ALBUM & TOUR NEWS: Amber Run announce new album and tour dates

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25 Oct 2016

“Stranger is about being hopeful” explains the band, continuing “about realising that sometimes you don’t get what you need but you’ll keep moving on regardless. At it’s root, Stranger is about how it’s worth suffering for your art. It’s about reconnecting with the thing you love most and remembering that nothing that’s worth having comes easy.”

Speaking about the album the band had to say “We have always believed in evolution as a band. Not reinvention so much as taking what’s already there and making it better. As students in Nottingham, we would sit and say “we’ll be the band we want to be by the 4th album”. Somewhere along the way, we forgot that evolution takes time. We forgot that any new experience has a learning curve.

“The new album trims the fat from our previous music, and get down to the bare bones of the songs. We’re songwriters, and where 5AM was a collection of songs written in our youth, these new songs are, for us, a timely response to more recent experiences.”

Also on the album is track “Haze”, which doubles as an instant download for pre-ordering the record early. You can listen to this now via Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/amberrunofficial/haze

You can check out Amber Run on the following UK dates below in February:

8th – Waterfront Studio, Norwich
10th – Rock City, Nottingham
11th – The Institute, Birmingham
13th – Phoenix, Exeter
14th – Engine Rooms, Southampton
16th – O2 Academy, Newcastle
17th – QMU, Glasgow
18th – Plug, Sheffield
19th – Welly, Hull
22nd – Stylus, Leeds
23rd – Academy 2, Manchester
24th – SWX, Bristol
25th – Forum, London

FESTIVAL NEWS: Outlines Festival releases first names for 2017 event

By

LSF Staff Writers

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24 Oct 2016

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The multi-venue metropolitan festival will return to Sheffield City Centre for its second year from 3rd to 4th March 2017, showcasing a blend of established artists and up-and-coming acts. The event is programmed and promoted by some of the team behind the city’s much-loved Tramlines Festival, and was created with the aim of serving as a little sister to Tramlines during the colder months. After the success of 2016’s debut event, the festival’s organisers have extended the event, which will now take place across two days.

Heading up the bill are Australian psychedelic rock outfit Jagwar Ma, whose newly released second album Every Now & Then has been earning critical acclaim and is already promising to build on the success of hits such as ‘Come Save Me’ and ‘Uncertainty’.

Jagwar Ma will share the stage at the iconic venue The Leadmill – now in its 35year at the forefront of the UK’s live music scene – with a host of Sheffield talent. This showcase will be headed up by alt-rock duo Slow Club, whose latest album One Day All Of This Won’t Matter Anymore sees the band experiment with an Americana-tinged sound while retaining the rich vocal harmonies of their earlier albums.

Additional Sheffield talent comes from indie-pop quartet The Crookes, who return to the city following an extensive US tour in support of their latest, Fierce Panda-released single ‘Roman Candle’.

Meanwhile, at the festival’s largest venue, Plug, legendary 2-tone pioneers The Selecter return to Sheffield with an arsenal of hits including ‘On My Radio’ and ‘Three Minute Hero’.

Fans of electronic music, who last year enjoyed the legendary likes of Roots Manuva on the bill, will also find much to enjoy on the lineup, with emerging grime artist Lady Leshurr just one of the hotly-tipped new acts on the bill.

Those looking to discover new bands and alternative music will be catered for too, with Islet, The Orielles, Blood Sport, Luxury Death, Jodie Abacus and Azusena among the first announcements.

The festival’s programmer, Kate Hewett, says: “We’ve expanded Outlines for its second year to allow us to showcase an even broader range of artists and to give more of a platform to breaking talent from across a range of genres. With the likes of Loyle Carner, Shura and Spring King having featured on 2016’s bill, we’re confident that there will be some new names to suit all tastes on 2017’s lineup.”

2017’s event will be happening across several key venues from 3rd – 4th March. The festival is set to feature a genre-hopping bill of up to 150 artists.

