Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad are a Rochester (New York) based quintet who define themselves as practitioners of 'Psychedelic Roots Music'. Formed in 2006, GPGDS are famed for their live shows (750+ so far) recordings of which are often uploaded to the Internet Archive.
Shakedown Festival returns to Brighton for a second year and is set to bring some of the most exciting names in contemporary music to the UK's party capital. As the last festival of the year (26th October), Shakedown provides an opportunity to party for one last time in the luscious green surroundings of Stanmer Park.
The first name announced for 2012 is the irrepressible Dizzee Rascal who headlines the main stage. The ultimate showman whose pop sensibilities seamlessly fuse Grime, House and Hip-hop, Dizzee Rascal ensures rapturous responses from audiences and arrives with a sack load of number 1 hits including Dance Wiv Me, Bonkers, Holiday and Dirtee Disco. Said Dizzee;
"Been a while since I last played in Brighton. Looking forward to Shakedown, it's gonna be massive this year!"
Last year's program saw 10,000 festival revellers have the time of their lives with top flight performances by the likes of Ed Sheeran, 2manydjs, Example, Krafty Kuts, Kissy Sell Out, Freemasons and taste maker extraordinaire Zane Lowe.
It has come to my attention lately that bands with just two members are emerging left right and centre onto the music scene. After spending some time pondering this developing phenomenon, I ask myself, why? Perhaps the age old saying is true: Are two heads really better than one?
Tickets for Soundgarden show at this summer's Hard Rock Calling festival in London go onsale today (March 30th).
The Grunge band, who recently reunited, will also perform at this summer's Download Festival, joining Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon in headlining the event.
Hard Rock Calling is set to run from July 13th – 15th, with Soundgarden headlining the opening night, Springsteen the second night and Paul Simon closing the show on July 15th. Simon will be performing his classic album Graceland in its entirety.
Tom Jones is set to release his new Ethan Johns produced album, Spirit In The Room on May 21st.
As well as appearing as a coach on the new TV show, The Voice, the singer has also been busy preparing the follow-up to his 2010 release, Praise And Blame, which saw Jones re-visit the Gospel and R n'B influences of his youth. This time, he's back with Spirit In The Room.
Following in the same vein as his previous release, with the help of producer Ehtan Johns, he tackles a blend of traditional material with reworked classics by legendary artists including Richard Thompson, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney.
Jones' band features some familiar faces with Richard Causon on vintage keyboards, piano & guitars, Warpaint's Stella Mozgawa on drums, and Ian Jennings and Sam Dixon on bass.
Spirit In The Room opens with a version of Leonard Cohen's Tower Of Song and ends with a new interpretation of Charlie Darwin by The Low Anthem. An extended version of the album will also feature versions of Just Dropped in, Lone Pilgrim and When The Deal Goes Down.
Tom Jones will release Spirit In The Room on May 21st. Track listing:
There’s a two-day Rock and Pomp festival happening at Crystal Palace Park Bowl this summer.
Known as The Crystal Palace Garden Party, the event is set to take place on Saturday, June the 23rd and Sunday, June 24th.
Prog Rock musician and former YES member, Rick Wakeman, will be headlining the first day and will be joined by Hawkwind, Focus, The Strawbs and Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash.
Wakeman played the festival back in 1974 along with Procol Harum, Leo sayer and Gryphon. Tickets were just £2.75 in advance and £3.00 on the day, and a programme of event was just 20p!
The second day of the festival is the Jubilee Proms, with the London Gala Symphony Orchestra.
To find out more, visit www.crystalpalacegardenparty.com.
28/03/12 – The Old Blue Last, Shoreditch.
Last night, I travelled to Shoreditch to meet Sam Watkins (drums & vocals) & Laurie Foster (guitar) of Playlounge.
David Bowie landmark album, Ziggy Stardust, was celebrated with a blue plaque in central London.
Former Spandau Ballet memeber, Gary Kemp, who is a longstanding fan of the pioneering musician, unveiled the plaque at the site where the cover of the 1972 release was shot. Kemp became hooked after seeing Bowie in his Ziggy persona on Top Of The Pops, and described him as a "Messianic rock star". The location was that of Heddon Street, just off Regent Street - now a pedestrianised area.
