Barefoot Magicians have released their new single ‘Another Year’. Formed in early 2017 after a recording session In Dublin’s prestigious Windmill Lane Studios, the band dedicates itself to writing and performing original material based around a blues groove. Comprised of Dave Greene on harmonica and vocals, Graham Stewart on Guitars, Brian Steemers on drums & percussion, Paraic Carroll on Bass and Petra žižak on Keys the band has recently enjoyed two live recording sessions in Windmill Lane and Sun Recording Studios.
A funk-peppered blues rock number, ‘Another Year’ is Barefoot Magicians swagger soaked latest release for 2020. Slick guitar lines flood the track in rock n roll panache while a groove rooted bass line exudes hip moving fluctuations against the punchy drum foundation to create an infectious 70’s undertone. However Barefoot Magicians contrast this chic soundscape wonderfully through pining harmonica twangs and lyrics riddled with uncertainty. Lyrically the band say track wrestles with “being trapped in a certain life, a life you are not fully fulfilled in, with decisions you wish you could change, but there is still hope burning inside you to take a leap of faith and dive into something new but every year time is running away from you.”
Exuding rich musical prowess, emotion and refined instrumentation ‘Another Year’ is a strut worthy, foot tapping new single from Barefoot Magicians
Greg Davies has released his latest album ‘Greg Davies Isolated’.Greg Davies saw the perfect opportunity to use his lockdown to create the album he has always wanted to release. The idea formed from a need to invite the best musicians associated with Greg himself and join him on a guitar driven, instrumental ride.Greg Davies is a rock musician based outside of Manchester UK. Greg has been playing the guitar since the age of 12 and has been performing on the UK music scene for over 20 years. Having played in a series of bands as well as doing regular session work across the UK and Europe, Greg Davies recently released an EP ‘A Different Order’ with the band ‘Elements’ which has been successful on UK rock charts. In the last 10 years Greg Davies has performed alongside some of the best guitarists & musicians the UK has to offer including Guthrie Govan, Andy James and Alex Hutchings. As well as his work as a recording artist and performer Greg Davies is a well respected music teacher and music therapist who runs a business called ‘Access Music’.
‘Greg Davies Isolated’ is a shredding guitar driven instrumental album which showcases the slick, nimble and bewitching guitar prowess of Greg Davies. Seamlessly slipping from gritty blues to funk, rock, country and even metal the album exudes swagger and energy. Pulling in some collaborators along the way it’s quite the thrill ride. The more country tangs of ‘The Birds’ Morning Sunrise’ adds a laid back smooth quality to the album while the blistering rock and blues tracks show how much of a guitar virtuoso Davies is. There is something for everyone here from the heavier metal hues between country rock twangs on ‘A Shackled Mind’, chilled atmospheric ‘Stillness’ and blazing blues between jazzy keys on ‘Get Me Out (Lockdown Blues)’ Davies provides a tantalizing, meaty album full of instrumental goodness.
Fluttertone and dootdoot Records have come together to create an online live music venue, called Virtual using the Zoom platform to host a series of intimate evenings of exclusively live and interactive performances and this week’s Virtual saw Tony Villiers take to the platform for an exclusive performance.
Together with his band ‘The Villains’, Tony Villiers has released three studio albums, receiving ‘Honourable Mentions’ in The International Song Writing Competition, judged by Tom Waits, Robert Smith, Jerry Lee Lewis and Black Francis amongst others as well as a ‘Daily Discovery’ feature by American Songwriter Magazine. On the road with ‘The Villains’ he has played many festivals in Ireland including Kilkenny Roots, Electric Picnic and Stendhal as well as radio plays by Ricky Ross on BBC Radio Scotland, Fiachna Ó Braonáin on RTE Radio and BBC Radio Ulster with Ralph McLean. With an artist like Villier this week’s Virtual was sure to be one heck of a show.
Villiers’ soothing vocals delight the swaying viewers as his warm croons drift through enigmatic tracks like ‘Mexico’. He dedicates songs to friends as he banters about The “Old” American Bar in Belfast, reminiscing on a time someone bravely danced barefoot there as well as discussing the memories he has of jamming with his band.
