Zane Lowe Radio Masterclass: How To End A Radio Show

Listen again to last night's show

1. Chapter 1

   Jared Leto's 62 Second Interview

   (05.52) Permalink

   Hear Zane's quickie catch up with the 30 Seconds To Mars frontman ahead of T In The Park.

2. Chapter 2

   Kings of Leon Live from T In The Park 09

   (06.04) Permalink

   Listen to 'Sex On Fire' and 'Molly's Chamber' from their Headline set last year.

3. Mark Ronson & The Business International — Bang Bang Bang

   Columbia

4. Pendulum — Witchcraft

   Warner Bros

5. Jared Leto On The Phone

   1. 30 Seconds to Mars — Closer To The Edge

      Virgin

6. Kings of Leon — Sex On Fire

   Live At T In The Park 2009

7. Kings of Leon — Molly Chambers

   Live At T In The Park 2009

8. The Drums — Let’s Go Surfing

   Moshi Moshi

9. Plan B — Prayin (Breakage Remix)

   Atlantic

10. Hottest Record In The World

    1. DJ Shadow — Def Surrounds Us

       Island

11. Vampire Weekend — White Sky

    XL

12. Skream — How Real (Feat Freckles)

    Tempa

13. AOTW – Bombay Bicycle Club – Flaws

    1. Bombay Bicycle Club — Evening/Morning

       Island

    2. Bombay Bicycle Club — There Are Many Ways

       Island

14. blink-182 — What’s My Age Again

    MCA

15. The Count & Sinden — After Dark (feat Mystery Jets)

    Domino

16. M.I.A. — XXXO (feat Jay Z)

    XL

17. Single Of The Week

    1. Chase & Status — Let You Go (feat Mali)

       Mercury

18. Tokyo Police Club — Wait Up

    Memphis Industries

19. Toddla T — Sky Surfin

    Ninja Tune

20. Reaction Record

    1. Mona — Listen To Your Love

       Zion Noiz Recordings

21. LCD Soundsystem — I Can Change

    DFA

22. Frank Turner — Try This At Home

    Xtra Mile Recordings

23. Mics Down

    1. The Middle East — Darkest Side

       Chess Club

    2. Biffy Clyro — God & Satan

       14th Floor

    3. The Suzukis — Reasons For Leaving

       Deltasonic

24. Sway — Pop A Bottle (feat Donaeo)

    DCypha

25. Black Keys On The Phone

    1. The Black Keys — Everlasting Light

       V2

26. Beach House — Lover Of Mine

    Bella Union

27. Lafaro — Lenningrad

4 Or 5 Magicians On 100,000 Plays

So we have reached the fabled Myspace milestone of 100,000 plays. It has been nearly five years since I added some demos to the page I created over five years ago. At the time I had just turned 21, and had been badgered to write some songs by friends for ages until I finally bit the bullet and did some. I borrowed my friend Jon's 8-track recorder, worked out how to use 4 of the tracks, and recorded some rough ideas. I think I put up a dodgy version of 'Your Fictitious Character' (then called 'Your Ficticious Character', in a rare example of my exemplary spelling letting me down) and perhaps a live demo of some weird song that sounded a little bit Scottish (think I was listening to a lot of Mogwai and Idlewild around then) called 'Bulbs'. In fact if anyone by some chance has this, then I have most definitely lost it so, for posterity more than anything (I remember the song being a little sentimental and out of character, and the recording being beyond lo-fi, i.e. a bit shite), then send it over!

So I'm sitting here now at the age of 26 and my life is radically different, but actually pretty much the same. It's funny how this can happen to people and how often it does. A lot has been acheived in these five years, both musically and otherwise, but then nothing really has. I guess this is reading like I'm gonna say the band are splitting up, and this is something I had considered - moving on to do an entirely fresh new project - but then how can I split up with myself? 4 or 5 Magicians is, always has been, and probably always will be, me (plus an array of excellent and largely loyal musicians along the way). A change of name isn't going to change anything. For the band to split up I'd probably have to kill myself. And I'm not doing that just yet!

No, instead of sitting here thinking "what have I really acheived in these five years", I think back to when I was a teenager, or even when I was 21 demoing those songs, and if you'd have told me then that I would have received 100,000 plays on myspace, been hailed by the NME as one of the best songwriters in the country, released an album through Jetplane Landing's label and received 9/10 reviews for it from national press, been interviewed by Steve Lamacq live on the radio (good news about 6music, eh?), headlined the Barfly in London, played in about 50 different towns and cities around the country, and most importantly, played with Seafood, I would have been terribly excited. And at every juncture of the above, I have been. But then I have always hoped for and wanted more.

