Alice Jemima shares video for single ‘Serious’

Alice Jemima has unveiled a new video for her single ‘Serious’, the track lifted from her new album ‘Everything Changes’ released today (February 28) which she co-wrote producer with Simon Byrt (Babeheaven).

The video for ‘Serious’ was directed by Marta Brodacka and is a conceptual representation of separation, reflecting the song’s meaning of losing a connection with someone we care about.

“The lyrics came after a discussion around social media, and the way people might try and portray themselves online," sats Alice. "How some people started taking things way too seriously with social status, and perhaps not paying as much attention to real-life friendships. You no longer feel as though you can relate to them, despite once being close friends.

"Every now and again I feel it’d be nice to drop the ‘online’ version of ourselves and instead focus on the reality, interacting with one and other the way we used to growing up - when life wasn’t so 'Serious’. “

Watch and listen below.

Harry Styles goes underwater in new 'Falling' video

Directed by Dave Meyers, Harry Styles takes a dip underwater in a new video for his Fine Line single 'Falling'.

The clip sees Harry playing the piano as the room slowly fills with water which pours out of his grand piano, until he’s completely submerged - bit still succeeds in holding a note!

Watch below.

Lewis Capaldi announced for this year's Reading & Leeds Festival

Lewis Capaldi is one of the new acts revealed today for this year's Reading & Leeds Festival.

Along with The Subways, Ms Banks, 100gecs, L Devine, MoStack, Sofi Tukker and others, they join headliners Liam Gallagher, Stormzy and Rage Against The Machine at the Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park sites between August 28 - 30.

Tickets - on sale now - and further information via the website.

Listen :: Calva Louise - Camino

Words: Sam Geary 

Calva Louise are off on a February run witg the release of their new single 'Camino'. The track has already seen support from BBC Radio 1 and Radio X, and the electrifying cut takes the band’s punk roots to new heights

“‘Camino’ is about losing all the efforts of a lifetime, but having the willpower to go through it all over again," explains vocalist and guitarist Jess Allanic. “Rather than looking back at everything you've lost, have a positive mindset and look forward. The word ‘Camino’ means path in Spanish, and it mirrors our priority to give to our audience the most authentic music from Calva Louise. Many things are changing in our lives, and there are some stylistic changes. Our next EP may have a different approach from our previous songs, but trust me, our hearts are really in this."

Listen below.



Live UK dates

MARCH
16 Bristol SWX
18 London Electric Ballroom **SOLD OUT**
19 Birmingham O2 Institute 2 **SOLD OUT**
21 Glasgow King Tut's **SOLD OUT**
22 Manchester Academy **SOLD OUT**

APRIL
11 Stockton on Tees Stockton Calling

You Me At Six, Asylums, The Lathums, Joy Crookes + many more announced for Isle of Wight Festival

Isle of Wight Festival has dropped its second wave of artists for this summer's event.

Black Eyed Peas, You Me At Six All Saints, Natasha Bedingfield, Seasick Steve, James Vincent McMorrow, Joy Crookes, Maxïmo Park, Razorlight, Asylums, Balcony, Lightning Seeds, LONA, Lyra, New Rules, Rebecca Hurn, Roachford, Rothwell, and The Lathums are amongst the acts performing on the island between June 11 - 14.

They join the likes of previously announced Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol, Chemical Brothers. Duran Duran, Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, Kaiser Chiefs, Sam Fender, Supergrass and more.

For tickets and further information, visit the website here.

Album Review :: Nova Twins - Who Are The Girls?

Album

Nova Twins

Who Are The Girls?

February 28 2020 (333 Wreckords)

7/10

Words: Ali Mack

The 'girls' in this case are non-twins Amy Love and Georgia South, and this, their 10-track debut album. And they take no prisoners either, coming prices strong on record as they attack their live shows with a venemous onslaught of guitar and bass pedals.

Giving full rein to their views on issues such as gender inequality and sexual harassment, opener ‘Vortex’ is an electric punk hard hitter that straight away outlines their position. "Who are the girls in town / Pick up your phones better answer now" they ask amidst sludgy guitar fuzz, bombastic drums and snarled vocals.

And from there, the frenetic pace continues, unabated. ‘Play Fair’ squalls across three and a half minute delivery of bass-dominated defiance, while ‘Bullet’ puts the case for female empowerment and not being subject to male dominance in their own inimitable way: "It’s my prerogative I don’t dress up to impress / you’re such a narcissist / I’m not ashamed of it / It’s my body, it’s my mind / do what I want with it" is the fierce retort clearly made here. Elsewhere, they veer from the ferocious ‘Taxi’, to the more mellow and wafting ‘Ivory Tower’, and back to the darkly propulsive 'Athena'.

‘Who Are The Girls’ is a strong statement that defines the new age of women not taking shit from anyone any more. Girl power rocks.

The Lottery Winners release new visuals for ‘Headlock’

Words: Sam Geary 

After recently releasing new track ‘Headlock’, The Lottery Winners now unwrap its video partner.

The clip for the track - lifted from their self-titled debut album, out on March 13 via Modern Sky UK - was filmed in the band’s hometown of Leigh in Lancashire, and the band take us on a whistle-stop tour of their own backyard, stopping off for fish and chips, a flutter at the games arcade and their local hair salon for a short back and sides.

“The request to make a music video was sprung upon us, and we panicked,” explains frontman Thom Rylance. “There was no preparation or planning, we just went to Leigh with a camera and filmed where and what and who we saw. It’s not much, but it’s home”.

Check it out now.

Track Of The Day :: The Snuts - Coffee & Cigarettes

Words: Sam Geary 

The Snuts have released their new dancefloor gem, ‘Coffee & Cigarettes’.

The track is taken from their forthcoming ‘Mixtape EP’, released on March 13 on Parlophone Records. Recorded in LA with Inflo (Karen O / Danger Mouse, Michael Kiwanuka, Little Simz) and Tony Hoffer (Beck, Goldfrapp, M83), the band will also be making a series of in-store appearances around the release - see below.

