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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

LaFaro Enjoy Tea, Crumpets and Buckfast with Panic Dots

Click the image to read the feature

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.

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.

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.

Skibunny Belfast Barge Launch Poster

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!

LaFaro Recover From Reading/Leeds

Wow.

What a weekend.

We had a bloody great time at Reading / Leeds festivals. Thank you so so much to all who came to see us rather than the bigger boys who were playing at the same time. We are eternally grateful!

Highlights of our weekend -
Having crowdsurfers @ Reading
Meeting Sam Rivers of Limp Bizkit!
Seeing Limp Bizkit TWICE (and their washing)
Weezer's version of 'Hot For Teacher'
Meeting Roots Manuva!
Dancing badly to Roots Manuva
Not too much rain =]
Rocking to Exit International (check 'em)
Holy Fuck
Hanging and boogying with the General Fiasco boys (some serious moves...)

Great, great weekend. We hope you all enjoyed your sexy selves too? We're back over in December supporting Helmet - hope to see some of you there!

LaFaro x

Skibunny Belfast Album Launch Line-up Announced

As we may have mentioned already, our debut album HUGS is released on Monday 27th September. To celebrate the release, we will be throwing NOT ONE, but TWO special parties, in BELFAST and EDINBURGH. Here’s the details for BELFAST - it’s on a BOAT!

SKIBUNNY “HUGS” ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY
featuring
SKIBUNNY plus very special guests!
STUART BRAITHWAITE (DJ set)
RAMS POCKET RADIO (solo)
CONEY ISLAND SOUND(DJ set)
visuals by the 15 Second Film Festival
at
THE BARGE, BELFAST (between Waterfront Hall and Queens Bridge)
WEDNESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER
DOORS 8PM (Curfew 11pm)
ADMISSION IS FREE!

Capacity is strictly limited to 100, entry guaranteed by advance subscription to info@smalltownamerica.co.uk

AND it’s all part of Belfast’s Music Week, in association with MTV

Watch ASIWYFA @ Pukkelpop

Watch LaFaro Reading Festival Highlights

Click the image to watch video footage of LaFaro performing Tupenny Nudger, The Ballad Of Burnt Dave and Chopper Is A Tout recorded live from the BBC Introducing stage at the Reading festival on Sunday evening.

Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea Look Back On EP Tour

Fresh from touring their new EP, Andy from Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea reports in:

Drove for a thousand miles and screamed at three floors in the north and three ceilings in the south.
Played old and new and unpracticed songs, some well and some badly.
Let's keep it interesting.
Amateurs were really good, I hope they carry on playing and recording lots. They're not scared of a hook or two. I watched them getting better every night which was no mean feat.
Our own new songs took shape on stage and are taking shape on my computer screen, keep your ear to the ground.
It's a dangerous game to take too seriously.

Here are some things that I found out:
There's a surprise rush hour at 2pm on Fridays around London.
Once you run a car battery completely flat it never charges again.
As adults we are far better inventors of childish ball games than we ever were as children.
Nitkowski are the last band you'd want to follow on a line up.
Ginger beer and rum is a really good drink.

Thanks to everyone.

Andy

Fighting With Wire: Tour Exclusive EP On The Way

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO we've announced the UK and Ireland tours for later this year and to go along with it there will be a BRAND NEW FIGHTING WITH WIRE EP!!!

It will only be available on the shows and will feature a whole chunk of new material!

All you need to do is come down to one of the shows and you can grab a copy to keep ya ticking over until the new album is out!!!

What do you think?!

FWW

Skibunny Announce Special Floating Belfast Album Launch

Belfast duo Skibunny release their new album Hugs on September 27th but there'll be a special FREE ENTRY launch gig on a barge in Belfast a couple of weeks beforehand.

SKIBUNNY is TANYA Mellotte (vocals, guitar, keys) and MARK Gordon (vocals, bass, guitar, keys). With one eye on tunes and one 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.