Accompanied by his trusty old Spanish guitar ( which was made in 1983 and Villiers claims is “temperamental, doesn’t like the Irish weather” ) teamed with his busted harmonica the show is relaxed and effortlessly fun. Villiers is a passionate and professional performer. His buoyant blues-hued folk songs will charm your foot to tap along or entice you to get up and sway around the room. He bewitches with his smooth melodies, witty lyrics and majestic musical display. Once Villiers begins to play, a cloak of good times nostalgia hides and covers everything hectic that could have happened that day and leaves you in a state of elated jubilation.
With blues elements coupled with indie folk undertones and country twangs along with glorious blasts on harmonica he provides a wonderful and relaxed atmosphere. There is something enthralling about his performance style; maybe it’s the uplifting cruising tunes or the laid back soundscapes of his acoustic set up but Villiers set was a special moment for sure.
He occasionally sips red wine as he greets and gives shout-outs to the viewers while playing recently written tracks such as ‘The End of The World Blues’ and old favourites ‘Rock Salt’ as well as a smashing rendition of Bob Dylans ‘Dream’.
Villiers has a knack for presenting relatable themes through his charming songwriting however it’s his likable character and effortless persona which ignites his tracks and makes them so enjoyable. The new music he is jamming and working on at the moment is an exciting glimpse of what is next from Tony Villiers.
An intimate Q&A follows the performance with Villiers talking about his biggest obstacles, his new album and how he got through lockdown as well as some wonderful anecdotes about his life. This is an invaluable aspect of Virtual, for fans to get to talk to the artist and have a personal chat in a relaxed environment. Virtual is proving to be an excellent opportunity for both fans and artists alike.
After Three extremely successful single launches, Finnian has released his new single ‘Fly’ taken off his debut album ‘Under The Influence’ which will be released on July 24th. Growing up in Dundalk, Ireland, Finnian has carefully nurtured his songwriting to the point where he is now being lauded by his peers as one of the most exciting talents in the country.
Saturated in bluesy swag and jazz elements ‘Fly’ is a bright number steeped in the sleek and engaging songwriting of Finnian. The song is anchored by the jazz piano refrains while elements of blues rock and retro soul adorn the track in lush tones. With banjo twangs between a foot moving rhythm, jaunty organ and warm guitar the track has a strutting sass all of its own. Finnian’s clever turn of phrase and passionate songwriting are at the forefront of his powerful, intricate musicianship. This is best shown when the listener admires the song as a whole – the instrumental backdrop flourishes behind Finnian’s rasped vocals giving the track a fluctuant and kinetic texture that is vibrant and uplifting without becoming overpowering.His beginnings as a folk based songwriter have now truly evolved and this song is a fine display of Finnian mastering his craft.
Ben Railway Robey has released his latest single ‘The Glory’s Mine’. Ben Railway Robey delivers a polished and authentic blues rock sound with his nuanced guitar playing and husky vocals. With his modern blues he brings together old and new styles to express his own personal experiences. Having toured across the UK and Europe, he made his live debut in Chicago Illinois in 2019.
Laced in raw blues tones ‘The Glory’s Mine’ showcases Ben Railway Robey’s honest and gritty songwriting. His raspy vocals blend and harmonise superbly with the soulful backing vocals as the track glimmers with gospel hues. Inspired by the connection he feels between him and his guitar, and the difficulties he has faced as a musician in his hometown, the song celebrates his success in spite of adversity. As the strong riffs and light ornamentation on guitar flourish the track holds a sense of strength and resilience. Ben Railway Robey set out to be an example to those who are considered outcasts that if you believe in what you’re doing it will prevail in the end and ‘The Glory’s Mine’ is a compelling number to represent this.
Barefoot Magicians have released their new EP ‘Hangin’ On’.The band comprised of Dave Greene on harmonica and vocals, Graham Stewart on Guitars, Brian Steemers on drums & percussion, Paraic Carroll on Bass and Petra žižak on Keys & Mandolin formed in early 2017 after a recording session in Dublin’s prestigious Windmill Lane Studios.
