Tonight at The Musician: Guy Pratt

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Dave’sLeicester Comedy Festival Presents…
Guy Pratt: Great Stories, Great Music
Sunday24^th February£8adv£10doorguypratt.ricardopadua.comwww.comedy-festival.co.ukGrammyaward-winner Guy Pratt spills the beans on 30 years as bass player to thestars. He's toured with Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music,Jimmy Page, Robert Palmer, Womack & Womack and recorded with Madonna,Michael Jackson, The Pretenders and Iggy Pop.
Currentlymusical director on Rob Brydon's TV show, on stage, Guy unpacks hisirresistible and very funny stories about life on stage and behind the scenes,the craziness of touring the world and playing the biggest stadiums alongsidesome equally sizeable egos.
Youget self-deprecating wit, rip-roaring anecdotes and enough insider's referencesto satisfy even afficionados. Guy will also be playing his beloved vintageFender bass. This show is seriously suitable for anyone who loves music andlaughter, and is curious about what happens behind that music biz curtain.
Remember;always check with the venue before travelling:
www.themusicianpub.co.uk
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Doctor Who Dalek designer Ray Cusick dies after illness

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The designerof the Daleks from the BBC's Doctor Who has died aged 84 after a short illness,his daughter has said.
Former BBC designer Ray Cusick died of heart failurein his sleep on Thursday, Claire Heawood added.
The Daleks became the iconic villains in cult sciencefiction series Doctor Who, which is due to mark its 50th anniversary withevents this year.
Mr Cusick, from Horsham, West Sussex, leaves twodaughters and seven grandchildren, his family said.
The official Doctor Who Magazine tweeted: "It's with great sadnessthat we report the death of Ray Cusick - the designer of the Daleks. Half acentury on, his iconic design lives on."
Doctor Who actor and writer Mark Gatiss tweeted: "Farewell to the greatRay Cusick. His passing is especially sad in this anniversary year but hiscreation remains immortal. Daleks forever!"
'System of logic'
The designergave form to the concept of the Daleks, created by Doctor Who screenwriterTerry Nation and which first appeared in series one of Doctor Who nearly 50years ago.
In the show, the race of Daleks was said to have beendeveloped by a scientist to survive a war on their home planet of Skaro.However, the scientist was later killed by his own creation.
The Daleks, mutants encased in studded, tank-likemachinery that appear to glide over the ground, became a cultural sensation,with generations growing to love their famous electronic command of"Exterminate".
In a 2008 episode of BBC Three's Doctor WhoConfidential, Mr Cusick visited the BBC props department and explained hisinspiration for the design of the Daleks, which has changed very little overthe years.
"People do say I was inspired by a pepper pot -but I always think 'If that's all it takes to become a designer then it's adoddle'."
He explained that, in fact, the pepper pot detailcame from a lunch with Bill Roberts, the special effects expert who would makethe Daleks, when Mr Cusick picked up a pepper pot and moved it around thetable, telling him: "It's going to move like that - no visiblemeans."
"Ever since then people say I was inspired by apepper pot - but it could have been the salt pot I picked up," he said.
He went on: "When I'm asked what I was inspiredby I suppose it was really a system of logic because I realised that you've gotto have an operator to operate them. If you had anything mechanical, 10 to oneon the take it would go wrong, so you've got a human being in there who wouldbe absolutely totally reliable...
"I then thought 'Well, the operator's got to sitdown', [so I] drew a seat, ergonomic height, 18in, got the operator down, andthen drew round him. That's how the basic shape appeared."
David Graham, who created the original voice of theDaleks, said the villains' success in frightening generations of viewers was acombination of "brilliant design" and the synthesised voice added toit.
He said Mr Cusick was responsible for "one ofthe most iconic designs of television sci-fi".
"They captured the imagination of so manypeople. It was a wonderful thing," he told BBC Radio 5 live's StephenNolan show.
Nicholas Briggs, who voices the modern Daleks, saidthe show would not be the same without them.
"Extinction is not an option - If you say DoctorWho to someone in the street about the second thing they're going to say is'Exterminate'," he said.
"Lots of my friends who are not Doctor Who fansthink that the programme is 'Doctor Who and the Daleks' - that surely theDaleks are in it all the time - which isn't true but that is the impression.
"That's the brilliance of the creation of theDaleks. They've made an indelible stamp on the series really."
Source: BBC
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Cleotha Staples of The Staple Singers dies at 78

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Cleotha Staples, a member of the chart-topping gospelgroup The Staple Singers, has died at the age of 78.
The familygroup had eight US top 40 singles in the 1970s, including the number ones I'llTake You There and Let's Do It Again.
They enjoyedsuccess on the Stax label and Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label.
Friend andpublicist Bill Carpenter said Cleotha suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Hersister Mavis paid tribute to Cleotha's "soothing" voice.
"A lot ofsingers would try to sing like her," Mavis said in a statement. "Hervoice would just ring in your ear. It wasn't harsh or hitting you hard, it wassoothing. She gave us that country sound."
'Strong' voice
The group,which also featured father Pops, sister Yvonne and brother Pervis, began singingin church in Chicago in 1948.
They wereinducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and received a Grammylifetime achievement award in 2005.
Neil Portnow,president of the Recording Academy, which organises the Grammy Awards,described them as "one of Stax Records' most important and successfulacts".
"Theirsongs spread messages of hope, brotherhood and self-respect through some ofR&B's finest and most passionate voices, and their music remains as vitaltoday as when it was recorded," he said.
"Music hassuffered a great loss, and our thoughts and condolences are with her family,friends and all those who have been moved and influenced by her strong, soulfulvoice."
Source: BBC
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Marnie Stern announces UK tour dates and shares new track

