SINGLE & ALBUM NEWS: Casino Rockets drop single ‘Impala’, debut album ‘Reality Distortion Field’ out 21st May 2021

12 Apr 2021

Halifax four-piece Casino Rockets operate within a world of alt/math /post-rock utilising intricate guitar patterns and wall-of-sound synths to create cerebral and animated rock with a distinctive edge. Their debut album, ‘Reality Distortion Field’, will be self-released on 21 May 2021, and the first single from the album, ‘Impala’, is available now on all digital platforms.

Produced by Steve Whitfield (The Cure, The Mission, Jane Weaver) and mastered by Dez Ford (Scenius, The Fossil Collective, Klammer) ‘Reality Distortion Field’, as the band themselves explain, is an album of “persistence and perspective, a journey from the bleakness of the mundane to the exhilaration of elevation; an adventure between the rock bottom and the summit”.

The band instinctively aim for the unpredictable, something which sees the album career between seismic shifts in rhythm and structure; a philosophy perfectly encapsulated in lead single ‘Impala’, which relates a story of tyranny versus vulnerability. Lyrically, the song alternates between the vision of the lion and the impala, and how both can gain equal footing in the game of life; one through power, one through competence of behaviour. As a metaphor of a personal experience of growing up and steering a path, it relates to anyone who has ever known struggle, and the cinematic and dystopian feel of the accompanying video highlights this further.

The album reflects the disparate influences of the band, taking in trip hop and electronica to psychedelia and classic rock.

The album has been a long time coming. ‘Black & Red’ was originally released almost three years ago and the album itself has been bubbling away slowly ever since. Each song has been painstakingly nurtured, with the final track ‘Kachumber’ taking several years to refine, having being shelved numerous times because the band never felt able to do it justice. Until now that is. “The idea persevered and continued to evolve right up until the final mix,” they say, “eventually becoming what we consider to be a melancholic epic that we feel is a powerful climax to the album.”

Put simply, the album has taken time because it needed time and because it’s important.

“Finally hearing the album and holding it in our hands means such a lot to us,” the band explain on reflection. “When we set out to write and record Reality Distortion Field we were driven by a passion to create the sound of the band we aspired to be; a sound familiar to our ears but yet to be heard. This has been a deeply profound experience, the realisation of a dream. The question that now excites us the most is: where do we go from here?”

CASINO ROCKETS are TIV WHITAKER (vocals and synths) RICK ANDERSON (guitars and vocals) DAN LEA (bass, synths and vocals) and – out of necessity – the unrecognisable CHRIS (drums).

‘Reality Distortion Field’ is released on 21 May 2021 and will be available on download and vinyl. Pre-order: https://casinorockets.com/

SINGLE REVIEW: Liam Sullivan – ‘Stadiums And Churches’

Frank

9 Apr 2021

Liam has become one of those artists I really look forward to reviewing but there’s more than that. He’s become a firm favourite of mine. One, because he writes really great words and two, because you never quite know what he’s going to release next – electric, acoustic, folky, Americana, rock. It is a beautiful lottery but it’s always good, you know it’s going to be good.

And I should warn you that I’m going to gush. Some artists deserve gushing; Liam is one of those.

In contrast to the guitar heavy sound of his last single – ‘Be Kind’ – ‘Stadiums And Churches’ is built around a piano, a light and beguiling piano. As he sings in what I can only describe as a gentle folky way. And it’s magical.

Gradually an acoustic guitar builds until it breaks into a heavy strummed folk guitar break. And then the song builds to the bewitching finale of a vocal only ‘Daybreak’.

It’s light, urgent, uplifting. The sound speaks of good happy things to come. His songs always come with a meaning, a story, a mood that is being described. And this is no different, ‘Stadiums And Churches’ was written and recorded during lockdown. As with all of Liam’s work, it is steeped in imagery. He uses his poetry to look at how the world is changing. Places such as stadiums and churches, which used to hold such reverence in people’s lives, are now empty. But will be filled again.