Barefoot Magicians throws the listener a curve ball with ‘Hangin’ On’ as the EP takes everything we know from the band so far and turns it up a notch, augmenting the bands bluesy sound with new stylistic twitches. Doused in the groove rooted bluesy tonality this band does so well title track ‘Hangin’ On’ introduces the EP. The band present moany lyrical content with suave instrumentation and slinky arrangement to create a get up and dance catchy number. Punchy drums and groovy bass adorn the backdrop while the sleek guitars, warm harmonica blast and rich percussion adds a swanky flamboyance and irresistible upbeat vibe to the track. ‘We Can’t Give It Up’ is where the band showcase their versatility and genre bending sound. The heavier alternative rock backdrop and synth elements creates a dark, wispy and haunting atmosphere as Dave Greene lets loose over a lamentful melody. Here, he takes his usually powerful tone and smoothes it to intensify the spine chilling eerie soundscape. The heavy rawness of the guitars crash and jaggedly slice through the track with rough relentless stamina while the pining melody on harmonica sweetly contrasts the beefy backdrop with a light and almost innocent melodious refrain. ‘Get What You Want’ brings the EP to a close with a nimble and bombastic bass announcing the bands triumphant finale. Barefoot Magician’s ability to create a tight robust rhythmic backbone is impressive and is the perfect recipe to get a crowd up and dancing. Those thundering drum whacks, resounding bass and itchy percussion is the ignition to this band’s sound. They team this with shredding guitar flourishments, sultry licks, scorching solos, sweet harmonica and warm mandolin melodies to provide a rich tasty collection of tracks.
Barefoot Magicians pack a lot of power into this well balanced three track EP. This band’s modern blues rock has charm, character and oodles of wonderful melodies and embellishments. They are building their sound superbly bringing what they achieved with their ‘The Awakening’ EP and fleshing it out, carving their own sound and brand meticulously to create something quite invigorating.
The Pretty Visitors have released their new single ‘High Sailing Blues’. Previously supporting artists such as Circa Waves, Jaws, Billy Lunn (The Subways), The Family Rain and more recently, Sisteray, The Pretty Visitors showcase an energetic, eclectic live sound. In 2019 The Pretty Visitors released their demo ‘Its Not Easy’ and have featured multiple times on BBC Introducing shows.
‘High Sailing Blues’ is a gritty raw rock track as The Pretty Visitors flesh out their swagger-dipped sound. Steamy guitar riffs carve into the pounding drums while a slick bass wiggles and coils throughout. This robust powerhouse is a sleek battering of the band’s energetic sound with a steamy sensual backbone. The raspy vocals add a rough quality while the vaporous guitar licks and sharp flirtations give a refined and majestic element to this hungry mammoth. The Pretty Visitors knock it outta the park with ‘High Sailing Blues’
London’s alt/rock band Cavey have released their new single ‘About To Start’ produced by Blaenavon’s Frank Wright.The four-piece consists of Luke Cave (Guitar, Vocals), Alexander Chalstrey (Piano, Organ, Rhodes), Chun-Ting “Refa” Wang (Upright Bass, Bass guitar) and Adrian Ortman (Drums). The band combines classic sounds and inventive songwriting to create their own brand of soulful, contemporary rock’n’roll.
‘About To Start’ is a bluesy, soul ballad which focuses on the unfulfilling side of life as a musician. This passionate number swoons and pines over blues drenched guitar laments, jazz jangles on piano and a staggering drowsy rhythmic backbone. There is a vintage classic posture in this track as it glides with finesse and elegance, oozing a maturity and richness that is to be admired. Cavey have crafted this track beautifully as twinkling piano elements gracefully hop and bounce between wistful pines on guitar while Luke Cave mourns and coos passionately over this rich, vibrant and captivating backdrop. Filled with warm tones and sensual textures from the elastic bass lines this steamy, weepy track is a whisky soaked sob of emotional perfection.
After forming back in 2014 and since releasing both a debut album and EP, The Small Change Diaries are all set to release their second album ‘Lullabies for Cynics’, which will be available from 3rd November. The release will be celebrated with a launch gig set to take place at Sunny Bank Mills on its release date. Their debut album ‘Adam Blames Eve’ received critical acclaim from the likes of BBC Introducing and thus far, the tracks ‘Huggie Crying Thing’ and ‘I Know What You’re Saying’ from the new album have been played on BBC Introducing Leeds, giving them a promising start. With a rich variation of instruments, The Small Change Diaries create poetic, acoustic songs with thought provoking lyrics and a heartfelt delivery. Similar to their previous EP ‘Protest Songs’, their latest album ‘Lullabies for Cynics’ was inspired by world events in the past 18 months. Described by the collective themselves as ‘music for the head and heart’, various tracks touch on specific affairs such as the Paris attack and changes in US politics, leaving the listener with a lot to think about. The album also features some stellar international musicians, including Laurent Zeller from France, and Phil Doleman, both who have decades of musical experience. It was recorded over a 12 month period and has been a labour of love for the 4-piece.
