Post-modern? Most likely. Sarcastic, energetic, manic, catchy, and fun? Most definitely. Written and recorded in the post-social networking malaise, Asylums’ debut album ‘Killer Brain Waves’ is the sound of discontent right now.

From the very first demo to this very album, the band have done it all on their own fiercely DIY terms. And right now, doing everything their own way has meant that current single ‘Necessary Appliances’, is being championed by BBC Radio 1, 6Music, and Radio X, and a whole bunch of gigs beckons over Summer, including slots at Bestival and other prestigious festivals.

Asylums have created a snapshot of a band and country in a state of change. They may have killer pop hooks, but there’s no bubblegum here – songs about the death of high street retail, austerity, and rampant consumerism, sit cheek by jowl next to tales of sex, outsider culture, and gender equality. With a social media blackout for the first three singles, ‘Killer Brain Waves’ is the culmination of a two year slow burn – all this in the time that has seen other bands get themselves signed and disappear off the face of the Earth. A new song every three months, each with a new DIY video on a new theme, on their own Cool Thing Records label run out of a spare bedroom in Southend-on-Sea. And it’s not just for Asylums – this album has secured Cool Thing a distribution deal with Brighton’s
Republic Of Music, meaning that they can now give other bands a platform.

Some of the songs you’ll know. After all, five of the tracks on Killer Brain Waves went straight onto Radio 1, and the band have been playing the length and breadth of Britain supporting the likes of The Vaseline’s, Killing Joke, Ash and Nothing But Thieves.

Dates

21st October – Chinnery’s, Southend
22nd October – Eagle Inn, Salford
23rd October – Cellar Bar, Oxford
25th October – Exchange, Bristol
26th October – Hope & Ruin, Brighton
27th October – Cookie Jar, Leicester
28th October – Rainbow, Birmingham
29th October – West End Centre, Aldershot

Online

Website – www.asylumsband.com
Twitter – www.twitter.com/asylumsband
Facebook – www.facebook.com/asylumsuk

The Manchester based psychedelic blues-rock power trio have been playing together since 2015. They recorded ‘Rhythm’n’Trouble’ in June of this year. Take a listen to the album on Bandcamp – link below.

Tickets

Ticket: £7 adv.
Ticket (adv.) + CD: £10
CD only (at the venue): £8

https://www.fatsoma.com/dusty-pop-entertainment/2o7guuk6/the-petra-flowers

Contact the band for advance tickets with CDs included.

Further information about the band

Andrew Gledhill – Drums
Joseph Barson – Bass
Jose Carretero – Guitar & Vocals

Bandcamp: http://thepetraflowers.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePetraFlowers/

‘Stars’ was released on September 30th, 1991 and was the best selling UK album for two consecutive years, 1991 and 1992, a feat that hasn’t been repeated since. It was their 4th album and the first to feature a collection of songs written entirely by Mick Hucknall for which he received an Ivor Novello award for Best Songwriter of the Year in 1991 in addition to a Brit Award for Best British Band that same year.

“After the huge success of ‘A New Flame’, I set myself the challenge of composing a whole album of original songs,” Mick Hucknall recalls. “I could never have imagined that ‘Stars’ would have the impact it did. It was a truly magical time. Now, looking on after 25 years, it seems only fitting to celebrate by performing the album in the original running order.”

25 years after it’s release, ‘Stars’ remains one of modern music’s best and most successful albums. It made Mick Hucknall a superstar, turning Simply Red into one of the country’s biggest bands. The album sold over 10 million worldwide, 4 million in the UK. Today the album sounds as fresh and exciting as it did in 1991.

Dates in November

Sat 11th Dublin, 3 Arena
Sun 13th Liverpool, Echo Arena
Tue 15th Aberdeen, AE & CC
Wed 16th Glasgow, The SSE Hydro
Fri 18th Manchester Arena
Sat 19th Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
Sun 20th Birmingham, Genting Arena
Tue 22nd Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
Wed 23rd Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
Fri 25th London, The SSE Arena Wembley
Sun 27th London, The O2

Tickets go on sale now. For more details head to www.simplyred.com

The Orielles wanted to create a special event in an intimate venue, showcasing some amazing acts, and showing their love and support for other bands on the live and unsigned scene. Sidonie from the band says: “Glad to have some of our favourite UK bands joining us for these nights of good vibes at one of our favourite venues in Manchester!” Full details of the weekend below

This fast emerging young band have been capturing hearts over the past few years with a series of joyously received releases ‘Space Doubt’, ‘Joey Says We Got It’ and the ‘Jobin EP’, and impressing on the live circuit and at festivals such as an appearance at Canadian Music Week. With their knack for crafting surf hooks, addictive rhythms and bittersweet, swoonsome pop earworms, they are showing just why the likes of NME, Steve Lamacq and the Independent are getting so excited about them!