The old-school rock anthem, ‘Coffee & Cigarettes’ was initially inspired by a Bob Dylan track, and is "a song that celebrates the simpler things in life," says vocalist Jack Cochrane. “It is pretty evident we were keen to push the boundaries of our songwriting with this track."



Live dates

MARCH
06 AMP Presents Sebright Arms, London SOLD OUT
13 Acoustic Matinee Show King Tuts, Glasgow

13 King Tuts EP Launch, Glasgow
14 Assai Records, Dundee
14 Assai Records, Edinburgh
15 Rough Trade, Nottingham
16 Rough Trade East, London
17 HMV Vault, Birmingham
18 Phase One / Jacaranda, Liverpool

APRIL
27 Dublin, Button Factory
29 Manchester, Academy 2 SOLD OUT
30 London, Kentish Town Forum

MAY
01 Teddy Rocks Festival
05 Cardiff, Globe
06 Leeds, Stylus SOLD OUT
09 Edinburgh, Corn Exchange SOLD OUT
23 Neighbourhood Weekender

JULY
18 Hampden Park, Glasgow w/ Gerry Cinnamon SOLD OUT
31 Truck Festival

Live Review :: Lucia & The Best Boys :: Shacklewell Arms, London - Feb 25 2020

Live

Lucia & The Best Boys

Shacklewell Arms, London

February 25 2020

Words:  Richard Cobb

Returning to London for their first gig of the year and fresh from releasing their ‘Eternity' EP at the end of January, Lucia & The Best Boys landed on stage at the Shacklewell Arms with a justifiable air of confidence and swagger about them.

Taking to the crimson flooded stage on a mission, the band launched straight into EP opener and new single ‘City of Angels'; singer Lucia as transfixed on the crowd as the crowd were on her for the duration of the synth-led pop dream of a song.

Ordinarily a four-piece, the Glasgow outfit were accompanied by Lizzie Reid on keys/synth and backing vocals, having first helped out at their Maida Vale sessions last month. This addition works seamlessly and gives the band an extra round of ammunition.

For those in attendance previously unfamiliar with the band, it was easy to spot the fan favourites. The almost criminally early three course serving of  ‘Cheap Talk’, ‘Blueheart’ and ‘Good Girls’ sending the sold-out out venue's crowd into pandemonium.

There’s something soothingly psychotic about Lucia & The Best Boys’ live show. One minute frontwoman Lucia will be delivering a perfect pop ballad like ‘My God’, the next, charging out, possessed, through the crowd during ‘Melted Ice Cream’. The full aesthetic of the show has been meticulously well thought out with no stone unturned in the quest for making them one of the most energising and exciting live acts on the circuit.

Whilst there’s a tremendous rockstar image and sheer intensity emanating from the leader of the band, it’s important to add that The Best Boys on bass, drums and guitar provide the vital heartbeat of the songs and the live show.

There’s no let up from band or crowd throughout the nine tracks. Ending on a new, filthy heavy-hitter ‘U Deserve It’, there’s much to look forward to in 2020 from this band.

Album Review :: Echo Machine - Instant Transmissions

Album

Echo Machine 

Instant Transmissions

February 28 2020 (Riverman Records / Assai Records)

7.5/10

Words: Ali Mack

Recorded at La Chunky Studios in Glasgow, and produced by SAW (aka Stephen Watkins), Dundee synth-pop band Echo Machine describe this debut album as "an eleven track biography of a modern man." Whilst that may give rise to expecting some highly pretentious piece of work detailing the travails of the Gen X brigade, in practice it is actually an 80s influenced, sonic satellite that beams out pulses of fuzzy, new wave punk.

The propulsive 'Chameleon', while nor as in your face as some of the other tracks here, has a compelling underbelly. As programmed drum beats and reverbed guitars fill it out, it gives a picture via its distinct sound, not just of the band, but their depiction of detached existence: "I feel nothing" is the clinical refrain. The dancefloor mix of  standout 'Headlights' is a meatier, two and a half minute infectiously unadulterated disco-pop bop musically, yet Gary Moore also somehow manages to add a certain vulnerability to both vocals and lyrics.

'Automatic Love', a full-on belter that has both a retro 80s feel to it in its synth line and disco-dance groove, belies its more heavyweight value about "the modern curses of distraction and instant satisfaction,” Moore has said previously. “We don't really know what we want, but we want it right now, and it has to be perfect. We spend our time comparing ourselves to avatars of our own creation, getting sad that we never match up to this ideal version of ourselves, or to the ideal versions other people project of themselves. We are all fighting good causes, but never find the time to really commit."

With latest single, the driving 'The Road' further fulfilling its duty in synth-pop terms, and 'In Flight' adding addictive emphasis, the polished production on 'Instant Transmissions' gives the glam Machine plenty of power to fire its engine.

‘It’s Gonna Get Better’ for Newcastle newcomer Andrew Cushin

Words: Leah Raymond 

Making his debut with a strummed acoustic guitar and quietly affecting voice, 20 year old Geordie newcomer Andrew Cushin arrives with his debut, ‘It’s Gonna Get Better’.

The release comes as part of the two-track ‘Waiting For The Rain’ EP.  Both songs were written by Andrew and produced by Sean Genocky. And it probably is going to get a lot better if he has more in his bag of songs like this, which lyrically is an unguarded outpouring of emotion, rich with regret, romance and yearning.

The ex-goalkeeper for non-league side Newcastle Benfield’s youth team may now have hung up his footie boots, but it can only be music's gain.

Check ‘It’s Gonna Get Better’ - and then see where you can catch Andrew live over the next months.



Live dates

MARCH
07 Newcastle, The Cluny (SOLD OUT)
11 Nottingham Rough Trade (support to The K’s)
12 Sheffield, Leadmill (support to The K’s)
13 Glasgow, Attic (support to The K’s)
14 Liverpool, Arts Club (support to The K’s)

APRIL
10 REWIRED Festival - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
11 REWIRED Festival - London, BrixtonJamm

MAY
02 Live at Leeds Festival
02 Liverpool Sound City
03 Hit The North Festival
15 The Great Escape Festival
23 This is Tomorrow Festival

JULY
24 Deer Shed Festival
26 Nozstock

AUGUST
08 Boardmasters Festival
28-30 Victorious Festival

Kendal Calling adds FEET, Retro Video Club, Stanleys + more to line-up

After January's announcement of Foals, Supergrass, Blossoms, Easy Life, Pale Waves, Marika Hackman, The Magic Gang, Sundara Karma and others, Kendal Calling has now added more names to the bill.

