ALBUM & TOUR NEWS: Ben Marwood album released 7th April & tour dates for April 2017

3 Mar 2017

‘Bury Me In The Pantheon’ see’s Ben at his best – his familiar flowing fingerstyle on the acoustic guitar and disarmingly affecting voice exemplifies why Ben Marwood is one of Xtra Mile Recordings’ most treasured artists. The forthcoming album, ‘Get Found’ has been a long time in the making. After the successes of debut album ‘Outside There’s A Curse’ (2011) and the follow-up ‘Back Down’ (2013) – which include a sold out solo headline UK tour; a support run with Frank Turner across the US, and the very surreal spectacle of accompanying Mr Turner upon rolling green hills at his pre-show performance of the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony – Ben wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to or even want to play music again.

A very intense year-long illness stopped Ben in his tracks and even though 2014-2015 was a surprisingly productive year of writing new songs, life continued to intervene, and this promising musician spent a year “embracing horizontal living”. A third album was anything but inevitable at that point. Yet here we are, in 2017, warmly welcoming another Ben Marwood record. After introducing us to little Ben Marwood in the cutest way possible on the opening song, it’s followed by ‘The Church of No Commandments’ which happily reminds us what we’ve been missing, with an energetic live thrust and gymnastic banjo plying the way for a phrase that soars ‘we’ll sing through every chorus as if we can stave off death’. On the last song, Ben utters ‘take your lullabies and fuck off’ before winding a song around the meaning of true friendship. That constant contrast is resplendent and displayed throughout.

The album doesn’t stray far from its roots but plays with them tenderly. Pedal steel aches on ‘Enraptured’, while ‘DNFTTTS’ is pure andante piano melody. ‘Nights’ chugs and spits before bellowing into the most uplifting-sounding chorus about death you’ve heard yet – and there are plenty to come. “I’m not dead, I’m not dying, I just can’t get up,” confesses Ben on ‘I’m Wide Awake It’s Boring’ as one of just two songs that directly reference his mental and physical state of that difficult year. Penultimate song ‘The Devil Makes Work For Jazz Hands’ dwells on death and immobility again (“the weight of the world is locked on your shoulders forever”) before sliding in a slick guitar solo and resolving into a plea of “you should know that you can’t fear all of the things you fear in the dark”.

Confessional and demanding of attention – it’s great to have Ben Marwood back.

Coinciding with the release is Ben’s first tour in over 3 years – taking in some of the UK’s best independent venues. Support comes from label mate Non Canon and on select dates, Helen Chambers. Full dates are:

APRIL TOUR DATES

6th – Brunswick, Brighton*
7th – Monarch, London*
8th – Southsea Sound, Portsmouth*
10th – Crofters Rights, Bristol*
11th – Bodega, Nottingham*
12th – Fulford Arms, York*
14th – Opium, Edinburgh
15th – Hug & Pint, Glasgow
16th – Gullivers, Manchester*

*with Helen Chambers on these dates

Pre-order the album here:

Xtra Mile Recordings – http://smarturl.it/GetFound-XMR
iTunes – http://smarturl.it/GetFound_iTunes

www.benmarwood.com & www.xtramilerecordings.com

ALBUM & TOUR NEWS: Minus The Bear ‘Voids’ out 3rd March, June 2017 tour

LSF Staff Writers

1 Mar 2017

‘VOIDS’ is the Seattle band’s sixth full-length album, and first new LP in half a decade. It also marks the band’s return to their original label home, Suicide Squeeze Records, a longtime pillar of the Emerald City’s vaunted indie rock scene.

Pre-order VOIDS and purchase exclusive pre-order bundles via Suicide Squeeze Records and MinusTheBear.com

For the past 15 years Minus the Bear have made music on their own terms while carving out their own unique musical world, selling over 500k records in the process and playing to countless sold out crowds along the way. This isn’t to say they’re impervious to outside influence. They’ve borrowed components from a wide swath of genres—the brainy clangor of New York’s proto-punk scene, the cerebral buzz of IDM, the poptimist evaluation of hip-hop and R&B, and the grandiose visions of prog rock—but always managed to defy classification.

