Home Blog Page 126

ALBUM & TOUR NEWS: The Cult ‘Sonic Temple’ 30th Anniversary reissue. October 2019 dates

2 Jul 2019

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of The Cult’s seminal album Sonic Temple. To celebrate the anniversary, Beggars Arkive will release The Cult: Sonic Temple 30 on September 13th. It will be released as a deluxe box set and a 5-CD set, as well as reissuing Sonic Temple on Double LP, which has been out of print for over 20 years. The sets both contain limited-release demos in addition to previously unreleased tracks. Full details and track-listings are below.

The band is also happy to announce more A Sonic Temple tour dates. After a run of hugely successful and completely sold out US shows, they will play 10 shows in the UK in October. Tickets on sale Friday, July 5th at 10.00am – www.myticket.co.uk – full dates below:

October

Tue 15th Nottingham, UK – Rock City
Thu 17th Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy
Fri 18th Cardiff, Wales – Cardiff University
Sun 20th Leeds, UK – O2 Academy
Mon 21st Aberdeen, Scotland – The Music Hall
Tue 22nd Glasgow, Scotland – O2 Academy
Thu 24th Manchester, UK – Apollo
Sun 27th London, UK – Eventim Apollo
Mon 28th Bristol, UK – O2 Academy
Tue 29th Portsmouth, UK – Guildhall

Originally released in 1989, Sonic Temple proved to be a pivotal moment for both band and the wider rock scene. Produced by the legendary Bob Rock, Sonic Temple had four chart-topping singles; “Fire Woman”, “Edie (Ciao Baby)”, “Sun King” and “Sweet Soul Sister”.

In a recent interview about the album, Ian Astbury explained how the band brought together hard rock and indie rock to create the unique, game-changing sounds on Sonic Temple. “We wanted to retain our core DNA as we went deeper into psych and hard rock influences. It was a complete immersion for me into art, film, music, poetry and literature, weaving those influences into what was to become Sonic Temple. The band was becoming more popular. We were in uncharted waters. Most of the bands we had come up with had split up or fallen off. We were accelerating. There was no real time to breathe. We were forming new allegiances and breaking the glass ceiling of ‘the indie outsider.’”

The album catapulted The Cult into superstar status and remains their most commercially successful release. It has sold over 1.5 million copies in the US alone, and was declared platinum in 1990. It made it to #10 on the Billboard charts, and the aforementioned songs all remain rock-radio staples to this day.

The set list for the “A Sonic Temple” tour draws from The Cult’s 10 studio albums with the centerpiece being a super set that’s focused on the core songs from Sonic Temple; some of these songs have not been performed since the album was originally released. Each show will be a gathering and celebration for Cult fans–an opportunity to come together for one night–an event that will be memorable for all who attend. As Billy Duffy stated about the tour in a recent interview, “I’d like fans to not only allow themselves a little indulgence into maybe simpler happier times of the late 80s for a few hours at a ST19 show, but also be happy that the music is now really their possession, not ours, and to do with it what they will.”

The BOX SET contains three pieces of vinyl and a cassette plus tour memorabilia and ephemera (replica of original laminate, backstage pass, original press releases, label copy and more). It’s numbered and limited to 3000 pieces worldwide and contains 40 tracks, four of which are previously unreleased. LP1+2 contain the album as originally released. LP3 contains Live At Wembley recorded by the BBC, and the included cassette contains limited-release demos. Four of the live tracks are previously unreleased.

The FIVE-CD SET contains 53 tracks (including 6 previously unreleased) with the original album on disc 1, alternate edits, mixes, extended versions and acoustic versions on disc 2, limited-release demos on discs 3 & 4 and Live at Wembley recorded by the BBC on disc 5. Six of the live tracks are previously unreleased. It is beautifully packaged in book form with rare photographs and interviews with the band by esteemed UK journalist James Brown.