New artists include Goldfrapp, The Slow Readers Club, FEET, Retro Video Club, Stanleys, Kid Kapichi, and False Advertising.

Record labels Xtra Mile Recordings, Earache Records, Manchester's Off-Axis and charity Brighter Sound will each oversee a takeover day.

Kendal Calling takes place between July 30 - August 2 at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District.

Check the festival website for more information.

New Pagans share video for single ‘Admire’

Northern Ireland's New Pagans have shared the video for their latest single ‘Admire’.

Directed by bassist Claire Miskimmin, the clip features vocalist Lyndsey McDougall in various states of reflection in scenes from across Ireland and the USA.

Claire and Lyndsey are also visual artists and have a clear idea of New Pagans' aesthetic. ‘Admire’ is the third instalment in a series of short films where they conjure up a runic world to narrate their music.

“The video was inspired by folk horror, the Irish countryside and all things ritualistic," Claire explains. “’Admire’ is a peculiar love song about sticking around for someone, after the spark of newness has gone and the video depicts an offering to an imagined deity, a pact entered into, an altar where a sacrifice is made.”

Watch below.

Brighton's Lime ‘Surf N Turf’ as they Sing & Tell on their debut release

Credit: Julia Nala Bambulia  

Coming together from across the UK, Brighton-based are a four-piece band going against the genre norms. Fusing together catchy indie and surf psych melodies, with sarcastic, socially aware lyrics, they dropped tueir debut single, ‘Surf N Turf’, last week.


Who are you?

Hey, I'm Chloe I am the main singer and rhythm guitarist in the band. We also have Tippi on bass, Annabel on drums and Leila on lead guitar.

Tell us something about yourself and how you came to be where you are today.

Well, we all grew up pretty much spread out across the country (spanning from Scotland to Surrey). We first met at 16 at music college and all became best pals pretty quick, the music then naturally followed when hanging out and the band was formed shortly after meeting. We now all go to uni in Brighton and are enjoying the sea air.

Give us an idea of your musical style and influences.

Our musical influences as a band could go on forever but to give you an idea they include the likes of Courtney Barnett, FEET, Squid and Sports Team. There are so many great new bands coming up at the minute; it's exciting to start being a part of the indie scene in the south!

Explain the production and writing process behind your songs.

As individual members we all value having a part in the writing process, so a song usually begins with one of us presenting an idea to the rest and then we begin piecing it together as a collective. In terms of production, we make demos of all our tracks in our bedrooms and when recording we just want to be apart of the full process so we also get super involved in the studio.

Tell us a little about your single.

'Surf n Turf' is meant to be a fun tune to just have a dance too. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves for our debut track to be perfect, and this was the first track we've ever felt could do us justice as a debut release. As for the meaning, we somewhat like the meanings of songs to be unique for individual listeners, so have a listen and see what you think it means.



Can we catch up with you at any forthcoming live shows?

For sure. We have shows on the
8th March at Lion and Coffee Records in London for International Womens Day. Then on 3rd April we are supporting Ralph TV at the Hope and Ruin in Brighton, and on 28th April supporting FUR at the Prince Albert in Brighton. We then support Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something at The Finsbury in London on 8th May.

How's the first year of the new decade looking, plans-wise?

This year is all about releasing and writing music for us. Over the next few months we will be releasing more music and writing loads of tunes.

Where can we hear more of your music?

We are on Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Apple Music and YouTube with the single. But at the moment the only other place you can hear more of our songs is to come to one of our upcoming shows so .... see ya there!

What social media platforms can we find you on?

Facebook // Instagram // Twitter

Llovers are 'Feeling Sound' on swoony new single

Words: Ellie Ward 

Produced by Chad Male, Llovers are back with a new track, the lead single from their forthcoming EP.

‘Feeling Sound’, out today, precedes the Teesside quintet's second EP titled ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Alone’, and showcases the group’s penchant for producing swoony indie-pop melodies, layered with sparkling riffs, and effervescent choruses.

“’Feeling Sound’ was one of the first songs written as Llovers," says frontman Jack Brooks. "It’s about fickle opinions, insecurities and the desire to gloss over them with this idea of ‘Feeling Sound’, a term used in the North East for ‘feeling good’."

Tune in below.



Live dates

MARCH
03 Think Tank?, Newcastle (supporting Zuzu)

APRIL
11 Stockton Calling

MAY
23 CloseUp Festival, London

Track Of The Day :: Marsicans - Juliet

Words: Ellie Ward 

Marsicans come storming out of the starting blocks with their bombastic new single 'Juliet', released this week.

The track follows 'Can I Stay Here Forever (pt.II)' which was first to drop from their debut album 'Ursa Major', which is released on May 22.

The anthemic opening of driving guitars gives a sense of the Marsicans live sound, before James Newbigging enters to deliver the introspective lyrics in his own now familiar style, as the melodious rush of the track rolls in.

"The song is set on the Juliet balcony at the flat where I live," explains frontman Newbigging. "It was written at quite a difficult time, where we were all outwardly happy about what we were doing as a band, but I personally just felt dejected by the uncertainty of it all. Not by the things we could control ourselves, but worrying over things like if we were ever going to release an album. And if we did, would anyone even care? What were we doing with our lives? And basically spending all my time feeling shit about the unknown future.

"So each verse is a different night of me on the balcony thinking these thoughts - but then something would always cheer me up (the moon looking cool, thinking about what we've done so far as a band, etc). The 'I'm overthinking this' lyric in the chorus is me telling myself to stop being so stupid and to not dwell on matters that are out of my control, to just enjoy what I'm doing."

Listen to ‘Juliet’ below, and then check out Marsicans' October headline tour dates. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, February 28.



