Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 30.8.14

OK bands you know the score.....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans..... 

the higher you go.....

So Tweet it, Facebook it.....

and generally expose yourself.....

Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place.  

So here it is.....

The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....

No 1.....Braver Than Fiction

Ralph's recently been listening to a lot of 'proper' music for 'grown ups' and in this category comes the recently released EP King Of Crows by Sheffield band Braver Than Fiction. It's a collection of four live tracks that set off vocalist Mel's bluesy infused vocals against some snazzy Steampacket-esque Hammond organ-ising.

No 2.....TITORS INSIGNIA 

Well it's finally here, St Helens band TITORS INSIGNIA are releasing Get Yourself A Name - their long awaited,11 track follow-up album to Fair City Riots tomorrow. It includes their rock it out classic track Beg, Plead and Pray which featured on the Ralph's Life CD for mental health charity Rethink.

No 3..... Wullae Wright

Ralph's previously blogged Wullae Wright and it's proved to be the most well read of any over the last couple of years. Needless to say it was good news when Wullae Wright got in touch to say he was releasing 'Superhero' as a single. The story of the song is no less poignant than Wullae Wright's plaintive vocal which, overlaid on subtle acoustic guitar with an orchestral background is just as heart wrenching as the single's message. 

No 4..... Fragile Creatures 

Brighton seems to be producing a wealth of musical goodness of late and Fragile Creatures are pushing their way to the forefront of that trend after an enforced hiatus due to tragic circumstances. After a successful start to 2013; including starting to record an album, David Vatchnadze, their mentor and founder of Indie record label DNVMusic sadly passed away.

No 5.....Villiers

Ralph's been keeping an eye on Lancashire lads Villiers for a bit now and, with the imminent release of a Double A Side single (You're Not Alone/Nowhere Left To Run) as a follow up to the excellent 'Dancer', this seemed as good a time as any to spread the good musical word. They're very much in the same mould as London electro boys Thumpers or Resonate from Sheffield, but with a bit of a mean and moodier edge as shown on 'Dancer'.

No 6....Broken Witt Rebels

Ralph's featured Birmingham band Broken Witt Rebels a couple of times now on his Radio KC Indie Show and always to some great feedback, so it was with great interest that he checked out their newly released EP Howlin'.

Released this week, it's five tracks of bluesy, gutsy and downright nasty rock 'n' roll in the style of Bad Company or Family from back in the day. Lean, mean, punch you in the face and buy you a drink after tunes, proper music for grown ups.

No 7....One Eyed Wayne

Photo courtesy of Emma Marshall

Listening to North London band One Eyed Wayne is like having a flashback to putting on a Blockheads record (one of those round, flat, black vinyl things) that's been re-mixed with a bit of UK Subs and no small amount of humour. A case in point is their latest release After The Break and accompanying video. It's fast and furious social commentary at its televisually cynical, clever and punky best!

No 8.....The Low Countries

Back in October of last year it was with a heavy heart that Ralph reported on The Invisible Ray, an album that was to be the swansong of The Low Countries (mainly comprised of Nigel Parrington and Els D'hooge). Ralph had a chat with Nigel at the time and he reported that he felt 'all songed out'.

No 9... Sonic Hearts Foundation

Seeing as Ralph's heading on a road trip home soon, it's about time a few Scottish bands were featured. The first being Sonic Hearts Foundation from Glasgow, who Ralph gave a spin on last Sunday's Indie Show on Radio KC. They're releasing a new Single 'Afterlife' on August 11th and it's a follow up to their critically acclaimed 'Into Forever' EP.

No 10.....The Bedroom Hour

Ralph doesn't usually put blogs out on a Friday, what with the weekend being sacred and all, however when he heard that The Bedroom Hour were releasing their new album Hinterland on the 11th of July he made an exception and wound up the turntable.

There's a couple of old favourites on there in Nocturnal and Heart Will Haunt, but it's the new material that intrigues.