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New York guitar goddess, Marnie Stern, has just announced that she will be coming to the UKat the end of May.  Her new album, TheChronicles of Marnia, which is out 18th March on Kill Rock Stars, finds Marnie not only working with a new drummer (Oneida’sKid Millions), but subtracting from her normally dense song structures to crafta sound that is both familiar and wholly original.
Marnie Stern shares a third single from the album.
Listen to the track NothingIs Easy
 The musical transformation evident on Marnie's newalbum isn’t entirely unexpected, as fans who have listened to both “For Ash”and “Every Single Line Means Something” in a single sitting know. That sameslow progression can be seen between 2010’s self-titled album and theforthcoming The Chronicles of Marnia.  Even as Marnie evolves from what Pitchforkcalled her “art-metal math-rock bubblegum pop” genre, fans will still findthemselves jumping head first into the album and quickly bonding with theemotionally resonant material, cascading hooks and transcendental guitar riffs. Plus, the album shreds.  She is Marnie Stern after all.

UK Tour Dates:
Thursday 30th May - Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
Friday 31st May - Sheffield, Queens Social Club
Saturday 1st June - Manchester, Ruby Lounge
Sunday 2nd June - Glasgow, Broadcast
Monday 3rd June - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Tuesday 4th June - Bristol, Louisiana
Wednesday 5th June - London, The Garage
www.facebook.com/marniesternwww.killrockstars.com/marnie-stern
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Linnea Olsson announces new free download, tour starts 2nd March‏

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Linnea Olsson
New free download single ‘Never Again’available 4^th March
Asshe prepares for her first headline UK tour, Swedish chamber-pop cellist Linnea Olsson announces the releases of her new single ‘Never Again’, which willbe available to download from 4th March 2013. Taken from her debut album ‘Ah!’ (availablenow), the track is accompanied by a stunning video, the concept of which wasdevised by Linnea herself and filmed in Fäberga, Sweden, in a barn in which herformer band Paintbox had their first gig.
 
Having wowed audiences internationally, Linneawill shortly be embarking on her first UK and Irish tour, beginning on 2^nd Marchin Dublin. Despite her sparse arrangement, consisting merely of her voice andher cello, it would be difficult to create a more rich and engaging sound in alive setting. Creating loops and utilising effects, all the while showcasingher tender vocal, Linnea’s incredible live show is one not to be missed.
 
A seasoned and prolific musician, Linnea Olssonhas collaborated with artists including Ane Brun, Nina Kinert, Rebekka Karijordand Frida Hyvönen. Her acclaimed debut record ‘Ah!’, released last year throughGotterfunk Productions, is an unpredictably diverse journey through light anddark.  Without knowing it, Linnea steps into Arthur Russell’s uninhibitedmusical universe and effortlessly infuses it with a Magnetic Fields sense ofkitsch forward pop song crafting, all the while maintaining an AnimalCollective sense of child-like naivety and playfulness.
 
As well as being available through iTunes and on CD, Linnea Olsson’s debut album ‘Ah!’ is now available topurchase on vinyl.
Stream ‘Never Again’:https://soundcloud.com/controlfreakkittenrecords/linnea-olsson-never-again
Video for ‘Never Again’:
http://youtu.be/PvkQ5Fm40Kc
 
Tour dates:
Sat 2^nd March                   The Workmans Club, Dublin
Tues 5^th March                 Thekla, Bristol
Wed 6^th March                 Slaughtered Lamb, London
Thurs 7^th March                Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
Fri 8^th March                     Sacred Trinity, Manchester
Sat 9^th March                    Red Rooms, Nottingham
Sun 10^th March                 Kings Tuts, Glasgow
www.linneaolsson.net
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ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL

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DELIVERS ON ANTICIPATED PHASE 2 LINEUP
WITH ITS MOST FORWARD THINKING AND DIVERSE PROGRAM YET

**TWO WEEKENDS, TWO UNIQUE EXPERIENCES**

WEEKEND 1 – MARCH 15-17, 2013
WEEKEND 2 – MARCH 22-24, 2013

The second phase of talent confirmed for the 2013 ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL taking place March 15-17 and 22-24 during Miami Music Week, has been unveiled with what is undoubtedly the most diverse, forward thinking line-up ever billed in the event’s 15 year history.

Watch the Phase 2 trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6VVbPjJ0D8

Set to annihilate the newly designed, never-before-seen ULTRA MAIN STAGE and the aptly titled ‘MEGA STRUCTURE,’ MID PARK and more the Phase 2 DJ billing is quite simply out of this world. ALESSO, BENNY BENASSI, DIRTY SOUTH, DOG BLOOD (Boys Noize & Skrillex), ERIC PRYDZ, FEDDE LE GRAND, HARDWELL, LOCO DICE, LUCIANO, LAIDBACK LUKE, MARTIN SOLVEIG, PRETTY LIGHTS, STEVE AOKI and SVEN VÄTH are among just some of the names to join the already eye-catching line-up delivered in Phase 1, which included ABOVE & BEYOND, AFROJACK, ARMIN VAN BUUREN, AVICII, BASSNECTAR, CALVIN HARRIS, CARL COX, DAVID GUETTA, FATBOY SLIM, KASKADE, KNIFE PARTY, RICHIE HAWTIN, SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA and TIËSTO.  After 14 consecutive years of delivering the ultimate dance music experience, it was never in doubt that ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL would deliver for its 15th anniversary.