The DOUBLE LP is a revamped reissue of the original album. Now cut onto two pieces of black vinyl, the audio is improved and contains 16 tracks total, which comprise the original album plus 6 B-sides. It’s been out of print for over 20 years.

The DIGITAL version will replicate the CD-set but excludes the original album for a total of 43 tracks.

BOX SET

3XLP

A1 Sun King

A2 Fire Woman

A3 American Horse

A4 Edie (Ciao Baby)

B1 Sweet Soul Sister

B2 Soul Asylum

B3 New York City

B4 Automatic Blues

C1 Soldier Blue

C2 Wake Up Time For Freedom

C3 Medicine Train (From the Edie (Ciao Baby) single)

C4 The River (From the Sweet Soul Sister single)

D1 Bleeding Heart Graffiti (from the Edie (Ciao Baby) single)

D2 Messin’ Up The Blues (from the Fire Woman single)

D3 Fire Woman (NYC Rock Mix) (from the Fire Woman CD EP)

D4 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Acoustic) (From The Heart Of Soul CD single)

E1 New York City (live) *previously unreleased)

E2 Automatic Blues (live) *previously unreleased)

E3 American Horse (live) (from the Sweet Soul Sister single)

E4 Sun King (live) *previously unreleased

F1 Soul Asylum (live) (from the Sweet Soul Sister single)

F2 Sweet Soul Sister (live) (from the Sweet Soul Sister single)

F3 Fire Woman (live) *previously unreleased

CASSETTE

A1 Sonic Temple Radio Promo

A2 New York City (demo)

A3 American Horse (demo)

A4 Sun King (demo)

A5 Automatic Blues (demo)

A6 Yes Man (demo)

A7 Wake Up Time For Freedom (demo)

A8 Citadel (demo)

A9 The River (demo)

B1 The Crystal Ocean (demo)

B2 Cashmere (demo)

B3 Edie (Cao Baby) (demo)

B4 Bleeding Heart Revival (demo)

B5 Star Child (demo)

B6 Medicine Train (Rock Demo)

B7 New York City (Rock Demo)

B8 Fire (Rock Demo)

5-CD SET

1-1 Sun King

1-2 Fire Woman

1-3 American Horse

1-4 Edie (Ciao Baby)

1-5 Sweet Soul Sister

1-6 Soul Asylum

1-7 New York City

1-8 Automatic Blues

1-9 Soldier Blue

1-10 Wake Up Time For Freedom

2-1 Sonic Temple Radio Promo

2-2 Fire Woman (Edit)

2-3 Messin’ Up The Blues (from the Fire Woman single)

2-4 Medicine Train (From the Edie (Ciao Baby) single)

2-5 Fire Woman (NYC Rock Mix) (from the Fire Woman CD EP)

2-6 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Edit)

2-7 Bleeding Heart Graffiti (from the Edie (Ciao Baby) CD EP)

2-8 Sun King (Edit)

2-9 Sweet Soul Sister (Edit)

2-10 The River (From the Sweet Soul Sister single)

2-11 Soldier Blue (Werman Extended Version)

2-12 Fire Woman (LA Rock Mix)

2-13 Sweet Soul Sister (Rock’s Mix)

2-14 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Acoustic) (From The Heart Of Soul CD single)

3-1 Medicine Train (demo)

3-2 New York City (demo)

3-3 American Horse (demo)

3-4 Sun King (demo)

3-5 Automatic Blues (demo)

3-6 Yes Man (demo)

3-7 Fire (demo)

3-8 Wake Up Time For Freedom (demo)

3-9 Citadel (demo)

3-10 The River (demo)

4-1 The Crystal Ocean (demo)

4-2 Cashmere (demo)

4-3 Edie (Ciao Baby) (demo)

4-4 Bleeding Heart Revival (demo)

4-5 My Love (demo)

4-6 Star Child (demo)

4-7 Medicine Train (Rock Demo)

4-8 New York City (Rock Demo)