Throughout the first decade of their existence, every new album offered a new musical approach, as seen in the idiosyncratic fretboard gymnastics of Highly Refined Pirates, the glitchy loops of Menos el Oso, or the modernized Fripp- inspired wizardry of Planet of Ice. By the time the band entered our current decade, their knack for reinvention yielded to an emphasis on refinement. Albums like OMNI and Infinity Overhead searched for a middle ground where their myriad of stylistic approaches could all work within the context of a single record.

On their sixth album VOIDS, produced by Sam Bell (The Cribs, Weezer, Bloc Party, Two Door Cinema Club), Minus the Bear started with a blank slate, and inadvertently found themselves applying the same starting-from-scratch strategies that fueled their initial creative process. “There was a lot of change and uncertainty,” says guitarist David Knudson. “I think the general vibe of emptiness, replacement, lacking, and longing to fill in the gaps was very present in everyones’ minds.”

Change was everywhere. Keyboardist/vocalist Alex Rose took on a more prominent role in composition and handled lead vocal duties in Jake Snider’s stead on songs like “Call the Cops,” “Tame Beasts,” and “Robotic Heart,” drummer Kiefer Matthias joined the fold, producer Bell lent a fresh set of ears in the studio, and the band returned to their original label home at Suicide Squeeze Records. Minus the Bear were no longer swept along by the momentum that had driven them for the last fifteen years. Instead, they reached a point where they could recalibrate and redefine who they were as a musical entity. The resulting album VOIDS retains many of the band’s signature qualities—the hedonistic tales of nighttime escapism and candid vignettes of adulthood, the savvy up-tempo beats, the layered and nuanced instrumentation—while simultaneously reminding us of the musical wanderlust that initially put them on the map.

Minus The Bear is Jake Snider (vocals, guitar), Dave Knudson (guitar), Cory Murchy (bass guitar), and Alex Rose (synthesizers, vocals).

Suicide Squeeze Records is proud to release VOIDS to the world on March 3rd, 2017 on CD, LP and cassette. The first pressing of the album is available on 1,000 copies of Electric Blue (Minus The Bear exclusive) vinyl, 5,000 copies of splatter colored vinyl and 5,000 copies of 180 gram black vinyl. The LP jacket features PMS inks, a die-cut cover with a printed inner sleeve and contains a download code. The cassette version is limited to 500 copies and also includes a download code.

www.minusthebear.com

They will play the following dates:

Thu 01 Jun – Manchester, Gorilla
Fri 02 Jun – Glasgow, Stereo
Sat 03 Jun – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Sun 04 Jun – Newcastle, Riverside
Mon 05 Jun – Nottingham, Bodega
Tue 06 Jun – London, Scala
Thu 08 Jun – Cardiff, The Globe
Fri 09 Jun – Oxford, The Bullingdon
Sat 10 Jun – Brighton, The Haunt
Sun 11 Jun – Southampton, Talking Heads
Mon 12 Jun – Antwerp, Kavka
Tue 13 Jun – Amsterdam, Paradiso Upstairs
Wed 14 Jun – Cologne, MTC
Thu 15 Jun – Prague, Futurum Music Bar
Fri 16 Jun – Berlin, So36
Sat 17 Jun – Mannheim, Maifeld Derby

Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 3rd March via MinusTheBear.com

ALBUM & TOUR NEWS: Clean Cut Kid announce debut album & April/May 2017 tour dates

LSF Staff Writers

1 Mar 2017

Liverpool’s thrilling fuzz-pop quartet Clean Cut Kid have announced details of their much-anticipated debut album. A string of exhilarating singles have given snapshots of their brilliance and now comes a record to match. ‘Felt’ will be released on April 28th through Babe Magnet Records/Polydor and is available for pre-order from today. It will be preceded by a new single, ‘Leaving You Behind’, which has already received a Hottest Record accolade.