Emerging artists from across the country are also being encouraged to apply to play at the event, with a number of slots still available in all festival venues. Applications are open now via the festival’s website at outlinesfestival.com

Weekend tickets are available now for just £15 while stocks last. Discounted super-earlybird tickets have now sold out.

2017 Lineup So Far

Jagwar Ma

The Selecter / Slow Club / The Crookes / Clean Cut Kid / Lady Leshurr

Blood Sport / Bossy Love / Cowtown / Hannah Peel / Hookworms / Islet / Jodie Abacus / Law Holt / Liberty Ship / Nadia Rose / The Orielles / Shock Machine / The Wytches

Azusena / Babe Punch / Blind Saints / Eyre Llew / Girl20 / Katie Pham & The Moonbathers / Luxury Death / Matic Mouth / Nachthexen / Post War Glamour Girls / Rocky Nti / Rozelle / The Seamonsters / Trash / Vultures

Links

http://outlinesfestival.com
www.facebook.com/outlinesfest
www.twitter.com/outlinesfest
www.instagram.com/outlinesfest

GIG NEWS: Heidi Talbot is Coming to The Civic Barnsley 5th November

By

Frank

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24 Oct 2016

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It’s quite a skill jumping into the unknown and trying something new. And it’s one that songwriter Heidi Talbot does with aplomb!

The Co Kildare singer’s fifth and latest album ‘Here We Go, 1, 2, 3….’ crosses the ages, jumps into the unknown and traverses oceans and musical styles from folk to American and to classic pop and back again. And it’s a wonderful rollercoaster to ride on.

Talbot is joined on the album by a whole host of musicians including Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow), Duke Special, Adam Holmes and Boo Hewerdine. The album pays tribute to the many changes in Talbot’s life from having a second baby to losing her mum, from the brilliant country-pop meditation ‘The Year That I Was Born’’ to bluegrass psalm ‘Do You Ever Think Of Me’ and the fabulous jig ‘Time to Rest’’.

Irish-born Heidi Talbot became a folk star in America and has developed a style that switches easily between Celtic and Americana, with subtlety as Talbot’s magic ingredient. From her gossamer voice to the delicate re-working of traditional and contemporary material Talbot slips effortlessly between musical worlds but retains a personal modesty rooted in traditional folk.

Over the past ten years Heidi has performed all over North and South America, the United Kingdom and Europe, Australia and New Zealand performing in the finest concert halls and international festivals. She is equally at home in front of a symphony orchestra, a performing arts centre, a folk festival or even at the White House. Heidi has toured extensively with Eddi Reader, Idlewild and Drever, McCusker, Woomble, and she received two nominations in the 2011 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Folk Singer of the Year and Best Traditional Track for Willie Taylor.

Heidi Talbot is at The Civic on Saturday 5 November at 7.30pm. Tickets are £14.

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

TOUR NEWS: Farro announces UK ‘Walkways’ Tour

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LSF Staff Writers

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24 Oct 2016

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Farro was a founding member of Grammy winning, alternative rock group, Paramore, with record sales surpassing 10 million units worldwide with hits including ‘Misery Business’, ‘Only Exception’ and ‘Decode’. The tour will mark the GRAMMY nominated artist’s first UK tour since splitting with the multi-platinum band Paramore.

The eagerly awaited tour celebrates Farro’s latest full length studio release ‘Walkways’ which debuted in the iTunes alternative chart earlier this year. ‘Walkways’ produced by Jacquire King (‪Kings of Leon, ‪Modest Mouse) offers music lovers a selection of melodic, synth driven tracks with lively guitar hooks and is Farro’s first solo debut since exiting Paramore in 2010.

Farro will play the following U.K dates this November:
17 Nov Norwich Waterfront Studio
18 Nov Leeds Key Club
19 Nov Newcastle ‪Think Tank
20 Nov Glasgow Cathouse
22 Nov Manchester ‪Sound Control
23 Nov Nottingham ‪Bodega
24 Nov Birmingham ‪Mama Roux’s
25 Nov Kingston ‪Fighting Cocks
26 Nov Bath Moles
28 Nov Southampton ‪Joiners
29 Nov London ‪Borderline

For all tickets for the forthcoming U.K dates, please go here: Farro.co

BAND FEATURE: Life Aquatic Band

By

Ewan Wright

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24 Oct 2016

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Starting The Life Aquatic Band has let Ben Allen to jump back in to what he loves doing. Having left his previous band, The Native, when he came to study in Sheffield.