4-9 Fire (rock Demo)

4-10 Spanish Gold (jam Demo)

5-1 New York City (live) *previously unreleased)

5-2 Automatic Blues (live) *previously unreleased)

5-3 American Horse (live) (from the Sweet Soul Sister single)

5-4 Sun King (live) *previously unreleased

5-5 Soul Asylum (live) (from the Sweet Soul Sister single)

5-6 Rain (live) *previously unreleased

5-7 Sweet Soul Sister (live) (from the Sweet Soul Sister single)

5-8 She Sells Sanctuary (live) *previously unreleased

5-9 Fire Woman (live) *previously unreleased

STANDARD DOUBLE LP

A1 Sun King

A2 Fire Woman

A3 American Horse

A4 Edie (Ciao Baby)

B1 Sweet Soul Sister

B2 Soul Asylum

B3 New York City

B4 Automatic Blues

C1 Soldier Blue

C2 Wake Up Time For Freedom

C3 Medicine Train (From the Edie (Ciao Baby) single)

C4 The River (From the Sweet Soul Sister single)

D1 Bleeding Heart Graffiti (from the Edie (Ciao Baby) CD EP)

D2 Messin’ Up The Blues (from the Fire Woman single)

D3 Fire Woman (NYC Rock Mix) (from the Fire Woman CD EP)

D4 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Acoustic) (From The Heart Of Soul CD single)

DIGITAL ALBUM

1 Sonic Temple Radio Promo

2 Fire Woman (Edit)

3 Messin’ Up The Blues (from the Fire Woman single)

4 Medicine Train (From the Edie(Ciao Baby) single)

5 Fire Woman (NYC Rock Mix) (from the Fire Woman CD EP)

6 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Edit)

7 Bleeding Heart Graffiti (from the Edie (Ciao Baby) CD EP)

8 Sun King (Edit)

9 Sweet Soul Sister (Edit)

10 The River (From the Sweet Soul Sister single)

11 Soldier Blue (Werman Extended Version)

12 Fire Woman (LA Rock Mix)

13 Sweet Soul Sister (Rock’s Mix)

14 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Acoustic) (From The Heart Of Soul CD single)

15 Medicine Train (demo)

16 New York City (demo)

17 American Horse (demo)

18 Sun King (demo)

19 Automatic Blues (demo)

20 Yes Man (demo)

21 Fire (demo)

22 Wake Up Time For Freedom (demo)

23 Citadel (demo)

24 The River (demo)

25 The Crystal Ocean (demo)

26 Cashmere (demo)

27 Edie (Ciao Baby) (demo)

28 Bleeding Heart Revival (demo)

29 My Love (demo)

30 Star Child (demo)

31 Medicine Train (Rock Demo)

32 New York City (Rock Demo)

33 Fire (rock Demo)

34 Spanish Gold (jam Demo)

35 New York City (live) *previously unreleased)

36 Automatic Blues (live) *previously unreleased)

37 American Horse (live) (from the Sweet Soul Sister single)

38 Sun King (live) *previously unreleased

39 Soul Asylum (live) from the Sweet Soul Sister single)

40 Rain (live) *previously unreleased

41 Sweet Soul Sister (live) (from the Sweet Soul Sister single)

42 She Sells Sanctuary (live) *previously unreleased

43 Fire Woman (live) *previously unreleased

https://thecult.us/

TOUR NEWS: Giant Rooks announce October 2019 dates

LSF Staff Writers

2 Jul 2019

GIANT ROOKS have announced further tour dates, following the release of their much-anticipated second EP, WILD STARE, which was released on 19th April on Virgin Records. Having played a set of 7 UK dates in support of the release, including headline shows at Manchester’s Gorilla, Bristol’s Louisiana and London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen earlier in the year, they have now announced a small run of dates for October.

Still in their early 20’s and with a sound that is crossing European borders with ease, their brand of indie has broken out of Germany through a combination of intense live shows and the incredible quality of songs.

