This May, Essex born folk songwriter Beans on Toast will take to the road on a tour of some of the UK's finest boozers and local pubs.

The Down The Pub Tour is a 19-day adventure from Preston to Bridgwater via Plymouth, Hastings and beyond. Paying homage to the classic British mainstay that is the public house and inspired by the song "Down the Pub" from his latest album "A Spanner in The Works" (Dec 2016 Xtra Mile Recordings).

Those who head out for a night down the pub are in for a real treat as the Beans on Toast live show is an odd and unpredictable experience. A singer, storyteller and songwriter his self-deprecating quality is not something you often see, but it breaks down the barrier between musician and audience, creating a sense of equality.

He’s a hippy, a punk, a poet, a drunk, a die-hard romantic and an eternal optimist. Singing simple songs that tackle big issues: Political protest songs for the modern day, honest and open Love songs. Songs that will make you laugh, but also make you think with no holds barred honest lyrics and quick wit.

A fan of touring off the beaten track and visiting some of the country’s overlooked towns, last year Beans on Toast went on his Small Town Celebrations Tour and made a documentary, shining a light on these towns and the local music scenes. The film was premiered at Glastonbury Festival later that year and can now be viewed here:

Unfortunately our pubs are under some real stress at present, be it a stupid and completely unrealistic rise in business rates or massive monopoly-style corporate buy outs of large breweries, it's tough times for boozers indeed. This tour is proud to champion the #saveourpubs campaign.

04 May PRESTON The Ferret

05 May BRADFORD The New Bee Hive Inn

06 May BOLTON Alma Inn

07 May COVENTRY The Phoenix

09 May MELTON MOWBRAY The Noel Arms

10 May WOLVERHAMPTON Giffard Arms

11 May CARMARTHEN The Friends Arms

17 May IPSWICH The Swan

18 May HERTFORD Dog & Whistle

19 May RAYNE The Swan

20 May HASTINGS The Tub

21 May WHITSTABLE Duke of Cumberland

23 May GLASTONBURY The King Arthur

24 May PLYMOUTH The Junction

25 May WATCHET Pebbles Tavern

26 May BRIDGWATER Cobblestones

Information and tickets for all shows can be found at: www.beansontoastmusic.com

“Protest songs peppered with optimism” The Guardian

"A politically relevant prolific wordsmith" CLASH

“Music brings people together in a way few things do, and live shows more so. But there’s something even more special about gigs with Beans on Toast.” Cultured Vultures

BEN MARWOOD

Releases new album ‘Get Found’ on 7th April 2017

Listen to the first single ‘Baby You’re A Mess’

The long awaited return of one of Xtra Mile Recordings’ most treasured artists, singer songwriter Ben Marwood releases ‘Get Found’ on 7th April 2017. 

Coinciding with the release is Ben’s first tour in over 3 years – taking in some of the UK’s best independent venues. Support comes from label mate Non Canon and on select dates, Helen Chambers. 

APRIL
6th - Brunswick, Brighton*
7th - Monarch, London*
8th - Southsea Sound, Portsmouth*
10th - Crofters Rights, Bristol*
11th - Bodega, Nottingham*
12th - Fulford Arms, York*
14th - Opium, Edinburgh
15th - Hug & Pint, Glasgow
16th - Gullivers, Manchester*
*with Helen Chambers on these dates

‘Get Found’ has been a long time in the making. After the successes of debut album ‘Outside There’s A Curse’ (2011) and the follow-up ‘Back Down’ (2013) – which include a sold out solo headline UK tour; a support run with Frank Turner across the US, and the very surreal spectacle of accompanying Mr Turner upon rolling green hills at his pre-show performance of the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Ben wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to or even want to play music again. 

A very intense year-long illness stopped Ben in his tracks and even though 2014-2015 was a surprisingly productive year of writing new songs, life continued to intervene, and this promising musician spent a year “embracing horizontal living”. It turns out that if you’re unhappy in a lot of aspects of your life your body isn’t keen on carrying that weight. He ended up cancelling all his shows at the end of 2014's final Back Down tour except his slot at his home festival, 2000trees. “But I was still trying to date and work and arrange replacement shows for the ones I cancelled but in the end I had to admit that broken humans can’t do what they feel like. Mind over matter only works if your mind wants to play ball.” Ben takes pride in showing up but was forced home to recover.

A third album was anything but inevitable at that point. Yet here we are, in 2017, warmly welcoming another Ben Marwood record. After introducing us to little Ben Marwood in the cutest way possible on the opening song, it’s followed by ‘The Church of No Commandments’ which happily reminds us what we’ve been missing, with an energetic live thrust and gymnastic banjo plying the way for a phrase that soars ‘we’ll sing through every chorus as if we can stave off death’. On the last song, Ben utters ‘take your lullabies and fuck off’ before winding a song around the meaning of true friendship. That constant contrast is resplendent and displayed throughout. 

The album doesn’t stray far from its roots but plays with them tenderly. Pedal steel aches on ‘Enraptured’, while ‘DNFTTTS’ is pure andante piano melody. ‘Nights’ chugs and spits before bellowing into the most uplifting-sounding chorus about death you’ve heard yet – and there are plenty to come. “I’m not dead, I’m not dying, I just can’t get up,” confesses Ben on ‘I’m Wide Awake It’s Boring’ as one of just two songs that directly reference his mental and physical state of that difficult year. But Ben’s still able to pull his best from just his familiar flowing fingerstyle and disarmingly affecting voice on ‘Bones’ and ‘Bury Me In the Pantheon’. Penultimate song ‘The Devil Makes Work For Jazz Hands’ dwells on death and immobility again (“the weight of the world is locked on your shoulders forever”) before sliding in a slick guitar solo and resolving into a plea of “you should know that you can’t fear all of the things you fear in the dark”. 