The album, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, was Bowie's defining album, helping to establish him as one of the world's best known rock stars. Although the record only featured one top 10 hit, Starman, it premiered his new image and established him as a visionary of the generation.
The famous album cover was shot in January 1972, five months before the record release, by photographer Brian Ward. Bowie was wearing a green jumpsuit which he later wore for a performance on the the BBC's The Old Grey Whistle Test. Bowie said that the shoot "was cold and it rained and I felt like an actor."
Aerosmith have announced the first details of their Global Warming Tour.
Yesterday the band, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer, held a press conference in Los Angeles to confirm a run of American shows, which will kick off on June the 16th in Minneapolis and run to Tacoma on August 8th.
Frontman, Tyler, has briefed fans on what they can expect from the shows:
"Well, we’ve been underground for four months doing what we do best, and we’ve been known to set the world on fire with our type of music, for the last couple of years, to say the least. So, we decided to call this The Global Warming Tour, and come from under the hood, to tell you all that we’ve got a new album and a new tour."
Tickets are on sale now.
Blur's Graham Coxon, plus Baxter Dury and many more have just been added to the line up of 'Live From Jodrell Bank'. Held in the shadow of the observatory's giant radio telescope, Live From Jodrell Bank is obviously a unique experience. Returning to Cheshire this summer, the inventive concert series will be headlined by Paul Weller and Elbow.
Tickets went on sale earlier this year, with fans rushing to snap up passes. Now the organisers of the event have extended the bill, with the support acts for Paul Weller now being confirmed. Graham Coxon will join the line up, following the release of his new album A+E. The Blur guitarist is set to complete a lengthy British tour this Spring, and should arrive at Jodrell Bank with a re-energised live show. Graham Coxon will also be joined at Jodrell Bank by Baxter Dury and Little Barrie.
The concert is dominated by the figure of Paul Weller, whose new album Sonik Kicks entered the British charts at number one. For his part, the seminal artist had the following to say:
"I’m excited to play Jodrell Bank, it’s always good to perform in unique places and this will be the most unique of them all! It’s going to be a great show in a great space-age setting."
A family oriented event, Live From Jodrell Bank have also lined up a number of hands-on science workshops, lectures and experiments. Tickets for Elbow's show have sold out, with only a few passes remaining for the Paul Weller concert. Dates and headliners as follows:
This year’s Sonisphere Festival has been cancelled.
The event was to take place at Knebworth Park from July the 6th-8th, with headliners KISS, Faith No More and Queen, but a statement on the official website has confirmed the festival’s cancellation. The statement reads as follows:
"Putting the festival together in what is proving to be a very challenging year was more difficult than we anticipated and we have spent the last few months fighting hard to keep Sonisphere in the calendar. Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that we would be unable to run the festival to a standard that both the artists and that Sonisphere’s audience would rightly expect."
"We want to express our deepest regrets to the artists and to thank all the staff, suppliers and contractors who worked so hard with us to try and pull off what has proven to be an impossible task and we know how much they share in our disappointment. We also want to send a huge thanks to the Sonisphere fans who stuck by us and we are so sorry that we can’t fulfil what we set out to do."
It has also been confirmed that ticket holders will automatically receive a full refund direct from their ticket agents.
flying colors (mascot music)
Flying Colors have taken the idea of a Super Group to the next level. Including the talents of Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Dave LaRue (bass), Neal Morse (keyboards, vocals), Casey McPherson (lead vocals, guitar), and Steve Morse (lead guitar), expectations for this record are high.
in time to voices (v2 records)
Brighton duo, Blood Red Shoes, are back with their latest 'coming of age' record. Building on their punk rock roots, their third release, In Time To Voices encapsulates heavy rock and raucous riffs, as well as sensitive, sweeping melodies and soundscapes.
Blur frontman Damon Albarn has premiered the first single from his upcoming Dr. Dee opera, The Marvelous Dream. The track is taken from Damon's upcoming solo release, putting aside his many side-projects in favour of something a little more subtle.
The mellow track will most likely be welcomed by Blur fans, as it sounds a lot like the legendary indie band at their most reflective.
Damon recently came under fire from former Streets frontman Mike Skinner who claimed:
"Damon Albarn needs to stop, [his music is] a bit mad. Elder musicians can look ridiculous trying to keep up with the kids."
