Crazy Arm 'The Southern Wild'

CRAZY ARM
New (acoustic) album: 'The Southern Wild' 
Release date: 23rd September 2013 
Label: Xtra Mile Recordings
Formats: CD, digital, (12" vinyl later)

Devon roots-punks, Crazy Arm, release a full album of acoustic songs in September. The band began recording back in October 2012. Ten months later (but after only seven full days of recording) the album is finally in the can. Titled 'The Southern Wild', and recorded by James Bragg in various locations, including band members' houses, it proffers eleven slices of country, folk and bluegrass that doffs its cap to English, Irish and American traditions while retaining a rustic Westcountry lilt and a keen anarchist bent; with a respectful nod to the likes of Woven Hand, Murder By Death, Johnny Cash, Phil Ochs, The Handsome Family, Austin Lucas, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Emmylou Harris and CSN/Y.  The band's decision to record a chiefly acoustic record came after the rousing reception they received from acoustic tours and shows over the past two years.

Whether Crazy Arm are setting their sights on frontier melodrama ('Hell To Pay', 'County Jaws'), bluegrass clawhammer stomp ('Don't Be Cruel'), late-'60s vocal harmonies and protest song ('Remembrance'), brooding a cappella ('Oh Death', 'The Valley Of Weeping') or redemptive gothic Americana ('Black Canyon'), there's always that slightly askew homegrown sensibility at the core. It sounds nothing like the guitar-throttling hardcore country rock of their first two albums, 'Born To Ruin' and 'Union City Breath', but there's plenty of common ground if you care to look. Of course, this isn't the first time that a band have highlighted the cultural similarities between punk and folk/country but it may be the first time that a band have done it from such stylistic extremes. 'The Southern Wild' is the sound of a band who have never been content with churning out the same thing twice, who delight in discovering new and old music, and who revel in pursuing their own dogged agenda, wherever it takes them.

But things haven't been running that smoothly for the rock Crazy Arm. In January, bassist Tim Rowing-Parker left to fulfil his own musical destiny with powerpop trio, Woahnows. The band continued to work in the studio and write/demo new songs for their third rock album while looking for a new bass player. Then in May, drummer Simon Marsh quit. Cue uncertainty and a weighty state of limbo. But for Crazy Arm, the show isn't over 'til the fat lad sings. So, after some soul-searching, and with a slew of great new musicians ready to help out (take a bow, new drummer Matt Colwell and bassist Nathan Stevens), the band have re-booted, found their footing and are back in the saddle. Giddy up, indeed.

Crazy Arm embark on a UK tour in September to coincide with the release (see dates below).

'The Southern Wild' track-listing:
01 Oh Death / Hell To Pay
02 Remembrance
03 Don't Be Cruel
04 Fossils
05 County Jaws
06 The Wildcats Of Denbury
07 Roasting River
08 A Pocketful Of Gold 
09 We Don't Go There Any More
10 The Valley Of Weeping
11 Black Canyon

Crazy Arm on this record:
Darren Johns - vocals, acoustic guitars, banjo, bass, percussion
Vicky Butterfield - vocals, percussion
Jon Dailey - acoustic and electric guitars, harmonium
Tim Rowing-Parker - bass
Simon Marsh - drums
Patrick James Pearson - piano, keyboards, fiddle, vocals
Jon Warren - drums on 'Black Canyon'
James Bragg - percussion, samples on 'The Valley Of Weeping'
Smudge - meows on 'Fossils'

Confirmed dates:
1 Sept – WTFest, Southampton (w/Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun + Great Cynics + more)
8 Sept – Exeter, Cavern (acoustic trio w/Joe Tilston + PJ Bond + more)
13 Sept – Newton Abbot, Jolly Farmer (full band acoustic w/Crowns)
14 Sept – Southsea Fest, Portsmouth (Xtra Mile Acoustic stage w/Beans On Toast + more)
15 Sept – Wiltshire, Devizes, The Lamb Inn (full band acoustic w/Mick O'Toole)
16 Sept – London, Old Blue Last (full band acoustic w/Emily Barker)
17 Sept – Cambridge, The Corner House (full band acoustic w/Sam Russo + 7 Day Conspiracy)
18 Sept – Leeds, Santiagos (full band acoustic w/Jake & The Jellyfish + Tia-Rhian)
19 Sept – The Lounge Bar, Warrington (full band acoustic w/Roughneck Riot)
21 Sept – Norwich, The Stanley Arms (full band acoustic w/Crowns)
22 Sept – Kingston, Fighting Cocks (full band acoustic w/Smith Street Band + Great Cynics)
27 Sept – Maggie's Cafe, Plymouth (electric w/Bus Station Loonies + Phat Bollard)
27 Sept – White Rabbit, Plymouth (full band acoustic w/Damerels + more)

