The album was recorded at Big Noise Studios and is the culmination of a seven year musical journey that has seen Porter writing, recording and performing with a host of seasoned musicians including drummer Phil Mount (Alex Harvey Band), Ron Rogers (T’Pau) and Al Vosper (Beverly Knight, Chris De Burgh).

This sampler CD featuring key cuts from the album kicks off with the track River, whose “Brubeck style” horns and upbeat rhythm section underpin Porter’s late 50s influenced crooning vocal style. Next up is Bridge Too Far with its bouncing ska beat, rich horns and infectious piano vamp.

Hanging On is the one that gets the audience every time it’s performed live. Alongside Porter’s heartfelt vocal performance, the track features a seductive sax solo by band member Clive Dimmock.

Then comes Ten Days – an infectious swing beat drives this song about missing loved ones, with a vocal performance whose lower register is reminiscent of classic Richard Hawley.

Closing track is Emily with its lilting beat and gentle pizzicato strings that subtly compliment Porter’s vocal performance about a tale of lost love.

With an ever growing following that includes fans from America, Spain and the UK, Porter have a busy schedule ahead of them with a string of live dates at which they’ll be performing tracks from the album.

Please visit their website for all gig listings.

Relevant Links:
www.garyportermusic.com

Since its inception in 2008, Record Store Day has fast gained global recognition and already established itself in the UK as a bit of a national treasure. Created to celebrate music in all its forms and particularly putting independent record stores in the spotlight, the annual event is adored by music fans across the board and has the added charm of accommodating exclusive 7″ and 10″ releases by the likes of Blur, The Flaming Lips and The White Stripes, allowing fans to own their very own piece of music history. Vinyl enthusiasts are in their element, and independent stores are afforded  much deserved attention,  but ultimately Music is the real benefactor.

Though seasoned on the gig circuit, RSD was one of the Van Susans’ first opportunities to put their newer songs to a live audience, and they relished the chance to engage with the crowd and show off their abilities in a live setting. Catering for customers whose eclectic taste crosses the boundaries of all genres, the audience at Head truly appreciated the far-reaching roots that have informed the sound of the band and a fantastic day was had by all!

The band don’t have long to rest- not that its in the nature of the sprightly bunch- as they’re appearing in headline slots at two legs of the IPO festival as well as the Wagon all dayer on July 21st. Playing alongside Shake Tiger Shake, Six Day Riot and bill toppers, Lazy Habits, the festival’s one of a string of dates for Van Susans and, falling on singer Olly’s birthday, the band will be in especially jubilant spirits!  Hosted by XFM‘s Jon Hillcock and early champion of the band, 6 Music‘s Chris Hawkins, the show is sure to be an electric one.

Following on from their critically acclaimed 2^nd album Shake The Darkness, which received airplay on BBC Radio 2, Brighton’s Juice FM and other UK stations, The Mojo Fins have set the pace for 2012 with their release of The Spirit EP.

The EP’s first track Sweet Spirit sets the mood with its haunting intro and opening lyric which touches on how our past can affect the present; ‘the ghosts in the parlours of our hearts pull the strings and call the shots’. Soothing vocal harmonies, reminiscent of Elbow and Fleet Foxes, place this release right in the moment, whilst ‘Hammond/Leslie’ guitar phrases walk the listener through the band’s typically English sound which conjures up flavours of early Genesis and Peter Gabriel.

Palace of Memory with its sparse intro and verse arrangement, draws the listener in before an uplifting chorus kicks in. Ethereal Eno-esque keyboards and delicate acoustic guitar phrases adorn this song about a recurring dream, showing off the band’s songwriting talent and future potential.

On a more sombre tip is the track K2, whose lyrical content suggests the idea of loss and all its associated feelings. A creeping darkness underpins an emotive vocal performance with lines like ‘the silver tongued devil took the breath away’ which leave the listener suspended in the story while a falsetto vocal ends the composition with the words ‘reset the lonely’.

The EP’s closing track When I Go features a memorable ambient piano motif with mellifluous backing vocals. Lyrically, it touches on the subject of acceptance in all its forms. A truly fitting end to this inspired EP release.

Often likened to bands such as Elbow, REM and early Coldplay, The Mojo Fins personally cite The Shins, Ryan Adams and Elliot Smith as artists who have inspired them.

