Thursday 30 September 2010

Vote Skibunny For Best Of Myspace

Aah Ooh from Skibunny's debut album Hugs is one of the tracks on this week's edition of the always-good Best Of Myspace podcast. Click here to listen to all of the tracks and download this week's podcast but most importantly please vote for Skibunny as your track of the week to get the band a feature on Myspace itself!

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Cargo Collective October 2010

STA Recommends

Shrag
Life! Death! Prizes!
Where Its At Is Where You Are CD
SHRAG are "bringing analytical attitude to the debased trade of pop and serving it up with bulldozing portions of raw guitar noise" MARVELLOUS

DD/MM/YYYY
Black Square
Invada CD
A hybrid of Devo, Melt Banana, Janes Addition, Fugazi and the math rock genre mixed in a blender. Noise rocks by way of an amalgamation of influences.

Her Name Is Calla
The Quiet Lamb
Denovali CD
"…there can be no denying that Her Name Is Calla are one of the most daring, unconventional bands the UK has to offer right now." (Drowned in Sound)

Shield Your Eyes
Theme from Kindness
Function LP/CD
Like a stack of classic rock and blues tapes slit into pieces and reassembled Via some fragmented rhythmic interplay into something mind-bogglingly fresh and unique.

ASIWYFA Christmas Show Announced, Tickets On Sale

And So I Watch You From Afar may be clocking up the miles across America with Trash Talk but that doesn't mean they've forgotten about all you fans back home; the band have announced today that they'll be hosting a festive blowout at the Hideout in Warrenpoint on Thursday 23rd December - tickets on sale now.

Expect a tinsel-adorned version of their logo to follow in due course.

Tuesday 28 September 2010

LaFaro Soundtrack Cold Water Classic Surf Contest

An excerpt from the O'Neill Cold Water Classic event from Thurso Scotland. Them people at STA were kind enough to let us use LaFaro 'Chopper Is A Fucking Tout' as part of the soundtrack. Here is the result.

Monday 27 September 2010

Out Today: Skibunny's 'Hugs'

If all these retailers are so 'good', how come we're the ones giving you an exclusive bonus disc when you buy Skibunny's album Hugs from us? There's only a few copies of said bonus disc left so get your order in quick.

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Ice, Sea, Dead People Free Show @ Rough Trade East

Skibunny Album Launch ATL Review

BBC Northern Ireland's Across The Line were at last week's Belfast album launch for Skibunny's Hugs album - read the review here. Don't forget to place your pre-order for Hugs this week to get the specially-recorded songs on the bonus disc.

Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea Interviewed For STA Doc

And here's proof. Aaron is approaching the end of the shooting stage of his documentary film about STA so expect sneak peaks of footage to follow over the coming weeks.

Friday 17 September 2010

Graham Smith Photography Exhibition Nov 2nd - 9th

I LIKE THE WAY THIS IS GOING
A Photography Exhibition by Graham Smith

Opening Reception: Tuesday 2nd November, 7.30pm

Exhibition On View: 2nd November - 9th November

Oh Yeah Music Centre
15-21 Gordon Street
Belfast
Northern Ireland

Longtime STA photographer
 Graham Smith presents I Like The Way This Is Going, an exhibition featuring images he has shot over the past decade, consisting of a series of framed prints as well as a huge collage wall of photographs. 

No longer taking on commissions he instead concentrates on a relaxed and personal reportage of his life. Being obsessed by music and now working within the industry means the majority of his photographs are related to the music world, captured from a personal and intimate angle. Simple photographs shot with the absolute minimum of equipment and fuss.

Born in 1980 in Belfast, Graham began photography in 2000. Now
regularly displaying work around the world, in group and solo exhibitions, his images can also be seen permanently hanging in an increasing amount of galleries, bars, venues and coffee shops.

Spring of 2007 saw the release of his first solo book. Limited to 550 signed and numbered copies it sold out within 4 weeks. Plans are currently underway for several more book releases.

In January 2010 Graham won the coveted Lex Van Rossen award for European Music Photography at an awards ceremony in Holland, which resulted in an exhibition of his work traveling around Europe, most recently in Berlin in September 2010.

