State Lights are a four-piece rock band from Dublin, Ireland
who released their debut EP "The Breakout EP" on September 22nd, 2014 and then Re-Released it on March 24th, 2016 as "The Disguise".
"The Disguise" is a debut full of courage and
ambition.
Telling tales of young love, frontman, Shobsy wears his heart on his sleeve
throughout, portraying incredible amounts of emotion whilst also displaying his
great vocal range. The foundation he sits upon is brilliant from start to
finish, with guitarist Joe Regan providing a melodic and atmospheric sonic
journey through the use of delays and reverbs. The rhythm section also shines,
with Noel Perry carrying the weight of each song with his solid bass playing,
as well as Paul Ridgeway giving the songs huge energy through his clinical,
hard hitting drum parts.
"Love Is In Your Eyes" and "Let You Go" both present the
bands extreme Pop sensibilities and respectfully lyrically describe those
moments of excitement when one is falling in love and those moments when you
must accept that a relationship has run its course. "Breakout" is
this young band announcing their arrival to the world stage, with an impressive
Stadium Rock song reminiscent of U2's finer musical moments.
British singer/songwriter Alexander McKay was born in
Wellington a small village in Somerset, England. He moved at an early age to
Swavesey, Cambridgeshire and was turned on by his parents to folk heroes John
Renbourn, Nick Drake and American artists Bread, Dylan and Jackson Browne. He
started his musical life in his teens playing in local bars and clubs in
Birmingham and London where he studied at London College of Music. Moving to
Los Angeles in 2001 he travelled through America finding influence and
inspiration for the songs that would later become his debut EP, “Brings Us
Together”. Released in 2015 on AWAL. The EP is essentially a road diary.
Balancing folk and rock accompanied by his raspy voice and rhythmic guitar
finger picking. Unique, soulful and warm.
2015 has seen him extend his talents to the big screen
debuting as an actor in a new independent film titled “Stones” about music,
love and alcoholism. Being cast after director and screenwriters heard him
perform at a party back in 2013.
The Film and soundtrack and film will be released in the
2016.
Pronounced "Doe-Gone, The Dogon Lights"Afro- galactic groove magma" from
the Bay Area.The Dogon Lights create
a shamanic and energetic dance atmosphere that takes the listener straight to the
stars.Traditional skin and wood
instruments are blended with electro hip hop beats and Jimi Hendrix inspired
guitar with vocals in Spanish and African languages.
The Dogon Lights combine a blend of styles that is fresh and
instantly recognizable. A blend of languages (Spanish, English, French, Wolof,
Bambara etc) and instruments such as the Sintir and Guimbri from Morocco, the
Kamale Ngoni, (similar to the Kora) from Mali and Burkina Faso, Calabash and
Djembe of West Africa, with Electric Bass, Guitar, Synthesizer and Drums.The word, "Dogon" comes from the
Dogon people of Mali who believe they are from "the dog star" or
Sirius.The Dogon Lights have opened up
for grammy winning artists Tinariwen from Mali as well as Bombino from Niger.
Members have Performed with Bassnectar, Beats Antique, Rising Appalachia, The
Mickey Hart Band, Hamsa Lila, Dirtwire and many others.
In typical rock’n’roll fashion, Exquisite Corps emerged from
a downtown alley garage in the spring of 2011. Beginning as a sextet, they have
since proved to be anything but a typical band. With an original vision
encompassing the lush power of a live string trio (cello & two violins)
melded with the rhythmic density of an indie rock trio (guitar, bass &
drums) the band was the perfect marriage of classic and modern. The summer of
2012 saw the release of their eponymous debut album to great reviews from blogs
and print (PureVolume, the Daily Unsigned, Submerge Magazine). Steeped in the
interplay of weaving string arrangements and soaring vocals, the record took
the listener on a ride from intimate balladry to intense orchestral explosions
backed by Zeppelin-esque drums and bass.
On the heels of their first release, the band took a
grassroots approach to touring. Consistent travel up and down the West Coast
landed them in great venues such as Bottom of the Hill (SF), House of Blues
Sunset Strip (LA), Hotel Cafe (LA), and even selling out alternative venues
like Sacramento’s Crocker Art Museum Auditorium. Support slots for !!! (chk chk
chk) and Sub Pop’s Helio Sequence gave way to performances at such festivals as
Lightning in a Bottle and Launch Fest sharing the bill with Blonde Redhead,
Imagine Dragons, Moby, Phantogram, and Little Dragon.
