Thursday 31 January 2013

Sir Elton and Snoop Dogg to headline Bestival

YOU certainly can't accuse the organisers of Bestival of not offering an eclectic mix of music at this year's festival with Elton John and Snoop Dogg announced as its headliners for Saturday and Sunday nights.

This year is the 10th anniversary festival and Sir Elton and Snoop will be joined on the bill by the likes of M.I.A., Franz Ferdinand, The Flaming Lips, The Knife, Wu-Tang Clan, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Roots and many more.

“I haven’t played any of the major festivals in the UK in recent years, so when the opportunity to play Bestival came up I was very interested," said Sir Elton. "I’ve heard that the Bestival audience comes in fancy dress and I can’t wait to see that, they must all look amazing from the stage. 

"At various times I have worn enormous feathered head-dresses, cloaks, hot pants, jumpsuits, clown suits, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, French Maid, The Eiffel Tower and The Statue of Liberty onstage! Wearing fancy dress makes us all feel less inhibited so I think it’s a great way to enjoy live music."

Bestival takes place from September 5-8 at Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight, England.

For the full festival line up - including which DJs will be playing sets - visit the official website at www.Bestival.net

Tickets are on sale now with a wealth of ticket types and payment options. For more, visit www.ticketline.co.uk/bestival-tickets




Wednesday 30 January 2013

Mary's Ruin Q&A


Band name:
Mary’s Ruin.

Where are you from?
We are from the West Yorkshire area of the UK. Leeds.

Band Members?
Jason Roberts (Vocals), Slug (Guitar), Mark Thirkill (Guitar), Steven Sheldon (Bass) and Chris Phillips (Drums).

How would you describe yourselves?
We are just five people who have come together for a simple reason, to create a sound and a group of songs that we all love. We like to play songs that lift people’s spirits. People work too hard in jobs and life so when they come to our shows we like to help them forget the stress in life and show them a good time, its good to see people getting in to the groove of what we do and sing along.

Who are your main influences musically?
Influences, I’d have to say Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith , ACDC, Pearl Jam, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the band of late for me has to be Rival Sons. These are all bands that add energy and charisma to their studio and live work, and you know when you see these guys you are gonna get a good show. I have watched these guys for years and in our/my stage work we try and give the same… Front men like Eddie Vedder, Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop these guys gave all on stage and the energy that they produced was legendary.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
In music as everything else in life all we can do is give it our best shot and see where this journey takes us. I say this in the hope that our music reaches out to the masses and when people listen to a Mary’s Ruin song it lifts there spirit, if people who listen to us can forget all stresses in life and our music makes them feel good then I think  that’s an achievement and were happy with that… But hey, a few sold out world tours wont hurt….. ha!

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
I think the highlight for Mary's Ruin members so far has to be the nights we supported the likes of the Quireboys, Dogs D’amore, and the LA Guns through out the UK.  
It was at one of these shows I took a jump from the speakers and nearly broke my back after landing on my backside, it was a great night had by all but suffered the following day on the way home with a sore head and sore behind but it’s all in the name of rock'n'roll.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
I guess its yet to come Mary's Ruin are looking forward to what lies ahead we'll take with us all the good memories and the one's of which we choose to we will leave behind. 

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why?
The first track that myself and Slug wrote together was Whiskey Train, that was fun to write and its still after two years fun to play on stage. This track has everything that a good song should have, melody, groove - it’s a song that takes you on a journey.

Where can we listen to it?




Where can we find out more about your music?
Our main web site is www.marysruin.co.uk , all news and media is listed there. We also have a fee download of our music on soundcloud.

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?
In March this year we are heading in to the studio to record our first studio album as this line up, this will be available from all good online stores and from our website, hopefully around April. We are currently working with bookers up and down the UK to plan some good live shows, and hopefully a tour. (If any bookers/Venues want to book us get in touch.) Apart from that the rest of 2013 is an open book.

Leona's Sister Q&A


Your name: 
Barry ‘Baz’ Twohig (Bass, Vocals).

Where are you from? 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Name of band:
Leona's Sister.

Who else is in your band? 
JT - Vocals, Guitar; Len O'Sullivan - Guitar; Dave Hanson - Guitar, Vocals; Barb Piatkowski – Drums.

How would you describe yourselves? 
We call ourselves a retro heavy rock band.

Who are your main influences musically? 
Everyone in the band has their own influences but Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Keith Richards, Deep Purple, Runaways and Joan Jett to name a few.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
We would like to be invited to a large festival like Bonnaroo, have a hit song and leave our mark in music.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Everyday is a highlight but being a finalist in EMI's next star was pretty cool.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
Probably when Baz forgot to bring the guitars to one of our gigs.