Musically it reminds me of all sorts of artists I love – hints of Nick Drake, John Martyn, Damien Rice, even early Kate Bush and Yes. But that isn’t really enough, nowhere near enough. As I sit here tapping awkwardly at my keyboard all I can do is to pluck influences out of the song. And I shouldn’t be doing that. It’s the whole song that matters. So let’s do that.

This is singer/songwriter music with incredible depth – both lyrically and musically. Yes, there are hints of folk but this isn’t folk music. And that’s the thing about Liam, his songs are written to fit the words, the topic, the mood; that’s why they don’t sound the same. They have a thread that runs through – a thread of a feel that says this is a song by him. And it’s that feel that I love. Part of that feel is the enormous care he puts into his songs – the way the different sounds are placed. His songs are sonically rich – layers of perfectly placed backing vocals, guitar sounds that are infinitely variable – all with that voice of his to the fore. But the part that really gets me is that his songs come from the heart, his soul, he sings those songs from the heart.

With every release I grow more and more impressed with Liam’s work; I haven’t been disappointed once. And the more I hear the more I appreciate the beauty in his music, the heart and soul, the power of his words to move me.

But there’s something about this song, something that chimes with my mood right now, and probably our mood. It’s the right song at the right time. And it’s lodged itself in that part of my head where all the music I really love sits.

This is perfect and beautiful. There’s nothing more to say.

SINGLE REVIEW: Apollo Junction – ‘Light Up the Sky’

Frank

9 Apr 2021

Apollo Junction make big music, big soaring glorious music. Their last release was a big soaring electro-rock track but with this – ‘Light Up the Sky’ – we are back in big guitar music territory.

Let’s put that more precisely; we’re back in mainly big guitar music territory because there’s more to this track than guitar. Whether you’d describe this as indie-rock – which I think the band would generally be called by the listening public – is debatable. It’s kind of a guitar heavy electro-rock with added extras kind of thing.

It’s strutting with a beast of throbbing bassline, fuzzy guitar, swirling organ, thrilling synths, a stomping beat and a vocal that is a call to action.

“‘Light Up The Sky’ is an anthem about the need for togetherness in darker times. It’s the song that we have aimed to write since the day we formed Apollo Junction and is a great representation of the big sound of our second album.”

So as seems the band have developed and changed (and this is something to be celebrated) perhaps it’s time to stop calling them an indie rock band. My first stab – a dance electro-rock band; awkward I know and pretty vague. This is something to think about.

Look let’s just stick with great music. Cos that’s what this – and the last release ‘On The Ropes’ too – is. Brilliant shining soaring music. Inventive, thrilling, full of musical ideas, wonderfully put together.

The thing I have learned about Apollo Junction is that they are never satisfied with the basic; their music always comes with added thrill. Here, the track would be great if it just did that stomping beat for the whole song but it doesn’t. It has spooky synth sections, a huge drop out right at the beginning of the track. It’s all about building the excitement, about doing the unexpected, about throwing your expectations and assumptions out of the window.

This is bloody fantastic, can’t wait for the album.

The info

Upcoming gigs to date

23rd July – Carfest North

7th August – Bingley Weekender

27th August – Carfest South

11th/12th September – Halifax Piece Hall w/ Kaiser Chiefs

18th September – Isle Of Wight Festival

20th November – Bangor Blue Sky Cafe

26th November – Preston Ferret

27th November – Leeds Warehouse

SINGLE REVIEW: Supermarket Police – ‘Lipstick’

Frank

9 Apr 2021

I saw Supermarket Police play way back in October 2019; the first of three bands supporting Purple Thread at The Lending Room. I really liked them almost immediately – seconds into their first song, they’re that immediate. Being told that they had a single coming reminded me that I wished I’d seen them since then. This is a band that are thrilling live.

They play a kind of high energy punk tinged indie rock; what the hell let’s throw somewhat garage-y at times.

If Supermarket Police are new to you then this – ‘Lipstick’ – is a great introducer. Raw, raucous guitar played at sometimes breakneck speeds. The kind of stuff that makes you wish for a heaving sweaty gig. Words that make you smile, words with humour and wit; sung in what I can only describe as a gloriously casual way. And this is right, so right.