Set to shake the revamped ‘LIVE STAGE’ to its very core, the next slew of LIVE acts confirmed includes AZELIA BANKS, FAITHLESS (Live DJ & PA Set), SLEIGH BELLS, SNOOP DOGG and THE WEEKND. Joining the likes of THE BLOODY BEETROOTS, BOOKA SHADE, BOYS NOIZE, CRYSTAL CASTLES, deadmau5, DISCLOSURE, DJ FRESH (LIVE), HOT CHIP, MAJOR LAZER, MATT & KIM, MODESTEP, RUDIMENTAL, THIEVERY CORPORATION and YEASAYER announced in Phase 1 at the beginning of the year, it’s safe to say that never before has an electronic music festival offered so much variety and such an array of top live talent than this year’s fifteenth edition of ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL.

"In celebration of Ultra Music Festival's double weekend and 15 year anniversary, what we've achieved with this edition's ocean of talent and stage production is we feel unprecedented. As the industry we work in continues to explode, with so much talent emerging and the taste of our consumer changing in the process, diversity was key," says Russell Faibisch, Ultra Music Festival Founder, Executive Producer, CEO & President.

"We've never put so much time and effort into programming an event as we have for this year's Ultra Music Festival. We truly hope everybody attending this year will value and more importantly enjoy the unique experience we've worked so hard to create," adds Adam Russakoff, Ultra Music Festival Executive Producer, Director of Business Affairs & Talent Buyer.

There is more. ULTRA have also announced the incredible array of arenas set to appear over the two weekends this year. It wouldn’t be ULTRA without the legend that is CARL COX. Bringing his titanic CARL COX & FRIENDS ARENA to Bayfront Park this March, he’ll be playing host to some of the finest names in house and techno, including CASSY, FATBOY SLIM, JAMIE JONES, JOHN DIGWEED, LOCO DICE, LUCIANO, MAGDA, NICOLE MOUDABER, RICHIE HAWTIN, SVEN VATH, UMEK and UTO KAREM. Expect seriously big things from this much-loved ULTRA veteran and his merry following.

Once again, the world’s #1 DJ ARMIN VAN BUUREN delivers his breathtaking A State Of Trance 600 stage, where ABOVE & BEYOND, ATB, COSMIC GATE, DASH BERLIN, FERRY CORSTEN, MARKUS SCHULZ, TRITONAL and W&W will all be joined by the legendary PAUL VAN DYK who will be making his long-awaited return appearance to the world’s premiere dance music event.

Finally, the MEGA STRUCTURE serves up an all-star lineup of the world’s top acts, which includes main stage regulars ALESSO, CALVIN HARRIS, DAVID GUETTA, ERIC PRYDZ and TIËSTO, just one example of what ULTRA meant by “2 Weekends, 2 Unique Experiences.” Fans will rejoice to see their favorite artists tackle both the Main Stage and the Mega Structure at ULTRA 15.

Keeping it going for underground fans, new to ULTRA this year is SURFACE, a brand new concept arena held each Sunday of the festival at the Bayfront Stage. Reading as a ‘who’s who’ from the world of the underground scene, look forward to seeing the likes of ART DEPARTMENT, CLAUDE VONSTROKE, DAMIAN LAZARUS, DANNY DAZE, DROOG, FRANCESCA LOMBARDO, GUY GERBER, JUSTIN MARTIN, LEE FOSS, MACEO PLEX, MAYA JANE COLES, MIGUEL CAMPBELL, SETH TROXLER, SOUL CLAP, SUBB-AN, TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS, WOLF & LAMB and more.

ULTRA is not only delivering the world’s greatest underground sounds each Sunday, but every day of the festival. The MIXMAG STAGE will play host to performances by tech gurus CARLO LIO, DUBFIRE, ELIO RISO, JON RUNDELL, JOSH WINK, SHADED and YOUSEF on Friday of Weekend 1. The second Friday will boast additional techno sounds from AUDIOFLY, CARL CRAIG, KEVIN SAUNDERSON, NINA KRAVIZ, PAUL WOOLFORD, RADIO SLAVE and STACEY PULLEN. Each Saturday will also see a myriad of techno and deep house artists that include DAVID SQUILLACE, tINI + GUTI, MARTIN BUTTRICH, NIC FANCIULLI B2B JORIS VOORN, REMO, ROBERT DIETZ, SCUBA, STEVE LAWLER, TIGA and TIMO MAAS on Weekend 2, and an undisclosed arsenal of premier DJs to play on Weekend 1.

SPACE IBIZA (voted #1 Club in the world and winning multiple awards) plans a triumphant return on Saturday, March 23 to host the tech house and techno acts that they are known for.  Also hosting stages will be Skrillex’s formidable OWSLA label, Afrojack’s JACKED, Mark Knight’s TOOLROOM, with more to be announced in Phase 3. Completing the full house, the brand new ‘TRAPPED’ arena, featuring the likes of BAAUER, BRO SAFARI, DJ CRAZE, DILLON FRANCIS, FLOSSTRADAMUS, NADASTROM and many more look more than adequate to cater to the new trap craze.

