Sneaky Pete's

POP EXCHANGE is a series of gigs organised by Jack and the’, in which they invite what they think are exciting “pop” bands to Edinburgh to present their music and to join them on stage for a musical collaboration.

POP EXCHANGE #1 features the French band Orwell, which made quite a splash in 2009 with their first UK release ‘Le génie humain’, garnering glowing reviews in Mojo, The Sunday Times, and The Express to name a few. Composed by Jérôme Didelot, their sophisticated pop has been compared to the likes of Stereolab and The High Llamas. Orwell will present their new album ‘Continental’, entirely sung in English and freshly released in March 2011 by Folkwit Records, in an intriguing duet (expect vibraphone, bass, guitar, keyboards, live looping and unusual instruments such as the stylophone).

Edinburgh-based band Jack and the’ released their first album “Vacation” in 2007 via the label Smallroom Records, combining 60s’ melodies with elaborated rhythms and song structures. Led by Julien Lonchamp, the band is currently finishing a second album that sees them venturing into the fields of orchestral pop. Clarinet, saxophone, trombone, vibraphone, banjo or sitar populate this new sound, somewhere between pop, classical and jazz. Jack and the’ will be accompanied on stage by members of the Apostrophe Ensemble (flute and violin).

FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS are rising from the ashes of Epic26 to bring upbeat synth/pop goodness to the ears of Edinburgh’s downtrodden proletariat. Throw off the shackles of the working week and bust a move to these driving beatz from this energetic 4 piece.

Newcastle synth/rock movers and shakers ABDUCTION OF MARGARET bring their whirlwind beat driver dance rock to Edinburgh for the second time with Bainbridge.

With band in tow, you won’t get a better Lo-fi Electronica experience than SACRE NOIR in Edinburgh than when Carrie’s on her game. With a soulful, at times haunting voice backed by solid beat, this group are worth the entry fee alone. If you like Massive Attack, you will LOVE Sacre Noir.

Thomas Tantrum is a four piece from Southampton. They’ve already made waves this year with their spell-binding live shows and can be compared to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, PJ Harvey, Bjork, Sonic Youth and The Ting Tings.

Thomas Tantrum has continued to bloom since their tour with Glasvegas and The Futureheads. They are set to become one of this year’s hottest new bands.

After the success of his recent EP, electronic producer Brenmar has shaped his energetic sound over clever uses of samples from r’n’b goddesses like Aaliyah and Cassie to bands like Blondes. Chicago-born and Brooklyn-based, he’s been spoilt for musical influences in his life such as old school house sounds which you can hear in each of his tracks. Alongside his ‘At It Again’ debut EP out early November on Discobelle Records (offspring of the eponymous Swedish super-blog), he also has a truckload of songs on the way plus two remixes by upcoming acts Hyperdub’s Ikonika & Optimum and DJ Rashad in the works. With solo EP’s set for release next year on Sinden’s Grizzly imprint and Ikonika’s Hum & Buzz label, he’s been pretty busy whilst working on collaborative EPs with LA-based duo Nguzunguzu and lairy house producer Dubbel Dutch.

Talons are an instrumental band, who call the backwater town of Hereford their home. Forging explosive energy, delicate subtleties and fractured song structures, Talons possess a fascinating sense of urgency and drive, with a sound that both soothes and savages in equal measure.

Talons are not a post-rock band, nor are they a math rock band. Talons, are Talons. The six-piece are best experienced in a live environment, where the visceral, raw energy of their music can be fully appreciated.

JULIAN LYNCH has played in bands with the future members of Real Estate, Titus Andronicus and Underwater Peoples Records. He has worked for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. He has recorded and released three CD-R’s under his given name in 2009 and 2010, Olde English Spelling Bee released two LPs, Orange You Glad and Mare, respectively.
“[Mare] is a major creative step forward for Lynch, whose absorbing ambient pop sounds prove how refreshing this kind of subtlety can be. That’s an easy sentiment to embrace.” – Pitchfork

DUCKTAILS is the one-man psychedelic pop project of Matthew Mondanile, guitarist for North Jersey’s Real Estate and more importantly, a proud son of the mid-1980s. Categorised as part of the ‘hypnagogic pop’ movement, Ducktails attempts to realise a shared cultural memory and nostalgia through various genres, drone, psych, music concrete, etc.
“It’s clear that the moving of time is a thing that still torments Mondanile’s thoughts and in turn his music takes you on a journey as fading memories coincide with the rise and fall of reverb and vocals.” – The Line of Best Fit
“Like the bastard child of Panda Bear and Air France” —The Guardian

New Jersey’s BIG TROUBLES play a loud and dreamy strain of guitar-pop, whose releases for labels like Olde English Spelling Bee and Underwater Peoples have been described as “a dreamy, head spinning blast of fuzzed-out bliss. …totally damaged and beautiful, Big Troubles grab the reverbed-out U.S. underground and rip it a new one. gotta be heard to be understood.” – Rough Trade