The album's free barge launch is on Wednesday 15th September in Belfast, somewhere between The Waterfront Hall and the Queen's Bridge; to guarantee entry please email us. "Hugs" itself will be available to buy from September 27th and as always comes with a limited edition CD (containing specially-recorded material) when purchased from the STA store.

STA's Tips For Reading/Leeds 2010

Here's the bands that STA have highlighted with a flourescent Stabilo Boss for this weekend's Leeds and Carling festivals...

LaFaro
Stage: BBC Introducing
Reading Sunday, 19:15
Leeds Saturday, 18:55

We're Only Afraid Of NYC
Stage: BBC Introducing
Reading Friday, 14:45
Leeds Sunday, 15:05

Stagecoach
Stage: BBC Introducing
Reading Friday, 17:40
Leeds Sunday, 17:20

Rolo Tomassi
Stage: NME/Radio 1 Stage
Reading, Saturday 12:00
Leeds, Friday 12:00

Surfer Blood
Stage: NME/Radio 1 Stage
Reading Friday, 12:45
Leeds Sunday, 12:45

Frank Turner
Stage: NME/Radio 1 Stage
Reading Saturday, 17:40
Leeds Friday, 17:15

Serj Tankian
Stage: NME/Radio 1 Stage
Reading Saturday, 18:45
Leeds, Friday 18:20

Holy Fuck
Stage: Lock Up Stage
Reading Sunday, 14:55
Leeds Saturday, 14:35

Gaggle
Stage: Festival Republic Stage
Reading Friday, 11:30
Leeds Sunday, 11:30

General Fiasco
Stage: Festival Republic Stage
Reading Sunday, 15:00
Leeds Saturday, 15:00

Pulled Apart By Horses
Stage: Festival Republic Stage
Reading Friday, 15:50
Leeds Sunday, 15:45

Minus The Bear
Stage: Festival Republic Stage
Reading Sunday, 19:15
Leeds Saturday, 19:00

Blood Red Shoes
Stage: Festival Republic Stage
Reading Friday, 20:25
Leeds Sunday, 20:00

LaFaro Live Update

What a year and it just keeps getting better!

TONIGHT - Retro Bar, Portrush F*CK THE SCENE, SHOW ME THE GREEN *Charity Show*
w/ ASIWYFA, Fighting With Wire, Axis Of, Bomb City 7, Team Fresh. Doors 7pm £5

This Weekend -
Reading and Leeds Festivals
Sat 28th - Leeds - BBC Introducing Stage 18:55
Sun 29th - Reading - BBC Introducing Stage 19:15

October 15th -
Mandela Hall with Axis Of supporting Therapy?
The band will be playing seriously influential album 'Troublegum' in it's entirity from start to finish!

November - December
European Tour w/ Helmet

After all that there's still Christmas to go!!!!

LaFaro x

Make Your Own Ice, Sea, Dead People Video

Ice, Sea, Dead People made a video for their song Grean Tee but as you can see below they forgot to have a background when they filmed it, the fools. Can you help? Click here to find out how you can add your own background and see some examples that have already been made.

1992: The Year Reading Peaked - Tickets On Sale

Tickets for Dan 4 Or 5's unique August Bank Holiday all-dayer are now on sale for just £5. And that's not all - Dan has also gone back in time to 1992 to create a poster using the finest home computing technology of the day.

In late August 1992, on a rainy Sunday evening on a farm in Berkshire, UK, Kurt Cobain was pushed out on a big stage in a wheelchair - an ironic riposte to his widely reported health problems - to perform what must surely be the greatest ever performance at the Reading Festival.

Halfway across the globe in Japan, on the preceeding Friday, what was, and almost certainly still is, the best multiplayer video game of all time - Super Mario Kart - was released.

And so, on Saturday 28th August 2010, we bring these two momentous occasions together in one room, 18 years on, for a celebration of how it used to be.

LaFaro / ASIWYFA In Rock Sound Festivals Review

The new issue of Rock Sound is hitting the doormats of subscribers at the moment and inside you'll find reviews of ASIWYFA and LaFaro from Guilfest and Sonisphere - sneaky scans below.

Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea EP Out Today

Today marks the release of Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea's 3rd EP and their 1st for us. Buy it from the STA store in lovingly hand-finished packaging or from the band themselves at the remaining dates on their tour -

17 Aug The Old Blue Last, London, FREE ENTRY
18 Aug The Mothers Ruin, Bristol
19 Aug Hectors House, Brighton
21 Aug 138 Tanners Hill, Deptford ALL DAY ZINE WORKSHOP - FREE BEFORE 6PM, £3 AFTER - ON-STAGE 10.15PM

The EP is also available from the usual digital outlets.

LaFaro on POP4

Click here to check out LaFaro's impressive acoustic rendition of their woozy sea sick punk winner 'The Ballad of Burnt Dave' live before they take to the stage at Glasgowbury 2010.

August 2010 Newsletter

[0] August Store Bundle Deal


Another new month offers up another new store bundle deal. This month we have nominated our 'newbies' Illness to take to the stand - Illness may be recuperating from a hectic July of touring and recording their debut album in the STA Studios but that doesn't mean they're resting , oh no far from it. This month, exclusive to the STA store, you can pick up their 'Gifts From God' EP and their fresh new T-shirt print for just £7. Stocks are limited - you know what to do.

"'Gifts From God' is a wonderfully, wonderfully uplifting blast of thundering instrumental post rock."

[1] MPFree - Crooked Mountain, Crooked Free


This month's free track is taken from Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea's forthcoming new EP - it's entitled 'Like Mice in the Cellar'. We hope the band don't have mice, it's not very fun.

Click here to download the track and scroll down to read more about the band's new EP and upcoming tour dates.

[2] LaFaro: Reading, Leeds, Helmet & Europe


We've got lots of exciting LaFaro news this month. First up, we're very excited to announce that the band have been confirmed for BBC Introducing stages at both the Reading and Leeds Festivals, which take place across the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of this month. They'll be joining a bill that includes everyone from Guns n Roses and Arcade Fire to Rolo Tomassi and Stagecoach.

Looking further ahead, the band will be starting work on their second album in October (already? cool!), and will then head to Europe in November / December as main tour support to grunge survivalists Helmet. Dates for that tour can be found on their myspace, and here's a list of all the band's upcoming shows this month and next.

21 August 2010 - WARRENPOINT, Square Peg
28 August 2010 - LEEDS, Leeds Festival
29 August 2010 - READING, Reading Festival

The band continue to rack up tour injuries at an impressive rate. While Alan's foot has now recovered from his ligament damage and has shed his crutches, guitarist Dave took a body slam to the ground at Glasgowbury 2010 to round up in a sling with a stretched tendon in his right shoulder - rockstar antics that resulted in two trips to casualty. Were taking bets on what their next catastrophe will be, suggestions to the regular e-mail address.

[3] Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea - New EP & Tour


August 16th sees the release of the Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea's new EP, 'I Watched It From The Roadside'. It's six tracks of Cursive / Fugazi / Red House Painters shaped indie rock, and comes out as a digital download available at all online retailers and as a handmade CD.

The band also have some tour dates coming up this month:
13 August 2010 - DERBY, Bar One %
14 August 2010 - LEEDS, The Well %
15 August 2010 - SCARBOROUGH, The New Tavern %
17 August 2010 - LONDON, Old Blue Last %
18 August 2010 - BRISTOL, The Mother's Ruin %
19 August 2010 - BRIGHTON, Hectors House %
20 August 2010 - LONDON, Utrophia $
% with Amateurs
$ with Tall Ships

The CD version of the EP is a limited edition of fifty, and can be pre-ordered now via the STA online store.