And the good news is, I still think I can achieve it under the banner of 4 or 5 Magicians, and I am currently more excited about the songs I have coming up than I have ever been before, even more so than when I finally discovered that I could write songs after all back when I was 21. So 4 or 5 Magicians is here to stay, and there will be fresh developments before too long. Me and Aslam have been demoing stuff in his room, and while it is a slow process (some of the new songs are definitely a little more complicated than the stuff on the first album!), we are getting there, and when we do finally get there, this stuff is gonna be gooood!

In the immediate future, we have a London show at The Macbeth in Hoxton on Friday, but I am sorry to announce to anyone that was expecting this to be our big comeback show, that unfortunately, for reasons that will become clear over the next couple of months, this is not going to happen just yet. I'll keep schtum for the moment, but WE ARE PLAYING, as an acoustic duo, me and Aslam. Will be showcasing a couple of new songs! I have played a few acoustic shows over the past couple of years, and they have been good fun and well received by the crowd. So please still come down. It is a Friday night, there is no football on, it is only £3, and I think there is even a free BBQ! Please note that I think we are now on first, so get down early!

Beyond this, we are going to spend the majority of the summer making sure we have the new songs spot on, and recording them at various levels of demoing, and hopefully make our proper live comeback in late August / early September. We are currently planning for a tour in early to mid October to roadtest all the new stuff, hopefully with our friends Ace Bushy Striptease in tow. So that is something to look forward to! Then, we hope (nay, expect) to be in a position where we can record album #2 in late October, and get it out to the world by Feburary/March next year and really make a go of it in 2011.

Thanks to every single one of you people who have made up our 100,024 plays on myspace so far. Here's to the next 100,024, hopefully a little bit quicker than the last ;-D !!

Dan xx

Illness Are A New Band A Day Today

Illness get the A New Band A Day treatment.

I was in Ljubljana last year. It’s the capitol city of the bijou country Slovenia; a nation so small that it has one motorway, which is mainly used by Germans in large silver cars to whoosh through as they head to the Croatian coast.

Ljubljana is equally pint-size. It’s roughly the same size as Crewe, but with all of the charm, beauty and culture conspicuous by its absence in Crewe. Towns that are best known as being a railway junction rarely have much else to offer.

Ljubljanans are particularly proud of their Three Bridges – which, cheerfully enough, are three quaint, tiny bridges, standing side by side across the quaintest part of the smallest river ever to flow through a capitol city.

All these memories came trickling back, treacle-like, as I was listening to – hey! – Three Bridges by Illness. The reasoning seems obvious enough, but wait – there’s more…

It wasn’t just the title of the song that forced the connection. This kind of abrasive music straddles a divide – a little like those bridges – between the sort of soothing white noise used by psychoanalysts to draw out repressed memories, and the simple, straightforward tunefulness used to get the people dancing by bands since time immemorial.

There’s a special purity to Illness. Meat, gristle and fat is stripped away, and the bare bones of rock are there for all to noisily gnaw on. One of my most over- and mis-used new band clichés is the mentioning of ‘clattering’ drums, but here, finally, my mismatched hyperbole has found its natural home.

Illness’ drums clatter in the most satisfyingly tactile manner since Steve Albini last hooked up his microphones to Dave Grohl’s kit. There, I said it. And as a devotee of clattering, it seems reasonable to continue and say that Illness’ drumming, guitar playing and general demeanour are as wildly Animal-from-Muppets-like.

A band to fully blow out the cobwebs. Yum.

Cargo Collective July 2010

STA Recommends:
Kasper Rosa
EP 2
Field CD
EP2 - is an intricate and epic journey that combines the best of post-rock, prog and rock, which leaves you with something undeniably addictive and beautiful.

Cats and Cats and Cats
If I'd Had an Atlas
Function CD
Brilliant debut album of uplifting, anthemic, folk pop picking up where early EP’s Sweet Drunk Everyone & Victorialand left off. The musical culmination of everything good you can say about Mew & Arcade Fire.

STA At FFWD Mentoring Event This Week - Derry 7th July

Come along and meet some of the industry professionals that make up the FFWD mentoring team. Why not bring along your demos and recordings and ask the mentors for some feedback on your work?

FFWD Mentors at this event are:

• Andrew Ferris – MD of the Smalltown America Record Label
• Rory Donaghy – Blast Furnace Studios
• Ross Graham – FFWD Programme mentor

To request a place at this event please register via email.

The event will take place in the Nerve Centre in Derry on July 7th between 2pm and 4pm.

STA Special on Germany's Freiton.tv Radio

The lovely Damen und Herren at Germany's Freiton TV recently cast their spotlight on STA as part of the regular radio series profiling indie activity from around the world - have a listen to the STA special which includes songs by pretty much the whole roster here. And if any German-speakers could let us know what the presenter is saying please let us know!

