Plug events megathread

[Plug]

Described by Gill Mills (Best of Myspace) as "Bombay Bicycle Club on steroids", The Wild Mercury Sound have spent the early part of 2011 playing shows in both the UK & Europe. The band's name is taken from a famous Bob Dylan quote describing the sound on his Blonde on Blonde album. Taking influence from the likes of Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Suede etc they have been developing their sound and working alongside producers such as James Kenosha (Pulled Apart By Horses, Dinosaur Pileup, Chapel Club) Dave Pye (Wild Beasts, Dido, Faithless) and Charlie Andrew (Eugene McGuiness, Luna Belle, The Laurel Collective). They have already received support from the likes of BBC's Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson, and their debut single is due out later this year.

 

http://www.myspace.com/thewildmercurysound

 

+ Plus Support tba soon

 

@ The Forum

127-129 Devonshire Street

Sheffield

S3 7SB

[Plug]

Red Snapper, one of Britain’s most groundbreaking musical outfits, signs with dutch based label, V2 Benelux and is set to release their brand new album, KEY, worldwide in March of 2011.

After forming in 1993 and releasing various EPs, the band debuted in 1996 with the album Prince Blimey, at the time a unique use of traditional jazz instrumentation with a contemporary approach. However, it was their live show that impressed many and influenced other ‘dance’ artists to fuse acoustic instruments with electronic sounds. They quickly went on to remix for the likes of Garbage, David Holmes, Sabres of Paradise, Troublefunk amongst others, and broke through on the European continent with their subsequent releases on Warp records, Making Bones and Our Aim is To Satisfy Red Snapper.

Red Snapper, originally Rich Thair (drums), Ali Friend (Bass) and David Ayers (Guitar), were joined on stage at a show in 2007 by Tom Challenger on Sax and the new band line-up was born. A few EPs followed, but it wasn’t until 2010 that the band decided to put all their energy into a new full length album, resulting in the blistering KEY, their best piece of music in over 10 years.

Key will be the first full length Red Snapper album featuring the aforementioned Tom Challenger, and also sees contributions from vocalists Gavin Clarke (UNKLE, Clay Hill), and in a bold move UK folk songstress Eliza Carthy, plus vocals by the band themselves. Rich Thair adds : “The album is a nod to all things Red Snapper, afrorockabilly to dubjazz via pounding bophop, a soulful and raw mix of passionate music,”. KEY is set for release in March, which the band will follow up with an extensive tour of Western and Eastern Europe and are keen to return to the festival stages where they belong throughout the summer of 2011.

 

Supports tba

 

Tickets available from Plug Box Office or online

http://www.the-plug.com/events-and-tickets/live/red-snapper

[Plug]

Unfortunately the Red Snapper show on Friday 10th June has been postponed until later on in the year.

 

Your tickets will still be valid for the new date. If you would prefer a refund then please contact the Plug box office or the ticket outlet your bought them from.

 

We have this official statement from Management:

 

RED SNAPPER REGRET TO INFORM THEIR FANS THAT DUE TO THE ILL HEALTH OF BASS PLAYER ALI FRIEND THEY ARE POSTPONING THE FORTHCOMING UK TOUR.

 

THE DATES WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR THE AUTUMN.

 

THE BAND WANT TO THANK THEIR FANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT

 

PLEASE CHECK http://www.redsnapperofficial.com AND FACEBOOK FOR UK/EUROPEAN DATES THIS SUMMER.

[Plug]

Oh man! In 2008 we hatched our ‘best laid plans’ for our amazing new 19 year old signing Karima Francis from Blackpool.

 

The best music journos perceptively heard the vibes and memories of Tracy Chapman, Joan Armatrading and Jeff Buckley. They GOT IT.

 

Artist to watch 2009. Our wildest dreams coming true.

 

We recorded a debut album “The Author” with love and ambition and took it to radio- they got it too and made “Again” an A list record.

 

She played, she conquered, she charmed the pants off them!