The Marvelous Dream is anything but mad, and is 'one in the eye for Skinner with the tracks maturity and sobriety'. The video is accompanied by a lingering shot of John Dee House, a block of council flats named after the same mathematician on which Albarn's opera is based.
Blur are set to perform at London's Hyde Park this summer.
A rather international selection of new tracks comprising this week's 'Staff Picks' from the Gigseen TV office ... New music featuring from Tanlines (Brooklyn), Mord Fustang (Tallinn), Eagulls (Leeds), and Oh Margot! (Santiago).
The Hop Farm Festival has announced it's headline acts for this year's line-up in July.
Taking place in Paddock Wood, Kent, on June the 29th, 30th and 1st of July, the Hop Farm Festival has got some brilliant headline acts, set to include exclusive UK appearances from Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel and The New Blood Orchestra and Suede.
Other names on the list include Damien Rice, Primal Scream, My Morning Jacket, Maximo Park, Patti Smith, The Stranglers, Joan Armatrading, Billy Ocean, The Jezabels, Lianna La Havas, Slow Club, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Tom Vek, White Denim, Lucy Rose, Dog Is Dead and many more!
The festival also features a well-renowned comedy stage, as well as an acoustic stage and the quaintly named, Buskers Boulevard.
The Hop Farm began life back in 2008 and saw the beautiful Kent countryside transformed into a musical wonderland, featuring performances from neil Young, Rufus Wainwright and Laura Marling. Jump back to present day, and the Hop Farm Festival has grown into a place for avid music fans, priding itself on its 'No branding, no sponsership, no registration', policy.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday 28th March) at 9am.
Soul icon, Bobby Womack, is recovering in hospital after being diagnosed with colon cancer.
Womack has established himself as a true icon of American music, his influence causing ripples far beyond the soul and R&B circles. Sadly, though, as well as undergoing treatment for pneumonia, the news recently was broken that Womack has also been diagnosed with colon cancer.
Close friend, Bootsy Collins, had been visiting Bobby Womack in hospital and later announced the shocking news. Updates were posted over the weekend, with Collins writing personally:
"Send Prayers & Love Vibes Up for Bobby Womack. He is Fighting Pneumonia in the Hospital Now. Will Update After I talk to Him. Thx u all."
He later announced:
"I just spoke to our friend Bobby Womack. He wanted you all to know that he loves you & thxs for the Prayers. Docs says he is in 1st stage of colon cancer, he is very up beat about his future, we laughed & joked before we hung up. Thxs Funkateers, we will get him Back on the One!"
It was only last year that Womack underwent treatment for prostate cancer in between Working with Damon Albarm and Richard Russell on a new album, The Bravest Man In The Universe, which will be released on June 11th.
Listen to the new track Please Forgive My Heart.
The full run-down of what's happening in the world of upcoming live listings, new CD/DVD releases and the schedule for new additions to Gigseen's video portfolio, including our free-to-view 'Gig of the Week'.
Filmed in High Definition in Amsterdam on Toto's 25th Anniversary Tour in 2003, this stunning concert captures the band at their very best, reunited with original vocalist Bobby Kimball.
Aretha Franklin celebrated her 70th birthday this weekend and took the decision to reunite with her former mentor, record executive Clive Davis, for a new album.
During the soul star's party in New York on Saturday night, Franklin announced in a brief interview that she had signed a new contract with Sony Music Entertainment, where Davis serves as Chief Creative Officer. Davis originally signed Franklin to Arista Records during her career slump in the Eighties, a decision that caused Franklin's career to be reinvigorated and helped to define his.
Their partnership during the Eighties yielded a number of hit albums including 1980's Aretha, 1982's Jump to It and 1985's Who's Zoomin Who?
The pair are set to meet in the next month to talk over material to include on the new album, so watch this space.
Franz Ferdinand have announced an intimate set of shows for May.
Franz Ferdinand are currently working on new material for their fourth studio album and are set to play three shows in the Republic Of Ireland before they start a busy summer of festival appearances.
The short stint of shows will begin on May the 18th at Galway's Roisin Dubh, before moving onto Limerick's Dolan's venue on May the 19th and finally Cork Pavilion on May the 20th.
