Thursday 8 March 2012

The Xcerts - Set to Embark on their Largest Headline UK Tour

The Xcerts - Promo 4
THE XCERTS second album ‘Scatterbrain’ has already taken the band on an incredible journey. In the albums short lifespan the band have been on several headline tours with a fan base that grows at every show, performed in Europe for the first time where their album is also released, been played by most major national radio stations (Radio 1, Kerrang! radio…) and TV channels (Kerrang TV, Scuzz…) and toured with many of their favourite bands (Manchester Orchestra, Biffy Clyro, Taking Back Sunday, Brand New...). Not only that, but the band flew out to New York to record it with their favourite producer Mike Sapone!

Therefore it would seem foolish if the band did not take to the road to play ‘Scatterbrain’ to their devoted followers and new converts for one last time before heading into the studio to begin work on its follow-up. Dates below. In addition the band will be heading to this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.

MARCH
Fri 9 – London Barfly – ILMC SHOW
Wed 21 - Bath Moles
Thu 22 - Preston 53 Degrees
Fri 23 - London KOKO

MAY
Fri 4 - Tunbridge Wells Forum
Sun 6 - Southampton Joiners
Mon 7 - Exeter Cavern
Tue 8 - Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
Thu 10 - Nottingham Rock City
Fri 11 - Sheffield Bowery
Sat 12 - Stoke Sugarmill
Sun 13 - Birmingham Academy 3
Tue 15 - Newcastle Academy 2
Wed 16 - Glasgow Garage
Thu 17 - Aberdeen Lemon Tree
Fri 18 - Thurso Newmarket Bar
Sat 19 - Dumfries The Venue
Mon 21 - York Stereo
Tue 22 - Leeds Cockpit Room 3 / 2 On Hold
Wed 23 - Manchester Sound Control
Thu 24 - Cheltenham Frog & Fiddle
Fri 25 - Bristol The Cooler

JULY
Fri 13 - 2000 Trees Festival


‘Scatterbrain’ is out now through Xtra Mile Recordings. Here’s what the press had to say about ‘Scatterbrain’:

"Scottish trio become contenders on brilliant second album" - 4/5 Kerrang!
displays "...songwriting chops that are matures beyond their relatively young years. All that early promise they showed? Welcome to Deliveryville, population them. - 8/10 Rock Sound
The Xcerts have outdone themselves. This is a record that bands strive their whole careers to write and they’ve gone and done it on the second attempt. Marvellous. - 5/5 Punktastic
"...comeback of the year?" - 5/5 Big Cheese

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Wednesday 7 March 2012

Straight Lines - Release new single 'Commitments' (16th April) and album 'Freaks Like Us' (23rd April) through Xtra Mile Recordings

SL-BP-27
Having just won over a small army of fans on a UK tour with Canterbury and released single ‘Half Gone’; the first to be taken from the band’s second album ‘Freaks Like Us’ STRAIGHT LINES are now ready to announce the plans for their new album’s release.

‘Freaks Like Us’ will be released on the 23rd April through Xtra Mile Recordings (Frank Turner, Against Me!, Far…) preceded by the single ‘Commitments’ a week earlier. As with the band’s first album, ‘Persistance In This Game’ Straight Lines new album was recorded by the band’s bassist and producer Todd Campbell at the end of 2011. ‘Half Gone’ has caused much anticipation for the record scoring ‘Single of the Week’ on Kerrang! Radio, ‘Single of the Month’ in Rock Sound magazine and was Huw Stephens 'Next Hype' on Zane Lowes BBC Radio 1 show. You can watch the video for ‘Half Gone’ on the band’s official website: www.straightlinesband.com

Straight Lines - Commitments
Lead singer/guitarist Tom Jenkins says "’Freaks Likes Us’ is a 10 track straight-up rock album covered in melodies from start to finish, it draws influences from bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Weezer and At the Drive-in with an undertone of British rock from bands like Reuben, Hundred Reasons, Biffy Clyro and Yourcodenameis:milo.

‘Freaks Like Us’ is made up of songs that reflect on real stories and experiences. If you had to define the title then it basically means coming to the realisation that you're not alone in how you think or act. The songs are less personal on this album and more of an observation into the people around me.”

