The line-up for Sonisphere 2012 was announced live on Zane Lowe's show on Radio 1 last night. The roving festival which last year stopped off at 13 countries will be firmly planting itself from July 6-8 at Knebworth House, UK, which last year saw 55,000 revelers turn up each day to see the likes of Biffy Clyro, Slipknot and the holy grail of metal, The Big 4 - Metallica, Slayer, Megadeath and Anthrax. 

The riotous 7-piece Celtic punk ensemble Flogging Molly are set to take to the stage at this legendary site on the Saturday and will be joined over the course of the weekend by Kiss, Queen, Evanescence, Wolfmother and Incubus.

The news comes just as the band announce they are to also play the European rock festival Two Days A Week in Wiesen, Austria on August 31.

Expect more festival dates to follow!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON SONISPHERE

CLICK HERE TO BUY SONISPHERE TICKETS 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON TWO DAYS A WEEK

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS FOR TWO DAYS A WEEK

Projection One, the extraordinary, dark, moody and experimental offering from teenage Ghanaian afro rock outfit Edzayawa (Pronounced Ed – Zye – Ow – Ahh) is out now on digital on Soundway Records. Physical copies of the release will be available from Monday 20th February. In the run up to the physical release, the album is available to listen to exclusively below.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Xtra Mile Recordings will be showcasing some of the talent on their roster when Dave Hause takes to the road to support Against Me!'s Tom Gabel in a series of dates in late April in Germany. Dave Hause will also be playing dates in mainland Europe before setting off on an extensive May tour of the UK supporting Alkaline Trio. Then what better way to finish than with a date at the 3-day punk festival Pouzza in Montreal!

Full details:

APRIL:

Apr 23 - Gebäude 9, Cologne, Germany (supporting Tom Gabel) - BUY TICKETS

Apr 24 - Exzellenzhaus e.V., Trier, Germany (supporting Tom Gabel) - BUY TICKETS

Apr 25 - 59:1, Munich, Germany (supporting Tom Gabel) - BUY TICKETS

Apr 26 - GeneralMusikDirektion (Dave Hause Headline Show), Graz, Austria - BUY TICKETS

Apr 27 - Monster Bash, Berlin, Germany - BUY TICKETS

Apr 28 - Pirate Satellite Festival, Stuttgart, Germany - BUY TICKETS

Apr 29 - Groezrock, Meerhout, Belgium - BUY TICKETS

Apr 30 - Queensday Festival 12, Venlo, Netherlands - BUY TICKETS

MAY (supporting Alkaline Trio on all dates):

May 01 - Pyramid, Portsmouth, UK  - BUY TICKETS

May 02 - The Leadmill, Sheffield, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 03 - Empire, Middlesbrough, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 04 - Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 05 - Academy, Manchester, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 07 - HMV Picture House, Edinburgh, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 08 - Kasbah, Coventry, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 09 - Waterfront, Norwich, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 10 - Electric Ballroom, London, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 12 - Barfly, London, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 13 - Univeristy SU, Cardiff, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 14 - Lemon Grove, Exeter, UK - BUY TICKETS

May 15 - The Junction, Cambridge, UK - BUY TICKETS

MAY 19 - Pouzza Festival, Montreal, Canada - BUY TICKETS

Soundway Records announce the worldwide release of Batida's electro-tropical eponymous debut album. The dance-floor friendly album is to be released on CD, LP and download on 26th March. 'Batida' is the first contemporary artist album to be signed by Soundway and as such marks the beginning of a new progressive chapter for the label, best known for it's genre defining compilations of 1960s/70s West African, Caribbean and South American music. 2012 will see Soundway looking forward as well as backward.

The brainchild of Angolan / Portuguese DJ Mpula aka Pedro Coquenão, Batida combines samples from classic 1970s Angolan semba tracks with cutting edge electronic dance productions and kudoro beats. During the recording process Pedro would send out instrumentals to some of his favourite rappers in Angola and Lisbon. Inevitably, coming from Angola and working with artists who still live there, it was impossible for Pedro not to bring some elements of social commentary and politics into his music.

“Being half Angolan, half Portuguese gives me that chance to try to translate the countries to each other, on a small scale of course. It’s impossible now a days to live in Lisbon and not to talk about crisis. Likewise it’s impossible to have friends and family in Luanda and not include the political and social problems that the city has.” 

TRACK LIST 

1. Pronto pra Batida feat. MCK
2. Algeria
3. Yumbala feat. Circuito Feixado
4. Tirei o Chapéu feat. Ikonoklasta
5. Puxa feat. Beat Laden
6. Bazuka (Quem me rusgou)
7. Tribalismo feat. Circuito Feixado 
8. Ka Heueh feat. Ngongo
9. Saudade feat. Bob da Rage Sense
10. Cuka feat. Ikonoklasta

www.soundwayrecords.com / http://www.facebook.com/batida

La Linea returns to London for two weeks in April boasting yet another sizzling line up of Cuban rumba, Samba soul, Brazilian folk y mucho más! La Linea is one of the most eclectic, ebullient and exciting Latin festivals in the world. Legends Juan De Marcos, Roberto Pla and Céu will be performing alongside some of Latin music’s brightest new stars.

From the 1950s big bands of Edmundo Ros to the salsa craze of the 1990s to the burgeoning tropical bassline scene of today, Latin rhythms have had Londoners moving and shaking for over 50 years and the long love affair shows no signs of abating. Now in it’s 12^th year La Linea continues to champion London’s cornerstone place in the world of Latin music.

This year’s festival will be opened by Portugal’s leading musical export Madredeus who shall be playing their first show anywhere in 6 years. Spanish chart toppers Amaral will be bringing their unique blend of Latin infused pop rock for a rare London appearance.

The mighty Afro Cuban All Stars, led by the venerable Juan de Marcos, return to London for the first time in seven years. Support comes from London based Lokkhi Terra for what promises to be a rare and unforgettable night.  Brazilian singer song-writer Céu, who has captivated the world with her mesmerising blend of bossa, electronica, samba and dub will be joined at Koko by two of the most exciting new Brazilian artists, Curumin and Lucas Santtana.

Also performing at this year’s festival is the Mexican, virtuoso guitarist Morgan Szymanski. Che Sudaka’s explosive live show headlines the UK for the first time. London’s own Lucumi choir celebrate the launch of their new CD of Afro Cuban choral anthems and share the stage, Cuban-style, with Gerardo y su Rumba Ache and dancers.

Latin music has never been too far away from the heart of the capital. From Cuban bandleader Don Marino Barretto performing to pilots on Salisbury plane before the Battle of Britain to Edmundo Ros teaching then-Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret to dance.  From Gilberto Gil’s time spent in political exile in London and Héctor Lavoe performing his first ever London show in a half full pub in 1975 the capital is truly entwined with Latin spirit.

With London’s ever growing Latin population and, perhaps more significantly, the emergence of Latino-British bands, Latin music remains engrained in the culture of London and once again La Linea is at the heart of it. 

La Linea hits the road with Ceu & Curumin performing in Manchester, Bristol, Gateshead, Brighton and Coventry alongside the London schedule, bringing a taste of contemporary Brazil to 5 cities around the UK.

For more info and to visit the La Linea website, click here.

New Zealand reggae-funk heavyweights The Black Seeds announce their return to the Northern Hemisphere in April/May to support the release of their highly anticipated new studio album ‘Dust And Dirt’.

Renowned globally for their legendary 8-piece live shows, the band have spent the past 18 months holed up in their Wellington studio finishing what is being tipped as their finest album yet.

With multi-platinum selling albums downunder, The Black Seeds have built up strong followings in Europe and North America in recent years on the back of major festival performances and releases and will play 17 shows across Europe.

