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Kula Shaker rough trade

KULA SHAKER ​ADD A NEW LONDON DATE !!

 
For KS - AM Forker-2630
 
KULA SHAKER 
 
​ADD A NEW LONDON DATE TO THEIR MAJOR UK DECEMBER TOUR ​2016 TO CELEBRATE THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR MASSIVELY SUCCESSFUL ALBUM  ‘K’. 
THEY WILL PLAY THE ALBUM IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THEY HAVE ALSO JUST ANNOUNCED A MAJOR US TOUR IN SEPTEMBER.​
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2016 marks 20 years since Kula Shaker exploded into the UK Britpop Scene with their million selling debut album K. 
Their brand of  rock with an esoteric mix of psychedelic riffs and ideas, full of Eastern mysticism and full-tilt performances made them the most unique (often termed eccentric) of the Brit Pop bands in the Nineties.  
2016 has seen the band back performing and every review of their live shows today,  still revere their energy and intense live performances as witnessed at the Roundhouse earlier this year and subsequent dates.  
“Govinda” sung entirely in Sanskrit and the only Sanskrit top 10 UK single ever,  is still chanted by the crowds that attend the shows.  
“Tattva”, “Hey Dude”, through to the hit single “Hush” are all explosive tunes binding everyone in anarchic pogoing unity as the years fall away.
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Kula Shaker will play the following UK dates in December 2016:
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Thurs 1 Dec   Oxford              O2 Academy 
Fri 2 Dec        Bournemouth   O2 Academy
Sat 3 Dec       Nottingham      Rock City
Mon 5 Dec     Norwich            The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA
Tues 6 Dec    Guildford          G Live
Thurs 8 Dec   London            O2 Forum, Kentish Town
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​Fri 9 Dec​        London           O2 Forum, Kentish Town  NEW
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Sat 10 Dec     Manchester     Albert Hall
Mon 12 Dec    Birmingham    O2 Institute 
Tues 13 Dec   Bristol             O2 Academy 
Wed 14 Dec    Liverpool        O2 Academy 
Fri 16 Dec       Newcastle      O2 Academy 
Sat 17 Dec      Leeds             O2 Academy
Sun 18 Dec     Glasgow         ABC O2
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Kula Shaker will also play the following international shows in 2016:
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July
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02         Spain,  Vida Festival        Barcelona
14         Italy,  Florence, Anfiteatro delle Cascine
15         Italy,  Rome,Villa Ada  
16         Italy,  Rimini ( Verucchio), Sagrato della Collegiata  
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23         Fuji             Japan
24         Jisan           S.Korea
29         Taipai         Taiwan    
        
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August

12         Spain,  Sonorama Festival            Catalonia

13         Spain,  Ve De Valares @ Playa De Balares           PONTECESO A CORUNA

23         Italy,  Regio Emilia Festival
25         Italy, Asolo,Ama Festival
 
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​September   NEW
 
26 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall

27 Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe

29 Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade

30 Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade
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​October​
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2 Washington, D.C. – U Street Music Hall

4 Seattle, WA – Crocodile

5 Portland, OR – Star Theater

7 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall

8 Los Angeles, CA – Roxy

9 San Diego, CA – Belly Up

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November

5          Germany  Weissenhauser Strand Rolling Stone Weekender Folkert Koopmans
6          Germany  Cologne Kantine                                  
7          Germany  Frankfurt Batschkapp
      
21       TOKYO  ZEPP DIVERCITY 
22       TOKYO  LIQUID ROOM
24       OSAKA  HATCH
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Tickets and information at www.kulashaker.co.uk
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Kula Shaker are the great heretics of British Psych Rock, named after  a ninth century Indian emperor.  2016 they comprise original members and the ever youthful Crispian Mills (vocals / guitars) / Alonza Bevan (bass) / Paul Winterhart (drums)  and with newer addition, Harry Broadbent (keyboards)
Reminiscing, the band reflected on the K era;  “I’ve got some good memories of that first run of success,” says Crispian with a smile… “We played TFI Friday with Arthur Brown. He set his head on fire and shouted ‘Don’t Panic, It’s Just The End Of The World’ in front of millions of viewers. At that point, I thought we’d done something useful with our time at the top.”
“To be honest, I can’t remember much about it all,” adds bassist Alonza Bevan, “But it was great to be a part of something that had such a reach and that genuinely affected people. It was also nice to get an ancient Indian hymn on Radio 1 in the UK. I can’t see that happening now.”
“When we’re all playing together in a room, nothing beats it,” says drummer Paul Winter-Hart, recalling sweaty pre-recording rehearsals in Westbourne Grove.
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Listen to new single ‘Let Love Be (With U)’
Watch / stream / post new video for video for ‘Let Love Be (With U)’, here: 
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​Watch/Infinite Sun​
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https://youtu.be/t-N7ckQioU0