Things could have been so different though, when original front man Jon Chandler was tragically killed in a road accident in May 2007 days before the release of their 1^st single Piñata Face. Many wondered if the band would continue but Stephen Brett (Vox/gtr), Steve Hoile (bass/keys) and  Dave Russell (Drums) felt that music, like friendship, transcends all, and with the addition of Adam Luke Atkins, they went on to record debut album The Sound That I Still Hear which led to an exhilarating performance at Glastonbury 2009 and saw the band in the finals of Q Mag’s ‘Emerging Talent’ competition.

With this new EP, The Mojo Fins are on track to set 2012 alight. United in the spirit that brought them together, they find themselves on the brink of a new stage, as excited, as bold, as exceptional as ever.

EP Track Listing:

1. SWEET SPIRIT
2. PALACE OF MEMORY
3. K2
4. WHEN I GO

Relevant Links:
www.themojofins.co.uk
www.facebook.com/themojofins

“Touring with The South has been great so far. Always love the thrill of playing to a packed house. Rubbing shoulders with the people who have had  a big inspiration on my music is such an amazing feeling, and it’s given me more confidence than ever that the band are really doing something special here.” said Olly.

The tour continues this weekend with gigs in Gateshead (Friday), Aberdeen (Sat), Glasgow (Sun) and Inverness (Mon) before returning to London for more dates. See here for details. There’s radio support from BBC Scotland and various commercial / independent stations along the way, backed up with local press in each city . . . onwards and upwards for Van Susans

The tour covers all the main cities in Scotland and the North East and sees The South promoting new single The Entertainer and other tracks from their forthcoming album. This is the first release from the 15 million selling  reformed giants of pop.

For Van Suasns vocalist and songwriter Olly van Andrews, the opportunity  to play alongside his former idols is the chance of a lifetime; “Beautiful South are constantly on my playlist. Song For Whoever is always first choice for my Karaoke slot on a Thursday night in my local.”

Following a year of sell out gigs that included 100 Club, IndigO2 & Clapham Grand the Van Susans are hot to get back on stage with fresh material from their forthcoming album. The tour will set Scotland alight as the band continue their wave of success that saw debut EP We Could Be Scenery championed by 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins & XFM’s Steve Harris, whilst also receiving a plethora of press attention and airplay from over 30 radio stations.

Dates for the tour are selling fast. Get your tickets while you still can. Cost £20 to £24 and available via The South website.

Tourdates

• Feb 14^th     Stockton on Tees – The Arc
• Feb 17^th     Gateshead – The Sage – SOLD OUT
• Feb 18^th     Aberdeen - Lemon Tree
• Feb 19^th     Glasgow – Arches
• Feb 20^th     Inverness – Ironworks
• Mar 2^nd      London - O2 Islington
• Mar 10^th     London – Proud 2 (O2)  - Van Susans headline

Relevant Links:
www.vansusans.com
www.thesouth.co.uk

‘These self-styled champions of ‘fish punk’ combine an exciting mix of traditional Cornish folk music with frantic punk rock’. Having shared the stage with The Pogues, Mumford & Sons, Babyshambles & Damien Rice, Crowns are currently getting played on XFM.

Catch these kings of the Cornish coast at Kernow In The City 2012 along with punk poet Murray Lachlan Young at East London’s Rich Mix on Sat 10th March.

For more info click here

“Real charisma, great live shows & boy can they do sing-along”
Steve Harris – XFM

Six-piece indie band Van Susans kick off the year with their brand new single Bricks Not Sticks Or Straw, continuing the band’s wave of success that saw their debut EP We Could Be Scenery championed by 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins & XFM’s Steve Harris.

Airplay on more than 30 UK radio stations, excellent write-ups in God Is In The TV & more, video broadcasts on SubTV plus packed houses at The 100 Club / IndigO2 all point towards 2012 being a breakthrough year for Van Susans with the release their debut album scheduled for early summer.

The single Bricks Not Sticks Or Straw is a powerful slice of guitar/pop led by the driving guitars of Ed Dullaway which underpin lead vocalist Olly Andrews’s unique lyrical delivery inspired by a fairy tale told to all of us in early childhood. In the song Olly sings of building on long term successes whilst accepting that sometimes there are days when it can ‘all come crashing down’, and how learning from these events can only make you stronger.

