Thistledown’s original, dynamic blend of subtle elements – described by some as “modern celtic” – is the result of an organic evolution, mixing folk, rock, punk and classical influences with heartfelt lyrics, telling the story of the area and the characters that have influenced the members’ lives.
Lead singers Loz Fancourt and Nathan Laurence have been performing contemporary original folk music, separately and together, at several local festivals and venues in the Swansea area. Thistledown’s sound has been shaped by Loz and Nathan’s collaborations with several local musicians over the past few years, including Jamie Nemeth (Henry Marten’s Ghost, Bigfoot), Adam Carter (Nucleus), James Beck and Josh Ace (Ringolevio, Chineapple Punks).
The five-piece line-up include Loz (guitar, lead vocals), Nathan (guitar, mandola, flute, lead vocals), Jamie (fiddle), Adam (drums, backing vocals), and Billy Morris on bass guitar.
“Terrific fresh new sound – keep your eyes & ears on this band. They could really take off. ” – Frank Hennessy, BBC Radio Wales
“Intelligent, Acoustic led pop folk ready for any occasion. Gorgeous.” – Aaron Phillips, Amazing Radio
SOCIETY
Society are a three piece country rock band from West Sussex who specialise in gorgeous three part harmonies that set them apart from the current crop of Americana or West Coast rock wanabees in the UK. Comprising guitarist Matt Wise, bassist Ben Lancaster and on all things percussive F.Scott Kenny, their recorded and live sound has echoes of C.S.N.Y, The Band, The Heartbreakers, The Jayhawks and the late great Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance. Matt Wise composes most if not all of their material and when all three sing in harmony the result is simply stunning.
Since forming in 2004 Society have supported many great visiting artistes when they toured the UK, opening for notable musicians and performers such as Eve Selis, Deadstring Brothers, Corb Lund, Luke Doucet and The Wailin’ Jennys. Apart from their own UK headline shows, Society have completed two tours of Canada along with a string of dates in the American mid-west gaining a whole new legion of fans in the USA. This constant touring has honed both their musical and vocal chops and in the winter of 2008 Society left their disused stable that served as their rehearsal space and spent time at The Brickhouse Studios near Brighton recording their debut release entitled SONGS FROM THE BRICKHOUSE.
That album is a collection of eleven original songs from the pen of Matt Wise and arranged by all three band members. Guest musicians helping out on the recording included Spencer Cullum, a member of the Deadstring Brothers who is one of the foremost young pedal steel players around today, Dave Berliner and James Batchelar on keyboards and the glorious violin of the classically trained musician Sarah Gonputh. The songs on the album echo their love of all things West Coast, Laurel Canyon and the great country rock music of the early seventies yet bringing their sound right up to date with a distinct indie feel.
Following on from their hugely successful release SONGS FROM THE BRICKHOUSE, Society are back in 2011 with A CROOKED MILE. This stunning new release is guaranteed to bring the trio even more praise from media and audiences alike.
The album is once again a collection of eleven songs from Matt Wise and arranged by all three band members. Guest musicians featured on the album include Spencer Cullum on pedal steel, Ben Davies and James Batchelar on keyboards/piano, Pat Kenneally on melodica/piano and added pedal steel is supplied by Chris Pritchard. Recorded both at the Brickhouse Studios near Brighton and the bands own Downland Studios located near Gatwick. Matt Wise is back in the producers’ chair, ably assisted by engineer James Gasson.
Stand out tracks include 40 Days, a stunning and anthemic crowd pleaser, Blues Flag, reminiscent of The Band at their finest, the bluegrass influenced Davey and the perfect opening track Wheels A’ Turning, country rock at its very best.
The constant touring has honed both their musical and vocal chops and 2011/2012 will see Society touring the UK to support the release of A CROOKED MILE and already the band are confirmed for several festival appearances in 2012.
“This is one Society that really shouldn’t be a secret” Net Rhythms
“It’s the originality and freshness of the songwriting which makes the album more than just a relaxing evocation of times and sounds gone by” Country Music People
“In my opinion this is the best Americana album to come out this year” Folking.com
“Their other strong point is in the consistently good sense of melody; most of the songs here are instantly memorable…” Northern Sky
JOE INNES & THE CAVALCADE
When he was young, Joe Innes found and subsequently buried a dead rat in his garden. This event is the subject of Pet Cemetary – the opening track of his debut album The Frighteners, and is a good example of the offbeat observations that litter his songs like a bin lorry rolling down Solsbury Hill.
