Category Archives: Culture

Critical Heights to release new Scraps single in July | Music News

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Critical Heights have announce yet another great pop single. This time from Brisbane’s enigmatic synth pop songstress Scraps (AKA Laura Hill). The 7” single ‘Secret Paradise’ is out 23rd July and was premiered on Radio One by Huw Stephens. Laura wears her obsession with 80’s synth rock on her sleeve, citing The Human League, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Flock of Seaguls, OMD, Gary Numan and Devo as influences.
The 80s loom large in her subject matter as well.  Lead track “1982” is a love/tribute song to all the machines that didn’t get the girl in movies like Short Circuit and Electric Dreams, where the machines are much more interesting than the men. It’s excellent but don’t just take my word for it – have a listen and download it below:

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/43442651″ iframe=”true” /]

Two Inch Punch – ‘Moonstruck’ Video and Launch Party | Music News

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yfn4EXYAF4&w=560&h=315]

 

Two Inch Punch releases ‘Saturn: The Slow Jams’ EP on 16th July 16th via PMR Records. The EP is a departure from the more upfront hip-hop leanings of his earlier work and takes on a slicker R&B approach. With ‘Moonstruck’ he’s dipped back into his debut single (Luv Luv / Love You Up) to mine the immediacy of his electronic production, making Moonstruck the assertive punch on the EP. To celebrate, PMR Records will be hosting a special EP launch party on Friday, June 22nd at the Notting Hill Arts Club, featuring sets from Two Inch Punch and Velour and Brey.

Lightships announce ‘Fear And Doubt EP’ | Music News

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Lightships release their new Fear And Doubt EP on Monday 30th July 2012.  The EP features ‘Silver And Gold’ from the recently released ‘Electric Cables’ album and three brand new unreleased tracks. All songs were recorded with the same band during sessions for the album – Dave McGowan (guitar, Teenage Fanclub), Brendan O’Hare (drums, from the first incarnation of Teenage Fanclub), Tom Crossley (flute, International Airport and The Pastels) and Bob Kildea (bass, Belle & Sebastian).

The band have recently played two sold out headlining shows in London & Glasgow, and also supported St Etienne in Glasgow. More shows are being planned at the moment, with a performance at Oya festival confirmed.

Wooden Wand announces UK tour | Music News

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Wooden Wand, aka James Jackson Toth, is heading over to the UK for some live dates this summer. The maverick, good-hearted troubadour, whose blend of smoky Americana has been garnering plaudits for the last decade, has announced the following shows:

 

26/6/12 – Trades Club – Hebden Bridge
27/6/12 – Night And Day Cafe – Manchester
29/6/12 – Cafe Oto – London (with Duke Garwood and Dead Rat Orchestra)
30/6/12 – Miss Peapods – Penryn
4/7/12 – The Duchess – York
5/7/12 – Rough Trade East Instore – London – 7pm (with Duke Garwood)
7/7/12 – Lushfest – Dorset
Following the release of Wooden Wand’s critically acclaimed album ‘Briarwood’ last year, Fire Records are also releasing a deluxe version which features eight acoustic demo versions of tracks from the LP.

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Kiwanuka announces Royal Festival Hall headline show | Music News

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Michael Kiwanuka is very pleased to announce the details of his biggest headline show to date. The acclaimed singer-songwriter will play London’s Royal Festival Hall, on the 5th December.

Michael recently concluded his UK tour with a sold out show at Shepherds Bush Empire as well as suppoorting Mumford & Sons at their Gentlemen of the Road Stopover show in Huddersfield. He will shortly embark on a US tour and his debut shows in Australia and Japan.
Watch the video to his recent single ‘I’ll Get Along’ here:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEA5lCcga-s&w=560&h=315]

 


M83 unveils new single | Music News

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M83 has confirmed that ‘OK Pal’ will be the third single to be taken from his current album ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming’. Have a listen here:
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/31231614″ iframe=”true” /]
‘OK Pal’ will be released on the 29th July via Naive.
M83 (aka Anthony Gonzalez) released his sixth album ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming’ in October 2011 to huge critical acclaim and worldwide chart success, including his first Top 40 in the UK and Number 15 in the Billboard charts.
Most recently M83 announced his Somerset House date, which sold out in an hour, and a UK show at Brixton O2 Academy on 8th November.
M83 UK Live dates:
26 Jun Mandela Hall, Belfast
27 Jun Picture House, Edinburgh
15 Jul Latitude Festival
16 Jul Somerset House, London – Sold Out
08 Nov Brixton Academy, London

Mission of Burma release free mp3 of Second Television | Music News

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With the imminent release of their forthcoming record ‘Unsound’ on 9 July via Fire Records, Brooklyn post-punks Mission of Burma have shared another track from the album, the Clint Conley penned “Second Television“. Listen and download free here:

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/48917435″ iframe=”true” /]

Michael Grandage unveils New Project: Affordable Theatre.

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Michael Grandage has revealed that his first project after leaving the Donmar Warehouse will be a 15-month season of theatre with high caliber actors that include Judi Dench, Daniel Radcliffe, Simon Russell Beale and Jude Law. The season will have 100,000 tickets priced at only £10.

Grandage will direct all of the five productions: Privates on Parade starring Simon Russell Beale; Peter and Alice, a new play by John Logan, starring Judi Dench and Ben Wishaw; the first revival of The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh starring Daniel Radcliffe; A Midsummer Night’s Dream with David Walliams as Bottom and Sheridan Smith as Titania; and Henry V starring Jude Law.

The productions will all play at the Noel Coward Theatre.

Grandage said that the discounted tickets would not be “200 stuffed up in the gods, its 200 all over the theatre so that we can be as democratic as possible in the distribution of those seats.”

Other tickets will be priced – £27.50 and £57.50.