cool music & things

I’ve decided to move this blog to blogger and host it myself over there, so you can find the new blog here: http://www.coolmusicandthings.co.uk

Overall, the album is refreshing and a favourite of mine so far this year, showing promise for the other upcoming post-NATW releases. You can listen to a sampler of the record above and take a look at the upcoming gigs here (mostly in London) - can’t recommend enough that you go and see the guys live if you get the chance! 

In all my excitement I forgot to post about this... but better late than never. The superb American folk-rock band Dawes have a new album, titled All Your Favourite Bands which is set to be released on June 2nd (info.) I was first introduced to the band through Mumford & Sons, as they supported them on their UK tour at the end of 2012, playing a superb set, and I’ve been desperate to see them live again ever since playing a show in their own right. Taken from the record is the first single Things Happen, which on the exterior is a fairly sad song and video, but culminates in a pretty inspiring moral - ‘things happen, that’s all they ever do’ (so get on with it!) I can't wait to hear more from this new record and hope that the band include the UK in the album touring schedule!

When they released new track Distant Past, I already had high hopes for Everything Everything’s new record, Get To Heaven (out June 15th.) These hopes were realised when I saw the band play a superb set in London earlier this month, playing 7 or 8 tracks from the new record. One of these tracks was a song called Regret which was pretty impressive live, oozing single material and showcasing the diverse singing style of the band’s lead, Jonathan Higgs. The track premiered last night on Radio 1, and you can listen to the audio above. 

I am so glad that one of the most beautiful tracks I’ve ever heard finally has an equally stunning video to accompany. The track is The Nile by the lovely Sivu featuring Rae Morris, and the video, though incredibly simplistic, is fantastic. Give your ears and eyes a treat.

I’ve recently rediscovered my love for photography, and have been taking photos at the local Sofar Sounds shows. I am keen to gain more experience with gig photography so I took my camera along to the Communion New Faces show in Oxford on Friday evening. It was a brilliant evening seeing a range of new talent in the form of Frances, Tenterhook, Charlotte OC and Freddie Dickson - an indicator of the calibre of these nights is that the last tour had Amber Run, Kimberly Anne, Fyfe and Pixel Fix on the bill, who are all now going from strength to strength with tours, albums and the like. I’m pretty chuffed with how my shots from the evening turned out, and you can see them all in an album on my Flickr here.

The band have an upcoming residency at The Islington, playing shows on 14th May, 11th June and 25th June (tickets here, £5 for each show or £12 for all three.) The first time I saw the band I was mesmerised by their performance which also featured London Contemporary Voices and London Chamber Brass, and I expect that the upcoming performances will feature equally brilliant collaborations. 

Stornoway remain on tour through to the beginning of May, dates here.

Would love if you could check out my Youtube (link above). I usually try to record a couple of songs when I go to gigs and put them up on there, so alongside this blog it is the go-to place for the artists I love. 

Behold the new video from The Maccabees for their track Marks To Prove It. Looking forward to their new record quite a bit.. gutted that their intimate London gig in March clashes with exam time!

Last night I saw the brilliant Everything Everything for the first time, playing a fairly small and quirky East London venue, Oval Space. After discovering the band through a live-stream of their performance at Glastonbury a couple of years back, I bought their second record, Arc, which quickly became a favourite. Their first record is just as great, and the set was interspersed with favourites from those, but was dominated by new tracks from upcoming Get To Heaven, including the already released crowd pleaser Distant Past. The new tracks went down a treat and for me, the record, out mid-June, can't come quick enough!

Nottingham based Sam Beeton (sambeeton) plays a support set at Notts Glee Club tonight, and his debut record, In The Yard, is released digitally tomorrow (for physical releases, go here.) Check out this video of Sam performing a new track, Hundred Reasons, exclusively for Female First.

The highlight of the evening for me was folk hip-hop band CoCo and the Butterfields. Having heard them practicing outside before the show I was looking forward to their set, and when they rocked up on stage with violin, guitar, double bass, banjo, saxophone and a beatboxer.. my high hopes were ready to be realised. They played a really fun set and the audience seemed to enjoy it, particularly their opening track, a cover of Gym Class Heroes’ Cupid’s Chokehold. They’re touring across the UK in April/May, dates here, I implore you to take a listen!

Bringing these guys back, Canadian indie rock band Half Moon Run performing Unofferable for The Wild Honey Pie. After buying their record Dark Eyes on a sale-related whim, I was quick to fall in love with their beautiful sound, particularly the harmonies. Really looking forward to hearing the new music they’ve been working on, and the next time they play some shows in the UK - consider me there!

Love this shot I got of Sam on a photoshoot we had together a couple of years ago for a coursework project I was completing at the time. Hoping to get an opportunity to shoot with Sam again soon! 

Sivu contines touring until the end of the month with dates in Nottingham, Coventry, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Gateshead, Bournemouth, Ramsgate and Brighton, and what promises to be a superb London show on the 24th March. Tickets and info for all the shows here.