As an appetizer of what Black Seeds have in store, have a listen here

‘'One of the best live reggae bands on the planet'' - Clash Music (UK)

‘'Charmed, soulful 70’s styled reggae …..the snackiest reggae pop tunes on planet earth’'  - Mojo (UK)

''The most inventive thing out of the South Pacific in decades’’ - The Huffington Post (U.S)

''The Black Seeds represent the forefront of reggae today and tomorrow’’ - Jambase (U.S)

Colin MacIntyre marks the tenth anniversary of his debut album ‘Loss’ with the first Mull Historical Society album since 2005.

Titled ‘City Awakenings’, the album is MacIntyre’s first under a new deal with Xtra Mile Recordings (Frank Turner, I Am The Avalanche) and will be released on January 23^rd.  

The album campaign will be managed throughout mainland Europe via Xtra Mile's partnership with Kartel.

 The album and early accompanying live shows have already received critical acclaim in the UK, with 4* reviews in The Guardian, The Independent, Q Magazine amongst others.  In addition lead single 'The Lights' added to a host of radio playlists, including the BBC Wales, BBC Scotland, XFM London and the B-list on BBC Radio 2.

Produced by the Grammy-winning Dom Morley (Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Grinderman), ‘City Awakenings’ features ten new MacIntyre compositions which offer a tribute to Glasgow, London and New York; the three cities which have most influenced the musician as an islander abroad.

MacIntyre also co-produced the album's closer ‘Thameslink (London's Burning)’, which he first performed on acoustic guitar at his father’s funeral (his father’s death inspired ‘Loss’).

Mull Historical Society will embark on a string of headline tour dates in 2012to support the album - details TBA.

Soundway are proud to release the debut album of Portuguese/Angolan DJ Mpula aka Pedro Coquenão. A distinctly modern and vibrant project with it’s feet firmly rooted in the past, Batida combine samples from old 1970s Angolan tracks with modern electronic dance music. Simply put, Batida is the sound of the wildest Angolan street party

Being the first of a string of brand new projects, this eponymous first album sees Soundway taking a slightly different direction in 2012 and beyond. Championed mostly for their work in un-earthing and re-releasing classic, rare and vintage tropical recordings, Soundway have started signing new acts that have drawn on and been inspired by the kind of music found on the label’s groundbreaking compilations and re-issues.

What originally started out as a radio show designed to promote new African music has slowly evolved into a collaborative project crossing continents. Music is the starting point but through dance, graphics, photography, radio and video, Batida expands, taking in politics and social commentary but always bringing it back to the party.

Batida’s high energy live show features dancers, percussionists, DJs, MCs alongside visuals and images (both archive and new) of Angolan streets, war and fragments of tribal life.

Batida will be making their first live performance of the year at this years Eurosonic festival in The Netherland

The album will be pre-ceeded by an exclusive, limited-edition 7″ remix single.

2011 sees the highly anticipated return of these much loved Welsh rockers with the release of their new EP ‘polymers are forever’ - a great reminder of just how special and unique a band they are. It is also a tantalising taste of what’s to come on their forthcoming full-length studio album ‘the plot against common sense’ to be released early next year.  To provide you with more info on this new EP who better than Falco himself: 

"Running order is 'polymers are forever', 'with apologies to emily pankhurst', 'new adventures', 'my wife is unhappy', 'dry hate' and 'destroywhitchurch.com'. It has a running time somewhere in the region of twenty one minutes and is 'very nice' ((c) my mother, last week).

The first three songs are taken from the album sessions (more of this later) whilst the final three are earlier demos we didn't have the time, money or inclination to re-record. At this stage I have no earthly idea if the EP will end up being pressed on vinyl but the chances, as ever, are dramatically increased the more people ask. Just sayin'."

Listen to 'Polymers Are Forever' here

"Triangulating toxic levels of intelligence, humor, and aggressiveness, they're exactly the kind of band who could be speaking truth to power"

- Pitchfork Magazine

For close to ten years now Soundway’s mission has been to present the lost musical gems from around the world: Obscure a-sides, b-sides and album cuts that have remained unavailable and unreleased outside of their home countries – if at all.

In 2008 Soundway turned its attention to Colombia, a country where music is impossible to ignore, with the release of ‘Colombia! The Golden Age of Discos Fuentes. The Powerhouse of Colombian Music’.

As this journey of discovery grew, four more Colombian compilations followed as well as a handful of singles and EPs. From the oddball Afro influenced champeta of ‘Palenque Palenque’ to the swinging descarga and cumbia of ‘Cartagena!’ and to the eagerly awaited 55 track new release ‘The Original Sound of Cumbia’, Soundway continues to unearth the music of one of the most musically prolific and exciting countries in the world.

Developed here at Kartel HQ on behalf of Soundway Records this map highlights the different regions of Colombia that the different styles originated from and that the musicians, labels and recording studios were based. Rare video interviews with Curro Fuentes and Michi Sarmiento feature alongside performances from the likes of Lucho Bermudez and of course, some of the fantastic music that have featured on these compilations.

Go to the Soundway website to experience Soundway's unique journey through the musical delights of Colombia.

Flogging Molly, the hard talking hard playing 7-piece, have hit 2011 with a new record label, a fifth studio album and a string of headline festival appearances.   Now in the middle of a sell –out headline European tour, the rabble rousing Celtic Punks have created a new platform for fans to interecat with the band. 

Launching on Monday 14^th Novemeber.  the Flogging Molly  phone app will offer exclusive competitions and rarely accessed material from the band and their new label cohorts.

By downloading the app, fans can follow the band on tour, listen to the music and watch their videos.  As well as keeping users up to date with any Flogging Molly news and tour announcements in also has interactive features, allowing fans to upload pictures from shows and connect with other Molly fans from around the world. The best part is of course that it is entirely free.

Download the App here

London-based indie label Xtra Mile Recordings branches out into new territory with an exciting international set-up and a host of acts on the roster planning releases and tours across Europe.

To celebrate Xtra Mile’s venture into Europe, via London-based management and services company Kartel, the label has created www.xtramilerecordings.com/europe  where fans can access a taster of the label and an amazing competition.

The free 5 track download features music from Frank Turner, Against Me! The Xcerts, I Am The Avalanche and Crazy Arm and by downloading this compilation fans will be automatically entered into a competition. One lucky winner will be chosen at random to win VIP tickets for them and a friend to come and see Frank Turner’s only 2012 UK headline show at London’s Wembley Arena on 13^th April inclusive of flights and accommodation.

For more information on all releases and tours please visit www.xtramilerecordings.com

Soundway return once more to the Caribbean and are proud to present ‘Ifetayo’ by Black Truth Rhythm Band originally released in 1976. Led by the charismatic Oluko Imo, ‘Ifetayo’ was the only release from the Afro-centric, Trinidadian band and is re-issued here for the first time on CD, vinyl and digital. Whereas most of their peers at the time were looking to the funk of the USA & James Brown for inspiration, Black Truth Rhythm Band looked to Africa, fusing rhythms from Africa & the West Indies with elements of jazz, funk, calypso and soul.

From an early stage in their career it was the African influence that set Black Truth Rhythm Band apart from other West Indian bands. Formed in 1971, the group looked further a field than the USA for their influences, more specifically to Africa, even going as far as giving themselves African names and dressing in African clothes. At the time finding African records in the West Indies was particularly difficult, making the bands choice of influences even more rare.

In 1975 Imo took his musicians into the studio to record the album ‘Ifetayo’. Imo played bass, kalimba, conga, flute and percussion as well as lead vocals.  The album was released the following year in 1976 and despite being released in the US, remained an underground, albeit unique and forward thinking record that has remained out of print for years now.

‘Ifetayo’ was to be the only release from Black Truth Rhythm Band but Imo continued his music and love of African rhythms, going onto record with Fela Kuti in 1988 and later on perform with members of Fela’s Egypt 80 band.

All formats comes with a non-album bonus track. The vinyl edition comes with bonus 7″.

Tracklist

1. Ifetayo
2.You People
3. Save D Musician
4. Kilimanjaro
5. Aspire
6. Umbala
BONUS TRACK (CD & LP VERSION): Imo

PRE-ORDER 'IFETAYO' HERE.