In our 60 minutes show we present a combined live show and interview appearance of handpicked international indie bands. Furthermore, you’ll get shedloads of brand new videoclips and the latest information on CD-/DVD-releases from indie and alternative over punk rock, emo, hardcore, postrock, garage, singer/songwriter to electronica.

Fighting With Wire TV. Album 2 Studio Diary. Part 2.1

FWW recording at Blackbird, Nashville. Featuring drum porn & new song The Dirty Shark

GIFTS FROM GOD EP - IN STOCK!

50 copies in a beautifully decorated, ex-industrial ice cream tub, ready to take on the road...

Newsflash: ASIWYFA To Support Them Crooked Vultures, London, Monday

The good news is that ASIWYFA will be playing with Them Crooked Vultures at Brixton Academy this Monday night, July 5th. Unfortunately the gig is sold out (quel surprise) but if any of you already have tickets be sure to send STA your photos of the night.

And So I Watch You From Afar Headline KnockanStockan 2010

In A Life Of Dream Thumbs Up for Alan MX

Alan MX successfully enters the realm of skittish electronica with his experimental use of electro beats and pop vocals, combining Thom Yorke's melodic sensibilities with some thumping Peaches-style breaks.

On his debut album 'Warpsichord', the aptly-named title track samples jittering strings, beats and lyrics that play on the subtle nuances of love and relationships in the 21st century, whilst 'The Captain America Video' delivers light-hearted pop with an almost pounding disco beat. The rest of the album continues to combine elements of electronica, dance and pop; remaining unique, lively yet dark.

For those of you who are partial to a bit of Bjork, PJ Harvey or Beck - and I don't know many who aren't - Alan MX's debut is out now on Small Town America, and you can catch some of this on his MySpace too.

In A Life Of Dream

New LaFaro Single OUT NOW

LaFaro's new digital single The Ballad Of Burnt Dave with an exclusive B side is out now from all the usual online outlets. The band have also released their very own app (!) for iPhone users to stay on top of the latest movements and gig bookings.

Rock Sound Highlights - LaFaro Live Review and Guilfest Preview

The new issue of Rock Sound has hit newsagents and among the goodness therein is a LaFaro live review and a preview of the RS curated stage at Guilfest featuring both LaFaro and ASIWYFA...

Illness July Tour Poster

Zane Lowe Play For LaFaro

Zane Lowe spins Leningrad by LaFaro on tonight's show - listen again here, 52 minutes in.

LaFaro Playlist Numero Cuatro

Dave LaFaro's been at the Spotify again...

LaFaro Playlist Numero Cuatro Tracklisting:
Alice In Chains – Them Bones
Nirvana – Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
Stone Temple Pilots – Sex Type Thing
Soundgarden – Room A Thousand Years Wide
The Wildhearts – Suckerpunch
Foo Fighters – Weenie Beenie
Jawbox – Savory
At The Drive-In – One Armed Scissor
Senseless Things – Christine Keeler - Single Version
Sparklehorse – Happy Man (Memphis Version)

LaFaro Launch Show Live Footage from Bandwidth

Missed out on the Apr 28th LaFaro album launch show at the Menagerie? Watch Will McConnell's superb video footage at the always excellent Bandwidth Sessions site.

And So I Watch You From Afar Feature In Fuck You Brussels Magazine

ASIWYFA's recent visit to Brussels caught the attention of the influential arts/party blog Brussels Is Burning who have included an interview with Rory from the band in the first issue of their Fuck You Brussels magazine. Check page 25 of the digital edition.

ASIWYFA live from Amsterdam!

And So I Watch You From Afar crashed back to earth last week after a whirlwind 3 date spectacular across Europe with rock titans - Them Crooked Vultures.

Three shows sure to live long in their memories and here's why >>>

Click the links below to check out the tracks showcased to a 6000 strong crowd in the Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam!

Set Guitars To Kill

S Is For Salamander

If It Aint Broke, Break It

D Is For Django The Bastard

Eat The City, Eat It Whole

Skibunny EP Tour Diary Part 1

Friday 11^th June – Skibunny arrive in INVERNESS, bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready for action. We already have fond memories of Highland good times, having previously DJ’d at Rockness and Belladrum festivals over the years. But this time it’s different, cause this time we’re playing LIVE! So first up it’s a showcase at Madhatters, part of the Go North event. We have time to catch Woodhands, a duo from Toronto whose equipment has been blown up with a dodgy converter and we are unfortunately deprived of all the synths and keytars they’ve brought along. We get the general idea however, and very much enjoy their synth/drum party vibe. Soon it’s 12.30am and time to play. The audience are in good spirits to say the least, and the show is super fun, and so we reward ourselves with a pint or two at the hotel bar with some old friends. My back is to the elevator, and therefore I do not see the doors open to reveal the sleepwalking naked man, who is… well… pleasuring himself! I am assured it was not a pretty sight. This story is told and retold throughout the weekend and has now become the stuff of legend.