Heralded as one of the most outstanding newcomers to come from Germany in many a year, with WILD STARE they showcase their musical spectrum, exuberant talent and infectious serenity.

OCTOBER 2019 UK DATES

09-Oct-19 London The Garage
10-Oct-19 Leeds Headrow House
11-Oct-19 Liverpool Jimmy’s

In 2015 singer Frederik Rabe, guitarist Finn Schwieters, bassist Luca Göttner, keyboarder Jonathan Wischniowski, and drummer Finn Thomas started Giant Rooks in their hometown of Hamm in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The band won the prestigious Pop-NRW-Award, went on numerous tours with German heavyweights such as Kraftklub and Von Wegen Lisbeth and have played at major festivals both at home and abroad.

LIVE REVIEW: inFade supported by CPSD, Lords of Power & We Make Waves – 360 Club, Leeds – 28th June 2019

Frank

1 Jul 2019

inFade launching their epic new single ‘Embers’ and three fantastic support acts, what a night. Yet another winning line-up from 360 Club. Although I’ve seen inFade play live quite a few times, two of the support acts I’d not heard of – Lords of Power and We Make Waves – and CPSD I’d heard of but not heard anything by them.

We Make Waves play a sort of melodic alternative rock with something a metal edge in there. It is with their second song that the band click for me. It’s a rushing fast heavy thing with drums that pound, that punctuate with the sweetest drop-outs.

The band are great, Amy’s vocals are fantastic, Ben and Alex’s guitar work is great and Oli and Andy provide that rhythmic base. The thing I really like about them is the way their songs switch from sweet melodic sections to pumping it up to loud and pounding so smoothly.

They play a song they’re currently recording ‘Bodyshock’ and this is more of an out-and-out rock track with a really earwormy tune. Keep an eye out for the release, well worth taking a listen.

I really enjoyed their set – the mix of melodic and loud in their songs, the vocals and playing were up there and, really importantly, there’s variety in there not all of their songs sound the same. I’d recommend catching them live.

With Lords of Power I am suddenly transported back in time, for although the band play alt-rock to my ears I hear hints of The Scorpions and Van Halen and it fucking rocks. It bloody crunches, it rumbles with bass. It’s melodic. I guess you could call it ‘power rock’.

And their vocalist/guitarist Dave has a great voice – going from a whisper to a scream with incredible force – and he plays a mean lead as well. They go from power rock to metal but it all hangs together so well. There’s something there that is very much their own.

There’s something of a party thing about what they do, they set out to give us a great show and boy do they succeed. Great songs, great playing. If they should be down your way, check them out.

Oh fucking hell CPSD you rock, you rock big time. Opening their set they play a track that I note ‘is alternative rock but on the heavy heavy side’. They use keyboards instead of bass sometimes and that gives them something of a unique sound. It’s great but the best is yet to come.

But it is with their third song ‘Dubstep Blues’ that suddenly they become a heavy blues-rock band, for this is a stalking swampy bluesy thing. And their guitarist let’s rip. Fuck me that guy can play, his guitar is shit-hot. With seemingly little effort he rips out guitar like I haven’t heard live in a long time.

CPSD are so good, jaw-droppingly good, that all I can is to scrabble to take photos and just let that great music sink deep into my soul. Note taking, no way, this is too too good. That mix of heavy blues-rock and alternative rock is just… too good for words. Great song after great song, the playing is fantastic the whole way through their set. That guitar sears into my soul. At the end of their set I left reeling, amazed, and addicted to that sound. It’s an addiction I need to feed again soon.

Look you have to see this band, you haven’t lived if you haven’t.

I love inFade, and after this set I loved them a little bit more. Coming on to ‘Le Freak’ is a brave move for a rock band but it makes sense for inFade as their music gets funkier and funkier. As a fan of the band being objective is difficult, I just like what they do too much.