“We started with folk because it’s easy to lay something down with your guitar and play it with someone else”, he tells me, sitting in a student cafe in the University of Sheffield. Next to him is Ford Collier, fellow member and guitarist of Life Aquatic Band. Listening to his earlier demos on sound cloud, I can see what he means. ‘Political song #1’ features Ben singing whimsically about immigration over his acoustic guitar, Billie Bragg style. “I’m waiting for the day when your racist joke goes down like a lead balloon/but you bred it into your children too/ so it won’t die a death too soon”.

Ben’s list of early influences is what you’d expect from a folk musician- Bob Dylan, Laura Marling, Nick Drake. “In [Ben’s] songwriting I hear quite an American sound” says Ford, referencing ‘Michigan, I’, one of the Native’s songs. “I’ve never been to Michigan, probably never will, it’s just a really nice word to sing”, Ben explains, “American music has a massive influence on me, I don’t know why. I’m a big fan of anything that comes out of New York, any genre”.

Wanting to increase the potential of his music, he recruited Ford Collier on guitar, Jonny Poole on drums and Ben Evans on bass, starting the Life Aquatic Band (LAB). He explains his desire move away from folk guitar singing- “I’ve always preferred band music, soul music especially. It’s a wish for me to stop playing guitar and just be the frontman, leaving the guitars to play more complex, exciting rhythms”. In this funkier genre, Ben likes LCD Soundsystem and Talking Heads. I ask him how he came up with the band name: a reference to the 2004 Wes Anderson film. “I’ve got an obsession with the sea, sea life, and Bill Murray… I’ve got a colouring book of just Bill Murray things”.

Working with drummer / producer Jonny Poole, they released ‘What’ll Be’ and ‘The Fault’. One of Poole’s other bands, Monster Florence, is worth a mention, showcasing the groovy soul feel Ben aspires to. I’m especially enthusiastic about the Life Aquatic Band’s latest release, ‘The Fault’. The energetic guitars and warm strings are complemented by Ben’s carefully crafted lyrics. “I do a lot of poetry so lyrics are really something that I pride myself on”, Ben explains. “’The Fault is really about mental stigma and misdiagnosing someone with mental issues that they may not have.” He explains about friends who have been diagnosed with depression and prescribed redundant medication. “Don’t medicate my mind/ It’s really not my time”.

Having performed at Sheffield venues The Harley and most recently in The Old House for Tramlines festival, LAB are looking to work with fellow Sheffield student band Floodhounds for future gigs later this year. Alongside this, and finishing their final years of university, they’re hoping to record an EP. “We’ve got a lot of grunge mixed in with funky music.” I’m intrigued by the idea. Ford elaborates: “It’s definitely eclectic in that it’s focusing towards soul music- funky beats and rhythms.” Ben continues: “The one thing I want to do is make fun music that people can dance to, I’m so used to playing on my own or without a drum kit. I just want to play something with a beat or funky rhythms. Playing live is definitely one of our strong points, when we get a crowd they definitely enjoy themselves”.

Having recently got back into the recording studio, Life Aquatic Band are hoping to release a track by the end of the year, and their EP in early 2017.

Life Aquatic Band on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifeaquaticbandLAB/

Catch L.A.B live

Black Shoes / Life Aquatic / Boxes / Jimmy Loughlin – Xmas Party
16th December at 19:00–23:00
The RS Bar Sheffield

New music store opens In Barnsley

By

LSF Staff Writers

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24 Oct 2016

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Situated just downhill from Barnsley Interchange on Eldon Street North, much emphasis is
placed on catering to musicians and music listeners of all types, from people just starting
out to those with more experience. Local musicians and bands are also encouraged to
advertise their music free in-store.