Andy & Jon

Sat 12^th June – ROCKNESS! After a stomach lining brunch we head out to Rockness and make our way over to the Go North stage. Once again we are reminded what a beautiful location this is for a festival. I stand and watch the Loch for some time to see if I can catch a glimpse of the monster, perhaps all this loud music has scared it off… Later I’m introduced to Toki from the band Mothercoat from Tokyo, Japan, and I try to remember my Japanese lessons (pretty rusty I’m ashamed to say). We manage to catch a few bands on the Go North stage, including Miaoux Miaoux from Glasgow, (he’s playing with us in Edinburgh too) and then we’re on. Again the crowd are up for the craic and lots of friends have come along to lend their support, thanks guys! After the show and a quick podcast interview, Andy (drums) and Jon (bass) head off to meet friends while I make it back to Inverness to catch Mothercoat at Madhatters. The place is packed and they are totally brilliant. Glow sticks are flying around the place and the band and audience are jumping in unison. A fantastic way to end the night.

Mothercoat

Sun 13^th June – Back to Rockness for some more interviews, and then it’s time for Blondie. Everyone is super excited and it’s great to hear the hits. Then it’s time to go, and we start our 2-part journey to London, where we arrive on Mon 14^th June Chez Liana in time for a couple of pints at the local and a good nights sleep.

Blondie

Tues 15^th June – LONDON! Tonight’s show is at the Monarch in Camden. At this stage we are joined by soundman and good friend Finian. He works with Rolo Tomassi, Gallows and just last weekend was mixing Shy Child in Portugal! The gig goes really well, with a great deal of dancing going on down the front, so we are all very happy indeed.

Fin & Tanya

Wed 16^th June – NOTTINGHAM! Last time we played Nottingham was on the Har Mar Superstar tour, such a great night, so we are excited to come back. Plus it’s Wednesday, or “Big Wednesday” which means ditching the car early and getting the jeagerbombs in. Spanky Van Dykes is a pretty new venue, with awesome TOTP style lights behind the stage, we love it. The show is a little quiet (don’t they KNOW it’s Big Wednesday??!!) but those in attendance are won over, they buy merchandise and we give them free badges. Then promoter Jeremy takes us all to the Bodega Social Club, where Big Wednesday is happening big style! We just miss Fin’s pals Pulled Apart By Horses, but we do get to meet James from Rolo Tomassi who seems like a top bloke indeed. Many Jaegerbombs later, it’s time for me to call it a night, leaving the boys to continue the Big Wednesday fun, and the next day I hear stories of parties in student Halls of Residence.

Spanky Van Dykes

Thurs 17^th June – We awake to news that our show in BRISTOL was double booked, and therefore we are forced to cancel the trip. Major bummer… We settle instead for a couple of nights at home and the chance to do a bit of laundry and eat some fruit. Bristol, we’ll reschedule as soon as is possible!

Sat 19^th June – LEEDS! The one way system in Leeds is very frustrating indeed, and with a Sat-Nav that has no signal and an iPhone map app that just tells lies, it takes us some time to find the venue. But we do eventually, and arrive at Carpe Diem ready to rock. We’re know we’re in the right place when we see the bartender is wearing a Lafaro tshirt (up the STA hoods!) The kitchen has closed though, so we wander off to find food, and decide to treat ourselves to amazing burgers at Nation of Shopkeepers, which looks like a pretty sweet venue too. Back to Carpe Diem and while we get set up, the DJ is playing our remix of Forward Russia’s “Thirteen”. Yay! By the end of our set we have definitely won over some new fans and we look forward to coming back to Leeds again soon.

table 5

So that’s half time I guess. Part 2 follows soon!

Thurs 24th June - BATHGATE, Harleys - FREE

Fri 25th June - GLASGOW, Capitol, £5 on the door
Sat 26th June - EDINBURGH, Electric Circus

Sun 27th June - FIFE, The Greenside, Leslie
- FREE

Fri 2nd July - ABERDEEN, Polar Bear Club @ Tunnels - £3/2

Footage: ASIWYFA Supporting Them Crooked Vultures In Amsterdam

Rory ASIWYFA Talks Sonisphere

Here's Rory from And So I Watch You From Afar in preparation for the band's Sunday slot at the Bohemia stage of Sonisphere 2010
For more check out the official Sonisphere Festival guide free with the new issue of Rock Sound.

LaFaro Instore Set @ HMV Belfast

Thanks to Carrie Davenport for photos of LaFaro's lunchtime instore performance at HMV Belfast (Donegall Arcade) earlier today as part of the build-up for Glasgowbury 2010.

LaFaro Playlist Numero Tres

This time Dave LaFaro has a go.