In 2013, the extended stints on the road forced a more
pragmatic approach to the live line-up. With the ever waning ability for most
of the string section to accompany the band out of town, the composed lushness
of the band’s previous material morphed into a more visceral and rhythmic
approach. The loss of the strings invited the addition of an organ/keyboard player
to fill in the sound. The transformation from whimsical chamber rock group to
full-fledged eclectic psych-art-rock band was under way as Exquisite Corps went
back into the studio to record their sophomore record.
The second album “Vignettes” was released on Sept 16, 2014
with the core line-up: Bryan Valenzuela on vocals and guitars, Robby Dean on
drums and vocals, & Nathan Webb on bass. As a trio, these hard-working
musicians have perfected their songwriting craft and honed their friendship,
playing with each other intermittently since they were teenagers. They are
joined by a rotating cast of amazing talent including Adam Rice on
organ/keyboards and occasionally Kristin Arnold and Reylynn Goessling on
violins.
BAND MEMBERS:
BRYAN V. - VOCALS/GUITAR
ROBBY DEAN - DRUMS/VOCALS
NATHAN WEBB - BASS
ADAM RICE - ORGAN/KEYBOARDS
Sea Pinks is an
alternative rock band from Belfast inspired by sea glass, bleached grass and
ghost guitars. Their Indie / garage Pop / Psychedelic 60’s sounds have evolved
over the last four years as their 4th album, “Dreaming Tracks” will
attest to. The album will be released via CF Records on September 29th 2014.
The group has already
released a hit single from the album called “Dream Happening” on Bandcamp,
which caught this DJ’s ear right away, as I’m sure it will yours.
Discography:
Youth is Wasted - 2010
Dead Seas - 2011
Freak Waves – 2012
Dreaming Tracks - 2014
Soft Days - 2016
Band Members: Neil Brogan, Davey Agnew, Steven Henry
With 3 Grammy nominations, 20 Billboard hits, and millions of
fans worldwide, David Arkenstone has established himself as one of the best
contemporary instrumental musicians of our time. Known for his Celtic inspired,
world beat new age fusion, he continues to create distinctive tracks that set
him apart from other composers.
This award-winning multi-instrumentalist has captivated
audiences since he broke onto the music scene in 1987 with his debut album, Valley
In The Clouds, described by one reviewer as “one of the most exquisite
electronic recordings ever produced.” Thriller choreographer Michael
Peters created a ballet to Valley In The Clouds in celebration of the
Winnipeg Royal Ballet’s 50th Anniversary. David has earned two #1 albums - Citizen
of Time (1990) and In the Wake of the Wind (1991). His much
celebrated Celtic Book of Days (1998) remains one of his most popular
recordings ever. Released in 2000, Caravan of Light was honored as Best Album
of the Year by New Age Voice, and Sketches From an American Journey made
Soundscan’s list of top ten New Age Albums in 2002. Acclaimed music critic
Michael Debbage recently listed three of David’s albums – Sketches From an
American Journey, Atlantis, and Myths & Legends - in his Top 30 Of The
Decade.
Often compared to Mannheim Steamroller and The Chieftains, David
has made over 30 recordings, has toured extensively including performances at
New York’s Radio City Music Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, scored dozens of films
and documentaries, and composed music for the Olympics that is used to this
day. NBC Producer David Michaels, who makes frequent use of David’s music, says
“David writes with fire, passion and emotion, all at once simple and
complex. He’s an artist capable of constant inspiration.” Adding to his
diversity, David has a worldwide following as one of Blizzard Entertainment’s
World of Warcraft composers including the groundbreaking expansion, Cataclysm.
A musical storyteller, David is passionate about taking his
listeners on a journey, creating sonic tapestries that evoke every emotion.
Critics hail his music as “full of thunder and feeling, comprised of layers
of acoustic and electronic instruments and voices, which send the listener on a
joyous expedition.”