Launch Night:

Tuesday 2nd November 2010
7.30pm
Refreshments Served
Live Music from Oliver Cole
DJ by Chris Wee (And So I Watch You From Afar)


Oliver Cole will perform at the launch evening. After several years playing with the highly influential band Turn, Oliver took some time out, coming back in 2010 with the release of his debut solo album We Albatri. A much-respected figure amongst musicians, having played with the likes of Wilco and Ray LaMontagne, this gig will mark his long awaited return to Northern Ireland.

DJ on the night will be Chris Wee from And So I Watch You From Afar.

Monday 13 September 2010

4 Or 5 Magicians & Ace Bushy Striptease: Tour, Free MP3s

It's been a bit of a rollercoaster, featuring a little turbulence, and the usual slow drip of tedious email exchanges, but we have finally fully confirmed a Craig David style tour of seven dayyys with Ace Bushy Striptease in October. Here are the dates in full:

Thurs 14th : LONDON Big Chill House, Kings Cross (FREE ENTRY)
Fri 15th : BRIGHTON The Hobgoblin
Sat 16th : BOURNEMOUTH The Green Room @ The Portman Hotel
Sun 17th : BRISTOL Mother's Ruin
Mon 18th : BIRMINGHAM The Victoria
Tues 19th : MANCHESTER Tiger Lounge
Weds 20th : NOTTINGHAM Spanky Van Dykes

And click here to download an mp3 from each band - Oh Darwin from the 4 or 5 Magicians album and Bon Nuit, J'ai Changé Mon Esprit by ABS.

Quite excited about making our first trip to both Manchester and Nottingham, and a long awaited return to old haunts in the three Bs of Birmingham, Bristol and Bournemouth. Oh and Brighton and London too, of course.

Rob, who was gonna be playing the drums on tour, has had to withdraw due to an unexpected promotion at work, but instead it now looks highly likely that we'll be doing the tour with a special guest borrowed from a supercool band occupying the drum stool. More info on this in due course!

On tour we will be showcasing new material which will feature on the next album, hopefully out next spring. Just demoed two of them yesterday (with a lovely chap called Rob at a place called Ford Lane Studios in West Sussex) and even the dodgy rough mixes sound ace! The plan is to record the album in November and December, so this may well be the last time you get to see 4 or 5 Magicians until 2011!

I realise this has been a slow year for the band for various reasons, but by the time the year is out I'll almost certainly have an album recorded and be really focused heading into the new year. I have high hopes for the new stuff, come see us play some of it on tour!

Dan

x

LaFaro To Support Therapy? & Pulled Apart By Horses

LaFaro have been invited to support NI legends Therapy? and new shredders on the block Pulled Apart By Horses in Ireland this autumn. Dates and links below.

They said yes obviously.

Therapy? w/ LaFaro
October 2010
Sat 23rd Cork Cyprus Avenue
Sun 24th Cork Cyprus Avenue

Pulled Apart by Horse
w/ LaFaro
November 2010
Sat 13 Galway Roisin Dubh
Sun 14 Belfast Auntie Annie's

2nd Skibunny Album Launch Announced

We’re really looking forward to the Belfast album launch party on Wednesday, and now here’s details for the EDINBURGH party:

SKIBUNNY “HUGS” ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY
at THIS IS MUSIC
featuring
SKIBUNNY (live!)
DJS BARGAIN HAROLD & I-TALLAH DISCO
at
SNEAKY PETE’S, 73 COWGATE, EDINBURGH
FRIDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER
DOORS 11PM(Curfew 3AM)
ADMISSION IS £3 OR FREE TO SNEAKY PETE’S MEMBERS!
Established in 2006, This Is Music runs every Friday, with the best live bands and DJs from Scotland & beyond. Previous wins include Japandroids, Frightened Rabbit, Lovvers, Broken Records, Copy Haho & more.

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Cargo Collective September 2010


Recommends:

The Pipettes
Earth VS. The Pipettes
Fortuna POP! LP / CD
Utterly infectious full-on pop perfection from another galaxy, mixing Seventies disco Studio 54 sounds with the motorik Euro pop of the Eighties.

Calories
Basic Nature
Tough Love LP+CD / CD
Calories 2nd album combines strong melodic hooks with frenetic noise, recalling such underground titans as Hot Snakes, Cap ‘N’ Jazz & No Age.