Joe has been playing shows in London for years, gaining support for his own personal brand of anti-folk, and finding himself supporting artists like Caitlin Rose, Sea of Bees, Alessi’s Ark and She Keeps Bees. At the end of 2011, a band was put together to record and make a bigger noise with. Thus, The Cavalcade was formed, a garage-folk outfit that has been compared to Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard, Bright Eyes and The Pogues. The band consists of drummer Chris Mitchell, guitarist Sam Simon-Norris and violinist Amy Smith.
TROUBADOUR ROSE formed on a cold November morning in 2009 at a dusty violin workshop in Stoke Newington. The fortuitous meeting comprises of Gary Bridgewood, violinist and workshop proprietor, multi-instrumentalist Lizzy O’Connor who was working as a part time cleaner, and wandering, out of work songstress Bryony Afferson, searching for a few band mates.
The Troubadour Rose sound quickly became a fusion of their individual histories:
Barnsley-born Bryony came to London in 2001. She began writing years earlier, growing up on Fleetwood Mac, Nanci Griffith and PJ Harvey records. These influences are clear in her stunning vocal delivery and exquisite song-writing, bringing to mind a young Stevie Nicks.
Lizzy O’Connor hailed from the North East steeped in Traditional Irish music having travelled the world with raucous ceilidh bands.
She wields her unique style – delicate harmonies, banjo and mandolin hooks – to stunning effect in Troubadour Rose.
Gary, a talented violinist who has toured globally with subversive pop/jazz band The Real Tuesday Weld and Klezmer outfit Beskydy, brings a kaleidoscopic and often unhinged element to the group, developing its wild and unpredictable edge.
The result? A strange and thrilling mix; Smokey mountain harmonies, Irish Sessions and bold sumptuous melodies leaving you all set for the unraveling and longing for more.
THE PROPOSITION
The Proposition make a very big sound for a little band. They’ve always been a trio, and have resisted all temptations to expand the line-up. Their act is all about the creation of songs and their delivery in the most acute and engaging way possible, and their unusual trio format lends itself perfectly to that purpose.
It works so effectively in part because the musical roles are shared (and often varied) between the three band members. All the songs are crafted and arranged by the band working together, regardless of the original impetus, and particular instrumental duties for each song fall naturally out of the arrangements as they progress.
The Proposition take their name from the dark Australian-western movie, and take their musical influences from sources as diverse as outlaw country, traditional English folk, bluegrass, country blues and the renaissance of American-folk.
The Proposition are a thrilling live act, as growing audiences on the folk and roots circuit all over the UK have discovered. Combining their commitment to accessible melody and foot-stomping rhythm they also deliver a gritty, grizzled charisma which has won fans wherever they go.
Their debut E.P. Dirt Tracks won rave reviews in country, blues, folk and roots media across the UK in 2010.
In 2012 they launched their debut full-length album King Snake, Devil Shake to further critical acclaim and achieved widespread and enthusiastic airplay on roots stations all over the country and beyond.
American Roots UK said: “a pretty much unique sound… somewhere between the Pogues and the Band.”
Blues Matters said: “Originality, flair… every track is thought-provoking, foot-stomping, mouthlicking good.”
Folk & Roots said: “Thrilling, rough-hewn Americana with an authentic rolling energy that leaves you wanting more.”
JACK WISEMAN
Jack Wiseman is a musician who has been peddling (in not-really-that-so-secret-but-in-sort-of-so-secret) his own combination of what might sound like Adam Ant and Buddy Holly in a scissor fight with Slayer and Cat Stevens, mixed with Elvis being kicked to death by Leonard Cohen, around London and other places for a small while now…
He plays as many shows as he can, to however many people stop long enough to listen and is booking up loads more for the very immediate future.
Date:
Sat 24th Nov, 2012
Doors:
7:45 pm
THE PAPER SHADES is a musical and creative collaboration between Art college friends sarah Dollar and Jon Rixon. The band formed back in 2009 and was inspired by a mutual love for music,nature and art. With a dreamy sound influenced by all time great singer songwriters such as Nick Drake,Joni Mitchell,and Fleetwood Mac as well as modern day artists such as Bon Iver,Fleet Foxes and Ryan Adams, The Paper shades spin a web of multi instrumental, harmony drenched intrigue.
