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Me And My Drummer: Album Date Change, Videos and News!
Berlin duo Me And My Drummer have been doing so well in Europe with TV, radio and other press commitments and an extensive touring schedule that their label - Sinnbus - have decided to put back the UK release of their forthcoming debut album The Hawk, The Beak, The Prey. The much anticipated album, which was originally planned for release on 24th September 2012, will now be released on 29th October 2012.
The band recently performed a very special, intimate set for the Berlin Sessions. The session was recorded in Zwingli Church, Friedrichshain and it's a brilliant chance to see the band perform a more "chilled out" version of their songs including the forthcoming single Don't Be So Hot.
Me And My Drummer recently released the free track Heavy Weight, which was the follow-up to their debut single You're A Runner, which received support from BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens, XFM's John Kennedy and Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6Music's Chris Hawkins and Tom Ravenscroft. The video for the previous single was also featured on NME, Spinner and Artrocker.
The video for Heavy Weight is available to watch now on Sinnbus records' YouTube page.
Heavy Weight is available to download from the Sinnbus Soundcloud page now.
Their next single, out on October 15th will be Don't Be So Hot, which will feature a brand new video. This is just before the band fly over to the UK for press commitments and some very special shows - more information on those shows very soon!
If you'd like to speak to the band when they are in the UK or if you'd like more information about Me And My Drummer, PR services or anything else please contact info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
State Broadcasters release free track “Kittiwake”
"Beautiful..." - Uncut Magazine
Ghosts We Must Carry is the stunning follow-up to State Broadcasters 2009 debut The Ship and the Iceberg. As ever, the band bury the wrenching sadness of their songs beneath layers of subtle orchestration and oft-naïve charm, making for the finest of wistful pop music. The band already released the free track "Trespassers" from the album last month but this week they're giving away another track - "Kittiwake" on the run-up to the album's release on 17th September.
"Kittiwake" is available to download free from State Broadcasters Soundcloud page.
The album track "Trespassers" is available to stream and download free now via the A Badge of Friendship Soundcloud page.
"The ghosts in the title are the burdens we carry with us as we get older, the things we've done or had done to us that still hurt - actions and memories that occasionally haunt us" the band say and they execute this theme beautifully. Opener "The Only Way Home" (a tribute to Mark Linkous and Vic Chesnutt) builds layers of sound underneath melancholic vocals. Yet tracks like "Trespassers" and "Kittiwake" pick up the pace bringing a dreamy nostalgic quality that has become the band's trademark. There are tinges of The Low Anthem in some of the more sombre tracks but in their more upbeat moments the melodies are more akin to Andrew Bird's "catchier" tunes.
Graeme Black (guitar, vocals) met Pete MacDonald (piano, trombone, vocals) in a library in Glasgow in 2004. After bumping into each other at various gigs and bonding over their love of Lambchop and Clem Snide they tried playing some songs together in Graeme's kitchen and it wasn’t before long that they called themselves the State Broadcasters. Soon after Pete's brother Fergus (guitar, banjo, uke, accordian and vocals) joined them followed by Gilian Fleetwood (harp, accordian, vocals), Cameron Maxwell (double bass, electric bass, vocals), Susan Appelbe (cello, vocals) and Andrew Samson (percussion).
With much of their first album The Ship and The Iceberg having been featured in Scottish independent films - fitting for a band described by Uncut as being "cut straight from a film by Bill (Gregory's Girl) Forsyth"- in the interim between records the band took time to compose and record the soundtrack for the multi-award winning short Fixing Luka. This piece saw co-songwriter and producer Pete MacDonald taking home the BAFTA New Talent Award for 'Best Original Score'. The band have also found themselves the subject of a great many admirers with Uncut, The Sunday Express, The List, BBC 6Music's Gideon Coe, Marc Riley and BBC Radio Scotland's Vic Galloway amongst them.
Ghosts We Must Carry will be released via Olive Grove on 17th September 2012.
If you would like more information about State Broadcasters or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.
Vigo Thieves release Video for ‘Forever’
Vigo Thieves make a welcome return with the exclusive video for their forthcoming single Forever, out on September 10th 2012 via Little Big Shot.The video stars Jody Latham who plays Lip Gallagher in Shameless and Rob Grayson in Eastenders and charts the dysfunctional 24-hours of a young couple's life, as they hurtle towards their demise. However, the final scene sees a twist that casts doubt on whether what we have just witnessed was all a dream, or indeed, reality.
The video for 'Forever' is available to watch now on Vigo Thieves YouTube channel.
