Latest News

Emily Magpie shares new single ‘Leave It To Fate’!



"... a glittering, spacious

soundscape–mystical, but never

twee..."

- The Line Of Best Fit


"... swooping, creepy swirls of electronics..."
- DIY


For fans of... Maggie Rogers, This Is The Kit, Tei Shi

Bristol-based songwriter Emily Magpie returns with her spellbinding sophomore EP, The Witching Hour, out 24th November 2017.

Taken from the EP, blissful new single Leave It To Fate premiered on The Line Of Best Fit and is available to listen to via Emily's Soundcloud page now.


A bewitching collection of tracks juxtaposing an ethereal splendour with driving electronics, The Witching Hour is a reflection on the magic of the everyday and of being human. It is inspired by a trip to South America and draws on the empowering feeling of freedom when travelling. EP opener and title track ‘The Witching Hour’ focuses on the power of feminine energy. Written after reading a book about the witch trials, Emily explains “it’s a song about claiming your own power deep from within you”. It soars with the rich passion of Magpie’s smooth, distinctive vocals alongside glitchy, pulsating beats. Leave It To Fate showcases the impassioned beauty of her songwriting, as dreamy ukulele melodies flow alongside Emily’s celestial vocals akin to the likes of This Is The Kit or Maggie Rogers’ sparkling charm. Folk-influenced 'Angel Face’ and ‘When We Find It’ are interwoven with sweeping electronic soundscapes to conclude a truly captivating collection.

Whilst travelling in South America last year, Emily enjoyed chance encounters with people such as Grammy and MTV Award winning artist Diego Ubierna (Adammo) who inspired her unique, otherworldly sound. Now, having already received acclaim from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit, DIY Magazine and Clash, and charmed crowds at Green Man Festival and Sofar Sounds, she has worked alongside co-producer Anuj Robin to create The Witching Hour and hopes to continue to enchant listeners with her mystical creations.

The Witching Hour, the forthcoming EP from Emily Magpie, is out 24th November 2017.

If you'd like to find out more about Emily Magpie or A Badge of Friendship's PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Posted Tue, 31 Oct 2017 in Emily Magpie

Re-Tros, Right Hand Left Hand and more confirmed for The End Festival’s Fearless bill!



The End Festival returns to various venues around London running from 16th November to 24th November 2017. Spread across nine venues over nine days, The End will showcase the best underground and established talent on the scene, injecting love and passion back into the independent live scene and with some shows now sold out or selling out fast, it confirms music fans' thirst for live music.

On top of an already stellar line up, The End Festival has now announced further additions for their Fearless bill on Saturday, 18th November 2017. This will include Re-Tros, Right Hand Left Hand, Tolerance Manoeuvre and False Hope For The Savage. They will be joined by Black Peaches, RM Hubbert, Land Observations, Billy Mahonie, ILK, Kompromat, Jeanette Leech, Dave Callahan (Moonshake / The Wolfhounds) and I-Ality Hi Fi.

Festival founder Howard Monk has put together a line-up that will bring talent from all over the UK, Europe and North America to London. Talking about Fearless, he explains "So, Jeanette Leech wrote a killer book about Post Rock and interviewed a load of folks for it, including my band Billy Mahonie. Honoured indeed to be a part of it. It made me think about what it was, what it is, and what it has become. I'm pretty excited to offer this lineup as an example of where my thoughts lie on the issue."

Eight years ago, Monk started The End as a two-venue event in Crouch End, where he used to live. Over time, the festival grew and in 2017, it’s bigger than ever before with a view to expand beyond London’s boundaries.

“I'd like to expand beyond, maybe twinning with a different town year on year,” says Monk. “I’d definitely like go to places, which might have a somewhat tainted view of the "elitist" music/arts scene.”

For Monk, it’s about promoting great new talent and getting music fans excited about live music. “I think it’s important to put great stuff on in as many places as possible,” Monk adds.

Fearless starts at 5pm on Saturday, 18th November 2017 at Mirth, Marvel and Maude.