The Orielles Weekender
Fallow Cafe Manchester
25th/26th November

Friday 25th November
The Orielles
ZuZu
Party Hardly
The Roasts

Saturday 26th November
The Orielles
TBC
Fentonville Street Band
Corey Bowen

Day/Weekend Tickets Available: Seetickets, Dice.FM and Skiddle

The full line-up for this year’s Marsden’s Jazz Festival has now been unveiled and it includes over 80 free gigs and events as well as performances by internationally-acclaimed artists.

Jazz legend Digby Fairweather appeared at Marsden’s first jazz festival in 1992 and tickets for his ‘Rocking in Rhythm’ show alongside BBC Radio 2’s Paul Jones for the 25th festival have already sold out.

Tickets for the other headline gigs at this year’s festival, which is being supported by Yorkshire Water and Arts Council England, are also selling well and festival goers are being encouraged to buy tickets in advance rather than waiting until the weekend itself.

Other headliners include ten-piece band Jazz Jamaica, Anglo-American supergroup The Impossible Gentlemen, and Jazz FM Awards 2016 nominee Nérija.

The 25th Marsden Jazz Festival will also feature the renowned Saturday street parade, an artisan market in Marsden’s Victorian park and over 140 hours of live music at 25 venues.

Festival Producer Barney Stevenson said: “We’re delighted with the line-up we’ve managed to get for our 25th festival and there really is something for everyone from headliners in the historic Mechanics Hall to up-and-coming community and youth groups on our four outdoor stages.

“There’ll also be live jazz in ten pubs, bars and cafes, six clubs, two churches and a church hall, and one converted mill from 7pm on the Friday evening up until 11pm on the Sunday night of the festival weekend.

“The Saturday street parade is always the centrepiece of the festival and this year’s parade – dubbed The Marsden Big Noise – promises to be bigger than ever, featuring three of the UK’s leading street bands and a mad musical machine.

“Children will also be able to make their own instruments from recycled household items at special workshops leading up to the festival, and then take part in the parade itself.”

A special child-friendly gig – Monster Music Improv – will also be taking place at Standedge Tunnel Visitors’ Centre on the Sunday afternoon of the festival weekend where live cartoons and live jazz will be mixed together.

Cartoonist Patrick Sanders will be drawing cartoons, projected onto a big screen, to accompany improvised performances by outstanding guitarist and technology whizz Shane Latimer and Jazz FM Vocalist of the Year 2016 Lauren Kinsella.

Other headliners travelling to the Yorkshire Pennine village for the 25th festival are 20-piece hip hop big band Abstract Orchestra, Montreal trio Trifolia, Lancashire-based swing group The Swing Commanders and rising Blues star Tom Seals.

A tribute to influential American jazz musician Jaco Pastorius will also be performed by the Ben Crosland Quartet with special guests Martin Shaw and Mick Hutton.

Four acts will be appearing on Marsden’s New Stream stage this year, which features new and experimental jazz. Fraser Fifield and Graeme Stephen; Eskelin, Bourne and Sharkey; the Anton Hunter Trio; and Dave Kane are all performing at the Royal British Legion on the Saturday of the festival weekend.

Marsden Jazz Festival was named ‘Outstanding Established Festival’ at the Yorkshire Gig Guide Grassroots Awards 2015, and thousands of music lovers make their way to Marsden by train, bus, car and narrow boat every year for the festival weekend.

This year’s Marsden Jazz Festival is taking place between Friday 7 and Sunday 9 October 2016. Tickets are on sale now and can booked online at www.marsdenjazzfestival.com, by calling 0800 6125 649 (10am-4pm, Monday-Friday), or at the jazz festival office in the library at Marsden Mechanics (10am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday).

The full line-up of over 100 gigs is also available to view at www.marsdenjazzfestival.com/whats-on.