Contacts:
Band - www.facebook.com/thecrazyarm
Music - www.xtramilerecordings.com
Bookings - aisha@oneinchbadge.com

FRANK TURNER ARENA TOUR!

FRANK TURNER

ANNOUNCES MASSIVE HEADLINE ARENA TOUR FEBRUARY 2014

Frank Turner has announced his biggest ever headline tour for February 2014. The 7 date run includes his first ever headline date at the huge London O2 Arena as well as other impressive arenas in Cardiff, Manchester, Nottingham and more. 

Turner, who headlined Wembley Arena last year and was also chosen to open Danny Boyle's stunning Olympic Opening Ceremony, last weekend played the Main Stage at Reading/Leeds festival, where he was the highest-billed UK artist on that day.

Full UK Arena tour dates are:
February 2014
Thursday 6th Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Friday 7th Nottingham Arena
Saturday 8th Edinburgh Corn Exchange
Sunday 9th Manchester Arena
Tuesday 11th Plymouth Pavillions 
Wednesday 12th London O2
Thursday 13th Portsmouth Guildhall

Tickets £22.50 except London £25 on general sale from Friday 30th August
Presale from 27th August, London O2 presale begins 28th August to O2 customers

Frank Turner has had a busy year, even by his own standards. Following the release of his fifth studio album ‘Tape Deck Heart’ in April, he played a sold-out tour of the UK and has been on the road with his band The Sleeping Souls ever since. So far his global tour has taken him across Europe, to the Far East, Australasia and North America.

‘Losing Days’, the third single to taken from ‘Tape Deck Heart’, is released on 1st September through Xtra Mile Recordings. 

www.frank-turner.com
www.xtramilerecordings.com 

BRAND NEW ALBUM

UK TOUR WITH EMILY BARKER & THE RED CLAY HALO

PLUS UK HEADLINE TOUR

Described as an “Outstanding, indispensable genius. A modern-day Blake” by Sunday Times and “One of the great underground artists of our time.” by Jon Snow - CHRIS T-T is truly one of the nation’s best songwriting talents.

He returns this Autumn with his ninth studio album – ‘The Bear’ released 7th October 2013 - his third album for label Xtra Mile Recordings. Recorded with his band The Hoodrats, together they have departed from the paired down introspection of 2010’s Love Is Not Rescue and instead created a full-on psych rock record with hints of Sebadoh, early Hold Steady, early Yo La Tengo, or Blur at their heavier moments and with a nod to grimy garage-y 60s like The Faces and Animals. Channelling these influences, Chris and his band taped the album live in a room and completed it in 3 or 4 takes just as those bands would have done back then. The result is a fascinating and excitingly fresh sounding record and some of his best work to date. 

The title track of the album is released as a single, also 7th October 2013. A lyric video to which you can see here:

And you can pre-order the new album here: http://bit.ly/16PR4ix

Coinciding with the album and single release Chris T-T returns to the touring circuit – firstly as main support on the Emily Barker and The Red Clay Halo album headline tour and then straight on to his own headline UK tour. Full dates:  


OCTOBER
10 Aberdeen Lemon Tree
11 Ullapool The Arch Inn
12 Inverness Ironworks
13 Glasgow Oran Mor 
15 Brighton Komedia
16 London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
17 Gloucester Blackfriars Priory
18 Cardiff The Globe
20 Leicester The Musician
21 Bromsgrove Artrix
22 Oxford St John's Church
23 Bury St Edmunds The Apex
25 Norwich Open
NOVEMBER
7 Manchester St Philips Church, Salford
8 Kendal Brewery Arts Centre
9 Newcastle Cluny
10 Leeds Brudenell Social Club
11 Cambridge Junction
13 Winchester Discovery Centre
14 Exeter Phoenix
16 Hastings St Marys In The Castle
17 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
19 Birmingham Glee Club
20 Sheffield Greystones
21 New Brighton Floral Pavilion
22 Bristol Folk House
CHRIS T-T ‘THE BEAR’ UK TOUR – SOLO 
24 Cardiff Moon Club
28 Ipswich Town Hall
29 York The Black Swan
5 Manchester Kraak Gallery
6 Leeds All Hallows Church
7 Durham Old Cinema Launderette
DECEMBER
8 – 11 Scottish Tour, Dates Tba
13 Bexhill Eras Of Style
14 Margatetom Thumb Theatre
15 Milton Keynes Watershed Arts
18 London The Monarch
19 Brighton Venue Tba
20 Devizes The Lamb