After their sell out show for Folklore in the summer we very much look forward to their return!!
OFFICE OF AURORA
Office of Aurora began life by the sea, evolving from a bedroom project into a series of collaborations between friends from bands from Brighton and London. Since a move to the big city the performing arm of the group has consolidated into a duo who play laconic, hymn like music about love, hate, life and death built around minimal arrangements of guitar, keyboard and intertwining vocal lines. http://officeofaurora.bandcamp.com/
THE MOON THE SON AND THE DAUGHTERS
The Moon, the Son & the Daughters are a folk quartet from the Scottish Borders. They are currently based in London, writing songs about whales, buffalo farms and red doors among other things. Formed in 2009 under the name The Mockingbirds, the bands sound focuses on complex female harmonies with accompaniment from ukulele, strings, percussion and whatever else they can lay their hands on.
INTI ROWLAND
Inti Rowland is a 20 year old London based singer/songwriter.
His debut release (April 2011) was ‘The Ballad Of The Ballroom Ghost’ recorded in a dis-used 18th century church in London.
His second release (Jan 2012) ‘Eyes Of A Starling’ was recorded in a barn in the Welsh mountainside forests, during a three day stint in November 2011.
He is currently touring alongside violinist/singer Megan Jenkins.
Full band shows include cellists Sam Rowe and Evie O’Driscoll.
The incredible SONS OF NOEL AND ADRIAN at THE LEXINGTON on the the 15TH OF FEBRUARY (With support from EYES NO EYES and SOCCER96)
Early Bird Tickets here - http://www.wegottickets.com/event/193707
SONAA are back on the road and will be releasing a brand new collection of songs – their second long player, Knots. The band’s sophomore album sees them breaking far away from the acoustic roots of their debut album which lead them to tour twice with Mumford & Sons and support Laura Marling at Royal Festival Hall.
The Sons’ immersion in folk music was always more informed by guitarists
like Dave Pajo, David Grubbs and Jeff Parker than by traditionalists. These influences, rooted in the city of Chicago’s pre-millennial post-rock, jazz and avant-pop scenes, are explored on Knots resulting in an album much closer to the band’s live sound.
The duelling fingerpicked classical guitars are still there, but they’re put through cranked up, needle-in-the-red valve amps. There’s still a bit of banjo, but it’s played with an e-bow and a slide so it sounds like a haunted Hammond organ. And there’s plenty of actual Hammond, giving the track “Come Run Fun Stella Baby Mother of the World” a kind of fairground darkness borrowed from Liars or Captain Beefheart.
Elsewhere the fragile strings of “Black Side of the River” evoke the still sadness of humanity epitomised by Arvo Pärt augmented by the weighty piano chords of Earth; “Big Bad Bold” sounds like These New Puritans started an earthquake in a burning symphony hall; “Cathy Come Home” demonstrates the band’s love of drone, unison and extended guitar techniques and ends up sounding somewhere between Tortoise and the scores of Danny Elfman; and aching closer “Heroine” sounds like Robert Wyatt sped up a track from Twin Peaks for Will Oldham to sing over.
At times soft and orchestral, at times crass and loud, Knots is always infused with beauty and tenderness: soulful, taunt, honed and with a new found love of kosmiche experimentation.Knots’ expanded sonic tapestry is marshalled and woven with growing stature by SONAA’s chief song-writer, Jacob Richardson, whose meditative lyrical concepts and melodic craftsmanship mark him out as musician of genuine depth and gravitas whilst remaining as arcane and beguiling as Palace.
Rejecting notions of a fixed line-up, Sons of Noel and Adrian is more of a sprawling musical whirlpool centered around a few key members than a traditional band – a bit like Broken Social Scene, with whom two Sons toured last year as their horn section. The band members make up most of the renowned Willkommen Collective that spawned The Leisure Society, and the various members lend their talents freely to everyone from Damo Suzuki to the Laura Marling, with one Son, a full time contributor to her band and as many as four playing with her on certain shows including last year’s Glastonbury Festival Pyramid Stage performance.
