Up & Coming Bands who perform in London – All images © Chris Dorney.

Latest

67 – ‘The Badje’ and ‘The Approval’

The Badje:

www.the-badje.co.uk

“Since they formed in January 2009, the Brighton ensemble all share one common aspiration: to make music that matters and combines the unique individuality of all four members.

The band has drawn similarities as wide-ranging as The Beatles and The Pretty Things to more current groups such as Kasabian and Gorillaz. Distinctive and harmoniously obscure, they describe their influences as eclectic as ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll, soul music, ’60s pop & psychedelia, film scores & classical!

The Badje released their debut album “Ride Out” in the Summer of 2009…only one month after meeting! Since then they have played numerous gigs in and around the UK. On Friday 3rd June 2011 the bands’ second album, “Taste Music With Your Ear Tongue” was unleashed on the unsuspecting ears of their hometown fans of Brighton, UK. The Badje (supported by an astronomical cast of Brighton’s best performers) hosted a lavish launch party at Brighton’s venue the Green Door Store.”

(Info obtained from the band’s website)

The Approval:

www.theapproval.bandcamp.com

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66 – ‘King of Spain’, ‘YOUAREHERE’ and ‘P. E. Tripp’

King of Spain:

www.kingofspain.co.uk

“King of Spain are a five-piece from Balham (famously dubbed ‘Gateway to the South’ by Peter Sellers), South London. After years of sending home-recorded demos of varying degrees of quality to anyone who’d listen, their debut album ‘Battleships & Aeroplanes’ was released in 2008 on Oxford’s pioneering Shifty Disco label. Recorded on a dairy farm near the Oxfordshire village of Steventon, the record was received by the media with a mixture of delight, consternation, confusion and downright anger. NME loved it, Artrocker did not.

Album track ‘Bacon’ was selected by William Ravenscroft (son of the late, great John Peel) as one of his gems of 2008, and received airplay on the legendary Tom Robinson’s BBC6 radio show. Once a clean edit had been hurriedly produced to remove a particularly offensive swear word, Tom also took to spinning live favourite ‘Menagerie’. Last year the band returned to the cow shed to beach some fresh tunes, and begin the process of recording Album Numero Deux, ‘thirtydegreeshandsonhipsleanforwardsmile’, with long-suffering producer/engineer Rowland Prytherch (a.k.a. Badger). It will be released October 7th 2011 on Shifty Disco records.

King of Spain run ‘flux=rad’, an occasional showcase of lo-fi and alternative music that usually happens at their spiritual home, the 12 Bar Club in Soho, and sometimes at the Notting Hill Arts Club in, err, Notting Hill. They also play gigs in places from Berlin to Bournemouth, but can be pretty much persuaded to go anywhere given the promise of beer and/or food.”

(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

YOUAREHERE:

www.asyndeton.net

“YOUAREHERE is a Rome-based electronic project formed in 2011. Inspired by the likes of Apparat, M83 and Sigur Ros, the band offers a fusion of styles reflecting the previous musical releases of its three members: the glitchy and powerful beats of micro (Claudio Del Proposto), the wrapping, rhythmic patterns of edPorth (Patrizio Piastra), and the melancholy crescendos of French Teen Idol (Andrea Di Carlo).

YOUAREHERE’s debut album, As When The Fall Leaves Trees, perfectly encompasses the characteristics of the three Italian artists. This 9-track, 50-minute long concept album is a musical journey through fast-paced rhythms, obsessive loops, reverberated vocals and dreamy piano melodies, leaving the listener with an unusual feeling of pleasure and disorientation. ”

(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

P. E. Tripp:

www.facebook.com/petrippmusic

“Cross over the river Thames and make your way through the dark streets of South London to Waterloo where P.E Tripp has been working a sound over the last couple of years. A mixture of Electropop and RnB he calls “LDN Funk”.
2011 signals two release for P.E – an E.P “By the Starlight” and a debut album “Into the Stars”. The recordings are underway and are being produced and arranged all from a bedroom, by Tripp himself. Having learnt most of his instruments from playing in Church as a youngster, the recordings feature him performing every vocal & every instrument (Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer, Bass, all Drum/Rhythm Arrangements, Beatbox, Vocoder, Octapad and Djembe). Look out for these recordings in 2011 alongside the previous single release “Miss Artois” from 2009.”

(Info obtained from the artist’s facebook page)

64 – ‘Utopian Love Revival’, ‘Rossella Scarlet’ and ‘The Green Brothers’

Utopian Love Revival:

“Officially formed in 2012 through various muso listing sites. Utopian Love Revival is all about the songs, about people getting together… ULR is loose & laidback movement of free thinking thoughts, sounds, art & creation. ”

(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

Rossella Scarlet:

www.myspace.com/rossellascarlet77

The Green Brothers:

www.myspace.com/greenbrothersuk

“Sons of legendary Pirates guitarist and veteran session man, Mick Green, form powerful combo blasting out full throttle 70’s style R&B/Garage Rock at a blistering pace. Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride!