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Categories
Bread & Butter Music

Dar Williams Signs To Bread & Butter

Featuring collaborations with Jill Sobule, Richard Thompson, Jim Lauderdale, the Milk Carton Kids, the Hooters, Lucy Wainwright Roche 

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Dar Williams to release her brand new album “EMERALD” on Bread and Butter Music May 18th 2015 and tour with dates in UK, Ireland and Germany

 

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Dar Williams’s growth as an individual over her two-decade career has gone hand-in-hand with her evolution as an artist. This is perhaps best typified by the release of “Emerald,” a timely and brilliant album of new songs and collaborations with friends such as Jill Sobule, Richard Thompson, Jim Lauderdale, the Milk Carton Kids, the Hooters, Lucy Wainwright Roche and her mother Suzzy Roche and others. It marks her debut with the UK label, Bread and Butter (Essential) and is a sparkling collection of new original material, inspired collaborations and some surprising covers such as B.A.D.’s “Johnny Appleseed” making this album one of her best yet.

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Raised in Chappaqua, N.Y., Williams spent 10 years living in the thriving artistic community of Northampton, Mass., where she began to make the rounds on the coffeehouse circuit. Joan Baez, an early fan of her music, took Williams out on the road and recorded several of her songs. The rest is history. Williams most recently released a live recording celebrating the 20th Anniversary of her legendary album, “The Honesty Room.”

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In addition to being a touring artist, Williams is an author, teaches a course at Wesleyan University, and conducts annual song writing seminars. Williams devotes much of her time to environmental issues and causes, and has created “Give Bees A Camp” which combines concerts and the planting of bee-friendly gardens for young campers.

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Tracklisting

1. Something to Get Through
2. FM Radio
3. Empty Plane
4. Emerald
5. Slippery Slope
6. Here Tonight
7. Girl of the World
8. Mad River
9. Weight of the World
10. Johnny Appleseed
11. New York is a Harbor

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Something to Get Through    
Dar Williams – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Josh Kaler – Drums, Bass, Guitars, Lap Steel, Keys
Courtney Jaye – Harmony Vocal
Tom Whall – Harmony Vocal

FM Radio       
Dar Williams- acoustic guitar, vocals
Aaron Sterling- drums
Jonny Polonsky- electric guitars
Jill Sobule- vocals, electric guitar
Olivia Wood- backing vocals
Vanessa Wood- backing vocals

Empty Plane      
Trevor Gordon Hall (guitars)
Stance Mason (Bass)
Jeff Haynes(Wave Drum,Percussion)
Rob Scheps Sax

Emerald 
Richard Thompson (Guitar)
Stance Mason (Bass)

Slippery Slope
ROB HYMAN – WURLITZER PIANO
Dave Jacques (bass)
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Here Tonight     
Dar Williams – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Josh Kaler – Drums, Bass, Guitars, Keys
Angel Snow – Harmony Vocal
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Girl of the World 
Heidi Breyer (Piano)
Eugene Freisen (Cello)
Stance Mason (Acoustic Bass Guitar)
Jeff Haynes (Frame Drum)
Will Ackeman Guitar
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 Mad River     
Dar Williams- acoustic guitar, vocals
Aaron Sterling- drums
Jonny Polonsky- electric guitars
Kenneth Pattengale- backing vocals
Joey Ryan- backing vocals
Chick Wolverton- percussion
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Weight of the World     
Dar Williams Lead vocal
Suzzy Roche vocals
Lucy Wainwright Roche vocals
David Mansfield guitar/violin/viola
Marry Wooten cello

Johnny Appleseed         
ERIC BAZILIAN – ELECTRIC GUITAR, HURDY-GURDY, BACKING VOCALS
ROB HYMAN – WURLITZER PIANO, BACKING VOCALS, ADDITIONAL DRUMS
JOHN LILLEY – DOBRO
FRAN SMITH, JR. – BASS
DAVID UOSIKKINEN – DRUMS    

