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!

Hey Bulldog - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Al Lupo by Hey Bulldog. 

Like many bands before, Hey Bulldog began as a germ of an idea of main man Rob Manton. The multi-talented Manchester-based musician recorded the debut EP, New York City Blues, by himself with the help of a drum machine.

Before turning the project into a fully-fledged band, Manton created a buzz with the help of music websites and a variety of fanzines. 


Finding a pair of like-minded cohorts Matt Parry (bass) and Ben Howarth-Lees (drums) Manton turned Hey Bulldog into a live bluesy three-piece psychedelic rock band known for their musicianship and live improvisations.

Track on Bandsintown

May 01

Soup Kitchen

w/ The Liminanas

Tuesday, 7:00PM

Manchester, United Kingdom

Tickets

May 05

The Garage

Saturday, 7:00PM

London, United Kingdom

Tickets

Jul 20

Blackthorn Festival

w/ We Are Scientists, The Blinders, Peter Hook & The Light

Friday, 7:00PM

Stockport, United Kingdom

Tickets

Déjà Vega - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Eyes Of Steel by Déjà Vega which sees the band hitting new heights of alt rock glory.

Filmed by Shari Denson and Stuart Hadfield.

Déjà Vega consist of vocalist and guitarist Jack Fearon, drummer Tom Webster and bassist Michael Newton. 

After forming in Cheshire, they made the short journey to Manchester, a fitting backdrop to their gritty, guitar led psychedelia, with its red-brick and cobbled streets which has very much ingrained itself in their soundscape.

James - Video Of The Week

Following on from the launch of this years Musicians Against Homelessness gigs, including Brian's #RoyalBeddingDay event in St Helens on May 19th it seems only right and proper that Brian's favourite video this week is Sit Down by James featuring Joe Duddell and String Quartet for Musicians Against Homelessness.





James announced that they are pleased to be supporting Musicians Against Homelessness #MAH2018. The campaign supports thousands of people living on the streets and in poverty via Crisis in England, Scotland and Wales and Simon Community in Northern Ireland.

To support their work please text MAH to 70004 to donate £3 to Crisis. Musicians Against Homelessness was launched by Alan McGee in 2016 with the twin aims of supporting up-coming talent through sourcing performance opportunities, and to raise the profile of homelessness whilst raising funds.

In 2016 Brian raised £800 during an all day event similar to the one taking place this year in The Percival Suite St Helens.



Tickets for Brian's #RoyalBeddingDay for #MAH2018 are available here: www.wegottickets.com/event/427819


Tim Booth says, "Sit Down is a song about empathy so we are really honoured and happy that this beautiful version, arranged by Joe Duddell, is being used to raise money for the homeless." "We seem to be living in times of increasing inequality where all the safety nets that my generation took for granted have been taken away." "I don't know how a person can hold their life together if they don't have a home, a cave, someplace safe they can call their own. It is too easy for us to look the other way. Thank you to the kind souls who are running this charitable organisation for not doing so."

Credits: String arrangement by Joe Duddell Violin - Madeleine Fitzgerald Violin - John Purton Viola - Sophia Dignam Cello - David Hornberger Filmed at Manchester Albert Hall in December 2017 by Ron Yeadon, Ainslie Henderson and Trust A Fox Photography. Visit James online: https://wearejames.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jamesisnotap... twitter: @wearejames Musicians Against Homelessness: https://www.facebook.com/mahgigs/ Joe Duddell: http://joeduddell.co.uk/ facebook / twitter / instagram: @joeduddell Ron Yeadon Video & Photography: https://ronyeadon.co.uk/ Trust A Fox : https://www.trustafoxphotography.com/
*Texts cost £3.00 plus your network charge. Crisis receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payer's permission. Helpline 08000 384838. Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094. Text STOP to 70004 to opt out of future contact from Crisis.

The Moods - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Hidden by The Moods from their Missing Peace album.

After a monumental 2017, The Moods accelerate into 2018 at an exponential rate.

 Hailing from Manchester and the North West, The Moods are a ten-piece collective creating socially charged rap dealing with topics such as corruption, poverty, injustice and inequality. 

This new 10 date UK tour showcases songs from their acclaimed album, Missing Peace, and provides an opportunity to witness the brilliant moods show live in some of the UK,s classic indie venues.

The Moods will be playing Brian's #RoyalBeddingDay event in St Helens in support of Musicians Against Homelessness and local charity Teardrops on May 19th as part of their UK tour and A1 (M) Records are co-sponsors of the all day festival in Ruskins Sports Club.

Mar 10th – DONCASTER – Vintage Rock 

Apr 28th – MANCHESTER – Bred Shed (MoodsFest) 

May 5th – LIVERPOOL – Zanzibar 

May 6th – BARNSLEY – Solidarity Festival 

May 19th – ST HELENS – Brian's MAH Festival 

May 26th – LONDON – Nambucca 

Granfalloon

Granfalloon is the musical moniker of Richard Lomax and his folktronica group based in Manchester. Folktronica is a mixture of folk and electronica. Instruments include Omnichords, acoustic guitars, Casio keyboards, and 80's drum machines. 






Their new single Ambulance is out on Manchester label The Dogan on 23rd February 2018. Ambulance is a song about those self imposed rituals that we use to keep ourselves mentally healthy. It features the Omnichord (an electronic autoharp) over a loving combination of acoustic guitar, synths, samples, and a four to the floor backbeat verse that melts into a dreamlike chorus. 