 

Great shows across the UK and heart-warming to be a part of.

 

The people at “Later” came to see her and BOOKED her! A breakthrough, a platform for all aspiring singer songwriters, a wonderful opportunity for a wonderful artist.

 

She performed live on Later. I cried that night. Too early to break too many hearts but there she was, naked, fragile in front of the world.

An illness all too apparent.

 

One of my favourite Van Morrison songs has always been “The Healing Has Begun”. Well after 9 months solitary, it finally did.

 

Karima Francis has grown. Staring down the barrel has inspired a depth of song-writing that I think makes her unique.

 

Now she’s recorded her second album. With FLOOD! Flood, man! He’s worked with PJ Harvey, U2, The Killers, Throbbing ****ing Gristle f’chrissakes! We’re not worthy.

 

But Karima is.

Worthy of your attention, of your second chance, of your love and belief.

Hey, don’t take my word for it, I’ll enthuse you to death. Go and see her play; there are dates attached. Listen to her new album – it’s a joy, it’s a triumph, it’s glad to be alive.

 

And I’m glad to tell you about it!

 

Keith Armstrong , Kitchenware Records. June 2011

 

http://www.myspace.com/karimafrancis

 

http://www.karimafrancis.com/

 

Plus support tbc

[Plug]

Recent signings to Mute, S.C.U.M are set to release a new single for the label on the 18th of July 2011.

 

‘Amber Hands’ was recorded in London with producer Ken Thomas and comes backed with mixes by Sonic Boom and Silver Apples and also the exclusive ‘Fountains. Released on twelve inch vinyl and available to download, ‘Amber Hands’ is the first single to be lifted from the band’s forthcoming debut album which is due for release on Mute in September. Based in London, S.C.U.M exploded onto the music scene two years ago with the release of their debut single ‘Visions Arise’. The single, together with their exciting and intense live shows, quickly grabbed the imagination of fans and critics alike. Since then band have toured extensively across the UK and Europe to a growing fan base and released three exclusive digital download tracks entitled SIGNALS (‘PARIS’,‘BERLIN’ and ‘WARSAW’). The S.C.U.M. line up of Thomas Cohen (vocal), Bradley Baker (machines), Samuel Kilcoyne (moog), Melissa Rigby (drums) and Huw Webb (Bass) head off on a UK Tour with The Kills in May. The band will also play a London show with The Raveonettes at Islington Academy in June before making an appearance at All Tomorrows Party at London’s Alexandra Palace in July.

 

http://www.myspace.com/scum1968

 

http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/10152/1/scum-video-premiere-su...

 

http://www.pitchfork.com/forkcast/15788-summon-the-sound-purity-ring-remix/

 

http://www.abeano.com/s-c-u-m-summon-the-sound-purity-ring-remix/

 

In support we have Nerves

 

Remember when the late eighties rolled into the early nineties, and My Bloody Valentine had just released their debut album ‘Isn’t Anything‘ and Shoegazing was in it’s prime? No? Well neither can I. But from snippets of memories and a lot of retrospective listening, I learnt about the awe inspiring sound of Shoegaze. For years this sound has remained underground, however Sheffield born and bred Nerves are bringing it to the furor once again, but with a modern twist. Dark and brash, their self titled EP is a creation of beautiful guitar reverb and smokey vocals that promises to be anything other than what you will have listened to lately. Fantastically refreshing - Crack in the Road.

 

'Atmospheric and Majestic, another new discovery for us from Reading was the Sheffield shoegaze quartet Nerves. Who've been enthusiastically championed already by their raw talent introducing shows in Yorkshire and Humberside' - Tom Robinson on BBC Radio 6 Music

[Plug]

In a smoke filled rehearsal room in an old mill in Wigan, an unassuming gang of lads are cooking up a fierce racket. Song after song falls out of the speakers like a souped up Sex Pistols with a dash of early Verve reverb and Oasis swagger.