“A love for travel and adventure is just something that’s
embedded in my personality,” says David. “Sometimes I get the feeling that I’m
painting as much as I’m composing. I tend to envision a place where I would
like to go, or an adventure I would like to take, and I let my imagination run
free. I’ve gotten countless e-mail messages from listeners who love to take
these journeys with me. I’m sometimes surprised by how powerfully people
respond to my music.”
After coming to California from rural Chicago at age 10, David
immersed himself in all the music he could find. Spending high school and
college in various bands and performance groups, he then criss-crossed the
country several times playing popular music. He finally settled down to
concentrate on developing his own sound. David has always been inspired by the
process of blending technology and music to create a multimedia fusion for
producing amazing sounds. By working with state-of-the-art technology, he
combines the highest quality electronic samples with acoustic instruments
played by the finest musicians including David himself, often adding choral
groups.
“Technology has produced some wonderful tools for making
music. The computer allows me to fully orchestrate my pieces and really fine
tune them. I have always loved the sound of the orchestra, and now I believe I
have refined a wonderful blend combining the best elements of the acoustic
world, with the electronic world," states David. While he is primarily
a keyboardist, David plays the guitar, mandolin, flute, cello, percussion, and
many other instruments. His impressive collection of instruments includes
native flutes, drums from around the world, and harmonium.
David enjoys being out on the road and meeting his fans and is particularly
fond of his Winter Solstice concerts during the holidays. "One of the
most exciting things about performing live is the interaction I get with the
audience,” says David. “It's very different than making a recording,
where you're never sure who is listening to it. The communication is complete
in live performance, plus it’s just plain fun to play these songs with my
friends, and the audience senses that. A lot of the roots of our musicianship
come into focus without the magic of studio editing – it's the moment, you play
your best, and many times reach new heights, and then it's gone, and on to the
next one."
His current project include an epic, neo-classical album – a
collaboration with enchanting singer/composer Charlee Brooks – set for release
in 2012. “Working with Charlee has given me the opportunity to reinvent
myself as an artist yet again. We have created music that transcends what
either of us would be able to accomplish on our own.” David’s score for the
critically acclaimed PBS documentary Echoes of Creation is one of his most
adventurous to date. Domo Records, known for its eclectic roster of world music
artists, including Kitaro, recently released Ambient World to rave reviews,
along with Myths and Legends, Sketches From An American Journey, Echoes of
Light And Shadow, and Spirit of the Drum. Other recent releases include Celtic
Chillout, Visions of Christmas, Christmas Lounge, and a 3-CD set tailored to
the spa and relaxation market: Bliss, Touch and Reflections. Fans can catch
David and the band in concert and at special appearances at Renaissance faires
and, of course, the Winter Solstice tour.
Be sure to catch Davis Arkenstone’s new release “Native
Chill” Now in online stores (Sept 17, 2014) See online store links below...
Pat Kane is an emerging singer songwriter from San Francisco
California who is quickly making a name for himself on the west coast of the
United States. Pat’s music is deeply rooted in the sounds of the blues, and
folk/ psych genres that takes the listener back to simpler times.
“I came up playing blues. Over the years I developed some
ways about me and now I write songs; but I still play blues, and a lot of other
stuff too.”
Pat’s seven EP’s up on Bandcamp are a testament to his
passion of creative writing in lyric and song. Bravo Pat!
Paul Liddell is a working
musician/singer/songwriter/recording artist based by the sea in the North East
of England.
Paul is an experienced live performer with an unstoppable
work ethic, clocking up on average 20 gigs a month both solo and with his band
‘Delphians’. Live, his singularly unique voice and unpretentious delivery
combine with the use of live sampling, guitar percussion and layered vocal
harmonies to provide a great platform for his wonderful songs to shine. Paul
has toured in America, whipping up a storm in several little coffee houses
across California. While there he performed on a TV show filmed in Time Warner
studios in Hollywood, and got his song ‘Brighter Lights’ placed on a nationally
distributed and TV advertised folk compilation CD.
Other live highlights include a show-stopping performance on
the main stage at the Beverley Folk Festival, and a memorable show at the
Piperine Free Festival in Milan. Other artists Paul has shared billing with
include Billy Bragg, Turin Brakes, Beth Rowley, Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze),
Karine Polwart, Polly Paulusma, Calvin Harris, Nick Harper, Nerina Pallot, and
Florence And The Machine.
