Enter Shikari release Common Dreads

Photo © Phil Oldham

St Albans post hardcore band Enter Shikari released their new album Common Dreads on Monday and took to the nation's record stores for a mini promo tour.

Reportedly only 150 wristbands were available in Manchester, leaving fans arriving after 7am too far back in the queue to get a place inside HMV's basement!

Photo © Phil Oldham

Common Dreads is the band's second album, with Take To The Skies being released in March 2007.

Record crowds for ‘Best Ever’ Music Live!

Photo © Rob Lockhart

The 10th Middlesbrough Music Live has been hailed as the ‘best ever’ after record crowds of almost 50,000 people flocked to Middlesbrough Town Centre this year (Sunday 7 June).

Top names including The Zutons, Noah & The Whale, Frank Turner and South London rapper Master Shortie were among over 100 acts who played at what both The Sunday Times and Daily Telegraph had already described as one of the ‘top 100’ festivals of the summer.

Photo © Rob Lockhart

Organised by Middlesbrough Council in partnership with local promoters Ten Feet Tall, MML is now firmly established as one of the freshest and best-respected free festivals in the country.

Speaking as Middlesbrough still buzzed into the night, Graham Ramsay of Ten Feet Tall said: “This has been the best Music Live we’ve ever had! To see almost 50,000 people here today has just been phenomenal.

“The atmosphere has just been amazing. The audience have been smiling, jumping around and having fun all day. As an event organiser you can’t ask for more.

Photo © Rob Lockhart

“It’s been great that we’ve been able to put some of the best and freshest new acts around in front of people, and they’ve all been given a great Boro response.

“All the stages have been packed to capacity virtually all day, even the weather’s been kind, and there’s just been a great feeling to everything. We’ve had an absolutely fantastic day.”

Photo © Rob Lockhart

Judith Croft, Festival and Events Manager with Middlesbrough Council, said: “That was a wonderful way to celebrate our 10th anniversary. It’s the biggest crowd we’ve ever had, the largest number of stages and, with the Warm-Up events we did in the lead-up to the big day, it’s just been the best Music Live we’ve had so far. Planning for next year starts here!

Photo © Rob Lockhart

Mick Hargan and the Proposition / Maeve O'Boyle

Photo © David Taylor

The Mill, Oran Mor, Glasgow.
Thursday 4th June 2009.

Every alternate Thursday, Oran Mor, an old converted church at the top of Byers Road, in the heart of Glasgows West End, becomes The Mill. This is where a leading Beer brand take over the downstairs venue and offer up and coming bands the chance to showcase their sound. The tickets are free, although you are required to provide them with a mobile number when you text for the tickets in advance. It seems like a good deal, the bands get a chance to play to a crowd, the services of a photographer and a couple of numbers recorded for exposure on The Mill website, the crowd get the chance to see the cream of new music free of charge, the only downside is the lack of choice in the beer department, but for a night of free music, you can't complain too loudly.

I headed down on the 4th June, primarily to see Mick Hargan and his band The Proposition. Mick Hargan has been part of the Glasgow music scene for a number of years and already has an acclaimed debut album "Conversations Between Us" to his name as well as appearances at many festivals and has played alongside such bands as The Frames, Aberfeldy and The Stranglers.

Photo © David Taylor

The first act on was Glasgow based singer/songwriter Maeve O'Boyle and her band. I hadn't seen Maeve prior to the show, but had read good reviews. She played a good solid set, performing songs from her upcoming album "All My Sins", produced by Blue Nile producer Calum Malcolm, including the current single "Carnival Attraction", her debut single, "Swimming Upstream", and the heartfelt story of breakup "Romeo" . I really enjoyed the set, as did another fan/admirer who presented Maeve with a bunch of flowers midway through. With friends and co-writers including Ricky Ross, Gordon Goudie and Francis MacDonald, I think we can look forward to hearing more from Maeve O'Boyle.

www.myspace.com/maeveoboyle
www.maeveoboyle.com

Photo © David Taylor

Mick Hargan is known for the variety of his shows, he can play solo with an acoustic guitar or with any number of musicians, and no two gigs are ever the same. For this gig, he played with his band, The Proposition, who provide a harder, rockier sound than that heard on his debut album. The band came onto the smoke filled stage and kicked off with "Beautiful You" and "Magic Sponge", starting at quite a tempo, slowing down a bit for "Mercy Me" the song featured in the movie "Descansos", the set continued apace and included, amongst others "Remedy" from "Conversations Between Us" and the forthcoming single "Adulation". Mick and the band were then joined on stage by Glasgow Blues guitarist Dave Arcari for a version of Johnny Cash's "Cocaine Blues", this was a great cover with Arcari covering almost every inch of the stage. The set ended with Mick playing solo for the track "Found".

www.myspace.com/mhargan

With The Mill being a weekly occurence, it would be easy for the quality to suffer, but on the evidence of this gig, with two quality acts, this will be a night that can run and run.