Since 1999 Chris T-T has released eight albums, including a trilogy about London: The 253 (2001), London Is Sinking (2003) and Capital (2008), as well as alt-folk protest classic 9 Red Songs (2005) and more recently the inward-looking Love Is Not Rescue (2010). Based in Brighton but restlessly mobile, he has written for The Morning Star, Louder Than War, Huffington Post, New Public Thinkers and others. Alongside writing and touring, Chris speaks regularly at conferences and runs seminars and workshops.

* not that Jon Snow; that Jon Snow. The main dude off of Channel 4 News, not Ned Stark’s bastard off of Game Of Thrones.

Fighting Fiction - new album & live dates

RELEASE BRAND NEW ALBUM AND 

ANNOUNCE HUGE UK & EUROPEAN HEADLINE TOUR!

Brighton punk rock quartet Fighting Fiction are returning with their brand new second album ‘The Long & Short Of It’ out 16th September 2013 on Xtra Mile Recordings. 

Teaming up with producer Mark Williams (Oceansize, Million Dead, Yourcodenameis:milo, Biffy Clyro & Enter Shikari) once again – they’ve created an album full of honest storytelling, catchy melodies and driving guitar riffs, that proves they’re a young band with a  knack for songwriting with something interesting to say. 

Coinciding with the release is the single ‘Enabler’ – released on the same day as the album – and an impressive tour of the UK and Europe.

SEPTEMBER
20th – Grimsby @ The Matrix
21st – York @ Gibson's Rock Cafe 
22nd – Aberdeen @ Cafe Drummond
23rd – Edinburgh @ Opium Bar
24th - Glasgow @ Broadcast 
25th – Crewe @ Dagobar
26th – Carmarthen @ The Parrot
27th – Midsomer Norton @ The Wunderbar
28th – Betafest @ Palladium Club 
29th – Plymouth @ Tiki Bar
30th – Camborne @ The New Clipper Bar
OCTOBER
3rd – Canterbury @ Lady Luck Bar
4th - Belgium Venue TBC
5th - Lille @ Le Monk's Cafe -France
6th – Le Havre @ Mc David’s, France
7th – Paris @ Café de Paris - France
8th – Nantes @ TBC - France
9th – Turin @ Manhattan Pub - Italy
10th – Milan @ Spazio Ligera - Italy
11th – Castiglione delle Stiviere Mantua @ Arci Dallò - Italy
12th - Millstatt @ Bergwerk - Austria
13th – Zdole @ Kostanjek 31 - Slovenia
14th - Vrbovec, Zagrebačka @ Akc Garaze - Croatia
15th - Budapest @ Venue TBC - Hungary
17th – Nuremberg @ MLTB Homebar- Germany
18th - Kladno @ Auto Da Fe – Czech Rep
19th – Leipzig @ Schuppen – Germany
20th – Poznan @ Pod Minogą - Poland
22nd – Heemskerk @ Cafe Lokaal - Netherlands
23rd – Utrecht @ ACU - Netherlands

Ahead of this, Fighting Fiction are offering the title track of the album as a free download here:

Fighting Fiction have been earning their stripes working hard and touring relentlessly. Their earnest DIY approach is the backdrop to everything they do – whether booking their own tours or finding like-minded bands to go on the road with. It has seen them play alongside Frank Turner, This Town Needs Guns, The Riot Before, The Xcerts, Laura Marling, Gnarwolves, future of the left, Sharks, Crowns, Apologies’ I have None, Off With Their Heads, Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun and Crazy Arm; as well as festival appearances at The Lock Up Stage at Reading and Leeds Festival, The Isle of Man TT, The Isle of Wight, Crash Doubt, WTFest and 2000 Trees.