At first glance ‘Lullabies for Cynics’ has a warm fuzzy glow that maybe we all need sometimes. From the title track ‘Hold On’ this four piece sweep us with a deluge of lush rich instrumentation emitting bright radiant vibes and warm tones. Opulent sweet melodies teamed with beautiful harmonies and bouncy light rhythms create a boppy sound that wraps you up in a cosy blanket shielding you from the harshness of the world. I don’t think you can get a more glowing peppy track than ‘Huggy Cryin’ Thing’. It’s light, catchy, warm and soothing. Oozing oodles of cheery vibes. I’m usually the cynical person and for sure not a morning person but I think if I was a morning person i’d wake up singing this song while the sun shone on me and the birds tweeted. It sets the scene for cheery perfect idealism. It has a sweet quality to cheer anyone up. ‘I Know What Your’re Saying’ with its foot tapping tone and ‘Kicking Down Doors’ with its guitar twangs, jagged tempo and waltz injections take a slower melancholic tone. They are a little more sombre and honest. With tracks like the sparkling ‘Not One Of Us’ and the darker swing of ‘Voodood Doll (feat.Phil Doleman)’ it’s like this four piece create their own little world which has a soft positive first impression but dig a little deeper and it’s a little more dark. Gently shaking percussion and snug strings create a cosy atmosphere though the lyrics are a lot more striking and harsh than the dreamy instrumental illusion. The four piece take their hand to blues with ‘Slow News Day’. Drenched in lazy hazy vibes with sublime bluesy drizzled horns and stroke tap beat it has a classy curvy easy going tempo with a murky story behind it. ‘Lullaby’ closes the album on a soothing note. Basically they sing us a lullaby before adding a bright refreshing little wake up burst about 1 minute and 30 seconds in. It sparkles and glows with pacifying gentleness and hopefulness.
‘Lullabies for Cynics’ is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. The Small Change Diaries create a peppy fantasy world with folk, blues, gospel-style arrangements all while conveying the candied truth through their politically challenging lyrics. At a first listen it’s just camp fire sway ready lollipops and rainbows tunes but at the root there is depth there. Perhaps candy coating the harshness for us a little.
After performing at both UK and overseas festivals over the duration of the summer, The Small Change Diaries are now ready to settle back in the UK to promote their album, starting with their album launch gig on 3rd November 2017 at Sunny Bank Mills. Information about further upcoming live dates can be found on their social media pages here
BaDow are a Blues/Rock band from the South Coast of England. Fronted by Jodie Amos (Drums & Vocals) with Sam Morris on Guitar & Vocals and Bradley McGinty on Bass & Vocals. BaDow bring us the release of their second EP ‘Hot Headed Machine’. Title track ‘Hot Headed Machine’ kicks the EP off with a sizzling slick bluesy swagger. The fuzzed scuzzy bass and blazing guitar add a sensual elastic quality to the track while Amos’ vocal are clear cut with attitude and sass. This track is smooth and saucy with grit and brawn brought in by the punchy drums and vigorous guitars. ‘Poor Young Man ‘ gives us a heavier rock mosh worthy sound to start. It becomes more sensual and groovy for the elastic verse with a hip swaying dirty bass. The track becomes more energetic for the explosive chorus. The melody is infectious as the repetitive bridge holds tension until the dynamic crescendo. This track exudes steamy swagger and strut quality. ‘Wasted On Me’ pounds a steady beat to start, with a light guitar feature and lush backing vocals. Amos’ vocals for this track take a gentle emotional approach. The chorus once again builds up BaDow’s rock sound as they give us a burst of robust instrumentation which subsides for the verses. This track features a fantastic shredding guitar solo and really gives the guitar time to shine as it smashes it in an insane lengthy display of polished slick lustrous licks. The sleek ‘Freedom Of The Night’ finishes the EP with smooth sensual bluesy rock. The zesty guitar riff and flexible sultry bass teamed with powerful drums and a catchy melody makes this track a strong ending for the EP.
BaDow ‘Hot Headed Machine’ gives us their rendition of smooth, steamy, gritty classic blues rock and sizzling melodies.
Stream ‘Hot Headed Machine’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