And this comes with exactly the right sort of production and feel you need for music like this – it sounds live. It’s not been smoothed out and polished. It has that ‘hey let’s record this right now during rehearsal’ feel that music like this should have.

This is fab, it’s a blast of lovely lovely noisy raucous punky indie that is equally as good to throw yourself around to, as it is to sit down and listen to it. Play loud and on repeat.

The info

Supermarket Police blend energetic garage rock and elements of punk into their music. The band assembled in 2018 after studying together at Leeds College of Music, taking influence from other northern bands such as Arctic Monkeys and The Blinders. Since then, they have built up a valued reputation in the Leeds music scene, drawing crowds at venues most notably including Leeds O2 Academy, The Key Club and The Lending Room.

This song was written during the COVID-19 pandemic and carries nostalgic undertones, evocative of life before lockdown. ‘Lipstick’ is an upbeat, energetic indie rock track which tells the tales of the ups, downs, and fake love of a night out in town. The enticing intro pulls listeners into a simplistic yet catchy riff-driven song, recorded at Eiger Studios in Leeds – hosts of artists such as Damon Albarn and Morrissey, and home to multi-platinum selling producer Will Jackson.

SINGLE REVIEW: Adult DVD – ‘I Had’

Frank

9 Apr 2021

This is Adult DVD’s second release – the first was ‘Broken English’. I loved ‘Broken English’, I love this even more.

‘Why so?’ is a question you might be asking me, my answer is just because I do. That’s not useful really, or for that matter what a reviewer is supposed to say; bear with me.

This, in contrast to ‘Broken English’, is devoid of warp, in fact it’s more electro-pop or electronica based than their debut release. It’s built around a brilliant vocal; a voice that does the whole ‘old style’ electronica thing. A voice that although seems devoid of emotion is in fact brimming over with a kind of held back emotion.

And under that voice are straight synths – bass pads, twinkling runs of high pitched synth. But there’s a groove people, this is dance music without a doubt. There is the thrill of the sudden and short appearance of a guitar, a guitar that is plucked in a choppy way. And yet somehow they manage to work in something of a rave feel – it’s a hint, a reminder that this music to be danced to.

It has that sweeping sound of a band like OMD, the post-guitar sound of New Order. And in the breakdown the sound of post-punk electronica.

But as much as I can sit here over-analysing the sound and feel of this track. It’s the whole that’s important. And the whole is a piece of electronica pop or electro-pop that is just so bloody good. I mean this thing has radio play written all over it. The great vocal, the great tune, the fab words. The carefully arranged music that still sounds organic even though there are loads of synths.

I just can’t get this song out of my head, it’s so damn earwormy. I am loving this so so much. Get some Adult DVD in your life right now people, this is a thing of wonder and joy.

SINGLE REVIEW: Furrowed Brow – ‘Punctual Punk’/’The Narrative Of Hugh Gordon Pym’

Frank

8 Apr 2021

I last reviewed a release from Furrowed Brow back in September last year – the rather wonderfully titled ‘Pissing Superfluous’ – and that was a fucking joy.

And now we have the equally fabulously titled ‘Punctual Punk’. It’s equally as out-there, in fact it’s mad as hell. The thing is that it says more musically in it’s 1 min 47 seconds than a lot of longer songs. They pack a lot into that short blast of glorious gorgeousness.

It comes on like The B-52s on speed playing psychobilly and/or madcap surf music – a beefy beat, crazy crazy guitar, retro keyboards to the max, vocals that are frankly scary – in a good way, mad spoken sections.

And yet as short as it is, as filled to the brim as it is with those wonderful musical moments; it still manages to tell a story. As the band say ‘a curious parable about a rendez-vous with a tardy reprobate who, for once, fails to be late… although you may also encounter the absurdity of existence via 20th century philosopher Albert Camus along the way’. And the fact that this song manages to tell what I’m going to describe as a coherent story in such a short time leaves me speechless. Speechless but with the biggest grin on my face; the words are funny, OK?