It’s a special night for inFade are launching their latest single ‘Embers’ (read our review) and tonight the band seem more hyped up than usual, it’s a great set. Carl – on bass – is all over the place, he just never seems to stop moving. Max is on great form and Jonny’s drumming just seems to get better and better.

They play two new songs, bit of a treat that. The first – as yet untitled – is a groovy thing that rocks hard. The second – which I failed to catch the title of, but it has the word headlights in there – is one of those inFade locked in riffing things, but it comes with a groove, it’s great thing.

And then the new single – ‘Embers’. I was slightly concerned because it has keyboards on the recorded version, what would it sound like live? However, I met the band as I made my way up to Lending Room and they told me they had a backing track for ‘Embers’, so that was all good. Live this sounded great, it’s a wonderful big beautiful thing. This is going to be a live favourite for me.

InFade are so so good live, There’s a variety in what they do that is fantastic and the playing is way up there. Every time I see them I get more and more of the nuance in the songs, it’s not just a locked in riff, although when they do that it fucking rocks. Visually they’re great – Carl just never stands still, Jonny flails at his drums hair flying, and Max, given the opportunity, throws himself around the stage.

I may be a fan, but the ‘objective music reviewer’ in me is as impressed. You like great rock music go see inFade play, go see them now.

EP REVIEW: The Ocean Beneath – ‘The Ocean Beneath’

Frank

1 Jul 2019

This is Leeds based band The Ocean Beneath’s debut EP. It’s a huge blast of 80s’ inspired electronica – it’s all analogue synth sounds and percussion that’ll have you up and grooving in seconds. About half of the tracks are instrumentals but hey why not, they’re fantastic, so why in the hell not.

The EP opener ‘Wake Up’ is a moody instrumental. But because it changes, it changes all the time, it’s hypnotic. It pulses, it has these spacey sounds that zap out of the track. It reminds me of all kinds of 80s’ electronica but it has a modern edge. The production is bang up to date.

Next up is Transcend which features Nath Jackson on vocals. It’s a smoother thing, it’s more 80s’ influenced. It’s pop, and there is nothing wrong with that, it’s great pop. That 80s’ thing shows up in the form of these plinky sounds that occasionally blat at you, a classic synth line. This is a great track that you can dance to, it’s not dance music but you could throw some shapes to it.

Another short instrumental – ‘The Meridian’ – is up next, and it’s atmospheric, it’s beautiful people. This is followed by ‘Setting Sun’ (again featuring the vocals of Nath Jackson). After something that’s right out of the 80s, so out of the 80s I swear I travelled back in time, this becomes something more up-to-date, more of huge electronica track. And boy is thing huge, it transcends pop, it’s just way too rich for pop. It has hints, and I dare say the band are going to hate this, of prog. It’s that layering of sounds.

EP closer – ‘Nocturnality’ – is another instrumental. It’s full of sounds that layer one on top of the other, over this pulse. Sounds jar, there are weirdly out of place sounds that throw you. And it builds, and as it builds I felt a pressure, a pressure that is relieved by a sparser section, before that pressure builds again. It’s big, and it’s beautiful.

What The Ocean Beneath have made with their debut EP is something that is highly accomplished musically, and technically fantastic – they’ve clearly spent days and day honing those sounds. But what it hasn’t lost in that process is emotional force, it’s not soul-less. It’s hugely musically satisfying to listen to. And although some it sounds like electronica from the 80s, the production and the way it’s put together, and that mix of bang up-to-date sounds makes this very much something of it’s own, not a throwback. Go listen people, go listen now.

<a href="http://theoceanbeneath.bandcamp.com/album/the-ocean-beneath">The Ocean Beneath by The Ocean Beneath</a>

The Ocean Beneath on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoceanbeneath/

SINGLE REVIEW: W.F. Severs – ‘Everyone Wants To Know Me’

Frank

1 Jul 2019

Earlier this year I reviewed W.F. Severs’ EP ‘Tales of Mario’ and was really impressed. So news that he’d released a new single was good news indeed. It wasn’t quite what I expected – ‘Everyone Wants To Know Me’ isn’t the Americana influenced sound of the EP’s songs but something different.

