And here is the obligatory pop show blurb:
Tap Tap -
http://www.myspace.com/taptapmusic
"Tom Sanders’ Pete & The Pirates spin-off project was the first place I encountered London’s excellent Stolen Recordings label and it remains my main love. His second album is super-saturated, super-bright – it pulls off a genius trick of simultaneously reminding me of 1) The Raincoats, 2) New Zealand’s Chills, 3) The Beach Boys and 4) Pete & The Pirates themselves and their seven-part harmonies – but it never, ever forgets that one cardinal rule. Don’t neglect the melodies! The tunes and harmonies and rapture is busting out all over." - Music That I Like, Everett True
“These songs seem forced into the world by a buckling, overcrowded brain. The popcraft exhibited is light enough and "now" enough to reduce the listener to booster-mush on a first listen. "Here Cometh" is an arch offering of Kinks blues, while "Off the Beaten Track" imagines a bizarro Belle & Sebastian preoccupied with Kinks rock. Taming psychedelia and punk into sloppy/pristine DIY pop. I could listen to ‘desperately talented frontman’ Thomas Sanders sing "can't" like "Kant" all day, and all of the night" - PITCHFORK
Air Waves -
http://www.myspace.com/airwavesmusic
When Pitchfork's Guest List asked Dan Deacon what his favourite new band is, his reply may sum up Nicole Schneit's of Air Waves music best, "The music she writes is like a favourite blanket wrapped around you."
The Brooklyn based songwriter first found solace in her guitar, composing escapist songs with fantastical stories and catchy choruses. Not wanting to be tagged as strictly a singer-songwriter and desiring a full-band sound, in 2007 Schneit teamed up with fellow Brooklynites taking on the name Air Waves. A medley of folk, rock, pop, and country, Air Waves serves up fantastic imagery with unforgettable melodies with named influences such as Neil Young, The Clean, and the Velvet Underground.
Their début self-titled EP (Catbird Records) features five songs, without a single misstep or wasted moment.
The Cavalcade -
http://www.myspace.com/thecavalcadeuk
Hotly tipped indiepop trio from the North West of England. The Cavalcade played their first London gig in the July of 2009 at the Half Moon in Putney. There were 10 people in the crowd. They all fell in love with The Cavalcade and their felt inspired pop sounds. I was one of the lucky few and less than 6 months later their self released EP 'Meet You In The Rain' and 'For You' EP has been winning the band fans in the indiepop world. Indeed, their recent acoustic support at the Hangover Lounge was one of my gigs of the year.
"While The Cavalcade have many of the same influences as The Clientele –Lou Reed’s bleak romantic ballads, particularly – they have a demonstrably stronger indiepop side to their aesthetic; Voices, for example, nods to Honeybunch’s Hey Blue Sky! while the ep as a whole suggests what Johnny Marr was doing in 1983-4" - Fire Escape Talking
"If their self released debut EP Meet You In The Rain didn’t make you stand up and take notice then the strictly limited For You EP surely will! Again the EP draws on the 1980’s UK indie scene as it’s inspiration. Jangling pop and intelligent lyrics makes me a happy man and they are prevalent throughout this exceptional EP. Yes the Felt influence have been noted before but so what? The band take their influences and transcend them somewhat gloriously instead of becoming a pale imitation. If Cherry Red were still signing bands The Cavalcade would be at the top of their list!" - Indie-MP3
Ace Bushy Striptease -
http://www.myspace.com/acebushystriptease
Kicking off proceedings will be the amazing Ace Bushy Striptease from Birmingham who are due to release *something* on Odd Box in 2010. They're one of those magical bands that are poppy, fun and original. They shout (sometimes). They sing (often). They have loud bits. They have quiet bits. And that's not to mention the fast bits. An exhilarating band that somehow have 'appeared' from nowhere to make me smile. I love it when a band as good as this creep up on you.
Colour me excited.