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!

Brian's Indie Show REPLAY - as played on Radio KC - 29.4.18

Brian's Indie Show Replay

As played on Radio KC

Internet Radio on rkc.noip.me

Played in 174 countries 

Worldwide on 2 satellites

Website: ralphslife.co.uk

REPLAY

Music Blog: fruitbatwalton.blogspot.co.uk

Submissions: ralphslife@mail.com

Twitter: @fruitbatwalton

PLAYLIST : Click on their name to follow them on Facebook...

Hey Gigantic - Colours
Oranj Son - Radio Wires
The Boston Shakers - Ready For You
The Velvet Hands - Sick Of Living
Jennings Couch - Stay Out
Feliicia Eliza - Scandinavian Traveller
Krrum - Waves
SONS - Rise
Rat Scabies - Chew On You
Quotes of the Dead - Legs Akimbo
Submariner - Stumbling
Michelle Walsh - Fire Away
Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles - War Of One
Campbell's Wild - Smoking Guns
Acadian Driftwood - Catch The Sun
Alba Rosa - The Storm
Savage Mansion - Trouble In Paradise
Paper Hawk - Trails
Craig-Russell Horne - Control
Three Kings High - Bone Dry
Vieon - Fly By Light
Broken By Rock - BluGlo
Harlequiin - Bandit In A Blindfold
SAPHO - Change
Titors Insignia - Scream My Name
The Moods - Hidden

Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles - Single Launch

We've followed the ascendancy of Billy Bibby since he started to plough his own furrow on departing Catfish and The Bottlemen and the formation and transformation of Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles.

So we're delighted to be featuring news of the new single War Of One here on Ralph's Life and Brian will be playing the single on the Radio KC Indie Show on Sunday April 29th between 5 and 7pm.

Billy had this to say of the new release:

"War Of One is another upbeat rock song that I personally loved writing because I just know that live it's gonna be a blast to play for mine and the band's sake, and I'm sure from the audience perspective too," 


Billy mused further:

"Any fans of rock music are going to want to be hit with a wave of sound that fills their hearts with joy and tears them down with its sheer power and driving force behind the amps, and that's what I am hoping this single will bring to the fans. I always want to keep an element of secrecy behind my lyrics so that you can all create your own thoughts as to what they mean to you."

"For me, it is simply about the war between you and you alone and how you deal with certain normal issues in life. Hence why it's called War Of One. As depressing as that may sound I always try to make light of it and write positively so it's far from being a negative song!"



Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles will be celebrating the single release tonight and most appropriately, at Record Junkee in Sheffield.  This marks the penultimate date of busy 16-date spring tour that began near home in Chester and zig-zagged across the UK, from Cardiff to Birmingham, from Liverpool to Glasgow and many more places in between. 

The tour ends on a high note in London with a Camden Rocks appearance at Nambucca April 28th. 

Apr20

Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles / Sundance / Keyframe

Today 19:30 · Record Junkee · Sheffield

Apr28

Camden Rocks All-Night'er feat. Echoic & more at Nambucca

Sat 19:00 · Camden Rocks Presents · London, United Kingdom

Aug4

Gig in the Car Park 2018

Sat 12:00 · The Greenside Venue · Leslie, Fife, United Kingdom

As we wait to spin the new single...why not have a listen to the last one which was a big favourite on Radio KC here...

The Velvet Hands

The Velvet Hands have long time been favourites for plays on the Ralph's Life Indie Show on Radio KC over the last few years and with the imminent release of a debut album on limited edition blue vinyl for Record Store Day and general release May 5th it would be rude not to check it out here on the blog. 

We'll be featuring Sick Of Living on Brian's Indie Show on Radio KC Sunday 29th April as a pre-release spin of a track from the album Party's Over.

Party's Over by The Velvet Hands is a glorious guitar driven joy and a must have for any serious vinyl lovers collection. They're going to be THE go-to band for this years small festival season and these bouncy southern rockers have to be destined for bigger stages.