Belfast Music Week Highlights


Belfast is one of the great musical cities and it has given birth to many artists who are now internationally admired. From 12 – 19 September Belfast will play host to over 100 live music events showcasing our new bands, songwriters and DJ’s. The line-up will feature key artists from our rich musical heritage to our thriving contemporary music scene. Music Week will also feature industry workshops, seminars, networking events staged across the city featuring leading speakers of international stature from the global music industry.

This is an art form that is defining the new mood of Belfast and our latest generation of musicians are playing a crucial role in revitalising the city. Belfast Music Week will culminate with an MTV presents Mark Ronson & the Business Intl, live from the Belfast Waterfront. Internationally renowned as one of the world's finest DJs and producers, Belfast will partner with the world’s largest television network for the release of his new album Record Collection.

Our immersion in music is total and our festivals rock. Therefore we have every confidence is inviting all music lovers to check us out, in person, at Belfast Music Week.

Check out some of the highlights from the week:

SUNDAY 12 SEPT

STREET STOMP City Centre at 3pm
The 1930's, Farriers, Ethan Ash, Thom Southern, Emerald Armada and more...
Tuneage from some of the city's most talented musicians, live, raw, acoustic and free

COMMUNION BELFAST Black Box at 8pm
Lowly Knights - Ep Launch
Matthew & The Atlas
Marcus Foster + Pete Roe

MONDAY 13 SEPT

Terri Hooley Walking Tour
Leaving from Good Vibrations, White Tavern Street 6.30pm tickets £4 from Good Vibrations

White Mountain Music Publishing Presents
Mojo Fury Unplugged
with special guests
Allie Bradley & Naoimh O’Hagan
No Alibis Bookstore Belfast 7-9pm £5

Third Bar Belfast Presents...
Cashier No.9
Elspeth
Connor Kelly
The launch of Belfast's new artist development, management and consultancy business: Third Bar Belfast.
The Menagerie at 9pm £5

TUESDAY 14 SEPT

The Real Music Club presents
Ben Sands Album Launch
Errigle Inn 8pm £8

Gigging Northern Ireland Showcase
Seven Summits
Colly Strings
The Veronas
Rachel Austin
Auntie Annies 9pm £5

LaFaro
Documenta Drone Pop
War Hole
The Menagerie 9pm £5


WEDNESDAY 15 SEPT

The Real Music Club Presents
Songwriters in the Round with a House Band
Featuring Ben Glover, Anthony Toner, Eroll Walsh, Clive Culbertson
and some of the best players on the music scene
Black Box 7.30pm £12

Skibunny 'Hugs' Album launch party
Skibunny + very special guests
The Barge (Between The Waterfront Hall and the Queen's Bridge), 10pm, free


Di Di Mau record label Showcase:
A Plastic Rose
The Good Fight
Dutch Schultz
Robyn G Shiels
The Menagerie 9pm £4

THURSDAY 16 SEPT

Album Launch ‘Oh Yeah - Contenders’
A compilation of new music from Northern Ireland-
A Plastic Rose
The Wonder Villains
Farriers
More Than Conquerors
Oh Yeah Music Centre 8pm £5


Love Buzz Presents:
Kasper Rosa
Colenso Parade
Love Buzz DeeJays
The Menagerie 9pm £5

Sketchy
Stiff Kitten 10pm £4

FRIDAY 17 SEPT

Hennessy, McGoldrick & McSherry
Three of Irish traditional music’s most famous sons
An Droichead 7.30pm £10

Ulster Orchestra:
Mussorgsky, Rachmaninov, Wagner, Beethoven
Waterfront Hall 7.45pm £8 - £23

The Undertones, DJ Terri Hooley, plus special guests.
The third annual ‘Oh Yeah Legends’ award, recognising major contributions to the NI music scene.
Oh Yeah Music Centre 8pm £10

Boxcutter
Space Dimension Controller
Midland
The Menagerie 9pm £5

SATURDAY 18 SEPT

Belfast Music Coach Tour
Departs Ulster Hall at 2pm

Belfast Urban Sports in association with T13 present The Milestone Session
Bands and DJs from 1 – 6pm
Dutch Schultz
Delirium Tremens
Noise Control
A Plastic Rose
Titanic Quarter Belfast £Free

Volume Control 1st Birthday
Colly Strings
The 1930’s
Paul Shevlin
Matrimony
Settle For Jess
Panama Kings
Oh Yeah Music Centre 3-7pm £5 All ages

CDC presents
Brendan Benson
Special Guests The Lost Brothers
Auntie Annie’s 8pm £14

Belfast Calling... showcase of the best music from Northern Ireland
Cashier No. 9
Ed Zealous
The Jane Bradfords
John D’Arcy
Followed by club Helter Skelter DJs
Spring & Airbreak 7pm £Free showcase - Ticket Only event. Tickets to be obtained through mailing info@cdcleisure.com stating 'Belfast Calling'. 2 tickets per mail will be allocated.