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why? 
Night Turns Into Darkness, the song highlights JT's vocal and represents a hidden burden a lot of people carry.

Where can we listen to it? 



Where can we find out more about your music?

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask? 
We're currently recording new songs and playing live.

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Miss Lucid Q&A


Your name:
Kevin Smith.

Where are you from?
Aberdeen, Scotland.

Name of band:
Miss Lucid.

Who else is in your band?
Ciaran McGowan, Daniel Mackintosh and Paul Jamieson.

How would you describe yourselves? 
Miss Lucid offer their own style of 'in your face' rock, driven with the punk/grunge undertones of bands such as The Clash and Nirvana, blending large sonic soundscapes and crafted melodies reminiscent of Oceansize and Manic Street Preachers. This cohesive sound of anthemic and melodic guitar sound is bolstered with thought provoking, poignant lyricism and an abrasive pop knack.

Who are your main influences musically?
The Clash, Manics, Paul Simon, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Cooper Temple Clause, Jimmy East World.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
To be the most important band of our time - we're not asking for much.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Releasing our first EP ‘This Life’. Getting our music out there is always of most importance.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Never forget.

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why?
Seducton of Solitude, it grabs you from the very start.

Where can we listen to it? 


Where can we find out more about your music?

Faked Idols Q&A


Your name:
My name is Pablo (guitars and backing vocals).

Where are you from?
We are from Madrid, Spain.

Name of band:
Faked Idols.

Who else is in your band?
Nacho (vocals and bass) y Dani (drums).

How would you describe yourselves?
Basically we move between pop-punk and punk-rock, we try to make a forceful and direct sound looking for catchy melodies and lyrics with message but without beating about the bush.

Who are your main influences musically?
We each have our own musical influences but unite us bands like Blink-182, Green Day and The Offspring among others.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
We are aware of our possibilities and we don't aspire to more than being able to reach all people who are interested in us, play, express with our music, our lyrics and over all enjoy what we do.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
We are a relatively young band if we refer to its creation, for now we're focused on recording our first demo album. On the other hand, we did some interviews and we're being played on several local radio stations that broadcasting independent music. We think that the best is yet to come but no hurry for it, better go steadily.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
I guess those moments when you look aground, it seems that things don't go forward. For example, we've been a long time without a fixed drummer and that was frustrating, but now Dani is with us and things look differently and we are more motivated.

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why?
We haven't preference for any particular, maybe the song "Todo va a cambiar" ("All is gonna change"), we've much love for it because was our first song, people like it and we love play it.

Where can we listen to it?

Where can we find out more about your music?

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask?
Soon we'll record our first demo with 14 tracks and we hope will have well received. Finally, just many thanks to sites like yours, for giving publicity to bands like us. Without your help it would be impossible to reach many people.

**note: English is not Pablo’s first language**

Monday 28 January 2013

With Ghosts Q&A


Your name:
Louis (Lead Guitar).

Where are you from?
Swindon, England.

Name of band:
With Ghosts.

Who else is in your band?
Nathan (vocals/guitar), Ben (Bass) and Liam (drums).

How would you describe yourselves?
We are a four-piece pop rock/punk band from Swindon. We formed Early 2012 and have since shared the stage with bands such as Don Broco, Fearless Vampire Killers and Decade. In September we recorded our debut single ‘On My Own’ with Matt O'Grady (You Me At Six, Deaf Havana) and went on to film a music video for it. We are back in the studio Feb 2013. 

Who are your main influences musically?
Deaf Havana, Young Guns, You Me At Six, Dangerous Summer.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
We hope to take this band as far as we can; we look forward to gigging and one day touring. We enjoy our time in the studio and want to carry on with our music as a full time job.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
The highlight so far was recording and making a video for On My Own and getting to see the end product of a lot of hard work.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
We once travelled for hours to show with all our equipment and played to about five people. 

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why?
A song we wrote not long ago, that doesn't have a name yet, because it is very upbeat happy and has a great groove. 

Where can we listen to it? 




Where can we find out more about your music?
http://www.facebook.com/withghostsuk Facebook is the best way to keep up to date with our music and shows. 

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask?
Thank you for helping to promote With Ghosts and hopefully you carry on your good work. 

Maya Wolff Q&A


Your name:
Maya Wolff.