Forever, officially released on 10th September via Little Big Shot, is another big, bold anthemic tune from Vigo Thieves. The track further emphasises the sound the band have worked tirelessly to develop and hone over the last few years – electro style synths, driven, snapping drum beats and soaring, heartfelt vocals.
The band have had a fantastic year to date, with the successful release of their Heart and Soul (Part 1) EP. Gaining support from the likes of Classic Rock Magazine, The 405, The Daily Record, Drowned In Sound Scotland, BBC Radio 1 Scotland and Clyde 1fm. As a result, Vigo Thieves have flourished as the momentum has built throughout the year.
The single Heartbeats attracted over 50,000 viewers on YouTube, leading to the track being chosen as the soundtrack to the T in the Park announcement film. An appearance at T in the Park on the BBC Introducing Stage saw a huge crowd gather as the boys rocked their first appearance at a major summer festival.
The interest continued with the release of a second single from the EP, She’s On Fire, which pulled in 45,000 hits and cemented Vigo Thieves position as definite ones to watch.
September will be another busy month for the band as they embark on a short UK tour, which sees them take in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow to coincide with the release of Forever.
Forever is out on 10th September 2012, via Little Big Shot.
Introducing… Cara Mitchell
Sixteen-year-old Cara Mitchell introduces her enchanting voice to the UK music scene with her soon to be released debut EP, Have You Ever Wondered, released on 23rd September 2012 via AGP.
Hailing from Aberdeen in Scotland, the teenager exhibits maturity beyond her years with a flawless debut that showcases her ability to write charming lyrics, further emphasised by her unique, delicate vocals, which she delivers beautifully.
This four track EP takes the listener on a journey inspired by Cara’s everyday life – a journey of self-discovery. Tracks such as “Next October” and “Passing Sun”, affirms the gorgeous tone in Cara’s vocals, this allied with strummed acoustic guitar and alluring harmonies, immediately marks Cara out as an unparalleled talent for one so young.
The EP track "Passing Sun" is available as a free download on the A Badge of Friendship Soundcloud page.
Although she only debuted live in October 2011, Cara has already earned a number of impressive support slots. These range from Gemma Hayes, Juan Zelada and Pearl & The Puppets to underground indie legend Jonah Matranga (Far, New End Original, Onelinedrawing) - the rise has been sharp, but no less than her talents deserve.
The release of the Have You Ever Wondered EP will be the beginning of a very busy end to the year for Cara. September will also see Cara embark on her first UK tour with the excellent Esperi.
Have You Ever Wondered is released on September 23rd 2012 via AGP.
Introducing… Pipers
Italian three-piece Pipers will release the exquisite track Ask Me For A Cigarette on 18th October 2012. The single encapsulates the bands new found folk sound - chiming piano, expertly picked acoustic guitars and heartfelt lyrics all knitted together by gorgeous strings, harmonies and skillful drumming.
The free track “Edge of Nowhere”, recorded in Naples and mixed and mastered at Magic Garden Recording Studios by Gavin Monaghan (Editors, Ocean Colour Scene, Scott Matthews), will be the precursor to Pipers single release in October and is a fine example of the quality that can be expected from the release of their second album next year.
Formed in 2007, Pipers have undergone a number of changes over the last few years. The band, comprised of Stefano de Stefano (vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica), Stefano 'Stoo' Bruno (bass, mandolin, backing vocals) and Marco Magnacca (drums, backing vocals), developed their sound from electric tinged indie pop to a more mature, layered alt-folk pop sound that has seen them capture the hearts and minds of a number of Britain's most celebrated musicians and bands.
Despite having not even released their debut album, Pipers were personally chosen by Tim Burgess to support The Charlatans in Italy in 2008, and a support slot with Ian Brown swiftly followed. That summer, Pipers were invited to play at a number of UK festivals including Liverpool Sound City, Matthew Street Festival and Creamfields, as their star continued to rise. 2009 saw another support slot offered and gleefully accepted, this time with Starsailor, before the boys signed with indie label Materia Principale. In early 2010 Pipers debut album, No One But Us, was released to critical acclaim in Europe.
Having spent most of 2011 touring and rehearsing their new material, Pipers have returned with a refreshed sound more akin to the likes of Elliot Smith and Turin Brakes. The band also scored their first big support slot in the UK when they supported Turin Brakes in Northampton in June 2012.
Ask Me For A Cigarette will be available to download on 18th October 2012. To get a little taster of what Pipers are all about, download the free track “Edge of Nowhere” on the ABoF Soundcloud now.