Clean Cut Kid are Mike Halls, Evelyn Halls, Saul Godman and Ross Higginson. The four-piece are one of the most exciting breakthrough bands in the UK, their inventive take on anthemic guitar-pop the product of intense writing and rehearsal sessions at the band’s practice space in Liverpool. Their five singles so far – ‘Vitamin C’, ‘Runaway’, ‘Pick Me Up’, ‘Make Believe’ and ‘We Used To Be In Love’ – have introduced a band full of creativity, who mix classic melodicism with a sonic adventurousness. ‘Felt’ was recorded at Liverpool’s Parr Street Studios with Blossoms and The Coral producer Rich Turvey, London’s Konk Studios with Arcade Fire collaborator Craig Silvey and London’s Voltaire Studios with Cam Blackwood (George Ezra, Wolf Alice).

What emerges is a contemporary indie-pop record filled with defiant pop hooks and emotionally-charged fragility. The band say that “the concept of ‘Felt’ is the timeline of a break-up from a relationship falling apart as you reach the end of the A side of the record; to flip into the B side where we emerge from the breakup and back into a new relationship.” It’s a record that drags the listener through the rollercoaster of emotions experienced during the end of one relationship and the beginning of another, songs with a voice that is refreshing and honest in a generation of emotional detachment. ‘Felt’ is an album that deals with the hard truths and uplifting highs of modern love.

Clean Cut Kid will embark on a headline tour in April and May and will also head out in support of Brit Award-nominated troubadour Michael Kiwanuka in May. The dates for the band’s headline tour are:

28th April Glasgow King Tuts
1st May Glasgow O2 ABC (w/Michael Kiwanuka)
2nd May Bristol Colston Hall (w/Michael Kiwanuka)
4th May Cambridge Corn Exchange (w/Michael Kiwanuka)
5th May London Royal Albert Hall (w/Michael Kiwanuka)
6th May Birmingham O2 Institute
8th May Bristol The Exchange
9th May Brighton Patterns
10th May London Scala
12th May Manchester Sound Control
20th May Liverpool Academy

BAND FEATURE: The Seamonsters

Frank

28 Feb 2017

The six-piece formed in 2013 and have played Tramlines along with a host of headline and support gigs in and around Sheffield. They’ve played with The Rifles and supported various local bands like TRASH and Bayonet, and with an ever growing fan base on social media they hope to start playing gigs all over the country.

I first came across The Seamonsters in one of those random link clink sessions you do when you have the odd 20 minutes to pass. I was intrigued by their sound which reminded me of those ‘jangly guitar off-kilter drum rhythms’ bands I was listening to in the 80s. The band themselves describe their sound as ‘catchy guitar riffs with angelic vocals and interesting drum beats’. Although there’s a lot more to their ‘glitter’ sound than that.

The band they most reminded me of was Girls At Our Best (The Seamonsters are the band I’m referring to in my column on GAOB). They also win huge points from me in mentioning Altered Images – one of my favourite bands from the 80s – as an influence.

But before you write them off as retro copyists, they add in more recent influences and of course that sprinkle of glitter to produce their own unique sound. It’s music that’ll make you smile, and we all need a little glitter in our lives.

The Q&A

I posed the questions Ciara (drummer) and Lauren (bass) gave the answers.

How did the band get together, and how long have you been together?
The band got together about four years ago but we just played covers and did a few small gigs, we haven’t started taking it more seriously until recently. Most of us met through a drama group where we were cast in the parts of seamonsters, hence the name.

In your description of your music the word ‘Glitter’ features heavily, how does this relate to your sound?
We love glitter and we tend to always wear it for gigs, in terms of it relating to our sound the new keyboard parts are very twinkly and glitter like. I think also a lot of our composition of structure relies on adding interesting melodies and harmonies and rhythms on top of the existing parts and that maybe brings out unexpected elements by using significantly contrasting parts which I suppose could be compared to the many different colours that combine to make glitter as complex and appealing as it is.