Live dates (w/ Deco and Sad Boys Club)

OCTOBER
14 Aberdeen Tunnels
15 Glasgow King Tut's
17 Manchester Gorilla
21 Bristol Thekla
22 London Scala
24 Leeds Beckett University

Killing Roy are back with second single ‘Applier’

Words: Sam Geary 

There's plenty going on in this second single from London-based indie rockers Killing Roy.

Released last week, ‘Applier’ - which follows last year's debut 'In Paris - is built around an abundance of guitar riffs and biting vocals, that pack the four-minute track out with a frenetic energy and bursts of atmospheric instrumentals that bleed into the raw vocal lead seamlessly.

Listen below.

Watch :: Phoebe Bridgers smokes a bong in visuals for new track 'Garden Song'

Phoebe Bridgers has released her first new solo material since her acclaimed 2017 debut 'Stranger in the Alps', in the form of single 'Garden Song'.

The track comes with a video directed by her younger brother Jackson, in which she is seen smoking a bong. Bridgers asked him to then orchestrate a serious of surprises to take place while she smoked. For a non-smoker, the effect was particularly strong and the resulting video captures Bridgers being weirded out by various furry monsters, and an appearance by comedian and author Tig Notaro in a monk’s costume.

Watch below.

Boardmasters reveals new wave of acts for August

Cornwall's Boardmasters festival haa announced another raft of 40+ acts gor this summer's event.

Blossoms, Hot Chip, Easy Life, Maribou State, Kojey Radical, Catalyst, The Allergies, Crawford, The Mongolian Disco Show, The Tribe, Visionobi and WUH OH are amongst the new additions who will join Kings of Leon, Skepta, The 1975, Sam Fender, Pale Waves and more at Fistral Beach / Watergate Bay in Newquay over August 5 - 9.

For further information, visit the website here.

2000Trees announces 30+ new acts for July festival

2000Trees have announced 36 new acts for the July festival.

Nova Twins, Hotel Lux, Beach Slang, Demob Happy, Airways, Together Pangea, The Virginmarys, Haggard Cat, Fangclub, Delair the Liar, S.T. Manville, Chloe Moriondo, Grief Ritual, Superlove, and Sapphire Blues are among those joining the previously announced likes of The Amazons, Boston Manor, Jimmy Eat World, Dinosaur Pile Up, Dream State, Counterfeit, Roam, Hot Milk, Vukovi, Black Futures, Lauran Hibberd, Gloo, The Winter Passing and Dream Nails.

2000Trees takes place between July 9 - 11 at Upcote Farm, near Cheltenham.

See the website for more information.

Kid Kapichi release video for new single 'Thugs'

Hastings outfit Kid Kapichi have released their first new music of 2020, with single 'Thugs'.

Out now through AWAL, yhe track is at its heart, a protest song. "People are fed up. People are tired of the lies. It is a call to arms. ‘You want a war, we’ll give you war’," says co-vocalist and guitarist Jack Wilson.

"The men and women at the top behave with no morals and seem to be rewarded for their lack of ethics. However when anyone decides to speak up or make a stand against the cruelty, they’re labelled ‘thugs’. We live in a world of free speech as long as you agree with what they’re saying."

The band are on a UK headline tour through March and already announced on The Great Escape in May and 2000trees Festival this July,

Check out 'Thugs' via the video here, directed by James Green.



Live dates

MARCH
01 Leeds - Oporto
02 Newcastle - Think Tank? Underground
04 Glasgow - The Attic
05 Liverpool - Phase One
06 Nottingham - Bodega
07 Manchester - Yes! Basement (Sold Out)
09 Leicester - The Cookie
10 Bristol - Crofters Rights
11 London - Moth Club
12 Southampton - Heartbreakers
20 Brighton - Green Door Store (Sold Out)

MAY
12 Dublin - Lost Lane (The Road To The Great Escape)
13-15 Brighton - The Great Escape

JULY
10 Cheltenham - 2000 Trees Festival

Hazel English shares 'Off My Mind' from forthcoming debut album

Words: Sam Geary 

LA-based Australian Hazel English has announced plans for her debut album 'Wake UP!'. The full-length will be released on April 24 via Marathon/ Polyvinyl. Ahead of which she has shared a video for 'Off My Mind'.

“'Off My Mind' is about feeling stuck in a situation but too afraid to make a move," she says. "It’s about the limbo state between where you are and where you want to be.”

Wake UP! was produced by Justin Raisen (Angel Olsen, Charli XCX) in LA and by Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Glass Animals, The Big Moon) in Atlanta.

'Wake UP!' track listing:

1. Born Like
2. Shaking
3. White Noise
4. Off My Mind
5. Combat
6. Five and Dime
7. Like a Drug
8. Waiting
9. Milk and Honey
10. Work It Out

The Great Escape adds another 100+ artists including Fontaines D.C., The Snuts, Talk Show + The Magic Gang

Brighton's hottest spring festival The Great Escape has today revealed a further 130 artists have been added to the bill.

Fontaines D.C. (who were due to appear last year but had to cancel due to a US tour) are top of the crop, joined by The Snuts, Nasty Cherry, The Magic Gang, Talk Show, Best Coast, Gracie Abrams, PVA and many more.

Celebrating 15 years in 2020, The Great Escape takes place in Brighton across 35 venues between May 13 - 16.

For tickets and further information, visit the festival website.

