Liverpool based 3-piece pop project TV ME have recently announced the release of their newest EP ‘A Broadcast From TV ME’, a 4-track experimental fusion of psych, art pop and dream pop.

Led by Thomas McConnell, the songwriter of the band – who toured as a solo artist supporting Mercury-nominee, C Duncan, before taking time to hone his writing skills and further explore the incorporation of psych and electronica into a new project – TV ME formed in early 2017 with their debut single gaining instant airplay with BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio, and a signing with Deltasonic Records for their early releases. Offering harmonic vocals teamed with classic song-writing and engaging textures, the newest release from the trio – their first self released project – presents an EP ranging in style from psych-folk to cinematic instrumentals and dance pop whilst still retaining a fresh sound.

The lead single ‘Stitches’ was written in sections by Tom himself over the duration of 15 years, with the beginning piano piece written at the age of 14, the ending written age 10 and middle section ‘stitching’ the piece together two years ago in 2016. Taking inspiration from old videos of Laurel & Hardy, Pinky & Perky and A Hard Day’s Night for sound and lyrics, 60’s and 70’s influences can be clearly heard in both the vocals and guitar track.

Since their formation last year, the trio have landed some notable support slots with the likes of Cat’s Eyes, Flyte and Childhood and have recently embarked on their first UK headline tour in support of their EP release on Friday 16th February, with plans to release their debut album later in 2018.

LIVE DATES:

FEB 08TH THE EAGLE INN, MANCHESTER
FEB 09TH THE GLOBE, NEWCASTLE
FEB 11TH THE OLD BLUE LAST, LONDON
FEB 12TH LATEST MUSIC BAR, BRIGHTON
FEB 16TH EP LAUNCH – 81 RENSHAW (EP LAUNCH), LIVERPOOL
MAR 30TH YOUR CITY FESTIVAL, STOKE
APR 26TH ALEXANDERS, CHESTER

https://www.facebook.com/tvmeband/

Sheffield’s RedFaces kick off 2018 with the release of a brand-new single ‘Messed Up’ on February 23rd. Recorded at Miloco’s The Pool in London and produced by Carey Willetts (Athlete) ‘Messed Up’ is a driving, monster of a song, with nods to their RnB influences – the groove landing somewhere between Kasabian and Michael Jackson, bass guitar and drums pushed right to the front of the mix.

‘Messed Up’ is released on February 23rd, 2018.

Catch RedFaces Live:

Thu 08 Feb – The Cellar, Oxford
Fri 09 Feb – The Black Prince, Northampton
Sat 10 Feb – The Basement, York
Sun 11 Feb – Think Tank?, Newcastle
Mon 12 Feb – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
Wed 14 Feb – Hare & Hounds, Venue 2, Kings Heath (B’ham)
Fri 16 Feb – The Tin At The Coal Vaults, Coventry
Sat 17 Feb – Dryden Street Social, Leicester
Sun 18 Feb – Oporto, Leeds
Tue 20 Feb – Le Pub, Newport
Thu 22 Feb – Blackmarket VIP, Hastings
Fri 23 Feb – Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
Sat 24 Feb – The Louisiana, Bristol

www.twitter.com/RedFacesMusic
www.facebook.com/redfacesmusic

Albert Hammond Jr has announced his fourth studio album ‘Francis Trouble’ will be made available globally on March 9th. Today, fans can preorder the album and get an instant download of the track ‘Muted Beatings’.

‘Francis Trouble’ explores a deeply personal topic – the stillborn death of his twin brother, Francis, and the lingering effects that event has had in his life and music. In November of 1979, Hammond Jr’s mother, Claudia, miscarried. Although they rushed to the hospital, Claudia and Albert Hammond Sr. were told that the baby was far too premature to live. Albert continued to grow inside of his mother undetected until she was nearly six months pregnant.

Although he had always known of the existence of Francis, it was not until he was 36 years old that he learned from an aunt that part of Francis had remained behind in the womb and was born alongside him – a fingernail. With his music moving in a different path than before, Hammond Jr wondered if this new direction came from another avenue of himself, perhaps emanating from whatever he and the departed Francis had shared for the few short months they had together.

Taking a page from Bowie, Hammond Jr says: “What the music says may be serious, but as a medium it should not be questioned, analyzed or taken too seriously. I think it should be tarted up, made into a character, a parody of itself. The music is the mask the message wears and I, the performer, am the message.”

Working within this mentality, Hammond Jr created ‘Francis Trouble’, an homage to both the death of his twin and his own birth, as well as the complexities of identity that arise because of their intermingling. The number 36 became especially relevant, as he had learned more of Francis’s story at that age, and because he was born on the 9th day of the 4th month of the year. Significantly, the album is exactly 36 minutes long.

Preorder Francis Trouble:
https://ffm.to/francistrouble
Stream ‘Muted Beatings’:
https://ffm.to/mutedbeatings

Albert Hammond Jr On Tour

2/13 Manchester UK @ Albert Hall*
2/14 Nottingham UK @ Rock City*
2/16 Newcastle Upon Tyne UK @ O2 Academy*
2/17 Glasgow UK @ O2 Academy*
2/19 Leeds UK @ O2 Academy*
2/20 Birmingham UK @ O2 Academy*
2/21 Bristol UK @ O2 Academy*
2/23 Cambridge UK @ Corn Exchange*
2/24 Brixton UK @ O2 Brixton Academy*
2/25 Brighton UK @ Brighton Dome*
3/01 London UK @ Dingwalls
* w/ Franz Ferdinand

Due to overwhelming public demand and having sold out the iconic London Palladium 10 months in advance, renowned space rock band Hawkwind have announced further UK dates with their brand new concept show ‘In Search of Utopia – Infinity and Beyond’.