Such selfless creative interdependence is at the heart of the Willkommen Collective and Sons of Noel and Adrian. The results of their musical co-operative have yielded a sophomore effort that transcends their debut and positions them as one of 2012’s most unique and thrilling propositions: Knots see SONAA charting new, unexplored aural terrain as immersive an experience on stage as it on record.
Also, we’re excited to have the wonderful RUE ROYALE coming over from the states to play at THE WINDMILL in BRIXTON on the 24TH OF JANUARY
FOLKLORE PRESENTS … JESS BRYANT + MOUTH 4 RUSTY and LUCY CAIT at GREEN NOTE on THE 1ST OF NOVEMBER
After a great first run at the wonderful Green Note, Folklore returns on the 1st of November with the truly excellent Jess Bryant, Mouth 4 Rusty and Lucy Cait!
Jess Bryant is a London, UK songwriter, who has been described as ‘haunting’ a fair few times. She made her recording début with vocals on Rhys Marsh And The Autumn Ghost’s “I Will Find A Way To Reach You, b/w Spoken” (Sep 2007, self-released). Her solo discography includes the EP “Dusk” (Mar 2009, self-released).Her stunning debut album Silvern (produced by the very talented Daniel Lea) who has taken elements of modern composition, ambient soundscapes, orchestral instrumentation and film soundtracks, pairing these with Jess’s distinctive vocals to create an astonishing collection of songs.Silvern brings these influences together to weave nine enchanting tales of pleading ghosts, dancing eyes and a visiting oracle. The record marries these intriguing narratives with an impressive mix of orchestral percussion, string arrangements and a varied selection of instruments.The musicality of the album adds another dimension, which sees serpentine clarinets wind in and out of tinkering glockenspiels to create a dark and fruitful landscape of sound. On one track, a foghorn-like clarinet blurts out into empty space, like a boat searching into the darkness.
The musical elements of Silvern derive from a number of influences. The orchestral percussion references American composer Moondog and the lush string arrangements, which underpin the album with a bed of ambient textures, take inspiration from the work of Steve Reich. Part of the record is built out of Jess’s love for cinema and literature. The fascinating work of writers such as Paul Auster and Haruki Murakami has influenced the intriguing narratives that lurk within Silvern, whilst it’s occasional menace brings to mind a Lynchian waking dream.
Jess herself is an incredible force on the album. Her soaring vocals play off the rich instrumentation to ground the whole piece in something intimate and human. Silvern is an astonishing achievement, we are very proud as a label to release this to a wider audience and hope that you connect with it as much as we have.
The full length album will be released as a strictly limited edition vinyl and download. The cover features the stunning photography of Emily Dennison and the impressive design skills of Louise Gardner.
Quotes :
“At once ancient and childlike, the pure tone of Jess Bryant’s rich alto voice travels straight to my heart….Jess stands as a rare and beautiful singer, so in tune with the expressive capacity of pitch, tone & the poetry of nature.” – Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond)
Mouth 4 Rusty
“Sublime. Uniquely captivating. Beautiful.”
- The Gladstone
“Elegantly crafted hummable songs that you won’t want to miss out on.”
- Rough Trade
“That has got to be the most beautiful song I have ever heard about quitting smoking”
- Patrick Lyons, Resonance 104.4FM
“Lush Loner Folk”
- The Redbricks present Talon Show
“Heartfelt folk, nice production and interesting arrangements, snatches of melodica and xylophone.”
- The Sentinel
“Mouth 4 Rusty had the audience clicking and clapping along to stripped back simple songs of love forlorn. “
- Amelia’s Magazine
“Completely beautiful”
- The Apple of My Eye
“Remember to bring a thermos of oozing hot chai tea, a lump of hash, blanket, slippers and bamsemums. This is going to get cosy!”
- Smug.no
Mouth 4 Rusty began writing and recording in a small hand-made wooden room inside an old London ice cream factory in late winter 2009.
They began playing live that August, finding their way round venues in London, Oslo and Wales, swelling from a duo to a sextet and back again.
They released their first EP, ‘Time Over Money’ in 2010, first album, ‘Good Men Now’ in Feb 2012 and second album, ‘Fire Mice and Other People’ in September 2012.
Mouth 4 Rusty’s intention is to make simple, traditionally-inspired songs that people can relate to, hummable music based on life as it unfolds, as early folk music was.