David Taylor

Kasabian play HMV Manchester

Photo © Jessica Newell

Indie rockers Kasabian played a set at Manchester HMV this evening in support of their new album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

Fans had queued overnight to guarantee themselves an entry wristband, which were made available at 8am. All 250 wristbands were quickly snapped up leaving many unable to catch this intimate performance.

The boys stormed through a short, but energetic set. Leaving those downstairs in HMV's classical department thinking the ceiling was going to cave in.

Kasabian are to tour in support of their new album starting on 9th June at the O2 Academy in Newcastle. Full tour listings can be found at www.kasabian.co.uk

The Ruling Class at Manchester Roadhouse - Coming soon

Plus special guests
THE PSYCHO
DISCO NASTIES
ON ITZ HEAD

MANCHESTER ROADHOUSE
FRIDAY 19TH JUNE
DOORS 7.30pm

THE RULING CLASS
London-based international indiepop rescuers THE RULING CLASS have been on tour for the past few months supporting the likes of The Charlatans and The Twang.

The quintet who consist of one Italian two Swedes and two chaps from Harrogate released 'Flowers' / 'If You Wonder' on Label Fandango last summer which promptly sold out.

The Horrors and Tim Burgess have already taken note and fans of drifty janglesome pop combos like Stone Roses and Ride can do much much worse than mooch over to

http://www.myspace.com/therulingclassuk

“ The Ruling Class are going to be massive” Alan McGee


THE PSYCHO
http://www.myspace.com/thepsychouk

DISCO NASTIES
Played on Huw Stephens BBC radio 1 introducing(sweet)...........Seleted by Puma to support Pete and the Pirates.(sweeet)...High Voltage Magazine best demo (march): 'Disco Nasties boast some great strumming skills, strong untiring bass lines and brawny vocals - all essential tools for beating a path to recognition.'

http://www.myspace.com/disconasties

ON ITZ HEAD
Connecting over a love of non classic 70’s Disco, Obscure Dance, 80’s Pop and Abstract Rock. Jax and Louis’ peculiar set of influences, backed up by Alex and Steve's showmanship, crash and collide their way into ON ITZ HEAD, European flair and invention combined with a knack for unusual hooks and cheap thrills.

Dirty Guitars, Human Voice, Slap Bass and a Dance Kick.

With ON ITZ HEAD cramming out venues across manchester and london and with a tour and full length album looking likely, the band look alive to big things.

http://www.myspace.com/onitzhead

TICKETS £5 adv from:
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/47829

Please go to www.myspace.com/designermagazine for more upcoming gigs.

“The Bunker” @ Keystones Bar, Worcester 03-06-09

Photo © cyclone.photography@gmail.com

UK GIGS AND FESTIVALS were out in Worcester for The Misers Album Launch Night.
The Misers chose this relatively new night to showcase work from their new album and were ably supported by The Amateurs.

So first up were The Amateurs (recent winners of Oxjam) who played a 45 minute set of their own work plus one cover. This really is a band to look out for and we will be following them more closely in the near future.

Then The Misers, who most people had turned out to see, they are Neil Ivison who plays guitar and lead vocals and Adam Barry on Rhodes and backing vocals.
The Misers played a selection of songs from the new album and a couple of crowd favourites for the fans that turned up.

Photo © cyclone.photography@gmail.com

The Album “Amplified Life Stories” is available in HMV on the high street and also for download from iTunes, Amazonmp3, Play.com, HMVdigital, 7Digital, Napster & Rhapsody.
Why not check them out at www.themisers.co.uk where you can download “Back In Your Arms” for free or www.myspace.com/misers

Acoustic night at The Tap House, Kidderminster - 02-06-09

Photo © cyclone.photography@gmail.com

The recent good weather seemed to help a healthy turnout for a Tuesday night, the venue provides an atrium performance area and outdoor patio which is very busy in the summer months.

Four local acts took to the stage in front of a receptive crowd.

First up was Harry, joined later by vocalist Hannah to make up Spud, they played a short but popular set.

Next was Luke Brant, Luke is becoming well known in the midlands and showcases his talent by playing guitar and mouth organ at the same time and somehow manages to fit in thought provoking vocals as well!

Photo © cyclone.photography@gmail.com

Then Lewis Thorny, who travelled from Stourbridge played some of his own songs, with the caveat that he may forget the words as the songs were new (one being written only the day before). Despite this he performed flawlessly.

Photo © cyclone.photography@gmail.com

Finally, the evenings host Clark Carmody played the most popular set of the evening. Clark impresses with imaginative covers and heady songs of his own, all backed up with sublime vocal skills.

Photo © cyclone.photography@gmail.com