“…catnip for fans of Protomartyr or The Fall…” The Ransom Note
The current wave of UK punk continues apace. Italia 90 have caught our eye a few times over the past couple of years, so we’re very pleased to finally be able to bring them to the club.
“…Very much rate this, and certainly don’t think that Wire, Alternative TV, Sauna Youth and Institute’s Catharsis LP are excessively flattering reference points…” The Quietus
“…The sound this four piece create, recalls those early Wire recordings, Joy Division cassettes and Gang of Four bootlegs at least one mate would own having sneaked a cassette recorder into the venue to record and listen to a few weeks later….” Louder Than War
After the success of his first release, ‘Can’t Shake These Demons’ it was clear that Edinburgh, Scotland laid claim to the UK’s newest hip hop sensation. White Keef is an artist with a life that he is trying to turn around while not shying away from discussing, eloquently conveying his past and current struggles through his music in the hope for better days.
Mistah Bohze is considered to be a Scottish Hip Hop legend. Often cited as a ‘pioneer’, Bohze is a founding member of the now legendary II Tone Committee (1987) and has been making and performing music across Europe for over 30 years. Regardless of age, due to his years of experience, Bohze is often quoted as being ‘the best live Hip Hop performer in the country’ and his latest ‘One Man Band’ style Hip Hop show incorporates all the elements of Hip Hop Music into one high octane, high wire ‘masterclass’…..without safety nets, before your very eyes.
NOVA is a Rap vocal project, a way to vent frustrations, boast achievements and Express wants for the future. Over selected beats of grime, bass and hip-hop nature.
Merry Xmas, Tour Is Over… Not For The Luka State. Having played almost 100 shows in 2019, the boys are back in earnest in 2020. Their angsty, sweaty, melody filled rock’n’roll is the perfect antidote to the winter blues.
The brazen and effortlessly cool duo Nova Twins are comprised of the bassist Georgia South and vocalist Amy Love.
Taking inspiration from all sonic corners via bands like N.E.R.D., Jack White, Missy Elliot, Princess Nokia and Rihanna, the best friends have captured fans of all demographics with their high-octane approach.
Eastbourne is most commonly known as a retirement hub; an eden for the elderly, where life goes to notch down a gear. But just one listen to East-born and bred ROAM and it’s clear that not everyone in the southern town got the memo.
Though barely out of their college years, the quintet have made heady progress since their formation in September 2012, notching up a self released mini album, ‘No Common Ground’ (November 2012), and getting stuck into the national gigging circuit with commitment and rambunctious enthusiasm.
Their breakneck pace shows no sign of arresting either, with a sophomore release, 5 track mini-album ‘Head Down’ slated for release less than a year after its predecessor.
Positively bursting with infectious guitar licks and the kind of vocal hooks you may as well resign yourself to humming at regular intervals for the foreseeable future, ‘Head Down’ is a further leap for ROAM in their seemingly unstoppable forward march.
“Since we put out ‘…Common Ground’ we’ve been continually writing, trying out new songs live and changing parts until we felt the new songs were what we wanted,” says guitarist/vocalist Alex Adam; “Head Down is a collection of the best of those songs. We put a lot into them, and we think it shows.”
Completed by lead vocalist Costello, guitarist Sam Veness, bassist Matt Roskilly and drummer Charlie Pearson, ROAM have teamed up with Leeds based DIY label Pinky Swear Records (Neck Deep, Your Demise, Nai Harvest) for the physical release of ‘Head Down’.
“There’s a lot of people willing to sit back and let everything happen for them (or not as the case may be), and then they complain about the situation they’re in,” says Alex; “A lot of this EP is inspired by that bad mindset; it’s all about getting your head down and trying to do stuff yourself.”
Flexible punk wordage & rickety lo-fi guitar vocabulary, coupled with cinematic organ fills is exactly what Cheap Teeth dispense. Their image projects that of the early 70s punk and post-punk scene of New York yet is alloyed with some Western garage rock influences of the 90s and late 00s. Erratic soundscapes are accessories to the focused songwriting and poised lyrical verse which encapsulate patrons at a stroke.
The band’s first release of ‘Fly on the Wall/The Vicar’s Fingers’ received critical acclaim from the likes of NME labelling them “deliciously grim”. This was certainly a direct result of having recorded the tracks at Glasgow’s Green Door Studio with ‘Sweaty Palm’ Ronan Fay twitching the faders. Following on from their debut release, Cheap Teeth returned to Green Door’s velveteen walls, purloining the 70s once more, and releasing ‘Ageless (Half The Devil)’. The strain gallops and drives you through 3 and half minute location that yearns to be frequently revisited.
The band’s live spectre is what might be most enthralling. Replicating their racket, a Cheap Teeth performance consists of every good vintage gig proverb. Their live energy & intoxicating demeanour has led to them supporting the likes of Hinds & Sports Team which speaks volumes for the vigour being showcased. Beginning to now navigate the UK, the band are at the start of a compelling period whereby all as described and more are to be personally delivered to growing assemblages who won’t neglect in increasing.
Carla J. Easton makes pop music. Dreamy, lush and inescapable. Songs you’ll hear one day and still be humming a week later. Songs to dance to. Songs to drive to. Songs that make you wanna sing along.
First with Myspace-kids Futuristic Retro Champions, then with SAY longlisted TeenCanteen, then under the alias ETTE, before her first solo album Impossible Stuff, her tunes have seen her championed by Marc Riley, play festivals across the UK, and earn a growing number of dedicated fans.
With her sharp-dressed, white-hot band, her Dreamers on the Run, 2018 saw her release the SAY shortlisted Impossible Stuff. Working with Arcade Fire and British Sea Power producer Howard Bilerman, it’s a record that mixes analog synths, sparkling brass and Spector-esque strings with Easton’s finely tuned ear for a hook. ‘Lights in the Dark’ was Record of the Day. ‘Dreamer on the Run’ was Guardian Track of the Week. ‘Wanting What I Can’t Have’ was BBC Scotland Single of the Week. It’s a record that cuts through like the sun bursting through a storm.
A third album is in the works, with help from PRS Foundation’s Women Make Music Fund. It can’t come soon enough.
Glasgow 3-piece Cloth are a proper Sneaks favourite of the last year and we’re so excited to host them for Independent Venue Week alongside pals Last Night From Glasgow.
Cloth make angular alt-rock, cut through with deep electronic grooves. They’ve been picked up by BBC Radio 6 and Radio 1, playing on the BBC Introducing stage at Latitude this year, as well as selling out the CCA for their debut album launch. The album itself is an absolute belter!