Band influences? I find your sound interesting because to my admittedly rather ancient ears I hear hints of 80s bands like Fuzzbox, bands like Orange Juice, Girls At Our Best, and even some of the ‘Twee bands’ like Talulah Gosh, so I was wondering whether your influences went as far back as that?
We often get compared to 80s bands and I’d say our new songs we’ve been writing are even more heavily influenced by the 80s. We have such a large range of influences as each member has very different styles but we’re definitely influenced by bands like Pulp, Altered Images, Smashing Pumpkins and Blondie, as well as more recent bands like The Wombats and Black Honey.

Do you have a main songwriter or is writing more of whole band thing?
We tend to all write our own parts, this is the way that seems to work best for us.

How do your songs come together?
Often one of us will come up with a guitar riff and then we’ll play around with the other instruments and try and fit all our ideas together. As there’s six of us it can sometimes be quite hard to pull six different ideas into one song but it often makes for a more interesting outcome (or we think so anyway).

You’ve got a upcoming slot at Outlines, how are you feeling about that? Are you hoping that it’s going to get your music out to a wider audience?
We’re really excited for Outlines! It’s great to be on a bill with lots of great bands and we can’t wait to go see some of them as well as playing our set. Hopefully playing Outlines will mean some people who’ve never seen us before will get a chance to and maybe some new people will discover us, it’s great that festivals allows that to happen.

I understand you have a new single coming out, can you give some us hints about it or are you keeping it under wraps?
We don’t have a confirmed date for it yet but it’s called ‘Lost (and Found)’ and we think it’s a lot better than the demos we currently have out. We can’t wait to have our music on platforms like Spotify so a wider audience can hear it, there’s also going to be a music video which we’re currently filming and is looking very cool.

What’s been the most difficult thing in progressing the band forward?
Often finding time to do things can be hard as we’re balancing band and A levels but next year we’ll have much more freedom.

Highlight so far?
The highlight for us so far is hearing our new single and I’m sure our next highlight will be releasing it!

The info

Band members

Naomi Mann – lead vocals
Lauren Smith – bass
Holly Thompson – lead guitar
Tassie Drobinski – rhythm guitar
Ella Taylor – keyboards
Ciara Hurding – drums

Links

https://www.instagram.com/the_seamonsters/
https://twitter.com/cmonstersmusic
https://www.facebook.com/TheSeamonsters/

GIG NEWS: INNERCITY LIVE present a weekend of exceptional live music at Zebedee’s Yard Hull featuring headliners PRIMAL SCREAM & THE FLAMING LIPS

LSF Staff Writers

28 Feb 2017

Expect fireworks on Friday 23rd of June, as transformative rock demigods Primal Scream get the weekend off with a bang with an explosive set of hits from their glittering repertoire. Expect “Moving On Up”, “Jailbird”, “Rocks”, plus choice cuts from their acclaimed latest ‘Chasomosis’ record.

And keeping the Scream gang on their toes with a catalogue boasting a trove of indie gems the likes of “The Killing Moon” “Nothing Lasts Forever”, “Never Stop”, “Bring On The Dancing Horses” and so much more, support for the night comes from none other than Echo & The Bunnymen.

Sky-rocketing 2017 rock hopefuls VANT complete Friday’s bill as they cut the ribbon with the razor edged tunes of their feverishly anticipated debut ‘Dumb Blood’.

Following up on Saturday 24th June 2017, neo-psychedelic extraordinaires The Flaming Lips will be cramming their flight cases with their finest fancy dress, confetti cannons and whacked-out visuals as they head for the 2017 Capital with a face-melting live performance in mind.

And looking to expand your mind, though perhaps in a somewhat less kaleidoscopic manner, Public Service Broadcasting look to Inform, Educate and Entertain the city with a sample-tastic set of their beguiling brainiac pop earlier in the evening.

More guests will be announced in due course for Saturday’s line up – watch this space.