The tracklisting for ‘Freaks Like Us’ is as follows:

1. Freaks Like Us
2. Commitments
3. Half Gone
4. Ring The Bells
5. Empty Chest
6. Back Of Your Mind
7. The Dealers Hand
8. To Be Scene
9. Bury My Thoughts
10. So Many Paths

The band has toured with the likes of Funeral for a Friend, The Subways, Kids In Glass Houses and The Get Up Kids. You can catch them on tour with Presidents of the USA in March:

WITH PRESIDENTS OF THE USA:
MARCH
08th - Bristol O2 Academy
09th - Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
10th - Manchester Hmv Ritz
11th - Glasgow O2 Abc
16th - London Hmv Forum

HEADLINE ‘FREAKS LIKE US’ RELEASE SHOWS:
APRIL
23rd - London Macbeth
24th - Cardiff The Moon


Here’s what the press had to say about the bands debut album ‘Persistence In This Game:
"Sure to follow in their friends' footsteps, Straight Lines are heading straight up." - 4/5 Big Cheese
“Runaway Now' and 'Say It For Your Sake' will smash into your memory within seconds, while the aggressive riffs will carry the package into your heart.” - 8/10 Rocksound

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Frank Turner - New single ‘I Still Believe’/’Somebody To Love’ released 21st April 2012.

Frank Turner 2010
Following Frank Turner’s epic headline show at London’s Wembley Arena on 13th April 2012, a very special limited edition double A-side 7” single of ‘I Still Believe’/Somebody To Love’ will hit the shops for this year’s Record Store Day.

A rousing declaration of Frank’s unwavering faith in music ‘I Still Believe’ is a call to arms for those who are enraptured by the simplicity and power of “guitar and drums and desperate poetry”. A live favourite, this track has had crowds all over the world passionately shouting the title refrain creating the unity and solidarity so distinctive to Frank’s gigs.

His cover of Queen’s ‘Somebody To Love’ has also become a live classic since he first performed it in the UK during his secret set on the Lock Up Stage at Reading & Leeds in 2011. Having performed on the Main Stage earlier on in the day, his second set was a triumphant show full of surprises and joy, and became one of the main talking points of the weekend.
This is the first time Frank has laid down this track and it is only available on this release.
It will be released digitally on 30th April 2012.

‘I Still Believe’ is lifted from the Top 12 album ‘England Keep My Bones’ – Frank’s most successful album to date and soon to be certified Silver status for UK sales. Previous single ‘Wessex Boy’, was added to the Radio 1 B-list, 6Music A-list and XFM daytime playlist.

Frank’s only London headline show in 2012 at Wembley Arena is very close to selling out but a very few tickets are still available. The one and only Billy Bragg will be special guest, and the incomparable talents of Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobias Pip and Beans On Toast also join the line-up.
It’s going to be a corker!
And as attention turns to the summer, Frank is excited to announce that he will be performing at this year’s V Festival and headlining the Beautiful Days Festival, both in August. More festival news to come.

Friday 13th April 2012 London Wembley Arena 0844 815 0815
Tickets are on sale: http://www.gigsandtours.com/?a=frank+turner&site=frankturner

Live reviews from November 2011 UK headline tour:
“The singer-songwriter is finally graduating from a cult concern to a mainstream success.” Evening Standard 4/5

“For a singer soon to headline Wembley Arena, Frank Turner has remained remarkably under the radar. That, you suspect is where the 29-year-old from Hampshire would be happy to stay. His fans, however are having none of it.” Times 4/5

“…the former Million Dead frontman turned rabble rousing solo singer songwriter inspires overhead handclaps and massed chants to every single song, and a phenomenal atmosphere of togetherness and unity.” Independent on Sunday

Reviews of ‘England Keep My Bones’:
“Turner proves himself an accomplished and impassioned storyteller. Stirring stuff.” Q 4 stars
"a fearless venture for an artist with something interesting to say" 8/10 NME
"The wonderfully titled England Keep My Bones' features some of the finest songs Frank has yet written." 4/5 Kerrang!
"One of the UK's greatest songwriting talents...these songs will be soundtracking many of our lives for years to come." Rocksound 9/10
"The high priest of protest song sings on." Evening Standard 3/5
"Four albums into his solo career..."folk punk" man looks poised for a breakout beyond his loyal following." Observer
"this is an exuberant yet quietly sophisticated triumph" BBC online

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