Taking inspiration along the way, from bands like Death Cab For Cutie, Jimmy Eat World and Metallica/Paramore, the Van Susans have been working with new UK producer Oli Som who learnt his trade during a stint at a Nashville studio before coming back to the UK where he is currently working with a select few emerging indie bands including Van Susans.

Together this prolific producer/artist team have made an album brimming with moments of inspiration that use rich guitar, piano and string arrangements to create a sound that’s timeless in feel, yet connects with today’s young audiences, as expressed by the band’s fast expanding online and gig-going fanbase.

Lead vocalist and lyricist Olly Andrews seems to have written his own mantra for success in the track, as he urges the listener to ‘…stick to your guns, you’ve got to be strong, gotta take every chance that comes along’

With the Van Susans’ upcoming album due for release this summer, it’s looking like this mantra just might work for the band as they continue to build their music career on solid tunes.

Relevant Links:
www.vansusans.com
www.facebook.com/VanSusans

Launching in January 2012 – the time is now right for Ben to start his own label and here we see the first release Please Don’t Go; a 2 mix package of quality goodness, showcasing the musical direction of what will surely be a label to make people sit up and take notice.

Please Go Away (Tech Mix) kicks things off, showing Ben’s old school techno influences with acid lines and 909′s meeting uplifting stabs before taking it deep again.

If the original wasn’t enough, legendary Mike Monday turns in a serious bone shaking remix, keeping an old school essence yet adding todays ‘oomph’ and tension to devastating effect. A track that will cause a lot of fuss with many big named DJs.

In Mike’s Own Words “I write electronic music that sounds like Prince getting drunk with Mr scruff in Royksopps house”. Mike has released music on a list of labels that reads like a who’s who: Om, Get Physical, Buzzin Fly, Simple, Freerange. He continues to perform across the World.

Please Go Away is offered exclusively on JunoDownload from Monday 30th Jan and will be available from a range of download stores from 13th Feb. Please check link below for listening:

Please Go Away (Juno exclusive)

Laurel Canyon Presents

Kernow In The City 2012

London’s Annual Celebration of Cornish Music and Art

for St. Piran’s Day – Cornwall’s National Day

Saturday 10^th March at Rich Mix, Shoreditch E1 6LA

Ruarri Joseph
Louis Eliot & The Embers
Murray Lachlan Young
The Loose Salute
Crowns
Plus special guest Rosie Vanier

In addition, contributions from Cornish visual artists and daytime activities being lined up include a Cornish film showcase and the opportunity to learn to speak Kernowek at a Cornish language workshop.

Proper Cornish pasties and some of the region’s finest ale will be on sale at the event to make sure everyone gets a flavour of Kernow at its best.

Come one and all to London’s Cornish cultural event - Kernow In The City at Rich Mix!

Tickets £10 in advance from www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/kernow-in-the-city-2012 (t) 020 7613 7498 / £12 on the door

	Ruarri Joseph	It’s A Beautiful Thing
	This year’s headliner, indie-folk troubadour Ruarri Joseph is often likened to Tom Waits, Cat Stevens and even, by the NME, to Dylan. www.ruarrijoseph.co.uk
	Louis Eliot & the Embers	Runaway Night
	Former Rialto lead singer Louis Eliot and his band The Embers bring their joyous rural sound and rip-roaring songs to the big smoke. www.louiseliot.com
	Murray Lachlan Young
	One of the UK’s best-known exponents of spoken word and stand-up poetry, Murray Lachlan Young currently sits as BBC 6Music’s Poet In Residence and is a regular contributor to Radio 4’s Saturday Live. www.murraylachlanyoung.co.uk
	The Loose Salute	It’s A Beautiful Thing
	Featuring ex-members of Slowdive, The Loose Salute are the point where dream pop and surf rock meet, bringing the west coast sound to Cornwall’s north coast. www.facebook.com/theloosesalute
	Rosie Vanier	Neon Nightmare
	Rosie plays a short solo set of her acclaimed operatic synth-pop www.rosievanier.com
	Crowns	Little Eyes
	Folk-punk party starters Crowns kick the night off with their rousing sing-along anthems. www.crownsband.co.uk