Saturday 31 March 2012

Preview: Dave Alvin at The Musician, Leicester 15th April...


Sunday 15th April
Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones
£14adv
plus Kasey Anderson

www.davealvin.net

www.kaseyanderson.com

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and self-described "bar-room guitarist" Dave Alvin is widely considered one of the pivotal founders of the entire Americana music genre. Since forming the highly influential roots rock/R&B band The Blasters with his brother Phil in 1979, to his days with, X and The Knitters, and throughout his long and critically acclaimed solo career, Dave Alvin has mixed his varied musical and literary influences into his own unique, updated version of traditional American music. Beneath the iconoclastic reputation of Alvin and the all-star talent of his powerhouse band The Guilty Ones, there lurks the heart of Americana and roots music.

“There are two types of folk music: quiet folk music and loud folk music. I play both”. - Dave Alvin

The Musician Venue & Bar
Clyde Street
Leicester
LE1 2DE
Tel: 0116 251 0080

Tickets: www.themusicianpub.co.uk

Preview: Chuck Prophet at The Musician, Leicester 10th April...


Magic Teapot Presents...

Tue 10 April
Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express
£13adv £15door
plus support

www.chuckprophet.com

Chuck Prophet's genius lies in assimilating a wide variety of genres into his essentially Stonesy architecture ahead of the standard curve. From the seminal '80s alt-country shimmer of Green on Red to his incredibly diverse solo sonic quilt - early Americana rocker/mid-period electronic folkie/latter-day style hybridist - Prophet has engagingly exemplified his surname. Originality is not easy in the derivative rock world but Chuck Prophet has blazed genre trails for over two decades with no signs of running out of inspiration or desire.

For more info visit www.magic-teapot.co.uk

The Musician Venue & Bar
Clyde Street
Leicester
LE1 2DE
Tel: 0116 251 0080

Tickets: www.themusicianpub.co.uk

Review: Drowner


Drowner - S/T (Saint Marie Records)
Houston, Texas - home to all things American, I'm sure, and all things Texan, I'm certain. Named after General Sam Houston, it is the fourth largest city in the USA, with 2.1 million inhabitants. Just four people from this huge populace make up Drowner, and all of us who have a penchant for music that is, in equal parts, delightful and daring, should rejoice. This quartet's indie sound has a base camp in shoegaze, a path up to dreampop, and a flag planted firmly in reverb post-rock. They have managed to blend all three together, with a dash of psychedelic space rock (Houston is Space City, after all), thus making some quite marvelous music. To coin a popular phrase of the moment: What’s not to like?

This album is an expanded version of a previous EP, thus we find that at least two of the band (multi-instrumentalist Darren Emanuel and vocalist Anna Bouchard) have been refining their work over a three / four year period, and are now ably assisted by more recent band members Sean Evans (guitar) and Mike Brewer (bass). I don't know how they came to choose the band name, but it’s an apt one. You can almost drown in the sound that they create, a wash and swirl of creative noise that never really becomes a blast, or squall, of noise, remaining a pillow for the voice, a cushion of sounds crafted to blend and entwine with all things melodic. Think Catherine Wheel playing My Bloody Valentine in a very thoughtful way, and maybe you get some idea of their combined creative interests, and their direction.

The last two tracks are remixes. “Chime (Apples To Earth Remix)” is fine, as we still get Anna's vocal in the mix, but "Never Go Away (Nikki Gunz Remix)" is a flatulent, synth led downer (rather than Drowner…). So, apart from that one misstep, I love it, and they probably had me in mind when they dreamed it all up. Hey, I can dream too, can't I?
http://www.saintmarierecords.com/
Kev A.

Review: Two Dollar Bash


Two Dollar Bash - New Adventures (Cannery Row Records)
Hey hey, my my! Having just released his solo album 'The Cactus And The Dragon' (reviewed for Leicester Bangs recently by yours truly), here’s Mark Mulholland again, together with Matt De Harp and Joe Armstrong, who make up Two Dollar Bash. There’s a strong cast of ten in the wings as well, who all contribute something to what I can only describe as glorious, ramshackle (in an off-the-cuff way) Americana. The album could have been made yesterday, as the title track and "Take It From You" demonstrate, with such a freshness about them, all bright and shining; or half a century ago (a century ago even!), as "Floating Through" (my favourite as I write this) and "Blame It On Me" reveal their heritage. The tracks tumble out of the speakers, paying no heed to building up a sound, as if the band just turned up, tuned in, and decided to play whatever came to mind from their own personal repertoire... or so it seems. Yes, all of these tracks are written by them, all are original, individually penned by one of the band, and shared in the making.

There’s nothing on here that’s overly derivative ("San Francisco Morning" reminds me of The Schramms, mainly the string arrangement and the vocal, and somewhere else I caught a glimmer of John Prine, but that’s it). There’s nothing on here that is second rate. These fourteen songs are pure, heartfelt beauties, of a matchless, quirky variety, with quality assured, with that ever so slightly shambolic edge that enhances the authenticity of the music. Pure joy, pure and simple.
http://www.canneryrowrecords.com/
Kev A.

Review: Dan Raza


Dan Raza - S/T (Auralee Records)
Hushed vocals that would allow you to hear a pin drop, but on initial spins, there’s nothing dropping here. There is however things blended, as in the kora (a type of bridge-harp, apparently, that sounds like a steel drum) that’s featured predominantly on "On We Go", which joins the organ as if they’ve been blood brothers for centuries. Neither is forced, they just accompany the very pleasant vocal in a way that makes you listen attentively to what’s going on. A very promising opening to the album, but this worldly approach immediately gives way to a bunch of Celtic / Irish sing-a-longs, which simply don’t work, sounding strained and unnatural. Still, the songs are grouped together, which at least makes them easier to avoid.

