuring showcases from; Warp Records feat Hudson Mohawke, Clark live, Time Exile live and Rustie, Bristol Takeover feat Joker, Pinch, Gemmy and MC Nomad Sound Pellegrino feat Brodinksi, Sound Pellegrino Thermal Team, and L-VIS 1990 Club Automatic feat D-Bridge, Instra:mental and MC:SP
The Elektrana stage features the best in electronic up & coming bands such as The Twelves, We Have Band, Tesla Boy, Starsmith, Jevelen, Romantic Jurgen and many more. And for those who like their music a bit tougher, the Explosive Stage brings you the best in hardcore and thrash metal.
Taking place from Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th July, in the magical Petrovaradin Fortress overlooking the river Danube, EXIT has a variety of stages to appeal to absolutely everyone, cheap food and drink onsite and the best campsite entertainment whilst bathing in the hot Balkan sunshine. EXIT festival ticks all the right boxes and is still the best value festival ticket around!
“We still can’t believe that EXIT attracts such a great audience from all over the world and consider ourselves very lucky. Seeing so many people enjoying themselves at our festival over the years is truly mind blowing. We appreciate the support of all our fans and will continue to make the festival better each year. We’ve also had some amazing artists performing for us over the years and we are excited to offer another diverse and exciting line up this year.” Says Bojan Boskovic, EXIT General Manager
EXIT is one of the most highly regarded festivals in Europe, being nominated for ‘Best Overseas Festival’ in the UK Festival Awards for the past 3 years and winning the coveted title in 2007. In addition EXIT was nominated for ‘Best Major Festival’ in the inaugural European Festival Awards that took place in The Netherlands in January 2010. Exit’s 10th Anniversary was also one of the most spectacular events of 2009 with all advance four day tickets selling out in advance.
Launched 11 years ago as a student initiated protest against the communist Milosevic regime, EXIT has proved that music is a universal language that can connect and bring people together to make the world a better place. EXIT continues to evolve and bring like minded people together and although it gets bigger each year, the sentiment and unique vibe remains the same.
TICKETS…
All early bird tickets at last year’s prices have now sold out!
But don’t worry as the standard price per weekend ticket is only £85 until the end of May, then increasing to £99 in June. So to get the best deal buy early and save!
EXIT & eTickets.to continue to deliver the best value festival ticket around, with pre event ticket redemption and fast entry through their own entrance.
Jan - May
4 day festival ticket only - £85+ b/f
Camping ticket - £20 + b/f
June onwards
4 day festival ticket only - £99 + b/f
Camping ticket - £25 + b/f
Buy tickets from…
http://www.etickets.to/buy/?e=3092
www.exitfest.org
www.lastminute.com
SELECTION OF COMMENTS FROM ARTISTS AT EXIT 2009…
“It was great honour to be back at EXIT Festival for the second time and play to the Serbian people . They made it something to remember for us , it has a crazy wild side that only very few festivals have. Bring us back again, we fukin’ luv it. Come on!!!” The Prodigy
“It was an honour and a privilege to play such an important festival especially on its 10th anniversary. The crowd and the location were stunning. We hope we will be invited back.” Love from Manic Street Preachers
“It was my first time in Serbia and didn’t know what to expect, but the EXIT audience was amazing!” Lily Allen
“The EXIT festival stands as a monument to the trans formative power of people and music. Getting the opportunity to play and help celebrate the 10th anniversary is something that will stay with me forever.” Damian aka Pink Eyes Fucked Up
“Playing for EXIT this year was something of a very special party and the way all the DJs got to play back to back was absolutely amazing! It gave the crowd something completely unique and very special for the celebration of 10 years of EXIT. I had an amazing time and thought it was absolutely exceptional the way the crowd stayed with us until the morning and had a celebration. I felt honored and proud to be asked to do this and I hope that I can get to play at EXIT a few more times in the years to come.” Carl Cox
“EXIT was one of the most memorable shows so far this year for me, made even more exciting by playing with Adam Beyer which proved so successful. The crowd was amazing & the organisation as always was fantastic - love you Serbia, see you next time!” Eric Prydz
“EXIT is hands down the most amazing festival I have ever played at and this year was extra special because I got to play with my homeboy Justin Martin. It was electric and a memory that will stay with me forever” Heidi
“Once again EXIT proves to be one of the best festivals in the world!!!” Nic Fanciulli
Acts include;