[4] ASIWYFA Summer Festivals


In between laying down tracks for their new album, the ASIWYFA machine continues to plow through Europe's summer festivals:

13 August 2010 - GALWAY, IRE - Roisin Dubh
14 August 2010 - KILKENNY, IRE - Kilkenny Arts Festival
19 August 2010 - HASSELT, BE - Pukklepop Festival
20 August 2010 - NYIRBATOR, HU - Azfest Festival
29 August 2010 - VENLO, NL - Zomerparkfeest
3 September 2010 - CO LAOIS, IRE - Electric Picnic

[5] 4 or 5 Magicians - 1992: The Year Reading Peaked


Dan 4 or 5 is known almost as well for his series of themed-covers shows at the The Windmill in south London as he is for his slack rocker songwriting skills - previous shows have both explored the UK's fertile rock underground whilst being themed topics around the return of indie rock legends Pavement and Michael Azerrard's era-defining tome 'Our Band Could Be Your Life', and all have featured vast amounts of fun and great bands.

The series returns over the August Bank Holiday weekend, timed to coincide with this year's of the Reading Festival, but themed around the 1992 event. That year headlining performances from Public Enemy, The Wonder Stuff (really?) and Nirvana's last UK show, and perhaps their most legendary live performance ever. Not much to live up to there, then!

You can read Dan's thoughts on the subject over at the STA blog, but here's the lineup so far:

4 or 5 Magicians as Manic Street Preachers
Amy Blue as The Smashing Pumpkins
Kannberg 1664 (supergroup feat. Dan 4 or 5, Alexi Johnny Foreigner, Craig Internet Forever, Aaron Eelectricity and Lust) as Pavement
+ more to be confirmed

Headlining the event will be Bananirvana, THE ULTIMATE NIRVANA TRIBUTE. Dan (third set of the day) is donning his best wig to play the drums, and has recruited two ex-4 or 5ers to fill the guitar and bass roll. The singer? Well... IT COULD BE YOU. See the blog for more details, but Dan is hoping to get a different vocalist for every song - some from bands, some from members of the crowd.

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

Illness In The Studio

I had a really great time working with Illness on their new album, the week was very busy with lots of tracks to put down in a short space of time. We did twelve in all. Emilio was a star as he helped me cut up the drums on PT; one night working through to 7AM - legend. Chris must have worked 70 hours that week too > star man. We've gone for a YLTengo/Second Album Pavement sound on the recordings. Loads of middle and not being too bothered about silly things like string noise and drum rattles.

I'm really looking forward to mixing this one when I get back from holiday later in September. Currently we're chatting to Bob Weston about cutting it as I think he did such a good job with the Ice, Sea, Dead People record. I'll probably mix this to tape > my mate Roger is selling me his Revox B77 Tape Recorder. I need to get it overhauled and whatnot - but I can't think of a better excuse to get this done than for this record. If anyone in NI has any quarter-inch tape stock gethering dust in the loft, can you drop me or Chris a line? We're buying as much virgin tape as we can afford at the moment. Carrie came to Derry to shoot Illness and Skibunny and took some lovely shots of the lads. Note our recent refurbishment!

Cargo Collective August 2010

ASIWYFA Support Trash Talk In North America This Autumn

Huge news - And So I Watch You From Afar will be supporting one of the most talked about bands of the year - Trash Talk - plus Rock Action signed Tokyo hardcore types Envy this September/October. How many burning lorries will they witness on the highways of the USA?

25 Sep The Ottobar Baltimore, MD
26 Sep First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA
28 Sep Harper's Ferry Allston, MA
29 Sep Jerky's Providence, RI
30 Sep Santos Party House New York, NY
1 Oct Lily's Pad (Toad's Place Upstairs) New Haven, CT
2 Oct Sneaky Dee’s Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
4 Oct Mohawk Place Buffalo, NY
5 Oct Rex Theatre Pittsburgh, PA
6 Oct Grog Shop Cleveland, OH
7 Oct Magic Stick Detroit, MI
8 Oct Reggie's Rock Club Chicago, IL
9 Oct Triple Rock Minneapolis, MN
10 Oct Jackpot Music Hall Lawrence, Kansas
12 Oct Bluebird Theatre Denver, CO
13 Oct The Basement Ogden, UT
15 Oct El Corazon Seattle, WA
16 Oct Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR
18 Oct Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, CA
19 Oct Chain Reaction Anaheim, CA
20 Oct Troubadour West Hollywood, CA
22 Oct The Casbah San Diego, CA
23 Oct The Underground Mesa, Arizona
25 Oct Rubber Gloves Denton, TX
26 Oct Emo's Alternative Lounge Austin, TX