 

It’s been a long time coming but here’s a band for the disaffected youth to get into. A band that match the sullen boredom and nihilistic pent up anger of battered small-town Britain with a fistful of big anthems. Don't let them fool you, Britain is not all fancy wine bars and radio 2 jazz pop. There are still some bands out here who walk it like they talk it. Bands who live in the real world of cut price Britain , but are still capable of making great art. It’s the primal appeal of rock n roll. It’s you and your mates, some amps, a lot of attitude and some loud guitars. This is the Suzukis the best post Oasis band to arrive on the scene in years.

 

The songs are anthems, the kind of anthems they will be singing on the terraces if we had any terraces left,. The band don’t even know themselves how good they are. Sitting here is like sitting in Denmark Street with the Pistols in 1976 as they perfected their enormous sound. The Suzukis have got that punk rock raw power, except there is no agenda here, no freaky wardrobe; just four lads having a laugh and creating a huge wall of sound.

 

The Suzukis hammer out their tunes knowing the simple songs are always the best. These songs will start riots. They will be the soundtrack for the next generation of bored youth growing up in forgotten towns; this is the sound of council estate Britain.

 

Wigan has never been exotic but has a proud musical history, from the Wigan Casino which is now one of those crappy seventies shopping precincts to the Verve there has been some cool stuff going on here. Infact the Suzukis remind me of the Verve in their early days when Richard Ashcroft was mad Richard producing intense soundscapes with the same sort of northern self-contained attitude.

 

Chris Veasey spits his vocals out with that kind of attitude that primetime Liam had in spades. However he has also got his own manner, a brusque northern no bull****, hands in pockets, staring into the void stance. He claims his words are about nothing but then he would!

 

The Suzukis are also brilliant musicians. Robert Warnes is a great bassist. He’s the spine of the band. The bass really hammers it out, driving the songs along with a deep, almost dub sound, but driving like the Pistols, locking with Stuart Robinson’s sweatshod drums. Adam Bamford’s guitar hammers out three chord riffs that stick in your mind but also crank up the adrenaline pile driving the songs. There’s such a great power in brutal simplicity. The guitar is ruthless, yet sneaks off into psychedelic dub soundscapes. The sort of psychedelic finery- the classic north west psychedelia- the mystic scaly kind of stuff perfected by the Stone Roses and loved by generations of bands since then. They have that indefinable weirdness and strange twist that seems to bubble out from the least likely of bands.

 

The Suzukis are a real gang, it’s the classic case of the band against the worl. The sheer power of their songs reflects this and will manifeast itself in their huge wall of sound when they play in stadiums next year.

 

They look like the kind of street youth that the Daily Mail is so scared of and have songs that everyone is going to be singing in a few months time. And Thank **** for that because British guitar bands have got so boring recently. Everything sounds so watered down. Where’s the anger? Where’s the adrenalin? There’s got to be a band with some kind of edge. Some kind of attitude and that’s The Suzukis.

 

The Suzukis are in your face and their music taps into the raw aggression that is the real England.

 

Suzukis Biog – by John Robb

 

 

http://www.thesuzukis.com/

 

+ Support comes from

 

Monday Club

[Plug]

This is now going to happen on the 7th Sept with support from Bijon Freece.

[Plug]

Plug Live presents Young Legionnaire

Monday 3rd October

 

http://www.myspace.com/younglegionnaire

 

Young Legionnaire, the brain child of Gordon Moakes (Bloc Party) and Paul Mullen (yourcodenameis:milo), released their brilliant and acclaimed debut album ‘Crisis Works’ on Monday 9th May worldwide (10th May in the US) on CD, 12” and digitally via Wichita Recordings. Coinciding with the release, the band have announced their first full headline tour, to take place in September and October. These dates will be preceeded by appearances at Tramlines and Sonisphere festivals and a newly announced run of UK shows with Dananananaykroyd in June.

