SHEAFS

SHEAFS are a five-piece indie rock band from Sheffield, which formed in the later end of 2015 comprise Lawrence Feenstra (lead vocals), Chris Goodacre (guitar/backing vocals), Charles Mellor (guitar), Callum Wright (bass/backing vocals), Charlie Eastap (drums).

Following on from the legacy of breakthrough single, This Is Not A Protest, new track, Shock Machine is a bold step up in both power of performance and size of hooks used.




Working with producer Thomas Mitchener (Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes) Shock Machine showcases a harder, faster side to the band yet still gives the listener a riotous sing along chorus and a break down to end all breakdown. 

As with the previous release, be afraid, be very afraid, this song will get stuck in your head.

SHEAFS live sound has earned them a consistent place in This Feeling tour book as well as slots on the Isle of Wight, Reading Festival bills and their largest show to date in front of a 2000 strong crowd at Y Not Festival. SHEAFS debut headline tour in support of Shock Machine runs across the UK this February and March.

SHEAFS are another band high on our 'ones to watch' list and Brian's giving Shock Machine a spin a week on Sunday's Radio KC Indie Show so tune in from 5-7pm GMT on the 11th of February. They're going to be mahoosive!!!

Speak, Brother

Speak, Brother are regaling us once more with their lush vocal harmonies, rustic instrumentation and contagious heartfelt lyrics with the release of their latest single Magnesium Burn prior to the debut album Young & Brave out this week and is accompanied by a UK headline tour, hopefully as a precursor to them taking their rightful place on a stage in a stadium near you soon.

Brian will be spinning Magnesium Burn on the Radio KC Indie Show a week this Sunday and it's well worth tuning in for as they soar to new musical heights with this latest offering.

They're high on our 'ones to watch' list for 2018 so if you get the chance I suggest you don't miss a gig near you on the upcoming tour. 

Speak, Brother frontman James Herring had this to say about Magnesium Burn...

"This song comes from a deep well of frustration in my life. Fear has kept me contained and depression has weighed me down. I've been distracted from what's real, worrying what's behind the corner. I've not done things, said things, loved people just because I'm not sure what would happen.

  Every day it's better to just autonomously play it safe, stay afloat and hope something one day changes.  There is this deep longing to just run. Run into the dark places. Like a child into the fields. I think it's at those places when we're most uncomfortable and just a about out of control of the outcome, where we really live, grow and become free."

Freak - Video Of The Week

Brian's favourite video this week is Everyone's The Same by Freak.

They had a hectic 2017 including a co-headline tour with King Nun, played the 10th Anniversary gig for BBC Introducing in Essex and a sold out show with The Great Escape. 

Freak are very much at the top of our 'Ones To Watch' for 2018 and you can get a chance to do just that as they'll be playing Brighton's The Great Escape Festival in May.

Video directed by Phil Poole.

Paves

London four-piece PAVES are set to release their new single Baby via the reformed This Feeling Records, digitally as of now and on limited edition 7” vinyl on November 17th.

BABY is an upbeat, ready made guitar classic that wouldn’t be out of place in a feel good, Hollywood rock n roll movie. Speaking on the track, the band said, "Baby went down a blast all summer. It stood out at every festival we performed at, as the track punters got into the most. It's got that summer vibe, so we only felt it natural to release it with This Feeling who have supported big time from day one."

Needless to say Ralph's giving the track a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show Sunday 29th October so remember to tune in from 5-7pm on rkc.noip.me internet radio.

Paves are the London faces of Britain’s new rock and roll movement. When they’re not bringing their Stonesesque swagger, with what Clash describe as “wah-wah flavoured guitar matched to some scorching vocals", live on stage, they’re out nearly every night in support of their musical peers. Literally, the faces of the scene; Luke Shield (Lead Vocals and Guitar), Mike Whitaker (Lead Guitar), Perry Read (Bass and Backing Vocals), Tom Triggs (Drums).


This Feeling Records is the instinctive next step for one of the UK’s most influential names in guitar music promotion and have played their part in the rise of the likes of Catfish and The Bottlemen, Blossoms, Cabbage, and more.

The London 4-piece have gone down a storm at Isle of Wight Festival, TRNSMT & Tramlines, playing to packed stages.

Catch Paves live over the new few months.

NOVEMBER: 16th: London The Monarch (Single Launch Party) 24th: Glasgow Broadcast 25th: Leicester O2 Academy 26th: Manchester Jimmy's DECEMBER: 12th: Doncaster Social Bar + Bang Bang Romeo

Wozniak

Edinburgh shoegazers Wozniak head south for a handful of shows in the next few weeks, touring their debut album Courage Reels. 

The band have teamed up with Ralph's favourites Goodsouls Promotions to put together the dates in London, Brighton (in conjunction with Acid Box Promotions), Leeds and Salford. Other than in London, this will be their debut in each of these places. Live, Wozniak are loud, intense and powerful. 

Wozniak are sharing another track from the album. Natsuko; which means ‘summer’ in Japanese, is full of light and air, shimmering as it speeds by and contrasting with the  intensity and density of Courage Reels carefully crafted woozy wall of sound. 