We do return to Bedfordshire (Dan Raza's home county) with the aptly named "Home, Again", a more English folk orientated song, with a helping of Americana thrown in. The last three tracks that follow all pass quite gently, if not memorably, and there’s the rub. It’s an average outing in the main, and dragged down by the Irish folk interlude in the midst of it. However, if Benjamin Francis Leftwich can somehow break through with his yawn-fest, then there’s hope for almost any singer-songwriter currently out there, Dan Raza included.
http://www.danraza.com/
Kev A.

Review: Joy As A Toy


Joy As A Toy – Dead As A Dodo (Cheap Satanism Records)
Inspired by the pulp horror soundtracks of Dario Argento, Ennio Morricone, Zombi and Goblin, “Dead As A Dodo” started life as a project to accompany the first ZomBIFF night staged at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. It’s the second full-length album of what Joy As A Toy describe as “Vampire Rock” or “Wasted rock ’n roll Beach Boys with a bad English accent”.

Like the horror genre itself there are the usual motifs, including instructive narration on how to kill a zombie by shooting it in the head, much analogue synth, abrasive and angular stabs of sound and stormy samples, whilst never taking itself too seriously. The album gets better as it progresses, where the highlights are the low key and sinister accordion led “Hot Water (Acid Trip)”, the complex jazz, muffled screams, clichéd horror lyrics and intricate electronics of “Robots”, and of course “Zombie Safari”, with its ‘60s beat exotica, bon tempi high-octane rhythm and expansive prog-jazz, it contains as much cheese as B-Movie classic… a winner!
http://www.cheapsatanism.com/?lang=en
Willsk

BBC6 Music Highlights Saturday 31 March 2012


Morning:

07:00–10:00
Nemone
Karl Theobald and Simon Rimmer

Culture Club is chaired by Karl Theobald and Simon Rimmer shares his Most Played.

10:00–13:00
Peter Serafinowicz
Peter Serafinowicz actor and music fanatic is joined by David Walliams and Holly Johnson.

Afternoon:

13:00–16:00
Liz Kershaw
Liz chats to former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson.

Evening:

19:00–22:00
The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show
Brooklyn-based funksters The Pimps of Joytime join Craig in the studio.

Late:

00:00–01:00
Don Letts
Don's selections include Lone Ranger, Cassius, The Stone Roses and Roots Manuva.

01:00–03:00
BBC Introducing with Tom Robinson
Tom plays more session tracks and internet discoveries.

03:00–04:00
Insight
The Sound of New Orleans

Charlie Gillett tells the musical story of The Big Easy.

04:00–05:00
The Live Music Hour
The Psychedelic Furs, Low Gold and Calexico.

The Psychedelic Furs in London in 1982, plus sessions from Low Gold and Calexico.

LISTEN TO BBC6 MUSIC

The Archers: 30/3/2012


Synopsis:

Clarrie is curious. Meanwhile how will the family react to Tony's news?


Jennifer and Lilian wonder if they’ve been called to Bridge Farm to receive bad news about Tony. Peggy’s anxious too.

Pat sees them arrive, and leaves Clarrie to do the final clean round the dairy while she waits for Eddie.
Tony welcomes the family. They’re relieved when he reassures them this is not about his health. When Pat comes in, they waste no time in announcing that they recently found at that John had a son. Lilian and Jennifer are thrilled. Peggy holds back on her feelings. On the way back home, she points out that Rich has a very full life in Leeds, and perhaps that’s just as it should be.

Pat and Tony take an evening walk to see the cows out on grass for the first night this year. They agree that seeing Rich has given them both such a lift. It’s been a good week. The bank has extended their interest-only payments on the mortgage, and Tom’s delighted it will lend the money for the new polytunnel.

Pat and Tony are pleased that Tom and Helen are both so committed. Tony’s buzzing. At moments like this, it’s simply wonderful to be alive.

Listen

Episode written by Adrian Flynn

Friday 30 March 2012

Off the Tracks Spring Festival 2012, so far...


Off The Tracks Spring Festival 2012
25-26-27 May 2012


Tickets on sale NOW!

The line-up so far.....
Hawkwind - Wilko Johnson - Warsaw Village Band - Simon Friends Seismic Survey


This great, family-friendly festival once again takes place at Park Farm, Isley Walton, near Castle Donington, Derbyshire.

There'll be lots more to come as once again Off The Tracks offers well over 30 artists over two stages, around 70 real ales, ciders and perries, and great food. The fantastic facilities include hot showers and caravan hook-ups.

A Sunday Times top 100 Festival
A top 20 Festival you've never heard of "The Guardian"
A Top "Small is Beautiful Festival" Sunday Times
Atmospheric Surroundings - Great live music
60 Real Ales and Ciders - Acoustic Sessions
Excellent Camping Facilities & Showers
Arts & crafts stalls - Fantastic Food - Circus Workshops, and Parade
Family Friendly - Children's Play Area -Entertainment & activities for children
Shiatsu - Yoga - Energy work - Tai Chi - Chi Kung - Meditation

"We believe Off The Tracks is now among the best-value and most-enjoyable festivals you can find, and the people who come back time after time seem to agree with us."
But don't just take our word for it. Festivals For All says:
"The twice yearly Off The Tracks Festivals are truly hidden jewels in the festival crown; a magical combination of first class facilities, organisation, intelligent music policy, a unique farm environment, great artists, and brilliant, brilliant festival goers".

"If ever a festival typified all that is good and precious about the small independent festival then Off the Tracks is surely it. No matter what your musical tastes or festival preferences, there should always be a place reserved for events like Off The Tracks in anyone's festival calendar."

eFestivals says: Can going to a festival change your life? In the case of OTT. the answer is if you want it to, then yes.The atmosphere here can be electric. Everything from throbbing sound systems to intimate acoustic performances, impromptu sessions and musicians jamming together, the music on offer here is chosen with great care. There will always be someone playing over the course of the weekend that will astound and delight you.