New York is a Harbor     
Dar Williams Lead Vocal
Bryn Roberts Piano

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 Listen “Emerald” here:

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UK Tour  
with Lucy Wainwright Roche

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21st May – Birmingham The Glee Club

www.glee.co.uk/birmingham

b/o 0871 472 0400

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23rd May – Belfast Errigle Inn

www.realmusicclub.com

tix www.realmusicclub.ticketsource.co.uk

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24th May – Dublin The Workmans Club

http://theworkmansclub.com
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26th May – London The Jazz Cafe

http://thejazzcafelondon.com

b/o 0844 847 2514
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28th May – Liverpool Arts Club

https://artsclubliverpool.com
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29th May – Otley Korks

www.korks.co.uk

b/o 0113 245 5570
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30th May – Germany, Krefeld Kulturfabrik  (nr Dusseldorf)

www.kulturfabrik-krefeld.de

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1st June – Brighton Komedia

www.zazamusic.co.uk www.komedia.co.uk/brighton

b/o 0845 293 8480

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Uncategorized

Stephen Kellogg to tour with Gregory Alan Isakov

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Stephen Kellogg

Returns to Europe on tour mid October

unnamedStephen Kellogg

“Ask any group of people if their life has gone ‘exactly as they planned’ and one person (usually recently engaged) will raise their hand and say ‘yes.’ Well this song is for everybody else! In my own search for forgiveness for the things I’ve done of which I’m not proud, I’ve found that it usually begins and ends here. With a willingness to forgive oneself and others. It seems to be the lynchpin that connects the things that go wrong in our daily lives to the hope and redemption we’re all looking for.”

UK and EU Tour Dates

10/16 Dublin, IRE- Whelan’s Upstairs (SK headline)
10/17 Brighton, UK- Komedia Studio Bar
10/18 Bristol, UK- Louisiana
10/19 Glasgow, UK- King Tut’s
10/20 Manchester, UK- Gulliver’s
10/21 London, UK- Bush Hall
10/23 Brussels, BE- Witloof Bar
10/24 Nijmegen, NL- Doornroosje
10/25 Amsterdam, NL- Bitterzoet
10/26 Hamburg, GER- Prinzenbar
10/27 Cologne, GER- Studio 672
10/29 Oslo, NOR- Parkteatret
10/30, Stockholm SWE- Nalen

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 Stephen Kellogg will be touring with Gregory Alan Isakov

 

Stephen Kellogg claims that when he was growing up, his musical interests were divided between his father’s record collection, devoted to ’70s singer/songwriters like Jim Croce and Cat Stevens, and his sister’s rock & roll discs, dominated by hair metal acts such as Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe. In a curious way, Kellogg’s music represents a meeting point between these two styles, with songs that delve deep into the personal, but make room for a sense of fun, while the music, which is intelligent and intimate, is also full of passion and electricity. Kellogg was born in Westchester, PA, and he began playing music in high school, singing in a hard rock band known as Silent Treatment. After graduating from high school, Kellogg enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in 1995, where he studied communication and theater, but his passion for music traveled with him, and he began performing on weekends with friends Darian Cunning, Tim Edgar, and Tim Newton. Kellogg also began working on his songwriting during this period, writing and recording solo acoustic demos, and when he graduated from college, he found himself working at the Iron Horse Music Hall, a celebrated venue in Northampton, MA, which inspired him to take a serious shot at making music his career. Kellogg began playing gigs anywhere and everywhere he could, and in 2000 he self-released his first album, South of Stephen, financed by his day job selling newspaper advertising. A second album followed in 2002, Lucky 11, which boasted a more pop-oriented sound, and Kellogg’s busy performing schedule was helping him make a name for himself in the Northeast.

However, Kellogg’s fortunes made their biggest change when he put together a band to accompany him on-stage; the Sixers, comprised of Brian Factor on drums, Keith Karlson on bass and keyboards, and Chris Soucy on guitar, added a new fire and enthusiasm to Kellogg’s concerts, and they helped make his 2004 album, Bulletproof Heart, his breakthrough release. Thanks to heavy touring, Bulletproof Heart became a strong seller at shows and in independent record stores, and the band’s growing fan base caught the attention of Universal Records, who signed the band to their Foundation imprint and released Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers in early 2005; early copies of the album were packaged with a bonus EP, One Night in Brooklyn, recorded during a 24-hour session with a handful of friends, including former Whiskeytown members Mike Daly and Caitlin Cary. While the self-titled album fared well with fans, Kellogg and the Sixers soon parted ways with Universal, and for their next studio album, 2007’s Glassjaw Boxer, the group partnered with the independent label Everfine Records, best known as the home of popular jam band O.A.R.