ASIWYFA Festival Video Tour Diary

Axis Of Cover LaFaro On New Comp

Here's news of a compilation album we like the sound of -

NI Chart, a website dedicated to supporting local artists, has done just that by working with nine local acts to produce a compilation CD. NI Chart presents We’ve Got It Covered features a cover of one of each band’s favourite local acts, and includes the likes of Mojo Fury, Axis Of and More Than Conquerors.

And here’s the line-up:

1. Mojo Fury – Alloy Mental (Alloy Mental)
2. Cara Cowan – It Bends In The Middle (Dutch Schultz)
3. More Than Conquerors – Children (Panama Kings)
4. Paul Pilot – Burial Ground (Henry McCullough)
5. Axis Of – Tuppenny Nudger (LaFaro)
6. Skip Moses – Moonlight Kiss (Bap Kennedy)
7. Alice Kona Band – Pretty Face (Ed Zealous)
8. Katie & the Carnival – Hats on Sticks (The Good Fight)
9. Skp – Annexed (Escape Fails)

Pre-order now or pick it up at festivals and gigs throughout Northern Ireland during the summer.

Skibunny & LaFaro Play Forfey Festival This Weekend

This weekend sees Skibunny and LaFaro alongside STA favourites Adebisi Shank, Axis Of, The Cast Of Cheers, Not Squares and More Than Conquerors play the 5th Forfey festival on Forfey Farm, near Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh. Dirtcheap tickets are still on sale and you can check the full schedule including an interesting arts programme here.

Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea Play Deptford Popshot Night

Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea: Source Magazine Interview

Ahead of thier EP release in a couple of weeks, Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea get a grilling from Brighton's excellent Source magazine...

Post-rock four-piece Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea have covered a lot of ground since they began playing shows last year. Their sound is ever evolving, taking post-rock and making it poignant, relevant and interesting again. Complex rhythms and intelligent lyrics sung with agitated, shouty vocals lead to far flung comparisons, ranging from Cursive for their similarly narrative songs to the restrained rage of Fugazi and At The Drive In. Already a favourite of BBC 6Music's Tom Robinson, Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea are destined for great things.

What kind of bands did you grow up watching?

Dave: Having always lived in Brighton, none of the bands I grew up watching were similar to us in the slightest. Until I joined I could never really find anything I liked on the Brighton music scene, I guess I was looking in the wrong places. As soon as I met these guys though they started dragging me to gigs unwillingly and then eventually I started finding bands that were actually quite good and had their place on the scene here.

Some people would say that post-rock is a bit of a staid genre these days having gone through so many phases, why do you persist in that scene, what makes you different?

Andy: I wouldn't particularly say we're a post-rock band.

Steve: I'd say we're more post-hardcore to put a name to it, or you could even say post-punk because it kind of fits in with that too. The thing is that we all like different music, we all call our band by a different genre anyway and we all take different inspirations and bring it to our songs.

Andy: I still kind of see it as just writing songs, and they just end up sounding a bit like that...

Sean: I don't want to speak for Dave but, I'm pretty sure Dave and I don't know anything about post-rock, we have all these other influences from other bands that we like to listen to, and I suppose they reflect the style we bring to our songs. I've always mainly been into electronica and IDM myself, I didn't really go to gigs before I joined the band, I was all about going to clubs but that's all changed now.

How did the band end up in Brighton?

Andy: Me and Steve both moved to Brighton to start a band individually, Dave our bassist is from Hove, and Sean moved here for university, so we all met up with each other about a year ago. I grew up quite close to Brighton and went to gigs here quite a lot when I was younger. I suppose Brighton's always been notorious for its music scene.