Their debut album was released February 2012 and was met with high praise from the press and fans alike. Kerrang! magazine said it’s a "striking and stirring debut from sussex-based punks" (4K's). While Big Cheese felt that Fighting Fiction are a "rock band that proves that the DIY rock scene is in safe hands" (4/5) with Rock Sound also praising their debut record saying it was “Layered with pop sensibilities and an undertone hinting at eclectic tastes, the self-titled full-length has a personal touch that is, above all, refreshing” (8/10).

www.fightingfiction.com

www.xtramilerecordings.com

To Kill A King signs to Xtra Mile Recordings

To Kill A King

Sign to Xtra Mile Recordings

Deluxe LP ‘Cannibals With Cutlery’ out 7th October 2013

Xtra Mile Recordings are excited to announce the signing of "Rousing orchestral-folk" (The Guardian) marvels, To Kill A King and give details of the band’s forthcoming album, as well as their 13-date October/November UK tour.

The captivating London based five-piece are set to re-release their acclaimed album  ‘Cannibals With Cutlery’ as a deluxe edition with four extra tracks, on 7th October 2013 through Xtra Mile Recordings; with first single ‘Rays’ also available as a digital download from 7th October 2013. 

Ahead of this, To Kill A King are now offering the sublime ‘Bones’ as a free download here: – it the first track they ever recorded together as a band.

"We’re so excited to be on the same label as artists like Frank Turner and Beans On Toast. I’ve always really admired the work they have done over the years as an independent" - Ralph Pelleymounter, TKAK

Charlie Caplowe from Xtra Mile has added: “We are chuffed to bits to be working with TKAK. To see what they have achieved on their own is incredible and we are delighted to be working together with them to step things up even further and welcoming them into the XM clan.” 

You can pre-order the album from here:
Xtra Mile Recordings - http://bit.ly/1cvbAtl
iTunes - http://www.smarturl.it/to-kill-a-king

After a short tour in Germany in August (see below for European dates), the band will be performing at Reading and Leeds Festival (24th and 25th August respectively) and at Bestival on the Isle of Wight (5th-8th September). 
Then this autumn they embark on their UK headline tour – dates as follows:

October
Fri 18th   BRIGHTON, Audio www.oneinchbadge.ticketabc.com
Sun 20th BRISTOL, Thekla http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk
Mon 21st       WOLVERHAMPTON,Slade Room http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk
Tue 22nd LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club http://www.seetickets.com
Wed 23rd LIVERPOOL, Blade Factory www.ticketwerk.co.uk
Fri 25th PRESTON, 53 Degrees http://www.seetickets.com
Sat 26th EDINBURGH, Electric Circus http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ 
Sun 27th NEWCASTLE, The Cluny http://www.seetickets.com
Mon 28th SHEFFIELD, Leadmill www.leadmill.co.uk
Tue 29th LONDON, KOKO http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk
Thu 31st NOTTINGHAM, Rescue Rooms http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk 
November 
Fri 1st  SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners http://www.joinerslive.co.uk/ 

To Kill A King join Xtra Mile Recordings as the label celebrates its tenth anniversary. Set up initially in 2003 to release the critically acclaimed debut albums by Reuben and Million Dead, the label built on this early success and steadily over the past ten years it has grown exponentially covering genres rock, punk, folk, indie hardcore, from the UK and USA. With distribution deals on both sides of the Atlantic as well as across Europe, Xtra Mile is now very much a global outfit, with its records (yes, it still makes records) available in most corners of the globe and an inspiring roster ranging from acts that have achieved mainstream success to unearthing and developing the best of underground music.

Xtra Mile Recordings is home to: Frank Turner, Against Me!, Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun, Future Of The Left, The Xcerts, Ben Marwood, Beans On Toast, Chris T-T, Larry and His Flask, Crazy Arm, Sonic Boom Six, Mull Historical Society, Vinnie Caruana  and many more.

The band’s European dates are as follows:
August
Wed 14th BERLIN, Bi Nuu, Germany 
Thu 15th   BONN, Kunst!Palast, Germany     
September
Wed 11th BADEN, Merkker, Switzerland      
Thu 12th BERN, Ono, Switzerland   
Fri 13th NYON, La Parenthèse, Switzerland          
Sat 14th BASEN, Parterre, Switzerland        
Wed 25th Reeperbahn Festival

www.xtramilerecordings.com