Finally, for the ninth consecutive year, ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL proudly welcomes back the “ECO Village”.  This area is dedicated to the exposure and understanding of numerous non-profit organizations and charities, and will run over both weekends of the festival.  You can find several interactive booths that provide an informative outlook on the world today.

**For full info on all acts confirmed to date, please refer to the official poster here: http://www.ultramusicfestival.com**

Limited tickets—which have already sold in 77 countries around the world (topping the record of 74 from years past)--still remain for both weekends of ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL, exclusively at www.ULTRAmusicfestival.com.

Netherfriends in Jacksonville

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Netherfriends perform Sunday, February 3th show at Burro Bar in Downtown Jacksonville! Using drum pad, sampler, keyboards, guitar and a plethora of pedals, Netherfriends loops handclaps, vocal beatboxing, and layers of harmony to create unusually poppy songs. Even more entrancing than his musicianship are his undeniably fun dance moves and excitement.

Watch Netherfriends perform at KSUA
http://youtu.be/pbvNwz_UY8M

Mark Lanegan cover from Reason To Believe - The Songs of Tim Hardin

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Hear Mark Lanegan Cover Of Tim Hardin's "Red Balloon" Via Rolling Stone HERE

Tim Hardin Tribute album featuring covers by Mark Lanegan, Smoke Fairies, Okkervil River, Alela Diane and more…

Stream Smoke Fairies “If I Were A Carpenter” HERE

Acclaimed Oregon troubadour Tim Hardin is one of the most influential and respected singer-songwriters of all time, not that the man himself cared much for the title. "My songs aren't personal," he insisted before his death in 1980. "They sound it 'cos it was me who revealed them, but it was my head that got the lightning shot through it.” An interesting choice of descriptive, seeing as how for his many devotees, his bewitching folk music has the same knockout power as a ten thousand volt lightning strike from the sky – instantaneous, bruising, beautiful, electrifying.

Among those devotees are some of the most exciting alternative voices of the last fifty years – like Nick Drake and Tim Buckley before him, Hardin was a musicians' musician, the inspiration behind a great many artists whose limelight he never procured for himself. Johnny Cash, Paul Weller, Rod Stewart, Echo and the Bunnymen, Scott Walker, Nico... Hardin's music has been covered by countless icons of contemporary counter-culture. Now that tradition is set to continue with the release of Reason To Believe, a tribute album collecting specially recorded cover versions from the impressive likes of Screaming Trees legend Mark Lanegan, the beguiling Hannah Peel, indie favourites Okkervil River and many more.

Patti Smith expressed her admiration for Tim Hardin’s music in her memoir Just Kids, for instance: "My brother gave us a new needle for our record player... we happily listened to Tim Hardin, his songs becoming our songs, the expression of our young love." (p.44) and “I played Tim Hardin songs for my lovers and told them of you." (p.274) referring to Mapplethorpe.

“So many people's entry point to Tim has been through cover versions,” says Full Time Hobby co-owner Nigel Adams, responsible for the release. “It felt fitting to bring his songs up to date with contemporary artists approaching his music with the hope listeners would then go beyond the well known and dig into some of the wealth of songs he wrote and recorded”.  The album comes as a sequel of sorts to the label's 2006 release, Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim and Jeff Buckley, and is the next in a gradual series of releases that puts the spotlight on artists whose impact was more profound than their fame would suggest, whose names may have drifted into obscurity but continue to burn brightly in the hearts and record collections of many music lovers.

But Reason To Believe is more than an opportunity to pay lip service to one of the most gifted and overlooked talents in generations, with its artists (in the true spirit of Hardin) getting creative with the songs. The record begins with Wellington cinematic-pop types The Phoenix Foundation and a dazzling reworking of “Don't Make Promises You Can't Keep”, the '60s groove and strummed guitar of Hardin's original replaced by a tsunami wash of post-rock pianos and airy vocals. From there, the good times keep tumbling. Sam Genders’ Diagrams turn the tender “Part Of The Wind” into an electronics epic guided by 16-bit bleeps and ghostly synths, while Smoke Fairies offer a broody, smokey, intense take on “If I Were A Carpenter” that burrows its way into your psyche.

With artwork by Jack White's former collaborator Miles Johnson at Third Man Records and extensive linear notes by Rock’s Backpages music critic and highly respected author Barney Hoskyns, Reason To Believe is too good to miss.

Reason To Believe – The Songs Of Tim Hardin (out 2/12/13 on Full Time Hobby) Tracklisting:
1. The Phoenix Foundation - Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep
2. The Sand Band - Reason To Believe
3. Mark Lanegan - Red Balloon
4. Diagrams - Part Of The Wind
5. The Magnetic North - It’s Hard To Believe In Love For Long
6. Alela Diane - How Can We Hang On To A Dream
7. Snorri Helgason - Misty Roses
8. Sarabeth Tucek - If I Knew
9. Okkervil River - It’ll Never Happen Again
10. Smoke Fairies - If I Were A Carpenter
11. Gavin Clark - Shiloh Town
12. Hannah Peel - Lenny’s Tune
13. Pinkunoizu - I Can’t Slow Down

https://www.facebook.com/FullTimeHobby

NOTES TO SELF TO RELEASE TARGET MARKET ON DECON FEB. 26TH

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 NEW ALBUM BOASTS FRESH MATERIAL AND FEATURES FROM FASHAWN, EVIDENCE, AROWBE AND MORE