For full line up and to book tickets direct go to
www.offthetracks.co.uk

Facebook - link
Twitter - link

Friday 
- Wilko Johnson
- The Fallows
Saturday -
Hawkwind
- Bigtopp
- Kasai Masai
- Jerzey Street Band
- The Old Dance School
- Nordic Giants
- Oka Vanga
- Inter Africa
Sunday 
- Dub Pistols
- Warsaw Village Band
- Simon Friend's Seismic Survey
- Celtarabia
- Mat Andasun
- Avert Francis
- Richard Warren
- Kelly's Heroes
- Stevie One Bloke One Mandolin
- JP Cooper
- Something Nasty In The Woodshed
- Metheglin
Friday and Saturday 
- Cabbage Club Nights Featuring... 
Tarantism
- O.V.N.I.
- Tetchi
- Bez 23
- Purusha
- Slack Baba
- Si Splatt
- Hoodwink
- Razzek

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Review: Oli Brown


Oli Brown - Here I Am (Ruf)
Oli Brown’s two previous outings, 2008’s ‘Open Road’ and 2010’s ‘Heads I Win, Tails You Lose’ have been rightly appraised as work of a young musician mature beyond his years and full of promise. New release ‘Here I Am’ continues the good work, initially in like manner with rounded and well-crafted grooves wrapped around infectious tunes. Neither the heavy-hitters such as ‘You Can Only Blame Yourself’ and the opening title track or the more plaintive numbers including ‘All We Had To Give’ will disappoint his growing fan base.

The turning point comes with what in the olden days would have been the start of Side Two, as the steady rhythms of ‘Devil in Me’ build almost imperceptibly into a roaring finale, before giving way with an abrupt jolt to the silken soul of Donny Hathaway’s ‘I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know’. This is Oli Brown as we’ve only glimpsed him before, more versatile, more confident and more individual, shaking off the lazy Hendrix/Stevie Ray comparisons to claim the high ground in his own right. When he returns to the more familiar blues grit of ‘Remedy’ and the sleazy funk of Nikka Costa’s ‘Like A Feather’ there seems a fresh spring in his step, and even ‘Mr Wilson’, his audacious take on southern-style swamp rock is carried off with considerable aplomb.
http://www.oliselectricblues.co.uk/
Neil B.

CRYSTAL PALACE GARDEN PARTY: Rick Wakeman, Hawkwind, The Strawbs...


CRYSTAL PALACE GARDEN PARTY
2 Day Festival of Rock & Pomp in the Crystal Palace Park Bowl
Saturday 23 June and Sunday 24 June 2012


Saturday 23 June: Rick Wakeman, Hawkwind, Focus, The Strawbs, Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash and more followed by
Sunday 24 June: Jubilee PROMS with The London Gala Symphony Orchestra and more to be announced
(more day by day information below)

Location: Crystal Palace Park, Thicket Road, Upper Norwood, London SE20 8DT

Visit the website to be mailed further details including ticket prices prices etc
www.crystalpalacegardenparty.com

Famous for it's legendary '70's – 80’s rock concerts and 'Proms In The Park', in June 2012 both the rock and the pomp returns to the stunningly beautiful and easily accessible Crystal Palace Park bowl for a 2 day event in the park's Concert Bowl; a natural and picturesque amphitheatre set beside a scenic lake that has a fine tradition as a music festival space. Previously fielding the likes of Rock and music Legends: Pink Floyd, Yes, Jeff Beck, Santana, the Beach Boys, Rod Stewart and Bob Marley and the Wailers and many others, as well as the Cure more recently.

Saturday sees rock return to it's 70's – 80’s roots with legendary keyboard maestro Rick Wakeman (pictured), Hawkwind, Focus, Martin Turners Wishbone Ash and more to be confirmed, whilst Sunday sees a celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with classical music in the form of a Jubliee Proms - featuring The London Gala Symphony Orchestra with the stunningly beautiful and talented soloist Juliette Pochin (pictured). The event will also feature other musical and fun distractions and continue the park's other great tradition of PROMS music in this terrific space.

In addition to the music both days will also feature an array of other attractions, including comedy and Shakespeare excerpts in the maze, funfair rides, performance artists, many other fun attractions and diversions as well as a mouth watering selection of food and drink.

day by day:


Saturday 23 June
doors open at 1:00pm with live music from 2:00pm - 10:00pm
Rick Wakeman, Hawkwind, Focus, The Strawbs, Martin Turners Wishbone Ash with more to be added.


Sunday 24 June
doors open at 2:00pm with live music from 3:00pm - 10:00pm
London Gala Symphony Orchestra with soloist Juliette Poch, more to be confirmed

Tickets available soon via Ticket Master and The Churchill and Fairfield Halls Theatres.

Alcohol will be on sale and ID will be required. Children must be accompanied at all times by parent or Guardian.
Disabled Access Easy Access available

Accommodation
This event does not have camping but there is a caravan park adjacent to the park there are a number of hotels, hostels and guest houses in the area.

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Tim Burgess - Telling Stories out in April...


Tim Burgess - Telling Stories published by Viking
Tim Burgess grew up in rural Cheshire but from his mid-teens he spent as much time as he could at the legendary Hacienda in Manchester. He was invited to be the vocalist in newly formed The Charlatans, who went from supporting The Stone Roses to having three UK number one albums and seventeen Top Thirty singles. They rode the waves of first Madchester then Britpop. The band survived the imprisonment of influential keyboardist Rob Collins on a charge of armed robbery, then the death of Collins in a car accident; their accountant running off with all their money and leaving them with a tax bill of almost £2 million; and in more recent years the rock 'n' roll life-style of Burgess himself as he took himself off to LA, for the music and the drugs.