” I’m thirty-six years old. I say that I’m from Northampton, MA because that’s where I got my start, though now I live in Southern Connecticut. I’ve spent the better part of the last ten years on the road or in the studio, but I have four daughters and a beautiful wife  too. I asked if I could write my own biography, partially because it saves money, and I figured if someone wanted to learn about me, I’d just as soon tell them myself.My music has been described as Americana, Country-Rock, Folk, Singer/Songwriter, and, somehow, pop. I have always thought of it as American-rock n’ roll. It’s a product of my father’s record collection, from Jim Croce and Cat Stevens to Eagles and The Band. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with showmanship and acts that put on great concerts. Sometimes that meant Van Halen, other times it meant the Grateful Dead, and most recently it’s probably more to do with John Prine. For what it’s worth, Tom Petty is my favorite artist. Although it’s been pointed out to me by one quite popular publication that I’m “no Bruce Springsteen”, I’ve decided to continue making music anyway (I’m laughing as I write this in case that’s not clear).The thing is…I fell into this job. I like people. I like sharing a world-view. I don’t mind singing and playing guitar, but I never expected that I’d do it for a living. Like a lot of folks, I think I just figured I wasn’t good enough or that maybe it wasn’t possible. The fact remained though that I needed a way to provide for my family, presumably just like those of you reading this biography (or for the younger generations, the same way your parents have). Ultimately writing songs and playing them for people has become that living. There are many occupations for which I have immense admiration – doctors, soldiers and teachers topping the list. But there isn’t another job I think I’d necessarily be suited for, so this is what I do.

In November of 2012, my band of the last ten years decided to take a hiatus. We performed our final show at Webster Hall in New York City for three hours and said goodbye for now. 2012 also took with it my mother-in-law and my grandmother. Most of this happened in late Spring, when my house was under renovation; the foundation was still there, but the house was literally ripped apart. Some metaphor, huh? 2012 was a year of change if nothing else. The musical result of this tumultuous period is Blunderstone Rookery. The title comes from the boyhood home of my favorite character in my favorite book, “David Copperfield”.

I produced Blunderstone Rookery in conjunction with my long-time musical collaborator, Kit Karlson. Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of  Folk) mixed the album. We chose to make the record in Bridgeport, Connecticut because, after making the last few in Los Angeles and New York, I really wanted to work on home turf. The music was played by a number of friends of mine, some of them play in bands you may have heard of (Travis McNabb and Annie Clements from Sugarland, Sean Watkins from Nickel Creek, Jerry DePizzo from OAR), and many of them, including me, you may not have heard of. I loved working on Blunderstone Rookery more than any album I’ve ever made and it’s my ninth studio effort. It was a fresh process. One that began with the exciting notion, “what if I say exactly what I want to say” and ended with me handing my father a vinyl copy to add to his record collection.

That, after all, is why I do this.

Using words and intention in the hopes of a positive legacy for my family. ”

Stephen Kellogg

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Tracklisting

1. Lost And Found
2. The Brain Is A Beautiful Thing
3. Forgive You, Forgive Me
4. Men & Women
5. Crosses
6. I Don’t Want To Die On The Road
7. Good Ol’ Days
8. Good Red Wine
9. The Best
10. Thanksgiving
11. Ingrid’s Song

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Here is a recent live eTown performance of ‘ Forgive You, Forgive Me ‘

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Watch Stephen Kellogg at TEDxConcordiaUPortland

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Categories
Thirty Tigers

Langhorne Slim and the Law – Animal 7″ OUT 12.05.2014

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‘Animal’ out 12.05.2014

Independent retail and their clientele have been vital to the development and growth of Langhorne Slim & The Law, and no one knows this better than Langhorne himself. In the continued goal to support those who have supported his band throughout their career, Langhorne Slim & The Law are releasing the 100% exclusive Record Store Day piece, the Animal 7″ as a thank you to his fans who know where to shop for good music and all the stores who’ve sold, played, supported his music – as well as hosted him for instore performances.