Tickets for Fearless are available here.

Tickets for all shows are available on Music Glue now.

Alternatively you can purchase tickets for The End Festival here:

16th November 2017 - David Thomas Broughton - Paper Dress Vintage - SOLD OUT
17th November 2017 - David Thomas Broughton - Aces & Eights - Tickets
18th November 2017 - Fearless - Mirth, Marvel and Maude - Tickets
19th November 2017 - David Thomas Broughton - Servant Jazz Quarters (2PM) - Tickets
19th November 2017 - Maria Kelly - Servant Jazz Quarters - Tickets
20th November 2017 - Equinox - The Windmill - Tickets
21st November 2017 - The Van T's & Rainbrother - The Social - Tickets
22nd November 2017 - HAWK & The Anatomy of Frank - The Lexington - Tickets
23rd November 2017 - Jack Chesire - Old Queens Head - Tickets
24th November 2017 - McAlmont and Butler, The Magic Numbers and Ren Harvieu - Downstairs at The Kings Head - SOLD OUT

If you'd like to find out more about The End Festival or A Badge of Friendship's PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Posted Tue, 31 Oct 2017 in The End Festival

Permahorn announces new single ‘Into The Dreams (Slut)’!



"...matches highly personal lyricism

with sounds to get lost in."


- Clash


"A rich, sonic delight, it oozes its own unique, haunting majesty amongst a swirling, sophisticated musicality."
- The Vinyl District


For fans of... Galaxie 500, Low, Codeine

Borne out of the ashen embers of separation and divorce, Permahorn are a Scottish/Serbian London-based duo who have compiled a selection of brooding, heartfelt songs on a cathartic debut album, the Kramer (Bongwater, Galaxie 500, Ween, Daniel Johnston, Low) produced My Blood Carries My Dreams Away, due for release on 1st December 2017 via Shimmy-500.

Taken from the album, Permahorn have now shared new single Into The Dreams (Slut), which premiered on The Vinyl District and can also be streamed via Soundcloud now.


The duo previously unveiled the record's title track, My Blood Carries My Dreams Away. It's a swaying schizophrenic offering where churning backward loops swirl, accented beautifully by vocals incorporated from 20-year-old tapes recovered by producer Kramer. The single premiered on Clash and is now available to stream embed via the Permahorn Soundcloud page.



Taking cues from slowcore bands such as Galaxie 500, The Red House Painters and Arab Strap, My Blood Carries My Dreams Away plays out like a Nico record covered by Low via the nightmarish vision of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet. Taking shape over a twelve month period, the duo used music as an escapism from what was an emotionally difficult time; offering a sense of relief in the process. The result is one of the best records you’re likely to hear in 2017.


On the surface My Blood Carries My Dreams Away is a bleak album tackling themes of desire, obsession, deceit and guilt. Despite this, there are small buds of hope, optimism and a sense that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Inviting the listener on their melancholic journey the record throws up surprises throughout, from the feedback-laden ‘Radiation’ conjuring memories of Pavement to the wonderfully delivered deadpan vocals on the Nico inspired ‘Into The Dreams (Slut)’ and the harrowing ‘Lynch Mob’; a track Arab Strap would be proud of. Sonically, My Blood Carries My Dreams Away leads you down dimly lit alleys, to be lost forever in the morose world of Permahorn.

Comprised of Saint Pauly (guitar, vocals, percussion, knobs) and Jexy Pesic (bass, vocals, drums, switches), the duo were taken under the wing of Shimmy-Disc producer Kramer who mixed and mastered their songs at his Noise Miami studio. Impressed with their songwriting ability, Kramer selected 11 tracks from the initial batch of demos and worked with them to create an album to be released on his new Shimmy-500 vinyl-only label. Now, with an incredible debut record complete and the backing of an iconic record label, Permahorn are eager to share their sound with the world.

My Blood Carries My Dreams Away is due for release on 1st December 2017 via Shimmy-500.