Confessional and demanding of attention – it’s great to have Ben Marwood back. 

Order the album here: 
Xtra Mile Recordings - http://smarturl.it/GetFound-XMR
iTunes – http://smarturl.it/GetFound_iTunes

www.benmarwood.com // www.xtramilerecordings.com 

ONEFEST AND FRANK TURNER

PRESENT LOST EVENINGS

4 day festival at London’s Roundhouse Venue
12^th – 15^th May 2017

Special guests announced

As announced late last year, OneFest and Frank Turner have teamed up to present a fantastic 4-day festival, taking place on 12th-15th May 2017 at London’s iconic music venue, The Roundhouse. Lost Evenings will see Frank Turner curate and headline four consecutive one off concerts, designed to offer fans and festival goers an experience like no other. Tickets for the events are selling very fast with the first night completely sold out and now Frank can announce the first wave of special guests for all four nights.

On Friday, 12th May Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls will perform a crowd pleasing Greatest Hits set entitled Last Minutes and Lost Evenings, and supporting that night will be Brian Fallon and The Crowes.  Fallon, and his band The Gaslight Anthem invited Frank to tour with them in 2009 and the two have remained friends since. Following on Saturday, Frank will perform his debut album ‘Sleep Is For The Week’ in full as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. On this night long-admired musical peer Seth Lakeman will support. On Sunday Frank resurrects Nambucca’s infamous former club night ‘Sensible Sundays’ and brings in close pal and musical hero Scott Hutchison from Frightened Rabbit onto the bill.  Closing ‘Lost Evenings’ on Monday 15th May, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls unite with Huw Stephens and his Label Of Love to feature Xtra Mile Recordings and showcase the extraordinary talent on the roster. First act to be announced is Skinny Lister who are main support to Frank’s second Greatest Hits set of the series.

In addition to the evening performances, OneFest will run a selection of panels and workshops during the day, offering inspiration, insight and advice to young individuals both operating in and trying to break in to the music industry.  The full programme of events will be supported by official partner Radio X who will host an additional stage featuring up and coming talent selected by esteemed presenter and indie champion John Kennedy.

The OneFest element to the event will be part-produced by a cohort of six young adults aged 18-25 who are currently undergoing professional development programmes within the music industry, designed and run by The Hub.  These programmes will support them in fulfilling roles across the event in panel and additional stage programming, artist liaison, digital marketing and business affairs. Speaking about this partnership with OneFest, Frank says:
“As an artist who worked their way up from the ground floor, I totally understand the challenges involved in carving out a meaningful and sustainable career within the music industry. OneFest plays a critical role in helping young talent get their first significant break, along with arming them with the tools and the knowledge to get ahead. I’m delighted to be collaborating with OneFest as I recognise only too well the importance of opportunity and the right kind of support to help new and young talent into the business.”

Tickets for OneFest and Frank Turner present Lost Evenings are now on sale: gigsandtours.com / ticketmaster.co.uk / roundhouse.org.uk

Friday 12th May: Last Minutes & Lost Evenings, Greatest Hits set (1 of 2) with Brian Fallon and The Crowes in support
Saturday 13th May: Sleep Is For The Week, 10th Anniversary performance with Seth Lakeman in support
Sunday 14th May: Sensible Sundays, solo acoustic night with Frank Turner, with Scott Hutchinson from Frightened Rabbit in support
Monday 15th May: Huw Stephens ‘Label of Love’ Night featuring Xtra Mile Recordings and Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls performing the Greatest Hits, part 2, with Skinny Lister in support.
The full line up and programme of events, including panels and workshops will be announced in soon.

For further information regarding OneFest please contact:
Erika Thomas erika.thomas@wma.agency

ABOUT ONEFEST
Born in Wiltshire in 2011 out of a desire to provide meaningful and ethical support to a Big Lottery Fund supported rural community enterprise and community pub which was part of the BBC Village SOS series; OneFest was established to help the local community sustain and develop their community hub.  The festival was a resounding success and provided a significant platform for local talent who supported headline acts Damien Rice, Laura Marling, The Magic Numbers and Dry the River, with a project endorsement from Seasick Steve.  Returning in Wiltshire in 2012, OneFest continued to support the local economy where possible, providing voluntary and work experience placements in addition to breaking new, local talent in conjunction with BBC Introducing. Damon Albarn headlined the festival bringing his critically acclaimed Dr Dee to the site, ahead of his Hyde Park performance with Blur. Five years on and OneFest has evolved into a UK based, non-profit, music industry development company set up to support the emergence of new talent.  Working collaboratively with partners, such as AIF (Association of Independent Festivals), The Roundhouse, The Hub, The 100 Club, PRS for Music, PRS Foundation and Young Guns Network, and with the support of Arts Council England, OneFest provides a platform for new and emerging talent which will inspire, support and develop a new generation of artists, performers and music industry professionals through the creation of genuine opportunities and practical experience in the music and creative industries – ultimately contributing to the regeneration of the UK music community.

www.onefestUK.com