Taking place at Zebedee’s Yard in Hull’s Old Town, tickets for both events will be available on General Sale on Wednesday 1st March at 9am. Full details as follows:

Friday 23rd June 2017

Primal Scream
Plus Special Guests: Echo & The Bunnymen + VANT

Zebedee’s Yard, Hull
Doors 6pm
Tickets: £32.50
Ticket link: www.hullboxoffice.com/events/primal-scream

***

Saturday 24th June 2017

The Flaming Lips
Plus Special Guests: Public Service Broadcasting
Plus more to be announced

Zebedee’s Yard, Hull
Doors 5pm
Tickets: £35.00
Ticket link: www.hullboxoffice.com/events/flaming-lips

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.innercitylive.co.uk
www.facebook.com/innercitylive/
www.hullboxoffice.com

FESTIVAL NEWS: Brand new festival in Liverpool – Hope & Glory – announced, first acts announced

Frank

28 Feb 2017

FIRST MAIN STAGE HEADLINER ANNOUNCED
HACIENDA CLASSICAL + Special Guests

PLUS ALSO PERFORMING

THE FRATELLIS
TOM CHAPLIN
THE REVEREND & THE MAKERS
& OVER 50 MORE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED…

FREE SECRET GIG FOR FIRST 1,200 TICKET BUYERS
***ON FRIDAY 4 AUGUST***

This summer the heart of Liverpool will play host to the exciting new UK festival HOPE & GLORY, bringing a range of unique music and art to St. George’s Hall, in the centre of the city, for the very first time.

To launch the festival, the first 1,200 ticket buyers will gain access to a very special free gig the night before the festival starts. Taking place in a secret location in Liverpool on Friday 4 August, the exclusive gig will have big name acts performing; details of which will be revealed to the lucky ticket holders nearer to the event.

The two-day festival is set in an atmosphere of decadent Victoriana carnival, where 12,500 fans can enjoy an abundance of entertainment throughout the whole festival site while indulging in the stunning Victorian backdrop of the World Museum, City Library and St. George’s Hall and Gardens – all within a few hundred yards walk of the main Lime Street train station.

HOPE & GLORY is a stylish yet artistically subversive boutique festival offering an edgy, sophisticated and surreal experience – think Charles Darwin meets Tim Burton. Featuring a wide variety of live music over the weekend, HOPE & GLORY has revealed the first array of acts to play across its two stages.

Headlining the festival’s main stage – ‘The Great Exhibition Stage’ – on the Sunday is Hacienda Classical, who will see out the whole weekend and also joining them are Scottish-trio The Fratellis, former Keane front-man Tom Chaplin and UK rockers Reverend & The Makers, with plenty more top names still to be announced.

Elsewhere there will be over 50 acts playing across the festival arena, with some of the best new and exciting talent taking to the ‘Wonders Of The Age Stage’ including The Shimmer Band, The Blinders, Coquin Migale and Vynce.

Offering more than just an incredible roster of music, HOPE & GLORY also features an abundance of side-shows across the site with Spoken Word performances taking place at ‘Dr. Johnston’s Clandestine Gathering’ as well as top class magic, comedy and acoustic acts at the ‘Soapbox’. It also caters for the whole family with ‘Kaleidoscope Corner’, a games and competitions area specifically designed for adults plus ‘Darwin’s Little Darlings’ for the kids.

Amongst the entertainment are a collection of culinary delights and adult-only bars scattered around the site, including ‘Mother’s Ruin’ gin palace and ‘Prince Albert’s Little Secret’ cocktail bar – along with phone charging facilities and of course the ‘Longjohns & Bloomers’ toilets.

HOPE & GLORY is an exciting addition to the UK’s festival scene, providing a quirky and fun weekend for all the family to watch, enjoy and discover some of the best talent in music and art, all within a unique and attractive location.

Tickets available from: HopeAndGloryFestival.co.uk / Eventbrite.com / SEEtickets.com

Weekend Tickets (inc. booking fee):
Adult £89
Under 16s £59
Under 10s £49
Under 5s £FREE

Full T’s & C’s at HopeAndGloryFestival.co.uk

GIG NEWS: Martin Harley and Daniel Kimbro bring the Blues to The Civic, Barnsley on Saturday 11 March

LSF Staff Writers

28 Feb 2017

The new studio album ‘Static In The Wires’ was released on February 10th 2017. Produced by Martin & Daniel Kimbro. Recorded in Nashville, it follows the critically acclaimed ‘Live At Southern Ground’.