It’s difficult to describe – it has something of singer/songwriter vibe going on but it’s loose and lo-fi. It’s sweet and utterly adorable, which is kind of a strange way to describe a song but there it is. It has something of the same vibe of the songs on The Lungs ‘Julianna Buttermaker’ EP. It’s just lovely. It makes me feel all warm inside.

The song itself tells a story – it’s the story of somebody going to a party but ends up in tears outside. It’s quite sad really, but I think it’s something that’s happened to us all at one time or another, it’s certainly happened to me. But it’s told simply, it’s a straight story type song, and the words are great. Although for some strange reason it makes me feel quite happy in a sad way or sad in a happy way, strange what music does to you sometimes.

I adore this song. It’s a precious gem of a song.

<a href="http://wfsevers.bandcamp.com/album/everyone-wants-to-know-me">Everyone Wants To Know Me. by W.F.Severs</a>

LIVE REVIEW: Antony and friends – Central Methodist Church, Todmorden – 22nd June 2019

Diana Forrest

30 Jun 2019

This concert featured Antony Brannick on piano and David Leys on cello. It opened with a vigorous waltz by Chopin (Opus 18) and continued withBrahms’ cello sonata in E minor (Opus 38), with its formal but lively second movement and forceful ending.

After the break we had Beethoven’s seven playful variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen”, a lovely tune from Mozart’s Magic Flute. (Number 46 of works without opus numbers – so pieces without opus numbers can have other numbers – who knew?) Then came the most interesting work of the evening; Pärt’s “Spiegel im Spiegel”. Evenly spaced piano phrases were accompanied by slow harmonisation on the cello. The effect was relaxing and fascinating. Finally came the fiery “Libertango” by Piazzolla.

The next Antony concert is on July 13. Contact abrannick@garrattslaw.co.uk or 0161 665 3502.

SINGLE REVIEW: InFade – ‘Embers’

Frank

29 Jun 2019

I am somewhat of a fan of inFade, every time I see them or hear something by them I just like what they do more and more. However ‘Embers’ had me somewhat freaked out because it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. And this was not in in a bad way, it’s bloody huge people, it’s fucking fantastically huge.

What I was kind of expecting was something of that they do with huge locked in riffs. What I wasn’t expecting was this. Something that sounds, and please forgive me, slightly proggy. It’s like very rocky sounding later Yes. Although I’m aware that the band had hinted at new sounds the last time I saw them, and also that they are fans of Tool so I shouldn’t have been that surprised. I was though.

The other thing about this track, if that wasn’t enough, is that is funky. The band describe it as ‘Tool meets Earth Wind and Fire’ you get the picture. The opening of this is so funky it hurts, not the very start but once it gets into the vocal. And this has a tune you’d kill for, it’s so ear-wormy. I’m not sure my neighbour is that impressed but you see I have the lyrics and it’s hard not to sing along. And those lyrics are great, listen closely people.

And there are things in this track that make oh so good, the spacey sounding synth sounds, those parts where it’s huge sounding synths layered over and over, and what sounds like a violin in there (that may be a synth but it’s that sound right where it is), and those wave sounds right at the end.

And when this takes off, it takes off, it rocks out, only to surprise you with yet another drop-out. It’s full of surprises. It never just sits there doing what you expect. And this is a great thing. A fucking brilliant thing.

InFade you have blown my mind, this track has left me in bits, my brain is in tatters. I can’t wait to hear this live.

I don’t care what sort of music you like, that’s not important, just listen to this, and listen to it now. Get it cued up, turn it up as loud as you dare and hit play. And prepare to have your mind blown.

