What was the best festival of 2014? Olivia Outram spills the Secret

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Richard Mylles

The Secret Garden Party

So with the initial line up for 2015 released this week, I think it’s about time to gush a bit about my festival of last summer.

The Music
As the sun went down over the main stage on a balmy Saturday evening Sub Motion Orchestra revealed themselves as the standout performers of the festival for me. Theirs was the kind of bass that makes the earth, not shake, that wouldn’t be the right word, but sway in a luxurious, sensual manner. Ruby Wood’s ethereally jazzy vocals were the cherry on a quite delectably sexy cake. Clean Bandit have really upped their game since doing the festival rounds in 2013, commanding the main stage with tens of thousands of festival goers singing back their lyrics. And for the late night lovers, Sigma “absolutely smashed it” (as Cheryl Cole might say) in Temple of Boom post 3am. My only personal disappointment was standing pride of place on the top platform of the Collisillium, having elbowed hundreds of people out of the way, waiting for this year’s secret act to perform (Chase and Status again…) at the stroke of midnight – Only to be left waiting… and waiting… and waiting… Rumour has it they finally rocked up over two and a half hours late. Not. Cool.

The Locale
This really was the ultimate adult’s playground, whether you like it colourful, eerie, hard-core or filled with sunflowers, there was a playground for every personality. There was also the option of swimming in the lake, which might sound spontaneous but after you’d donned your sexiest swimsuit you were left standing in line for the best part of an hour waiting to be refreshed (or, let’s be honest, have a replacement bath). To be fair the excessive queue was no doubt due to the scorchingly hot weather we enjoyed at SGP this year (Sorry (not sorry) to all of you who pinned your festival hopes and dreams on Glastonbury but forewent your summer glow for trench foot). From secret tunnels, floating dance floors, winding forests and colossal stages to fields filled to the brim with 6 foot tall giant sunflowers hidden behind a secret portaloo door – the one thing we can all admit is the hills of Abbots Ripton are transformed into something truly magical, that even Alice in Wonderland would gawk at.

Local Wildlife
The clientele cannot go unmentioned. It seemed like this year’s festival had an unparalleled supply of beautiful people – everywhere you looked you saw another “genetic lottery winner”, as one companion commented. As ever, body paint, glitter and “quirky” headwear were all the rage. Meaning the usually bold and unique individual fizzled into the crowd. Those who really wanted to stand out, and there were quite a few, dispensed with the outfits altogether, some choosing to don only carefully applied body paint and a few of the most adventurous opting for just the glow of the summer sun and a dab of moisturiser. For the sake of their nipples, I sincerely hope one with SPF.

Inevitable Celebrity Sighting
This bit all depends on your definition of “celebrity”… you could feast your eyes on pretty much the entire cast of Made in Chelsea. Alex Mytton even made the sought-after headlines of Daily Mail Online with his episode of “exhaustion”. For the more refined celebrity oglers, his royal highness (absolutely no pun intended) Prince Harry graced us with his presence in full Secret Garden Party glittery glory with his face painted a smirf-tastic shade of ‘royal’ blue.

Transcendent-moment-where-everything-makes-sense
As the sun dipped behind the horizon on the Saturday evening, it was replaced by a spectacle of fiery colourful delight with the annual SGP fireworks extravaganza. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a Secret Gardener who didn’t suddenly think their drink had been spiked with the best type of acid, when a plane flying low rained giant bubbles over the entire festival’s heads. This, combined with the darting lasers piercing the wobbly, translucent globules made for a truly incredible vision. The whole of the main stage appeared to be covered in glittering fairy dust. Either that … or the drive to the festival from the station with the utterly charming former Police Constable Simon, now of ‘Steve’s Cars’. Simon you are an utter legend.

words by Olivia Outram

LOVESUCKER “Self-Titled” EP | Music News

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Frostie

Band/Artist: LOVESUCKER
Location: Charlotte NC
Styles: Indie-Funk-Desert Rock-Soul
Similar to/RIYL: The KIlls, The Black Crows, Erykah Badu, Funkadelic
CD: Self-titled
Members/Instruments: Crystal Crosby-Vocals/ Percussion
Zoltan Von Bury- Guitar, Bass, Drums, Organ
Production: Elddy Trevino and Zoltan Von Bury

Bio:
Original sounds are as rare as No. 1 hits in music but they do come along if you know exactly where to look. LOVESUCKER, the duo of Crystal Crosby and Zoltan Von Bury, brings two distinct and different musical styles and combines them into a powerhouse so strong that even the most educated listener will have to listen to each song over and over to pick out where one style ends and the other begins.

