Scott Lloyd

We've covered Scott Lloyd's releases previously and regularly playlisted on our weekly Sunday radio show on Radio KC. No wonder with quality releases like his new Single Down To Earth which we've had on repeat here all week and now of course Living In The Dark playlisted right away for the Indie Show of Sunday 16th November, so tune in via Internet Radio on the following link: radiokc.fm at 5pm UK Time.

Scott Lloyd is producing his own brand of Americana to a quality way beyond his years since we last featured him and no wonder. Born in Middlesbrough, has previously released six EP's independently and played live in venues across the UK and America from San Francisco to Vancouver, Canada, as well as appearing at Glastonbury in 2015 and live on BBC Intro. 

His widening experience shows through in his increasingly mature and eminently listenable music. It's 9/10 for us.

Last year, in 2017 Scott sold out Jimmy’s venue in Manchester to release his EP In the Garden, a former Ralph's Life Video Of The Week,which was recorded with a full backing band. With roots firmly planted in the North East Scott also wrote songs for his Ironopolis EP, which were inspired by his hometown of Middlesbrough and the EP immediately reached number 12 in iTunes Singer Songwriter charts in 2015. 

After graduating from a degree in music at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2010, Scott listened to Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Simon and Garfunkel and Bruce Springsteen for their songwriting and inspired, Scott set out to record his first EP Long Live You in 2013.

Scott’s first single released via the fiercly independent Aardvark Records,Looking Out To Sea, gained over 1000 plays on Apple music within a few weeks of release.

Scott’s new single ‘Down To Earth’ goes on sale on Friday 7th September on digital music retail and streaming sites. Aardvark Records have also pressed some CDs. The song was recorded at Red Sand Studio, Chorlton, Manchester and produced by Mathieu Garcia.

For more information about Scott Lloyd please visit his website without delay on www.scottlloydmusic.co.uk to find links to videos and his previous EPs and upcoming gigs. 

More info you will need as you discover the burgeoning strength of his songwriting and musicianship. His creative maturity is pushing his writing to new levels and who knows what heights the next release will bring. 

Pretty certain I do and it's all good. Can't wait for more from this charming young man! Bring it on!

Rich Stephenson

London-based singer-songwriter Rich Stephenson released Alibi, the second single from his new I AM RICH (blue) EP, at the end of last week. The new song combines earthy acoustics with pop hooks and is driven by sweeping violins and his signature bendy-legged, rhythmic strumming.

After a busy summer that saw typically frenetic & audience-charming performances at Glastonbury, Boardmasters, Humber Street Sesh and Beverley Folk Festivals, recent single Better Things To Do cemented Rich Stephenson into place as one of the best emerging UK singer-songwriters. 








Rich Stephenson has confirmed fans in the shape of Gaby Roslin and Alan Raw who invited him in for live sessions and interviews with BBC Radio London and BBC Introducing, whilst Amazing Radio’s Baylen Leonard playlisted the track for three consecutive weeks on his show. Audiences all over the UK were also introduced to him with airplay for Better Things To Do on 40 BBC regional stations and 20 other regional radio shows.

Alibi effortlessly blurs the line between folk and pop, and offers another example of an instinctive songwriting talent with an ear for making the personal sound universal. As Rich Stephenson explains...

“Alibi is about the bittersweet nature of relationships and friendships - you fall out, you make up, you share high points, you live through low points, but a tight bond remains throughout.”

Having already featured him on Ralph's Radio KC Indie Show recently, it's no surprise that Alibi will be getting a spin in a couple of weeks time.

Official Burnt Toast

Anyone that follows Ralph on Twitter will know he's partial to a bit of toast, preferably charred around the edges, so it's no surprise there was a bit of excitement here in the kennel when the soon to be released (November 2nd) Money As Debt Double A Side Single by Official Burnt Toast hit the turntable. With flip side Hi Time it's a great intro to their Tubs 'n Tongue-Fu album on Sonskrif.

The sociopolitically incisive brand of jazzy, spoken-word hip-hop stylings they purvey are reminiscent of Arrested Development or A Tribe Called Quest but the message Official Burnt Toast bring on this Double A Side Single is germane to what's happening around us today.

Official Burnt Toast are Adrian Lawrence, Patrick Luke and Abrar Hafiz. Based in East London with their version of spoken-word, hip-hop and punk variously described as:

"an infectious cocktail of American paranoia, Canadian objectivity and a very English obsession of introspection and the fly on the wall documentary with the warmth of an accessible sound”.




Official Burnt Toast were featured in The Observer, where respected fashion photographer Perou is quoted as saying:

“I always shoot to music except when we’re being filmed for TV shows and we’re not allowed. My fave band at the moment is Official Burnt Toast. Their music is between spoken word and rap. It’s very funky, but with English sentiment”.

Known for their electric live performances, The band cite Glastonbury where they played the Green Peace stage to a capacity crowd as, “one of the best gigs we’ve done to date”. Needless to say Ralph's already given Official Burnt Toast a spin on his Radio KC Indie Show and it's no surprise they'll be featuring regularly in the future.