To hear a track from the album, click on the video below:

Xtra Mile Recording’s new signings I Am The Avalanche will be coming over to the UK and Europe this December for an exciting headline tour plus support slot with Young Guns.

It’s been over 5 years since the Brooklyn quintet made it across the pond to unleash their frenetic and passionate live show on the Great British public. Better late than never we think! They will be bringing with them punk five piece Hostage Calm from the US for main support and up and coming band Apologies, I Have None as the opening band for the whole tour.

Full dates are:

DECEMBER

2 Birmingham HMV Institute – Tickets: www.hmvtickets.co.uk
3 Milton Keynes Crafurd Arms – Tickets: www.thecraufurdarms.com
4 Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach – Tickets: www.seetickets.com
6 Leeds Cockpit 2 – Tickets: www.seetickets.com
9 Liverpool Masque – Tickets: www.hmvtickets.co.uk
10 Glasgow Classic Grand – Tickets: www.gigsinscotland.com
11 Manchester Moho Live – Tickets: www.ticketline.co.uk www.seetickets.com www.wegottickets.com www.mutinytickets.com
13 Kingston The Peel – Tickets: www.bnqt.co/shows  
14 London Barfly – Tickets: www.kililive.com
15 Amsterdam Sugar Factory – Tickets: www.melkweg.nl

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday 21^st September  2011.

The tour is in support of their long awaited second album ‘AVALANCHE UNITED’ released on Xtra Mile Recordings in October. It is the album fans have been waiting on for over six years. Vinnie Caruana (vocals), Brandon Swanson (guitar), Michael Ireland (guitar), Brett “The Ratt” Romnes (drums) and Kellen Robson (bass) formed I Am the Avalanche in the fall of 2004 and quickly released their debut self-titled album in 2005. They toured the world relentlessly in support of this album, which became a cult favorite among fans and the band’s peers, and with popularity and respect from the punk rock community through Caruana’s previous band The Movielife, IATA soon established their own intensely dedicated following around the globe.  

In 2006, IATA began writing and demoing new music for their follow-up album. Despite the odd rare live performance they decided to return to their DIY roots and become self-managed, self-booked and almost completely on their own so they could be laser-focused on writing the best album of their careers.

Six years after the release of their debut album, IATA have returned with just that. Set for release on 10^th October 2011, produced by the band, and executive produced and engineered by their prolific drummer Brett “The Ratt” Romnes and mixed by Machine (Fall Out Boy, Every Time I Die, Four Year Strong), AVALANCHE UNITED is addictively melodic and blisteringly raw to its very core.  Featuring 12 anthemic songs, the album includes ‘Brooklyn Dodgers’, the bold ‘Holy Fuck’, the epic and somber ‘Dead Friends’ and ‘The Gravedigger’s Argument’ featuring Anthony Raneri from Bayside. Throughout, Caruana’s distinctive voice drips with defiance, humor and proud vulnerability as he sings about hope, heartbreak, death, defying adversity and the bonds between family, lovers and friends.

And just seconds into first listening to AVALANCHE UNITED, it’ll be immediately clear that I Am the Avalanche are back with one of punk’s most powerful albums in years, unbroken and unbowed.

www.facebook.com/iamtheavalanche
Twitter @iatanyc
www.xtramilerecordings.com

For more information please contact: Charlie, Dan, Dani and Anthea at Press Counsel PR
Firstname@presscounselpr.com

Check out the video below:

Soundway set sail for Colombia once again, delving deeper into the South American country’s rich musical past. Boasting 55 tracks spread over two CDs and two triple LPs, ‘The Original Sound of Cumbia’ is Soundway’s definitive guide to the origins of Colombian cumbia and porro and the result of five years pain staking re-search by Will ‘Quantic’ Holland.

Disc 1 tells the story of some the earliest Colombian cumbia recorded, a genre that captured a nation, spreading from its birthplace on the Caribbean coast in land to central Colombia and the capital Bogata. Disc 2 sees the evolution of cumbia. Greats of Colombian music like Alberto Pacheco, Toño Fernandez & Anibal Velasquez brought the genre forward, bringing new influences and instruments to the genre. What had once been considered the music of the underclasses had risen up as the new sound of a nation.

After five years of becoming slowly submerged in Colombian musical culture, learning the accordion, setting up a band and a studio, and scouring the country in search it’s recorded legacy, Will ‘Quantic’ Holland (Quantic Soul Orchestra & Quantic y su Combo Barbaro) has compiled the fruits of his labour into this unique compilation that tells the story of cumbia in the years of the phonograph record’s supremacy. Along with good friend and head of Soundway Records, Miles Cletet, Will Holland has condensed hundreds of 78s, 45s and LPs into just over two and a half hours of the finest Colombian cumbia.

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM FROM SOUNDWAY'S STORE HERE

Listen here: 

One man blues sensation Son of Dave has released a new video for his single 'Ain't Nuthin' But The Blues', released 31st October on 7" vinyl and digital. The video, filmed in East London, stars Son of Dave, a Remington Portable Model 5, Jessica Hynes and a stuffed cat. Son of Dave is currently in the middle of a UK tour, and he arrives in London this Thursday at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen. 

The new single, 'Ain't Nuthin But The Blues', was originally recorded for his Steve Albini produced album 'Shake A Bone' and released in 2010. However Son of Dave returned to the studio to re-record the track with Jimmy Hogarth, (Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse) this time with a band in tow. The new version of 'Ain't Nothin' But The Blues' sees Son Of Dave’s lo-fi sound expanded and built upon with full horn section, bubbling Hammond organ, handclaps and a Stax style rhythm section.

'Ain't Buthin' But The Blues' is currently being offered as a free download from Son of Dave's website.

Ain't Nuthin' But The Blues FREE DOWNLOAD: http://sonofdave.com/home/

Check out the video below:

One man blues sensation Son of Dave, who kicks off his UK tour this week, is offering up his new single 'Ain't Nothin But The Blues' as free download from his own website. Released 30th October on 7" vinyl & download, the track was originally recorded for his Steve Albini produced album 'Shake A Bone' and released in 2010.

Infamous for his one-man band style, Son of Dave returned to the studio to re-record the track with Jimmy Hogarth, (Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse) this time with a full band in tow.

The new version of 'Ain't Nothin But The Blues' sees Son Of Dave’s lo-fi sound expanded and built upon with full horn section, bubbling Hammond organ, handclaps and a Stax style rhythm section.

Son of Dave will be touring the UK in Oct & November, taking his one man rock 'n' roll show across the country. Kicking off this week at the Kendal Brewery Arts Centre 13th October, the run of dates includes a show at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen in London on 20th October. 

FREE DOWNLOAD BELOW

To have a listen

On 7th  November, Neal Casal will release his tenth solo record ‘Sweeten The Distance’ through Fargo Records. Recorded with noted producer Thom Monahan (Devendra Banhart, Vetiver, Pernice Brothers, Gary Louris) ‘Sweeten The Distance’ follows on from 2009’s self produced ‘Roots and Wings’.

 While listeners will recognize Casal's strong yet understated vocals on the new record, his acoustic-driven melodies have been amplified by complex sonic layers resulting in a new, expansive sound that is the culmination of this prolific songwriter's multifaceted catalog and career to date. 

After releasing ‘Roots and Wings’ in 2009 Casal went onto record ‘Connections’, the third album by his rock-and-roll band Hazy Malaz, and more recently hooked up with The Black Crowes leader on his new project, The Chris Robinson Brotherood. He even managed to find time to serve as a technical advisor on the Gwyneth Paltrow film ‘Country Strong’ in which he also appears as one of Paltrow’s band members. Interestingly this was not Casal’s first foray into the movie business after being the vocal coach for Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson in 2004’s ‘Starsky & Hutch’. 

