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

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. 

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. 

Photo by Jeroen Jacobs Photo Projects

UPCOMING DATES

May 05

HASHROCK FESTIVAL (Headline)

Derby, United Kingdom

May 26

STRUMMERCAMP FESTIVAL (Main Stage)

Manchester, United Kingdom

May 27

NICE N SLEAZY FESTIVAL (Main Stage)

Morecambe, United Kingdom

Jun 02

CAMDEN ROCKS FESTIVAL (The Monarch)

London, United Kingdom

Jun 30

Rat InFESTation 2

Reading, United Kingdom

Jul 06

AMPLIFIED FESTIVAL (Main Stage)

Northleach, United Kingdom

Jul 07

The Cotswold Inn

Cheltenham, United Kingdom

Jul 14

WEMSTOCK FESTIVAL (Main Support)

Shrewsbury, United Kingdom

Jul 22

TRAMLINES FRINGE ALL DAYER (Main Support)

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Aug 02

REBELLION FESTIVAL (Main Stage)

Blackpool, United 

Aug 24

BYLINE FESTIVAL (Main Stage)

Nutley, United Kingdom

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.

The group released their debut single Dead or Alive in May 2014 which subsequently gained them national radio exposure and high profile gigs which included supporting The Libertines at their comeback show at the iconic Barrowland’s Balllroom in Glasgow.

Brownbear then went on to join The Libertines again at their BST Summertime show at Hyde Park before playing at a number of festivals including T in The Park & Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival. An acoustic version of Dead or Alive recorded in the BBC Treehouse became the most viewed clip online for T in the Park 2014 ahead of the likes of Arctic Monkeys & Biffy Clyro. 

The bands first London headline show was a sell out and received a positive 7/10 review from the NME. Brownbear then embarked on a European tour before starting work on their debut album. Early in 2016 they supported The View on the Scottish dates of their UK tour before returning to the studio to finish recording the album, produced by Joe McAlinden. 



With What Is Home? now complete and set to be released Brownbear are gearing up for getting back out playing live this year starting with the album launch show at Stereo in Glasgow on Friday 20th April and that's one not to be missed!

April 20th – Stereo, Glasgow (Album Show) 
May 3rd – Clarks, Dundee 
May 4th – Mr C’s, Thurso 
May 5th – Bakers, Kilmarnock 
May 11th – The Drouthy Cobbler, Elgin 
May 12th – Gig in the Goil Festival 
May 13th – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh 
May 26th – Ayr Town Hall w/ Tom Clarke 
June 23rd – Upside Doon Festival, Ayrshire 
June 30th – Kelburn Garden Party 
July 27th – Kendall Calling

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.

Katalina Kicks say: "Our new single Waterfall is written about mental health and finding strength through coping with depression. The subject is very important to us, both in terms of the meaning behind the song and the feelings that lead to the creation of the track." 

Brian's playing the new single on the Radio KC Indie Show so tune in on March 25th 5-7pm.

Katalina Kicks play simple and direct heavy garage rock’n’roll: power chords and pummeling rhythms, fuzzy guitar and throbbing bass, big riffs and shouted choruses, pin-balling between grunge, punk and heavy blues. 

In Ian they’ve also a songwriter who uses his band as a platform to air his anxieties about the world around him. “I wouldn't pigeonhole us as a ‘political band’,” he explains. “I write about things I see and hear that upset me." 

We’re not preaching or trying to change the world. We’re just saying these are the things that affect and worry us. They’re too important not to talk about, whether in conversation or in rock’n’roll. That’s all we try to do.”

Van Tastik

Van Tastik is an impassioned one-man-blues-band mixing American Blues and Folk with hypnotic rhythms; far-out instruments and raw vocals in a Nick Cave stylee.

Whether Van Tastik is delivering a visceral A Capella number, a heavy garage-rock, blues or a sweet, fluttering Appalachian and Bluegrass melody, he will capture and hold the attention of his audiences with his unique musical stylings.

The Van Tastic voice and looks will take you back and pull you south to the Delta where the blues began, but with his own modern twist on the old-fashioned.

After a hugely successful run of festival appearances at Kelburn Garden Party, Eden Festival, ButeFest BlueGrassmarket, Sofar Sounds Edinburgh and a live performance on the Janice Forsyth show for the BBC at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he won over fans throughout 2017.

He has released an excellent two-track single, Drag Me To Hell which Brian is playing on the Radio KC Indie Show on March 11th. Look out for Van Tastik live in the UK, Germany, France and Holland following a short tour of New Zealand plus the release of his first album later this year.

May 17th      Van Tastik    Thurs 19:30

Edinburgh Blues Club

Bad Llama

We played the last Bad Llama single Apocrypha on the Radio KC Indie Show in November of last year to much critical comment, so it's no surprise we bring you news of their latest single Crooked Empire as a precursor to the imminent release of their EP of the same name. 

The single will be getting a pre-release spin on The Indie Show of 18.2.18 so remember to tune in from 5-7pm.

Bad Llama are an alternative rock/metal band formed in 2016 based in Burton Upon Trent. They are both aggressive and melodic in their approach to song writing finding a unique balance in within their sound.

Bad Llama blend a mixture of 90s rock/metal with modern industrial and progressive sounds. Their music delivers powerful choruses, emotive vocals, funky basslines, diverse beats and melodic guitars. 

On the song, the band say...

 "Crooked Empire explores the atrocities caused by possession and deception. The lyrics delve into how a person can prey on an individuals vulnerability, manipulating them into doing whatever they say for their own sadistic desires. Crooked Empire embodies the aftermath caused by a self appointed individual who uses their false authority to brainwash an easily influenced group of people". 

Now after performing at numerous venues including O2 Academy 3 in Birmingham, Rock City in Nottingham, The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton and being shortlisted for Ynot Festival 2017, they are set to carry on growing across the UK.  

With the release of quality tracks like Apocrypha and the even more addictive Crooked Empire as well as an increasingly impressive live pedigree, that's highly achievable.

Bad Llama consist of Kyle Jordan (Vocals), Lewis Hutchings (Bass), Gaz Waddell (Drums), Dan Houlbrooke (Guitar) and Sam Wyatt (Guitar and Backing vocals). 

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!!!