The Band haven't played a billed gig for more than two years, but are preparing for their live comeback this summer which will include dates at Primavera Sound, Berlin Festival, Osheaga festival, Open'er fesival and London's Field Day.
The Scots' last release was back in 2009 with Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, however, the band have confirmed that they'll be previewing material from their new studio album on the tour.
Franz Ferdinand will play:
Alternative rockers Garbage have today announced a string of Summer UK dates to follow their already sold-out show at London's Troxy. It's been a while coming but now Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Steve Marker and Duke Erikson are back and are releasing new album Not Your Kind Of People on May 15th on their very own Stunvolume record label.
Garbage, who reformed back in February 2010, have already unveiled a new single Blood For Poppies. The new track was available on www.garbage.com as a free download for one week only. Speaking about the track, Garbage commented:
"We decided to give the track to our fans first. We've always had the most amazingly loyal fans, and we wanted to show them just how much they mean to us by setting it free to them first."
Not Your Kind Of People will be released in both a Standard and a Deluxe edition. Garbage will hit the road later this year in support of the album with the following dates:
Tickets for July Garbage shows are on sale from this Friday at 9am.
Sigur Rós have announced full details of their new studio album Valtari, which will be released in May.
Icelanders, Sigur Rós have now returned from an 'indefinite hiatus', and are set to release the follow-up to 2008's Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust on May the 28th. The record features a total of seven tracks, but the band yet to confirm whether they will be releasing any songs ahead of the album's full release.
Sigur Rós' last release was Inni back in November; a concert film and live album documenting the group's final two shows of their last world tour at London's Alexandra Palace. The band are also gearing up to play their first UK show for four years at this summer's Bestival in September, and are also booked for festivals in Canada, France, Japan and Ireland.
Listen to Inni, below:
The tracklisting for Valtari is as follows:
Michael Jackson's former home could be purchased by Robbie Williams. The mansion where Michael died is on the market with an asking price of $23 million and the Take That singer has allegedly been spotted looking at the home as the first prospective buyer. TMZ reported;
"Our spies saw Robbie roll up to the house Thursday afternoon in his Range Rover."
Robbie has an estimated net worth of $149 million and owns a home in Beverly Hills which he bought for $16 million in 2008. He also purchased a house down the road to use as a soccer field. Representatives for the star declined to comment on whether he was making an offer on Michael's house.
Michael's Holmby Hills home is 17,000 square feet with seven bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. The property went on sale last Monday with the realtor's website describing it as the centrepiece of an "elegant and sophisticated French chateau estate". It includes its own movie theatre, a gym, a pool and 12 working fireplaces.
"The estate... offers a glamorous theatre for screenings in a grand style, a magnificent wine cellar and tasting room, elevator, a spacious spa with gym, and an elegant guesthouse, [as well as an] expansive pool and gardens."
The contents of the home were sold at auction in December. The bed was not included in the sale at request of the late singer's family.
Seems like our weekly Gigseen Featured Music series is on a trek northwards. New Build from London, Arbor Lights from the Midlands and this week: Wakefield's The Spills. Expect something Scottish next week and then we'll be checking whether the seagulls on Rockall have knocked out any banging tunes recently.
You may have read our previous posts about the fantastic Station Sessions - we love what they're doing - and now, The Station Sessions Festival is returning to St Pancras International and is on track to entertain the millions of music fans, commuters and tourists visiting the station this spring.
Rod Stewart is to perform live with the Faces for the first time in 19 years, drummer Kenney Jones has revealed. The band will play a short set when they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, on 14th April.
It will be the first time the surviving members of the group (Stewart, Jones, guitarist Ron Wood and keyboard player Ian McLagan) have played together in public since Stewart received a lifetime achievement honour at the Brit Awards in 1993. Recent Faces reunions have seen Mick Hucknall singing the band's legendary hits. Jones commented;
"Contrary to what some people might think, we're all still great mates and we've never said we wouldn't play together again. We all had dinner about a month ago and decided that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame would be the perfect time and place."
"The last time we rehearsed together was about three years ago at a little place in Bermondsey, the same place where we used to rehearse back in the '70s, just to see if the magic was still there – and it was. We ended up not doing anything more for a couple of reasons, including Rod's busy solo schedule and his Vegas commitments, which is why we brought in Mick for a few dates."