Packed with incredible stories, this frank and vivid memoir describes the mad life of a rock star: the dynamics of the band, the creativity and the self-destruction, the sex and the drugs but also the rock 'n roll - his obsession with music shines off the page as he writes about his influences and his encounters, from Dylan to New Order, from Paul Weller to Oasis.

Banksy artworks sell for £400,000...


A collection of works by graffiti artist Banksy have sold for more than £400,000 at an auction in London.

Girl and Balloon, one of 18 pieces sold on Thursday, fetched £73,250, almost five times its estimated pre-sale price.

The image has been painted directly onto the cardboard backing of an Ikea frame.

The stencil painting Leopard and Barcode, which has never been under the hammer before, sold for £75,650.

The Urban Art sale took place at Bonhams auction house.

In a separate sale at the auction house, a screen print of a dollar sign by American pop artist Andy Warhol sold for £44,450.

Initially painted onto a handkerchief and given to friends in 1981, the picture has since been mounted onto board.

The sale appears to contradict claims, earlier this week, by art critic and former curator Julian Spalding - who predicted the bottom would soon fall out of the contemporary art market and conceptual work by high profile artists would become "worthless".

Writing in the the Independent newspaper, he said he had coined the term "con art" which is "short for contemporary conceptual art and for art that cons people".

But Simon Todd, from online auction website ArtNet, told the BBC he thought modern art was still going strong.

"The contemporary art market is very strong at the moment both in terms of the domestic, international and growth markets," he said.

Source: BBC

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Cooking with Poo wins Diagram Prize for oddest title...


A Thai cookbook has won this year's Diagram Prize for oddest book title of the year.

Cooking With Poo is written by Bangkok chef Saiyuud Diwong whose nickname is Poo - which is Thai for "crab".

She runs a cookery school for locals and tourists in the city's largest slum, alongside the charitable organisation that published the book.

The 114-page book beat six other titles to be voted the winner in a public vote on The Bookseller's website.

Voted in second was Mr Andoh's Pennine Diary: Memoirs of a Japanese Chicken Sexer in 1935 Hebden Bridge by Stephen Curry and Takayoshi Andoh.

While Scott D Mendelson's The Great Singapore Penis Panic and the Future of American Mass Hysteria came in third.

"We knew the whole world loved Poo but now its official!," said Anji Barker, a senior social worker at the charity Urban Neighbours of Hope.

"Poo has sold 6,000 books and her classes are fully booked out. She is not just helping to raise her own family out of poverty, but is employing 20 other poor slum residents.

"She is an amazing lady with an amazing programme - thanks to everyone who voted."

Saiyuud Diwong added: "Thank you everyone. I am lucky to have such a funny nickname, it helps my business a lot!"

The other shorlisted titles were Estonian Sock Patterns All Around the World, The Mushroom in Christian Art, A Taxonomy of Office Chairs and A Century of Sand Dredging in the Bristol Channel: Volume Two.

The Bookseller's Horace Bent said: "Given that, this year, the three most voted-for works contain the words 'poo', 'sexer' and 'penis' in the title, it appears that this year's prize will go down in history as a blue year.

"But there is nothing wrong with that. Many of the world's greatest writers have dabbled in off-colour humour, so I find Cooking with Poo a fitting winner."

Last year's winner was former dentist Michael Young's Managing a Dental Practice the Genghis Khan Way.

Source: BBC

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The Beatles show Let It Be to open in West End...


A West End show, featuring several of The Beatles' hits, is to be staged to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band's first single.

Love Me Do was released in October 1962, reaching number 17 in the UK chart. It was a US number one in 1964.

Let It Be will open for a limited period from September at London's Prince of Wales Theatre.

It is the first time the theatrical rights to The Beatles' back catalogue have been granted for a West End show.

Video footage will be used to to tell the story of the band's rise to fame, alongside performances of some of their most well known hits, such as Yesterday, Come Together and Hey Jude.

Let It Be will run from 14 September until 19 January.

Source: BBC

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Review: Brad Brooks


Brad Brooks – Harmony Of Passing Light (Mouth Magic Music)
I can never understand why the ability to craft catchy grown-up pop songs is so underrated. Are we so musically sophisticated that we no longer have the capacity to enjoy the simple things done well? For example, take Brad Brooks. He’s been producing great pop music since the ‘80s, releasing a string of excellent albums, yet fame and fortune have so far proved elusive, and it’s a mystery as to why.

“Harmony Of Passing Light” retains his high standards, and begins with an absolute doozy. “Calling Everyone” combines Chilton-esque country-soul, urban sass, the sort of hooks that McCartney probably owns the rights to, and a walking melody that only extensive psycho-therapy will ever remove from the subconscious. It’s reason enough, all on its own, to warrant further investigation, but it’s just one of the many delights “Harmony Of Passing Light” has to offer. “Spinner & The Spun” hits like the best thing that INXS never recorded, whilst it simultaneously betters everything they did actually record. Of course it’s not all wham bam thank you mam; “Will It Be Enough” slows things down, but with plenty of tension to keep you on the edge of your seat, and “Farewell To Folderol” unfurls itself over six minutes, applying and relaxing pressure before peaking with two minutes of harmonic ecstasy.
http://www.bradbrooksmusic.com/
Rob F.



Brad Brooks: Harmony Of Passing Light

Review: Spiro


Spiro – Kaleidophonica (Real World)
Bristol based Spiro made lots of friends and fans with their 2009 album “Lightbox”, where they took regulation folk instrumentation – violin, mandolin, guitar and accordion – and set off down less travelled musical pathways. Progressive and modern classical influences were absorbed and assimilated, and the results were complicated, trance-like and wonderfully contemporary. Folk music, but not made by folk ‘round here.