This is so bloody brilliant. It’s a band doing their own thing – their own out-there thing – in their own out-there way. It’s so DIY that it manages to cross the line of being magnificently produced and made. And although it’s chaotic the level of musical skill is obvious.

Unlike most singles released these days, this comes with a B-side. A B-side that the band actually describe as a B-side, the bunch of retro crazies.

’The Narrative Of Hugh Gordon Pym’ makes up for the shortness of the A-side by being over 5 minutes long.

How to describe this? How in the name of all that is holy do I describe this? While I think about that (it may take some time), let’s tell you what the song is about. The press release helpfully – I say helpfully but – explains that the song is ‘breathing new life into Edgar Allen Poe through the prism of coronavirus and BBC Lunchtime News…..’. It comes with side swipes at Dominic Cummins, something I feel is a good thing..

Let’s come back to how it sounds. The press release describes it as ‘stomping 70s’ glam influenced’. Well yes, and – obviously it’s me writing this review isn’t it – no. To me it sounds like a mutant 70s influenced Bonzo Dog song. It’s not just the music but the lyrics. The best Bonzo songs have lyrics that veer from laugh out loud to so deep it takes days and days of your life to work quite what they are on about. The additional thing is that Furrowed Brow bring a certain ‘Manchester-ness’ to the party.

So I’d like to refine my idea of the sound. It’s The Fall playing The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band’s take on a 70s’ pop song. And with hints of John’s Children (Go look them up, this was the band that Marc Bolan was in before leaving to do his own thing) and/or T-Rex in the sonic mix.

This is as fucking brilliant as it sounds musically as crazy as it sound to you.. Great keyboards, layers of vocals, bursts of harmonica, guitar that sounds as though it’s playing another song entirely.

The reason to love Furrowed Brow is that on one immediate level their music is so fucking mad, it’s gonna make you grin. But there’s more to them than this. They have words that are worth listening to, words that you want to hear and want to work out quite what they are about, words that’ll make you smile, grin and laugh out loud But at the same time have a deeper level. They play incredibly well; they need to playing music like this.

Look people, this band are just so fucking good. They’re maybe not for you if ‘all you listen to is music that is from a current genre. This is music for people who like to push the listening envelope, who are willing to get on board with a band whose music is hard to describe (if you try you’re just going to end up listing loads of bands, and eventually just ending up saying ‘well they’re just brilliant’).

So please please please give up 7 minutes of your time to listen to these two songs, I’m begging you OK.

The info

Well known [some say notorious] across the North West for their unruly, irreverent shows and idiosyncratic and uncompromising sound.

Alex – synth / monotron / vox
Criostoir – drums
Ryan – bass / vox
Richey – vox
Meg – guitar

https://www.facebook.com/furrowedbrowband/

Should you be converted, the band have a gig booked – a headline show at Manchester’s Castle Hotel on 4th September 2021. It’ll be a riot.

STREAM NEWS: Everly Pregnant Brothers announce live stream gig for 24th April 2021

Frank

3 Apr 2021

The brothers are here to bring some lockdown cheer to fans who are missing live music. They’ve filmed a full live concert at Corporation in Sheffield in stunning HD with incredible audio and will be beaming it into households via themill.tv website on April 24th at 8pm…

So stock the cupboards full of Hendos, make sure you’ve got a fridge full of pies and beer with plenty of gin on hand because the brothers are back! Tickets available now.

Early Bird discount tickets available: March 31st 10am – April 4th
General Tickets onsale: April 5th onwards

The Everly Pregnant Brothers were formed after a drunken dare by Pete Mckee and Richard Bailey in 2009. The success of the dare prompted the pair to draught in a bunch of disparate chaps who had three things in common, the love of beer, ukuleles and having a laugh.

Frontman Shaun Doane sets the tone and drives proceedings forward with a huge vocal performance and some wicked renditions of music classics. A national treasure in their native Sheffield the Brothers playful tampering of classic songs has won them friends and fans far and wide.