STIFF Presents:
Pendulum (DJ Set)
& Master X
+ Support
Stiff Kitten 10pm – 3am £10 - £12

SUNDAY 19TH SEPT

Songwriter Songs Of Praise Brunch
Katy Daly’s
1-3pm free

MTV Presents
Mark Ronson and the Business Intl
Guests to be announced



View the full listings for Belfast Music Week 12 - 19 September 2010.

Friday 3 September 2010

Go Belfast Mag Skibunny Feature

September 2010 Newsletter

[0] MPFree: Skibunny - Baby, Get Into It

This month's free track is super-catchy pop gem lifted from Skibunny's debut album 'Hugs' - 'Baby, Get Into It' - play loud to invoke an Indian Summer!

Click here to download the track and scroll down to read more about Hugs and the launch show.

[1] Skibunny Debut Album Out Sept 27th 2010



We are proud to announce the release of the long-awaited, melodic masterpiece of a debut album 'Hugs' from electro-guitar-pop favourites Skibunny.

Skibunny is Tanya (vocals, guitar, keys) and Mark (vocals, bass, guitar, keys). Admired far and wide by the media and fellow musicians alike. Heralded as "Belfast's No.1 remixers, promoters and commotion causers" by NME, "a mighty fine band with feisty tunes" by Huw Stephens and "top drawer crunchy electro-rock with big choruses which shout in your ear about a party going on in a house six streets away" by The Irish Times. Skibunny have earned a well-deserved reputation around the world for their DJing and remixery and now present their full-length as a band.

With one eye on tunes and the other on the dance floor, 'Hugs' is 40 minutes of bittersweet electronic guitar-pop beating with an uplifting heart, sitting somewhere between New Order, Goldfrapp and The Cure, ranging from the washed-out bliss of 'Aah Ooh' to the crunching stomp of recent EP lead track 'Walk, Don't Walk', and including a re-imagining of the Afghan Whigs track 'Milez iz Ded'. The album's central theme is about wanting more than your lot, about taking risks in life and love, and if it doesn't work out? You pick yourself up, dust yourself down and do it all over again, but this time a little bit better. 'Hugs' also features guest vocals by Maps and Kaori Tsuchida from The Go! Team.

To celebrate the release, the band will be hosting a free-entry launch gig on a barge somewhere between The Waterfront Hall and the Queen's Bridge in Belfast on Wednesday 15th September. This will be a night like no other with a confirmed DJ set from Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite and a solo set from Belfast's most crucial newcomer Rams Pocket Radio. As if this wasn't enough (!!) there will be a Coney Island Sound DJ Set and the 15 Second Film Festival will set the tone of the night beautifully with live visuals throughout.

To guarantee entry to what will be a memorable night please e-mail info@smalltownamerica.co.uk
Places are limited. It is, after all, a barge.

'Hugs' itself will be available to buy from all the usual outlets from Monday 27th September and as always comes with a limited edition CD (containing specially-recorded material) when pre-ordered from the STA Store. Bag yours today by clicking here

The band will be touring 'Hugs' throughout the Autumn including a slot at the legendary Bestival.

4 September 2010 - Brownstock Festival, Chelmsford
11 September 2010- Bestival, Isle of Wight
15 September 2010 - The Barge, Belfast (Free Entry Album Launch)
17 September 2010 - The Bullet Bar, Kentish Town, London
18 September 2010 - Southsea Festival, Portsmouth
23 September 2010 - Carpe Diem, Leeds
24 September 2010 - Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh (Album Launch)


[2] Fighting With Wire - Irish Mini-Tour



Fighting With Wire will be breaking in tracks from
Next year's 2nd album and offering Irish gig goers a tour-exclusive EP of more new material (details to follow later in September). Tickets on sale now.