Lucy Cait
“In the midst of the busy south east london music scene, Lucy plays folk and tells stories that warm the cockles of your heart.” – Live Magazine
PLEASE NOTE: DOORS OPEN: 7pm, MUSIC STARTS AT 9pm.
The venue comprises both seated and standing space. There are a limited number of tables. These are allocated on a first come first served basis, with priority given to diners. If you’d like a table, please ensure you arrive early.
We reserve the right to release all unclaimed tickets for re-sale at 9.30pm. If you will be arriving after this time, please inform us in advance, so that we can hold your tickets for you.
INTI ROWLAND & BAND LIVE AT ST PANCRS OLD CHURCH on the 2ND OF NOVEMBER
Join us for a lovely evening at St.Pancras Old Church on Friday the 2nd of November 2012, with full band performances of songs from both ‘The Ballad of the Ballroom Ghost’ and ‘Eyes of a Starling’. We’ll be debuting some brand new songs and adding more instruments to the line-up, so expect bigger things this time!Both records will available for purchase at the show. Along with a special limited run of a ‘Live At St.
Mary’s Old Church’ ep, from our gig there in April.Records streaming at: www.intirowland.bandcamp.comSt.Pancras Old Church is a stones throw a way from St.Pancras International station, Kings Cross, London. Tickets will be available on the door at £7/£6 for concessions.We are delighted to announce that the duo Fritha Jenkins and Naomi Graham will be supporting us. Expect pipes, fiddle, samples, loops and more.
FOLKLORE FEATURING – JESS MORGAN, ANDY OLIVERI and MINKO at THE GALLERY CAFE on the 3RD OF NOVEMBER.
JESS MORGANJess Morgan is a singer-songwriter based in Norwich, England. Drawing on British and American folk influences, she writes songs that are living and breathing; that tell stories and scream out to be played live. With dynamic guitar-playing abilities and a distinctive, unusual voice, Jess’s well-crafted songs and wonderful live performances have gained her impressive support all over the UK and Europe.
Recorded with musical friends and collaborators in Bergen, Norway, Jess self-released her debut album, ‘All Swell’, to notable acclaim in 2010. Working completely independently, she gained the attention of BBC Radio 2’s Steve Lamacq, Rock ‘n’ Reel Magazine and Acoustic Magazine amongst a myriad of grassroots supporters in the form of smaller press outlets, independent promoters, and other musicians and songwriters (including Megson and Nicky Chinn).Extensive touring across the world has seen Jess gain an international fanbase. Regular shows in Norway, Germany and Holland, as well as a three-week tour of the US last winter, have seen Jess become something of a musical troubadour over the past year. Here in the UK, Jess has self-booked tours taking her up and down the country, including supports with folk-pop upcomers Paper Aeroplanes, sister duo First Aid Kit (Wichita Recordings) and trad folk legends Megson amongst others.Jess’s music has a wide appeal which sees her growing fanbase encompassing all ages and a range of different genres. Fans of traditional folk and roots are charmed by her just as much as fans of folk-pop and folk-rock. Her diverse appeal has seen her mix folk clubs, music venues, house gigs and festivals of all kinds, maintaining a constantly busy live schedule.Spring 2012 will see Jess release her second album with the help of a Pledge Music campaign, and yet more touring in the UK, Europe and beyond. With the music industry beginning to pay attention, it’s going to be a big year for this accomplished musical talent.
“Every so often you come across a little gem like this!” Steve Lamacq, BBC Radio 2
“In flagrant defiance of such circumstances, the results of this meeting glow with customary warmth of Morgan’s delivery – clear, open guitar and ethereally bluesy vocals, mic’d close and intimate as they lull and soar.” R2 / Rock ‘n’ Reel Magazine
“Catchy and melodic with a roots edge. Jess Morgan goes it alone and against the grain.” Acoustic Magazine
ANDY OLIVERI
Growing up reading the lyrics and liner notes of dusty old records have left Andy Oliveri nothing but a storyteller. Echoing the spirit of Neil Young and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, he writes simple folk songs with his heart on his sleeve and words from a bared soul. Evident in the stripped back arrangements of tracks such as ‘My Fathers Son’ and ‘What I’m Told’, the fragility in his voice and guitar allow the songs to breathe, with no overblown arrangements to mask the sentiment.