Direct ticket link: https://live.themill.tv/selectTickets.php?id=EVERLY

EVENT NEWS: Pocklington Arts Centre, York upcoming events

Frank

3 Apr 2021

Upcoming musical events at:

Pocklington Arts Centre
22-24 Market Place
Pocklington, York

Tickets and further information – including non-musical events – can be found at their website:

https://www.pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk

VIRTUAL EVENTS 2021

Forgotten Voices Community Choir – Tuesdays, 7-8pm on Zoom.

Find our voice and join PAC’s very own choir as they rehearse virtually. Charismatic musical director Sam Dunkley leads the choir in a variety of styles including pop, musical theatre, folk, classical and much more. In their 10-year history, the choir have gone from strength to strength, becoming regular participants in the annual National Street Choirs Festival. No audition necessary for this friendly, sociable group! For more information visit the group’s Facebook page @ForgottenVoicesCommunity Choir or contact Sam at info@performingartsetc.co.uk

LIVE EVENTS 2021/22

The Wandering Hearts – Tuesday 31 August, 8pm. Tickets £15.00. SOLD OUT

Harmony-laden Americana London-based band The Wandering Hearts burst onto the scene in 2018 with their debut album Wild Silence and went on to win the coveted Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award at the UK Americana Awards before heading out on a sold-out album tour. They became the first UK band to debut at two of the most prestigious venues in Nashville – The Ryman Auditorium and The Grand Ole Opry – in the same week and have played Latitude, Black Deer and BST Hyde Park.

Loudon Wainwright III, Suzzy Roche, Lucy Wainwright Roche – Friday 24 September, 7.30pm. Tickets £44

A song-writing legend loved by generations of music fans for his uniquely joyful songs.
He is one of music’s eternal survivors, alarmingly prolific and always revered for the way humour and dignity shine through his work in a recording career which has produced 23 albums. Joined by family members Suzzy and Lucy, they will be performing their own songs plus the work of songwriters they admire including Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks and Baker Knight.

Thea Gilmore – Friday 8 October, 8pm. Tickets £22. SOLD OUT.

This will be Thea’s first ever tour performing completely solo. Following her fourth successive chart album, 2019’s “Small World Turning” and rapturously received performance at the recent BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Thea will be touring with material from all stages of her career. Accompanying herself on guitar, keyboard and loop station, Thea will give audiences a chance to hear some of her most special songs exactly the way they entered the world – raw, unadorned, delivered intimately by that long revered, hauntingly beautiful voice. Supporting will be from singer, songwriter, author and broadcaster Mark Radcliffe.

Mary Coughlan – Tuesday 19 October, 8pm. Tickets £18

One of Ireland’s greatest female jazz and blues singers, a true artist who has carved out a highly regarded career and a legion of devoted fans worldwide. Described as “Ireland’s Billie Holiday’” Mary has overcome childhood trauma, alcoholism & drug addiction to become a musical force like no other. Her seminal first album Tired and Emotional rocketed her to overnight fame in 1985, and 15 albums later, her ability to deeply connect with both the song & her audience remains undiminished.

Spiers & Boden (plus special guest) – Wednesday 20 October, 8pm. Tickets £20

We all could do with a bit of good news right now, and here it is. After years of speculation, English folk’s best-loved duo are back together and working on new material. Described by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, the founding members of Bellowhead will be back on stage in 2021 in their acclaimed duo Spiers & Boden.

Beth Nielsen Chapman – Saturday 23 October, 8pm. Tickets £30

Twice Grammy-nominated Nashville based, Beth Nielsen Chapman has released 13 solo albums and written seven #1 hits and songs recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Michael McDonald, Keb Mo’, Roberta Flack, Waylon Jennings, Indigo Girls, & Faith Hill’s mega-hit This Kiss, ASCAP’S 1999 Song Of The Year. Autumn 2021 will bring the release of Beth’s 15th solo album along with a world tour starting in the UK. Working with legendary producer Ray Kennedy (Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle) this one is going to be epic!