The two musicians met through a mutual friend Sam Lewis at Hippie Jack’s music festival in Crawford Tennessee. After a brief backstage rehearsal, the two took to the stage for an hour of largely improvised music. A few weeks later they were cutting a record at Zac Brown’s iconic Southern Ground studios. Their live shows seek to bring aspects of blues, Americana and folk to the table. Martin plays a 100 year Weissenborn (Hawaiian acoustic lap guitar), Daniel plucks beats, scratches and bows his double bass to create and an unexpected array of textures and sounds.

Last summer in Canada he and Daniel played Winnipeg, Vancouver, Canmore and Calgary Folk Music Festivals as well as shows in the Caribbean, the US and Europe.

Daniel has played the Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry, Tennessee Theatre, Bonnaroo,

Telluride Bluegrass Festival, MerleFest, Hardly Strictly, Bluegrass, StordFest, The Kate Wolf Folk Festival, The Edmonton Folk Festival, New Orleans Jazz Fest, The Blue Note Tokyo, Chateau St. Michelle, Jammin at Hippie Jacks (Jack’s) and many more.

Martin Harley & Daniel Kimbro is at The Civic on Saturday 11 March at 8pm. Tickets are £13.50.

For more information and to book visit www.barnsleycivic.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01226 327000.

Martin Harley
http://www.martinharley.com/

TOUR NEWS: Mallory Knox announce instore appearances during their March 2017 tour

LSF Staff Writers

28 Feb 2017

Mallory Knox have announced an exclusive set of in-store performances to celebrate the release of their third album ‘Wired’, released March 10th on RCA. The special pop-ups will see the band take their unique ‘Unwired’ live performances across the country, starting off in Sheffield HMV on March 10th, Leeds Crash on March 13th, Manchester HMV on March 14th, Kingston Banquet on March 15th and finishing up with what promises to be a show stopping performance at HMV, Oxford Circus on March 16th. To coincide with the release of ‘Wired’, the Cambridge rockers will also head out on a UK headline tour, including two underplay shows at London’s Koko in April.

Defined by psychological conflict, ‘Wired’ documents a journey of self-discovery for Mallory Knox. “Sometimes the biggest part is the realisation that you are fucked up,” vocalist Mikey Chapman says, “and you do need to sort yourself out if you’re ever going to find a pathway to happiness, that leads you away from the vices that deafen you daily.” The future of the band, though, seems impossibly bright.

In just five years, Mallory Knox have firmly established themselves as pillars of the British rock movement. The Cambridge five-piece released three BBC Radio 1 A-Listed singles on last album ‘Asymmetry’, sold out London’s 3,700-capacity Roundhouse, played to huge crowds on the Reading & Leeds and Download main stages and reached #16 on the official UK album chart.

Breaking free of the restraints that bound them over the first two albums – inexperience, self-doubt, a restricting reverence to their heroes and a reputation as rock’s latest nice guys – Mallory Knox are back – and they’re laying bare their souls, kicking at their boundaries, savaging their sound and expanding their worldview. In the process, they are becoming the vital voice of the modern rock generation; damaged, informed, driven, torn between happiness and hedonism and utterly, utterly wired.

Pre-order the album here http://malloryknox.com/unwired for priority instore tickets

‘Unwired’ live in-store dates:

10 Mar Sheffield HMV
13 Mar Leeds Crash
14 Mar Manchester HMV
15 Mar Kingston Banquet
25 Mar London HMV

‘Wired’ will be released March 10th on RCA, including the following tracks:

1. Giving It Up
2. California
3. Wired
4. For You
5. Midnight
6. Citalopram (Better Off Without You)
7. Falling in Love
8. Lucky Me
9. Saviour
10. Come Back Around
11. Mother

Pre order ‘Wired’ here:

Official Store http://smarturl.it/MKWiredstore
Apple Music / iTunes http://smarturl.it/MXWiredAppleMusic
Spotify http://smarturl.it/MXWiredSpotify
Google Play http://smarturl.it/MXWiredGooglePlay
Amazon http://smarturl.it/MXWiredAmazon

Mallory Knox will play the following live dates in 2017. Pre-Sale tickets will be available on 2nd November here: http://smarturl.it/MXpresale

20 Mar Bristol, O2 Academy
21 Mar Cardiff, Tramshed
22 Mar Norwich, UEA
24 Mar Birmingham, O2 Institute
25 Mar Sheffield, Leadmill
26 Mar Cambridge, Corn Exchange
28 Mar Aberdeen, Garage
29 Mar Edinburgh, Liquid Rooms
31 Mar Newcastle, University SU
1 April Liverpool, O2 Academy
2 April Portsmouth, Pyramids
4 April Oxford, O2 Academy
5 April London, KOKO
6 April London, KOKO

Mallory Knox are:

Mikey Chapman – vocals
Sam Douglas – bass and vocals
Joe Savins – guitar
James Gillett – guitar
Dave Rawling – drums

BAND FEATURE: The Elephant Trees

Frank

26 Feb 2017

An acoustic-led (but loud) alt-rock band from Leeds, The Elephant Trees got together in early 2015 and have been writing and gigging ever since. They’ve supported artists such as Jake Isaac, City of Lights, and Billy Bibby (ex-Catfish and the Bottlemen), as well as playing venues such as Leeds’ Belgrave Music Hall and O2 Academy.

Inspired by everything from Biffy Clyro and Twenty One Pilots, to Laura Marling and Ed Sheeran, they blend a more acoustic singer-songwriter style with huge riffs and singalong choruses to create a unique and infectious sound.

With the release of their single ‘90 Degrees’ coming up at the end of the month, a video for the track available now and a single launch gig at The Wardrobe Leeds on the 2nd March there’s a lot going on for The Elephant Trees. I took the opportunity to ask them about how they got together, influences and plans for the future (although I wish I’d asked them where the band’s name came from). Martha (vocals) was kind enough to give us the answers.

How did you get together? had any of you been in bands together before?
We actually started as my school project, the rest of the guys had been in bands before, but I hadn’t really. At first there was no intention to carry it on but after we played our first gig it felt like there was no choice but to keep on playing together and see what happened!

Your music being ‘acoustic led but loud’ is interesting – is this something you set out to do or is it just as a result of the influences the band bring to the table?
I think one of the main reasons is that I’m not very good at electric guitar…we tried it at first and it just didn’t work. So as I went back to acoustic and brought all my acoustic led songs, the guys brought their vibe with them. Influences is a big thing, they guys have introduced me to their heavier music; Royal Blood, Arcane Roots, Muse, and we mashed it into Laura Marling style guitar and lyrics.

While we’re talking about influences what are your major influences? Are there other ‘local’ bands that influenced your sound?
Local bands have definitely influenced us. For a while we were mentored by Matt from City Of Lights, I think our music is quite similar to theirs. City Of Lights played a big part in our creation so they definitely helped shape our vibe. Alongside them, bands like Conflare, The Dunwells, The Barmines, all Leeds bands with BIG sounds that continue to push us to develop.

How do your songs come together, does one person lead on the song writing or is it more of joint process?
Usually I come to the band with a song I’ve written and we build the instruments on top or rearrange the whole song. Sometimes Sam, who plays guitar, brings the music and I’ll write lyrics over the top. I think you can definitely hear the difference between our two writing styles, his are more anthemic, I love it.

The new single ‘90 Degrees’. How did this song come together and what’s it about?
The song it’s self is about 18 months old now, it’s one of our favourites to play and one we usually get the most feedback on. I used to play it on my own but chucked it to the band and they did their thing to it. It’s about dealing with depression and anxiety in different ways and how sometimes you just let it wash over you.