 

This week the band embark on a series of European shows, following a week of UK dates at the Camden Crawl, Live at Leeds and supporting DFA 1979 on their comback shows at The Forum.

 

YOUNG LEGIONNAIRE initially started following a chance meeting between Paul and Gordon during the recording sessions for the Print Is Dead album in 2006, where Gordon guested on the track ‘Wait a Minute’ with Paul and the rest of YCNI:M. Some more meetings and conversations followed, eventually leading to their first rehearsals together as a band in 2009. Now joined by full time drummer Dean Pearson, 2011 has seen the band already become one of the acclaimed rock bands of the year.

 

Debut album 'Crisis Works' out now on Wichita Recordings: http://www.wichita-recordings.com

 

Tickets go on sale Wednesday 11th May at 9am

£6.50

 

http://www.the-plug.com/events-and-tickets/live/young-legionnaire

[Plug]

This will now take place on the 18th November.

[Plug]

Ben Howard is a young acoustic troubadour who will make you feel as though he is the first young acoustic troubadour you have ever heard. He brings freshness to the form, gives it lustre, making it all seem brand new even as his songs have about them a quality of wisdom and a rootsy authenticity as old as the hills.

 

He is something of an acoustic guitar whiz, having mastered the art of strumming, plucking and hammering the instrument for rhythmic purposes. And he’s only 23 but already - minus any of the usual army of public relations people and pluggers behind him - can sell out a 400-capacity venue, including some of the capital’s coolest venues, at the drop of a plectrum, having amassed a secret society of fans via the UK’s fiercely loyal surfing community that has already spread over the water to Germany, France and Holland.

 

Devonshire based since a young child (his parents now live in Ibiza, where his granddad has lived for about 50 years), Ben was steeped in music as a child. His mum was “a bit of a hippie” who played guitar and flute and appeared at open-mic nights around Dartington’s music college whilst his dad, an interior designer, would strum a guitar every now and again too.

 

Because of his parents’ record collection, Ben is, he admits, “still fairy addicted” to all the classic 60s and 70s singer-songwriters, from Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan to Van Morrison and Richie Havens.

 

Educated in Devon, Ben studied journalism in Falmouth but following a short-lived placement on a surfing magazine in Newquay, he gave up six months before graduation when he realised he could “get away with being a musician full-time”.

 

“A lot of people said I was crazy to leave that close to the end of the course,” he laughs, “but a friend of mine said, ‘The most beautiful lives are the ones that take risks’, which was encouraging. And my parents were very supportive. They told me to do whatever makes me happy.”

 

His forthcoming debut album, due for an Autumn release through Island Records was recorded in a converted barn in Devon, and has turned out darker in its lyrical content than he imagined it would. The melodies come easy, but he worked hard on the words. “There’s a lot of stuff about people and relationships, and about myself - I’m quite self-indulgent in that respect.”

 

Life on the road with his band - India on cello, and Chris on bass and drums – has made them a close knit unit, and given them all a heightened “awareness of sound”. You can hear it too, in the gentle, note perfect harmonies and the fragility in which they are delivered. They hush rooms, scatter the audience with a sense of euphoria, and leave them desperate for much more of the same.

 

And it’s thus no wonder that Island were keen to sign them, especially after the label witnessed an ecstatic reaction during a performance at London’s prestigious Water Rats which had followed a month long sold out headline tour throughout France, Holland, Germany, and the UK.

 

Ben sees himself as the latest in the lineage of pioneering Island’s rootsy, folk-rock acts. “They sold me the idea on the back of their involvement with Nick Drake and John Martyn. That’s my era. When I saw their roster I couldn’t say no.”

 

Dark and alluring on tape, and creating this unique live story before the story’s truly yet begun, Ben Howard harks back to a classic and comforting time of old, albeit with a forward-thinking method of guitar performance. Spring is afoot, and Old Pine is a timely breathe of fresh air.

 

Tickets will be available from Friday 1st July here http://www.the-plug.com/events-and-tickets/live/ben-howard