Blur announce two intimate charity dates

Blur

As a warm-up for their massive, huge, gigantic, showstopping shows, Blur have announceD a duo of intimate club shows to raise money for charidee.

These fan club only dates were announce this morning at blur.co.uk, and will come before the band’s appearances at Hyde Park, the MEN Arena, Oxegen, T In The Park and Glastonbury.

On June 13, they will be making a return to the East Anglian Railway Museum, the venue of their first ever gig. The proceeds will go to the Aldham Village Hall Restoration Project and the museum itself. … Continue Reading

Guess who’s made a comeback?

Wow, they’re back. With new material. They’re at the forefront of a segment of society. WOW. “Who”, I hear you cry? The Horrors?

NO! … Continue Reading

Dananananaykroyd pull out of tonight’s London show

Dananananaykroyd

We are gutted about this so thought we’d pass it on to spare your collective disappointment.

Here’s what the band said on their blog:

“Dear friends,

Dananananaykroyd”

A resounding boo. Get well soon Paul!

Rough Trade bring back cassettes for Record Store Day

Rough Trade Records

Seminal record label Rough Trade has resurrected the humble cassette – a format considered to be retro and almost obsolete in these days of CDs and mp3s.

… Continue Reading

My Bloody Valentine to curate ATP: Nightmare Before Christmas

My Bloody Valentine

Yes, that’s right – MBV are set to curate ATP’s Nightmare Before Christmas at Butlins Holiday Resort in Minehead, England from December 4-6, 2009. Wowzers.

So far the confirmed line-up includes Sonic Youth, De La Soul, EPMD, Sun Ra Arkestra, The Horrors and of course, My Bloody Valentine themselves.

… Continue Reading

Gaymers Grassroots gigs announce Maccabees and Holloways dates

Cider

Gaymers Grassroots gigs have announced two more dates in their impressive summer line-up, “bringing the fans up close and personal with some of the most exciting bands on the British music scene” – in the bands’ home towns.

The latest gigs to be announced are The Holloways, set to play at an intimate London venue as part of the Camden Crawl, and The Maccabees, performing at Brighton’s Great Escape festival.

The Holloways are currently finishing their second album No Smoke, due to be released in September, whilst The Maccabees await the release of their hotly anticipated new LP Wall of Arms.

The Maccabees are playing on May 15, The Holloways April 24.

For a chance to win tickets to these exclusive and intimate gigs simply log onto the Gaymers MySpace and enter your details. The first competition is open. … Continue Reading

Mike Skinner! The Streets! New songs! Via Twitter?

Mike Skinner: he tweets

Mike Skinner releases the first of three new songs this week.

The Streets’ frontman has tonight released the first of three brand new songs onto the internet via his Twitter page.

The first of the new songs, entitled ‘I Love My Phone’ is available from this link, with Skinner claiming he has watched a recent BBC documentary on Handel, and popular Kevin Spacey movie The Usual Suspects as inspiration for this new track. … Continue Reading

Neil Halstead and Lach hit the road

Slowdive - Souvlaki

News just in: the main man in the shoegaze world and one of the pioneers of anti-folk are going on tour together! That’s Neil Halstead and Lach, for those who aren’t on top.

The duo (not performing as a duo, FYI) will be hitting the following places on the following dates:

Sun May 17 MANCHESTER RUBY LOUNGE
Wed May 20 BIRMINGHAM ACADEMY
Thu May 21 OXFORD ACADEMY
Sun May 24 YORK DUCHESS
Mon May 25 LIVERPOOL ACADEMY
Tue May 26 NEWCASTLE ACADEMY
Wed May 27 GLASGOW CAPT REST
Thu May 28 LEEDS FAVERSHAM
… Continue Reading

Phil Spector found guilty of murder

Phil Spector

World-famous producer Phil Spector has been convicted of murder at the end of a five-month trial in the US.

The 68-year-old was found guilty of murdering actress Lana Clarkson at his home some six years ago. Sentencing will take place on May 29.

Spector, who faces between 15 years and life in prison, remained quiet and betraying little emotion as the verdict was read to him by the jury. Ms Clarkson was shot in the mouth at Spector’s LA home, and the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict after some 30 hours of deliberation.  In 2007, the first trial was abandoned as the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision.

Phil Spector pioneered the ‘wall of sound’ technique and worked with stars including The Ronettes, the Righteous Brothers and The Beatles. … Continue Reading

Fall-fronted Hinterland is fast approaching

On April 30 and May 1, 15 of Glasgow’s venues will be taken over for the first ever Hinterland. Headlined by The Fall and featuring an impressive line-up including Metronomy, Sons and Daughters, Sky Larkin and The Invisible, the festival is described as “an adventure in music and art”.

It’s also surely the first chance to re-see such delights as Wild Beasts and Good Shoes for quite some time, both of which will be welcomed back with open arms.

With more than 100 bands across the two days, Hinterland’s “primary aim is to showcase established and upcoming Scottish talent – as well as some of the UK’s best emerging and established talent”. … Continue Reading