The new sketchbeat CD "No one in the world EP" has been released. It was launched in London at Dingwalls on the 10th January, and there are now to be a few regional launch parties around the country...

Thursday 17th Jan - The Thekla, Bristol
Friday 18th Jan - Komedia, Brighton
Friday 22nd Feb - The Jailhouse, Hereford
Wednesday 5th March - Exeter Hall, Oxford

It features a couple of old favourite tracks (Blame it all on you, and Heebie Jeebies) plus a couple of less known ones. Get you hands on a copy at one of the launch gigs for a special price of £2!!

Otherwise, it will soon be available off our myspace for just a little bit more...

Dear, dear friends,

We're just writing a quick blog to let you know that the time of waiting for Sketchbeat to get off their arses and get back in the studio is nearing an end! We're currently in the process of recording some brand new tracks which will be familiar to recent gig attendees. Which tunes, I hear you ask?! Well, we're going to keep them under our hat(s) for the moment, (and we do have quite a few hats now...) but we're sure you'll like them.

We laid down some backing tracks at the Stone Room studio in London's glorious Shepherds Bush, and they sounded pretty damn lush. We have another couple of sessions to go, not to mention mixing and mastering and what not, but rest assured that there'll be a sterling new crop of Sketchbeat tunes for you to bop about to up here soon, so keep checking the site.

Meanwhile, we hope to see as many of you as possible at the Ministry of Sound for the Midday to Midnight Festival!

See y'all soon,

Sketchbeat xxx

Greetings again!

Last Sunday we battled through  at Cargo to get through to the London finals of the Emergenza Battle of the Bands. Our new buddy Julian filled in for Mike on trumpet duty, leaving Mike free to shake everything he had (and play a bit more percussion than usual), and flex his newly attached false tooth at anyone who cared to look. The competition was stiff to say the least, (ahem) but we got through, and we're looking forward to playing the Mean Fiddler in what's surely to be a cracking London final!

It was a really fun gig, which we really enjoyed, so thanks to everyone who came down and shouted for us and got us the vote that secured a place in the final in July. We'll be selling tickets in advance for that gig, so keep watching the site and we'll let you know when we've got them.

Hopefully see y'all soon,

Much Love,

Sketchbeat xx

Yes it's weird.  But it's true.  And it get's even stranger...

Last night Sketchbeat played what must count as their most surreal gig right in the middle of the Houses of Parliament, just metres away from the House of commons itself!

The event was a charity fundraiser for Heart Research UK, and Sketchbeat were asked to provide the entertainment for the event.

After an hour long set to the invite-only audience of about 70 people, Lembit Opik turned up and did an awesome 3-minute harmonica feature with the band, while his girlfriend, Cheeky Girl "Gabriela Irimia" watched in embarrassment from the audience.

Weird, yes.  But an awesome night.

SKETCHBEAT have been nominated for an "Indy Award".  Not once, but TWICE!  The deadline is the end of March, so please vote for us soon.

These nominations are done by London venues who choose their top 3 unsigned acts, and put them up to win a coveted "Indy Award.  Sketchbeat were nominated by both "The Bull & Gate", and "The Clapham Grand" - one of the only artists to have been nominated twice.

So what are the Indy Awards about?  We were wondering too.  This is what they say:

"The INDY Music Awards have been set up to recognise and celebrate the hard work of Independent Venues and Promoters (IVPs) and the artists they showcase. Over 30 of London's top IVPs have come together to select who, in their opinion, are the very best artists that performed in their London venues in 2006."

There is a big Gala night hosted by a Virgin Radio DJ at the Clapham Grand taking place on Tuesday 15th May.  This is when the awards will be presented, and some artists will perform.

BUT... the things is, it's all done on votes.  So we need YOU, yes YOU, to click on the link above or below and vote for us.  It's very simple, and should take only a couple of minutes and we'll be forever grateful.  The deadline is the end of March, so get your skates on.

If we haven't told you before, we love you all.

Sketchbeat x

Hello there!

We thought we'd let you know of some of the developments going on in the world of Sketchbeat!

We've been working on a new tune called 'Arachnipod', a deeply funky, grimey, drum 'n' bassy song about spiders planning the ultimate domination of humankind! Scary stuff. The tune is coming along nicely, and will be unveiled at a gig sometime in the next few weeks, so watch this space....

We've just finished a brand spanking new song called 'Tyranny on the Thames'. This little puppy is a bit of an upbeat funk song drenched in latino-samba goodness and tells the story of a rising star politician who hits the big time but gets slowly corrupted by power, loses his way and ultimately is overthrown by a vengeful and angry public. Richy C plays the part of the sleazy politician, Mike and Ed play the role of the discontent public and Paul is the politicians regretful post-fall from power thoughts. Ideal for conga, Tyranny went down a treat at Cargo last week with everyone sambaring their feet off and getting deep down and funky.

On another note, we wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone who came down to Cargo and made it such an enjoyable night. We had a rip-roaring time and really enjoyed the incredible sets from the Highs and The Dirty Feel, who just get filthier every time we see them.

Come down to our next gig couple of gigs at Borderline and Clapham Grand, and you can adorn yourselves with some Sketchbeat memorabilia! We got keyrings and T-shirts that will have your friends green with envy. Or lust. Or something.

And thanks to everyone else who's been to a gig recently or dropped by the site to listen to some Sketchbeat tunes. God bless ya.

See you all soon and keep it funky!

Sketchbeat xx

GREETINGS ONE AND ALL.

JUST A QUICK NOTE TO SAY, WE'VE GOT A BRAND NEW WEBSITE!!! IT'S AWESOME AND SHIFTY, THE DESIGNER IS A SUPERHERO!

HAVE A GANDER AT:

www.sketchbeat.co.uk

MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL

SKETCHBEAT

This is a bit belated but for anyone who didn't realise..

SKETCHBEAT WON THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS!!

This was the one held at the Fountain Inn in Seven Sisters a couple of weeks ago.  The competition had around 50 entrants and fought off stiff competition in the final, and it couldn't have been done without the incredible support we had from everyone who came along.  The crowd (who, given the cost of drinks at that place were all inevitably hammered) went wild with every song, and special mention must go to whoever it was that started of the "Sketchbeat" chant after we played.

 

Thanks again!  As a result of this we won £2000 which will all be going straight back into recordings/ better equipment for the band.

 

 

 

Hey there Everyone,

We wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone who came down to the Battle of the Bands at the Fountain Inn the other week and voted us through to the final which is gonna be in a coupla weeks. We had an awesome time playing, and got just a little bit mash up afterwards, which was love-er-ly.

We've been doing some new recordings of Funny Old World and Beats from the Dead in a studio in the Shire, complete with Gospel Choirs, French Horns and a whole world of crazy-fun noises, and they should be ready for the page real soon, so keep checking for them!

We've also got some new tunes brewing, which we'll be unveiling at the Kays Pool Club and Fountain Inn gigs over the next couple of weeks.

So, hopefully see some of you soon, Keep it Funky

Rich (Man of Funk)

 

Last Saturday, we venture into the studios of "Jalapeno Records" to do a recording of "Safe in my mind" - our song about getting dumped and becoming a psycho killer.  Just your usual pop-song material really.

It's just going through the mixing stages at the moment but should be ready in the next week or so, so keep checking this page!