EVENT NEWS: Music Industry Panel: Getting Your Music Out, Heard And Noticed

LSF Staff Writers

28 Jun 2019

FRIDAY 12 JULY will see an INDUSTRY MUSIC PANEL take place at LEEDS LENDING ROOM from 6.00pm to 7.30pm prior to #360RAW9 featuring four emerging acts from Leeds: SIR CURSE, DAVES, THIEVES OF MISFORTUNE and MARK OF A THIEF.

The panel will be an opportunity to meet specialists in their fields and learn how to get your music heard by more people via streaming, digital and physical release, distribution, sales, sync licensing, radio and press. The session will also welcome questions from the audience.

Tickets have an optional refundable reservation charge of £5 per ticket, which can be returned in cash on entry or left at the door to be donated to Martin House Children’s Hospice music therapy room for the benefit of young people in their care. The refund is entirely optional and all non-refunded reservation fees will be donated to this great cause.

Tickets are available online from Crash Records without booking fee, as they are kindly donating their fees to MHCH: https://www.crashrecords.co.uk/product/music-industry-panel/

The #360RAW curated panel is in association with CD Baby and Independent Venue Week and is sponsored by CD Baby. The event will be hosted by ALAN RAW of BBC Introducing West Yorkshire who, along with the promoter of the 360 Club Richard Watson, curates the highly successful #360RAW gigs that showcase the best emerging talent in the area. The panel will feature the following:

TOM ROBINSON

Born in Cambridge in 1950, Tom Robinson first became known in the late 1970s as a musician and LGBT activist with the Tom Robinson Band, who were early supporters of Rock Against Racism and Amnesty International. In 1977 their debut single 2-4-6-8 Motorway went Top 5 and became one of the landmark singles of the UK punk era. Other hits included Glad to Be Gay and Up Against the Wall, and the band’s debut album, Power in The Darkness, went gold in the UK and Japan. As a solo artist Tom had further hits in 1983 with War Baby and Atmospherics: Listen to The Radio, and co-wrote songs with Peter Gabriel, Elton John and Dan Hartman. As a radio broadcaster, over the last thirty years Tom has hosted programmes on all eight of the BBC national radio stations and has won two Gold Sony Academy Radio Awards. He currently hosts three shows a week on BBC 6 Music, was a member of the Ivor Novello Awards committee for ten years and in 2016 was awarded a fellowship of LIPA in recognition of his support for new music artists through BBC Introducing. His music blog https://freshonthenet.co.uk currently offers an open door to new music and free insider advice for independent and emerging musicians. After the panel, Tom will stay around to attend #360RAW9 later in the evening, where he will meet music fans and musicians and will help Alan Raw select music from emerging acts to play throughout the evening.

STEVE CUSACK

Steve Cusack heads up the UK promo team for the Distribution, Publishing and Sync Licensing company CD Baby, the largest distributor of independent music in the world. CD Baby is currently the home to more than 650,000 artists worldwide, with over 9 million tracks available to over 100 digital services and platforms, including preferential relationships with the likes of Spotify and Apple Music.

IAN CHEEK

The proprietor of Ian Cheek Press, specialising in Regional Print and Online Press throughout the UK and Ireland. Having worked previously with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Bjork and Muse, the current artist roster includes renowned acts such as alt-J, blink-182, Bloc Party, DMA’S, Echo & The Bunnymen, Embrace, James, Leftfield, Morrissey and Wolf Alice, alongside emerging artists from West Yorkshire such as Adore//Repel, Brooders, Fudge and Glass Mountain.

The 360 Club was founded to help the local music scene and musicians and is renowned for its showcase gigs. Industry events such as this are part of the brand ethos of the 360 Club and #360RAW and further events will follow. The previous such event with the same partners for Independent Venue Week, held in January this year, sold out within 24 hours.

TOUR NEWS: Spear of Destiny One Eyed Jack@35 tour September 2019

Frank

27 Jun 2019

One Eyed Jacks was the band’s 2nd release on the major label Epic Records.