LISTEN TO NEW SONG "POPULAR MUSIC" HERE:
http://soundcloud.com/notestoself/popular-music

Hailing from the northern metropolis of Toronto, likeminded rappers Swamp Donkey and Roshin, producer/rapper BronzeOne, world renowned DJ/turntablist DJ Dopey and writer/illustrator Elicser unite to form Notes To Self, a collective dedicated to delivering a decidedly hip-hop ethos through numerous contemporary mediums. The highly dextrous vocalists of Notes trade verses with the adeptness of seasoned vets, sparking fire across Target Market's eleven tracks, set to be released on Decon February 26th. Each beat is nailed down with tremendous low-end, while horn and vocal samples humanize the tracks, jostled along with percussion. The aesthetic is familiar, yet the execution is timeless - Notes to Self are students of their genre, giving thanks to those who reigned before them, yet sharing in where rap music has currently landed by being musical contemporaries, drawing inspiration from both back home and the American market. The quartet immediately impressed Decon co-owner and creative brain trust Jason Goldwatch, who simply states "it's just so refreshing to see someone break some new rules."

Most recently, the preferred rule for the group to break is the sanctity of the classics - their use of visual effects with found footage, attention to detail and some very smart editing in the video for album single "Nobody" (featuring Cali legend Evidence) repositions rap heroes of the past as cohorts in the present to capture the attention of future fans... and it's working. The video racked up 50,000 YouTube views in its first weekend, turning the once-unknown collective into promising internet heroes with fans across the country and a label deal in the course of a month. On Decon Records, Notes to Self joins an impressive roster that boasts Pusha-T, Roc Marciano, and Freddie Gibbs to name a few, and opens the door for some potentially explosive collaborations in the future.  "We're fans of everyone on the label; it's great to be a part of the team" said Roshin. That's the aim, at least.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "NOBODY" HERE
http://youtu.be/EzlThqNOe1Y

TARGET MARKET TRACK LISTING:

1. UTBD Intro

2. Recoil (Crimson)

3. Today (I Wanna) feat. Lee Gaul

4. All Of The Above (BBRC)

5. Nobody (Recoil Remix) feat. Evidence

6. Oh My God (Life is so Hard) feat. Arowbe

7. Mr Polite feat. Fashawn

8. Sky Light (InBetween)

9. Used to be Dark feat. Lee Gaul

10. Mr Polite (Remix) feat. Fashawn

11. Popular Music

Dan The Automator's Pillowfight shares new song + LP

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PILLOWFIGHT PREMIERES "USED TO THINK" VIA CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND

PILLOWFIGHT LP OUT 1/22/13 VIA BULK RECORDINGS

Stream: "Used To Think" -
https://soundcloud.com/bulk-recordings/pillowfight-used-to-think

Pillowfight is Dan The Automator and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Emily Wells along with a little help from Kid Koala and Lateef The Truthspeaker. Today, they are proud to share "Used To Think", the second single from their forthcoming self-titled LP. The LP is due digitally and on CD on 1/22/13 and Vinyl is due on 2/26/13 via Bulk Recordings.

Stream: "Get Your Shit Together" -
http://soundcloud.com/bulk-recordings/pillowfight-get-your-shit

"Ever had a sure thing that managed to exceed all expectations? Dan The Automator's new passion project Pillowfight surpassed all anticipatory hopes and then some" when they debuted the new project at SXSW, in Austin (mxdwn.com).

Dan The Automator (Deltron 3030, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Gorillaz), has a new brainchild. He has teamed up with Emily Wells in a new collaborative project called Pillowfight.

The delivery is a deft combo of down tempo sexy cool, brimming with the Automator's pristine multi-layered production. Wells sings with effortless sultry appeal, while the band drops the beat like no one ever started suing over sample use. Amazingly so, the band also includes none other than Kid Koala nimbly shredding on the 1's and 2's (and sometimes 3's), and Lateef the Truthspeaker on backing vocals and some well placed verses that only this particular Bay Area resident could deliver.

Dan The Automator might be best known for his contributions towards the Gorillaz' first album, though he has been consistently putting out fresh music for over 20 years. Emily Wells is a respected solo artist with s a long-standing musical career as a songwriter and violinist, with her own solo recordings. Though all musical contributions came from Dan The Automator and Emily Wells, the group has generated quite a bit of attention due to David Choe's involvement in the project. All artwork and two music videos are contributed by Choe, who is a respected American painter and muralist.