One of the more prolific artists of his generation Casal’s debut record, ‘Fade Away Diamond Time’, was released in 1995 to much critical acclaim. Produced by Jim Scott (Wilco, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash) in a sprawling mansion in the hills of Santa Ynez, California, the album introduced the intimate songwriting and lyrical guitar work that would become the foundation of his career.

In between recording and touring with other artists such as Beachwood Sparks, James Iha, Lucinda Williams, Sheryl Crow, Mark Olson, and Rufus Wainwright, Casal recorded multiple solo releases. Two of his finest solo releases, 1996's ‘Rain, Wind, and Speed’ and 1998's ‘Basement Dreams’, have recently been reissued with discs of bonus material by Fargo Records. MOJO wrote, "What made [Basement Dreams] so compelling was the tone, the simplicity and economy with which Casal approached each song and the naturalness with which he inhabits them . . . pieces of singer-songwriter perfection.

Casal is also known as the lead guitarist of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, with whom he recorded three albums: Easy Tiger (which reached #7 on the Billboard chart), Follow the Lights, and Cardinology. His time in the band led to working with such luminaries as Willie Nelson (Casal played guitar and piano on Nelson’s Ryan Adam’s produced album Songbird) and former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh.

It also allowed another talent to be revealed when he released his first photography collection, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: A View of Other Windows. In this lavishly produced volume, Casal captured not only the exhilaration of the stage and studio but also the harsh realities of life on the road and the creative process. Internationally lauded for his thoughtful and evocative photography both of the Cardinals and of more personal subjects, Casal described the process of creating his photographs as "the songs I cannot write; the music I hear in my head, but can't yet play."

Neal Casal will be over in early 2012 for his first ever UK tour with his full band.

“You are going to hear Rhythm and Blues the way I personally likes to pervert it…" Son Of Dave

Twenty-first century blues man Son Of Dave returns with new single ‘Ain’t Nuthin’ But The Blues’ produced by Jimmy Hogarth (Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse). A feverishly contagious three & a half minutes of twisted voodoo pop. Released on 31st October on 7" vinyl and download the new single coincides with an eight date autumn tour of the UK.

Infamous for his one-man band style, both in the studio and on the road, this new recording of the song (previously released on the Steve Albini produced ‘Shake A Bone’ album) sees Son Of Dave’s lo-fi sound expanded and built upon with full horn section, bubbling Hammond organ, handclaps and a Stax style rhythm section.

Son of Dave: a one off, a fearless live performer, an outspoken loudmouth, and, as ‘Ain’t Nothing But The Blues’ proves yet again, a man with a knack for a blues-soaked hook.

Son of Dave will be touring the UK in Oct & November. Kicking off at the Kendal Brewery Arts Centre 13th October, the run of dates includes a show at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen on 20th October.

www.sonofdave.com/home

UK Autumn tour dates

13/10 Kendal Brewery Arts
14/10 Manchester Band on the Wall
20/10 London Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
22/10 Brighton The Haunt
27/10 Liverpool, The Masque
28/10 Selby Selby Town Hall
04/11 Bristol The Fleece
05/11 Torquay Blues Festival

London based Mais Um Discos label released the stunning new album from Lucas Santtana called 'Sem Nostalgia' earlier this month to widespread critical acclaim and now announce his debut London and Paris live dates this November.

31 Oct - Barbican, London (w/ Ana Moura)

1 Nov - Favela Chic, London

2 Nov - Le Belle Villoise, Paris

See newly launched Lucas Santtana website (designed by Kartel) www.lucassanttana.com for more info.

Here's what some of the press have said about the album so far:

“rare, original, brilliant." Drowned In Sound

“Beck meets Tom Ze in Brazilian’s brilliant first ” Uncut

“Santtana’s innovative approach makes for a refreshing excursion” 4/5 Observer

“An adventurous, discordant deconstruction.” The Telegraph

“as much like modern electronic music as ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ … simultaneously nostalgic and futuristic” NPR

"One of the best of the younger Brazilian musicians & songwriters" New York Times

“One of the best Brazilian albums of the year” The Arts Desk

Soundway and Tummy Touch are proud to present three blistering albums of Afro rock and funk from Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Joni Haastrup and his band MonoMono. Re-issued for release on CD, download and replica gatefold LP are three of Nigeria’s most coveted releases; MonoMono’s 1971 debut album ‘Give The Beggar A Chance’, the follow up ‘Dawn of Awareness’ and Joni Haastrup’s debut solo record ‘Wake Up Your Mind’.

Soundway have been championing Joni Haastrup since day one featuring tracks on both the ‘Nigeria Special!’ and ‘Nigeria Rock Special!’ releases. Most recently Joni appears as a guest keys players on Black Goddess, an Afro-jazz soundtrack collaboration with Remi Kabaka.

Growing up in a royal household in Nigeria, Joni Haastrup began his musical journey performing for his brothers band Sneakers and was quickly snapped up as a vocalist for O.J. Ekemode and his Modern Aces’ ‘Super Afro Soul’ LP, one of Afro-beat’s formative LPs. Soon after, Ginger Baker of Cream fame replaced Steve Winwood with Joni on keys for Airforce’s UK concerts in ‘71 and the success of the collaboration led t further shows with Baker as part of the SALT project before he returned to Nigeria to set up MonoMono.

HEADLINE TOUR w/Crazy Arm supporting

NOVEMBER

03 - Paris - La Maroquinerie, France

04 - Trier - Ex-Haus, Germany

05 - Aarschot - JC De Klinker, Belgium

06 - Dusseldorf - Zakk, Germany

07 - Zurich - Abart, Switzerland

09 - Vienna - WuK, Austria

10 - Salzburg - Rockhouse, Austria

11 - Mezzago - Bloom (Rock Your Weekend Festival) Italy

13 - Tillburg - 013, Holland

14 - Hannover - Faust, Germany

15 - Hamburg - Knust, Germany 

16 - Munster - Skaters Palace

18 - Leeds - Cockpit

19 – Nottingham - Rescue Rooms

20 – Southampton - Talking Heads

21 – Norwich - Arts Centre 

Supporting Frank Turner

22 - Bournemouth - O2 Academy

23 - Newport Centre

24 – Birmingham Academy

25 - Glasgow - Barrowlands

26 - Manchester - Apollo

27 – London - Hammersmith Apollo

28 – Kingston - The Peel  

Kartel are delighted to announce a new international label services partnership with uk label Xtra Mile Recordings.

Born from a passion for music and a strong DIY ethic, Xtra Mile Recordings began life in 2003 to release albums by post-hardcore band Million Dead and rock outfit Reuben.

After receiving critical acclaim for both albums, the label slowly began to grow and year on year, the roster expanded, playing host to an eclectic array of emerging and established acts that include The Xcerts, Crazy Arm, Chris T-T, Far and My Vitriol to name a few….

Xtra Mile is home to folk/punk hero Frank Turner who signed to Xtra Mile in 2005 after his former band Million Dead disbanded, despite interest from numerous major and independent labels.

Frank’s current album ‘England Keep My Bones’ entered the UK charts at Number 6 and through a close working relationship with Epitaph, Frank’s label for the rest of the world, has become an international commercial success.

The Xcerts have developed from fledgling beginnings to a formidable live act. Having previously toured with legendary bands Fu Manchu, Biffy Clyro, Funeral For A Friend and Idlewild they will be supporting Frank Turner, Taking Back Sunday, Young Guns, and Manchester Orchestra this autumn.

Punk/country band Crazy Arm, have previously played with Social Distortion, Propagandhi, No Apologies and Failsafe and will be touring with new Xtra Mile signings Against Me! in late 2011.

The label looks forward to 2011/12 with broader horizons. With new American signings Against Me!, Dave Hause and Jim Ward.

 And from the UK with Mull Historical Society and Sophie Madeleine.

Live: Saturday 10th September, Netil House, London TICKETS HERE

In August 2011, lead singer of The Cambodian Space Project Srey Thy was confirmed as a Good Will Ambassador for UN Women’s UNiTE, Ban Ki Moon’s campaign to end violence against women in Cambodia.

