05 July 2010

London Showcase dates announced!

We're proud to announce two linked London showcase dates in association with The Old Queen's Head and A Badge Of Friendship

The two linked bills will take place on Tuesday 7th September (indie / rock) and Tuesday 14th September (indie / folk). Acts from the whole Sotones roster will perform as well as some very special guests. Currently The Moulettes, Haunted Stereo, Moneytree, Jackie Paper, Lonely Joe Parker, nato & Ann The Arc are confirmed with others TBC.

Industry tickets will be available as well as package coach deals from Southampton/Winchester and Brighton to both events. Plus everyone will get brand-new, specially-signed copies of the next limited-edition Sotones Sampler!

For more details and updates join the Sotones Facebook page

02 July 2010

Eastleigh Music Festival! Next Weekend! Haunted Stereo!

As the title may suggest, next weekend Haunted Stereo are going to be tearing up the Eastleigh Music Festival. What could be better than an evening of good weather (don't take my word on that) good company, good food, and very good music? Well...nothing...

Haunted Stereo will be sharing the stage with Badly Drawn Boy, and Peggy Sue (and the Pirates) and more, all for the price of £18! To be honest, thats a bargin...

Plus about, a billion local bands and street performers will be playing, so theres plenty for everyone! Bring the family, bring the friends, bring everyone you know, and I'll see you there!

www.eastleighmusicfestival.co.uk for tickets and times and all that stuff!

ALSO THIS MONTH (very excited about this)

Rude_NHS and JayETal to share the same stage for the first time in 5 years?! 
Rumor has it that a live improv jam is on the tables between the two Winchester favorites, and mystery guests a plenty! 
July 31st, 8 o clock, Railway Inn, Winchester! Be there! 

So as you can see, lots and lots going on this month!
I'll see you all next weekend!
Until the next blog
Sam the Intern


22 June 2010

Free music industry workshop / networking event.

Hi all,

bit of a good opportunity, this. The Point arts centre in Eastleigh are a great local arts venue with a strong track record in supporting new music (they organise the yearly Eastleigh Festival, for instance, which features our own Haunted Stereo among others including Badly Drawn Boy). Basically all-round Good People with a little bit of money who care about music.

As such, they've laid on a free careers / networking / workshop event for anyone to attend. It features workshops, discussions and panel sessions with industry professionals from radio, print and online media as well as promoters and (repping what's laughingly known as the record 'industry') ourselves.

It all runs on the 24th June (Thursday). Due to popular demand there are two sessions: 1pm-4pm and 5pm-8pm. Although the workshop is free it might be a good idea to reserve a place. Full details at www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk


Timetable:

Afternoon Session

1.00 – 1.30pm Start arriving

1.30 – 2.30pm Workshops in Dance, Theatre or Music

        2.30 – 3.00pm Break with an opportunity to speak to organisations and industry professionals

3.00 – 4.00pm Q & A Seminar with Panel

4.00 – 4.30pm Further opportunity to meet organisations

Twilight Session

4.30 – 5.00pm Start arriving

5.00 – 6.00pm Workshops in Dance, Theatre or Music

        6.00 – 6.30pm Break with an opportunity to speak to organisations and industry professionals

6.30 – 7.30pm Q & A Seminar with Panel

        7.30 – 8.00pm Further opportunity to meet organisations and industry professionals

Further details regarding the workshops and seminars will be available nearer the time.

If you have questions regarding the event, please contact:

Jodie Rodaway

Dance Administrator

The Point, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9DE

jodie.rodaway@eastleigh.gov.uk

023 8062 7804

30 May 2010

Do You DIY? festival - Part Deux

So.

Summer slithers on a few more weeks, Brighton and tours in Germany and stuff have all happened, various exciting recording projects are racing towards completion for the autumn (Ann The Arc, Anja McCloskey (Haunted Stereo), nato, rude_NHS, Moneytree as well as Jackie Paper & myself are all jostling for prime release spots in Sept / Oct as we speak) and overall the year is whooshing by! My ears are already fucked and festival season hasn't even wound up to full speed yet...

This is all pretty fitting as we're taking part in yet another excellent (and free!!) all-dayer at the marv Old Queen's Head in Islington on Bank Holiday Monday, 31st May. There's gonna be a total cornucopia of labels, clubnights, DJs and acts from the alternative (as in, actually do shit themselves, without major label money, rather than bang on about their 'aesthetic' ... looking at YOU Blood Red Shoes (V2/Universal)) side of things.

