OK bands you know the score.....
the more hits your blog gets by the fans.....
the higher you go.....
So Tweet it, Facebook it.....
and generally expose yourself.....
Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place.
The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....
Ralph checked out London band Sisteray back in August last year when they released the single 'Take It Away. Since then they've been gigging relentlessly and have also got a new EP 'She Likes The Drama' coming out on 17th February 2014.
Ralph's pleased to announce that legendary Manchester band Dub Sex are have announced their first full set headline show for over 25 years, on Thursday 10th April at Sound Control. In 2013 the band reformed for a special fund-raising event at Manchester’s Ruby Lounge in aid of the Manchester Special Care Baby Unit which helped raise over £1600 and brought together almost 300 fans old and new.
No 3.....Puppet Rebellion
After catching a set by PUPPET REBELLION back in July last year Ralph's been sitting waiting patiently for some new material. Their last EP saw much critical acclaim and the lead track 'Chemical Friends' garnered a good many plays on Ralph's Indie Show on Radio KC
No 4..... Brynovsky
The new album from Brynovsky is the aptly titled 'Time Is Now' as it's bringing a classic yet fresh Reggae sound into 2014 melding the smooth tones of Jah (Leroy Jones) Dave with those of Scottish songstress Idana (the name picked for the Edinburgh singer by the seminal Reggae producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry).
Graham Marshall has been a singer/songwriter for over 15 years; success always eluding him. Three and a half years ago, he took matters into his own hands when he self-financed his first EP, a collection of five acoustic guitar driven songs he appropriately titled, 'Ten Years Stuck in Traffic'. Without much fanfare, Graham took to the road, something he knew a little about, to celebrate his self-released collection of music performing his way from John O'Groats to Land's End, busking his way through 18 cities in just 7 days.
It's just over a year since Ralph first took a look and had a listen to Manchester four piece The Ninth Watch. At that time they'd fairly recently formed and I caught their storming set for The Online Festival in Manchester's Dry Bar back in October of 2012. That was followed up by another top set at the Mancunia Promotions All Dayer in Barca July of 2013. It was obvious then that they were becoming a tight unit with well crafted tracks based on the Manchester music scene's rich background.
Ralph recently reviewed The Gravity Drive who are a very happily married couple whose love and devotion to each other is reflected in their music. Well they're not alone as The Mule Affair are another husband and wife team whose love shines through in their music. Anthony & Catherine Lane met in Plymouth, capital city of roundabouts. Unable to face a life spent going round in circles, they got the hell out of town, stumbled in love, got married and began singing and writing together as The Mule Affair.
Ralph played London duo Kat and Drew Five aka Feral Five the other week on his Radio KC Sunday Show to positive feedback. Describing themselves as - "raised by wolves on a diet of punk rock, disco and roots" - they've had no small amount of critical acclaim for their debut EP 'Skin' including a 9/10 review from LouderThan War who said they “might just have released the best single of 2013”. They’ve also had the nod from Alan McGee.
No 9..... Morris Quinlan Experience
As Ralph never tires of saying, it's not always about the bands...and never more so when it came to having the Ralph's Life CD for Rethink Mental Illness mastered. During the crowd funder process Morris Quinlan (who's reworking of the classic Scarborough Fair Ralph has played on Radio KC) introduced his good friend and producer Dave Maughan who offered to master the CD free of charge!
No 10.....The Mars Patrol
After successfully raising the £5,000 target on the Ralph's Life Charity CD through crowd funding I thought I'd take a look at other music crowd funder projects currently active. Scottish (but London based) six-piece Alt Pop/Rockers The Mars Patrol are currently in the middle of their second Pledge Music Campaign after successfully raising the funds for their first EP 'Young Lovers'