India Electric Co

Early 2013 Ralph highlighted the debut album by Cole Stacey & Joseph O' Keefe called On Hire and subsequent UK and European tour. Well since then they've been playlisted on BBC Radio 6 and have played Glastonbury, but that's not the best part as they've now re-invented themselves as India Electric Co and will be releasing a debut single Beirut on the 1st of December, plus supporting Midge Ure on his Breathe Again tour in 2015. To coincide with that India Electric Co will be releasing a debut album in March.

The Breathe Again tour kicks of in Kirkcaldy, Scotland and Midge will be exploring his Celtic roots as he performs his triple Platinum selling Breathe album in its entirety for the first time, as well as some of his previous hits - or as Midge Calls them "the usual suspects" - including of course Vienna. India Electric Co are accompanying Midge due to his policy over the last 20 years or so of giving upcoming performers a slot. 

With thanks to KE Southall Photography

Cole and Joe are more than deserving of such an opportunity and Cole spoke of their excitement, saying - "It's an unbelievable honour to be asked to perform this captivating album live and tour with Midge." He continued - "We Can't speak highly enough of him and to get a unique opportunity like this is humbling."












Beirut has a certain mysterious musicality with sensual accordion and subtle strings giving it the atmosphere of a seductive Torch Song from the depths of a smoky, dimly lit Paris nightclub. If it's a taste of what's to come we can look forward to an excellent debut album from the hugely talented India Electric Co. Needless to say Ralph'll be playing tracks from it on Radio KC.

Tour Dates

FRI 28 NOVEMBER

Cornerstone Arts CentreDidcot, UK

Tickets

FRI 5 DECEMBER

Devoran Village HallTruro, UK

Tickets

THU 19 MARCH

Adam Smith TheatreKirkcaldy, UK

Tickets

FRI 20 MARCH

The Lemon TreeAberdeen, UK

Tickets

FRI 1 MAY

The StablesMilton Keynes, UK

Tickets

SAT 2 MAY

Fairfield HallsCroydon, UK

Tickets

SUN 3 MAY

The CapitolHorsham, UK

Tickets

THU 7 MAY

Theatre 7Shrewsbury, UK

Tickets

WED 13 MAY

Palace TheatreRedditch, UK

Tickets

THU 14 MAY

Salisbury City HallSalisbury, UK

Tickets

FRI 15 MAY

Minack TheatrePenzance, UK

Tickets

SUN 17 MAY

Gulbenkian TheatreCanterbury, UK

Tickets

MON 18 MAY

Mercury TheatreColchester, UK

Tickets

SAT 27 JUNE

The Sage GatesheadGateshead, UK

Tickets

SUN 28 JUNE

The AtkinsonSouthport, UK

Tickets

Westfield Music Festival

Unless you live in Glastonbury or Kinross it's not often a music festival turns up on your doorstep, however, Ralph's got lucky because the inaugural Westfield Street Festival in St Helens is just over a week away! Taking place over a number of venues in the town's Westfield Street and featuring some of the North West's best Indie bands it's a breath of fresh musical air for the towns live music fans.




The day kicks off at 12pm-ish with Becky Leigh in The Sefton, Cold Turkey in The Zoo Bar and 2 Piece Suit in Tank. Highlights for Ralph later in The Zoo Bar will be a first time viewing of the excellent Jeremiah Ferrari and a catch-up with St Helens own Titors Insignia who were good enough to travel down to London and play at the Ralph's Life CD charity gig in Proud Camden.

From Manchester, the four young men in Jeramiah Ferrari fuse reggae, rock, ska, punk, and more to create a sound influenced by the likes of Bob Marley and Sublime, yet unique enough to call their own.

They won the 2012 Key 103 City Soundwave competition appearing at The MEN Arena with Will Young, Labrinth, Tulisa, Taio Cruz, Professor Green, Rizzle Kicks & One Direction.

Titors Insignia formed mid 2008 and have supported Paloma Faith, Alabama 3, Don Bronco, Steve Craddock, The Guillamots and Proud Mary, building themselves a solid reputation in the process with a crowd pleasing live set and pride themselves on raw performances show after show. Their debut album "Fair City Riots" is an electrifying concoction of influences ranging from Britpop to classic rock with a sprinkling of Indie, and healthy dose of Punk thrown in for good measure.

They released the single 'Freedom Fighter' to help raise funds for ABF The Soldiers Charity.  The single and video was launched in The Cinema Bar, St Helens to a full house including a number of local celebrities including Andy Reid, a former corporal with the 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment and was the inspiration for the song. 











Another highlight is local band Stillia, who also played the Ralph's Life CD Camden gig. They're self-taught musicians who've come together to create a unique sound influenced by their rock 'n' roll heroes.  They've spent time in the rehearsal studio refining their sound and their musicianship and the end result is a tight hard rocking unit with strong songwriting ability.  Whilst they have many influences they've managed to carve out their own style.

I'm also looking to catch Scarlet. in Bar Java so I'll be wearing my running shoes! After touring the UK as lead guitarist and backing vocalist of up and coming band The Thespians, being signed in Japan with Vinyl Junkie Records and supporting bands such as Catfish and the Bottlemen, Findlay and SPACE, as well as receiving support from Elbows Guy Garvey, Radio 6, Radio 2, and XFM, Jessie Scarlet launched her solo project Scarlet. in February of this year.







Needless to say there are a legion of acts playing over the day and at a number of different venues, so I'll leave you to peruse the list and make your own mind up as to who you'll go see on the day.