The Chemical Brothers, Mika, Placebo, Missy Elliott David Guetta, Röyksopp, LCD Soundsystem, Pendulum Live, Ricardo Villalobos,Behemoth, Crystal Castles, Suicidal Tendencies, The Exploited, A-Trak, Black Rose (Jesse Rose & Henrik Schwarz), Boys Noize, Brodinski, Busy P, Crookers, DJ Mehdi, Dirty South, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Erol Alkan, Foreign Beggars, Hudson Mohawke, Jamaica, Josh Wink, Juvelen, Laidback Luke, Lollobrigida, L-Vis 1990, Midnight Juggernauts, Moderat live, Obojeni Program, Ost & Kjex live, Ritam Nereda, Riva Starr, SebastiAn, Solomun, The Twelves, We Have Band, Al & The Blackcats, Antenat, Arigo Pentrado, Ashen Epitaph, Awaiting Fear, Bambi Molesters, Bombarder, B King + Andrea, Caligari, Clark, Concrete Sun, Consecration, Citizen X, Dargoron, Dead Trash + Frajle, D-Bridge, Decapitated, Decontrolled, Direct Control + Kalson, Disdained, Dozer, Dr Vokoder, Ex Deo, Gemmy & MC Nomad, Grasshopper, G.U.B., Help Me Jones, High Control, Hitman, Instra:mental & MC:SP, Joker, Ida Engberg, I Divine, If Senses Fear, the Inspector Cluso, Inje, In From the Cold, Iva Starkova, Kawasaki 3p, , Killo Killo, Koh, Kolaps, MAD Goya, Metatron, Moment of Clarity, Petrol, Pinch, Punished, Radiolokator, Retro + Vito, Romantic Jurgen, Rustie, Samrt, S.A.R.S., Shortpant Romance, SMUT, SOK 91, Sound Pellegrino Thermal Team, Space eater, Starsmith, Stuttgart Online, Sweet Sorrow, The Good Guys Live, Tamerlan, Tide, Tibia, Tim Exile, To Moj Tim, Toy Corner, Tesla Boy, Vehementer, Veliki Prezir, Vox Populi, Welicoruss, Wannabe A Star, Zea
12 Stone Toddler: Scheming
12 Stone Toddler: The New Album ‘SCHEMING’ (AMAZCD20)
RELEASE DATE APRIL 13TH 2009
Produced by Steve Cooper & 12 Stone Toddler
A marriage of opposites, combining heady eclecticism with a love of the three minute wonder, all shiny and new, yet visited at night by the ghosts of 20th century music. Swaggering with the chutzpah of a naked child threatening to wedge a fork into the electrical socket, each twist and swivel brings a new reason to love this band. It’s a distillation of what Toddler is all about, made into a pop sound bite like Superman squeezed a perfect diamond from a coal.
‘Ready to give the likes of the Kaiser Chiefs and Maroon 5’s of the world a run for their money, 12 Stone Toddler arrive with their new album ‘Scheming’
www.glasswerk.co.uk
‘This is rock but with a distinct poppy edge, and rock which comes at you from the jauntiest of angles. It fizzes with a punchy energy with the band not adverse to chucking in anything that comes to hand’ The Crack Magazine
‘Reggae, funk, jazz, punk, metal and country, all mixed together with an intelligent pop sensibility that never swaggers, and a sense of humour that can be taken seriously’ www.unpeeled.net
‘12 Stone Toddler are back bringing the excitement of the circus with songs that project imagery and tantalise your imagination…Great stuff!’ www.roomthirteen.com
NEW SINGLE ‘BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES/BROKEN HEARTS & BATTLE SCARS’ JUNE 21
12 Stone Toddler rock. But remember when rock was anti-fashion, didn’t stay in neat little categories, represented deviation from the norm?
Remember when rock plundered other genres and threw the bits into a hot cauldron?
Remember when rock meant bands with nothing in common other than a liking for loud guitars, stomping beats, electric hooks?
12 Stone Toddler bring this ethic back into the modern world. A marriage of opposites, combining heady eclecticism with a love of the three minute wonder. All shiny and new, yet visited at night by the ghosts of 20th century music. Swaggering with the chutzpah of a naked child threatening to wedge a fork into the electrical socket, each twist and swivel brings a new reason to love this band.
The enfant terrible of songwriters Chris Otero (vocals/bass) and Ben Jones (keyboards), infused with the potent musicianship of Pat Garvey (drums) and Randall Breneman (guitar), this is full blooded rock and roll that recognises no boundaries.
With their boisterous debut album “Does It Scare You” already out on the streets and playing with the older kids, and having raised an army of followers and fanatics in their hometown of Brighton; 12 Stone Toddler spent the summers of 2008 and 2009 unleashing their fierce live show out onto the UK festival scene- straight after completing their second album “Scheming” which was released in April 2009 on Amazon Records.
Having played live ‘radio sessions’ for Mark Lamarr and Tom Robinson, received numerous plays on Radio 2 and Radio 6, sold out gigs at Brighton’s Komedia and Concorde 2 and London’s ICA, pulled big and loving crowds who jumped, gyrated and sang along at Glastonbury, Larmer Tree and Beautiful Days festivals; and with stunning videos shown internationally on MTV, here is a band accustomed to the big stage and ready to take on the world.
“This Suit” is the third single taken from the new album, following “Under The Weather”, which picked up plays from Radio 1, Radio 2, 6Music, Absolute and XFM and the video of which was playlisted on several channels including NME TV.
Make it your mantra.
|
|
The Answer |
LATEST GALLERY IMAGES
Israel's Secret? 
The Faces of Gaza |
|
|