…NEW & BREAKING ACTS FOR 2009…
Die! Die! Die!
www.myspace.com/diediedienz
We don't need to tell you how amazing these NZ underdogs have done in 2008. Not only did they scoop the Sunday Times Breaking Act with the quote, "One of the most sonically exciting dins Breaking Act has heard in months", they also received an 8/10 lead album review in the NME and stole a four page spread in Artrocker having just taken their single of the month. December has seen them land in the Q50 and with the release of 'Whitehorses / ATTITUD' pencilled in for February 2009, they're looking to make quite an impact with a full UK tour also planned to coincide with the double A-side release. Easily one of the most hotly tipped live bands around.
The Molotovs
www.myspace.com/themolotovs
These London based quirky popsters have just been signed to Fierce Pandas new label Cool For Cats and having released their debut single in November, are poised for more records in 2009 kicking off with a follow on single in March. The sound is of that Vampire Weekend charm, only with a British, almost Arctic Monkey swagger. It's also very French bar-room pop; very dusty, very rickety, very Sinatra… wrapped in melodies of their Britpop upbringing, of course. The chances are you might have already come across this lot as they've played almost every London club night around, from Twisted Licks to White Light, where they performed aside Alex Turners short lived Pun Lovin' Criminals. Recently they have had Q's track of the day, Artrocker's single of the week and are quickly building momentum press and fan wise.
Guildean Gang
www.myspace.com/guideangang
The fast and furious art-pop of Bedfordshire's Guildean Gang is being tamed and traversed onto wax in the guise of 'Dennis Bergkamp', their debut single on label Grenade Records due for release on 2nd February 2009. Guildean Gang are bright, young musicians with a unique, fresh brand of music. They blend smooth edged guitar and strong, unstably throbbing bass and drums into an upbeat, awe inspiring music reminiscent of the heyday of pop, wonderfully written with the Cure in mind. Their sound, produced by Matt Terry (The Enemy) and somewhere between Pulp and Interpol if you're asking, is a coherently low-fi, dark-pop mauling of sound, a sonic glance down empty bottles of whiskey with a sense of Libertinism. The band, though only pushing 21 in age, show writing ability far beyond their years, and far beyond the throwaway sensibilities of mere indie rock 'n' roll. Early days for this band, but with records perched and ready for 2009 the following 12 months will see them explode onto new music radars.
Howard Eliott Payne
www.myspace.com/howardeliottpayne
Howard, formerly of smash Brit group The Stands, unveiled new solo material at this years acclaimed Electric Proms in Liverpool as well as being invited to play with Oasis earlier this year. He will go onto release his debut album, 'Bright Light Ballads' in early 2009. Recorded and mixed in just seven days on an 8-track tape machine with legendary producer Ethan Johns, featuring some of the finest local musicians (including his sister Candie Payne), and self-funded by the sale of "a really nice electric guitar", 'Bright Light Ballads' is, like Howard Eliott Payne, a unique melting pot of Liverpool melody, New York groove, hip city swagger and the wide-sigh soulfulness of the wild open country. This is sure to be a stunning debut from a truly unique songwriting talent.
SixNationState
www.myspace.com/sixnationstatetheband
The Summer past saw the band play a plethora of festivals including Glastonbury and Bestival (at Rob Da Banks own invitation) as well as headlining the highly acclaimed River Rat Pack Tour and supporting the likes of The Maccabees, Laura Marling, The Wombats, Mumford & Sons, Delays and Pete & The Pirates, and recording sessions for XFM and BB6 Music. Fuelled with DIY spirit, eclectic creativity and a head-full of crazy juice, the band seamlessly churn out beautifully crafted songs with a stunningly electrifying live performance to match. Fans have noted that at SixNationState gigs there are no spectators, only participants. With over five hundred shows in two years in various parts of the globe and a debut album under their belt, the band have been writing their second record in the sodden basement of a certain famous North London pub where creativity and musical eclecticism is rife. Having just finished a tour with White Denim, 2009 is looking to mark their triumphant return.
Secret Garden Party 2009
www.secretgardenparty.com
We would like to send a big thank you to all those who voted in this year's Virtual Festival Awards. For an unprecedented second time Secret Garden Party won the coveted, 'Best Small Festival Award 2008'. News just in, is The Secret Garden Party will be heading to Nassfeld in Austria for the inaugural Snowside Festival on March 23rd-29th. They will be hosting wonderful mountainside SGP parties each night billed as the Secret Alpine Party, sneaking over the border into Italy and setting up in an old WW1 military border crossing.
(This year a special Secret Garden Party Christmas Card could make the perfect gift for a fellow gardener. You can buy them a ticket for next year's event and they will receive the Christmas gift card notifying them. Tickets for 2009 are on sale priced at £137 + booking fee. Teen tickets for 14-17 year olds will be £110 plus booking fee, and as per, under 13's get in free, but still need a ticket, mind. All Early Bird tickets have now completely sold out.)