Pillowfight came about after Kid Koala was paired with Emily on an artist workshop at a Canadian music festival. Knowing that Dan was looking for a female vocalist for a new project, Koala was sure that Emily was that vocalist. Wells went to San Francisco to meet up with Dan The Automator in the studio and worked on tracks that were a part of Dan's new "passion project". After Wells wrote and recorded vocals for three days in San Francisco, the two decided to expand the project into a full length album scheduled for release on Bulk Recordings / EMI in January 2013.

wearepillowfight.com

PILLOWFIGHT
(BULK RECORDINGS)
JANUARY 22, 2013

1. Used to think

2. In The Afternoon

3. Rain

4. You're So Pretty

5. Get Your Shit Together

6. Redemption

7. Get Down

8. Darlin' Darlin'

9. You Don't Need Me

10. I Work Hard

11. Lonely City

12. Sleeping Dogs

Review: Denim Wedding – Fancy Diving

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DenimWedding – Fancy Diving (Independent)Denim Wedding is Jennifer Faust and Brian Kunkel, aPortland, Oregon based duo who came together in 2009, originally to performFaust’s solo material. The project quickly evolved into something on a moreequal footing and was subsequently christened Denim Wedding. “Fancy Diving” istheir debut release, a five-track collection of achingly beautiful indie-folkand alt. Americana. Artists like Mazzy Star and Tarnation provide appropriatereference points; nothing too obvious, but had I been told they were signed to4ad in the mid-’90s, I don’t think I would have been too surprised.
Of course, they weren’t. Denim Wedding is acontemporary pairing, though they do apply certain timeless qualities to theirmusic. They aren’t short of tunes, either. Opening cut “To the Moon” shows allthe melodic confidence of a classic Jayhawks track, as does the equally fine“Ankles Off”. Kunkel takes a substantial share of the lead on the former, butit’s where the two voices combine that they truly soar. The effect is etherealand quite poignant.
On the concluding “Sweet Honesty”, Faust takescentre-stage and her voice is entwined with what sounds like a melancholy steelguitar and sorrowful pipes. It’s moving and emotionally wrought, and leaves thelistener desperate to press play, and start all over again.www.denimwedding.comwww.facebook.com/Denim-WeddingPhil S.

Tonight at The Musician - Factory Records Night: X-O-Dus

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HewickPromotions Presents…
Factory Records Night: X-O-DusSaturday23^rd February£8adv£10doorplusSection 25 and Kevin Hewickwww.section25.comwww.kevinhewick.co.uk X-O-Dusare a reggae band from Manchester that assembled in 1975. Their first gig wasin early ‘77 and they released a four song demo tape in ‘79. The tape was heardby Tony Wilson who ‘almost immediately’ signed them to Factory, making them thefirst reggae band signed to a leading UK independent label.
Thesingle ‘English Black Boys’/’See Them A Come’ received favourable reviews inSounds, Melody Maker and the NME and entered both the UK independent singlesand UK reggae singles charts. Their other songs include ‘Sinnerman’, ‘Dance’, ‘Riseand Fall’, ‘Bourneville’ and ‘Friends of the Earth’.
Remember;always check with the venue before travelling:
www.themusicianpub.co.uk
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Bob Godfrey, Roobarb animator, dies aged 91

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The animator of much-loved cartoons Roobarb andHenry's Cat has died aged 91, his family has confirmed.
Bob Godfrey wonan Oscar for his short film Great, a biography of the engineer Isambard KingdomBrunel, but remains best known for his TV work.
The Britishanimator - whose career spanned 50 years - was also responsible for Noah andNelly in... Skylark and the risque cartoon series Henry 9 to 5.
He was awardedthree Baftas and received an MBE in June 1986.
Godfrey wasborn in Australia, on 27 May 1921, but was educated in east London.
He began hisprofessional career as a graphic artist working in advertising, before joiningthe innovative Larkin Studio in the early 1950s where he made his earliestcartoons.
In themid-1950s, Godfrey joined up with Jeff Hale and Keith Learner, and later NancyHanna and Vera Linnecar, to form Biographic Films, making some of the firstcommercials for ITV.
But he soughtto work outside the American tradition, characterised by Disney - and typicallytook a more unorthodox view, producing work such as The Do It Yourself CartoonKit (1961).
Kama Sutra
Working as BobGodfrey Films, he cornered the market with his "adult animation" suchas Henry 9 to 5 and Kama Sutra Rides Again, which earned him his first Oscarnomination - after it was entered for the awards by an American who bought thecartoon from him for £150.
It was closelyfollowed by the Oscar-winning short Great, which satirised Victorian attitudesand the decline of the British Empire, won him the Academy Award and a Bafta in1976.
"I'd been reading a book about Brunel so I askedBritish Lion, who backed Kama Sutra, if I could have some money to make ahalf-hour cartoon about a Victorian engineer," he told theGuardian in 2001.
"Yes, they said, here's £20,000. They'd havegiven me money to animate a toilet if I'd asked them."
It was during this period of his life that heanimated the children's classic Roobarb, created by Grange Calveley andnarrated by Richard Briers, who died earlier this week.
The anarchic cartoon about a warring cat and dog,with its memorable theme tune and wobbly dog animation won a cult following,which continues today.
He collaborated once again with Calveley and Briers on1976's Noah and Nelly in Skylark, returning successfully to children's TV withHenry's Cat in the early 1980s.
But he was at his happiest when he was pushing theboundaries of conventional animation, working alongside avant-garde stars suchas Spike Milligan and Michael Bentine, hob-nobbing with the Beatles and, later,becoming an inspiration for a young Terry Gilliam.
Aardman Animations founder Peter Lord tweeted:"Ah! Dear old Bob Godfrey is no more. A great influence and inspiration tome and my generation of animators. Also a lovely bloke."
Godfrey continued to work on commercials and TVcommissions into his early 80s, producing his last work, Channel 4'sMillennium: The Musical, in 1999.
As a teacher of animation, he told the Guardian in2001: "I teach the basics of animation, then it's up to the individual.
"Great illustrators don't always make greatanimators. I've known people who couldn't draw at all who were great animators.You can always spot the ones with real talent. They don't listen to you."
Source: BBC
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Review: Ant Couch – Just One More Wave