McLagan went into more detail as to why those rehearsals came to nought:
"The thing is that Rod's voice isn't what it was, he had surgery on his vocal cords a few years ago and it's changed the way he sings."
"We basically had to re-learn all the songs in different keys to accommodate Rod. Ron Wood had to put heavier strings on his guitar and tune everything down, and we all agreed that it just wasn't the same. That's not to say we'll never play with Rod again, never say never; if at some point in the future he's really up for it, and we can all get comfortable with the changes to the songs, there's no reason for us not to get back out there."
Jones wouldn't reveal the specific contents of the group's three-song set at the induction, but said it would comprise two Faces tracks and an earlier hit by the Small Faces, who are also being inducted.
"As to whether we'll do anything else after the Hall Of Fame show, we'll just have to see how it goes. I'd like to think there's more to come, although it depends how everyone's individual schedules are shaping up. But we're all really looking forward to getting up on stage again, it's been far too long."
Singer/songwriter Carole King has been selected by Broadcast Music International (BMI) as their Icon for 2012. She will be honored on May 15 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel during the 60th annual BMI Pop Awards.
As a BMI songwriting Icon, Carole King will join a list that includes John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, James Brown, Dolly Parton, and others. An all-star lineup will pay tribute to King at the ceremony
King’s songwriting career ignited with Don Kirshner's Aldon Music in the early 60s. With writing partner and then-husband Gerry Goffin, King topped charts with Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, then Take Good Care of My Baby. A flood of hits followed: Loco-Motion, One Fine Day, Pleasant Valley Sunday, Up on the Roof, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, He Hit Me (And it Felt Like a Kiss) and more.
When she released Tapestry in 1971, So Far Away, It’s Too Late, I Feel the Earth Move and You’ve Got a Friend (also recorded by James Taylor) earned King four Grammys. To date, more than 400 of King’s compositions have been recorded by more than 1,000 artists, resulting in 100 hit singles. She has won 31 BMI songwriting awards and is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ronnie James Dio was one of heavy metal's most talented and instantly identifiable vocalists, and to celebrate his life and work, you can now get hold of exclusive deluxe editions of his legendary first three albums, Holy Diver, Last In Line, and Sacred Heart.
Ahead of his performance at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend in June, Jack White has announced a show at London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo on Friday the 22nd of June. Tickets for Jack White are on sale today (Fri 23rd March).
White is also gearing up for the release of his debut solo album, Blunderbuss on the 23rd of April. The album follows the release of his first ever solo single, Love Interruption.
White has recently spoken about his decision to go solo:
"I've put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colours on my own canvas."
Red Hot Chili Peppers are hoping to get Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page to join them on stage at Knebworth on June 23rd.
In a recent interview, Chad Smith said that it would be a dream come true for the band:
"Jimmy Page has come to our shows before but we haven't had a chance to play with him. That would be really cool so maybe that can happen. Maybe we can get Page to come out to Knebworth. I saw him come on with Foo Fighters at Wembley…"
The RHCP drummer also referenced the iconic history of Knebworth, revealing how excited the band were about playing the venue.
"Being a rock fan, Knebworth is particularly exciting. I first heard about Knebworth when Led Zeppelin played there in 1979, so to me it's hallowed ground and pretty cool that we will be following them."
"Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Queen and The Who – grew up listening to them. To go over to be accepted where these guys play blows ours minds. It's like a bucket list kind of thing, we can tick that one off."
Stevie Wonder has been confirmed as the closing night headliner at this year's Bestival.
The singer and 25-time Grammy award winner will play the festival on the Isle of Wight for the first time in September, just two years after he headlined Glastonbury. The date will be Wonder's only UK festival appearance of the summer, his only other British date being the Queen's diamond jubilee concert in June.
"Stevie's a legend – one of the icons of 20th century music, and he's still going strong. I grew up listening to him on the radio in the 80s, but he's smashed it in every decade."
"We've had a lot of big names at Bestival – whether that's Amy Winehouse or The Cure – but no one quite of his stature, and we'll be rolling out the red carpet. He's absolutely perfect for the Sunday night crowd – he is following Sigur Rós, which is the sort of contrast I love."