Women In Rock – Friday 29 October, 8pm. Tickets £20

Since 2016, Women In Rock have been wowing audiences across the UK & Europe with their high-energy performances. Featuring soaring vocals, choreography, audience interaction, striking costumes and backed by a band of world-class musicians, Women In Rock has built a reputation as the leading rock show around. Having performed to audiences of up to 120,000, these women are ready to take you on a spectacular journey through five decades of female rock leaving you cheering for more. Featuring the songs of Cher, Blondie, Janis Joplin, Republica, Belinda Carlisle, Bonnie Tyler, P!nk, Suzi Quatro, Tina Turner & many more. Women In Rock are guaranteed to get you on your feet. Grab your tickets and let’s get ready to sing, dance and ROCK!

Martyn Joseph – Thursday 2 December, 8pm. Tickets £18

Hailed as “The Welsh Springsteen” singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph was awarded a “Wales Folk Award” in April 2019 for “Here Come The Young”, the title track of his most recent album, and in 2018 was honoured with a “Spirit of Folk” Award by Folk Alliance International in Kansas, USA. With a career spanning 30 years, 32 albums and over half a million record sales plus thousands of live performances Martyn has received the Fatea Magazine’s “Lifetime Achievement Award’ here in the UK. Compared to Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews, he has created his own style and reputation as a mesmerizing live performer and stands in his own right, built on a reputation for giving what thousands have described as the best live music experience of their lives.

Jesse Malin – Tuesday 7 December, 8pm. Tickets £17.50

Jesse Malin made his name as a thoughtful and introspective singer/songwriter but also played raucous, over-the-top rock & roll with the band D Generation. Malin has recorded with Bruce Springsteen and Green Day, performed on The Tonight Show and Letterman, and shared stages with everyone from The Hold Steady to Bob Weir and The Gaslight Anthem. A prolific writer and relentless road warrior, he continues to circle the globe with his band and in 2019 released his seventh studio album, produced by American roots icon Lucinda Williams.

Teddy Thompson – Saturday 22 January 2022, 8pm. Tickets £20.00

Called ‘one of the most gifted singer-songwriters of his generation’ by The New York Times, singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson is famously the son of singer-songwriters Richard and Linda Thompson. As a kid, he listened to early rock ‘n’ roll and country music exclusively, resulting in a unique voice that is at once rock and country, then pop and folk. He has released five albums to critical acclaim and has contributed to the soundtrack of the Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning film Brokeback Mountain. He has also collaborated on projects with Rufus and Martha Wainwright and recorded two songs for the soundtrack to the Leonard Cohen tribute I’m Your Man. He contributed two songs to the Nick Drake retrospective Way to Blue. Support will be from Roseanne Reid – the daughter of The Proclaimers’ Craig Reid whose debut album was produced by Teddy.

The Delines – Tuesday 15 February 2022, 7pm. Tickets £20.00

Country-soul outfit, The Delines come to PAC as part of a European tour in February 2022 with support from Jerry Joseph. The Delines sold out their last UK tour and will be returning with new material for this special date with the full line up. The band hails from Portland, Oregon where they have been working on new material over the past months before the lockdown, which is set to be finished shortly. Look forward to new songs and older classics from their previous albums. The Delines are Amy Boone, Willy Vlautin, Cory Gray, Freddy Trujillo and Sean Oldham.

Herman’s Hermits – Sunday 20 February 2022, 8pm. Tickets £27.00

Herman’s Hermits are one of the biggest selling bands of the 60’s, not just in the UK, but around the world. From their early beginnings in Manchester in 1964, the band have chalked up 23 Hit Singles, 10 Hit Albums, appeared in three major movies and to date they have sold in excess of 75 Million records worldwide. Hits include, There’s A Kind Of Hush, Silhouettes, Can’t You Hear My Heart Beat, Wonderful World, A Must To Avoid, & Mrs Brown You’ve Gotta Lovely Daughter. Enjoy an evening of nostalgia, song and laughter, plus bringing all the Hits to life.