For many original fans this is ‘the’ Spear of Destiny album.

Kirk Brandon has constantly held and spoken of his belief that this is a fine body of songs played by a fine bunch of musicians that was detrimentally interfered with by a record label that had no idea how to market the sound of Spear of Destiny at that time.

Many fans agree and some fans do not, as the following review confirms :-

“One of the best bands of their era with this their best album. Kirk Brandon excellent lyrics and vocals make this a must buy CD. The band at this time contained arguably one of the best rhythm sections of all time in “The Engine Room”; Stan Stammers on bass and Dolphin Taylor on drums. The driving rhythms are ageless. The songs are good, excellent or superb, this is one of those CD’s that can be put on at track one and listened through without skipping to a specific track. Even though, Prisoner of Love, Attica and Liberator are three of the best songs of the genre” Amazon Music Review

Strangely the label decided to proceed the album’s release by releasing the poppiest track on the recordings as the first single ‘Prisoner of Love’ instead of the live and DJ favourite ‘Liberator’. Had this decision not been made perhaps One Eyed Jacks would not have peaked at No.22 in the UK album charts and would have go on to become a top 10 album as SOD’s then manager had been cajoled into believing when signing the band to a major label…

35 years after releasing ‘OEJ’ Kirk Brandon and the current line up of SOD featuring Craig Adams (The Mission/Sisters of Mercy) Adrian Portas (New Model Army/Sex Gang Children) Phil Martini (Jim Jones/Wayward Sons) were given the opportunity to re-record the album in it’s entirety. Brandon’s longer term keyboard player Steve Allan Jones and current Theatre of Hate sax player Clive Osborne were drafted in to bolster the sound and the recordings are now completed and will be released on CD, Vinyl and Download in time for September 2019’s 35th Anniversary UK Tour. Brandon honestly believes these recordings will at last give the songs the history they deserve.

This SOD line up for this very special set of dates, will for the first time in an age, be expanded by adding both live keyboards and brass, the set will not only be highlighted by playing the full OEJ’s album and B-sides in full but a unique extended encore of fan favourites from the whole SOD catalogue will finish the shows.

SPEAR OF DESTINY ‘ONE EYED JACKS @35 UK TOUR SEPTEMBER 2019

Wed 4th COLCHESTER Arts Centre
Thu 5th GLASGOW Oran Mor
Fri 6th STOKE Underground
Sat 7th LEEDS Brudenell Social Club
Sun 8th NORWICH Waterfront
Wed 11th SOUTHAMPTON The 1865
Thu 12th BRISTOL Fleece
Fri 13th WOKING Undercover Festival
Sat 14th BEDFORD Esquires
Sun 15th LIVERPOOL Jimmy’s
Wed 18th EXETER Phoenix Arts Centre
Thu 19th BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds
Fri 20th NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Sat 21st MANCHESTER Gorilla
Sun 22nd HULL Polar Bear
Tue 24th SWINDON Level III
Wed 25th CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
Thu 26th NEWCASTLE The Cluny
Fri 27th BRIGHTON Boat (outdoor)
Sat 28th LONDON Under The Bridge

SINGLE NEWS: Heir drop ‘What Haven’t You Got’

LSF Staff Writers

27 Jun 2019

How to say ‘**** off’ with elegance – Heir’s latest single remedies emotional turbulence and heartache with head to toe, HAIM-sister sass. Reminiscent of the grandiose 80s songwriting of the likes of Prefab Sprout and Crowded House, What You Haven’t Got is yet
another charming, DIY-pop beauty. The band’s recent flurry of releases has seen them rise to national recognition with airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music and a feature on Tom Robinson’s Hot List.

Having recently completed a UK/EU headline tour which included sell-out shows in Leeds and London, Heir are currently working on new material at Abbey Road with producer, Ken Scott (The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John).