Crosby, with a gilt edged voice and a delivery straight from the heart, calls her style Gypsy Soul. “It’s a state of mind – freedom, movement, fire and heart, even if it’s fragmented… to move through a song and sound with fluidity and transparency, embracing those things that we speak of – love, spark and hope, dazzled with trickery and fury.”

Crosby owes her style to Etta James, Grace Slick and Tori Amos, for starters. “While many were painting the picket fences, these pioneers were torching the grounds with their guttural truths of the ache of love, revenge and survival,” she says.

Von Bury is a rocker at heart, owing his influences to the movement of the 1970s. I write music with an Indie sensibility, embracing early 70’s true funk tones and nuances,” he says. “Nothing more than that. So the descriptions ‘Indie Funk and Gypsy Soul’ actually have a true meaning or a power source, if you will. That is who we are and what we do.

Simple as that. There are no examples for those terms because there is no one out there doing this sound, this is OUR sound.”

LOVESUCKER’s self-titled debut record, is set to debut in October 2014 and will be
available on the band’s website and BandCamp.

“Mississippi,” which tells the story of a dead slave haunting his slave master, takes you so deep into the Delta that you’d swear that Robert Johnson was hiding in the bushes just around the bend.

“Show Me,” a funky soul vibe, is part Etta James and part Grace Slick to make a whole Crosby delivery and a Von Bury groove that is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

“Guns and Gasoline” is a look into the dark night of the soul when friendship is the rock when the heart takes a killer blow. The combination of Crosby’s strong, edgy female voice and Von Bury’s guitar chops is the signature sound of LOVESUCKER’s Gypsy Soul meets Indie Rock.

Los Trasgos Muertos | Music Profile

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Frostie

Los Trasgos Muertos
Eponymous EP
2 February 2015

From Manchester, Los Trasgos Muertos are Captain Reed (Bass/Vox/Organ), Von Beek (Guitar/Vox) and Il Fleishe(Drums).
Prior to forming the band, all three members spent time honing their musicianship and songwriting skills with other bands on the vibrant Manchester music scene. As a result they have known each other for years, sharing similar passions and frustrations, influences and experiences. Writing came easily and before the trio knew it, they had an album’s worth of material ready to record at Eve Studios in Bredbury, one of Manchester’s best kept secrets.

Los Trasgos Muertos are influenced by a range of musicians from Billy Childish and Deep Purple to Ty Segall, The Beatles and Prince. This eclecticism inspired them to find their own sense of individuality; they strive to produce records with a strong melody and hook, substance over style, but it’s important to them that each track captures their sense of fun too.

Gareth (Bass/Vox/Organ) describes their sound as ” Loud music for bodies in small hot sweaty rooms, this is physical music.”

The Band in Their Own Words…

Slumbering over decades, awoken by the call of screaming hordes, ‘Los Trasgos Muertos’ were born in blood. The blood running through 5th chords, trashy cymbal crashes and broken amps.

Captain Reed, the endless traveller, has known many names. His rage built over millennia broken and fragmented, unknowingly cradled and forged into a mirror focused on the world. Von Beek has been with us all, the knotted charm we prayed to when all else was hopeless, a blank vision when our eyes were blackened by doubt. Il Fleishe is the collector, master of possession. Within his realm, time was twisted and shaped into endless caverns where souls were left to rot over millennia.

And so the three of us found ourselves in the storm, and lo! ‘Los Trasgos Muertos’ became flesh. Taking Garage/Psyche Rock and twisting it to our own devices with our fleshless skeletal fingers, we traverse the wilderness, a trinity, savaging audiences and all in our path. Join us!

Beyoncé 7/11 Music Video | Watch Now

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Frostie

We love Beyoncé’s new homemade 7/11 Music Video. It is fun and parred back. Check out the delightful video below.

What do you think?

The Miss Polly Rae Show

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

The stunning Burlesque star Miss Polly Rae dazzles, sparkles and lights up the Soho Burlesque Club. She intimately invites you into her very own little Boudoir for a highly entertaining laugh out loud saucy evening filled with tantalising and funny performances.

This truly brilliant cabaret act had us in stitches from the very start. We give you Miss Polly Rae the only way we know best…..Pictures.