Steeleye Span – Friday 7 May, 7.30pm. Tickets £35

For Steeleye Span 1970 would mark a major milestone. The band released their debut album Hark The Village Wait, a record that would not only launch one of the most enduring stories in the folk world and beyond but also come to influence further generations of artists. Five decades on and the band, led by the iconic vocals of Maddy Prior, and with a seven piece line-up featuring some of the most skilled musicians on the UK folk scene, their 50th anniversary tour will be a celebration of the key tracks from that famous album as well as favourites and gems from their long and famous career.

Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita – Saturday 21 May, 7.30pm. Tickets £22

This sublime, critically acclaimed and multi award-winning collaboration between two adventurous virtuoso musicians – Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita – delivers a stunning exhibition of world-class musicianship. Following the success of their debut release Clychau Dibonback in 2013, their long-awaited second album SOAR launched in April 2018, followed by major UK tours in spring and autumn of 2018. Entrancing, mesmerising, intricate and ethereal, this is remarkable music and a thrilling live experience.

The Felice Brothers – June 2022 – TBC

The Felice Brothers’ distinct brand of song-writing and lawless sound has earned them comparisons to Neil Young, Bob Dylan and James Brown. Self-taught musicians Ian and James Felice began playing subway platforms and sidewalks in NYC, in 2006, and have gone on to release nine albums of original songs and to tour extensively throughout the world. Following the release of Life in the Dark, they served as the backing band for Conor Oberst’s 2017 release Salutations and subsequent tour. Their album ‘Undress’ was released last year to critical acclaim and they will be performing songs from this and their extensive back catalogue accompanied by Will Lawrence (drums) and Jesske Hume (bass).

FESTIVAL NEWS: 3rd Wave announced – FUTURAMA, Liverpool, September 11/12th 2021

LSF Staff Writers

31 Mar 2021

Futurama, the legendary post-punk and electronic music festival, is back after 40 years! Taking place in Liverpool over two days, 11th and 12th September, the festival is thrilled to be able to announce a further wave of electrifying bands confirmed to perform.

Among those are Manchester post-punk legends A Certain Ratio, who played the first Futurama in Leeds in 1979 and are confirmed to play the main stage this year on the Saturday. A hugely influential band who’s funked up post punk has mesmerized people for over 40 years, the line-up still revolves around the three core members Martin Moscrop, Donald Johnson and Kez Kerr and they are currently enjoying a renaissance with their Loco album on Mute Records.

“We are really looking forward to playing the Futurama again! I remember playing the Futurama 1979, it was a great line up of post punk and weirdness,” remembers Martin Moscrop. “Gutted to have missed Hawkwind though. Can’t wait for September.”

They are also joined by Clock DVA, the electronic pioneers formed by Adi Newton. Clock DVA were one of the big three Sheffield electronic bands along with Human League and Cabaret Voltaire that influenced generations of bands that came afterwards, so Futurama are delighted to have such a trailblazing band play. Clock DVA played the second Futurama Festival in 1980 and they headline the Substation on the Sunday.

Another very special guest are Sex Gang Children. One of the most important positive punk and goth bands whose career has stretched over four decades. They’re back with a new album ‘Oligarch’ and they will be re-entering the abyss when they headline the Planet X stage on the 12th September. They played Futurama 4 in Deeside 1983.

The Blue Orchids also join the bull on the Sunday. Christened by John Cooper Clarke, The Blue Orchids were formed in 1979 when Martin Bramah left The Fall. They have a new album out on May 25th, 2021 and are about to support The Nightingales on their up-and-coming dates.

Spear of Destiny have replaced Kirk Brandon’s other band Theatre of Hate. This is due to Kirk’s hectic touring schedule which meant Theatre of Hate were fine for April 2021 but not for September. Spear of Destiny were already booked in to play the postponed ‘World Service Tour’ celebrating 35 years since the release of their most successful album.

Pom Poko, Norway’s fast rising sugar-coated noise makers also join the bill where they’ll be joined by the likes of TVAM, Joe Oxby’s cut up electronics, the striking talent of Julia Bardo, the excitement of Loose Articles from Manchester, the gothic rock of Twisted Nerve and two of the UK’s best new punk bands Grandma’s House & The Meffs.