Watch the brilliant new video for “Animal” HERE (Password: animal)

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TOUR DATES:

Feb 19th – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater*
Feb 21st – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern*
Feb 22nd – San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theatre*
Feb 24th – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios (An Intimate Solo Performance)
Feb 25th – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern (An Intimate Solo Performance)
Feb 27th – Austin, TX @ The Moody Theater* Austin City Limits
Feb 28th – Houston, TX, @ Bayou Music Center*
Mar 1 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre*
Apr 4-6 – Knoxville, TN @ Rhythm N’ Blooms
Apr 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade **
May 9-11 – Atlanta, GA @ Atlantic Station, Shaky Knees Music Festival

*With Amos Lee
**With The Felice Brothers

 For more information about Langhorne Slim and the Law, contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772

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Categories
Thirty Tigers

North Mississippi Allstars – ‘An extraordinary amalgam of envelope-pushing studio manipulation and DNA-fuelled deep gut grooves – the best NMA studio album’ 9/10 – Uncut

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North Mississippi Allstars – Snake Drive (Mario Caldato Remix)
OUT 28th July 2014

VIDEO TO SNAKE DRIVE (CLICK ON IMAGE)

Screen Shot 2014-06-10 at 12.56.20North Mississippi Allstars formed in 1996; the product of a special time for modern Mississippi country blues. Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson soaked up the music of their father, Memphis legend Jim Dickinson, and absorbed the North Mississippi legacy while playing and shaking it down in the juke joints with their blues ancestors. R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Otha Turner and their musical families were at their peak, making classic records and touring the world. Eventually, Luther (guitar, vocals) and Cody (drums, vocals) formed the North Mississippi Allstars.

North Mississippi Allstar’s latest single, ‘Snake Drive (Mario Caldato Remix),’ taken from the critically acclaimed album, ‘World Boogie is Coming.’ 

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North Mississippi Allstars Tour Europe (with Robert Plant)

JUNE

08 – Holland, Landgraaf – Pinkpop Festival
10 – Sweden, Gothenburg – Tragarn
12 – Norway, Bergen – Bergen Festival
14 – Sweden, Rattvik – Dalhalla
16 – Estonia, Tallin – Saku Arena

19  – Denmark, ODENSE-  DEN FYNSKE LANDSBY

20  –  Germany  Hamburg  -STADTPARK

22 –France  Paris -BATACLAN

23-  Germany Cologne –  TANZBRUNNEN-

25- Ireland, Cork – Live at the Marquee

29 – UK – Glastonbury Festival

JULY

11 – Pistoia, Italy – Pistoia Blues Festival
12 – Rome, Italy – Cavea
14 – Padova, Italy – Villa Conterini
16 – Berlin, Germany – Zitadelle
17 – Dresden, Germany – Junge Garde
19 – Ostrava, Czech Republic

August 2nd

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL

 

 

 

For more information about North Mississippi Allstars, contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772
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Categories
Thirty Tigers

Nicole Atkins releases first single ‘Girl, You Look Amazing,’ from the album ‘Slow Phaser.’

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OUT 27.05.2014

The poptastic ‘Girl, You Look Amazing,’ is the first single to be taken from Nicole Atkins, ‘Slow Phaser,’ album. Being forced to pack up two years of songs, poetry and journals, after experiencing Hurricane Sandy in Memphis, Atkins collaborated with Jim Scalvunos (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Cramps) and producer Tore Johansson (Franz Ferdinand, The Cardigans) to devise a compelling new sonic approach, melding psychedelic energy, prog rock adventurism, after hours disco ambience, and the raw emotional purity of the finest country soul. Atkins stripped her traditional instrumentation to its core – Johansson handled bass duties, joined by The Cardigans’ Lars-Olaf Johansson on guitar, keyboardist Martin Gjerstad, and Asbury Park’s own Sam Bey behind drum kit – placing considerably more emphasis on electronics than on her previous recordings.