The chorus line is inspired by a rhyme uttered by singer Lomax’s grandmother upon seeing an ambulance pass by: “Touch your head and touch your toes/If you don’t want to go in one of those.” Lomax says: “My grandparents write most of my best lyrics.”

Granfalloon uses lo-fi bedroom recording techniques which point to a revelry in beautiful imperfection and a desire to create something very special. There is a real commitment to detail which involved patiently distilling the soundscapes until the elements of electronics, delicate acoustic guitar, and the mixture of lo-fi, folk & psych all fell into place.

​

The track was mixed by Sydney based Jack Prest (AKA Future Love Hangover) who has most recently worked on Jonti's 2017 album 'Tokorats'. 

It's a delightfully laid back slice of addictive lo-fi electronic goodness which is lyrically both poignant and amusing. Brian will be spinning Ambulance on the Radio KC Indie Show on Sunday 4th of February so tune in!

The Slow Readers Club - Video of The Week

Ralph's favourite video this week is for the newly released single Lunatic by The Slow Readers Club. 

The Slow Readers Club are a Manchester based four piece who specialise in indie electro doom pop and who are currently selling out shows throughout the UK on their Through The Shadows tour.

Lunatic The New Single from The Slow Readers Club
Video by: croftwerk.co.uk Spotify: spoti.fi/2zlNUY1 iTunes: apple.co/2gwNYk7 Apple Music: apple.co/2gwNYk7 Deezer: bit.ly/2gSdld0 You can catch them on tour at the following dates: 21st October - The Button Factory, Dublin 4th November - Academy 2, Birmingham 10th November - The Garage, London [SOLD OUT] 17th November - Thekla, Bristol 23rd November - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham [SOLD OUT] 24th November - The Albert Hall, Manchester [SOLD OUT] 9th December - King Tuts, Glasgow [SOLD OUT] Plus catch them supporting The Charlatans on 30th November at O2 Academy Sheffield

Puppet Rebellion

One of the advantages of being a dog with a blog is the that every now and again a bit of a gem drops into the kennel's inbox. 

In this instance it's Chemical Friends an album by Puppet Rebellion, one of the first bands I saw live when I arrived to take up residence in the 'sunny' North West of England. It was nearly 5 years ago in Manchester when I was invited to an all-dayer and a nascent Puppet Rebellion took to the stage and played an absolute blinder.  

Time moves swiftly on and the band are now releasing their debut Chemical Friends album on November 17th after a hectic year of both touring and working in the studio with Gavin Monaghan no less.

Puppet Rebellion are Oliver Davies on vocals, Dave Wimbush on guitar, Craig Gibson on guitar, James Halliwell on bass and Henry Rogers on drums. Together they've put together an album of well crafted alt-pop that should see them ascend the musical firmament not only in their native North West but UK wide. 

The energetically fueled Chemical Friends may be their fist full-length studio album but with tracks like the nicely choppy, guitar driven Hey Now to the bouncier Test Pilot and Impact, it certainly won't be their last.

Ralph will be spinning one of his favourite tracks from Chemical Friends on this Sunday's Indie Show on Radio KC, so make sure you tune in from 5-7pm UK time to hear the highly addictive ear-worm that is Slave.

Upcoming live dates include...

Saturday November 4th in The Islington, London

Saturday November 11th in Partisan, Manchester for the album launch

Friday December 19th in 
The Lamplighter, Northampton

Jack Perrett

Newport native Jack Perrett is set to release his new single In The Morning and it will be available on November 17th on all the usual download suspects.

It sees him channeling maximum Britpop swagger with his new single, It's a singalong affair from the get-go. With its 90s Britpop vibes and catchy hooks, the track showcases Jack Perrett who has a natural ability for songwriting, solidifying his status as part of the bright future of British music.

He was busking outside Liam Gallagher’s debut Brixton solo gig and performing a cover of I Wanna Be Adored on BBC Radio Wales in support of One Love Manchester Charity concert so Jack Perrett isn't afraid to share his influences with pride.

In his career so far he has become renowned as somewhat of a journeyman, travelling across the country playing gigs.

From small town cafes, to the hustle and bustle of London, to the Rodney Parade Stadium, everywhere he travels his fan base grows larger and larger.

The track was produced by Steffan Pringle (Estrons) and features members of Monico Blonde and a cameo from producer Steffan.  

Airplay for In The Morning includes Huw Stephens, Bethan Elfyn, Vicki Blight, Rhod Gilbert and Jamie Owen (Live session) on BBC Radio Wales, along with a month on playlist on BBC Radio Wales; GoldieRocks, Selector British Council Radio; Charlie Ashcroft, Amazing Radio; Andrew Shay on Nation Radio; Fresh On The Net, Listening Post 235; Ralph’s Indie Show on Radio KC; Showcase Wales, GTFM; Citizens Brigade, Radio Glamorgan; plus other online and independent stations worldwide. Debut release Me And You was also played on ITV’s This Morning during a fashion VT.

Live:

7th October - Newport Corinthians, Newport

8th October – The Moon Club, Cardiff

14th October – High Street Social, Treorchy

5th November – New Crown, Merthyr

11th November – Cardiff FM radio appearance

14th November – Made In Cardiff TV appearance

15th November – Newport City Radio appearance

17th November, Meze, Newport

22nd November – Riverside Tavern, Newport