You've played quite a few shows in Brighton, especially when you first started out, what's your favourite venue?

All: Hector's House.

Steve: The sound guy Jack's great, it's the best live sound we've had, I think.

Sean: There's always a good crowd of people in there because the gigs are usually free, and it's always locals that you play to.

Dave: The promoter there really supports local music, he puts local bands’ EPs on sometimes in between bands playing at shows.

What other local bands have you played shows with that you'd recommend?

Andy: We're friends with a band called Illness who we really like, we've also played a few shows with Everyone To The Anderson, who are great. Hold Your Horse Is have to get a mention too. We've played quite a few shows and a tour with them earlier this year, they're fun to gig with.

FYI LIVE: With Amateurs at Hector's House, Thurs 19th August

WORDS BY THOM DAVIES

Shout4Music Tip Skibunny As Bestival Must-See

If there’s something truly awe-inspiring about modern Britain, it’s the amount of opportunity promoters give us to go and stand in fields. The UK probably now has more festivals than it does dentists. We even have festivals for people that are too old to go to festivals any more. And on these, we’ve got a wee bit of an exclusive – you won’t find it on Bestival or The Big Chill’s websites, but there will be Sailor Jerry stages at both events. The Big Chill line-up includes We Were Promised Jetpacks, (the only useful thing to ever come out of Edinburgh outside of Boards Of Canada), Race Horses (Welsh boys – you may have known them as Radio Luxembourg) and Not Cool. The offering at Bestival is perhaps even more exciting, bringing you the barmy Chrome Hoof (think The Flaming Lips designed by Blue Peter-watching kids), the suave, debonair, and pictured above electronic monster that is Errors (huge noise; signed to Mogwai’s label, have supported 65DOS & Underworld among others), and our perennial favourites, Skibunny.

The Belfast-based remixers extraordinaire have recently returned to the live arena with a short UK tour; and having been doing electro-indie since long before it became trendy, the duo’s sound has been honed to a fuzzy brand of loveliness with an underlying sadness. A bit like a teddy bear that you find hanging itself and then talk down and take home. You can win tickets to go and see them at www.sailorjerry.co.uk

The Flaming Lips, The Prodigy, Gil Scott-Heron and The XX will be there too. So it might be quite a good weekend all in. In the meantime, have a punt at Skibunny track ‘Aahooh’ . It’s not new or exclusive. But it’s dead good.

Shout4Music

Listen Again Live Highlights of Glasgowbury Sets

Listen again to live performances from Fighting With Wire, LaFaro and And So I Watch You From Afar plus many more from last weekend's Glasgowbury on last night's BBC Introducing in Northern Ireland show.

Playlist
Fionn Regan — Lines Written in Winter
Ash — Carnal Love
The Wonder Villains - TV Live
Lafaro — Girl is a Drummer Live
Lafaro — Great Conversations Remembered Live
Lafaro — Tupenny Nudger Live
Yes Cadets — Lies Live
Yes Cadets — Canada Live
And So I Watch You From Afar — Set Guitars to Kill Live
Strait Laces — Where the Wolves Roam Live
Fight Like Apes — Hoo Ha Henry Live
Cashier No.9 — Goodbye Friend Live
In Case of Fire — Untitled Live
RAMS' pocket radio — Dieter Rams has got the Pocket Radios Live
RAMS' pocket radio — Untitled Live
RAMS' pocket radio — Dogs Run in Packs Live
mojoFURY — The Man Live
mojoFURY — Run Away Live
Fighting With Wire — Cut the Transmission Live
Fighting With Wire — Sugar Live
Fighting With Wire — Everyone Needs a Nemesis Live

Fighting With Wire UK Mainland Shows - Tickets On Sale

Tickets for FWW's November England and Scotland shows are now on sale.