They excel at creating a magnificent soundscape of majestic guitar occasionally overlaid with minimalist vocals, exemplified by the soaring Scottish Dancer. 

Their latest release from the album, Natsuko on the other hand is about as commercial as Wozniak are likely to get. Shades of Joy Division sneak through making it eminently radio friendly, which is just as well as Ralph's giving it a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show this Sunday (18.6.17) from 5-7pm.

Wozniak will be joined by Only Echoes Remain for all four shows. Their album The Exigent is out on June 16th.

Gigs: 

   

June 23rd - The Brewhouse, London (also with XPLDR > U)

June 24th - Sticky Mike's Frog bar, Brighton (also with XPLDR > U)

June 30th – Fox & Newt, Leeds (also with Gilmore Trail)

July 1st - Old Pint Pot, Salford (also with Gilmore Trail)

Guide Dog

With a name like Guide Dog, how could Ralph resist checking out their first single I Am The Daddy which is the debut release from their Lovely Domestic Bliss album. The tale (or should that be tail) of Guide Dog is many-fold and intriguing and unfolds thus...

They introduce themselves as "a group of wankers who can't sing and can't play our instruments" which is a bit harsh, as they can obviously do the latter.

Guide Dog are Pete Roberts (vocal/guitar), John Maloney (drums) and Ian Russell (bass). 


Pete and John met in school where they made up half of Robots In The Sky who released a red vinyl double A side single back in 1999 via now defunct Complete Control Records.

Following that they released their first LP as Tetra Splendour on EMI no less at which point Ian Russell joined and the 5-piece People In Planes was formed as they joined New York based label Wind Up Records.

Not all went to plan as a third Wind Up Records release was aborted and Pete move to London where he was involved in forming the first incarnation of Cold Specks, the brainchild of Ladan Hussein and Jim  Anderson. Two years of touring and recording followed during which time the soundscape of Guide Dog was formed.


Still with me? Good...

On returning to Wales after quitting touring to start a family, Pete teamed up with John to flesh out some of the Guide Dog songs into a raw 2-piece garage rock sound with a loop pedal giving a third element to their sound and the arrival of the afore-mentioned Ian Russell bolstering the line-up.

Now we see Guide Dog attacking with a three-pronged synth infused grunginess which is made flesh in the form of their Lovely Domestic Bliss album which was produced by long term collaborator Dan Austin and recorded in three days at Rockfield Studios. It's released on Pete's own label, Hi-Vis Records digitally via all the usual download suspects and on lovely 12" vinyl via their Bandcamp account on July 7th.





Further to that, the first single from the album is released on June 16th via Hi-Vis Records in digital format only and you can have a sneak peek here, or tune in to Ralph's Indie Show on Radio KC Sunday 18th June when we'll be giving I Am The Daddy a spin. Tune in and get your grungy freak on!

Clwb Ifor Bach - Guide Dog - Album Launch Night! July 14th - Fri 19:30 ·  Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

Get Tickets

SONDER Festival 2017

SONDER Festival is a three day music, comedy and arts festival based in Manchester’s iconic Northern Quarter. The festival looks to bring together creative talent from across the region and also supports some amazing causes while doing so. The aim at SONDER is to create an incredible festival while also being able to stay at a price that is inclusive and offers great value for attendees.

This year SONDER is showcasing some of the best rising talent around with a plethora of artist who have performed on BBC Introducing, Radio 1, Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 1 Xtra, XFM and many more.

An average ticket price in Manchester city center could easily set you back over £8. SONDER have created a festival which allows attendees to see more acts for less! At just £10 for a full day ticket and £15 for the full three days they have created a festival that is not only affordable but is also fantastic value.



Not only will Ralph be playing some tracks by bands playing SONDER Festival on the Radio KC Indie Show next Sunday (11.6.17) from 5-7pm but we'll be having an online competition to win 2 wristbands PLUS you'll find him wandering around the Northern Quarter enjoying the food, atmosphere, quality bands and the odd beer plus I'm sure apres-festival reviews will ensue as some of his favourites are playing over the weekend including the newly added Boston Shakers.


              Ticket link: Full Weekend Ticket - £15

The Jackobins

After a very successful 2016 playing dozens of festivals such as Sound City, Y Not Festival, Dot to Dot etc. and a rather drastic lineup change, fast rising Scouse act The Jackobins are back with an anthemic new single called Nightfire.

Needless to say Ralph will be giving the track a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show and that will be coming up on May 14th from 5-7pm.

Nightfire might not be as straightforward as the The Jackobins previous songs, yet it is their most enticing one to date. It shows a band that has honed their skill set over the past couple of years and managed to develop their sound with every release. 

Here's how The Jackobins describe their subtly stunning new single in their own words...

"Nightfire's concept arises from the idea that when it comes to inner struggle we should open up, rather than let pride act as a vice. 

Sometimes our demons are extremely close to consuming ones identity and too compelling to fight on our own. It's a song reminding us that we shouldn't forget that even tho at times it might seem so, we're never alone."

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