This kind of topic is a bit of a taboo subject so we want to challenge it with our songs, get people talking about it because it’s important, especially for people suffering with depression etc. to be open and feel they can talk about it.

How did you come up with the idea for the video?
We like glitter….. but I guess the deeper meaning behind it is the juxtaposition between the angriness and the sparkliness! As I said above, the song is angry and about dark times; the glitter is supposed to show that you can make something beautiful out of those times. The song was born out of a crap time in my life but has lead me to the best time in my life with the band and opened so many doors for us.

What was the experience of shooting the video like?
It was ace! I’ve still got glitter in my hair now! Hard to keep up the energy jumping around all day though, but so fun when we got the glitter out.

What’s been the highlight so far?
We’ve been lucky enough to play at Leeds O2 Academy a couple of times, which is something we never thought we’d get to do. That was a big moment for all of us, we were all grinning ear to ear.

Upcoming plans?
We’ve got the single launch party on 2nd March at The Wardrobe in Leeds which will be our first proper headline gig, we are BUZZING. As for new music, you’ll just have to keep your eyes peeled;) 2017 is set to be quite an exciting year for The Elephant Trees….

The single – ‘90 Degrees’

If you haven’t pressed play on the video at the top of this piece already then you’re in for treat. Yep it’s high energy rock, but it’s not just three minutes of the same thing – not that would be a bad thing it’s stunner of a riff – there are changes and shifts.

It’s slightly unfair to pick out one thing musically – the band sure can play – but I was particularly struck by Martha’s vocals. I’m not sure what I was expecting to hear vocally but it wasn’t what I got. There’s a power in her singing but crucially you can hear the words. And that’s something not every singer can do.

The other thing that really struck me was that the music really matches the song – you can hear the anger in the music.

The Elephant Trees are a force to be reckoned with, I for one will be waiting for more.

The info

Band Members:

Martha Phillips – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Sam Hugh-Jones – Lead guitar
Will Milton – Bass
Tom Palmer – Drums

Links:

www.facebook.com/theelephanttrees
www.twitter.com/theeletrees
www.instagram.com/theelephanttrees

Upcoming Gigs:

2nd March – ’90 Degrees’ Single Launch, The Wardrobe Leeds
8th April – Sucker Punch Festival, Temple Of Boom, Leeds
15th April – Fleecetonbury, The Fleece, Northallerton

NEWS FOR BANDS/ARTISTS: Ditto Music launches ‘DITTO ACCELERATOR PROJECT’

LSF Staff Writers

24 Feb 2017

Leading record label services company Ditto Music, has announced their latest initiative in the independent music market, with the launch of the Ditto Accelerator Project across the UK and Sweden. The new project which is funded by Ditto Music, is aimed at developing and building the careers of artists from underprivileged backgrounds.

The Ditto Accelerator Project is offering artists with limited access to recording tools and funds, the chance to record and release music at Ditto’s own studio in Birmingham and Sweden. Founded by Matt & Lee Parsons, Ditto Music is committed to building and developing their own artists through the Ditto Accelerator Project and plans to sign new artists throughout 2017. As both CEO’s originate from Birmingham, the project has deep meaning for brothers Matt and Lee, whose philanthropic acts have become a big part of their day-to-day business. CEO Lee Parsons explains why Ditto Music decided to launch the new project:

“New artists are the lifeblood of the music industry. My brother and I are tired of seeing so many talented artists from similar backgrounds to ourselves be held back by lack of money and opportunity. Ditto Accelerator is going to give low income musicians the chance to work with a top producer and then develop their talent worldwide through Ditto’s international label services teams.”

Artists will have access to free studio time and work with Ditto’s in-house producers including Nayla Nyassa, whose impressive list of clients include Skepta, Jacob Banks and Vanessa White from The Saturdays. Joining the team to head up A&R and artist development at the Birmingham studio will be Despa Robinson, who currently manages UK grime artist Jaykae and Warner Music’s Grim Sickers.

The Ditto Accelerator Project will hold auditions this March, to find new artists to develop. Artists can expect to work with the industry’s world class producers to create their own music and release it to the world.

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