ASIWYFA Sonisphere Update

This weekend Sonisphere comes to Knebworth for 3 days of noise with a capital N; here's the stage times worth noting -

Friday 30th July

AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR - Strongbow Bowtime Bar, 8.30
also
THROATS - Jagermeister, 7.00
WINNEBAGO DEAL - Jagermeister, 9.00
65DAYSOFSTATIC - Bohemia, 10.00
CHROMEHOOF - Strongbow Bowtime Bar, 10.30

Saturday 31st July

GENERAL FIASCO - Red Bull Stage, 8.00
POLAR BEAR CLUB - Bohemia, 9.05
THERAPY? - Bohemia, 11.00

Sunday 1st August
TURBOWOLF - Jagermeister, 3.30
THE XCERTS - Strongbow Bowtime Bar, 7.00

4 Or 5 Magicians: Recreating Reading Festival 1992 & October Tour

OK finally some constructive news!

I'm booking a tour for the new look 4 or 5 Magicians and our friends from Birmingham, the wonderful Ace Bushy Striptease. We're heading out together for 8 days from Friday 15th to Saturday 23rd October.

If you are a promoter reading this and would like to put us on, or if you are a fan reading this who wants us to visit your town, and would like to suggest us contacting a promoter or venue who was likely to put us on, then please get in touch.

Sadly, this tour will take place without James, who had recently joined on drums, as he has decided to leave the band. Nothing sinister, it just wasn't working out for him logistically and he decided to back out before we got properly going again. In his own words he still loves the songs, and he is actually helping me out in finding a permanent replacement! Until this happens (probably until 2011), the drum stool at live shows will be occupied by the highly capable swinging arms of Brighton drumming master and all round top bloke Rob Ling, who plays in our Brighton contemporaries Grow Claws, and has also performed in a session capacity for bands such as The Joy Formidable, Wildbirds and Peacedrums, and Nick McCabe from The Verve. So he knows what he's doing!

Before the tour, we have the next in line of my wonderful cover nights, which will definitely be the most ambitious (if "ambitious cover night" isn't an oxymoron) yet, once again at The Windmill in Brixton.

It will be called 1992: The Year Reading Peaked, and take place on Saturday 28th August. I was thinking of themes for another cover night, and when I overheard my little sister excitedly talking to her friends about attending her first Reading festival, it struck me that it hadn't even occurred to me to attempt to blag a ticket, let alone buy one for £180+ for at least three years now. I figured there must be plenty of other people in my position too, kinda demoralised by the commercialism of the festival these days, and the hefty ticket price. So I decided I would attempt, on the same weekend, to put on my own tribute to the Reading festival, and recreate the best of the bill from the classic year of 1992, remembered chiefly for THAT Nirvana peformance, but also including early performances by bands that would go on to become major players and/or hugely influential in the 90s and beyond, such as PJ Harvey, Smashing Pumpkins, Pavement, Manic Street Preachers, Suede, Beastie Boys... oh and Bjorn Again played as well!

8 or 9 bands will come along and blast out some classics of yesteryear, and some classics of their own, and of course there is the famous free BBQ - we will not charge you £7.50 for a burger here!

Already confirmed are 4 or 5 Magicians as Manic Street Preachers (happy to fulfil NME's labelling of us as "the new Manic Street Preachers" by attempting to be the old Manic Street Preachers for one night only!), Amy Blue as Smashing Pumpkins, and Kannberg 1664 - a supergroup featuring Alexei from Johnny Foreigner, Craig from Internet Forever, Aaron from Eelectricity and Lust, and myself. We'll be performing a 10 song Pavement set of early hits. Other offers and exciting TBCs are out there and will shortly be confirmed!

As headliner I am attempting something which I very much hope will be the best thing ever. I'm wheeling out (literally, like Kurt at Reading '92) two Magicians alumni to create Bananirvana, the ultimate Nirvana tribute. Jon Wood, original Magicians bass player, is filling the huge boots of giant Krist Novoselic. Sam Clarke is growing some stubble, donning a blonde wig, and busting out some of Kurt's finest guitar, and I am straightening my hair, getting down the gym, and brushing up on my Dave Grohl drumming action. We will be performing an hour long, 20 song set made up of the choice selections from Nirvana's classic set.