Srey Thy (31 years) is hugely popular in her home country of Cambodia both as a singer and because of her tireless work in promoting human rights in Cambodia, a country whose record is shameful, past and present. Since she formed The Cambodian Space Project in 2009, Srey Thy and her band have travelled the length of Cambodia, visiting and performing for some of the most disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas entertaining orphans, school-children and sometimes entire villages.

She grew up in a ‘low caste’ family in one of Cambodia’s poorest rural areas. She was a child labourer for the Khmer Rouge’s and Pol Pot’s brutal regime and kidnapped as a teenager and almost forced into a sex trafficking ring.  Srey’s story is like many women in Cambodia yet she has the enviable position of being able to make decisions to guide her in her life unlike millions who are so often forced to leave their families in search of work in the city and are then exploited or simply work in terrible conditions with next to no rights for up to 18 hours a day.

Since her turbulent upbringing Srey The has cut her crust through working in restaurants and karaoke bars but it wasn’t until Christmas 2009 and a chance meeting with Australian producer Julien Poulson that Srey’s life changed so dramatically.

Cambodia Space Project's debut album ‘2011: A Space Odyssey’ is out now on Metal Postcards Records. LINK AMAZON. ROUGH TRADE

Rock CambodiA

Rock Cambodia! from marc e on Vimeo.

Written and directed by Ola Balogun and shot on location in Brazil and Nigeria in 1977-78, “Black Goddess” had the distinction of being the first collaboration between an African country and Brazil in the field of film production. It won the International Catholic Film Office prize for best motion picture at the Carthage Film Festival in 1978 and was honoured at a special screening in the widely acclaimed “New Films, New Director’s” programme at the New York Museum of Modern Art in April 1980.

FILM SYNOPSIS (written by the film’s director Ola Balogun)

“Black Goddess” is a love story that spans two centuries.

In 18th century Yorubaland in Nigeria, Prince Oluyole is taken prisoner in the course of internecine warfare fanned by overseas slave traders. He is sold into slavery in Brazil.

Flash forward to the 1970’s in Lagos, capital of Nigeria : A dying man bequeaths a sacred carving of Yemoja to his son Babatunde, to whom he entrusts the task of travelling to Brazil to retrieve the duplicate of the carving. The carving that Babatunde is to seek out is supposedly held in trust by members of a branch of their family who remained behind in Brazil when Babatunde’s forefathers returned to Nigeria after slavery was abolished in Brazil at the end of the nineteenth century.

In Brazil, Babatunde meets unexpected assistance in his quest from a young female devotee of the cult of Yemoja, who falls into a trance in his presence during a religious ceremony in one of modern Brazil’s African religious temples known as candomblé.

At Yemoja’s prompting, the young woman undertakes to guide Babatunde to a deserted village in a remote part of Brazil, where they encounter the same mysterious woman to whom Prince Oluyole owed his survival two centuries earlier.

As the interaction between Yemoja, Babatunde and his guide deepens, the adventure evolves into a fresh blossoming of the tragic love affair between Prince Oluyole and Amanda which was cut short by her premature death two centuries earlier…

Hyped new Brazilian label Mais Um Discos follow the critically acclaimed ‘Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira!’ compilation with the first in a series of digital download EPs profiling Brazil’s most exciting new artists and musical genres.

‘Mais Um Discos presents Nova-Tropicalia’ showcases six artists gleefully cannibalizing Brazilian and international influences to create a 21^st century take on tropicalia.

Tropicalia arose in late 60s Brazil as musical mavericks Os Mutantes, Gilberto Gil and Tom Ze mixed psychedelic rock and the avant-garde with samba, funk and soul and today’s nova-Tropicalistas mix musical influences and genres with the same disregard and inventive playfulness.

On ‘Sarara’ Catarina Dee Jah sounds like a tropical Debbie Harry as she fuses Northern Brazilian romantic brega music with ska & punk, ‘Isso e Carimbo’ is Do Amor’s playful tribute to the Amazonian carimbo rhythm and the operatically overblown psych-pop of ‘Desquite’ by Cerebro Electronico feat. Tulipa conjurs up the theatrical prime of Os Mutantes.

Lucas Santtana is greatly influenced by the Tropicalists and their subversion of popular Brazilian genres, and on ‘Cira, Regina e Nana’ he spikes the Brazilian tradition of voice and guitars with glitchy beats from an MPC to create a sublime slice of electro-acoustica.

The ever-playful Mini Box Lunar from the Amazonian city of Macapa drop the fairground-boogie-woogie of ‘Despertador 7.45’ whilst Diego e O Sindicato’s epic ‘Todo Dia’ morphs from a charming nursery rhyme sing-along into a pogo-inducing tropical-freak-out: ‘Mais Um Discos presents Nova-Tropicalia’ profiles the artists proudly sticking two fingers up to musical purists whilst paying respect to Brazil’s colossal musical legacy.

Mais Um Discos was founded by DJ/ producer Mais Um Gringo in 2010 to champion the new generation of Brazilian artists who ‘fuse styles, disregard genres and upset purists’. Two further EPs are planned for 2011 - a 6 tracker featuring the heaviest Amazonian ‘tecnobrega’ and ‘eletromelody’ dancehall sounds plus a look at Northeastern Brazil’s folk revival scene. Mais Um Discos will release the new album from Brazilian electro-acoustic maverick Lucas Santtana on August 29, the mesmerising ‘Sem Nostalgia’. 

Wakey!Wakey! have announced a 9-date tour of the UK for October 2011, having sold out London’s Scala on their last UK trip. The tour begins in Nottingham on 10 October, and includes a stop at London’s Heaven on 19 October. It follows the release of Wakey!Wakey!’s first full-length studio album - Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You - on 1 August, concurrently with the single Light Outside.

The album – the UK’s introduction to the project headed by Brooklyn-based Michael Grubbs - is the culmination of a lifelong eclectic musical education coloured as equally by the anti-folk movement of NY’s Lower East Side as a childhood absorbed in Gershwin and Brahms. The ‘scrawny, dopey’ kid who could never make the sports team in High School grew up on a somewhat improbable mix of Beethoven, Elton John and Led Zeppelin. This collision of the classical and the downright flamboyant, combined with the absence of any formal instruction, led to Grubbs’ idiosyncratic approach to songwriting.

This genre-spanning fascination continued in typically non-linear fashion, as Grubbs lent his talents on two touring musicals. ‘I’m a tall, skinny, straight guy who can sing - that’s basically gold dust in the musical theatre industry, because there’s none of us.’ Settling in New York, he then came under the guidance of Lach, a man best known as the driving force behind the Anti-Folk movement of the Lower East Side. Becoming the tutee of an icon whose movement included Regina Spektor had quite an effect: ‘to hear someone like Regina perform with such abandon, shouting and hitting her stool with a drum stick, was priceless.’

If his time spent in New York with Lach gave Grubbs the conviction to construct his orchestral pop works, then a chance encounter with a certain Mark Schwahn proved to be his commercial vindication. Schwahn is better known as the man behind the long-running American teen-drama ‘One Tree Hill’, which has attained cult-status over its eight season run, and has been soundtracked by artists including Bon Iver, Frightened Rabbit and Dashboard Confessional. Having watched a Wakey!Wakey! live set, Schwahn was sufficiently impressed to not only soundtrack a season finale with the title track from their War Sweater EP, but to also recruit Grubbs for a recurring role on the show.

UK tour

10 October NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms - £10
11 October MANCHESTER Night and Day - £10   
12 October GLASGOW Oran Mor - £10
14 October BIRMINGHAM HMV Institute - £9
15 October BRISTOL The Fleece - £10
17 October SOUTHAMPTON The Brook - £9
18 October BRIGHTON The Haunt - £10
19 October LONDON Heaven - £11 

20 October GLOUCESTER Guildhall - £9 

Soundway Records are proud to present the soundtrack to Ola Balogun's legendary movie from 1978, Black Goddess. Released on 8th August on CD, LP and digital  the soundtrack is the label's deepest venture into afro-jazz and was composed by one of Nigeria's most successful and original musicians Remi Kabaka.

