The Travelling Band – Hands Up EP and new video

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Impact Date: 6th May 2013 

Label: Sideways Saloon

 

The Travelling Band return with a new EP, ‘Hands Up’ and it serves up a taste of what’s to come. Original ingredients are maintained, intricate guitar lines and infectious rhythms interact with expansive chord structures and subtle tempo changes.

The EP is available on a ‘pay what you want’ basis here: http://thetravellingband.bandcamp.com

Having spent the first half of 2012 writing followed by a summer of UK and European festival dates, the group successfully crowd-funded their new album  ‘The Big Defreeze’ via Pledge Music, and quickly hit their target thanks to their enthusiastic fan-base. The new album, was produced by multi platinum selling producer Iestyn Polson (David Gray, Patti Smith, David Bowie, Simple Kid), recorded at the turn of the year at The Church Studios in Crouch End, London.

The video is directed by Rudy Riveron Sanchez from AlmostFilm Productions. He said “The character is interacting with the natural elements each, fire, air, water and responding to the song…visually poetic and atmospheric

The guys are in the middle of a successful 24-date UK tour, which was preceded by a live session on Marc Riley’s BBC 6 Music show on Monday February 25th.

 

The Travelling Band are:
Jo Dudderidge (Vocals, Guitars, Keys)
Adam Gorman (Vocals, Guitars, Keys)
Steve Mullen (Lead Guitar, Vocals)
Chris Spencer (Bass)
Nick Vaal (Drums)

TOUR DATES – MARCH 2013

Wed 20: Oxford, Jericho Tavern
Thurs 21: Southampton, Cellar
Fri 22: Brighton, Green Door Store
Sat 23: Guildford, Boileroom
Sun 24: Tunbridge Wells, Forum
Tue 26: London, Lexington
Wed 27: Norwich, Arts Centre
Thurs 28: Cambridge, Portland Arms
Fri 29: Crewe, Box*
Sat 30: Hull, Adelphi

Support from Ellen & The Escapades except where indicated.
*THE TRAVELLING BAND ONLY

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Straw Bear Continue To Pick Up Rave Reviews

As if recieving plays from BBC Radio 2‘s Whispering Bob Harris, Dermot O’Leary, and 6 Music‘s Tom Robinson, Absolute Radio’s Geoff Lloyd, Xfm’s John Kennedy…  wasn’t enough, Straw Bear continue to attract breathless praise.

This time, it’s from the respected Rock ‘n’ Reel magazine, who gave their new album, Black Bank, a five star review:

R2 review

The first single from the album, “Kitty,” is released on March 11th 2013

Straw Bear On Bob Harris’ BBC Radio 2 Show

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Legendary radio DJ Bob Harris raves about Straw Bear‘s “Kitty” on his BBC Radio 2 show on Sunday 17th February 2013.


The band are booked in for a Tom Robinson session on BBC Radio 6 Music on 9th March – Bob said that this is “definitely a date to put in the diary.”

“Kitty” is released on March 11th 2013. 

Straw Bear – Kitty

Straw Bear band line up

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Impact date: 11th March

What does it take to write a great song? It’s a question Straw Bear ask on their new single Kitty and the reaction from BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris and BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson, among others, suggests they have the answer already.

Bob played them – and Tom booked them for a session – the moment they heard the song. Tom called Kitty an “understated gem” and booked the band for a live BBC session on March 9th.

Kitty is a story of unrealised artistic ambition set to soaring folk-pop that has seen the Cambridgeshire five-piece tipped for big things.

A New Band A Day named Straw Bear as one to watch in 2013, describing Kitty as “a hook-laden song of near-perfect pace, delicious construction, delightful lyrics and sweet intent”.

The influential blog then went on to select Kitty for BBC 6 Music’s Ultimate 2013 Playlist.

The band draws on influences from Van Morrison to Kevin Shields, both of whom are name-checked by the eponymous Kitty in her journey for creative inspiration.

Straw Bear comprise of singer-guitarist Ian Ray, guitarists Chris Gray, Tom Shipp and Catie Wicks and drummer Pas Stratos.