‘Girl, You Look Amazing,’ is the first single to be taken from the album, ‘Slow Phaser,’ out 28th April 2014

Watch the amazing video for ‘Girl, You Look Amazing,’ here:

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Nicole Atkins May 2014 Tour

May 02 – Night & Day – Manchester 7:30pm
May 05 – Rough Trade Records – London1:00pm
May 06 – Louisiana – Bristol 7:00pm
May 07 – Bush Hall – London 7:30pm
May 08 – Red Room, Rescue Rooms –Nottingham

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 For more information about Nicole Atkins, contact Sara Silver
sara@thirtytigers.com +44 (0)20 8265 0772

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Categories
Thirty Tigers

I’m a hell of a lot more like my old man than I’d care to admit. Like him, I work for a living. My job is to make people feel something and that’s what I’ve tried to do with “Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth.” OTIS GIBBS

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SOUVENIRS OF A MISSPENT YOUTH

To be released on CD/Digital THIRTY TIGERS EU on 7th JULY 2014.

TOUR DATES ….

Wednesday 9th July 2014: FYFIELD (Essex) – The Garret Sessions at The Queens Head (01277 899231 / www.thequeensheadfyfield.co.uk/The-Garret-Sessions) £35 adv / door including dinner, doors 8.30pm (double header with Brooks Williams)
Thursday 10th July 2014: CARDIFF – The Full Moon (02920 373022 / www.thefullmooncardiff.com) £6 adv / £TBC door, 7.30pm doors
Friday 11th July 2014: LIVERPOOL – Americana UK Promotions present Acoustic Dustbowl at the View Two Gallery (www.acousticdustbowl.co.uk) £5 in advance / £6 on the door, 8pm doors
Monday 14th July 2014: BIRMINGHAM (Kings Heath) – The Kitchen Garden Cafe (0121 443 4725 / www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk) £7 advance / £8 door, 7.30pm doors
Tuesday 15th July 2014: HOVE (East Sussex) – The Palmeira (www.brighthelmstonepromotions.co.uk / www.wegottickets.com) £9 adv / £TBC door, 8pm doors
Wednesday 16th July 2014: NORWICH – The Bicycle Shop (01603 625777 / http://thebicycleshopcafe.com / http://ueaticketbookings.co.uk) £10 adv / door, 7.30pm doors
Friday 18th July 2014: STEVENTON (Oxfordshire) – Truck Festival (http://truckfestival.com/) (3pm)
Saturday 19th July 2014: GATESHEAD – SummerTyne Americana Festival 2014 at The Sage Gateshead (0191 443 4661 / www.sagegateshead.com / www.jumpinhot.com) (outside stage) £FREE, TBCpm
Sunday 20th July 2014: MILTON KEYNES – The Stables (Stage 2) (01908 280800 / www.stables.org) £10 adv / £12 door, 8.45pm doors
Tuesday 22nd July 2014: LONDON (Islington) – Pull Up The Roots presents at The Old Queens Head (www.pulluptheroots.co.uk) £12.50 advance / £14 door, 7.30pm doors
Wednesday 23rd July 2014: BIDDULPH (Staffordshire) – The Biddulph Arms (01782 523277 / www.biddulphupinarms.com) £10 adv / door, 7.30pm doors
Thursday 24th July 2014: BURY (Greater Manchester) – The Met (studio) (0161 761 2216 / www.themet.biz) £12 adv / £14 door, 8pm
Friday 25th July 2014: DONCASTER – The Roots Music Club @ Doncaster Ukrainian Centre (07939 148603 / www.rootsmusicclub.co.uk / www.wegottickets.com) £8 adv / £TBC door, 7.30pm doors
Saturday 26th July 2014: BROSELEY (Shropshire) – The Birchmeadow Community Centre (07890 057832 / www.birchmeadow.org.uk / www.wegottickets.com) £8 advance / £9 door,  7.30pm
Sunday 27th July 2014: NOTTINGHAM – The Maze @ The Forest Tavern (0115 947 5650 / www.cosmicamerican.com / www.wegottickets.com) £TBC adv / £TBC door, 7.30pm
Wednesday 30th July 2014: ZURICH (Switzerland) – Bogen F (www.bogenf.ch)
Thursday 31st July 2014: SOLOHURN (Switzerland) Acoustic Nights, Altes Spital (www.altesspital.ch)

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Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth
by Otis Gibbs

While writing the songs on this record, I found myself thinking an awful lot about my father and how he encouraged me to do everything I could to pursue a creative life. He rode a Harley Davidson chopper, sang along to Jerry Lee Lewis records and took absolutely no shit from anyone. The only job he ever enjoyed was driving a tow truck, but he couldn’t support the family on just 85 cents an hour. He was convinced he’d finally hit the jackpot when he got a job throwing 100 pound bags of starch into boxcars for $1.85 an hour. 30 years later he retired with a worn out back, a bad shoulder and a cheap certificate in a cardboard frame. He once told me they were his, “Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth.”