According to the owner Ross Mason, plans for the store started taking shape after the
recent unfortunate closures of some other music shops in the town. “After Debut Records
closed last year, then CAM Music closed in the Spring, I felt that there was a void that
needed to be filled” says Ross; “People outside of the town sometimes don’t realise that
Barnsley has a great music community and I hope that by combining instruments, records
and merch that we satisfy a real need”.

Barnsley Loves Music promises quality products from trusted brands. More lines have been added since the soft launch earlier this month with much more to come in the following weeks.

56 Eldon Street North
Barnsley S71 1LQ

Website: www.barnsleylovesmusic.co.uk
Facebook: /barnsleylovesmusic
Email info@barnsleylovesmusic.co.uk.

LIVE REVIEW: Cats, Todmorden Hippodrome Youth Theatre 18th/22nd October

By

Diana Forrest

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22 Oct 2016

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Todmorden Hippodrome Youth Theatre demonstrated their usual great teamwork in this production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Cats’, which is based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T S Eliot. All of the characters are cats, and that is how they moved: the dancing and acrobatics were superb. The plot is daft but serves to enable Munkustrap (well played by James Waring) who is in effect an MC, to introduce us to the Jellicle Cats. Other cast members also brought to our notice particular cats. Among these are the languorous Jennyanydots (Amelia Gregory), the Rum Tum Tugger (your typical cat, brought to life by Callum Roberts), the bumptious Bustopher Jones (Noah Bhilmull Hilton), the athletic and mischievous Mungojerrie (Iris Palmer) and Rumpleteazer (Sarah Brierley), the bossy Skimbleshanks (Ellie Spooner), the fiendish Macavity (Eliza Edwards), and the magical Mr Mistoffelees (Caitlin Ianelli): great performances here. Notable as singers were cat patriarch Old Deuteronomy (Dylan Jones) and faded glamour cat Grizabella (Alyse Costello) who gave a powerful and moving performance of the show’s best-known song ‘Memory’.

The show concluded with instructions on the addressing of cats. Cat owners will not be surprised to learn that caviar and potted grouse feature.

LIVE REVIEW: Todmorden Choral Society Autumn Concert 2016, St Mary’s Church Todmorden, 15th October

By

Diana Forrest

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22 Oct 2016

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This concert was devoted to church music. Organist Gary Hulme began with J S Bach’s Toccata in C (BWV 564). This began with a rippling effect on the high notes. The low notes intervened , then began a melody, which was elaborated and repeated higher up. The effect was celebratory. He then played a prelude (BWV 599) to the main piece of the evening, Bach’s motet ‘Jesu, meine Freude’ (BWV 227). In these pieces he demonstrated his skill at intricate playing and the power of the instrument.

The choir then sang the motet itself, in German. The words are dramatic and powerful, about the dangers of this world and the next, and the singer’s faith in Jesus who can overcome them. The choir expressed beautifully the passion of the work, which begins with a simple melody, becomes more elaborate, and returns to the original strong melody for the affirmative last verse.

The second half opened with two pieces by Anton Bruckner, ‘Pange lingua’ with beautiful harmonies, and ‘Ave Maria’ with its contrasting vocal parts. It continued with Mozart’s solemn “Ave verum corpus”. Bruckner’s “Os Justi” had subtle harmonies and a peaceful feel. The choir powerfully expressed the varying moods of the pieces.

Then Gary Hulme played another organ solo, this time a more simple one – Josef Rheinberger’s melodious and rhythmic ‘Cantilena’ from his Organ Sonata No 11.
The choir featured in the last two pieces, both by Bruckner: ‘Locus iste’ which contrasts low and high voices, which sometimes alternate or echo, and ‘Christus factus est’ with a beautiful melody and gentle harmonies. The audience demanded an encore, which was a reprise of ‘Locus iste’.