Debut EP ‘Sing Mercy’ was released through istartedthefire Records in April 2012, and was followed by a Summer of festivals, a full UK tour and support slots for acts such as The Low Anthem, Dry The River and Benjamin Francis Leftwich. With a new single due in November, Oliveri looks set to be a great force within UK folk in 2012.
MINKO
Minko is a singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist living in Cornwall. She crafts beautiful idiosyncratic songs that arrive at your ears with a freshness that belies their often turbulent origins. Using a variety of acoustic instruments, Minko writes haunting melodies and weaving bass lines that wind themselves around peeling glockenspiels, ukuleles, flutes, and subtle rumba rhythms. Laced over the top is a unique and arresting voice which moves from the murmur of a whisper to the urgency of an animal call. The songs are sometimes dark with overtones of folk-baroque and chamber music, sometimes playful and feline, in the tradition of Serge Gainsbourg and Stan Getz, and sometimes evoke a psychedelic dream world atmosphere.
She records her songs in her bedroom with a few bits of equipment and a concrete dog.
“Minko’s music draws its inspiration from a diversity of musical idioms – 1960s psychedelic folk, French pop chansons, music concrete, jazz, minimalism and European folk music – but it is unique in the way it always finds the gaps between the genres, constantly steering off the grid” Nick Duffy of The Lilac Time
Americana and alt-country from London. Grooves, pedal steel, banjo, harmonies. Influenced by soul, twang, and all in music that’s beautiful, nasty, dirty and funky.
TURNSTILE JUNKPILE http://soundcloud.com/turnstile-junkpile
“Turnstile Junkpile have created a piece of real deal Americana. Without any reservation this is a fine album.” (Fatea Magazine, UK)
MOJO Playlist of essential tracks, Oct 2012. “This Isn’t What I Signed Up For: Rolling riposte to maturity
and sober good sense , with pedal stell and sweet guitar licks.” (MOJO magazine, UK)
“They’re from the deep south – of England! – but I’d swear these guys were another great alt country band from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our featured Song of the Week is How How How.” (Family Reunion Country, USA)
“Diversity here is celebrated. Old country next to folk rock, soul next to southern states blues. A real joy.” (Das Klienicum, Germany)
“Excellent. Warm expressive lead vocals, tremendous harmonies, excellent writing, gorgeous steel guitar. If you are a fan of alt-country I can’t imagine you will be disappointed. Their future looks very bright.” (American Roots UK)
“Quality classic Americana from the heart of London. Turnstile Junkpile sound as if they are the sons of Jackson Browne, brothers of Dawes, and cousins with the Punch Brothers” (Syncopated Sound, UK)
OH STOCKHOLM http://youtu.be/A0_ahn_uZZgMichael used to make noisey electro pop but his ears started to hurt and he got bored, so he decided to pick up his acoustic guitar and write some folk songs instead, and Oh Stockholm! was born. After a while of playing sad songs on his own to people who didn’t want to listen, he was joined by Anna who played violin and sang along and Oh Stockholm! got a little better. Then along came Sam who, armed with some sticks and a shaky egg, forced Michael and Anna to play in time.
DANIEL CORSINI http://youtu.be/apiarzWvG20
Daniel Corsini is an acoustic-folk guitarist from London whose influences range from Neil Young to Oscar Wilde to Kenny Rogers to hot cups of tea and roaring fires. His music blends catchy melodies with lyrical observations that stir something deep within your heart. It’ll leave you wishing that y
ou’d written them. He aims to continue in the folk tradition where original songs are crafted with a nod to the songwriters of the past who in turn smile warmly and glow with pride.
He has played various gigs in and around London and played a weekly slot whilst living in Whitehorse, Canada in 2010. He recently was shortlisted to play in the Mayor Of London’s Big Busk competition where he played several gigs outside incredible iconic landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, City hall, The Royal Exchange and North Greenwich Arena and more. Daniel proudly finished in the top ten of the public vote and has been asked to take part in an international collaboration with artists in Austria.