The film Black Goddess was written and directed by Balogun (recognised as one of Nigeria's most renowned directors) but shot and cast in Brazil.

Black Goddess will get a rare screening at the next Soundway party in London -   Dancing Time With Soundway - to be held in an east London  venue (TBA) on the 10th September. Our biggest London party to date the night will feature Miles Cleret (Soundway) Chris Menist & Maft Sai (Sound of Siam) along with guest DJs Vamanos & A.J Holmes (Secousse) and The Quietus DJs. Live music comes from  The Cambodian Space Project.

Dancing Time With Soundway
Date: 10th September 2011
Time: 7pm - 4am
Venue: East London venue TBC
Nearest stations London Fields and Bethnal Green.
Price: £12

Ticket here: http://soundwayrecords.greedbag.com/dept/~dancing-time-wit/

Black Goddess (from Black Goddess 0ST) by Soundway

The official Fat Freddy's Drop phone app. Follow the band on tour, listen to the music and watch the videos. Keep up to date on any Freddy's news and tour announcements, upload your own pictures from shows and connect with other Fredheads. Plus, it's all free.

Built by the FFD and KARTEL team and launched arond the bands' recent Brixton Academy show and European summer tour.

Download the APP here

The Cambodian Space Project are ready to unleash their psychedelic Khmer-rock from the jungles of Cambodia onto the rest of the world. The debut album ‘2011: A Space Odyssey’ is to be released worldwide on September 5th. Over the last two years the band have taken Cambodia by storm, becoming the King of Cambodia’s favorite band in the process and the unofficial state band, recently playing to Hillary Clinton during her recent visit to Cambodia.

Based in Phnom Penh, The Cambodian Space Project are fronted by the playfully charismatic and vocally gifted Srey Thy and made up of Australian, French and Cambodian musicians. A culture-clash of sorts, the band combines traditional Khmer songs and instrumentation with western rock ‘n’ roll (originally imported by American G.I’s back in the 1960s & 70s) creating their own unique place in the musical landscape.

Recorded in Cambodia, the album was made as a tribute to the musicians of Cambodia’s musical golden-age, building on the legacy of the likes of Ros Sereysothea, Sin Sisamouth & Pan Ron.

Most tracks on the album were originally written for or by these three legends of Cambodian music, and reworked by CSP with a Western edge. The cross pollination of cultures is perhaps best highlighted on the track ‘Kolos Srey Chaom’ (Love Gold) where Sry They sings the words from a Ros Sereysothea track over Shocking Blue’s classic ‘I’m Your Venus’.

The band formed back in 2009 when Julien Poulson, an Australian musician and film producer, was in Phnom Penh looking for Cambodian musicians to work with. He stumbled across lead vocalist Srey Thy singing in a karaoke bar and was instantly taken with her. A couple of months later she was part of a band and The Cambodian Space Project was born.

Accustomed to playing anywhere - from rural villages to boats on the Mekong, from bars in Phnom Penh to an elephants 50^th birthday party - The Cambodian Space Project played this years SXSW festival in March and will be in Europe this September for a run of shows, including a performance at the prestigious End of The Road festival on September 10th 

Twenty-first century blues man Son of Dav announces 8 date UK tour this Autumn. See Son of Dave Facebook or website for more info

13/10 Kendal Brewery Arts

14/10 Manchester Band on the wall  

20/10 London Hoxton Bar & Kitchen

22/10 Brighton The Haunt

27/10 Liverpool, The Masque

28/10 Selby Selby Town Hall

04/11 Bristol The Fleece

05/11 Torquay Blues Festival

Special guests sadly won't include the lovely Cyndi Lauper who Son of Dave recently jammed with on Later! with Jools Holland.

Fresh from a stunning set at 2011’s Glastonbury festival and a string of headline European festival shows, the legendary 7-piece Celtic punk ensemble have just announced a run of UK and European tour dates to take place in November 2011.

UK tickets exclusive presale available today, Wednesday 28 June from 9am: http://floggingmollytickets.sandbag.uk.com. For more info and European ticket links see the bands website

3 November, Portsmouth, Pyramid
4 November, London, Forum
5 November, Manchester, Academy 2
6 November, Norwich, UAE
8 November, Copenhagen, Vega
9 November, Stockholm, Arena
10 November, Oslo, Sentrum Scene
11 November, Malmö, KB
12 November, Eindhoven, Klokgebouw
15 November, Austria, Gasometer
17 November, Zurich, Komplex
26 November, Paris, Le Bataclan
28 November, Nottingham, Rock City
29 November, Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
30 November, Cardiff, Coal Exchange

Flogging Molly on Conan performing "Saints & Sinners" from their brand new album "Speed of Darkness" out now worldwide.

Bostich & Fussible, one half of Nortec Collective, Mexico’s groundbreaking Tijuana-based genre-alchemists, return with their Grammy nominated release ‘Bulevar 2000’ released on the 25th July through Because Music. Bostich & Fussible will be appearing at this summer’s Lucha Future shows here in the UK; a marvel of live performance and a show like no other. Good takes on evil, heroes are born and super heroes are made in a night of adrenalin fueled Mexican wrestling. In conjunction with Lucha Future, Bostrich & Fussible are offering a free download of their track 'Punta Banda'.

Mixing electronica with traditional Mexcian music, the new album (their second as a duo) sees Bostich & Fussible combining old synths and drum machines with traditional Mexican instruments and contemporary electronic production to create a sonic snapshot of the their hometown.
The album features collaborations with local Mexican musicians as well as the Argentinean conductor Alberto Nunez Palacio renowned for his work with the great tango-fusionist Astor Piazzolla.  Nunez Palacio wrote string and horn arrangements on ‘I Count The Ways’ and ‘Bulevar 2000’ after performing with Bostich & Fussible in front of 25,000 fans in the streets of Tijuana. The show, a landmark event for the band, was held to celebrate 10 years of the Nortec Collective. 

Live dates w/ Lucha Future

24th - 26th June - The Roundhouse - London

http://www.bluefishtest.co.uk/lucha/tour_dates.htm

28th June - Sage - Gateshead 

http://www.bluefishtest.co.uk/lucha/tour_dates.htm

1st - 2nd July - Dome - Brighton

http://www.bluefishtest.co.uk/lucha/tour_dates.ht

FLOGGING MOLLY, the legendary 7-piece Celtic punk ensemble, are set to release a new single, taken from their forthcoming studio album Speed of Darkness. The single, entitled Revolution, is set for release on the 27^th June 2011, immediately following the band’s Glastonbury debut on the Avalon stage. 

Flogging Molly have teamed up Genero.tv to launch a music video competition today giving film makers the opportunity to make the official music video for their next single. The winning director will receive $4,000 US dollars and their video will be serviced to global media, including TV. The band will choose the finalist and winning videos themselves, with 2 entries also becoming finalists based on the number of Facebook likes.

The competition closes on June 23 with the winner announced on 1st July. Find out more here http://genero.tv/floggingmolly.

Listen to the new single here:

Kartel is pleased to welcome Brooklyn based group Wakey! Wakey! to our label management roster.

The band is the brainchild of Mike Grubbs, who may be a familiar face to some having played the recurring role of bartender/musician 'Grubbs' in the hit US TV show 'One Tree Hill'.

 Wakey! Wakey! have made their presence known over the past couple years, their perfect blend of crowd-pleasing pop and art-damaged indie rock winning over legions of fans throughout the world.

Grubbs is a charismatic and eccentric frontman, slapping his piano around and singing like his life depends on it while conducting a rich backdrop of sweeping strings, heavenly harmonies, and enough delicate details to make Wakey!Wakey!’s upcoming album 'Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You'  feel like an Oscar-nominated film soundtrack.