As well as Peter Lyons and all us lot, you should definitely catch Thomas Tantrum, and Real Fur ain't too shabby either.

The whole thing kicks off at lunchtime, is free, and goes on till closing time innit. For more details see the facebook page or OQH blog.


See you there!
Joe x x

29 May 2010

Moneytree takeover the Hamptons!

Well, what can I say...
So far in my whirlwind Sotones adventure, not once have I seen one man trash the stage in such rock and roll fashion. By the second song the microphone was crashing to the floor, and by the third song, the drum kit was in pieces and the snare drum almost had a foot put through it. And this was (mostly) the work of one man. Having not seen Moneytree before, its fair to say that it was surreal to say the least. 

Though, lets start at the beginning. 
Ann the arc, Sotones newest grunge trio, started the night off in perfect order. If you like dissonance, distortion, and really loud things, these are the band for you. Not to say they are melody-less! Just imagine Lonely Joe parker and a loud grunge band, and that essentially is what you have! Loved them!

Then came Shapes. Ah Shapes, what to say about Shapes...
Mathmatical-technical-jazz-hardcore-o I believe is the technical term for their music...
But most importantly, they were instrumental. But in this case, you didn't need a voice. Their twenty minute odyssey of riffing and what I suspect was improvisation (though correct me if i'm wrong) mixed with their excessive use of loop pedals was never boring. In fact, it was pretty good!

Then it was Moneytrees turn. 
Eventful, surreal, and mildly rock and roll, are just a few words I'd use to describe their set. First song was straight in to the chaos, and by the third song the stage was in bits. To put it in further detail, basically, Campbell stood on the bass drum, fell off, almost put his foot through the snare and landed sat down on the chair. 
The whole set was a mess of similar chaos, and a sing song of It Ain't mine. Having not seen them before, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't expect that. But I fucking loved it. If you get the chance, go see Moneytree. Even if you don't like there music (which you do, I'm sure) you'll still have a killer time. 

Dear Brontide, if for some reason you're reading this, I apologize, i missed your set. Its nothing personal, I'm sure you were wonderful. 

Best 'Curates' night I've been to so far, without a doubt (sorry Haunted Stereo and Lonely Joe Parker). It was a stunt filled, Loud, and very rock and roll evening. Worth the five pounds (which I was later reimbursed with) without a doubt!

Until next week, or some when before then
Your friendly neighbourhood Intern.

P.S. Monday, Do you DIY festival Part 2, Old Queens Head, Islington. 12pm til 12am.
Tidy!

27 May 2010

Tomorrow (Friday night!)

Tomorrow night at the Hamptons is the Moneytree curates evening! 
Many good band is playing including Moneytree, Ann the arc and others.
Get down there, its not very expensive at all! And to be honest your paying for quality!
I (sam) will be there, and I well and truly hope to see you there!
If you have a good (and I mean a GOOD) reason not to be there, I'll tell you all about it in another post saturday or something. 

I really should start keeping up to date with blogging! 
More from me Saturday!
Sam the Intern!

 
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124089964272523&ref=mf
All the details are right on that link there!

23 April 2010

Do You DIY? festival

We're REALLY excited to be taking part in a unique free festival / experiment / mashup taking place over the May Bank Holiday (Monday 3rd) at the Old Queen's Head in Islington.

Do You DIY? is a coming together of independent, DIY-minded labels, artists, producers, fanzines, media, promoters and club nights. Throughout the day (midday-midnight) there will be a plethora of records, listening booths, zines, discussions, DJ sets and yes, performances.

Already confirmed are indie favourites such as Fortuna Pop!, Fierce Panda, Memphis Industries etc and we're completely flabbergasted that in their wisdom the organisers have asked yours truly to put in an appearance as well! Accordingly we will have a stall and a big crew there including Lonely Joe Parker / Jackie Paper / Moneytree joint sets, as well as new grunge trio Ann The Arc.

The whole shebang runs from 12pm-midnight, and is FREE before 6pm.


We'll be running a minibus up from Southampton for peeps that want to come for the ride.

For full listings, deets etc:
http://www.theoldqueenshead.com/do-you-diy/
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107485545960139