Its too good to spoil telling you too much about what happens. Just be safe in the knowledge you will leave with a big grin on your face, a belly that hurts from laughing so much and be in awe at the beautiful dancers. Provocative, yes…But done in such a truly stylish way it will impress you beyond belief.

The sensational act is supported by Kitty Bang Bang, Betsy Rose, Reuben Kaye and the very agile acrobat from the Boom bang circus.

The show is held every week at 8pm for those of you that don’t want to see too much flesh! Then again at 11pm for the little more risqué version. Tickets from are from £15. Burlesque star Miss Polly Rae delights the Matcham Room Theatre every week with the amazing team of entertainers and we totally loved every drop of this cabaret. Book your tickets here.

week with

We where totally mesmerised and we are totally coming back to see the Boon bang circus very soon and you just might get to see that in pictures too!

Check out their website for show times and other amazing evenings to be had at the Hippodrome Casino London.

Scottish Music Awards Take Centre Stage In Glasgow

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Frostie

After an incredible year of major international events in Glasgow, including the MTV EMA, the Scottish Music Awards will round off 2014’s year long celebration of sport and culture in the city on Saturday November 29th at the Old Fruitmarket.

Held annually by the charity Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, the exciting ceremony is their main source of funding, and promises its usual mix of inspirational and moving recognition for the vitally important work the charity delivers across the country, presented alongside performances and the coveted Tartan Clef awards for some of Scotland’s top musicians.

Previous years have seen Scottish favourites Twin Atlantic, Camera Obscura, Mogwai, Biffy Clyro, Deacon Blue, Barbara Dickson, songwriter John Reid, Emeli Sandé and Paolo Nutini honoured for their work among others; and stand out live performances from Edinburgh born pop star Nina Nesbitt, and a rare performance from Shirley Manson and Martin Metcalfe who were reunited on stage for the first time in 20 years at 2013’s event.

Since its debut in 2011, the PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW Special Recognition Award has also shone a sparkling spotlight on the charity’s heroes from Howford school head teacher Karen Mathieson to violinist Nicola Benedetti. Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, will present the award on the night.

Nordoff Robbins Scotland uses the power of music to improve the lives of over 400 children and adults isolated by disability, trauma or illness every week.

The charity needs £600,000 each year to operate, with every note raised in Scotland, staying in Scotland. The charity is grounded in the belief that everyone can respond to music, no matter how ill or disabled. The unique qualities of music as therapy can enhance communication, support change, and enable people to live more resourcefully and creatively.

Music therapy represents a relatively new force in contemporary music which has established roots all over the globe over the past few decades. The Nordoff Robbins approach has played a pivotal role in this development.

It is named after its co-creators, Clive Robbins and Paul Nordoff who teamed up in 1959. Clive was a British special needs teacher and Paul was an American composer. Through musical improvisation, they pioneered an extraordinary new way of reaching and engaging children who had additional support needs.

In the 1960s and 70s they toured many parts of the world demonstrating their work, leaving groups of followers wherever they went. After Nordoff’s death in 1977, Robbins continued to champion the cause of music therapy, maintaining an active practice, teaching and lecturing until he was well into his 80s. He died in 2011, having inspired and captivated audiences worldwide with his life-transforming work in music.

Celebrating 18 years of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, November 29th 2014 will see some of Scotland’s top musicians; media and music industry join forces to raise awareness of and money for the charity with raffle and auctions donated from businesses across the country – for a full list of donations please click here.

Glasgow has a worldwide reputation for producing and launching some of the world’s greatest musicians from Oasis’ now legendary performance at King Tut’s to previous award winners Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice, Wet Wet Wet and Sharleen Spiteri of Texas to name but a few. The Award’s home city is regarded by Time Magazine as “Europe’s Secret Capital of Music”, with the city hosting on average 130 music events every week (more than any other Scottish city), which generate millions for the city’s economy each year.

The Scottish Music Awards is a celebration of the massive strength, and huge diversity, of Scotland’s internationally successful and renowned music industry.

For more information on Scotland’s only music therapy charity please visit

www.nordoffrobbinsscotland.org.uk or to make a donation please visit http://www.justgiving.com/nrmt or call 01506 239578.