Other notable achievements include making it through to the
final 10 of Q Magazine’s Glastonbury competition, being named as the hardest
working, most gigging songwriter of 2009 by the PRS, and selling over 3000
albums and EPs solely at live performances.
Paul is currently unsigned and unrepresented, building a
cottage industry into something more in a purely independent, DIY fashion.
Paul is a smooth and capable guitarist, and his low-key
vocals tackle social injustice and media corruption with wry compassion. The
vivid splashes of grungy electric riffage that punctuate this album add welcome
force to this sharply etched portrait of life in modern Britain – GUITARIST
MAGAZINE
“Milestones And Motorways” is a real troubadour album, one
that throws life and experiences right back at you, ready to challenge your
thought processes and move on. Politics both personal and global aren’t shied away
from, Liddell is not about to sell himself and his listeners short by
compromising yet still contrasts his aggression with recocilliation – FATEA
MAGAZINE
An artist in the bloom of their creativity – FOLKING.COM
Milestones and Motorways is a very upbeat, acoustic self
journey with a twist of pop. High energy tunes like Kill-O-Gram seem to lead
the way for mellow finger picking and political views. This reminds me a little
of The John Butler Trio. I can’t wait to see Paul Liddell live! 10/10 – FOLK, BLUES
AND BEYOND
Liddell’s guitar playing is extraordinary throughout this
set as he employs percussive, hammer-on, slide, and a wide array of
finger-picking techniques most reminiscent of Lindsay Buckingham — a master of
melding pop melodies and flash. This record has the potential to break Liddell
into the mainstream — that is, if the masses can turn off American Idol,
X-Factor or The Voice and pay attention to a bona-fide, honest artist! – MINOR
7TH
The album is bejewelled with glittering nuggets with the
shiniest being the cutting wit of ‘Game Show Host’ and ‘Kill-O-Gram’, the
lilting ‘Footprints’ (very Seth Lakeman) nagging riff of ‘Trash’, gorgeous
‘Peace of Mind’ and deceptively simple but memorable closer ‘Red Apple’ –
ALLGIGS.CO.UK
Lyrically, the songs come armed with a social and political
conscience (bankers, the media, Catholicism, instant gratification culture,) as
well as exploring self-doubt and the human condition….. capable of sharp
observations and on the lovely Footprints with its ‘walking in circles
footprint wheels’ line, unbridled romanticism. – NETRHYTHMS
With eleven original songs, Paul makes no effort to disguise
his roots on each of the songs, with his distinct North Eastern accent clearly
audible, which brings to those songs a particular identity. With a clear guitar
sound the album opens with the stylish A Means to an End, displaying his fine
command over song structure and arrangement. – NORTHERN SKY MAGAZINE
The days of the singer songwriter will no doubt re-emerge,
and when it does there’s some very talented artists out there. Paul Liddell
counts amongst those and Milestones and Motorways – his third album – is packed
with some excellent playing (A Means To An End opens the set in an explosive
Rodrigo y Gabriela style) – strong song writing, and some fine hooks. And it’s
good to see him not attempting to disguise his North East roots in his singing
style. More power to his elbow. – GET
READY TO ROCK
A surprisingly strong set of songs from a talented
songwriter who proves that the independent, DIY spirit is alive and kicking –
WHISPERIN AND HOLLERIN
Echoes of classic prog rock and folk rock – think ‘Yes’,
‘John Martin’ ‘Fairport Convention’ that sort of sound… Paul Liddell on this
album avoids all of the pitfalls that performers in the genre usually fall
into. A refreshing and highly recommended album and is a worthy record of the
month. – RECORD OF THE MONTH – LIVE BLUES
Sena Ehrhardt has emerged as one of the freshest and most
dynamic emerging young voices on the blues scene today.As the buzz about her incendiary
performances at clubs and festivals spreads, heavyweight acts have begun to
take notice. She’s been invited to open concerts for B.B. King, ZZ Top, Robert
Cray, Dickey Betts, Johnny Winter and Gregg Allman.Her latest release, Live My Life, further confirms Sena’s ascendance
to blues elite status.
