We're really excited to have Former Monarchs back in Nottingham for another free show, especially as they freaking ruled last time they played the Jamcafe. In tow are Liberation Pact, Bear Makes Ninja and Some Skeletons, and if last time was anything to go by, it'll be a brilliant night. And it's free! Get yer'sens down!
Who loved 2000 Trees last year, then? Us too! We've even booked the time off work already for the shenanigans of 2012.
Good news is the festival organisers are putting up a limited amount of tickets for sale at last year's prices very soon – and once they're gone, they're gone! Never fear, however, as even at this year's prices, it's still one of the best value festivals the UK has to offer. Due to take place between 12-14 July, 2000 Trees is a sure sellout before tickets even go on sale. So act quick.
Despite the lack of information regarding the line-up, we're confident that 2000 Trees won't disappoint. So, make sure you head over to the 2000 Trees website on Monday 30th January to pick up your tickets.
Indian School - The Cruelest Kind (Walnut Tree Records)
Release date: 5 March 2012 (Digital available now)
Fed up of cold hands and dark winter nights? Then the only antidote is some new music in the form of Indian School's debut offering, The Cruelest Kind. These ex-Audio Karate guys have packed summery vibes and sun-drenched melodies into a collection of six tracks, capturing the rising anticipation of a summer not yet spent – a perfect companion for escaping these dull winter days.
So, the rumours are true – At The Drive-In have officially reformed! A holding page on their website confirms the news:
"¡ ATTENTION ! To whom it may concern: AT THE DRIVE-IN will be breaking their 11 year silence THIS STATION IS …NOW…OPERATIONAL"
Can you believe it's been 11 years since Relationship Of Command? No, neither can we! Let's watch videos to celebrate.
As Mr One Beat is cooking the mince pies, I thought I'd get in the Christmas mood myself by rounding up some of the Christmas songs people have recorded this year. Here are three of our favourite free tracks:
Frightened Rabbit - Cheap Gold
Lonely Robot - The Morning After The Night Before Christmas
Tellison - Good Luck It's Christmas
And if you are feeling generous this festive period, check out this lovely compilation put together by Robot Needs Home. Exports03: White Noise Christmas 2011 features some seasonal tuneage from the likes of Buenos Aires, Herra Hidro and Her Name Is Calla. It'll cost you a mere £2, and all proceeds go to charity.
Tracklisting:
Now where are those mince pies?
2011 is certainly a tough act to follow, with the amount of great records that have been released this year. The fact that One Beat's favourite albums were almost all British this year, it makes us all the more excited about the homegrown scene.
As we look to 2012, British talent is at the fore, and we have identified five bands to keep your ears out for.
Wow, so 2011 has been pretty ace for music hasn't it? Albums, EPs, tours, festivals...we have been really spoiled this year. So now it's time to honour our favourites....
The James Cleaver Quintet - That Was Then, This Is Now (Tangled Talk / Hassle)
Release date: 31 October 2011
Channelling the same relentless energy that makes their live sets so much fun, the debut full-length from The JCQ sprawls through the speakers and descends into aural mayhem for a solid fifty minutes, and the band aren't without their surprises.
Vinyl fiends ahoy! Remember Tall Ships last EP There Is Nothing But Chemistry Here? Well it's getting its first ever vinyl pressing courtesy of Mightier Than Sword Records.
The limited release will be available on black (100), white (200) and clear (200) vinyl, which will be screenprinted on the b-side, and feature uncoated stock on the sleeves. Vinyl geeks shall agree that this sounds very scrumptious indeed!
In addition to the original five tracks, there will be a bonus track in the form of this year's stomping single Hit The Floor as remixed by Dark Dark Horse. Have a listen to this new take on the track here.
The release won't be shipped out until February 2012, but all pre-orders get an instant download of the EP. UK-ers will be pleased to know this ships to ol' blighty too. Get your wallets around that!
When: 1 December 2011
Where: The Jam Cafe, Nottingham
Alex Hel is the first of three acts at the Jam Cafe tonight. Armed with a guitar named Steven (complete with a woolly bobble hat), the one man band pours out the lyrics of a dreamer over thick and full strumming. Fast and upbeat, these catchy songs are a foot-tappers dream. And whilst the small gathering of people here are seemingly hard to please, Hel is rewarded by a sing-a-long during his last song. The world probably doesn't need another Frank Turner, but if there's going to be one, it may as well be this guy.
Perhaps the odd band out tonight, A-tota-so plug into the electrics, and crank out the only percussion of the evening. There's a lot of expectation for the duo, who are moonlighting away from their day jobs in Alright The Captain and Cheap Jazz. Not too far removed from their other projects, A-tota-so deliver experimental math-rock centred around intricate drumming and and looped guitars. With the occasional grungy outburst and an odd vocal or two, the band whip up a hypnotic set with more bite than your neighbours dog.