One Eyed Wayne

Listening to North London band One Eyed Wayne is like having a flashback to putting on a Blockheads record (one of those round, flat, black vinyl things) that's been re-mixed with a bit of UK Subs and no small amount of humour. A case in point is their latest release After The Break and accompanying video. It's fast and furious social commentary at its televisual, cynical, clever and punky best!

In this time of fresh faced young 'guitarpop' bands One Eyed Wayne make a refreshing retro change with their bouncy, sing-along Streetcore-esque tunes delivered with no small amount of Hornsey swagger. Just what you'd expect from a band that have been around the musical block a few times.

One Eyed Wayne are performing for our delectation at The Winchester on Archway Road on the 6th of September and I suggest that if you're in or around London, you get your Doc Martens & braces on and head there for a proper knees up with the lads - sorted!

In the meantime here's the One Eyed Wayne video for the nicely crafted After the Break...not arf!

HarFest 2014

Now it's no secret that as well as his love of Indie music Ralph's a fan of local, fresh organic food, so when fellow music blogger hiapop (Paul Scott-Bates) told me about his involvement with HarFest 2014 in Rossendale that celebrates both of those passions, it was time to investigate.

The festival is linked to the outstanding work done by Incredible Edible Rossendale which was set up by Paul and his good lady after being influenced by the Incredible Edible Todmorden project which is regularly visited by the likes of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Prince Charles.

Time to have a word...






Ralph: What's behind the Incredible Edible project?

Paul: We all have one thing that binds us together, the need to eat. Incredible Edible encourages people to grow and eat fresh food, teach them to prepare simple healthy meals and source as much as possible locally. This is where the huge emphasis of working as a Community comes into being.






Ralph: So how did HarFest 2014 come about?

Paul: At the first IER Harvest Celebration in 2013 the idea struck me to combine my alter ego of hiapop Blog and my love of music with the ethos of fresh local produce.  After reviewing over 200 artists for Louder Than War, I decided to try and coax a few of them to come and play live at our second event, and @HarFest2014 was born!





Ralph: So who can we expect to see on the day?


Paul: The generosity and friendship of Rose Redd, Ceiling Demons, The Ree-Vahs and My Little Brother (who have just released a new album) means that we can have four very different genres of music being introduced to an audience who might not have heard them before.  It boasts the profile of a free, local event and brings everyone together!

We'd hoped to have Helen McCookerybook, but she sent her apologies for not being able to play (in Brighton on the same day) by means of CD's that we'll raffle off. 


  
With that in mind, Ralph has now sent some of the fabulous Ralphs Life Charity CD's (along with a selection from bands and artists he's reviewed recently) and we would love any other artists to offer a handful of CD's, or other merchandise that can be offered up to help raise funds.  There's a small HarFest Website where the artists will be thanked for their kindness.  There will also be a handout at the event listing artists, donors and their respective websites.





The inimitable hiapop's reputation in music bloggery precedes as is  shown with the eclectic and quality talent who have agreed to play, including Ceiling Demons who recently stole the show at the Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival 'Spoken Word' tent.

Rose Redd is a beautiful contradiction. Twenty years in age but unfathomably older in soul, her music has its roots in darker days, experiences, and stories and finds its bloom in both release and connection. 

Her poignant verses and explosive choruses let you know that she makes music because she has to.

Ceiling Demons are an alternative hip hop trio from North Yorkshire, England. The group first came together in 2011 to pay tribute to a lost friend, a theme that has permeated the music ever since.

Taking influence from The Streets' Mike Skinner and the production of DJ Shadow, they seek to capture the rawness of human emotion in rhythms & rhymes. The group is comprised of identical twin brother MC's Psy Ceiling and Dan Demon, with production from Beat Demon. 

The Ree-Vahs write traditional folk music with a modern twist from the Borders of Durham and South Northumberland, generally with a bit of a twist and about life, love and loss (all the good stuff).

Their latest album 'Geordieland' comes with no small amount of critical acclaim and this would be an excellent opportunity to avail yourself of a live performance!