Where are you from?
Originally from the south of Germany from the tiny town of Marhoerdt (45min from Stuttgart). Our house has the number 13 but there are no 13 houses, I think that's a big reason why I wanted to move at the young age of 19 straight after school and moved to England.  I've been living in Canterbury for more than eight years now after coming over to join a band as a singer and dancer 2004-2006 and decided to stay there for now. I am getting itchy feet though and doubt I'll settle down for quite a while.

Who else is in your band?
Solo artist but working with different producers.

Who are your main influences musically?
My big love is bass and electro music. My earliest memory that diverted me away from pop music was discovering Pendulum and being out dancing to Nicky Blackmarket and lots of local talent at d&b nights. For the last few years I was a dancer at d&b nights through my company 'Eximo', dancing alongside big names such El Hornet, Stay+,sharing a stage with Nektsy and many others. My passion to dance in this scene inspired me to solely focus on producing and singing to bass and electronic music and left my early career as a pop singer behind. One of my favourite producers are Scream and Benga and I can't forget to mention Katie B - great to have such a natural female talent doing so well- that's definitely an inspiration to me!

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I always want to inspire people through my song writing and make them happy. Music is a great way to share stories, life experiences and connect with people you've never even met. My hope is that my music will be  a positive influence in a persons life!

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Right now I'm literally buzzing of excitement as I'm waiting for a song to be released that I worked on with a very talented producer in New Zealand called Lumpsum. The song is called "Trusting you" and I'm sure it's going to do well. I also can't wait to film the video for it as dancing is a massive part of my career and I'll get to work with some great girl dancers!

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
That would be most days of my first couple of years of living in England working in a cheesy pop band. Through it we did some great work especially for young people, however, it was cringingly cheesy and especially the boy rappers in the band were embarrassingly bad. Looking back on it, I would never work with people like that ever again.

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what
would it be and why?
Definitely the one I'm waiting for the release for, that's the direction I've taken now. But otherwise I'd say "Hold On" as my heart and soul is in that song, the lyrics are a mix of German and English (the only German song I'd ever written) and still has a touch of the 'pop-me' but progressing to the way I'm heading now.

Where can we listen to it?


Where can we find out more about your music?

Sunday 27 January 2013

Shake Hands Eric Q&A


Your name:  
Richard Young.

Where are you from?  
Grew up in Lincolnshire, now based out of Peterborough, UK.

Name of band:
Shake Hands Eric. 

Who else is in your band?  
Mark plays bass, Ken on guitar, Andy is our man on the piano, and a drummer called Les. I sing and play my acoustic.  

How would you describe yourselves?  
Simple really since you ask...we are the legitimate heirs of a pop folk rock dynasty, sweeping up a plethora of musical genres into a magnificent dust bowl of nearly-new genius.  

Who are your main influences musically? 
The Beatles, and especially John Lennon, got me started, so I always listen for melody and confessions. At various points in my life I have been besotted by Talking Heads, The Smiths, Dexy's, The Specials, Fashion, Neil Young, Springsteen and Dylan. Of course, a hell of a lot of others have made their way into my head, joined the mash and help when I write songs.       

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
To move people in some way with a song, or to write something that lasts and for people to adore. To get a song into a movie or one of those US shows. To play one or two rather large festivals and to make enough to balance the books one day. So, not that ambitious really.... 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 
We've been lucky to have had some great producers and musicians add to our stuff, especially our second album where we worked with Paul Milner (Robert Palmer, Rush, Sting, Keith Richards) and Phil Tyreman (Snow Patrol, Belle and Sebastian). We have played a few good gigs too and done a fair bit of live radio. I am also pretty pleased to have assembled a bunch of guys who are very hot players to work with and mates - people underestimate how hard doing that can be. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
Being a tad pissed and whilst talking backstage with a Led Zep tribute artist, annoying John Paul Jones by mocking his wig.  

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why? 
Lamplight - a song about a dreamer who mistakes a street appliance for a celestial body and makes a wish upon it. An easy mistake.  

Where can we listen to it?



Where can we find out more about your music?
Twitter is @shakehandseric

The Cape Race Q&A


Your name:
I’m Matt Sayward and I play guitar in The Cape Race.

Where are you from?
I was born just outside of Nottingham, but moved to Manchester when I was really young. I lived in Manchester until around 6 months ago, and now I have a place in London.

Who else is in your band?
My good friends David on vocals, Scott on guitar, Jonny on drums and Adam on bass.