And then YOU will be the singer. The chance you have always been waiting for of being Kurt Cobain! I am planning on each song having a different Kurt, and while I already have a few semi-famous indie singers confirmed for guest slots on the microphone, I also want to open it up to members of the record buying public too. So if you are interested in having a go at being Kurt, then please get in touch and we can get you involved! All I ask is, i) that you can actually sing a bit, ii) that you promise to learn the words to and the structure of your song properly, and iii) that you can bring a few mates along to witness your finest hour! Open to boys and girls. But if you're a girl you got to sing it hard. Or if you're a boy for that matter. Anyway yeah, get in touch!


TTFN dudez!

Dan x

LaFaro Confirmed for Reading/Leeds 2010

LaFaro have just returned home from a whirlwind week of shows spanning Glasgow to Guildford, where they lost their UK festival virginity packing out the RockSound Rock Cave stage at Guilfest 2010. Thanks one and all who took the time to check them out!

The weekend closed on an almighty high as LaFaro performed a show-stopping Glasgowbury Festival set ahead of our very own headliners Fighting With Wire. The Glasgowbury festival weekend is the most eagerly anticipated in the STA calendar - well done to organisers Paddy & Stella on their 10th anniversary year of the festival, roll on the next 10 years!

On August Bank Holiday 2010, the BBC Introducing stage will return to the Reading and Leeds festival sites for the third year running to showcase another batch of talented new bands and musicians. This year they have been kind enough to extend that welcome to LaFaro - needless to say Herb/Jonny/Dave/Alan LaFaro are counting down the sleeps before they savage eyes and ears across both sites - be sure to count them in on your plans for that weekend, exact times to follow soon.....

Illness: Tour & Recording Write-up

Hi blog-readers,

I have been desperate to tell you all about our touring and recording experience....

We went on tour and had a good time. We went with Shield Your Eyes and NOPE. Both bands are really good, I highly recommend that you check them out. It was really satisfying to watch them both play every night for about ten days. We also played with a couple of other really good bands, one in Glasgow called Eternal Fags and one in Leeds called Ultimate Thrush, both of whom are part of a Glasgow based DIY collective called Winning Sperm Party who put on shows and do free digital releases or genuinely cheap CD's - truly independent! So check all that stuff out. I spent a lot of time worrying about my thumb in which I believe I'm developing arthritis, and at one point we had to change the brake pads on the van like true lads, a task undertaken primarily by Stef from Shield Your Eyes, but with at least some input from everyone along the way, even Spencer who found the cap of the copper rubbing right at the last minute. Everyone we came across along the way was so genuine and generous, and it was a completely conflict free experience - YES to humanity!

We then went straight to Derry (NI) to do some recording and had a good time. We recorded twelve tracks with Andrew Ferris (Lord STA) and Chris Cassidy, who were the best recording team we possibly could have hoped for. It all went swimmingly well and is looking due for release as an album around February time. Ash Pocock made a special guest appearance and took us out for an all you can eat Chinese meal, which I came away from feeling kind of hyper and with a pounding heart.


Later in the week Spencer and I went to see Toy Story 3. I tried not to cry during the film but was ecstatic about the ticket price: £4.50! And on a Saturday night to boot! That's what the cinema should cost... in Brighton it's at least £7.50 a pop. Anyway... again, all parties involved went above and beyond the call of duty in accommodating us and in making sure that we made the best of the recording experience. We can't thank Andrew and Chris enough for their enthusiasm and generosity. They are both bastions of a moral disposition which finds its foundations in empathy, benevolence and supreme good will - YES to humanity!

Thanks for reading,

Download Skibunny MP3 Mix

Skibunny follow in the footsteps of Pvt and The Vinny Club to contribute an mp3 mix for State - featuring Skibunny remixes plus tracks by Holy Fuck and Four Tet, it can be downloaded here.