LaFaro Playlist Numero Tres Tracklisting:
Rocket From The Crypt – Middle
Adebisi Shank – Snakehips
These Arms Are Snakes – Child Chicken Play
Helmet – Unsung
Pixies – Planet Of Sound
Beastie Boys – So What'Cha Want
The Jesus Lizard – Thumbscrews
The Ghost Of A Thousand – Split The Atom
Barkmarket – How Are You ?
Breach – Valid

LaFaro Playlist Numero Dos

C'mon and get this heavy metal goodness in your ears!

LaFaro Playlist Numero Dos Tracklisting:
Kylesa – Scapegoat
Converge – Wishing Well
Trashtalk – Eyes & Nines
Machine Head – Battery
Slayer – War Ensemble
Anthrax – Madhouse
Testament – The Persecuted Won't Forget
Mastodon – Colony Of Birchmen
Meshuggah – Bleed
Sepultura – Against
Entombed – Wreckage
Ministry – Jesus Built My Hotrod
Prong – Another Wordly Device
Slipknot – Psychosocial

From Illness - Save the Freebutt!!!!

Howdy STA blog readers, Spencer from Illness here, just wanted to take a moment of your time to inform you of a live music crisis going on in Brighton at the mo. Over the last year or two a few great music venues like Pressure Point and The Barfly have closed in our hometown, and we've just found out that another, The Engine Rooms, is closed and the seemingly-invulnerable Freebutt is under threat of closure due to noise complaints (well, one noise complaint).

The Freebutt is an awesome venue and Illness played some of their first ever gigs there, thanks to the almighty Andy Rossiter, music promoter and venue manager extraordinaire. Andy took over the venue along with some other Brighton musical institutions like Alex from OIB Records, and they have done a really good job of putting on luscious new and established music pretty much every single night.

So, no matter where you live, if you want to, could you show some solidarity with our music scene could you head over to the Save The Freebutt campaign site for more info, and sign the petition to save the Freebutt

THANKS!

Spencer from Illness

Cahir FWW Guests On Party Fodder Podcast

Hey Everyone

The June edition of the Party Fodder podcast is now available or if you are an I-tunes spaz then you are more than encouraged to subscribe to it!

This month the Party Fodder Podcast takes a dive into the library of cuss and irreverence with an hilarious interview with Fighting With Wire's Cahir O'Doherty. We also stop by The Stiff Kitten to thread the language barrier with Iceland's finest FM Belfast, as well as brand new tracks from John Shelly and The Creatures, Robyn G Shiels, Clown Parlour and David Holmes. Wrap your ears round this lot then go in peace to love and serve your scene!

Tracklisting
Clown Parlour - Stanley Kubrik
Key Of Atlas - Pure Black Spectrum
The Verona's - Head Rush
***Cahir O'Doherty Interview***
Fighting With Wire - All or Nothing
John Shelly and The Creatures - Killer
Robyn G Sheils - When we were Brothers
***FM Belfast Interview***
FM Belfast - Alaska in Winter
Paul Shevlin - You Wont Last the Night
Cutaways - Lover's are Lunatics
David Holmes - Living Room (Kevin Sheilds Remix)

Thanks

Phily

Smalltown America Podcast June 2010 - Illness

Emilio & Spencer Illness play some of their favourite tracks and talk about their forthcoming tour with Shield Your Eyes and their 'Gifts From God EP' out on July 5th.

Tracklisting:

Illness - Old Song

Shield Your Eyes - Oranges

Soccer 96 - Super Warrior

Perch - Lilo

Dan Amos - See What I Can Do
P for Persia - Cliche

Subscribe to the podcast feed for automatic updates from all our artists.

Download now or listen on posterous

Smalltown America Podcast June 2010 - Illness 2.m4a (13171 KB)

Skibunny Join ATL's Chattering Classes

Tanya Skibunny grilled by Rigsy in BBC Across The Line's Chattering Classes blog conversations series.

LaFaro Playlist Numero Uno

In the first of an occasional series, Herb LaFaro presents an appropriately shred-friendly Spotify playlist including classics from such staples as Stone Temple Pilots, Cancer Bats and QOTSA. Enjoy.

STA Interview on Beat Generation

"Everybody needs HUGS at some point"

ATL - Chattering Classes #16 - Skibunny

Tanya Skibunny – yes, first name Tanya second name Skibunny, fact! Well not quite but it would be fun wouldn’t it? Anyhow the busy lady took a few moments to escape the pre tour chaos to talk to ATL's Rigsy on a cyber chat about life, hugs and the plan for the future!

Check out the full exchange here on the ATL blog!

Skibunny EP Tour Starts Friday!

Illness' first blogging experience...