How would you describe yourselves?
A rock band first and foremost. There's a bit of melting pot where what we sound like is concerned - there's elements of a number of subgenres of rock that come into what we sound like, but predominantly we go for a quite full, expansive... I don't know, 'widescreen' sound with honest, eloquent lyrics. We get different comparisons all the time - yesterday we got likened to Counting Crows, which we can kinda hear. Then we got called 'The Killers meets Don Broco' which is a weird one, but when we thought about it, kind of applicable. Then we get Circa Survive meets Kings Of Leon. And there's definitely elements of all this.

Who are your main influences musically?
Personally, I'd honestly just go with a lot of 90s/00 guitarists. Bands like Hundred Reasons, Hell Is For Heroes and My Vitriol made me want to pick up a guitar. All their material had an emotion in the playing as much as anything being sang and that really resonated with me. I'm really into the guitar work on Louder Now & New Again by Taking Back Sunday, and I use that as a benchmark for a lot of my tones/production. I love the vulnerability and abrasiveness in what Jesse & Vinnie from Brand New do, and the understated elegance of the songs Chris Walla from Death Cab puts together. Then at the other end of the spectrum, I love how Stephen from Deftones messes with chords and makes them really dark and evil sounding. 

What do you hope to achieve in music?
Ultimately, to be making a comfortable income working on musical projects for the rest of my life. Between what we have cooking for 2013, we're optimistic we can do it. If I can give someone that same feeling that made me want to pick up a guitar, then I'd feel pretty accomplished.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Listening back to the final master of our debut album and hearing exactly what I wanted it to sound like in my head was pretty incredible.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
We've been quite lucky overall. There was one time when we had to drive 500 miles in torrential rain in our van with no windscreen wipers we'd happily forget, thinking about it. But it makes for a good story.
If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why?
Weirdly enough, we've actually had two songs of ours (They're Young, They're In Love & Now, Voyager) used for adverts for American Idol and Mentos. So I guess those two!

Where can we listen to it?
Your best bet is http://www.youtube.com/thecaperace - then you get music videos too.


Where can we find out more about your music?

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask?
We have a new album coming this year. We're very excited about its release and there's new songs dropping real soon. Keep up with us on Facebook & Twitter and be the first to know what's going down.  

Saturday 26 January 2013

Paladins Q&A


Your name:
Andy Nove (Guitar).

Where are you from?
West London.

Name of Band:
Paladins.

Who else is in your band?
Lewis Sluman (Vocals), Pratheep Suthersan (Guitar), James Wilson (Bass), and Kieran Cotter (Drums).

How would you describe yourselves?
Alternative-rock with catchy choruses and heavy guitars.

Who are your main influences musically?
Young Guns, A Day to Remember, Deaf Havana, Lower Than Atlantis, Blink-182, Billy Talent.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
We’d love to tour the world and hear people sing our songs back to us. And maybe sell a t-shirt or two…

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Maybe our EP release show. We ran out of copies completely, to the extent that I don’t even have one myself! It was also our first gig as a band and went pretty much as well as it could have done.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Hmm, there’s a few. Picking a band name was pretty bad. Needless to say there were some terrible suggestions, mainly from our drummer Kieran. ‘Friendship Never Ends’ and ‘Hammer of Justice’ were personal favourites. Other than that, filming our new music video outdoors in December in nowhere near enough clothing was pretty painful.

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why?
Well, our debut single/video ‘Everything to Gain’ comes out in February, so I’d probably go with that. It’s probably our most radio-friendly song and people seem to like it. We do, at least.

Where can we listen to it?
You can check that song out along with the rest of our EP ‘Prologue’ at www.paladins.bandcamp.com. The whole thing is available for free download!






Where can we find out more about your music?
Follow us on twitter for regular updates: @PaladinsUK. And like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaladinsUK.

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask?
We’ll be hitting the studio soon to record a full-length follow up to our EP, but in the mean-time keep an eye on our twitter for links to our debut video out next month! 

Exile Parade Q&A


Your name:  
Lomax (singer).

Where are you from?
Warrington, UK.

Name of band:
Exile Parade.

Who else is in your band?
Dave, Phil, Mutchy and Chris.

How would you describe yourselves? 
Magnificently handsome, I’d say typically northern lads who write untypically northern music.  When we get it right no one’s better live.