For the very first time in their illustrious career, the band will be joined by a live orchestra in what promises to be amongst their most exciting and ambitious live concerts to date.

The score for the show is produced by the legendary Mike Batt. Known as both the man who discovered Katie Melua and the musical mastermind behind The Wombles, he has had a stellar career across radio, film and TV working with musicians such as Roger Daltrey, Lemmy, Status Quo and Huey Lewis. He has also has conducted some of the world’s greatest orchestras including the London Symphony and Royal Philharmonic.

TOUR DATES

Thu 18th Oct – Leeds, Town Hall
Fri 19th Oct – Salford, Lowry
Sat 20th Oct – Gateshead, Sage
Sun 4th Nov – London, Palladium (sold out)
Mon 5th Nov – London, Palladium
Sat 24th Nov – Bath, Forum
Sun 25th Nov – Birmingham Symphony Hall

Tickets for these new live shows are available via pre-sale on Thursday 1st February at 9am, and on general sale to the public from Friday 2nd February.

www.themjrgroup.com / www.hawkwind.com

Punk. Funk. Rock. Soul. The main ingredients in a potent witch’s brew that the Bellrays have been mixing for a long time now. Returning with their first full new album since the release of ‘Black Lightning’ in 2010, ‘Punk Funk Rock Soul Volume 2’ follows the release of ‘Volume One’, the four-track taster EP released in 2017 as an appetiser for the main feast. ‘Volume Two’ arrives February 2nd via Cargo Record UK.

If music is food for the soul, then the Bellrays are thanksgiving and they know how to cook. The Bellrays strip down to the meat of what music means to them. Growing up in SoCal, they thrived on radio channels that broadcast more than once one kind of music. It was a party. ‘Punk Funk Rock Soul’ is their party with their songs and friends.

“We take our ear where our heart lives in simple song writing, making ourselves and hopefully all who hear it feel good,” explains singer Lisa Kekaula. “We are proud of its simplicity and love how the new songs sound like old friends. This release is a collection of songs that illustrates why we do what we do. We are not 20 year olds and that’s okay. We are proud of our mileage and journey and PUNK FUNK ROCK SOUL validates our comfort in what music means to us. Viability, trend and meaning are up to the eye of the beholder…we like to rock.”

Catch the band live at the following dates in March 2018

Thurs 1 – Ramsgate – Ramsgate Music Hall
Sat 3 – Middlesbrough – Westgarth Social Club
Sun 4 – Edinburgh – Opium
Tues 6 – Glasgow – Broadcast
Wed 7 – Newcastle – The Cluny
Thrs 8 – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
Fri 9 – Manchester – The Soup Kitchen
Sat 10 – Newport – Le Pub
Tues 13 – Southampton – Talking Heads
Wed 14 – Bristol – The Lantern
Thurs 15 – Brighton – The Albert
Fri 16 – Norwich – NAC
Sat 17 – London – The Camden Assembly

THE BELLRAYS: IN PROFILE

Name: The BellRays
DOB: Started in 1990.

Origin: Riverside, Ca.

Members: Lisa Kekaula – vocals, percussion, inspiration

Robert Vennum – guitar, bass, vocals

Career Objective: To bring Live, High energy Rock and Soul Music to anywhere in the world we can get to.

Work Experience: 28 years of independently writing and performing music in a wide variety of situations, including, but not limited to: festivals, night clubs, parties, television shows, community events, radio shows,

Countries: United States, Canada, Brazil, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Japan, Australia, New Zealand

Genres: The BellRays is an all-original, high energy, Punk, Funk, Rock and Soul band.

Compared to:The BellRays is frequently compared to/described as “The Stooges meet Aretha Franklin”.” Tina Turner and the MC5″, “James Brown being kicked in the balls by the Who”

Influences: The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Cream

Motivation: We do it because we must. Who else is gonna do it?

Career Goal: For audience to be involved and responsive.

Inspiration: Always do something that matters.

Landmarks: Surviving the first tour. Playing Redding Festival. My first TV performance (Canal Plus, Paris FR)

Sucesses: Having been able to perform for a living for the last 18 years.
Music Description: The BellRays is a high energy, Rock and Roll band. Come and see us and form your own opinions.

Why do it: Good at it. Love doing it. People keep coming to shows.

Target: Our audience is anyone of any age, race, or gender who loves music. They love interaction with a band on stage. They like the fact that what we do is real and honest.

THE BELLRAYS DISCOGRAPHY

ALBUMS

The BellRays (1990)

In the Light of the Sun (1993)

Let It Blast (1998)

Grand Fury (2000)

Meet the BellRays (2002)

Raw Collection (2003)

The Red, White and Black (2003)

Raw Collection, vol 2 (2005)

Have a Little Faith (2006)

Hard Sweet and Sticky (2008)

Merry Xmas (2009)

Black Lightning (2010)

Covers (2016)

SINGLES AND EP’S

Wall of Soul 7″ (1995)

A Vital Gesture Xmas (1996)

Punk, Rock & Soul w/Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs (1999)

Good Thing/ Half a Mind 7″ (1998)

Bellrays/Fireballs of Freedom 7″ (1999)

Bellrays/ Adam West 7″ (1999)

Suicide Baby 7″ (2000)

Fire on the Moon tester (2002)

They Glued Your Head On Upside-Down tester (2002)

Get It Right/ Chain on You 7″ (2003)

Smash the Hits 8″ (2003)

Warhead/ Swingin’ the Blade 7″ (2003)

Lion’s Den 7″ (2003)

Le Cornichones 7″ (2006)

Tell the Lie 7″ (2006)