New Music
This blog adds a little background to the new music playlist published on Spotify. Click here to listen. The aim of the playlist is to cover artists looking to get heard in a crowded marketplace and those more established bands that I think deserve more recognition.
Rotherham four-piece The Sherlocks look set for big things in 2017. Having just signed for Infectious, the two sets of brothers – Kiaran (lead vocals and guitar) and Brandon Crook (drums) with Josh and Andy Davidson (lead guitar and bass respectively), the band are about to embark on a major UK tour in support of the single Will You Be There? Catch them at Manchester’s Albert Hall on Feb 10th or Sheffield University on March 3rd. Twitter
Singer-songwriter Tom Ryder’s first single Silence Breaking Through Sound raised thousands for McMillan Cancer Support in 2015. Strings Attached is a mature song from such a young artist and is the title track of the follow up EP from 2016. Twitter
Kings Go Forth are / were a ten piece soul band from Milwaukee. High On Your Love is taken from their 2010 debut album The Outsiders Are Back. Having signed to Luaka Bop the future looked bright but they appear to have disintegrated! Would love to have more information. Facebook
Naughty Devils And Dirty Priests is taken from Kong’s debut EP 8 Ball Pool. Voted best unsigned band in 2016 by Exposed Magazine, you can see them on home turf at Sheffield’s Rocking Chair on January 27th. Twitter
London based reggae singer Kiko Bun’s 2016 release Sweetie is insanely catchy and sticks in the memory (be warned!). Taken from the EP Inna Piano Style which also shows the artist’s versatility with a cover of Nina Simone’s My Baby Just Cares For Me. Twitter
Dirty $$$ by American duo, High Dive Heart is taken from their 2016 album HDH Vs MTR Pt 1. Again, ridiculously catchy, feel good, summer music. High Dive Heart are LA based Jason Reeves and Nelly Joy from Nashville. Twitter
The Weekend by Westward The Tide sounds like it was written to be performed at a sunny festival. Formed in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2012, the band’s first album, Sorry Soul, was released in 2014. The Weekend is taken form the 2016 follow up album Microphone Heart. Twitter
My first exposure to St. Paul & The Broken Bones from Birmingham, Alabama, was a late night slot on the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage last summer. In the tiny area set high above the main festival site, the incredible, soulful vocal performance left me hungry for more. Flow With It (You Got Me Feeling Like) is from their second album Sea Of Noise. Their appearance in Leeds on the 31st of January has been moved to the larger Irish Centre venue and I cannot wait. Twitter
The award for best band name goes to Canadian duoThe Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer. Black And Blue is taken from their 2016 album A Real Fine Mess. The duo, Shawn Hall and Matthew Rogers, teamed up in 2006 and are currently supporting St Paul & The Broken Bones on their UK tour.
A.O.S.O.O.N. is London based songwriter and musician Manny. Already building a fanbase in London and New York, Something was released as a single in 2016. Twitter
Rookie Dreaming is the lead track on the new album, Honest Life, by Courtney Marie Andrews. The singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona has a mesmerising voice and is now on album number six. She visits Leeds on February 27th, supporting The Handsome Family at Brudenell Social Club. Twitter
Canadian six-piece band, Royal Canoe play The Castle Hotel in Manchester on January 31st. Even without the great music it will be worth going just to see them cram onto the tiny stage! However, it is the music that will grab your attention. Walk Out On The Water is from their 2016 album Something Got Lost Between Here And The Orbit. Great vocals and clever songs should be a winning combination. Twitter