Showing posts with label have mercy las vegas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label have mercy las vegas. Show all posts

Thursday, 26 October 2017

Lindisfarne Festival


I've been a fan of crowdfunding since raising £5,000 using crowdfunder.co.uk on Twitter to produce the 40 track Ralph's Life CD which enabled Ralph to present funds to Rethink Mental Illness and put on two reward benefit events in London and Edinburgh.  

No surprises then when my attention was piqued by an attempt to raise a world record beating £70,000 by Lindisfarne Festival to ensure their event goes ahead successfully in 2018.

Lindisfarne Festival takes place on Beal Farm on Northumberland and next year sees a stellar line-up including a jaunt southwards by some of the very best in Scottish indie bands; including long time Ralph's Life favourites, Bombskare, Colonel Mustard, Mickey 9s, Girobabies and Have Mercy Las Vegas

But the great thing about the crowdfunder is, you'll be able to have a say in who takes part in Lindisfarne Festival 2018!






Renowned for their eclectic range of performers - from Thursday evening through to the early hours of Sunday, their 8 unique music venues will once again play host to another incredible variety of both local and world renowned talent. With over 100 acts, spanning almost every imaginable genre - the only problem you'll have is deciding who to go and see next at Lindisfarne Festival 2018.


Friday, 1 November 2013

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 1.11.13


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..... Under A Banner


Ralph previously looked at Wolverhampton Alt Folk/Rock band Under A Banner back in May when they released a single 'Some Stories' to aid the soldiers charity Help For Heroes.  Since then the band have been working hard to produce their ¿Acoustic? EP and the result is a heartfelt collection of well crafted songs. 










Have Mercy Las Vegas were the third and final of Ralph's trio of lively and energetic folk/rock bands reviewed back in November of last year. They're causing a bit of a stir on the Glasgow music scene with their unique sound, which although largely folk and blues based, is hard to pin down exactly as they appeal to a wider audience with every gig.








I recently attended a gig in Liverpool's Leaf Tearooms to take in local bands Lumin Bells and Red Sails which included an appearance by This Morning Call.  Main interest on the night was Lumin Bells but after their set probably a third of the audience left.  To their loss as it happens as This Morning Call produced a set that was as eclectic as it was mesmerising.










No 4.....Plum


Betsy Thunder cover art
Building on the impetus of her SAMA Best Electronic Award earlier this year Plum (aka Shona Maguire) has released a new EP 'Betsy Thunder'.  Just after releasing the EP she played a gig in The Pleasance, Edinburgh supporting Conquering Animal Sound so in order to introduce Ralph's former man in Scotland, Malcolm Parry as a fully fledged blogger (Scottish Sounds) in his own right, here's his review of the EP and gig...








No 5.....Kidsmoke




Kidsmoke are Lance Williams, James Stickels, Tomas Hassall and Chris Trow and despite being long time friends they've only formed as a unit in early 2013.  That being said they've come up with a solid, eminently listenable debut EP.  The lead track 'Higher' kicks off with an almost psychedelic/60's California vocal.









No 6..... The Darlingtons

THE DARLINGTONS - Don't Give Me Hope

Ralph makes no secret of his love of The Darlingtons track 'Bats' (closely followed by 'Watch Yourself'), both of which have featured regularly on his Radio KC Sunday Indie Show.  So it's no surprise his tail was wagging with news of their debut self-released single 'Don't Give Me Hope', due out November 25th 2013 along with an almost countrywide autumn tour.








No 7..... Red Sails 




If you're looking for well crafted, melodic tunes in a Steely Dan sylee then you've come to the right place because Ralph's been listening to Red Sails from Liverpool and it's time you did too!  Their tracks sound simple but are actually complex well written musical gems that soar, taking you on highs and lows with their lyrics and melodies.







No 8..... Graham Marshall




I was sent a You Tube video a few weeks ago that not only made me laugh but also renewed my faith in seeking out unsigned indie music.  It was self-made by Graham Marshall who three years ago tried to make a living in music but had to do the unthinkable – go back to a 'real job' as a truck driver for ASDA. Almost giving up hope of a musical career he now boasts a trophy awarded by the panel of the Barcelona International Film Festival and a newly released EP.





No 9..... The Gravity Drive


Since Ralph playlisted the forthcoming single 'Circles' by The Gravity Drive back on the 20th October for his Indie Show with Radio KC he's had numerous requests for more info, so being a Jack Russell and inquisitive by nature, dug deeper. 

The Gravity Drive are husband and wife duo Elijah and Ava Wolf who release their music on their own label, the aptly named Elijah Wolf Music. 









No 10.....The Low Countries

x

Ralph's an equal opportunities Jack Russel and having just covered Scottish Indie folk/blues band Have Mercy Las Vegas decided to stick with the genre in order to bring you news of the latest (and apparently final) album release by The Low Countries









Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Have Mercy Las Vegas




Have Mercy Las Vegas were the third and final of Ralph's trio of lively and energetic folk/rock bands reviewed back in November of last year. They're causing a bit of a stir on the Glasgow music scene with their unique sound, which although largely folk and blues based, is hard to pin down exactly as they appeal to a wider audience with every gig. Each band member adds a different style, resulting in great original songs performed with great enthusiasm and passion making them a must see live band.






 

Well the good news is Have Mercy Las Vegas have just released a new single - 'Pappy' - mixed and produced by Matt Harvey at Maybank Studios in Glasgow.  It's a complete foot stomper guaranteed to be a favourite at gigs (I'm assuming they'll have played it last night at King Tut's in Glasgow) with it's Cajun-esque folk/rock vibe.  It's frenetic strings guarantee you're heads bobbing and toes are tapping throughout.  It's everything a single should be and Ralph'll be spinning it on his Radio KC show this weekend again!



The summer of 2012 saw the release of their Debut EP, entitled HMLV, which has been well received by respected musical personalities and their ever increasing fanbase. The band worked tirelessly over the summer of 2012, making debut appearances at the Wickerman and Disconnect festivals, whilst playing to packed out audiences at Eden and Loch Lomond festivals. They also played numerous other local festivals and venues across the West of Scotland and further affiield.





 




Their appearances for the remainder of 2012 were few and far between as they took time out to put the finishing touches to the debut album released in early 2013. To date they have been featured on numerous radio stations, including Radio Clyde, Amazing Radio and Celtic Music Radio, and their songs "Snakes and Horses" and "Tear To My Eye" both entered the top ten entries in Scottish New Music Charts. Tear to My Eye reached number 3 in last Septembers chart.




 






Have Mercy Las Vegas are..... 

Crispin McAlpine - Guitar, Harmonica, Lead Vocals, Accordion, Ukelele

Eilidh Trotter - Guitar, Lead Vocals, Ukelele

Stephen Scott - Banjo, Backing Vocals, mandolin, Harmonium

Marc McLean - Bass, Guitar, Backing Vocal

Phil Plunkett - Drums, Djembe, Backing Vocal

Andrew Napier - Fiddle






Upcoming gigs.....




Eden Festival Masked Ball     Cumbria            1.11.13

St Augustine's Church            Dumbarton        8.11.13

Butterfly and Pig                    Glasgow            15.11.13

The Doghouse                        Balloch             16.11.13

Ayr Gaiety                               Ayr                    29.11.13

Dram                                       Glasgow           Hogmanay!