Ralph's Life Indie Music Blog: ralphs life

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Monday, 15 October 2018

Brian's Video Of The Week - Cocoa Futures 'Circus'

Brian's Video Of The Week commencing 15th October is the interestingly disturbing and highly compelling new one from the enigmatic London based Cocoa Futures, baby of Scottish singer songwriter par excellence Greg Sanderson..

Directed by Danny Nellis and Wesley Gonzales Cocoa Futures - Circus. Released on Lost in the Manor Records.

Stream Circus on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0BFEUv...

Stream on Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cir...

Website: http://www.cocoafuturesband.com YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cocoafut Twitter: http://twitter.com/cocoafuture Instagram: http://instagram.com/cocoafutures Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cocoafutures

Tuesday, 11 September 2018

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!

Wednesday, 29 August 2018

Tom Lumley

Cambridgeshire native Tom Lumley is set to release his new single 'Crawling' on September 14 via North Acre Records and it's a proper Rock 'n' Rolla which we love. Yes it's shades of Big Country (Nae bad thing) but with a fresh in your face feel.

Leaving the usual singer-songwriter sound in his wake, Tom Lumley and his band are gaining a reputation for taking to the stage with monumental energy that’s felt from the front row to the back of the room. His debut 'Dream City EP', released in 2017 charted at No.2 in the iTunes Rock Charts, with lead singles 'Dream City' and ‘Running From Our Lives’ gaining press support from reputable music journalists and of course now Brian.

Following on from the success of his debut EP, the 22 year old returns with infectious indie rock anthem 'Crawling' and the track is about being trapped in a chemical relationship, to the extent where it’s almost an addiction. Even though you know it’s nothing but bad for you, you just keep going back.

Speaking about the track, Lumley said, “I feel it reflects a lot of modern day relationships. I feel my generation are very insecure in themselves and in their relationships due to social media and only sharing the “highlight reel”. Everyone shows off the good stuff, but no one ever sees the discord that is often happening behind the scenes in these relationships.”

Photo Credit - Isabelle Ingham

Tom Lumley and his band have supported some of the UK’s hottest bands, including The Hunna, The Sherlocks, Coasts and Airways but that's going to change very quickly as his star is very much in the ascendancy of the rock firmament and it'll be the other way around without a mistake!.

Photo Credit - Isabelle Ingham

He also took to the stage last year to play the very last Secret Garden Party for BBC Introducing, as well as playing Dot To Dot, Splendour and Green Meadow festivals.

Having sold out The Portland Arms in Cambridge this year already, Tom looks to continue the pace and spread his sound across the country.

Airplay support, Huw Stephens, BBC Radio 1; John Kennedy, Radio X; Tom Simkins, BBC Introducing Cambridgeshire; Charlie Ashcroft, big Jim Gellatly, Josh Hannen, Amazing Radio; Playlisting, Soundlab Evening Experiment & Playlisting syndicated show and of course upcoming airplay on Brian's Indie Show on Radio KC from Sunday Sept 2nd.

Friday, 20 April 2018

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,"

Image may contain: 4 people, people standing and shoes

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!"

Image may contain: 1 person, on stage and playing a musical instrument

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 19:30Record Junkee · Sheffield

Apr28

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

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

Aug4

Gig in the Car Park 2018

Sat 12:00The 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...

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

The Bordellos

If you're looking for some honest music you need look no further than the Debt Sounds album by St Helens band The Bordellos who have embraced the brutalist ideal with this latest release, gripping on to their non-conformist honesty with a vice-like grip.

The Bordellos could be described as the Howard Hughes of the music world with live performances like hens teeth, however I can announce with no small degree of delight that they will be performing for a second time in support of Musicians Against Homelessness.

At the humble behest of Ralph's Life on May 19th in the Ruskins Sports and Social Club, St Helens along with another 12 bands and artistes they take the stage with all monies raised going to homelessness charities.

Image may contain: one or more people, people on stage, night and indoor

Their idea behind the Debt Sounds album was to get back to basics, so Brian Shea informs us that he set down these ground rules:

1. All recorded on old tape 4 track, using microphones and recording equipment bought from pound shops and cash convertors for under £5.

2. All tracks recorded on 4 tracks only no overdubs.

3. All vocal tracks would be first take only even if disaster struck whilst recording ,so a lot of these songs have only ever been sang once.

4. All songs recorded would have been written that week . so the rest of the band would never have heard them before recording.

5. every song started would be completed that night so no going back.

Image may contain: 1 person, playing a musical instrument, sitting, guitar and indoor

Brian further elucidated: "It was recorded over 10 consecutive Friday nights during that 10 weeks. There were two romantic break ups (the two ex girlfriends actually sang on some of the tracks to add to the spice), and only just before the start a marriage had also broken up. There was lots of alcohol consumed lots of madness. It is the sound of four people going out of their minds."

"Looking back, I wonder how Dan managed as he only turned 17 during the recording of this album, but his teenage angst mixed with our midlife crises made for a very dark work of art.

This was supposed to be our third Brutarian Records release, but a label that boasted in its bumph as releasing noncommercial uncompromising music refused to release it as it was too uncompromising and noncommercial."

"I have very fond memories of this LP; recording it was an experience that was only matched in madness when recording our Ronco Revival Sound LP."

Thursday, 22 March 2018

The Kut

Image may contain: 1 person, on stage and text

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.

The album, produced by James Le Rock (Skindred / Def Leppard / White Zombie / My Vitriol) releases on April 13th. The single; Mind Games, is the first new offering from the album, and that releases March 30th.

John Dryland at Cargo Records spoke of the record deal, noting that

“it’s great to be working with such a hardworking, stellar artistes as The Kut on their debut album.”

Active on the UK and European alt.rock scene, The Kut, is the alter-ego of multi-instrumentalist, Princess Maha.

Photo by Jeroen Jacobs
With Princess Maha Diana Bartmann Jennifer Sanin.

The Kut live outfit has seen many guises, with the most recent line up featuring Diana Bartmann (drums) and Stella Vie (bass / bvs).

Festival performances include Download, Camden Rocks Festival, Rebellion Festival, Hard Rock Hell, Glastonbudget, Nice N Sleazy and Strummercamp and more. Tours have spanned the UK, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Voted into the winning spots of the MTV Brand New Unsigned Poll for 2014, subsequent EP releases and tours have gained The Kut support from - deep breath - BBC Introducing Lancashire, Kerrang! Radio, Planet Rock, The Guardian, Metro, Scuzz TV, Kerrang! Magazine, Big Cheese, Metal Hammer, Q and Classic Rock, AXS TV, MTV-U USA and many credible independents.

Maha announced that “It’s an absolute dream come true to sign with Cargo. They are super passionate about their artists - truly one of the UK’s finest. The debut has been a long time coming, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it”.

The summer of 2017 saw The Kut playing 21 UK mainland dates, and the year ended with the band claiming the Number 1 Spot in the Beyond 50 Promotions Top 50 Under the Radar UK Bands. Announcements for 2018 have included The Kut being added to the line ups of Camden Rocks Festival, Amplified Festival, Strummercamp Festival, Nice and Sleazy and Rebellion.

Image may contain: one or more people, crowd, night and indoor

Photo by Jeroen Jacobs Photo Projects