Keep up to date at www.facebook.com/nordoffrobbinsscotland and on Twitter at @NRScot

Text MMCL14 to 70070 to donate anything up to £10

Allusondrugs New Single ‘I Should Have Gone To Uni’

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Frostie

Following airplay from Radio 1, Xfm, Kerrang and play listings across the UK, Europe and America, an appearance at Reading & Leeds Festival this summer and a September UK headline run that was immediately followed by an October tour with Marmozets & Lonely The Brave, West Yorkshire’s Allusondrugs hammer home the release of their self-titled EP with a brand new track and video.

‘I Should Have Gone To Uni’ is a stomping, retro-fuelled grunge single inspired by the anxiety of growing up and moving on that will be airing on Kerrang! Radio, Kerrang! Television and with the Kerrang! website as part of their new Fresh Blood feature. The track is available as a free download from SoundCloud.

Never ones to shy away from a spot of hard work, the band recorded and mixed the single themselves – as well as producing, filming and editing the video too – entirely under their own steam in just two days on a break between their hectic touring schedule… a touring schedule that sees the band hit the road again in December, continuing an unwavering march on the UK live circuit, this time with another headline tour taking along Lyger, Forever Cult and Prom for the journey too.

“This song was written about 3 years ago while i was at a particularly low point” explains guitarist and songwriter Damo Hughes “I was watching all the people I used to know starting up families, moving towards higher education and going on to do great things while I wasn’t really doing anything with my life. It’s basically about being depressed and feeling like you’ve done all the wrong things and don’t really have a place in the world. Musically I think the song is fairly upbeat though, I’ve always really liked the juxtaposition of dark, depressing lyrics over optimistic sounding music.”

The five self-confessed fuzz-junkies from Castleford, West Yorkshire formed in the autumn of 2012 and their unique sound and DIY approach to releasing music (online as-and-when they like, sometimes before it’s even finished… streaming practices live on the web… hosting debauched release parties), coupled with growing praise for their explosive live shows, has seen them building a rabidly loyal following locally and beyond.

Allusondrug’s remaining live shows for 2014:

OCTOBER 2014 (w/ Lonely The Brave & Marmozets)
THURSDAY 9 SOUTHAMPTON TALKING HEADS
FRIDAY 10 LONDON SCALA *SOLD OUT*
SATURDAY 11 NOTTINGHAM ROCK CITY BASEMENT *SOLD OUT*
MONDAY 13 SHEFFIELD CORPORATION
TUESDAY 14 NEWCASTLE O2 ACADEMY 2
WEDNESDAY 15 BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY 3 *SOLD OUT*
THURSDAY 16 NORWICH OPEN

NOVEMBER 2014 (headline tour w/ Lyger + Forever Cult + Prom)
TUESDAY 25 MANCHESTER SOUND CONTROL
WEDNESDAY 26 GLASGOW 13th NOTE
SATURDAY 29 LEEDS THE WARDBROBE
SUNDAY 30 STOKE THE UNDERGROUND

DECEMBER 2014 (headline tour cont.)
MONDAY 01 NORWISH EPIC STUDIOS
WEDNESDAY 03 LONDON BLACK HEART
THURSDAY 04 TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM
FRIDAY 05 CARDIFF CLWB IFOR BACH

Allusondrugs are:
Jason Moules (Vocals)
Drey Pavlovic (Guitar)
Damo Hughes (Guitar/Vocals/Effects)
Jemal Malki (Bass)
Connor Fisher-Atack (Drums)

Music Cube at Westfield

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

Music Cube at Westfield was an amazing event and is set to change the way we all experience live music. Bands and music artists performing live in a clear soundproof glass cube with LED lights, sub woofers built into the flooring so you not only can see, hear but feel the performance. Listening to this via state of the art Sennheiser headphones! Now we where invited and you can experience this thought the medium I know best!….Pictures!

We drank cocktails and Champagne and ate delightful canapés

Kiss FMs DJ Melvyn Francis was there creating a fantastic atmosphere.

The most incredible band called Canvas Wall supported Professor Green. They are simply brilliant and we loved their set. We are hopping to cover more from them soon. So keep your eyes on my articles and pictures.

Then it was time for Processor Green to take to the stage and the entire place silently erupted. The oddest part of the evening was as soon as you took off the headphones it felt like an ordinary shopping centre. People gassed down on all these loonies dancing about with not a single note to be heard! Utterly brilliant and we loved every minute!!!

Green rocked and performed not only the 2 scheduled songs he was meant to perform but 5 tracks live in cube. He loved it that much!

Now you guys can experience this for yourself Westfield Stratford City from 31 October until 2 November. Head over to the website to see the lineup.

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