Among the great Stevie Wonder, other acts announced for Bestival include Saturday night headliners, New Order, the xx, Spiritualized and Sister Sledge. The Friday night headline slot is yet to be announced.
Noise-pop two-piece, Playlounge are making quite a racket on the London scene. But don't be fooled, their blend of melodic, lo-fi pop is a lot deeper than their simple guitar-drums-vocals line-up would imply.
Here's a question: Does the world really need another black-T-shirted, middle-aged guy taking his band back once again into the studio and onto the road, to pedal what are essentially just straightforward love songs with loud guitars? Is wrestling fixed?
My Bloody Valentine are to release a new compilation album called EP's 1988-1991 on May the 7th.
The band will also be re-releasing their two studio albums, Isn't Anything and Loveless, on the same day. The record compiles their four EP releases, Feed Me With Your Kiss, You Made Me Realise, Glider and Tremolo alongside 7 additional rare and previously un-released tracks.
Re-mastered by My Bloody Valentine main man, Kevin Shields at Metropolis studios in London, and the seminal Loveless is set to come out as a 2-disc special edition featuring a previously unreleased re-mastering from original analogue tapes.
Formed in Dublin in 1983, the legendary band have influenced many artists over their career, including Radiohead to The Horrors. Their debut album, Isn't Everything, was originally released on Creations Records back in 1988 and Loveless, in November 1991.
Prior to their debut album, the band recorded a series of EP's and mini-albums, which have been collated for the first time and appear on the new album.
The Beatles' Yellow Submarine is due to resurface in May.
The film and album, which were released in 1968, will be getting a full reissue, including audio commentary, a making-of documentary and a detailed restoration of the original cartoon.
Although not touted as The Beatles' greatest work, Yellow Submarine is definitely their most colourful, featuring the four Liverpudlian heroes battling the evil Blue Meanies. The film was directed by George Dunning, but the animated feature has been out of print for years. However, on the 28th of May, Apple Corps will be unveiling the new DVD and Blu-ray editions as well as the repackaged soundtrack on CD.
The new version is a fancy 4k digital restoration conducted by Triage Motion Picture Services and Eque Inc. To keep the method and outcome as authentic as possible, the specialists cleaned the movie frame by frame, being careful of the film's delicate nature. The Blu-ray package includes the original theatrical trailer, interviews, stickers, pencil sketches, and Mod Odyssey; a behind-the-scenes film. Pixar's founder, John Lasseter, has also written an accompanying 16-page essay. More than enough to keep even the biggest fans happy.
Prior to Yellow Submarine's CD and DVD release, Candlewick Press are set to publish a book of the screenplay on the 24th of April, showcasing "the light-hearted wit of the film's script alongside original artwork from the movie". For those who just can't wait until May, there is a digital version of the book already available.
Fatboy Slim has been added to XFM radio's presenter line-up.
The British Dance DJ is set to host a new and exclusive Saturday night mix show across the radio network from March the 31st. Titled Fatboy Slim: On the Road to Big Beach Bootique 5, the show will feature special hour-long mixes from the DJ every week.
The show will be broadcast over ten weeks, with the last show airing on the weekend of the Big Beach Bootique on 1st-2nd of June.
Fatboy Slim, A.K.A. Norman Cook, has recently commented on the new show, saying:
"If I was allowed to play a ten hour slot at BBB5, this would be just about it. From the old and the gold to the brand new and good for you, I'll be mixing in everything to whet your appetite for the party of the year."
Fatboy Slim: On the Road to Big Beach Bootique 5 is set to air on Saturdays from 6pm-7pm on XFM, with this year's BBB5 taking place at the Amex Stadium in Brighton.
port of morrow (columbia)
With almost eleven years on the classic guitar Pop scene under their belts, New Mexixo's The Shins are back with their fourth album, Port Of Morrow.
The Sex Pisols are set to reissue their debut single Anarchy In The U.K as a limited edition 7” on Record Store Day.
The release is in conjunction with Universal Music Catalogue UK, who have recently announced that they have acquired the back catalogue of the punk pioneers. The re-mastered single will also feature original b-side track I Wanna Be Me - but it will be limited to just 3,500 records.