SINGLE & TOUR NEWS: Forever Cult release ‘See Thru’ & November tour dates

By

LSF Staff Writers

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22 Oct 2016

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Having spent the bulk of early 2016, writing and recording a forthcoming EP, Forever Cult, have returned with their latest offering ‘See Thru’; an angsty, hook-laden punk-pop single produced by Matt Peel (Eagulls/Bad Breeding/Pulled Apart By Horses). It will be released on a limited edition cassette tape which is only available at live shows. Each tape will have individual cover artwork + be backed with exclusive b-sides.

Following the success of ‘Tunnel Vision’, released on 7” via Too Pure Single’s Club, the band have attracted support from the likes of Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1 and Tom Robinson & Steve Lamacq on BBC 6music, Neil Kennedy on RadioX, Amazing Radio and have made appearances at Leeds Festival & Reading Festival, Tramlines, Live at Leeds, Long Division & Twisterella Festival.

The band also head out on a full November headline tour in support of the release. With the forthcoming ‘Homewrecker EP’ set for release in early 2017, ‘See Thru’ is the first taste of what to expect from the Leeds trio next year.

November Tour

Fri 11th – The Rocking Chair – Sheffield
Sat 12th – The New Adelphi Club – Hull
Mon 14th – The BOILEROOM – Guildford
Tues 15th – The Craufurd Arms – Milton Keynes
Weds 16th – Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar – Brighton
Thurs 17th – The Lock Tavern – London
Fri 18th – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds
Sun 20th – The Castle Hotel, Manchester

Tickets are available from https://www.musicglue.com/forevercult/

EP & TOUR NEWS: By The Rivers 12″ release & winter tour

By

LSF Staff Writers

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20 Oct 2016

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Available in 12”, CD and digital formats, ‘What You See’ will be the reggae-fusion outfit’s first full release of new material since their 2013 S/T debut album, with the exception of 2015’s superb standalone single ‘If They Don’t Know’.

With a knack for sunny melodies and a blue-sky attitude genre, the Leicester six-piece have picked-up praise for their ability to twist Pop, Soul & Reggae and Afrobeat into a wonderfully eclectic and vibrant sound – and their latest offering finds them in as playful mood as ever.

Opening track ‘Take It Away’ bounces along beatific brass sections, slippy Ska guitars and humming hammond organs, whilst the title-track glitters with calypso rhythms and fret dancing Afro-tinged licks. The sure-fire Summer festival scorcher ‘One Step Two Step’ is destined for euphoric mid-set mass pogoing, whereas ‘Only Love’ is a affectionate nod to roots reggae classics, made by some of its biggest devotees. Wistful closer ‘I Feel Like I Know’ sees the EP mellowly melt away on a bed of glowing harmonies and some of the band’s finest and most conscious lyrics to date. Already supported by radio reggae master – David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan on his 1Extra music show and Craig Charles on his BBC Radio 6 Funk & Soul show, this is one for the purists.

Speaking about the upcoming tour dates, By The Rivers vocalist, Nile Barrow said:

“We’re really excited to be getting back on road after having a busy festival season, and touring with Will & The People, we’ll be spurring each other on, and bringing a whole new level of energy.”

Tour

18/11 – BRIGHTON, Patterns w/ WATP
19/11 – BRISTOL, Exchange
24/11 – LIVERPOOL, Arts Club w/ WATP
26/11 – NORWICH, Arts Centre w/ WATP
27/11 – LONDON, Hoxton Square B&K
08/12 – SHEFFIELD, O2 Academy 2 w/ WATP
09/12 – MANCHESTER, Band On The Wall w/ WATP
11/12 – NOTTINGHAM, The Maze
17/12 – LEICESTER, O2 Academy w/ WATP

Tickets for all dates on the tour will be available via the By The Rivers website here –

http://www.bytherivers.co.uk/gigs

‘What You See’ – the new EP, will be released on a limited 12 inch Vinyl and CD on Friday 18th November 2016 on For The People Records

By The Rivers are:

Nile Barrow – Lead Vocals/Guitar | Jordan Birtles – Drums/Vocals
Sam Read – Keys/Guitar/Vocals | Brogan Finnigan – Bass
Will Todd – Tenor Sax | Theo Seaton – Trumpet

http://www.bytherivers.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/bytherivers