If you'd like to find out more about Permahorn or A Badge of Friendship's PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Posted Mon, 30 Oct 2017 in Permahorn

The Van T’s share new video for ‘Bitter Sweet’!



For fans of: Bleached, Black Honey, Wolf Alice, The Courtneys

“...a commanding performance akin

to that of Wolf Alice’s very own Ellie

Rowsell.”


- So Young Magazine



“...music that deserves to be played at ear-threatening decibels to as many people as possible.”
- Noisey


"...a surf rock band, but only if your idea of

surfing involves getting pummeled by a

giant wave..."


- Consequence of Sound


"... a growling, preening, glammed up cruncher that kicks hard and refuses to apologise."
- Clash


Bitter Sweet is the latest single from Glasgow four-piece The Van T’s, out now via LAB Records and available to buy on iTunes and stream via Spotify.

The band have now shared the video for the single, which premiered on Clash and is also available to watch on The Van T's' Vevo channel now. The video also features fellow band pals AVALANCHE PARTY, Llovers, Clean Cut Kid, The LaFontaines and KYKO.


The single originally premiered on So Young Magazine and is also available to stream on LAB Records' Soundcloud page now.


On the back of a support slot with Wolf Alice in Dundee and The Jesus & Mary Chain in Glasgow, The Van T's continue their assault on the music industry with another killer track. Drawing you in through their now trademark surf-rock, feedback-laden guitar segments, accented beautifully by glorious harmonies and killer choruses, The Van T's continue to illustrate why they are considered to be the most exciting young band in Scotland.

Comprised of twin sisters Hannah and Chloe Van Thompson (guitar, vocals), Joanne Forbes (bass) and Shaun Hood (drums), 2016 was a breakout year for the band. Support from the likes of Huw StephensBBC Radio Introducing show, Noisey, Consequence of Sound, Earmilk, The Line of Best Fit and DIY were followed by support slots with Yuck, Rat Boy and Honeyblood. The band also appeared at festivals T in The Park, where they headlined the BBC Introducing Stage, Electric Fields, Wide Days and Stag and Dagger. 2017 has seen the band continue to make their mark having supported The Jesus & Mary Chain in Amsterdam at the renowned venue Paradiso, played a support slot with Clean Cut Kid at London’s Scala following this up with two packed shows at this year's Great Escape.

Catch The Van T's live at the following dates:

11th November - North Britain Festival, Stockton
21st November - The End Festival - The Social, London
22nd November - Jimmys, Manchester

Bitter Sweet by The Van T's is out now via LAB Records and available to buy on iTunes and stream via Spotify.

If you'd like more information on The Van T's or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Posted Fri, 27 Oct 2017 in The Van T’s

Introducing… Kid Cupid!



For fans of... Oh Wonder, SOHN, Låpsley, Little Dragon

"...throbbing, pulsating beats and

glitchy electronic hooks with

swooning melodies..."
- Celeb Mix


Following the success of previous singles Blue Moon and Siren, London-based Kid Cupid have now released their captivating new single, Easy.

The single premiered on Celeb Mix and is now available to stream on Kid Cupid's Soundcloud page.


Delving into the harsh realities of addiction and the internal conflicts of self-destruction, Easy juxtaposes a sense of fragility with blissful electro-pop sounds. Fusing together throbbing, pulsating beats and glitchy electronic hooks with sweeping melodies and the soulful purity of Laura Shaw’s impassioned vocals, Easy offers an epic, cinematic soundscape. Oozing a dark, haunting splendour, it’s a truly innovative creation filled with gritty textures and rich musical layers.

Having been gigging together for little under a year, Kid Cupid have built quite a reputation around London for their immersive live set with headline shows at The Garage, Proud Camden and Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen already under their belts. Now, having received support from the likes of BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio, they hope to charm listeners across the UK and beyond with their euphoric fusion of sounds and thought-provoking social commentaries.

Easy, the new single from Kid Cupid, is out now.

If you'd like to find out more about Kid Cupid or A Badge of Friendship's PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Posted Thu, 26 Oct 2017 in Kid Cupid