Also released on the same day is the fifth single Gimme Some Time by The Velvet Hands. ‘Gimme Some Time’ follows previous releases, I Don’t Mind, Only Blame Myself, Games and last year's Record Store day release Sick Of Living. Gimme Some Time will be available via #rsd2018 Record Store Day on blue vinyl April 21st.

That's followed by a non-limited vinyl version and standard CD version of the album on both dropping May 4th.  

On the achievement of their debut album co-singer Toby commented: “We're really excited to finally be able to share what we have been working towards since we started the band. Our debut album is a collection of songs that we wrote over the last couple of years and we're very proud to share them with you all. It's been great to see our hard work pay off, and we can't wait for more of the same in the future!”


Co-frontman Dan Able said of the up-coming single release: Gimme Some Time is about self destruction, coming to terms with one’s own morals and the questioning of what one believes in. Just needing some time to get away from it all to think but being under pressure to come up with the answers.”


 

The Velvet Hands are the latest band to emerge from Cornwall’s blistering garage-rock 'Kernow Wave' scene. The ambitious, Stones and Strokes tinged quartet formed in 2015 at Truro College and already have released a string of standout DIY singles. The Velvet Hands are renowned for blistering live sets, with two frontmen Dan Able and Toby Mitchell wrestling for the mic, have seen them booked for a run of big name gigs including headline shows for BBC Introducing at Boardmaster Festival and stand out gigs at The 100 Club and The Water Rats. Gimme Some Time was recorded at Troubadour Studios, Falmouth and produced by Ben Woods (ex -Lost Dawn/The Golden Dregs). The Velvet Hands are Toby Mitchell, Dan Able, Ben Woods and Sam Hilder and feature as the chosen support act for opening leg of The Bluetones May 2018 Tour.

April 21st  - Jimmy’s, Manchester  #rsd2018 Album Launch

May 2nd – Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms w/The Bluetones

May 4th – Exeter, Lemon grove w/The Bluetones

May 5th – Bristol, SWX w/The Bluetones

May 7th – Oxford, O2 Academy w/The Bluetones

May 12th – Mother’s Ruin, Bristol

May 17th – Manchester, Northern Exposure

May 19th – Brighton, The Alternative Great Escape

May 25th – London, Notting Hill Arts Club

May 26th – Plymouth, Underground

Brian's Indie Show REPLAY - as played on Radio KC - 8.4.18

Brian's Indie Show Replay

As played on Radio KC

Internet Radio on rkc.noip.me

Played in 174 countries 

Worldwide on 2 satellites

Website: ralphslife.co.uk

Music Blog: fruitbatwalton.blogspot.co.uk

Submissions: ralphslife@mail.com

Twitter: @fruitbatwalton

PLAYLIST : Click on their name to follow them on Facebook...

Vigilantes - Yuck
Night Flowers - Hey Love
The Violet Kind - Good Behaviour
Violet Contours - Hold On
PALE WAVES - Heavenly
Acrylic - In Here / Tonight
Olly Thornton Music - Feeling It With You
Westerman - Confirmation
The She-Punks: Women Of The World
The Kut - Mind Games
Beezkat - Daylight Fades
Maria Kelly - Small Talk
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING - People Will Always Need Coal 
The Magic Lantern - Lydia
Art Block - I Know You Won't Tell A Soul
Skellums - Mirrors
Sunstack Jones - Without Being Told
Red Telephone - Kookly Rose
Kid Kapichi - Take It On The Chin
Candy Opera - What A Way To Travel
Alice Merton - No Roots
Grace Solero - Eternal Love
Pete Kosanovich - Alone In Your Room
Submariner - Ghosts
Bokito - Love Gotten
Fat Goth - Queen Bee

Brian's NEW Top 10 Chart - as played on Radio KC - 8.4.18

Click here for the Ralph's Life website

Tracks from the Top Ten Blogged Bands are played 

every Sunday after 5-7pm on Radio KC as part of 

Brian's Indie Show.

LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S TOP 10 HERE

AS PLAYED ON RADIO KC - 8.4.18

BRIAN'S BRAND NEW TOP 10 CHART 

Published on 7.4.18 and as played after 

THE INDIE SHOW on RADIO KC - 8.4.18 - from 5-7pm

No 1: Bugeye

Having made a splash in 2016 and 2017 with airplay from luminaries such as BBC 6 Music, Steve Lamacq and rave reviews from the likes of God Is In The TV, female fronted, disco-punk band, Bugeye, return with their new single, I’m Not the One and a UK tour with sold out shows.  

Taking obvious inspiration from early pop punk bands such as, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Altered Images with a visual nod to David Lynch and punch-drunk productions, I’m Not The One sees the band take on a slightly darker pop approach.

No 2: wojtek the bear

Brian's favourite video this week is Made Out Of Maps by Wojtek The Bear.

Made Out Of Maps is the first single from the eagerly awaited debut album by Wojtek The Bear, A Talent For Being Unreasonable which is due for digital and vinyl release on Scottish Fiction records on May 25th.

Wojtek The Bear tucked themselves away to work with Chris McCrory to record A Talent For Being Unreasonable at Shady Lane Studios late 2017.

No 3: The Moods

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. 

No 4: Brownbear

What is Home? is the debut album from Brownbear. Combining strong melodies and indie riffs that have come to be expected from the band with an added lyrical maturity, the album covers love, loss and life whilst questioning what exactly home is. The album is preceded by an addictive and accomplished single release by the band in the shape of Truth Without Consequence which is accompanied by an equally accomplished and stylish video.

Brownbear are a four-piece indie-rock outfit led by singer/songwriter Matt Hickman.

No 5: Acrylic

Once in a while some new music comes along that transports you back to when you first heard a new release by a band that later becomes a true classic. 

Such was the occurrence on first listening to the upcoming EP release by burgeoning Scottish Alt-Popsters Acrylic. 

Listening to their All I AM EP transported me back to first listens to the likes of The Blue Nile and their near incomparable release Stay. 

No 6: Katalina Kicks 

Following the release of album Vices back in 2017, Katalina Kicks have spent a year of solid touring around it and following singles, accompanied by airplay across Kerrang!, BBC Introducing, Planet Rock and too many regional and online stations to mention. 

After spending a few months locked down in the studio, Katalina Kicks now release brand new single Waterfall, with a supporting mini UK tour.

No 7: Apollo Junction

Leed’s natives Apollo Junction are set to release their new single Begin on May 18th via self release. The track is a masterful re-working of the original release of Begin five years ago, bringing us a fuller, rounder more radio friendly single that's a guaranteed floor-filler.

The original is on their Bandcamp but you'll be able to hear a pre-release spin of the track on Brian's Radio KC Indie Show of April 1st and that is no joke I promise you.

No 8: The Kut

Rock category Finalist of the UK Songwriting Contest 2017 and Semi-Finalist of the USA led International Songwriting Competition, The Kut have announced a World Wide Record Deal with Cargo Records for their long-awaited debut album Valley of Thorns. Known for bringing some of the best independent albums to the fore, including those by The White Stripes, The Black Keys and Jonny Rotten’s Public Image Limited, Cargo Records have now put pen to paper and added The Kut to a long list of UK indie musicians to join their worldwide roster. 

No 9: Kadija Kamara

Based in London Kadija Kamara is a singer songwriter who best describes her sound as Alt Soul.

With a love of 60’s and 70’s analogue sounds, she combines her affinity for retro soul music with a host of modern influences.

No 10: MeMe Detroit

Sitting somewhere between sleazy grunge and power indie, MeMe Detroit oozes sultry guitar driven hooks with a head turning vocal and MeMe Detroit has been pulling in fans with a magnetism that is both eloquent yet effortlessly cool. 

Previous support slots include bands such as Dead Sea Skulls, Piano Wire, Fun Lovin' Criminals and Asylums. Stand out shows include The main stage at Moto GP, Silverstone, The O2 Academy, Dublin Castle, The Finsbury pub for Get In Her Ears and Jurassic Fields Festival.