They recorded Kitty with Chris Taylor of The Bays, at his studio in the remote Fens, and its parent album Black Bank is full of eerie Fenland melancholia and alt-country vistas.

www.strawbear.com
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Music for Cities – Tim Burgess, Peter Hook, Puressence…

Tim Burgess, Peter Hook and Puressence will play a SOLD OUT unique concert at Manchester Cathedral on Thursday November 15th. The evening is called ‘Music for Cities’ and is a charity concert to help young people living on some of the area’s most disadvantaged estates of Greater Manchester.

Tim will be will be accompanied by musicians from the Chetham’s School of Music, alongside bandmate Mark Collins (The Charlatans) on guitar, Martin Duffy from Primal Scream on keyboards and the musical arrangements have been created especially by the celebrated local composer Joe Duddell. Tim says “We heard about the plans at Manchester Cathedral and it was too good to miss. Such an iconic venue and a brilliant idea for a gig, I love gigs in churches but the Cathedral is another notch up. Normally the atmosphere is helped along by the audience enjoying a drink beforehand. I take it there’ll be some altar wine for everyone.”

The night also includes a one off chance to hear Peter Hook and the Light perform the mesmerising music of Joy Division’sUnknown Pleasures,’ to the haunting backing of a 16 piece choir put together specially by Choral Director Greg Batsleer. Hooky’s set is being arranged by film and theatre composer Alex Baranowski. Peter commented “There’s a real detachment from local government in some of these areas. It’s wonderful that local people are being given the opportunity to rise to the challenges. The fact the inspiration for this concert is coming from within these communities is truly awe inspiring. Joy Division’s music is grandiose – just imagine how atmospheric it will sound with those acoustics and the choir.”

Fans of Manchester band Puressence are also in for a treat, listening to the soulful voice of lead singer Jimmy Mudriczki with the choir as part of a full band performance in the 800 year old Cathedral setting.

The line up will be completed by Norway’s Silvert Hoyem and Bad Lieutenant’s Jake Evans, making this an incredible evening of music.

Clare Moreland, the head at Chetham’s School of Music says: “Music for Cities is a superb opportunity for the musicians of Chetham’s to work with some very well known names in the popular music world, sharing their skills and inspiring other young people who are performing and watching the concert.”

Joe Duddell, Professor of Music at Bath Spa University says: “Music enriches all our lives and is not just the preserve of the privileged. For Chets to engage in outreach projects in more disadvantaged communities in and around Manchester and Salford is great. The other charity beneficiaries, United Estates of Wythenshawe and Reclaim directly engage disadvantaged youngsters in creative projects, giving them a vital form of self-expression and keeping them off the streets and away from drugs and gun crime. Some of these youngsters will be performing on stage between the major acts.”

7.00pm Doors Open

7.20pm Jake Evans

7.45pm Sivert Høyem

8.20pm Puressence

9.10pm Peter Hook & The Light

10.05pm Tim Burgess
11.00pm Curfew

All profits will be split three ways; between the charities Reclaim, and the United Estates of Wythenshawe and Chetham’s School of Music.

Reclaim has won many awards both nationally and locally and is now recognised as one of the core projects delivering quality youth opportunities across Greater Manchester. The project is about helping young people build self confidence and reliance on their own inherent talents that even they may not have realised.

United Estates of Wythenshawe are a charity and social enterprise based who help young people to build opportunity, confidence and sustainable futures that do not involve gang membership, violence or substance abuse.

Chetham’s School of Music will use their share of the profits to help fund their new School Building – an incredible new resource for the city of Manchester where there will be free concerts for the public, a new Outreach and Community Centre to benefit children and adults from all backgrounds and abilities across the region and beyond, and a Music Technology Centre with facilities for everyone too.

Joe Duddell is the composer behind the celebrated collaboration between Elbow and The Hallé for Manchester International Festival back in 2009, and recent broadcast of Richard Hawley & BBC Philharmonic Orchestra on BBC 6 Music. He has also worked with Jimi Goodwin (Doves), James and dubstep pioneers Nero. Joe is also a classical composer with commissions from The BBC Proms.

Alex Baranowski is a film, theatre and dance composer who has worked with the likes of Danny Boyle on Frankenstein, Nicholas Hynter on Hamlet and Ballet Black at The Royal Opera House. Alex recently branched out into the pop world with ‘The xx Symphony’ – a collaboration between The xx and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.