Hear a track from the forthcoming album here:

Wakey! Wakey! will return to the UK in June for two headline dates.

DATES:

14/06/11 - Scala, London

TICKETS

15/06/11 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

TICKETS

Athens, Georgia trio The Whigs will return to the UK later this month as main support to Kings Of Leon for two arena dates.

The band have previously toured around the world with KOL, and were due to play the O2 Arena show in December of last year which was postponed at the eleventh hour due to a tourbus fire.

Dates:

30/05/11 - Ricoh Arena, Coventry

TICKETS

01/06/11 - O2 Arena, London

TICKETS

Soundway presents "Aqui Los Bravos! The Best of Michi Sarmiento y su Combo Bravo 1967 - 77", a collection of pure Colombian dancefloor thunder; 16 tracks of the finest guaguancós, descargas and cumbias recorded by legendary bandleader Michi Sarmiento y su Bravos. Available now from all good record store including the Soundway store - http://soundwayrecords.greedbag.com.

The Pigeon Detectives return after ending on a high in 2008.  The band have sold in excess of half a million copies of their first two albums.  With two UK Top 5 albums, ‘Wait For Me’ (2007) and  ‘Emergency’ (2008) and five Top 40 singles tucked under their collective arm, the band took a sabbatical before returning to New York to record the third album.

 ‘UP, GUARDS AND AT ‘EM!’ clearly marks the start of an entire new phase of creativity for the Yorkshire five-piece. The band spent two months in New York City laying down the album at Brooklyn Recording Company with producer Justin Gerrish (who’s previous job was mixing Vampire Weekend’s massively successful ‘Contra’).  Whilst there, the group settled into New York life and soaked up the sounds, the sights and the overall creative spirit of the city on a daily basis, feeding it into the developing album as they went.

Just spend a few seconds listening to the suave electro-rhythms and scything riffs that combine on the album’s opening track ‘She Wants Me’. It only takes as long as those opening three and a half minutes to realize that the raggedly charming indie rock band we once knew have developed into something far slicker and sexier.

Alina Orlova has announced the UK release of her new album Mutabor and is offering a free download of the album track Lichoradka. 

Hailing from Visaginas, a small town in the North East of Lithuania near the border of Belarus and Latvia, Alina Orlova sings in a mix of Lithuanian, Russian and English. Her sophomore album Mutabor, an enthralling collection of contemporary electro-baroque folk pop, is set for release on 13th June through Fargo Records.

Alina Orlova - Lichoradka by KARTEL

Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter are offering a free download of 'Come To Mary', a song taken from their new album 'Marble Son', released via Fargo Records on May 2nd. 'Marble Son' is the bands fourth record on Fargo and their first release since 2007's critically acclaimed 'Like, Love, Lust & The Open Halls Of The Soul'

Influenced in part by an association with the heavy doom and art-metal scene, centred around LA based label Southern Lord (Jesse Sykes and guitarist Phil Wandscher appeared on the album Altar, a collaboration between Southern Lord artists Sunn O))) and Boris), 'Marble Son' sees the band explore a rockier and more psychedelic sound than on previous albums. The resulting record is entirely unexpected and totally mesmerizing.

Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, whose European tour kicks off on April 15th at the Sunn O))) curated Roadburn Festival in Holland, arrive in the UK for a string of dates on April 17th. The short tour culminates with a headline show at the Monto Water Rats Theatre in London on April 21st.

DATES:

April 17th - The Railway, Winchester

TICKETS

April 18th - The Sage, Gateshead

TICKETS

April 19th - Captain's Rest, Glasgow

TICKETS

April 20th - The Cooler, Bristol

TICKETS

April 21st - Monto Water Rats, London

TICKETS

Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter - Come To Mary by KARTEL

Reggae innovators Easy Star All-Stars are offering a free download taken from their brand new album First Light, as well as announcing a headline London show at The Garage on June 16th.

Released in the UK on May 30th First Light is the first album of original material the band have recorded following three highly acclaimed reggae cover concept albums. Dub Side of the Moon, a reworking of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, was followed by Radiodread and Easy Star's Lonely Heart Dub Band.

A firm live favourite here in the UK, Easy Star All Stars will be, alongside the London headline show, playing a handful of festivals this summer including Camp Bestival and Willowman Festival. The band was nominated for a UK Festival Award for their three day, three stage performance at Glastonbury 2009.

The free download, Don't Stop the Music, is a buoyant and breezy modern reggae anthem featuring Easy Star All Stars vocalist Menny More. Building on their love of traditional reggae and the experience of  playing hundreds of live shows together over the years, First Light showcases the bands own songwriting skills for the first time on record.

Don’t Stop The Music by Easy Star All-Stars

DATES:

June 16th - The Garage, London

TICKETS

June 18th - Rock Oyster Festival, Cornwall

TICKETS

June 19th - Willowman Festival, North Yorkshire

TICKETS

June 30th - Camp Bestival, Dorset

TICKETS

Promoting the release of the upcoming new album Midnight To 666 The Lords of Altamonth play London's Relentless Garage on 30 March.  Tickets available here.

Fat Freddy's Drop have announced their only UK show of the summer, a headline date at the Brixton Academy in London on the 18th June. In the run up to the Brixton show the New Zealand based dub out will be offering out online a host of freebies, kicking of with a free download of The Electric's (DJ Vadim) remix of Flashback.

As anyone who has been to more than one can testify, no two FFD's shows are the same; long long extended jams, soul drenched vocals and jazz harmonies, underpinned  by a a rhythm section as comfortable laying down a throbbing techy soundscape as they are swampy blues stomp. Their live show was captured in last years Live From The Roundhouse CD, recorded on the second night of two at London's Roundhouse in 2008. The gig came at the end of a 6 week European tour and caught FFD in their natural environment.

Fiercely independent from the start, Fat Freddy's Drop have always done things on their own terms and once again are on the road to Brixton Academy, a venue they sold out back in 2005.  

Flashback (The Electric remix)

FLOGGING MOLLY, the legendary 7-piece Celtic punk ensemble, are set to release their forthcoming 5th studio album with producer Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers). The new release follows up their acclaimed 2008 release ‘Float’, which debuted at #4 on the US Billboard Top 200 and sold over 80,000 copies in the UK and Europe.

To celebrate the new record, the band are offering a blistering first single, ‘Don’t Shut 'Em Down’, as a free download. The song, a rebel rousing commentary on America’s economic downturn, is the perfect representation of the bands' expertly honed sound as well as a reflection of the central themes of the new record.

The bulk of the new album was written in and inspired by the city of Detroit, original home to Flogging Molly fiddler (and front man Dave King's wife) Bridget Regan, and the city where the couple have resided almost fulltime for the last three years. To quote King, “It wasn’t the album we set out to write. It became the album we had to write”, as it takes a hard-nosed look at the economic collapse in the US and the causes and the direct effect it has had on everyday people. The Motor City serves as the album’s muse and a painful example of what has gone wrong.

The title of the single was taken from graffiti sprayed onto the side of a factory in Detroit, and the song's sentiments seem to sum up the collective feelings of both the band and the community at large: “This is life in a modern town, the windows smashed open and the doors kicked out, if nothing gets done it’ll never be right...but don’t shut ‘em down”.

Though much of the album conveys the worldwide economic angst that was nowhere more intense than in the American city of Detroit, there is actually a strong message of hope, humanity and the resilience of mankind. The album, titled ‘Speed of Darkness’, will be released on 30th May via Flogging Molly’s own newly created label, Borstal Beat Records which will be managed ex-North America by Kartel.

Get your free download of 'Don't Shut 'Em Down'

The Easy Star All-Stars, best known for their now legendary re-interpretations of classic rock albums, enter a new chapter in their career with the release of First Light – the bands' first full-length album of entirely original material. The album comes out in the UK on the 30th May.