The full list of new line-up additions:

404 / AKIKO HARUNA / ALESIA LANI / ALFIE TEMPLEMAN / ALTAMESA / ALTIN GÜN / ALYONA ALYONA / AN ALIEN CALLED HARMONY / ANNE MÜLLER / ARXX / ASHNIKKO / BABY BRAVE / BABYJAKE / BAMBARA / BATU / BEATRICH / BEST COAST / BIRTHH / BLANCO BROWN / BLOOMS CORDA / BREE RUNWAY / CAMILLA SPARKSSS / CAROLINE ROSE /CHANKA 陳嘉 / CHARLOTTE / CHEF’SPECIAL / CHIIILD / CHUBBY & THE GANG / CONCHÚR WHITE / CONRAD / DANIELLE BRADBERY / DAUGHTERS OF REYKJAVÍK / DEEP TAN / DELAIRE THE LIAR / DEMI MARRINER / DEMOB HAPPY / DEVIN DAWSON / DISQ / DJ PLEAD / DREAM NAILS / EGO ELLA MAY / EGYPTIAN BLUE / ELEPHANT TREE / FAUZIA / FOEX & PAULOPULUS / FONTAINES D.C. / FOREST LAW / FRANKIE STEW & HARVEY GUNN / FRIEDBERG / GAIDAA / GANG OF YOUTHS / GHOSTLY KISSES / GOOD WILSON / GRACIE ABRAMS / HARDWICKE CIRCUS / HAUNT THE WOODS / HMD / HUNGER MOON / I-SHA / IMAN HOUSSEIN / INDIGOS / IVY FLINDT / JOE ARMON-JONES / JOSIAH AND THE BONNEVILLES / JP SAXE / JULIA BARDO / JULY 7 / JUNIOR BROTHER / JUNODREAM / KATHRYN LEGENDRE / KATY J PEARSON / KEG / KENNYHOOPLA / KIDDUS / KINKAI / KIWI JR / KYNSY / LIDO PIMIENTA / LOLA YOUNG / LOS BITCHOS / LOVE’N’JOY / LSDXOXO / LYNKS AFRIKKA / LYRA / MARIE WHITE / MARTHA HILL / MATT OWENS / MELTS / MERRY LAMB LAMB / METRIST / MILAN RING / MISS JUNE / MOBS / MONUMENTAL MEN / MOVING PANORAMAS / MR BEN & THE BENS / NASTY CHERRY / NEUE GRAFIK ENSEMBLE / NINA COBHAM / NINA LAS VEGAS / NORMAN / OTTA / OTTO / PA SALIEU/ PACE / PET DEATHS / PIP MILLETT / PLANET / POCKET SOUNDS / PODER FANTASMA / PRUNE DEER 話梅鹿 / PVA / QLOWSKI / QUKO / RATS / RED MOON / REMI WOLF / RIKA / ROBBIE CAVANAGH / ROBERT J HUNTER / SAN CISCO / SANTINO LE SAINT / SHARDS / SODA BLONDE / SPARKLING / TALK SHOW / TEDDY SWIMS / THE MAGIC GANG / THE SCRATCH / THE SISTERHOOD BAND / THE SNUTS / THE STROPPIES / TIM BURGESS / TOSHIN / TSVI / V3CO / WORLDCUB / WUNDERHORSE / YEULE

Track Of The Day :: The Blinders - Forty Days And Forty Nights

Words: Ellie Ward 

After only just having shelled out 'Circle Song', The Blinders are back with another sonic aural assault with ‘Forty Days And Forty Nights’.

The latest track to be taken from their upcoming 'Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath' album, out on May 8 via Modern Sky UK, the follow-up to their 2018 debut album, 'Columbia', it's a hold on to your hats incendiary three- minutes-plus.

Premiered last night (February 25) by Steve Lamacq on BBC 6Music, swiftly followed by John Kennedy on Radio X, ‘Forty Days And Forty Nights’ opens with driving drums and forebodingly warped guitars, that proceed with pulsating passages of calm and chaos.

“It’s about trying to escape what you may call a toxic relationship,” explain the band. “It represents the desperation to get out of the situation that you are in, but also the frustration at not having that craved freedom.”

Best new tracks Down Under #8

With the vibrant indie music scene in Australia and New Zealand constantly outshining much of the output from their British and American cousins, Little Indie picks our weekly bunch of some of the best new tracks on offer.


ALAE - SUMMER THING

Auckland, NZ's Alae deliver a sunny, teaser from their forthcoming, as-yet-untitled EP, out June 1, along with a goth-vibed video. “It’s about enjoying your time with someone, not overthinking and all being happy,” say the band.
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GENES - WHEN I'M AROUND YOU

Following her late 2019 debut single, Townsville-via-Melbourne’s Maddy Rowe is back with a new track. ‘When I’m Around You’ is another sun-soaked pop bop, with sweet, sultry vocals. “Sometimes you don’t even have to talk about feelings to know,” GENES says of the song. “It’s just in the eye contact that lasts a little longer than normal, the built up chemistry on the drive home, the late night texts that feel a bit too comfortable.”
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FRENCH CONCESSION - END OF TIME

Sydney-based Hong Kong experimental electronic artist Ella Chau releases her self-directed video for this haunting, standalone single, filmed in a lush private garden in Ohoka, just outside Christchurch, New Zealand. "I imagined this track as a love song played at a far future wedding," she says. "The face masks were hand crafted and sewed by myself. Each mask represents a forest creature living in the magical secret garden greeting the viewer and end to the video's mystical appeal."

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STRANGER - FOUR WALLS

The alt-rock band from Melbourne may not be the most prolific of artists - this track appears to be their first since 'A.D.H.D.' early last year - but the quartet seem to value quality over quantity. This new sub-four-minute offering from the quartet is helmed by vocalist/guitarist Tom Morgan's raw and passionate delivery over pounding drums and a wall of guitars.
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SAN MEI - CHERRY DAYS

The Queensland artist precedes her SXSW appearance next month and new EP, ‘Cry’, out on March 20, with this self-produced, catchy electro-pop single, which was inspired by an American road-trip through the desert. “I was thinking, we always have so much to do, work towards, strive for; we’re always chasing something… and I thought how nice it was in that particular moment that for once, we had nothing to do and nowhere to be. It made me think that it’s okay to just enjoy ourselves for the sake of it every now and then, because life can be hard and it's the sweet, easy moments that keep us going.”
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INTERNET FRIENDS - GET WISE

Newly formed Perth four-piece produce a catchy, energetic indie-rock vibe here, with cheeky lyrics and punchy, underlying drum and bass. Don't be fooled by the opening seconds as it soon lets rip.
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Perfume Genius debuts new song and video, along with new album details

Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas,
has announced a new album, titled 'Set My Heart On Fire Immediately', to be released on May 15 via Matador.

The follow-up to 2017's 'No Shape' is preceded by a video for first single ‘Describe', below.