It’s all the more impressive when its live production is taken into consideration. Overdubs are avoided and what we hear is a moment captured in time. The combination of original pieces and traditional tunes hang together particularly well, though the latter are often snared within the former and effortlessly morph. As with overdubs, gratuitous soloing is conspicuous by its absence, as if each individual player is both secure in their own ability to stretch the sound into new and interesting shapes without the need to show off.

They get compared to everyone from Steve Reich to Penguin Café Orchestra, but they’re altogether more approachable. For all their repetition, wayward instrumental flights and askew rhythmic plays, they’re entertainers at heart, and “Kaleidophonica” is never difficult or arduous.
http://realworldrecords.com/
Simon M.

HYPERPOTAMUS plays Blacks Private Members Club Monday 16 April‏...


HYPERPOTAMUS plays Blacks Private Members Club (67 Dean St, Soho) on Monday 16 April at 9:30pm
His album 'Delta' released this February has garnered great reviews far + wide.....

"It's all done with meticulous attention to detail....with the finished tracks blending beatboxing,Take 6-style a cappella jazz and Wilsonian banked harmonies. Can't wait to see him do it live..." - Andy Gill, The Independent

"a formidable display of multi- tracking and microphone fiendishness." - The Guardian, New Band of the Day

"the kind of pop Brain Wilson might have made if he'd grown up with Son Of Dave." - Uncut

"One-man bands don't come more interesting than this." - New Internationalist

Larger than life and really quite phenomenal, this London-based multi-vocal solo artist from Madrid, makes music using only his voice, a few microphones and a loop pedal.

www.hyperpotamus.com

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Tom Jones announces new album - ‘Spirit In The Room’...‏


Tom Jones announces the follow up to 2010’s acclaimed collection of songs that was ‘Praise and Blame’ with the release of
‘Spirit In The Room’ on 21st May 2012 through Island Records.


Universally graced with critical and commercial success – reaching No 2 in the UK, ‘Praise and Blame’ saw Tom mark a return to his roots and emerge with a powerful body of work drawn from the American spiritual repertoire. Now moving forward with ‘Spirit In The Room’, Tom draws on an evocative range of compositions executed with an unprocessed passion that make them his own. There is a raging interpretation of Tom Waits' ‘Bad As Me’, a wonderful rendition of Odetta’s ‘Hit Or Miss’, the front porch blues of Vera Hall Ward’s ‘Travelling Shoes’ and a stunning reading of the other-worldly ‘Charlie Darwin’ by Low Anthem — all revealing Tom as he continues to explore his artistic landscape.

‘Spirit In The Room’ once again brings together Ethan Johns (Brit Award Producer of the Year 2011) and Tom for intimate performances with a very considered and select group of musicians — multi instrumentalist Johns, Richard Causon on vintage keyboards, piano, guitars (Ryan Adams, Kings Of Leon and Rufus Wainwright), Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa on drums, and Ian Jennings and Sam Dixon on bass.

Recorded at Bath’s Real World studios, ‘Spirit In The Room’, like it’s predecessor, allows an unvarnished Tom Jones to bring a voice to songs as only he can. Accompanied by Ethan Johns throughout, the album includes gems from a diverse choice of writers - Richard Thompson, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney amongst others. Simple, raw and soulful, welcome to ‘Spirit In The Room’.

Ever busy, Tom has also graced a recent single on Jack White’s Third Man label. Featuring Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Evil’ in his own inimitable style and produced and played by White and some of his Raconteurs, the single comes backed with a reworked version of Frankie Lane’s classic ‘Jezabel’ and has already picked up widespread praise.

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Christopher Hitchens makes Orwell longlist...


Author Christopher Hitchens has been given a posthumous nomination for this year's Orwell Prize for political writing.

The writer, who died in December, has been longlisted for the second consecutive year for his collection of essays, titled Arguably.

The award recognises work which comes closest to George Orwell's ambition "to make political writing into an art".

The winner of the £3,000 prize will be announced on 23 May.

Also longlisted for a second time is Anatol Lieven, for Pakistan: A Hard Country, who first appeared on the longlist in 1994.

Other authors making the list include Sherard Cowper-Coles, the British ambassador to Afghanistan from 2007-10, for Cables from Kabul; Sonia Purnell's critical biography of London Mayor Boris Johnson and Richard Lloyd Parry's account of the murder in Tokyo of British woman Lucie Blackman.

The 18 longlisted titles were picked from 264 submissions which were whittled down by a judging panel which included 2002 prize winner Miranda Carter.

Blog and journalism prizes will also be awarded.

Orwell Prize director Jean Seaton said: "In these uneasy times the Orwell Prize just goes on growing - more books, journalism and blogs have been entered than ever before.

"It is testimony to the enduring appeal of Orwell's clear-eyed radicalism."

Source: BBC

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Yes, Prime Minister to be revived...


Satirical 1980s comedy show Yes, Prime Minister is to be revived for a new six-part series.

Original writers Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay will pen the new show, based on their 2010 stage production.

The series, which will be seen on TV channel Gold, will see Prime Minister Jim Hacker back in office leading a coalition government.

Casting of the Prime Minister - originally played by Paul Eddington - has yet to be announced.

Gold said the updated Hacker would tackle the economic crisis, a leadership crisis with his coalition partners and a Scottish independence referendum.

"The political landscape in Britain today is the perfect setting for Yes, Prime Minister to return," UKTV's Jane Rogerson said.

Mark Freeland, head of BBC In-House Comedy which is producing the series, added: "The much extended tour of Yes, Prime Minister in theatres up and down the country proved that this iconic comedy has lost none of its satirical bite."

The original Yes, Prime Minister series ran from 1980 to 1988 for 38 episodes.