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Ant Couch– Just One More Wave (Independent)New Zealand born singer-songwriter Anthony Couchrelocated to Melbourne, Australia in 2006, specifically to further his musicalaspirations. Since the move, he’s become an active and enthusiastic participantin the local scene, gigging regularly, and writing and releasing a steadystream of new music. “Just One More Wave” is his latest, and his debutlong-playing record.
Get past the cover, the simple tinted image and thestrangely inappropriate gothic German font, and you’ll discover asinger-songwriter with a deft touch and an easy-on-the-ear demeanor. It’s analbum of acoustic, folk-pop songs with plenty of lyrical twists and turns, andhooks that burrow deep in the subconscious. I imagine they make ideal listeningfor carefree sunny days and balmy evenings, and for those of us ‘enjoying’ aNorthern Hemisphere winter, they bring a little imported glow.
“Passing Time”, thealbum’s opening track, delivers everything that’s expected. A warm, rhythmicstrum is enhanced with a delicate lead guitar and Couch’s affable tone. “My Own Eyes” is beautifully pensive, with a harmonicalead that perfectly compliments both the fragility of the vocal and the generalmood of the song. The upbeat “Downstairs”applies a pleasing old-time, recorded-in-a-cupboard effect and thesuper-radio-friendly “The Same Old Song” wouldbe the lead single, if we still cared about such things.www.antcouch.comwww.facebook.com/Ant-CouchPhil S.

Tim Barry announces UK tour (inc. Leicester)

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Summer UKtour announced

Following the release of his fifth album '40 Miler', ex-Avail singer Tim Barry is set to brings his earnest,poignant, and riotous songs back to the UK for an extensive June tour.

Richmond, Virginia-based singer-songwriter Tim Barry last joined our very ownFrank Turner on tour last Autumn in the UK and Europe, sharing his blues, folk,and country-tinged sound with an appreciative audience. This time, dates willbe more intimate for what will be an incredible evening of powerful storytellingand heartfelt sing-a-longs.

Full tour dates are:

JUNE 2013
11 EXETER CAVERN
21 SOUTHAMPTON JOINERS
22 CARDIFF BUFFALO BAR
23 BRISTOL CROFT
25 LEEDS BRUDENELL SOCIAL CLUB
26 NEWCASTLE CLUNY
27 MANCHESTER ALTEREGO
28 GLASGOW 13TH NOTE
29 CAMBRIDGE CORNERHOUSE
30 LEICESTER FIREBUG

JULY 2013
2 LONDON OLD BLUE LAST
3 KINGSTON CRICKETERS
* Tickets are on sale now from the usual outlets andthe venues themselves.

Tim Barry has long left behind his harder edged music, but not the soul orpassion which fueled it. One of his songs, 'Prosser's Gabriel', led to afreedom fighting slave's final resting place from the 1800s being turned from acar park into a park memorial to honour his name. If that's not powerfulsongwriting, then music means nothing to anyone.

He's also released a video which has been inspired by a loved one who passedaway in 2008. 'Shed Song' from his last album, and its video, will prepare youfor what to expect when he arrives in the UK. The video can be seen here: http://youtu.be/SBPMTw0CoRM 

www.timbarryrva.comwww.xtramilerecordings.com
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MAXIMUM HEDRUM FEATURING GEORGE CLINTON "KEEP IN TOUCH" MUSIC VIDEO -- AVAILABLE NOW

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Keep In Touch (Feat. George Clinton) - Maximum Hedrum


Maximum Hedrum premiered their music video for their song "Keep In Touch" at Consequence of Sound. The track features George Clinton and is the first single from the band's forthcoming debut self-titled album due out on Tuesday, March 19th via Spectrophonic Sound. The poignant video was co-directed by Sam Spiegel and Christopher Neil.

"The video was inspired by an article in Italian that my friend Wendy Morgan sent me about a young man with cerebral palsy and his relationship with his mom and a prostitute. The story felt closely related to 'Keep in Touch' in the sense of yearning for intimacy without the ability to express it with touch," said Spiegel. "Shooting this film was a great experience in getting to know Javier Silcook (our lead actor who has cerebral palsy) and his family who are amazing (Javier has 62 adopted brothers all with disabilities as well). I hope we were able to show some of the beautiful as well as lonely moments of living with CP."

Maximum Hedrum kicked off a live residency at Los Globos in Los Angeles last week and will appear for two additional shows on January  28th and February 4th.  The band will also appear at Austin's South By Southwest in March. Stay tuned for additional live date to be announced.

www.maximumhedrum.com

RUDIMENTAL BRING THE "LOVE" TO AMERICA

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ACCLAIMED BRITISH BAND ANNOUNCE PREMIERE U.S. TOUR, INCLUDING HEADLINE SHOWS, SXSW SHOWCASES, AND LIVE SET AT MIAMI'S ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL
 
DEBUT ALBUM OUT ON BIG BEAT THIS SPRING INCLUDES WORLDWIDE SMASH "FEEL THE LOVE (FEAT. JOHN NEWMAN)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oABEGc8Dus0

Big Beat recording group Rudimental has announced plans for their first ever U.S. live shows.  The eagerly anticipated dates herald the acclaimed East London-based quartet's debut album, an eclectic blend of genre and sound - ranging from Garage to House, Jungle to R&B - arriving in stores and online later this spring.