One thing I inherited from my father was his low tolerance for bullshit and let’s face it, the arts world is full of it. With that in mind, one morning I scribbled a thought onto the cover of my notebook that served as a reminder while working on these songs. “There are only two people in art who matter. There’s the creative individual and the person experiencing it, everything else is an artificial filter.”  If I have one core artistic belief, that would probably be it. That principle and a whole lot of scratching, clawing and sacrifice has earned me a loyal cult following throughout Europe and in parts of the USA, but don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of me. I like to joke around the house that I’ve done everything I can to remain obscure without realizing it.

While my parents worked during the day, it fell upon some strange individuals to babysit me. One of these people was my uncle. He wasn’t the best choice to babysit a 4 year old because he’d just got out of prison. He wasn’t even really my uncle, he and my aunt were just shacking up. Living in sin. Renting with the option to buy. He got bored watching me so he took me to a neighborhood bar that had an upright piano in the corner. He’d sit me on top of that piano and I’d sing Hank Williams and Jimmy Rodgers songs while he accompanied me. The drunks thought I was a cute kid, so they gave me tip money and I’d sing their requests. My uncle would then take that money and get drunk on it. That’s when I first learned how the music industry actually works.

One of the benefits of being a touring musician is I often find myself dropped into unexpected situations.  These moments sometimes make their way into my songwriting. Experiences like crossing the Carpathian Mountains in Romania in a snowstorm and picking up a nine year old hitchhiker named “Cozmina.” She told me her family’s tragic story as I gave her a ride over the top of the mountain.

I recently visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. There’s a saying that every American knows someone whose name is on that wall, but as I stood there, I couldn’t think of anyone. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.  As a kid in Wanamaker, Indiana, we had an aging boxer living in the house next door who had just lost his son in Vietnam. My Father did everything he could to be supportive, so we stopped by every day to visit. At the time, I was just a kid and didn’t understand any of it. After finding my neighbor’s son’s name on the wall, I found myself standing there silently grieving beside strangers and remembering his Father (and mine). These newfound memories of my father and our pugilist friend stuck with me and eventually lead to  “Ghosts Of Our Fathers.”

I’ve planted 7,176 trees in my lifetime. These were all large trees and were planted without the benefit of heavy machinery. Just shovels, spades and strong backs. It was my day job for about ten years and I loved it, but my body started to break down towards the end. Luckily, I started touring more in the UK and Europe which allowed me to play music full time. I quit that job about 8 years ago and haven’t had a day job since. “No Rust On My Spade” is a song that looks back to those days when I prided myself in being a Nurseryman.

“It Was A Train” and “The Darker Side Of Me” are loosely based on stories told to me by hobo friends around Midwestern campfires.

My father was a hunter. At a very young age I followed him into the forests of Indiana in search of deer, rabbit and squirrel. I struggled for years to find a way to tell him that I loved being alone in the woods with him more than anything, but the idea of killing animals for “sport” repulsed me. “With A Gun In My Hand” tells the story that I was unable to tell as a kid. I’m happy to report that as he aged he lost all interest in hunting. This made him love the outdoors even more.

I host a show called Thanks For Giving A Damn. It features your favorite musicians telling road stories, tall tales and vague recollections. There’s no music, just talk. It’s available as a podcast and there’s a new episode posted to iTunes every Wednesday. I love hearing road stories, so I started the show as a way to share these stories directly with the people who enjoy my work. I had modest expectations at first, but was pleasantly surprised when the audience grew much quicker than I ever could have hoped.

I’m happily living in East Nashville with my partner, Amy Lashley and a few too many rescued pets (Let me know if you need a cat). Amy and I have been together for over 15 years, but I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. We’re just hanging out.

I’m a hell of a lot more like my old man than I’d care to admit. Like him, I work for a living. My job is to make people feel something and that’s what I’ve tried to do with “Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth.” It’s a record that I’m proud of and I believe it’s my finest work to date. Thank you kindly for taking the time to experience it and I hope we might one day meet in person.
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis Gibbs

For Further information, Promo Cd, Pics, Interviews Please email sara@thirtytigers.com
+44 208 265 0772

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