Hello STA blog readers,

I wanted to let you know that the documentary I made about the Brighton band, P for Persia (mentioned on this blog on 1st June) has moved to a slightly new virtual location where it can be enjoyed at a higher pixellation and consistent screen resolution. WATCH IT HERE. I know that some of you will be desperate to access such a fine viewing opportunity, and we like to listen to our fans.

It also looks like our UK tour with Shield Your Eyes and Nope is finally in place, albeit a few changes to the schedule. Dates confirmed so far are now as follows:

7th July: Mitchells - GLASGOW

8th July: Henry's Cellar Bar - EDINBURGH

9th July: Dog and Partridge - BOLTON

12th July: The Red House - SHEFFIELD

13th July: Windmill Hill Golf Club - BLETCHLEY, MILTON KEYNES

14th July: The Port Mahon - OXFORD

15th July: The Hydrant - BRIGHTON

16th July: Brudenell - LEEDS
17th July: 1 in 12 Club - BRADFORD

So please come to see us play in a city near you...trust me, you want to check out Shield Your Eyes live!

Emilio from Illness

Fighting With Wire Belfast Show This Saturday!

Trousers... Kit drum... Beard...

These are just some of the many things that will be on show THIS SATURDAY... along with Fighting With Wire!

The FWW wagon cranks slowly back into gear and makes one final trip over to the 'states at the end of this month to finish the finishing of Album 2, but before then we've snuck in a show in BELFAST - THIS SATURDAY!

Its costs you 5 of the best and is sure to be an utter treat!

WHO'S IN... this one could get messy!

Sam FWW Team

"DIRTY GREAT RIFFS FROM SWAGGERING IRISH AXE PESTS"

Grab a copy of this weeks Kerrang! where a very cold and wet looking LaFaro feature on their introducing section >>>

ASIWYFA Launch New Northern Irish Music Intiative

Northern Ireland’s musical grass roots is due a boost with the establishment of a new programme called FFWD. Set up to provide a range of seminars and masterclasses for artists and music businesses, it launched last Thursday with a FFWD Mentoring Clinic at the Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast.

The first session saw music industry bods Andrew Ferris and Charlene Hegarty (Smalltown America Records), Fran Cotton (legal and business affairs specialist), Rocky O’Reilly (Start Together studios/Oppenheimer/Malibu Shark Attack!), Mark Gordon (Score Draw Music/Skibunny) and Linley Hamilton (leading NI session musician, composer, performer) all offering advice and guidance.

Ross Graham, FFWD Programme manager, says, “Northern Ireland continues to produce world class creative musical talent and is now developing a strong entrepreneurial base and a growing infrastructure for the sector. This programme is designed to help local artists to add business skills to their creative skills, enhance the expertise of music entrepreneurs and help promote the N.I. music sector to key music and media industry players.”

STA's summer festival season gets kick started by Skibunny!

In preparation for the release of their debut 'Walk Don't Walk' EP the band will be touring the UK starting next weekend - full dates below....

Fri 11th June - INVERNESS, Go North @ Mad Hatters (onstage 12.30am)
Sat 12th June - INVERNESS, ROCKNESS FESTIVAL Go North Stage, 10pm

Tues 15th June - LONDON, The Monarch
Wed 16th June - NOTTINGHAM, Spanky Van Dykes (live and DJ set)
Thurs 17th June - BRISTOL, Mothers Ruin
Fri 18th June - MANCHESTER, Sub 61
Sat 19th June - LEEDS, Carpe Diem
Thurs 24th June - BATHGATE, Harleys
Fri 25th June - GLASGOW, Capitol
Sat 26th June - EDINBURGH, Electric Circus
Sun 27th June - FIFE, The Greenside, Leslie
Fri 2nd July - ABERDEEN, Polar Bear Club @ Tunnels

Pre-order Walk Don't Walk Now >>> Click here!

Cargo Collective June 2010

Fighting With Wire Discuss Glasgowbury Headline Slot

FWW mouthpiece Cahir discusses the band's prestigious headline slot at this summer's Glasgowbury with Matt at the Nostromo blog.

June 2010 Newsletter

So it's June already, and we're almost halfway through 2010. This year has already brought us a fine number of musical delights, and we hope some STA releases have featured in your personal list. On with the news...

[0] MPFree: LaFaro Go 8-bit

We hope you all enjoyed the Skibunny track we gave you last month. This month's giveaway is an exclusive remix of LaFaro's 'Tuppenny Nudger', wherein the track is skillfully twisted into some decidedly 8-bit shapes by Irish beatmeister The Vinny Club.

Please click here to download the track. We love it, and we hope you do too!

[1] ASIWYFA Supporting Them Crooked Vultures

Some very, very, VERY exciting news - And So I Watch You From Afar have been asked to support the Grohl/Homme/Jones rock monster that is Them Crooked Vultures at three European shows in June! Whilst this is obviously great news for the band, Team STA is a little sad none of us will be there to see the venues melt due to the sheer power of Rock on display.