My Little Brother were formed when a group of people who like music got together and, fueled by gin and haribo, wrote and recorded some.

Their debut album "If We Never Came Down" has received amazing reviews and loads of airplay and they are all getting quite excited about what the future may hold.

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 23.8.14

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                                                    OK bands you know the score.....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans..... 

the higher you go.....

So Tweet it, Facebook it.....

and generally expose yourself.....

Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place.  

So here it is.....

The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....

No 1.....Braver Than Fiction

Ralph's recently been listening to a lot of 'proper' music for 'grown ups' and in this category comes the recently released EP King Of Crows by Sheffield band Braver Than Fiction. It's a collection of four live tracks that set off vocalist Mel's bluesy infused vocals against some snazzy Steampacket-esque Hammond organ-ising.

No 2..... Wullae Wright

Ralph's previously blogged Wullae Wright and it's proved to be the most well read of any over the last couple of years. Needless to say it was good news when Wullae Wright got in touch to say he was releasing 'Superhero' as a single. The story of the song is no less poignant than Wullae Wright's plaintive vocal which, overlaid on subtle acoustic guitar with an orchestral background is just as heart wrenching as the single's message. 

No 3.....TITORS INSIGNIA 

Well it's finally here, St Helens band TITORS INSIGNIA are releasing Get Yourself A Name - their long awaited,11 track follow-up album to Fair City Riots tomorrow. It includes their rock it out classic track Beg, Plead and Pray which featured on the Ralph's Life CD for mental health charity Rethink.

No 4.....Villiers

Ralph's been keeping an eye on Lancashire lads Villiers for a bit now and, with the imminent release of a Double A Side single (You're Not Alone/Nowhere Left To Run) as a follow up to the excellent 'Dancer', this seemed as good a time as any to spread the good musical word. They're very much in the same mould as London electro boys Thumpers or Resonate from Sheffield, but with a bit of a mean and moodier edge as shown on 'Dancer'.

No 5....Broken Witt Rebels

Ralph's featured Birmingham band Broken Witt Rebels a couple of times now on his Radio KC Indie Show and always to some great feedback, so it was with great interest that he checked out their newly released EP Howlin'.

Released this week, it's five tracks of bluesy, gutsy and downright nasty rock 'n' roll in the style of Bad Company or Family from back in the day. Lean, mean, punch you in the face and buy you a drink after tunes, proper music for grown ups.

No 6.....The Low Countries

Back in October of last year it was with a heavy heart that Ralph reported on The Invisible Ray, an album that was to be the swansong of The Low Countries (mainly comprised of Nigel Parrington and Els D'hooge). Ralph had a chat with Nigel at the time and he reported that he felt 'all songed out'.

No 7... Sonic Hearts Foundation

Seeing as Ralph's heading on a road trip home soon, it's about time a few Scottish bands were featured. The first being Sonic Hearts Foundation from Glasgow, who Ralph gave a spin on last Sunday's Indie Show on Radio KC. They're releasing a new Single 'Afterlife' on August 11th and it's a follow up to their critically acclaimed 'Into Forever' EP.

No 8....Jane Allison

It's no secret Ralph's a fan of crowdfunding and when he heard that Welsh singer songwriter and actress Jane Allison Stanness would be releasing her debut solo Americana album “Just Another Girl” under the name Jane Allison using Kickstarter it was time to investigate.

No 9.....The Bedroom Hour

Ralph doesn't usually put blogs out on a Friday, what with the weekend being sacred and all, however when he heard that The Bedroom Hour were releasing their new album Hinterland on the 11th of July he made an exception and wound up the turntable.

There's a couple of old favourites on there in Nocturnal and Heart Will Haunt, but it's the new material that intrigues.

No 10..... Fragile Creatures 

Brighton seems to be producing a wealth of musical goodness of late and Fragile Creatures are pushing their way to the forefront of that trend after an enforced hiatus due to tragic circumstances. After a successful start to 2013; including starting to record an album, David Vatchnadze, their mentor and founder of Indie record label DNVMusic sadly passed away.