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.