“I wanted to feel more open, more free and spiritually wild, and I’m in a place now where those feelings are very close, but it can border on being unhinged,” says Hadreas .“I wrote these songs as a way to be more patient, more considered - to pull at all these chaotic threads hovering around me and weave them in to something warm, thoughtful and comforting.”

'Set My Heart on Fire Immediately' tracklist:

01 Whole Life
02 Describe
03 Without You
04 Jason
05 Leave
06 On the Floor
07 Your Body Changes Everything
08 Moonbend
09 Just a Touch
10 Nothing At All
11 One More Try
12 Some Dream
13 Borrowed Light

Sorry tease their debut album with new single 'Snakes', and visuals

North London’s Sorry have dropped   a new track and video.

‘Snakes’  - lifted from their debut full-length, '925', released on March 27 via Domino - comes before they head to the US next month for their SXSW appearance, and their April outing across the UK.

The track comes with the feverish visuals below, directed and produced by Sorry’s Asha Lorenz.



Live UK dates

APRIL
26 Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
27 Bodega, Nottingham
28 Brudenell Community Room, Leeds
29 Cafe Totem, Sheffield

MAY
01 Stereo, Glasgow
03 Hit The North, Newcastle
04 YES, Manchester
05 Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
06 Rough Trade, Bristol
07 Village Underground, London

Slouch Sing & Tell on guitars, synths, 'P.O.V' and next month's Scottish shows

Glasgow five-piece Slouch follow up last September's ‘Duplicity’, with new single ‘P.O.V’ - released last Friday - which was recorded with Jamie Holmes and Johnny Madden.


Who are you?

This is Daniel MacRae, guitarist/synths. The others in the band are Paul Burnett, vocals; Mark Hunter on guitars/synths; Ryan Smith, bass, and Div Anderson on drums.

Tell us something about yourself and how you came to be where you are today.

We are all best friends from the same area in the Southside of Glasgow, and all of the band went to the same two schools in the area. We have always loved music and became friends through listening to bands together and going to gigs, so decided to start one ourselves. Originally we all played the same instruments so most of the band had to learn new instruments from scratch just so we could start a band and take our time learning how to play together, and eventually we were confident enough to start developing our own sound to make the music we wanted to make.

Give us an idea of your musical style and influences.

We all have varied musical tastes but have a core of common influences we try and bring to the band like The Strokes, New Order, The Cure, Foals and Tame Impala. We try and use synths and guitars together in our music the same way a lot of New Wave bands of the 80s did as well as modern alternative bands. We also tend to merge this with an upbeat electronic indie influences in the rhythm section. Another influence we all share is strong melodic choruses from anything from Britpop to pop and we always try to incorporate that into our singles.

Explain the production and writing process behind your songs.

The songs usually start by someone bringing a musical idea into rehearsals. This can sometimes just be a riff and some chords, or sometimes a more fully formed bedroom demo. We'll then work on this in the rehearsal studio and flesh it out and try different ideas until we have a structure we're happy with whilst Burnett adds melodies and lyrics.

In the case of our new single, we took a fully formed song in to the studio but then from there we worked with producers Jamie Holmes and Johnny Madden to try a few different ideas. It was a really collaborative process and the single was all the better for it.

Tell us a little about your new single.

We recorded the single in 7 West Studios in Glasgow for the first time with Jamie and Johnny. We loved the experience working with them and had a lot of fun recording the single, as well as trying some really exciting ideas that made it into the final song.

‘P.O.V’ started with the main synth hook in the chorus and grew from there. Musically we spent a lot of time on the dancey-er rhythm section between the bass line and different drum beats, as well as the different layers of synths and guitars lines. The title 'P.O.V' is lifted from the 'point of view' lyric in the chorus, but also relates to the song as it's essentially a conversation with someone from the point of view of the singer.



Can we catch up with you at any forthcoming live shows?

We have a couple of gigs lined up next month that we're really excited about. Our first gig is in Glasgow at The Garage Attic supporting The Peach Fuzz at a This Feeling gig on 7th March. They're a great band from Liverpool and This Feeling gigs are always class. We'll then be supporting Neon Waltz at Bakers in Kilmarnock on 28th March. This will be our first gig in Kilmarnock and Neon Waltz are one of the best bands in Scotland so we can't wait for that either.

How's the first year of the new decade looking, plans-wise?

We're really excited about the upcoming gigs we have booked and have some more plans later in the year to go back into the studio at 7 West. We're currently working hard on new music and can't wait to see what the year brings.

Where can we hear more of your music?

'P.O.V' is now on Spotify with our first two singles, 'In Your Mind' and 'Duplicity'. We also have a live session of a couple of our tracks on YouTube which was recorded at the end of last year.

What social media platforms can we find you on?

Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

Watch :: BTS perform 'ON' in NYC's Grand Central Station on US TV

K-pop megastars BTS last night (February 24) appeared on the US TV show The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The episode-length edition was given over to the South Korean seven-piece, who have just released their new album 'Map of the Soul: 7'.

Watch them perform 'ON' from the album inside New York City's Grand Central Terminal.

As part of their world tour, BTS play two UK dates, both at London's Twickenham Stadium on July 3 and 4.

Neon Waltz share visuals to 'Thanks For Everything'

Words: Sam Geary 

They dropped 'Thanks For Everything' back in January, and now Neon Waltz pull out a visual accompaniment for the single.

The track's - from their forthcoming 'Huna' EP - disorientating monochrome video is cleverly done with the simple, DIY trickery that comes with the humble mirror.

A further run of UK dates is also announced to coincide with the EP release on Friday March 27 on both vinyl and digital formats. Scroll down for list.



Live dates

MARCH
28 Kilmarnock, Bakers
29 Newcastle, Think Tank
30 Nottingham, Bodega
31 Birmingham, Dead Wax

APRIL
01 Leeds, Headrow House
02 Brighton, Green Door Store
04 London, Omeara
05 Manchester, YES
07 Edinburgh, Sneaky Pete's
08 Dundee, Beat Generator Live!