It also starred Nigel Hawthorne as Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby and Derek Fowlds as Hacker's private secretary, Bernard Woolley.

Source: BBC

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BBC6 Music Highlights Friday 30 March 2012


Morning:

07:00–10:00
Shaun Keaveny
Middle Age Shout Outs and Prof Brian Cox.

10:00–13:00
Lauren Laverne
It's Friday! Lauren welcomes in the weekend with all the latest movie news.

Afternoon:

13:00–16:00
Radcliffe and Maconie
Noah and the Whale's Charlie Fink drops by and Stuart speaks to Joe Goddard of Hot Chip.

Evening:

21:00–00:00
Tom Ravenscroft
Tom presents a guest mix from Baltimore-based psychedelic freak folk quartet Lower Dens.

Late:

00:00–01:00
Stuart Maconie's Freakier Zone
Mandy Wigby's Organ Transplant
Musician Mandy Wigby presents Stuart with her favourite records featuring organs.

04:00–05:00
The Live Music Hour
In Tua Nua at the Manchester International in 1988, plus The Enid and Babe Ruth.

LISTEN TO BBC6 MUSIC

The Archers: 29/3/2012


Synopsis:

Brian has a battle on his hands.

Lynda’s anxious that Ambridge Hall be at its best for when it’s photographed from the helicopter. While Robert’s clearing the gutters, Lynda takes a call from Jamie, who thinks the peregrine at the church has laid eggs.

Lynda rushes over, and is pleased to see two eggs. Jamie tells Lynda that Alistair has fixed up a separate training night for the younger cricket players. It’s with a coach from Westbury, called Iftikar.

The Borchester Land board hotly debate both sides of the dairy argument. Gerry’s concerned that all the negative publicity could turn people against all future developments. Martyn suggests a compromise by scaling things down but Brian insists it’s the full size dairy or nothing. It’s still the same, good proposition. If the planning committee turns it down, they’ll concede defeat gracefully. If it’s passed, the protestors will move onto something else, and BL will reap the benefit. By giving up now they lose profit and reputation, for nothing.

Brian gets his way. The plans will go to the council. Annabelle felt Brian was very persuasive but Brian wonders at what cost. He’s so closely identified with the dairy now. If anything goes wrong, his neck is right on the chopping block.

Listen

Episode written by Adrian Flynn

Thursday 29 March 2012

Sonisphere festival cancellation confirmed by organisers...


Rock festival Sonisphere has been cancelled, organisers have confirmed.

A web statement said they had fought hard to keep it going but that "a very challenging year" meant the event wouldn't have satisfied fans and the artists.

The event was to take place at Knebworth Park, Stevenage on 6-8 July.

Adam Lambert was due to headline on Saturday with members of Queen. Ticket holders will receive a full refund direct from their ticket agent.

The Sonisphere statement said: "We also want to send a huge thanks to the Sonisphere fans who stuck by us and we are so sorry that we can't fulfil what we set out to do."

Organisers said the cancellation came with "very heavy hearts and much regret".

Evanescence, Marilyn Manson, Cypress Hill, The Blackout and Faith No More were also on the line-up.

Other acts who were due to perform included The Darkness, Incubus, Refused, Ghost, Flogging Molly and musical comedian Tim Minchin.

On Wednesday, Queenonline.com published news of the cancellation but the information wasn't confirmed until today.

Source: BBC

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Banjo musician Earl Scruggs dies aged 88...


Pioneering banjo player Earl Scruggs, who is credited with helping create modern country music, has died aged 88.

The musician died of natural causes at a Nashville hospital on Wednesday, his son Gary said.

Scruggs was known for his unique banjo playing technique, which involved just three fingers. It later became known as "the Scruggs picking style".

His innovative method can be heard on the theme tune to the 1962 series The Beverly Hillbillies.

Scruggs rose to prominence when Bill Monroe hired him to play in the Blue Grass Boys, one of the defining groups in the bluegrass musical genre.

Hollywood actor and fellow banjo player Steve Martin previously paid tribute to Scruggs in the New Yorker magazine.

"When the singer came to the end of a phrase, he filled the theatre with sparkling runs of notes that became a signature for all bluegrass music since," he said.

"A grand part of American music owes a debt to Earl Scruggs. Few players have changed the way we hear an instrument the way Earl has, putting him in a category with Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Chet Atkins, and Jimi Hendrix."

Musical rift

Scruggs later teamed up with Lester Flatt to form the Foggy Mountain Boys, also known as Flatt and Scruggs.

One of their most well known records included Foggy Mountain Breakdown, which featured in the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde.

It was their recording of The Ballad of Jed Clampett that was used in The Beverly Hillbillies.

They eventually disbanded, and a rift grew between the two musicians, although they were inducted together in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985.

Scruggs went on to form a group with his three sons in The Earl Scruggs Revue, playing alongside rock acts such as Steppenwolf and James Taylor.

In 1992, Scruggs was among 13 recipients of a National Medal of Art.

Speaking at the time, he said: "I never in my wildest dreams thought of rewards and presentations. I appreciate those things, especially this one."

In 2001, he released his first album in a decade, Earl Scruggs and Friends, featuring collaborations with other artists including Sir Elton John, Dwight Yoakam, Sting and Melissa Etheridge.

Source: BBC

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Released this week: Joe Bonamassa - Beacon Theatre, Live From New York [DVD]...


Joe Bonamassa - Beacon Theatre, Live From New York [DVD] (Provogue)
Internationally renowned guitar superstar Joe Bonamassa, known as a "tour de force", has delivered another stunning performance at the legendary Beacon Theatre in New York City. It features guest performances by legendary classic rock singer Paul Rodgers (Bad Company and Free), American Music Award winner John Hiatt and Beth Hart, who recently released the stunning duets album Don’t Explain alongside Joe Bonamassa. In addition to these great guest appearances, Bonamassa's show features brand new songs and an awe inspiring guitar experience.