The Easy Star All-Stars have brought reggae to the masses by releasing a highly successful series of tribute albums: Dub Side of the Moon (2003), a reggae re-invention of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon; Radiodread (2006), the band’s take on Radiohead’s OK Computer; Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009), a cover of Sgt. Pepper’s that was the first reggae record to crack the Billboard Top 200 chart in over 2 years; and finally Dubber Side of the Moon (2010) a monumental remix of their landmark album.

Now, with the 14 track First Light, this incredible band showcases their own songwriting pedigree. It’s a fresh and vibrant reggae sound that only they could have delivered; a unique mix of classic reggae feel and modern R&B, pop and soul. A wonderfully diverse album that will thrill both dedicated fans of the band and curious newcomers alike.

www.easystar.com

Californian rock 'n' soulers The Bellrays return to the UK for four shows this March, opening for English garage rockers The Jim Jones Revue. The band are touring in support of their critically lauded album 'Black Lightening', which has been gaining favourable nods from the likes of Classic Rock, Q and NME. All dates and ticket links below.

March 27th - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

TICKETS

March 28th - The Bongo Club, Edinburgh

TICKETS

March 29th - King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow

TICKETS

March 30th - O2 Academy 2, Newcastle

TICKETS

Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter follow up 2007’s critically acclaimed ‘Like Love, Lust and the Open Halls of the Soul’ with ‘Marble Son’, their fourth release for Fargo Records. The album will hit stores on May 2nd, two weeks after the band arrive in the UK for a string of live dates including a show at Monto Water Rats in London on April 21st. All dates and ticket links below.

UK TOUR DATES

17/04 – The Railway, Winchester

TICKETS

18/04 – The Sage, Gateshead

TICKETS

19/04 – Captain’s Rest, Glasgow

TICKETS

20/04 – Start The Bus, Bristol

TICKETS

21/04 – Monto Water Rats, London

TICKETS

www.jessesykes.com

Soundway announces a series of four, special edition singles. Ranging from the cumbia of the much loved Lucho Bermúdez, to the Caribbean rhythms and smooth tenor sax of Cyril Diaz, to the ‘Trinidadian Bob Dylan’ Andre Tanker, these tracks are presented here for the first time outside of their country on both vinyl and download.

Available now from the Soundway webstore: http://soundwayrecords.greedbag.com

Colombia 45 – From the authentic countryside porro of the ‘Colombian cowboys’ – Banda 20 de Julio Repelón – to the legendary Discos Fuentes bass player and his group Pedro Laza y Sus Pelayeros, whose fame stretched through Colombia, Peru & Venezuela, Colombia 45 sees Soundway delve deeper into Colombia’s rich musical history. Reaching back to the 1960s for six orignal cumbia & gaita recordings presented here on 3×7″ vinyl EP. Limited to 1000 copies.

Andre Tanker – 7” Vinyl & download

Limited to 1000 copies, Soundway presents two tracks on 7″ vinyl from one of Trinidad & Tobago’s favorite musical sons Andre Tanker. Andre Tanker’s influence on Trinidad & Tobago’s music scene was compared by Soca star David Rudder to that of Bob Dylan’s influence on the music scene in America.

Lucho Bermúdez y Su Orquesta – 3 x 7”vinyl & MP3

Lucho Bermúdez y Su Orquesta became famed for their intricate arrangements, mixing big band music from the US with cumbia and porro. Their career spanned from the 1930s through to the 1960s and in cumbia’s hey day in the 1950s the band toured throughout the US and Cuba. This EP features six of their tracks dating back to the 1960s on a triple 7” vinyl. Limited to a 1000 copies.

Kartel features in a short film about Hackney, the creative heart of London.  Thanks to all those involved for including Kartel and respect to all the creative companies making Hackney such a vibrant place to live and work.

Soundway set sail for the Colombian coastal town of Cartagena for their first selection of 2011. Sourced from a period when musicians effortlessly combined the swing of cumbia with the driving bass of salsa, Cartagena! unwraps a period of musical history seldom heard beyond the tropical coast of South America.

Compiled by Roberto Gyemant with the help of Colombian resident Will ‘Quantic’ Holland and Miles Cleret, Cartagena! focuses on the extraordinary life and career of Curro Fuentes, the youngest brother of the family responsible for the Discos Fuentes label.

Cartagena! features 19 tracks and is presented on CD and double gatefold LP designed by Lewis Heriz. Both CD and LP include detailed liner notes and insights from Will Holland’s interview with the late Curro Fuentes.

The alt-country super-group return with new album ‘Marble Son’ this spring, released through Fargo Records. The Seattle based singer and her band, featuring ex Whiskeytown and The Walkabouts personnel, have ventured into darker territory on this record, creating a bizarre and beautiful mix of 70’s country rock and heavy-doom; timeless and yet wonderfully avant-garde.

The band kick off a month long European tour with a performance at the SunnO))-curated Roadburn festival in Holland on April 15th.

Kartel are very pleased to announce the latest signing to our label management roster - Mais Um Discos. The Brazilian label is home to a number of exciting new artists from across the globe, fusing styles, disregarding genres and irritating purists. Recent compilation release ‘Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira!’ has already gained highly favourable nods from the likes of Giles Peterson, Uncut magazine, The Independent, and Rough Trade Records, who made ´Oi!´ a recent compilation of the month.

Flogging Molly, the legendary 7-piece Celtic punk ensemble, are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches to their forthcoming 5th studio album with producer Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers). The new release follows up their acclaimed 2008 release ‘Float’, which debuted at #4 on the US Billboard Top 200 and sold over 80,000 copies in the UK and Europe.

To celebrate the new record, the band are offering a blistering first single, "Don’t Shut ´Em Down", as a free download via floggingmolly.com. The song, a rebel rousing commentary on America’s economic downturn, is the perfect representation of the bands expertly honed sound, as well as a reflection of the central themes of the new record. The bulk of the new album was written in and inspired by the city of Detroit, original home to Flogging Molly fiddler (and Dave´s wife) Bridget Regan, and the city where the couple have resided almost fulltime for the last three years. The title of the song was taken from graffiti sprayed onto the side of a building in the city, and the song´s sentiments seem to sum up the collective feelings of both the band and the community at large: “This is life in a modern town, the windows smashed open and the doors kicked out, if nothing gets done it’ll never be right...but don’t shut ‘em down”. 

Though much of the album conveys the worldwide economic angst that was nowhere more intense than in the American city of Detroit, there is actually a strong message of hope, humanity and the resilience of humankind. The album will be released on 23 May via Flogging Molly’s own newly created label, Borstal Beat Records, overseen by UK based music management company Kartel.

Richard Walters follows up last autumns ‘Where We Stand’ single ("Dreamy, string-driven pop, heralding a superb second album" according to The Sunday Times) with ‘Elephant in the Room’, the second track to be taken from the forthcoming Bernard Butler produced album ‘Pacing’. A relentlessly catchy 4 minutes of shoegazey heartbreak, ‘Elephant’ is set for release on March 21st 2011 .

In support of the single Walters will be touring the UK in February with cult Americana collective Dolorean (Fargo Records), playing tracks from both his critically acclaimed debut ‘The Animal’ and ‘Pacing’.

Kartel labelmates Dead Confederate and The Whigs are set to tour the UK this February on a double bill that will see them play in seven cities around the country.

And this won’t be the first time the US bands have gone head to head on the road; both graduates of the vibrant Athens, GA music scene (birthplace of Drive By Truckers, Of Montreal and REM among others…something in the water perhaps?) they have previously shared stages in their hometown, as well as across America.

The Whigs, last seen on these shores late last year opening for little known band Kings of Leon, will release their third long player, the exceptional ‘In The Dark’, on January 24^th. While Dead Confederate unleash ‘Run From the Gun’ on February 28^th, the second single to be taken from their stunning sophomore album ‘Sugar’, released on Kartel last autumn.