Here is a list of all the band's summer live engagements as they currently stand:

June 3 - VIENNA - Arena Vienna (supporting Them Crooked Vultures) - AT
June 7 - ESCH-SU-ALZETTE - Rockhal (supporting Them Crooked Vultures) - LUX
June 10 - AMSTERDAM - Heineken Music Hall (supporting Them Crooked Vultures) - NE

July 3 - BANBRIDGE - Take It To The Bridge Festival - IRL

July 16 - CHELTENHAM - 2000 Trees Festival - GB

July 16 - GUILDFORD - Guilfest - GB

July 17 - SALACGRIVA - Positivus Festival - LV

July 30 - BEELEN - Krach am Back Festival - DE

August 19 - HASSELT - Pukklepop Festival - BE

While you're here, take a look at this piece about the band rocking the last ever Hideaway House show. We especially like the Black Flag tee, guys.

The Kerrang! Awards have just launched their voting round again, best newcomers anyone...?

[2] Skibunny EP Pre-Order & Tour Dates

As announced last month, Skibunny have now joined the happy STA family. Their first release for the label, the four-track Walk Don't Walk EP, will be available from June 7th 2010 on download and CD. The digital version will be available at iTunes, 7digital and all good online retailers, whilst the CD will be available exclusively via the STA online store. Click here to preorder it.

The band are on tour over the next few months, here are the dates currently confirmed:

June 11 - INVERNESS, Go North (MadHatters, 12.30am)
June 12 - INVERNESS, ROCKNESS FESTIVAL
June 15 - LONDON, The Monarch
Jube 16 - NOTTINGHAM, Spanky Van Dykes (live and DJ set)
June 17 - BRISTOL, Mothers Ruin
June 18 - MANCHESTER, Sub 61
June 19 - LEEDS, Carpe Diem
June 24 - BATHGATE, Harleys
June 25 - GLASGOW, Capitol
June 26- EDINBURGH, Electric Circus
June 27 - FIFE, The Greenside, Leslie
July 2 - ABERDEEN, Polar Bear Club @ Tunnels

[3] Illness EP Pre-Order & Tour Dates

We will be releasing the Gifts From God EP from Brighton two-piece Illness on July 5th 2010. As with the Skibunny release mentioned above, it will be available digitally everywhere and as a limited edition CD exclusively on the STA Store - click here to pre-order. The physical edition features a bonus video that will not be available elsewhere.

The band have the following dates coming up:

May 29 - LONDON, Barfly

May 30 - BRIGHTON, Cowley Club (with LaFaro)

June 10 - LONDON, The Stag's Head

July 8 - EDINBURGH, Henry's Cellar Bar (with Shield Your Eyes)

July 9 - BOLTON, Dog & Partridge (with Shield Your Eyes)

July 16 - BRIGHTON, The Hydrant (with Shield Your Eyes)

July 17 - LONDON, The Constitution (with Shield Your Eyes)

The guys still have a number of dates to fill on their July tour with Shield Your Eyes. If you're interested in booking them please check out their myspace.

Emilio Illness is also a budding film-maker, and he's setting out on a project to make short films about the bands that Illness share stages and shows with. The first installment is online now - click here to view via Vimeo and takes a look at fellow Brightonites P Is For Persia. The band members discuss their live shows, recordings and future plans before tearing through a full live performance of their song 'Mount Muffin Top'. Take a look!

[4] New LaFaro Single Is...

Last month we asked for your help in choosing the next single to be taken from LaFaro's debut album, and the winner was... 'The Ballad of Burnt Dave'! The single will be released digitally on June 28th 2010. There will be another exclusive t-shirt design to go along with this, we'll tweet this design and do a special mailout to alert you when the pre-order goes live on this one.

The band are coming to the end of their album tour, but there are still a number of dates lined up over the next week:

June 1 - CARDIFF, Barfly

June 2 - LONDON, Underworld (supporting RX Bandits)

June 3 - OXFORD, The Jericho

June 4 - MANCHESTER, The Retro Bar

[5] Alan MX's Green Tea EP Out Now

The latest release from Alan MX is now available. Green Tea comes as a six track digital EP and a double CD set available exclusively from the STA online store. The physical release contains the six-track EP as well as a bonus six-track remix CD. It's handmade, limited to 50 copies and looks like this.

We don't expect these to last very long, so we advise you to pick one up sooner rather than later!

[6] 4 or 5 Magicians - New Lineup, New Shows

All change in camp 4 or 5! For all the details check out frontman and band linchpin Dan Ormsby waxing lyrical on the changes to the 4 or 5 touring lineup over at the STA blog. The new lineup have their first shows in June and July, dates as follows:

June 4 - BRIGHTON, Pavilion Tavern

July 9 - LONDON, The Macbeth

Expect new songs!