SummerTyne Americana Festival @ The Sage - initial lineup announced‏...


SummerTyne Americana Festival
Friday 20th July – Sunday 22nd July

www.thesagegateshead.org

Three days of toe-tappin’ tunes on the south bank of the Tyne

The Sage Gateshead is pleased to announce initial headliners and line-up for

SummerTyne Americana Festival 2012...more to be announced soon

Back for its 7th year, SummerTyne Americana Festival is one of the most important annual Americana events in Europe, attracting visitors from across the world for a sizzling celebration of Americana music in and around the spectacular setting of The Sage Gateshead, on the south bank of the river Tyne.

As General Director Anthony Sargent explains, “The Sage Gateshead’s SummerTyne Americana Festival has now become a firm annual fixture in the calendars of Americana lovers – this year we’re looking forward to welcoming them all back to another celebration of this uniquely distinctive musical treasure trove.”

This year’s highlights include the legendary Americana star John Hiatt & The Combo. Having been nominated for several Grammy awards and released eighteen studio albums, Hiatt remains one of America’s most influential singer songwriters. Over a career spanning nearly four decades his songs have been covered by a staggering array of artists from Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton right through to Chaka Khan and Iggy Pop.

Also confirmed is legendary queen of rockabilly Wanda Jackson; the first female rock ‘n’ roll star, she recently enjoyed a career revival with honours from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Americana Awards. Her supporters include Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Jack White. Wanda worked with Jack on her latest release ‘The Party Ain't Over’. She remains a unique live artist and will be supported by the sunny sounds of Jenny O.

Throughout the weekend there will be music from Darrell Scott, a multi-talented American musician and singer songwriter whose profile has increased dramatically since his key role as part of Robert Plant's ‘Band Of Joy’ in 2011; Michael Chapman, a remarkable British singer and guitarist with significant American influences; Lera Lynn, singer songwriter from Athens, Georgia, who has been acclaimed as one of the brightest new names in Americana; hip-shaking rhythm and soul band Vintage Trouble supported by American soul singer and songwriter Jeb Loy Nichols; plus there will be the exuberant southwest Louisiana's Pine Leaf Boys Cajun dance.

SummerTyne Americana Festival is an annual celebration of Americana music and has attracted internationally acclaimed stars such as Lyle Lovett, Irma Thomas, Raul Malo, Rosanne Cash, and Solomon Burke. One of the most popular features of SummerTyne Americana Festival is the Jumpin’ Hot free outdoor stage where you can settle in with a margarita for the best in country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Or join the best regional artists for an afternoon of sizzling music with the free SummerTyne HomeFries outdoor stage.

Enjoy a lazy sunny afternoon on the musical SummerTyne Boat for a cruise down the Tyne with live performances from some special festival guests on board. There will also be Americana inspired food and margaritas galore from the SummerTyne Street Kitchen.

Once again The Sage Gateshead is proud to be working in association with The Americana Music Association.

SummerTyne Americana Festival has been granted the Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme.

www.london2012.com


2012 full line-up to be announced soon

Tickets go on sale: 2nd April, 10am


Links:

Website: www.thesagegateshead.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesagegateshead

Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/sage_gateshead

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Ultravox return with first album in 28 years: 'Brilliant' released May 28th‏...


U L T R A V O X
‘BRILLIANT’
the brand new studio album from
Midge Ure / Billy Currie / Chris Cross / Warren Cann

released: May 28th on EMI


EMI are proud to announce the return of Ultravox with their first studio album in 28 years. Following on from the sold-out Return To Eden reformation shows in 2009, the classic Ultravox line-up has recorded a 12-track collection of brand new songs which will be released on May 28th ahead of a full UK tour in September and October.

Dramatic, passionate and truly epic in scale and sound, ‘Brilliant’ is not only a prescient reminder of how great this reborn band are, but an exciting and vital addition to an extraordinary catalogue of music which today sounds more current and influential than ever.

Emerging from the new wave and electro scenes of the late 70’s, Ultravox fashioned a form of electronic rock music that was uniquely powerful and delivered massive hits through the 1980’s such as ‘Hymn’, ‘Dancing With Tears In My Eyes’, ‘The Voice’, ‘Reap The Wild Wind’, ‘Love’s Great Adventure’, ‘We Came To Dance’ and of course the timeless and atmospheric ‘Vienna’.

‘Brilliant’ sees Ultravox expanding their classic sonic template and reminding us of their strength as songwriters of the highest calibre. Full details of the album will be revealed soon along with the thirteen-date tour they will be embarking on later this year.

The tracklisting for ‘Brilliant’ is as follows:

Live Again
Flow
Brilliant
The Change
Rise
Remembering
Hello
This One
Fall
Let It Lie
Satellite
Contact

http://www.ultravox.org.uk/

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Review: Nancy Simmonds


Nancy Simmonds - Tortilla Flats (Joe Tucker Records)
Born in London, Ontario, Nancy Simmonds began her music career when she moved to Ontario in the early 1970s. She worked with Leonard Cohen, shared bills with JJ Cale and signed a publishing deal with Chappell Music Canada. She was an original member of Prairie Oyster and continued to perform with her own Nancy Simmonds Band. In the mid-1980s she left Canada for California, got involved with animal rescue, and released a series of canine related CDs. Her songs have been covered by Alannah Myles, Melissa Manchester and Ricky Van Shelton, amongst others, and she was the 2010 winner of USA Songwriting Contest. I think I can state, without fear of contradiction, Nancy Simmonds has paid her dues.