Who are your main influences musically?
We’ve been going a while now so our main influences in music right now are polar opposite in a lot of ways to  two years ago for example but they all tie in. It’s like a fucking huge mural you build in your head. Grinder Man are big in our conscience right now, the Fall, in particular their tune Blindness, we became instantly obsessed with it while driving round Holland in the van, it’s like our mantra for how everything should sound, like it’s been dug up. The Kills, Horrors, Dylan, My Bloody Valentine are what drives the others when they write these days. Richard Ashcroft, Mick Jagger, Sam Cooke, Ian Brown, Kurt Cobain and Liam Gallagher made me a frontman.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
Good question that, I hope to look back on a life and feel like I’ve left something worthwhile behind. Short term I know me and the others want nothing more than to record,  whatever happens that’s all we care about right now is getting it all out.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
It’s when Owen Morris came to see us with Bonehead in de bees Winsford, Oasis undoubtedly changed my life when I was a young teenager; I completely believed it was possible to get somewhere in life by joining a band, when we were sorting out recording dates after the gig it was proof I was right and its fucking insane that we spent those weeks with him making our records.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
I hope I don’t forget any of them.

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why?
I’d choose ‘Alcohol’ it’s a simple tale of truths, sounds class.

Where can we listen to it?  




Where can we find out more about your music?

Friday 25 January 2013

Woodman Stone Q&A


Your name:
Woodman Stone!  The name came to me in a dream about 10 years ago. The world was at war and I was a freedom fighter in the English countryside seeking to overthrow an occupying army. I lived in the woods and I was famous throughout the land. It was a particularly vivid dream I have to say.

Where are you from?
Originally from Sussex, where I did live in a wood! Since then, London, Birkenhead and now Leicester.

Name of band
Woodman Stone, like me!

Who else is in your band?
Well, it’s whoever I need. For recording the album James Buckley from One Cure For Man is on drums, with a great bass player and guitarist, Doug Burgess. Tony Robinson of the Beautiful South plays all the brass and keyboards. Live it’s a different set up but just as good.

How would you describe yourself?
Perfect pop songs. Someone described me as ‘like The Beatles meet the Smiths’. We’re upbeat, catchy and eclectic – acoustic guitars, brass and harmonies. The sound of a summer you’ll never forget!

Who are your main influences musically?
It all started with three records. Return to Sender by Elvis, The Beatles first album, Please Please Me, and Mad Dogs and Englishman by Noel Coward. Those three records made me love music as a child.  After that it’s just a great big mish-mash of every great song and artist bouncing round inside my head!

What do you hope to achieve in music?
All I’d like is to be able to make my living doing what I love more than anything else. Anything after that is almost irrelevant...

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Anytime you’re played on the radio is always good and there’s been a few of those but John Peel leaving a message on my answer phone a good few years ago still feels special. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
I’m sure something terrible may yet happen but as of yet I’m happy to remember everything! 

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why?
It’s got to be Does Madonna Dream? Catchy, upbeat and fun but might make you think a little bit too – the question is this: if ‘ordinary people’ dream about the famous do famous people dream about us.  This also came to me in a dream!
 
Where can we listen to it?
The whole album is still on stream on Soundcloud.


 

Where can we find out more about your music?
www.woodmanstone.com gives the background to some of the songs, lyrics and other bits and bobs
@woodmanstone on twitter is where I spend a lot of time and you can always reach the absurdist me there. I’ll apologise in advance!!
www.facebook.com/woodmanstone is there for the odd picture or two, dates for gigs and stuff.

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask?
The more people that hear what I do and tell me how much they like the songs the more I realise I’m a right lucky so and so. And since we’re coming up to the Chinese Year of the International Rock God, I’m set fair for a great year I hope!
The album ‘Someone Else’s Dreams Will Fill Our Home…’ will be released to the world on March 25th.

Radio Radio Q&A


Your name: 
Walker Hill.

Where are you from? 
South London.

Name of band:
Radio Radio.

Who is in your band?
Louis Mueller (Vox, Guitar), Luke Gordon (Drums), Jude Ryan-Gray (Bass), Walker Hill (Guitar, Vox).

How would you describe yourselves? 
Straight rock band without any rubbish stuck on it, three minute pop songs all the way.

Who are your main influences musically? 
From The Clash and Elvis Costello to Gil Scott-Heron and The Vaccines. Not that they're all necessarily reflected in our music, lyrics are very important to us, Jarvis Cocker and Gil Scott-Heron are particular lyrical favourites.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
I think an ending like The Last Waltz, or LCD Soundystem's final gig at Madison Square gig would be our ultimate goal, weird starting at the end though, I know.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 
Our jaunt to New Cross in early December to play at the Amersham Arms

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
Being threatened with a phone call to the police after turning the amps up to 11.

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why? 
Weird Alice, I think it sums up our style pretty well.

Where can we listen to it?




Where can we find out more about your music?

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask? 
We're in the midst of establishing a little promotions group, Sidetracked Sound, with our mates Human Indeed.   http://www.facebook.com/SidetrackedSound