24 September 2010 - Spirit Store, Dundalk
25 September 2010 - The Square Peg, Warrenpoint
27 September 2010 - Roisin Dubh, Galway
28 September 2010 - Bakers Place, Limerick
29 September 2010 - The Pavillion, Cork
30 September 2010 - The Workmen's Club, Dublin


[3] And So I Check Your Visas From Afar



Summer festival champions And So I Watch You From Afar make their final open air appearance of the summer at Ireland's Electric Picnic before embarking on their mammoth US tour with Trash Talk

3 September 2010 - Electric Picnic, Co. Laois
25 September 2010 - The Ottobar, Baltimore MD
26 September 2010 - First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA
28 September 2010 - Harpers Ferry, Allston MA
29 September 2010 - Jerkys, Providence RI
30 September 2010 - Santos Party House, New York NY

Pukkelpop 2010 was a rip roaring success for team ASIWYFA - check out their 'Road to Pukkelpop' antics by clicking here


[4] Roster Round-Up



LaFaro
Took a break from writing/rehearsing the contenders for album number two to perform at Reading/Leeds festival over the weekend! A massive thanks to all who took the time to check them out, the response was huge - they premiered on the BBC Red Button and everything. To catch a snippet of what you missed click here

Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea
Will perform as special guests to Sky Larkin when they visit Brighton as they tour their fantastic 2nd album

10 September 2010 - Audio, Brighton w/ Sky Larkin

4 or 5 Magicians
Ahead of their October tour with Ace Bushy Striptease, 4 or 5 Magicians have two shows at the end of the month

23 September 2010 - The Rest is Noise, Brixton w/Jumping Ships
27 September 2010 - Jam, Brighton w/Still Flyin'

Illness
Illness are busy at work creating artwork for their recently-recorded debut album and gearing up for October's new EP and tour - if you want to book them for a gig in your town get in touch via the band myspace.

That's all for this month. Thanks for reading.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

What Gets Played On A Belgian Radio Rock Show?

LaFaro, amongst other things...

RFTB (Belgian National Radio, French language)
THE ROCKSHOW, Mercredi 18 aout 2O1O


GOJIRA, Oroborus, alb « The Way of All Flesh » (Listenable) Pukkelpop 2O1O
IRON MAIDEN, El Dorado, alb “The Final Frontier” (Emi) NEW! Pukkelpop 2O1O
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, You’re so vague, alb “Rated R” (bonus track) – 2OOO (Interscope) Pukkelpop 2O1O
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, At my door, ep “Screaming Gun” – 2OO1 (Abstract Dragon) Pukkelpop 2O1O
BD – Salsedo/Jouvray/Salsedo, Nous ne serons jamais des héros (Le Lombard)
FEEDER, White lines, alb “Renegades” (Big Teeth) NEW!
LAFARO, Girl is a drummer, alb s/t (Smalltown America) NEW!
THE BLACK CROWES, Jealous again, alb “Croweology” (Silver Arrow) NEW!
ACID TIGER, Feel it, ep 7t (Deathwish) NEW!
SPEED CARAVAN, Killing an arab (The Cure cover), alb “Kalashnik Love” (Real World) NEW!
HELLSONGS, School’s out (Alice Cooper cover), alb “Minor Misdemeanors” (Tapete) NEW!
JOY AS A TOY, Deep in your ass, alb “Valparaiso” (Cheap Satanism), concert Bxl Magasin4 (+ Part Chimp) 17/9
PNEU, A coup de couteau denté, alb “Pince Monseigneur” (head-records) concert Andenne “Yayaya Zoulk Fistival” 21/8
KLONE, Spiral down, alb « Black Days » (Season of Mist) NEW !
ENVY, Dreams Coming To An End, alb "Recitation", (Temporary Residence Limited) avant-première 12 octobre
COMMODORE, Sunken Garden Of The Hesperides, ep "Sunken Garden",(autoprod) NEW!
ROTOR, Drehmoment, alb "4", (Elektrohasch), NEW!
SARDONIS, It Walks The Mountain, alb "Sardonis", (Meteorcity), 2010
GAZA, East, ep "East", (Exigent Records), 2004
EXUVIATED, Unquenchable Thirst, ep "An Era's Condemned", (autoprod)
CHILD ABUSE, Financial Burdon, alb "Cut And Run", (Lovepump United),
MONGOLITO, Damascus, alb "Acedia", (autoprod) NEW!