Many of Liverpool’s newest noiseniks and far from angelic upstarts play as well, including Zee Davine’s latest project, Zee Davine & The Unholies, SPQR, Eyesore and the Jinx, Piss Kitti, Spilt, Yammerer, Bite Back and Dry Retch.

FUTURAMA FULL LINE UP IS AS FOLLOWS WITH MORE ACTS TO BE ADDED:

SATURDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER

HEAVEN 17 / SPEAR OF DESTINY / A CERTAIN RATIO / WARMDUSCHER / BILLY NOMATES / BALAAM & THE ANGEL / SPIZZ ENERGI / SECTION 25 /SINK YA TEETH / TVAM IST IST / GIRLS IN SYNTHESIS / HEAVY LUNGS / WE ARE NOT DEVO / THE DSM IV / TOKKY HORROR / POZI / WITCH FEVER /SPQR / LOOSE ARTICLES / PETE BENTHAM & THE DINNER LADIES / EXPELAIRES / FEATHER TRADE / LIBRALIBRA / SPILT / YAMMERER / DITZ / FRAUDS / GRANDMA’S HOUSE / THE GENTLE SCARS / THREE FROM ABOVE / BITE BACK / DEH-YEY / DRY RETCH

SUNDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER

PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT / THE CHAMELEONS / THE BLINDERS / CLOCK DVA / THE LOVELY EGGS / SEX GANG CHILDREN /THE MEMBRANES / CHUBBY & THE GANG / JULIA BARDO BLUE ORCHIDS / POM POKO / SAINT AGNES / JOHN / BOB VYLAN / EVIL BLIZZARD / TVAM / ZEE DAVINE & THE UNHOLIES / CROWS / TV PRIEST / COURTING DR DIABLO & THE DEVIANT SHOW / COURTING / LIINES / DREAM NAILS / EYESORE & THE JINX / CRAWLERS / GRAVVES / GENN / THE MEFFS / TWISTED NERVE / THE WEBB / KLAMP / THE PLEASURE DOME / COUGHIN’ VICARS

Main stages will be hosted by Vive Le Rock, the world’s biggest rock ‘n’ roll and punk magazine, and respected website Louder Than War.

Saturday and Sunday day tickets now available at £45 per day +bf! Weekend tickets still available £80 +bf for the weekend and there is a new deposit scheme that starts this week of 4 monthly instalments available HERE: futuramafestival.com

SINGLE REVIEW: The Ocean Beneath – ‘Get Right’

Frank

28 Mar 2021

Leeds based moody electronica artist drops 80s’ house influenced banger shock!

Or the headline would read if LSF was that sort of publication; but we’re not so I’m sticking with ‘SINGLE REVIEW: The Ocean Beneath – ‘Get Right’’.

It’s true though The Ocean Beneath purveyors of arty electronica have gone and dropped an 80s’ house influenced dance track. This isn’t to say that some of their tracks haven’t been danceable, they have, just not like this.

Yep so it does all of those 80s’ house things that I now remember with some fondness. I wasn’t that fond of it at the time; just not the sort of thing I was into at the time. I have over time come to rather like 80s’ house music.

For those not in the know let’s drop that information – huge stabbing synths, way way solid beat, those building sweeping sounds, the cut up repetitive female vocals, the bassy drop out section that builds to something huge.

BUT, and it’s a big but, it does all those things with a nod to art; it’s art-house, meta house if you will. It has something of an Art of Noise thing going on. Everything is pointedly spot-on and ultra fantastically produced. It may have that but it also has soul and an organic feel. This is down to The Ocean Beneath’s use of old synths; the production is shiny clean but the sound is dirty. And that is a good thing.

What you end with up is a huge banging dance track, a track to lose your mind in and go absolutely craaaaazzzzyyy to. A track to save up for our release into the world, our upcoming return to those sweaty nights dancing without care. In meantime drop this in your front room and have your own private dance party.

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