BABii announces new EP & shares new single 'BEAST'

Following the release of her debut album 'HiiDE' last year, Margate-based artist and producer BABii has announced a new EP, 'iii', will be released on March 27, and available on CD & DSPs. There will be three limited editon CD versions, with 50 of each, complete with artwork specific to each track.

The first single from the record 'BEAST' can be heard below.

"'BEAST' is about being far away in proximity from someone, but still feeling emotionally close to them," sgevsats, "and realising the opposite could be much worse, being in close proximity to someone but emotionally feeling distant from them."



Live dates

MARCH
04 London, Lafayette supporting Grouplove
05 Newcastle, Cobalt
26-27 Lisbon, MIL Festival

MAY
09 The Great Eastern Festival, Edinburgh

JUNE
20 Near Future Festival, Liverpool

Track Of The Day :: Scuttlers - Leaders of a Lost Generation

Words: Charlie Emmett

Anthemic, singalong garage rock is what Scuttlers, the Manchester alt-rock with frontman Kaiden Nolan providing a punk persuasion vocal, are offering on new single 'Leaders of a Lost Generation'.

Out this Friday (February 28), it follows the quartet's 2018 debut EP, ‘We Are Scuttlers’, and singles like last year's 'Lies In The Sky', and has already caught the ears of Radio X's esteemed John Kennedy. With its radio-friendly vibe you can surely expect to be hearing it on more stations across the airwaves in the coming weeks.

Catch a live rendition when the boys play Night & Day Cafe, Manchester on March 21.

Manchester's HORLA Sing & Tell about their indie-rock sound and inspiration behind new single 'Stare Down The Walls'

The newly formed Manchester four-piece HORLA made their debut last April with the atmospheric 'Into The Void'. They kick off 2020 with their first single of the decade, ‘Stare Down The Walls’, released in January, with a follow-up video revealed last week.


Who are you? 

Hello! I’m Nathan Howard and I sing and play guitar and piano. Our band also consists of Joshua Leach (bass), Rob Evans (drums) and Max Mawdsley (lead guitar).

Tell us something about yourself and how you came to be where you are today.

We’re all Manchester-based musicians, except josh who lives up in the hills of Huddersfield. We’re all seasoned musicians who have been in and around the scene for quiet some time in various other notable projects either as session players or full-time members. I was drumming for Embers back in 2015 when I met Rob who was playing for Bipolar Sunshine and Josh was in a heavier band called Adelaide, but we came together through mutual connections and our paths crossing from time to time really and discussing what we all were working on. I had written over an album’s worth tracks during my time in Embers and had a project name. Everything happened really organically. I met Max through a musicians union website when I was searching for decent players! He was the first guy to respond who looked the part and could play guitar incredibly well. Some might say it was fate unfolding.

Give us an idea of your musical style and influences.

I guess people would describe us as progressive, cinematic indie-rock. We love a sense of drama in our music which the crowd can indulge and get lost in. Biffy Clyro, Muse and Radiohead are all favourites across the board. We throw a whole load of influences into our sound. We love great simple pop songs with catchy hooks, but also like to try to be progressive and build a world around each song aesthetically. Rob and I have a love for great beat mathematicians - elite players that dominate stage with heavyweight pop artists and Max likes the super technical guitar players.

Explain the production and writing process behind your songs.

Usually it starts with an acoustic guitar demo/vocal idea, then other instruments, textures, layers are built around that once there’s a feel there - it could be a lyrical theme that sparks a certain sound or mood. Then we add various embellishments through or live strings. The dream would be to have a full orchestral ensemble akin to Elbow, but we’ll wait for the majors to come knocking first.

Tell us a little about your new single.


'Stare Down The Walls' is a song about stagnation, a menacing wall of noise with a really big anthemic chorus. It's supposed to represent those claustrophobic feelings of society trapping us in the system we all face on a daily basis. I wrote it at the time where I was in a reversal room with black walls for too many hours, too many days a week, and was feeling uninspired every day by the process - it was a song born out of pure frustration, really.

Can we catch up with you at any forthcoming live shows?

We play our next hometown headline show in Manchester at the Star n’ Garter on 29th Feb. We also play YANA Festival in Manchester's on 28th Mar.

How's the first year of the new decade looking, plans-wise?

Two new singles ready and waiting - two videos to release - and recording again. We’ve got over an album ready to take in so we’re just building our fanbase and looking at bringing in a great team to take us to the top. We’re planning on being out there as much as possible this year, and hopefully see you in those glorious festival fields too!

Where can we hear more of your music?

For the best possible experience come see us live - we try to make every show a real experience for our listeners and fans. We’re also on Spotify, YouTube, and Soundcloud.

What social media platforms can we find you on? 

Instagram // Twitter // Facebook

'Never' questions today's 'fake news' , as Egyptian Blue prepare for second EP

Words: Ellie Ward 

Produced by Theo Verney, Egyptian Blue follow their debut EP 'Collateral Damage' with the first taste off its follow-up.

Out now, 'Never’ is another jolting, groove-orientated post-punk attack from the Brighton-based quartet, and precedes their 'Body of Itch' EP, released on April 10 via Yala! Records.

The band's songwriters Leith Ambrose and Andy Buss penned the song in response to feeling alienated by the propaganda spread by fake news and the politicking of powerful elites.

“We need to constantly question what we’re being told, particularly from world leaders, whatever side they’re on,” says Andy. “My mum was talking about the Iraq war and the ‘weapons of mass deception’ headlines – it’s been happening for decades! She was so exasperated by it all that she’d say, ‘One day we’ll climb the mountain, but I’m never coming down.’ Those words stuck with me.”

Listen to 'Never' below.



Live dates

FEBRUARY
24 Birmingham, O2 Institute 2
25 Liverpool, O2 Academy 2
27 Dublin, Vicar Street

MARCH
06 St Malo, La Route Du Rock Hiver
25 London, The Lexington (HEADLINE SHOW)
28 Bristol, Ritual Union Festival SWX2
29 Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms (supporting JOHN)

APRIL
23 Bourges, Printemps de Bourges Festival
24 Angoulême, La Nef
25 Rezé, L’Ere de Rien Festival

MAY
01 Nottingham, Rock City (Beta) (HEADLINE SHOW)
02 Manchester, YES (basement) (HEADLINE SHOW)
03 Glasgow, Stag And Dagger Festival

'Feel' the new single vibes of Big Society

Words: Sam Geary 

Will, Thom, Harry and Alex are the four components of Manchester's Big Society, and after recording their new single "in the cold, removed countryside of Worcestershire with producer Pete Robertson (ex-Vaccines)", you too can now 'Feel' the force when it releases this Thursday, February 27.

