Wednesday, March 24, 2004
New reviews from earlier in the week include the lovely Vladimir for their EP Versus Coda, the Blanks EP from Sykosonics, and Draining the Swinelord by Scotland's Saint Maybe.
There's lots of Beggars Group action on the way. This week sees Oceansize, The Mountain Goats, and Cass McCombs all playing across the country, but there is also a lot of digital promotion happening too, particularly from 4AD.
April 5 sees the digital release of the new 50 Foot Wave mini-album, the latest project from Kristin Hersh. To date, this is the largest download release from the label, featuring all six songs a month ahead of the physical CD release in May.
On April 12 there is also a Pixies digital single - 'Where is My Mind?' - featuring unreleased live tracks, on April 19, there is the first full downloadable album from Vinny Miller, May 10 is the release of a five song EP from Mojave 3's Rachel Goswell, and finally May 24 brings a new three track single from Blonde Redhead.
To finish things up, England's Ladyfest-friendly, Gertrude are touring through Holland at Easter, so look out for gigs in Hengelo (April 13), Nijmegen (14), Amsterdam OCCII (15), Castricum (16), and Zwolle (17).
:: Posted at 8:23 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Sunday, March 21, 2004
It's a strange day when you learn something original from the Ticket(bad)Service website, but apparently tickets for this year's 'The Music in My Head' festival went onsale yesterday. In case this news has passed others by too, here is the information...
Friday, June 11
PJ Harvey
Jim White
Ane Brun
Ella Guru
Bauer
zZz
Saturday, June 12
Roger McGuinn
Television
Simple Kid
Obi
Belasco
Marike Jager
Tickets are 22,50 euro per day or 42,50 euro for both days.
I don't shirk from the fact that Macrocosmica are one of my favourite Scottish bands. Check the album and live reviews to see the evidence. Well, this spring sees the band venture out of Britain and across to mainland Europe, with two brief dates in Belgium and one in the Netherlands. This is a chance to bypass my comments, download some music, and go see how good they are for yourself, so if you're near any of these venues, please go support them...
April 1, JH Sojo, Leuven (Belgium)
April 3, Paul's Wereld, Hechtel-Eksel (Belgium)
April 4, De Bliksem, Den Helder
Finally, a couple of additions to the website. Firstly, a review of the new John Wayne Shot Me release, Let Sleeping Monsters Sleep EP. Secondly, there is a new recommendation for Dianogah, the American post-rock outfit who are playing the OCCII on March 28, so check them out.
:: Posted at 9:16 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Thursday, March 18, 2004
Air return to the Netherlands on June 22 for a show at Vredenburg in Utrecht. Cost 26 euro.
Swell too return to Utrecht on May 13. This time at De Helling. Let's hope the band actually make it to Europe on this attempt.
And PJ Harvey comes to the Heineken Music Hall on June 10. Given a cost of 34 euro and the size of the venue, it's by no means the optimum opportunity to see her live. The only consolation is that most of her shows this summer will be on the main stages at festivals, so at least the Dutch have an indoor show to choose.
:: Posted at 9:00 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Despite the online silence, last week was a very musical time and the proof has been added to Stayfun. Now you can find reviews of Yo La Tengo with Gorky's Zygotic Mynci (thanks to the good people of Beggars Group), Oneida with Macrocosmica and Laeto, and finally Scotland's Sons and Daughters.
It's always nice to announce that The Audiotransparents are touring more in the Netherlands, so they will be playing live over the next couple months in the following towns...
March 24 - Burgerweeshuis, Deventer
March 27 - W2, Den Bosch
April 6 - Atlantis, Alkmaar
April 10 - Kikker, Utrecht
April 24 - Merleyn, Nijmegen
April 25 - Gigant, Apeldoorn
With only around seven weeks until the free Bevrijdingsfestivals happening across the country on May 5, the first few band names are starting to trickle out. Announced so far:
Amsterdam - Rotterdam Ska Jazz Foundation
Zuid-Holland - The Sheer
Friesland - Alamo Race Track
Groningen - Chris Frantz / Modena City Ramblers
Limburg - Sandusky
Utrecht - Daryll-Ann / Wealthy Beggar
Obviously there is a lot more to be announced over the next few weeks, and each venue tends to throw up a mixture of good and bad, but it's always nice to find a decent band has been booked locally.
Some news from the US now. Deep Elm Records have just released their latest sampler featuring 20 songs from 10 bands. Why is this news? Well it's a free CD! The only catch is that you pay three dollars of postage to Europe which is less than 2,5 euro. Not bad for so much music. You can purchase it here.
And still in the realm of free music, Mundane Sounds have compiled a collection of free songs they recommend, as well as producing downloadable artwork etc. This time it's 13 songs to try out and they're available here.
Some of the new dates added to the
gig guide today include (as well as quite a lot more)...
Von Bondies
Hangedup / Polmo Polpo / Elizabeth Anka Vajadic
Beulah
At the Close of Every Day
Robotobibok
The Palookas / Stenchtown
The Veils
:: Posted at 9:08 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Sunday, March 14, 2004
And after a week in Scotland, Stayfun is back in the land of the nether. Some things of interest that were added to the site but never got promoted on the news page before I left...
An interview with Oceansize is available ahead of their upcoming shows in Rotterdam, Groningen, and Amsterdam, which take place at the end of March.
Some Dutch album reviews were also added from Envy the West, Gone Bald, and the latest In the Fishtank release featuring Black Heart Procession and Solbakken. Two recommendations were added for Tacoma Radar and Logh.
Over the past two weeks there has been plenty of gig news. Here is just a hint of the latest additions to the Gig Guide...
Peaches
Chicks on Speed
The Church
Ugly Duckling
The Long Winters
Ash
The Lullabelles
Horrorpops
Stuurbaard Bakkebaard
The Veils
Fuck
Gone Bald
Keane
Stockholm Syndrome
Beulah
Nicolai Dunger
Mark Olson & Victoria Williams
Piano Magic
Blonde Redhead
Timesbold / Sin Ropas
Macrocosmica
Urge Overkill
Mauro Pawlowski & The Grooms
Handsome Family
Mono
The Locust
Lawn
Xiu Xiu
:: Posted at 7:10 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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