Rudimental has just been unveiled as one of the live acts appearing at the first weekend of Miami's upcoming Ultra Music Festival, slated to kick off on March 15th in Miami.  The band will also headline a series of major market dates, with shows set for March 19th at New York's Bowery Ballroom; March 21st at San Francisco's Popscene @ Rickshaw Stop; and March 23rd at the famed Troubadour in West Hollywood.  What's more, Rudimental will showcase their diverse influences through live DJ sets on a string of Black Butter showcases in Miami, New York and Los Angeles, with Kidnap Kid and special guest Bondax on select dates. Additionally, Rudimental will make a number of appearances at Austin, Texas' annual South By Southwest (SXSW®) Music and Media Conference, scheduled for March 12th - 17th.  For full details, please visit www.rudimental.co.uk.

Hailed by Mixmag at 2012's "Star of the Year," Rudimental has earned widespread applause for their dazzling sonic vision, a stunning sound clash of live instrumentation, eclectic beats, and soulful songcraft.  The Hackney-based foursome made a remarkable popular breakthrough last year with their blockbuster single, "Feel The Love (Feat. John Newman)."  The distinctive dubstep-flavored anthem proved a full-scale phenomenon, entering the U.K. Singles Chart at #1 before spending 11 consecutive weeks in the Top 10. As if that weren't enough, "Feel The Love" was also a top 5 favorite in Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, New Zealand, and Australia, where it has since been certified 3x platinum by the ARIA.

Named as iTunes' "Dance Song of the Year," "Feel The Love" is currently among the nominees for the Brit Awards' prestigious "British Single" honor, slated to be awarded February 20th in London.  In addition, Rudimental was among the "Best Newcomer" candidates for the 2012 MOBO Awards, while the extraordinary "Feel The Love" companion video clip was named "Best Music Video" at this year's LA Shorts Fest.  The award-winning video has received more than 17 million individual views at Rudimental's official YouTube channel, located at www.youtube.com/rudimentaluk.

"Feel The Love" was followed by still another dancefloor sensation, "Not Giving In (Feat. John Newman and Alex Clare)," which immediately ascended to the top of the U.K. Dance chart.  Rudimental's most recent track, "Hell Could Freeze (Feat. Angel Haze)," is currently shaping up as a true viral smash.  The single - as well as an array of remixes, sessions, and other rare cuts - is spinning now at the band's official SoundCloud, https://soundcloud.com/rudimentaluk.

Rudimental is: Piers Agget, Kesi Dryden, Amir Amor and DJ Leon Rolle.

RUDIMENTAL TOUR DATES:

3/13- SXSW, Austin TX (DJ)

3/14- SXSW, Austin TX (live)

3/15- SXSW, Austin TX (live)

3/16- Black Butter party @ Bardot, Miami FL (DJ)

3/17- Ultra Music Festival, Miami FL (live)

3/18- Black Butter party @ Santos, New York NY (DJ)

3/19- Bowery Ballroom, New York NY (live)

3/21- Popscene @ Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco CA (live)

3/22- Black Butter Party @Key Club, Los Angeles CA (DJ)

3/23- Troubadour, Los Angeles CA (live)

FOR FUTHER NEWS AND INFORMATION
www.wearebigbeat.com

FORMER MEMBERS OF BLACK FLAG FORM FLAG

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FORMER MEMBERS OF BLACK FLAG TO TOUR AS FLAG
 
KEITH MORRIS, CHUCK DUKOWSKI, BILL STEVENSON, AND STEPHEN EGERTON TO PERFORM THE MUSIC OF BLACK FLAG, INCLUDING SHOWS AT GROEZROCK & MONSTER BASH FESTIVALS

Black Flag original members Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, and Bill Stevenson, along with guitarist Stephen Egerton (who played along Bill Stevenson in Descendents and ALL), spurred by crowd reaction to a surprise set at Goldenvoice's 30th anniversary show in 2011, have formed FLAG as a vehicle to continue performing the hardcore progentiors' repertoire. Appearances at Belgium's Groezrock Festival and Germany's Monster Bash this April, with full US tourdates to follow throughout the year.

The members of the quartet have maintained a steadfast relationship to the music they helped pioneer. Keith Morris, who served as Black Flag's original vocalist, followed his tenure in the group by forming the hugely influential Circle Jerks and more recently OFF! Chuck Dukowski, Black Flag's bassist from 1977-1983, continued on as co-owner of the band's label SST and as bassist in a variety of project including Würm, SWA, Chuck Dukowski Sextet, and Black Face. Bill Stevenson's 1981-1985 stint in Black Flag was concurrent with his tenure in Descendents (who remain active and are playing this year's Coachella) with virtuosic guitarist Stephen Egerton. The new outfit will play sets that pull from all eras of Black Flag's history.

FLAG CONFIRMED TOUR DATES:
4/26 - Monster Bash Festival - Munich, Germany
4/27 - Monster Bash Festival - Berlin, German
4/28 - Groezrock Festival - Meerhout, Belgium
5/24-5/27 - Punk Rock Bowling - Las Vegas, NV

For more info
https://twitter.com/FLAGband
https://www.facebook.com/flagband