Coming after 'Give Me My Name' which they put out last November, 'Feel' has three minutes of feelgood, dancefloor vibes to it - along with smooth guirars, and harmonic rhythms, and a trouser-splitting lead falsetto! - and with what the band describe as "a unification of punch drunk melody and nervous adolescence, and speaks to the daft loneliness of teenage life and the necessity for exploration outside your comfort zone."

Big Society are lined up for Newcastle's This Is Tomorrow festival on May 23.

Watch :: Lucia & The Best Boys - City Of Angels

Credit: Ronan Park

Words: Ellie Ward 

With a busy spring and summer ahead, take a look at Lucia & the Best Boys' new video for 'City Of Angels', their latest single.

Directed by Stuart Alexander, the clip sees frontwoman Lucia Fairfull raw and up-close as she grapples with her inner demons.

"City Of Angels' video is a visual representation of how I think a lot of people are feeling within the state of society," she states. "People are forever judging themselves and others, this is intensified by social media where we are constantly looking at how other people look and comparing every part of ourselves, which can have a huge mental effect on people. I remember one day feeling really anxious and speaking to Ally about it, and he said that sometimes it feels like there is a devil version of yourself inside your head holding you back but you need to remember who’s the boss, which I thought was really funny and also very true. The two characters in this video represent that.

"I have found my own self-confidence from writing it. I feel more confident and comfortable in myself than I ever did before and I want to voice that especially to the youth who are the ones most likely to be effected by the current state of society."

Watch below.



Live dates

FEBRUARY
25 London Shacklewell Arms

MARCH
06 London Annie Mac Presents Sebright Arms w/ The Snuts
12 Glasgow King Tuts
23 Dundee Church w/ The Ninth Wave
24 Aberdeen Tunnels w/ The Ninth Wave

MAY
02 Edinburgh Stag & Dagger Festival
12 Dublin The Road to Great Escape
14-16 Brighton The Great Escape
18 Carlisle Old Fire Station Ladybird Support
20 Newcastle Think Tank Ladybird Support
22 Manchester Band On The Wall Ladybird Support
23 London Omeara Lady Bird Support
24 Birmingham Sonic Wave Festival
25 Hull Polar Bear Lady Bird Support
26 Nottingham Rescue Rooms Lady Bird Support
27 Bristol Exchange Lady Bird Support
28 Guildford Boileroom Lady Bird Support

JUNE
13 Dublin Sunstroke Festival

AUGUST
01 Sheffield Tramlines Festival

Listen :: Man Of Moon - Rust

Words: Sam Geary 

Edinburgh duo Chris Bainbridge and Mikey Reid, known as Man Of Moon, have released 'Rust' as their new single.

The track, first heard live last June, follows their 'Chemicals' EP, and is a mesmerising, darkly honed, sub-six minutes of motorik rhythms, penetrative vocals and an overall brooding expolsion of guitar and drums.

Listen here.



Live dates

MARCH
02 The Shacklewell Arms London

APRIL
04 Supersonic Paris

Liimo return with new alt-pop slow jam 'All I Do'

Words: Sam Geary 

After 'Thinking About It' back in January, London-based Scots three-piece Liimo now share a new alt-pop slow jam.

'All I Do', out now via B-Unique Records, is a three-minute-plus song about obsession and desire

Speaking about the new single Liimo's frontman Kieran O’Brien says, "We'd been listening to "She Burns' by Foy Vance around the point of writing this one, and something about the intensity of that song hit us pretty hard; that feeling of craving someone so much that it almost becomes painful."

Check it out in the lyric video below.

Neighbourhood Weekender adds to May line-up

Unveiling a first wave with the likes of Ian Brown, Catfish And The Bottlemen, Sam Fender, Inhaler, Sports Team, Sundara Karma, Sea Girls, Working Men's Club, The Mysterines, Fontaines D.C. and more, Neighbourhood Weekender now unwraps a further raft of artists.

Gang Of Youths, The Snuts, Zuzu, Cast, Nasty Cherry, Lauran Hibberd, The Hara, Cassia, Dylan John Thomas, Lona, Talk Show and Warrington’s own The K’s have been confirmed to join the festival line-up at Victoria Park, Warrington, over the weekend of May 23 - 24.

Saturday May 23

IAN BROWN

SAM FENDER

SHED SEVEN

PALE WAVES

THE CORAL

THE MAGIC GANG

THE SHERLOCKS

The K’S

FONTAINES D.C

REVEREND & THE MAKERS

GANG OF YOUTHS

THE MURDER CAPITAL

THE BIG MOON

THE SNUTS

LOVE FAME TRAGEDY

THE LATHUMS

ZUZU

THE ORIELLES

THE MYSTERINES

THE REYTONS

AIRWAYS

LAURAN HIBBERD

THE GOA EXPRESS

BONIFACE

NOISY

THE HARA


Sunday May 24

CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN

THE WOMBATS

MILES KANE

TOM WALKER

THE LIGHTNING SEEDS

THE PIGEON DETECTIVES

FICKLE FRIENDS

BLOXX

PAUL HEATON & JACQUI ABBOTT

SUNDARA KARMA

SEA GIRLS

ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER

INHALER

SPORTS TEAM

CAST

RED RUM CLUB

NASTY CHERRY

CASSIA

WORKING MENS CLUB

PHOEBE GREEN

DYLAN JOHN THOMAS

ALFIE TEMPLEMAN

LONA

TALK SHOW

GEORGE COSBY

See the website for further information and ticket details.

Ticket prices:

Day £57.50 + BF
VIP Day £115.00 + BF
Weekend £110.00 + BF
VIP Weekend £210.00 + BF