Her new record “Tortilla Flats” is a thoughtful, tenderhearted collection of songs, which often look back at specific times in Simmonds’ life, and the result is both gentle and nostalgic. The collection begins with “I Miss Those Jersey Boys”, a song about neighbours and moving on. The title track reminisces about much the same - the people who live around us, friendship and community. “It's Awfully Nice in Paradise” is a love song to Santa Barbara, and won Simmonds her songwriting prize. It’s no mystery why, with its near perfect structure, pop hooks and narrative, and “Nothing Changes” concentrates on the big picture but without sacrificing the personal perspective. Now back in Canada, I wonder if she felt the need to get “Tortilla Flats” recorded before time began to play tricks. Whatever her reasons, I’m glad she did.
http://www.nancysimmonds.com/Nancy_Simmonds/NANCY_SIMMONDS.html
Rob F.



Nancy Simmonds: Tortilla Flats

Liars announce details of a new album and live dates for June 2012...


Liars have announced the first details of a new album, out on Mute on 4 June 2012, this is their sixth studio album and the follow up to 2010’s critically lauded 'Sisterworld' which was The Quietus’ Album of the Year and #9 in NME’s Albums of the Year who said of the album "...this incredible album is your passport to a better place.”

Liars (Angus Andrew, Aaron Hemphill and Julian Gross) will return to Europe this summer for live dates including Field Day on 2nd June, and a series of intimate shows, including London’s XOYO on 12th June and Manchester’s Ruby Lounge on 15th June (full listings below).

The new album announcement follows a series of clips which the band recently uploaded to their Tumblr (http://amateurgore.tumblr.com/), giving rise to much speculation on where this ever evolving, ever influential band were headed.

The new album recording saw the band working more collaboratively than on previous records, and began when Angus Andrew and Aaron Hemphill moved into an isolated cabin in the mountains to begin writing. Recorded in LA, self-produced by the band with additional production from Daniel Miller, and mixed by Tom Biller, the album is hard to shake, tough to pin down, and impossible to get out of one’s head even after an initial listen.

Simultaneously the most accessible and most challenging release from these iconoclasts, it is both a summation of Liars’ work up to now and a complete break from anything you’d ever heard the band do previously. “If we aren’t confusing people, it’s not us” Andrew laughs. “If we aren’t confusing ourselves with what we do, then we’ve failed.”

Liars live dates June 2012
2 June – Field Day, London
7 June – Nouveau Casino, Paris
8 June – Tivoli De Helling, Utrecht
9 June – AB Club, Brussels
10 June – Roter Salon der Volksbühne, Berlin
12 June – XOYO, London
15 June – Ruby Lounge, Manchester

Liars links
Official site: http://www.liarsliarsliars.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LiarsOfficial
Mute Records: www.mute.com

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Released this week: The Allman Brothers Band - A & R Studios, New York, 26th August, 1971...


The Allman Brothers Band - A & R Studios, New York, 26th August, 1971 (Left Field Media)
That good fortune and success can be short lived and transitory has been rarely illustrated better than by the awful circumstances that befell the Allman Brothers Band in 1971 and 1972.

The group's debut and sophomore albums, released in 1969 and 1970 respectively, had achieved relatively low sales outside of the southern states, but reviews were generally positive and American critics, particularly those writing for the by then almost biblical Rolling Stone, had come out in favour of the Allmans. But it was to be the marvellous live set recorded at New York s Fillmore East in March of '71 that would provide for the commercial breakthrough that turned the group from local curios into national treasures.

The album, simply titled At Fillmore East, went on general release in July and both the critical reception and the sales were phenomenal. The road was where the Allmans had paid their dues and built up their core audience, and it was this same platform upon which the band and their managers knew they must now promote both band and record in the wake of their new found celebrity. So, back in New York a month after the release of Fillmore East, The Allman Brothers Band pulled up outside the city's A & R Studio on August 26th, to perform a show but one not just for the enjoyment of those fortunate enough to secure a ticket, but also for those within earshot of NYC s legendary radio station WPLJ FM, who were lined up to transmit proceedings live across the airwaves.

The resultant broadcast is presented on this CD, available legitimately for the first time. A favourite of many tape and rarities collectors, the quality, dynamic performance and ambience encompassed herein all at once make for a quite staggering sonic experience, one that fans of this legendary act in its original line-up will relish alongside the group s other essential releases. Two months after this remarkable show went out, Brother Duane Allman, one of the world s finest ever rock and blues guitarists, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. Little more than another year on, in November of 1973, ABB bassist Berry Oakley sustained a similar fate in a separate crash, just three blocks from Duane's fatal accident spot.

This release showcases one of the final appearances of the original Allmans line up and remains not just a delightful listening experience but additionally serves as a fitting tribute and historical document to the legacy of this iconic American rock group.

Manchester nightclub The Hacienda recreated in museum...


Parts of the famous Manchester nightclub The Hacienda have been recreated for a design exhibition.

The club's dancefloor, bollards and trademark striped girders are all featured in the exhibit at London's Victoria and Albert museum.

It forms part of the museum's British Design 1948-2012 show, which showcases design since the 1948 Olympics.

Museum director Martin Roth said the exhibition showed the best of British "innovation, taste and creativity".

The Hacienda was founded in 1982 by music svengali Anthony Wilson and members of the band New Order.

It was a focal point for Manchester's music scene until its closure in 1997 and hosted performances by many of the city's "Madchester" bands in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The club was funded by Wilson's legendary record label Factory, which released the music of New Order and Happy Mondays amongst others.

The exhibit features various elements from the club's design, created by architect Ben Kelly and designer Peter Saville, including the neon Kim Philby Bar sign.

The bar was named after Harold "Kim" Philby, a British intelligence agent who was revealed as a member of the Cambridge Five, a spy ring based at the famous university who collected information for the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Also included are examples of Saville's work for Factory, such as the cover for Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures and a poster for the label's original The Factory club night in Hulme, Manchester.

Source: BBC

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