The Sex Pistols were once deemed unmarketable, but now, label bosses are now thrilled to hold whatever they can of the band. Karen Simmonds, of UMC UK has said:
"To be given the opportunity to re-evaluate the Sex Pistols catalogue is every music lover's dream. We're looking forward to working with the band and celebrating their impact on worldwide culture."
But with so many reissues and boxsets from legendary artists being banded around, it seems that The Sex Pistols is the only one still fairly relevant with today's society e.g. the recent riots and the country's financial turmoil. When Anarchy In The U.K was originally released in 1976, the late Malcom McLaren (ex- manager of the group) said that the song was "a call to arms to the kids who believe that rock and roll was taken away from them."
As well as the reissue for Record Store Day, planning is in place for an expanded and repackaged edition of Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols, and will be available later in 2012 to commemorate its 35th anniversary.
Anarchy In The UK will be re-issued on Record Store Day (April 21st).
A selection of new tracks comprising this week's 'Staff Picks' from the Gigseen TV office ... New music featuring from Jagwar Ma, Plej, Youth Lagoon, and Lüger.
DJ Format & The Simonsound - The Statement of Intent Album Tour
Not being a vinyl connoisseur it took DJ Format to release We know something you don't know, with it's excellent video, (rapping and break dancing sharks and tigers, anyone?) before he came to my attention. For me, hip-hop without all the guns, drugs and bling was a refreshing change. With a local appearance in the offing I snapped up a pair of tickets.
Saturday was St. Patrick's Day, and it was no surprise then to find three Irish bands playing Camden's Barfly on the preceding evening. Two of which I knew very little about (Dead School and Whipping Boy), plus Tieranniesaur, to whom I've become a decided convert.
Adele has overtaken Pink Floyd in the UK's all-time biggest selling albums list, according to the Official Charts Company.
The singer has just over-taken The Dark Side Of The Moon with her second album, 21, which was released in 2011. This massive leapfrog comes just three weeks after it was announced that Adele had surpassed Michael Jackson's sales for Bad.
Having sold over 4.14million copies in the UK, 21 is now the seventh highest selling album of all-time. Adele is also close to over-taking Dire Straits, who sit in the 6th spot with Brothers In Arms, needing to sell just 12,000 more copies. According to the Official Charts Company, the singer could achieve this by the end of the week.
The biggest selling albums of all-time Top 10 now stands as follows:
Neil Young & Crazy Horse are due to release their new album Americana this coming June. For fans, there are two sides to Neil Young: electric Neil and acoustic Neil. On his latest album, though, it seems that the seminal songwriter is planning to blur those definitions further than ever before.
Americana features Neil Young re-working a number of folk standards from North America. Curiously, though, the singer is joined by Crazy Horse for their first full partnership since Broken Arrow. Rolling Stone points fans towards a quote from Neil Young's appearance at Slamdance earlier this year;
"A very young choir of children plays with Crazy Horse (on the album). They're songs we all know from kindergarden, but Crazy Horse has rearranged them, and they now belong to us."
A press release quote about Americana reveals a little more of what to expect.
"What ties these songs together is the fact that while they may represent an America that may no longer exist"
"The emotions and scenarios behind these songs still resonate with what’s going on in the country today with equal, if not greater impact nearly 200 years later. The lyrics reflect the same concerns and are still remarkably meaningful to a society going through economic and cultural upheaval, especially during an election year. They are just as poignant and powerful today as the day they were written."
Recorded at Audio Casa Blanca, the LP was seemingly produced by Neil Young himself with assistance from John Hanlon and Mark Humphreys. And somewhat curiously, Americana ends with a rendition of God Save The Queen. Must be a Jubilee year thing? ...
As some of you may already know, here at Gigseen, we always like to be ahead of the game developing and experimenting with new technology and different methods of sharing our love of live music with you. So our latest venture is a Gigseen Tumblr Page.
The full run-down of what's happening in the world of upcoming live listings, new CD/DVD releases and the schedule for new additions to Gigseen's video portfolio, including our free-to-view 'Gig of the Week'.
Filmed in 2000 at London's Wembley Stadium and featuring Tina Turner's unbelievably energetic and moving performances of several hits. This unmissable concert was filmed on 18 different cameras, making for a video which is almost as spectacular as the singer herself.