That's all from us for now. Thanks for reading, listening and believing.

Team STA

Vote ASIWYFA For Kerrang Awards

Hey all!

We could really do with your help over the next little while! Basically you can vote for us in the Kerrang Awards 2010 and well, we'd love to win something!!! Hooray!!!

SO all you need to do is click here and vote for ASIWYFA in every category you can!

Let us know when you have voted so we can say thanks and we might find something nice to send to a few of you, or put you in a competition for something nice, I don't know, we'll do something as an extra thank you though!

Cheers for taking the time out of your busy bank holiday!

ASIWYFA Team

LaFaro Confirmed for Guilfest 2010!

The summer festival season gets off to a smashin' start for LaFaro as they have just been confirmed for The Rocksound Rock Cave at this years Guilfest

For more information on tickets/line-up please click here

Fighting With Wire to headline Glasgowbury

Fresh from the confirmation that Fighting With Wire will take to the stage to headline this years Glasgowbury Festival, Cahir takes a few moments to talk to NI's resident photographer Matthew Patton >>>> Click here to read the full interview

To purchase your tickets for this years Glasgowbury Festival Click Here

(purchasing in advance is advisable due to last years sellout!!)

Frank Turner tomorrow night - Mandela Hall, Belfast

Frank Turner has been a long term friend of STA and has had to put up with everything we have thrown at him, including a one month stint with Fighting With Wire during the March 2004 Million Dead UK tour! Ahh those where the days!

I was lucky enough to be in town last time the Frank Turner show rolled in. I can honestly say it was one of the most inspiring, honest and heartfelt shows I have ever been lucky enough to see.

This time Turner vs STA comes packaged with one Mr Jonny Black. He flies home from his only day off on the UK LaFaro tour to take stage in support of Frank in Belfast's Mandela Hall tomorrow night.

This show is going to be brilliant so if you haven't already make that necessary purchase and team STA will see you down the front for beers et craic!

For tickets, click here

4 Or 5 Magicians: New Line-up Announced

All change in the 4 or 5 Magicians ranks. It was a pretty mutual feeling between the entire band at the end of last year that the current era of 4 or 5 Magicians was coming to an end. Even though we had just (finally!) released our debut album, I'd been playing some of the songs since October 2005, and I needed a fresh start. Sam and Alex also decided they needed to focus on other commitments in life and said goodbye. Ivan wanted to stay on, and I was more than happy to have him, but alas now, he too has been forced to back out after a full year of active service due to a crazy work schedule involving working behind the scenes on T4, Something For The Weekend, and various popular music videos, reviewing girls netball matches for a local radio station, opening supermarkets in Port Talbot - that kind of thing. He may even be in Hollyoaks, seriously. So this all added up to a big lack of rehearsal and recording time and the distinct possibility he'd be forced to cancel shows left right and centre in the future. So he decided that it would be best for both parties if he retired gracefully. I'm sorry to see the guy go, and he is sorry to be leaving. A shame indeed.

However, we have a ready made replacement to plug into someone elses bass amp in the form of Brighton indie legend Ben Gregory whose rockkk band Everyone To The Anderson have been consistently one of the very best bands in Brighton since I moved there over six years ago. He also plays girly acoustic guitar in Curly Hair and apparently I am joining them on the drums, so look out for me doing that with them. Hopefully both bands will make it to the big time!

Also we have finally found a new guitarist after what seems like months and months. Actually it has been almost six months. Ridiculous. Anyway, he is Aslam Ghauri, a stalwart of the Kingston scene, and after our first rehearsal the other day, this kid has some dance moves! Looking forward to grooving with him on stage in the near future.

And we've already introduced you to James Thomas on drums, who is sounding excellent in rehearsals, and after two shows is already being talked about among loyal fans as "the best drummer yet!", which is saying something as we have had some pretty badass drummers in the past.

"Yet" is not a concept I'm thinking of right now though - this lineup looks set to stay in place for a long time. Which is a good thing.

Only problem is we will need a few shows to get properly rocking, so if you come see us in the next couple of months and it isn't quite there yet, then don't despair, as I can tell this is gonna work, and work very well, even after just one rehearsal.

I can't wait to get the new songs out there on the world. I think that they could well be very, very good. I currently have nine pretty much finished in my head, two of which we will be playing at our grand unveiling on June 4th in Brighton, and by the time our London debut comes around on July 9th, we will hopefully have, ahem, four or five ready. We will be demoing these songs over the coming couple of months as and when they become ready, and the aim is to record the album by late summer, and get it out there to everyone at the beginning of next year. Will be a couple of UK wide tours before then hopefully!

Think that's all for now. Quite excited to see how it all pans out!

Dan xx