9th June 2015
Music in the Midlands
and sometimes further afield
This new type of posting picks up information sent to us about music, bands and singers in the Midlands.
We might also include details of national acts that might be of interest to our readers.
Elevant
Psyche-rock trio plot summer tour dates.
Liverpool-based experimental rock trio ELEVANT have announced a string of summer UK dates for this coming July.
While it’s not even been a year since their s/t début album hit the shelves and even less time since their 2015 follow-up, ‘Dreamface‘, the Liverpudlian trio have already started thinking about the next instalment.
Speaking about the forthcoming shows, front-man Michael Edward has revealed: “For these shows, we’ll probably start phasing in some material that’ll be on the third record. Three or four songs are just about stage-ready already at this point and more will be by then.”
The tour will see the psyche-rockers take in seven dates throughout July, kicking off at Newport’s Le Pub on the 11th and rounding off at Nottingham Lofthouse at the end of the month (31st). Along the way, the three-piece will stop off at Sheffield’s annual city-wide bash Tramlines where they join the University Arms bill alongside stage head-liners God Damn, Baby Godzilla and many more.
Elevant are: Michael Edward – Guitar/Vocals; Hannah Lodge – Bass; Tom Shand – Drums/Backing Vocals.
Tour dates nearby: 25/07/15 – Sheffield Tramlines (w/God Damn, Baby Godzilla), 31/07/15 – Nottingham Lofthouse.
The South
Pop band THE SOUTH will headline Rochdale Feel Good Festival this summer. The band, featuring ex members of The Beautiful South will take to the main stage for a free show by Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday 5 September.
The group are set to play many of their global hits including ‘A Little Time’, ‘Don’t Marry Her’, ‘Rotterdam’, ‘Perfect 10’, ‘Old Red Eyes is Back,’ ‘Good as Gold’ and many more from the back catalogue of one of the UK’s most successful ever bands.
Formed in 1988, The Beautiful South had a string of hits. Their greatest hits album, ‘Carry On Up The Charts’, was one of the fastest-selling albums in UK history, becoming one of the country’s most popular albums. But after 20 years, ten studio albums, five greatest hits compilations, 34 chart singles, 15 million record sales and live performances in front of millions, when time was called on The Beautiful South in 2008, not everyone was ready to leave the party, so The South was formed. Joining Alison Wheeler and Dave Hemmingway were fellow mainstays from the original touring band that brought so much to the live shows.
Armed with a sensational stack of hits such as ‘Song For Whoever’, ‘Everybody’s Talkin’, ‘One Last Love Song’, ‘You Keep It All In’ and many more in 2014 the nine-piece band released the critically acclaimed album ‘Sweet Refrains’, continuing the legacy with their own vibrantly singable and acerbically witty pop.
The South will be joined by the previously announced Toploader plus many more acts still to be confirmed.
Rochdale Feel Good Festival returns on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September, for another incredible showcase of entertainment, food and culture. There will be live music across indoor venues and two outdoor stages. Celebrity chefs will host live cooking demonstrations throughout the event, which will also include the popular food market. Celebrity chef Kevin Woodford has already been announced as one of the stars set to host live cooking demonstrations at the festival.
Clean Cut Kid
Clean Cut Kid have announced details of their debut release. ‘Vitamin C’ will be released in June through the band’s own Babe Magnet Records/Polydor. The track is a perfect introduction to the four-piece from Liverpool. It’s a three-minute slice of jubilant art-pop, armed with a triumphant chorus and a gliding, undeniable groove. Clean Cut Kid are Mike Halls, Evelyn Halls, Saul Godman and Ross Higginson. “Soulful pop ballads, washed in Mersey water” is how Mike describes the band’s sound.
The quartet possess an old-school gang spirit, their deep bond formed by around-the-clock rehearsals at their practice space in Liverpool. The group would spend day and night hunkered down there – Saul lived in it for a period and Mike and Evelyn were on the same road. Keeping up with Mike’s prolific output, they have emerged with a wonderfully distinguished sound, where pop and experimentalism combine in glorious harmony. The bounding ‘Vitamin C’ is the first payoff of those intense writing sessions.
‘Vitamin C’ will be available on iTunes and Spotify from June 2nd, with an impact date of July 24th. A 7” version of the single will also be released on this date. The four-piece will precede appearances at Latitude, Secret Garden Party and Somersault Festival with a slot at Huw Stephen’s night at the Social in London on June 9th. More dates will be announced shortly. Clean Cut Kid have kept themselves locked away. Now, there will be no stopping them.
Badley Drawn Boy
To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of The Hour of Bewilderbeast album, Badly Drawn Boy is proud to announce ‘The Hour Of Bewilderbeast’ UK tour. The tour begins in Bristol at St George’s on July 24th and takes in The Barbican in London before finishing in Manchester on July 31st at Bridgewater Hall.
Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough, and his band will be performing the Mercury Prize winning album in its entirety – including the much loved singles ‘Once Around The Block’, ‘Pissing In The Wind’ and ‘Disillusion’. There will also feature another set of other Badly Drawn Boy classics and old favourites.
The album was originally released on BDB’s own label Twisted Nerve through XL Recordings on June 26th 2000. XL will be releasing a remastered, expanded version of the album featuring unheard tracks later in the Autumn.
Chasing Cadence
Alternative rock quintet CHASING CADENCE is pleased to reveal the details of their new single ‘Dear Life‘, which is released this week. The single has been added to both Kerrang and Scuzz TV playlists, with the video now live online at MUZU.TV
Watch it now
‘Dear Life’ is the follow up single to 2014’s ‘Heartstrong’, which was released just after the band played at Download Festival 2014. ‘Heartstrong’ received airplay from Kerrang Radio’s Alex Baker, with previous single ‘Paper Sails’ airing on Kerrang TV.
Music in Leicester listened to it and we liked it.
The Janoskians
Jahoo Jahaa Tour. Saturday 5 September. O2 Academy, Birmingham.
Proving to be an unstoppable force, Melbourne-born masters of ‘social disturbance’ and pop punk mischief makers, The Janoskians embark on The Jahoo Jahaa Tour. The Australian comedy entertainment group will play seven shows in August and September as part of their Jahoo Jahaa Tour.
Find them on Facebook
The 1975
After causing a bit of a worldwide Internet and social media meltdown this week, with unfounded rumours of their impending demise, those crafty guys of The 1975 have just announced some details of album number two and a November UK tour that is coming to Nottingham’s Rock City on the 14th November.
Visit the website for The 1975
See also:
Our round-up of live music in June
Our report on this year’s Riverside Festival
Read about Midnight Wire at The Cookie Jar