Following on from the success of Folklore’s first outing to The Windmill in Brixton we’re back again with another mouth watering line up, check it …
ERIN LANG & THE FOUNDLINGS
Erin Lang & The Foundlings (Montreal,Canada) play songs about the depth of shadows, sailboats across oceans and lightning struck cityscapes. Orchestral Dream Pop with spooky effected guitar and 50′s granny organs through an old radio layered with violin and whisper soft vocals make intimate quirky soundscapes full of the detailed and dark secrets of hearts.
They have just completed the recording of the album ‘Between You And The Sea’ in a beautiful church hidden in eastern Quebec with Mark Lawson as producer (Arcade Fire, Owen Pallet, Unicorns, Timber Timbre).
The album features Taylor Kirk and Simon Trottier (Timber Timber) lending their deep and eerie dark-water voices and sounds.
David Bryant of Godspeed! You Black Emporor mixes the albums instrumental tracks moving them through ghostly attics and rainswept prairies. Members of Elfin Saddle grace the album on musical saw and cello and David Simard creates a choir of angelic vocal harmonies along with the Foundlings’ french horns and violins, clarinets, bowed vibes, plucked pianos and steel drums.
The trio (Erin Lang – voice, guitar, autoharp, Lucas Guingue – bass and Marius Pibarot) will be on tour in the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden presenting ‘Between You And The Sea’ October through December before heading to South America in January.
Effra are a contemporary folk band consisting of Tom Newell (fiddle, mandolin), Aidan Shepherd (accordion) and Alex Bishop (guitar).
Modern, foot-stomping music inspired by traditional folk styles
NICK E. HARRIS
Nick Edward Harris is a progressive acoustic guitar player, singer and songwriter.
His songs reflect a drive to achieve an uncommon and dynamic sound, whilst still holding on to the old traditions of songwriting and storytelling that are integral to acoustic music. Influenced by instrumentalists Jack Rose and Andy McKee as well as songwriters Paul Curreri and John Smith, his guitar playing is remarkable and his songs are dynamic and unusual.
Having recorded an EP with Ben Lovett of Communion Records, he is now hard at work in the studio with producer Nick Trepka, making a long anticipated debut album. The album features collaborations with emerging harpist Emma Gatrill (The Mariner’s Children, Sons of Noel and Adrian) and Ted Dwane (Mumford and Sons).
BROKEN BOAT
“Some music can make people jump and shout but Broken Boat can make people stand still and listen.”
This was always the idea behind Broken Boat, an acoustic folk duo weaving honest, heartfelt lyrics with a soulful, intimate sound. Originally formed in Plymouth, Broken boat now live, work and play in Hertfordshire, having been signed to a record label on the outskirts of London.
They formed in Plymouth whilst members Daniel Bahrami and Brendan Kearney studied Architecture at University. Sharing a passion for acoustic music they started playing small gigs around the city. Through a love of performing and confidence in their songs they soon found themselves with a few home-recorded demos under their belt and a growing following of listeners.
Daniel Bahrami, vocalist and songwriter, crafts warm, delicate songs pouring his heart into every word. He grew up listening to his parents old folk and soul records, and started singing in the St Albans cathedral choir at a very young age. Whilst at University Dan picked up a guitar and started writing songs about his experiences in a new city, mostly focusing on the strange idea of ‘home’, and so Broken Boat was born.
Brendan Kearney, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist grew up learning classical guitar, and until recently owned nothing other than a nylon string guitar. Whilst at University he learned how to play an array of other stringed instruments and now incorporates these new skills into their live set and recordings. His playfulness with sound and instruments has massively influenced the sound of Broken Boat, adding a subtle complexity to Daniel’s simple but honest songs.
Broken boat have recently been in the studio recording an EP titled ‘Peace and Quiet’ set to be released in September 2012 by Which Wolf Wins records. These songs tell the story of their time in Plymouth. Daniel’s lyrics focus on a mix of emotional themes such as loss, love, belonging and uncertainty but always manage to find an optimistic slant. The music is accordingly a mixture of the deep emotional honesty of early Bright Eyes with an upbeat and playful tone that echoes a young Simon & Garfunkel breaking through. The release marks the end of an exciting chapter for Broken Boat and more importantly, the start of a new one.
Broken Boat have worked hard emotionally and physically to build up a following in the south-west but having landed near London, only plan on moving onwards and upwards. They are currently writing new songs about their experiences in and around Hertfordshire and with music that can make whole audiences stand still and listen, they can’t wait to find their place in the London music scene.