Sena was born and raised in a house of blues in the
Minneapolis area.As a kid her parents
took her to many all-ages concerts and she was able to see artists like B.B.
King, Koko Taylor and the Fabulous Thunderbirds wow their audiences with
polished and exciting performances. As she grew older young artists like Jonny
Lang and Susan Tedeschi gained success, putting young, contemporary faces to
the music she loved.
A pivotal moment for Sena was attending one of Luther
Allison's final concerts. As she describes it, “As the sun went down and the
lights came up, the emotion of his voice washed over the crowd like a wave,
leaving me with tears in my eyes. His ability to connect through music with
every member of that audience, each with their own stories, struggles and
victories, was stunning to witness. In that moment the idea of being a singer
ceased to be a choice for me and instead became a calling.”
After graduating from college in 2005, Sena began singing
with Plan B, her father’s band, which led to her desire to front her own
group.In 2010 she started the Sena
Ehrhardt Band.
In 2011 Blind Pig released her brilliant debut recording,
Leave The Light On, and the critics and fans alike took immediate notice.Blues Revue said, "From track to track,
Ehrhardt establishes that she is capable of crooning softly or wailing with the
best of them.”Living Blues added,
"Sena Ehrhardt has a bright, soulful sound, and she doesn't hold back -
she can go from sultry and coaxing to gritty and gutsy in an instant.”
Elmore magazine commented, "A wicked sense of soul
power. Ehrhardt creates an atmosphere of lamp-light jazz club, diva-esque
swagger through effortless vocal bends and brassy, wrapped-around-her-finger
inflections that will have the listener hanging on every word."The album won the Blues Blast Music Award
for "Best New Artist Debut Release" and was nominated for a Blues
Music Award in that same category.
For her second recording, All In, released in 2013, Sena
teamed up with one the foremost producers in the worlds of rock and blues
(Santana, Luther Allison, Stevie Ray Vaughan), multi-Grammy Award winner Jim
Gaines. The result of their collaboration is a groove-rich, exciting
exploration of the blues in all its moods.
Calling her “truly one of the most dynamic young voices any
genre has seen in a long time,” Living Blues said, "Her 2011 debut was a
bold statement in cabaret-blues silken gloss. Whereas her debut can be seen as
walking into the club and feeling the crowd, on this effort, Ehrhardt owns the
joint. Sena Ehrhardt's voice cannot get any more powerful, range-defying, and
throwback cool.”Sena was named a 2014
Living Blues Award nominee in the “Blues Artist of the Year (Female)” category.
With her newest release, Live My Life, Sena continues to
forge her own personal and intelligent take on the blues.Says Sena, “Live My Life is such a fitting
title for my new release.The last year
has been one of tremendous growth and inspiration for me both personally and
professionally through music.”For one
thing, she’s excited about an all-new line up of top-flight musicians she
recruited to her Band.After serving
as her band’s lead guitarist and song writing collaborator through her first
two releases, Sena’s father stepped aside earlier this year and she’s put
together a dynamic and energetic new group.
With the new band behind her, Sena’s looking forward to
exciting opportunities on the horizon to play more festivals nationally and
begin touring internationally, as she continues to come into her own as a
vocalist, songwriter and entertainer.
“Working in the studio with producer David Z. at the helm
was a dream come true. His catalogue of work has been, in some ways, a
soundtrack of my life - ranging from Prince to Jonny Lang.I was thrilled that David, who has strong
ties to Minnesota, was able to come to my home state to record my album.In the studio he brought inspired and
emotional performances out of myself, my band and the guest musicians on my
album.It was truly an honor to work
with a creative and contemporary living legend in music.”
“The carefully selected covers are songs that I have held
dear to my heart for years, with my own spin on their classic stories and
appeal.The process of writing for this
album along with my guitarist, Cole Allen, was incredibly rewarding.”
With her commanding stage presence, and gritty, soulfully
emotional vocal prowess, Sena Ehrhardt will continue to rank among the very
best and most versatile of current blues vocalists.The journey’s just beginning for this artist, but with the
release of Live My Life, her expressive song writing, and outstanding
performances, the recognition and accolades for this rising star will continue
to amass