Owensie rounds the evening off, sat on a stool with his acoustic. Before the first note is even plucked, he wanders off with a little story. It's the first of many which offer his thought provoking views on the world. When he does finally pick that first note, it's clear that he's the polar opposite of the evening's opener. His guitar work is barer, quieter, and often quite intricate. The downbeat, yet strangely romantic songs draw you in to Owensie's own little world, which demands a quiet room and careful ear. Storytelling comes across as inherent to this Irishman's being, and he does it all so wonderfully.
Look at that video. Good song, right?
Wot Gorilla? have filled the gap between their last EP, New Arrival (which is incredible by the way), and the release of their debut album (due in 2012) with a FREE track, simply titled Is.
If math-rock is your thing, then these guys do it wonderfully. So don't look a gift horse in the mouth, go get it!
Now here's an underrated band. So much so, that even after eight years, two EPs, three albums and no big break, Brigade announced their November tour would be their last.
Stuck somewhere between the underground and the mainstream, Brigade never got the attention they deserved, despite having a good bloody go at things over the last eight years. Existing in limbo sadly got the better of the four piece, and with bassist Naoto Hori quitting the band in the summer, something had to give. Making the announcement via a video post last month, the band resolved to shift their focus away from playing live, and get back to the nuts and bolts of it all – making music. We caught up with frontman Will Simpson to find out more.
To celebrate his UK tour with A-tota-so, Owensie has made his debut album Aliens available for free download.
The nine-track affair is perfect pre-gig listening, so get your ears around the record pronto.
And whilst Owensie's being generous, check out the remix version of Aliens, which features contributions from Lar Kaye (Adebisi Shank) and Sacred Animals. Oh, and that one is free too.
Hurry though, they'll only be up for the duration of the tour.
When: 12 November 2011
Where: The Cockpit 3, Leeds
We know, we know – a band of Brigade's caliber should not be winding down into semi-retirement, but the sad fact of the matter is, they are. Not ones to fade away quietly, Brigade have lessened the blow with their lengthiest tour in years. After witnessing their three-day residency at the Hope & Anchor in London back in April, One Beat thought it'd be criminal not to catch them on their last ever UK jaunt, so off to Leeds we went.
Hymns - Cardinal Sins / Contrary Virtues (Big Scary Monsters / Function)
Release date: 14 November 2011
You'd be forgiven for coming to the conclusion that Hymns, a two-piece rock band on the verge of releasing their debut full-length, were religious. Their two part offering entitled Cardinal Sins and Contrary Virtues strengthen this illusion further, and that's without getting into the religious imagery that holds together this concept album. But, choral intros and church organ outros serve not as their preaching vehicle, but as part of a wider metaphor, for the duo are, in actual fact, self-confessed atheists. Perplexed much?
Tour buddies Shapes and &U&I, who are just hitting the Scottish and Irish leg of their UK tour together, have just unleashed brand new videos (who said Mondays had to be dull?).
Shapes offer us Judgment Bespoke, one of their album's highlights, and it also features a cameo from Wiz (&U&I) playing the second drum kit. Boom!
And finally, &U&I have made a promo video for their album track Belly Full Of Fire And A Heart Full Of Blood. It's rather apocolyptic, and the track is a belter too!
We might be a few months off 2012, but it's not too early to get excited about what it will bring – a Wild Flag UK tour! It's so exciting we'll say it again. WILD FLAG UK TOUR!
That's right, if you missed out on tickets for their one-off London show in December, then you can catch them on one of their UK dates listed below:
Jan 27 Bristol Thekla
Jan 28 Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Jan 29 Leeds The Cockpit
Jan 30 Glasgow Òran Mór
Jan 31 Manchester Sound Control
Feb 1 London Electric Ballroom
Oh, and check out the new video for Electric Band at the top. Go Wild Flag!
Massively underated Brit-rockers Brigade have announced that their upcoming tour will be their last for the forseeable future.
Band members Will Simpson, James Plant and Andrew Kearton made their announcement via a video post (see below), in which they also revealed that bassist Naoto Hori has left the band.
Their decision to stop touring is a reaction to juggling band responsibilities with full-time jobs, with the added financial pressures of being an independant band being an important factor. The band has stressed this isn't the end, however, and they will be continuing to write, record and play shows in their locality, along with recruiting a new bassist to fill Hori's shoes.
Bridage's final tour will precede the commercial release of their third album, Will Be Will Be on November 21.
Sun 6th Nov – Brighton The Hydrant
Mon Nov 7th – Bristol The Croft
Tues Nov 8th – Cardiff Buffalo Bar
Wed Nov 9th – Southampton Joiners
Fri Nov 11th – Manchester Night & Day
Sat Nov 12th – Leeds Cockpit
Sun Nov 13th – Glasgow Stereo
Mon Nov 14th – Sunderland The Borough
Wed Nov 16th – London Barfly
Thurs Nov 17th – Leicester Firebug
Fri Nov 18th – Cambridge Man On The Moon
Sat Nov 19th – Milton Keynes The Craufurd Arms
Sun Nov 20th – Norwich B2
So, if you don't live in London, this is your last chance to see Brigade in a town near you – go show them your support. We'll be down the front!
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 13:06