In 2010, Brad and Lloyd (sons of the legendary Pirates’ guitarist and veteran session man, Mick Green), joined forces with ex-Pirates’ drummer Mike Roberts to form The Green Brothers. Their first performance was to a packed audience at the tribute concert for their late father at the famous 100 Club. They were joined on stage by Pirates’ vocalist Johnny Spence and support acts included The Animals and The Wilko Johnson Band.

Following the success of that night and due to much public demand, the boys set about recruiting a singer and found the perfect shipmate in a cheeky Essex chappy. Dean’s soulful, bluesy, gravelly voice, combined with the band’s own unique powerful rhythm and blues, makes The Green Brothers a real tour de force. Brad’s simultaneous rhythm and lead playing has been described as ‘reproducing Mick’s style with unnerving accuracy’. Laying down the solid foundation for Dean and Brad is the powerful ‘engine room’ of Lloyd Green on bass and Mike Roberts on drums.

The Green Brothers are truly a powerful combo who relentlessly blast out full throttle 70’s style R&B/Garage Rock at a blistering pace. Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride!”

(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

63 – ‘Blackfoot Circle’, ‘Code500’ and ‘The Worms’

Blackfoot Circle:

www.blackfootcircle.com

“Blackfoot Circle….. Two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer and a singer. All with the same desire for what they do and for where they want to be.

The band are from Portsmouth, England, where you can hear their songs playing from any open window and where a sell-out Wedgewood Rooms crowd can be heard singing their lyrics on any given Saturday night.

Fresh off the back of winning Hard Rock Cafe’s UK Battle of The Bands competition, where they received glowing reviews from judges James Curran (Absolute Radio), Jemma Downey (Live Nation) and James Walsh (Starsailor), The band’s belief and reputation are growing fast. This and their recent appearance at Bestival being covered by ITV’s Meridian News has created a real buzz in and around their local area.

They now hope to achieve the same following nationally as they have in their home town. Music trends are forever changing and Blackfoot Circle feel that they are the band to be the catalyst for the next shift to make guitar music great again.”

(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

Code500:

www.code500.co.uk

“Code500 are an Alternative band from Northampton, UK

Several studio recordings early 2010, soon became live sessions, bringing together different musicians, experimenting with a new sound. Since then, Code500 have become well known, playing live at, and hosting various club nights. The band have successfully gigged in and around London and recently performed at the BBC’s Introducing. The band are currently putting final touches to their much anticipated debut EP, set for release in the coming months.

Delivering a massive wall of sound , Code500 are best described as a modern fusion of Rock n Roll, Trip Hop and Dance”

(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

The Worms:

www.reverbnation.com/thewormery

“The Worms are an English trio of folk and electronic musicians. In 2005 we began playing songs about ornithology and architecture at open mic nights in Reading. Our soul is gothic, our mind is psychedelic, our roots are progressive, our attitude is punk, our tradition is folk, our tools are electronic. Over the last 5 years, we have recorded sessions for WFMU in New York, been broadcast on Resonance FM in London, been broadcast on homegrownradionj.com in New Jersey, been broadcast very regularly on KPOV in Bend, Oregon, played live in session on Resnonance FM in London, produced 4 demo recordings and performed as a solo, duo and trio in Reading and London, UK, and Seoul, South Korea. Our newest demo is called “Strife Cycle”. We soldier on.”

(Info obtained from the band’s Reverbnation website – link above)

62 – ‘Lorena B’ and ‘New Manhattan’

Lorena B:

www.lorena-b.com

“Lorena B, a post-dubstep group based in London, UK, already caught the attention of Jarvis Cocker, and respectful bloggers like Cruel Rhythm have favorably compared them to the young electronic producers freshening up the UK scene.

Following the release of their self-produced debut album, they went on a short tour in the UK, and since had their songs played on BBC radio, XFM radio, the BBC Music Video Festival and popular blogs.

They have played the main support for Blonde Redhead and for the Junior Boys, collaborated with international producer BORGORE and other local artists and have been invited to play in showcases in the CMJ Music Marathon in New York and in the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg.

Their passion for UK’s alternative and electronic music, which they frequently play on DJ sets and their radio show, is also apparent in their upcoming EP, with strong influences from leading producers like James Blake, Hudson Mohawke and SBTRKT.”

(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

New Manhattan:

www.newmanhattan.bandcamp.com

61 – ‘Von Bartha’, ‘The Red Bullets’ and ‘Atlantic & Lion’

Von Bartha:

www.vonbartha.bandcamp.com

“Von Bartha are what The Shadows would have sounded like if they’d been lobbed into a vat of LSD and had PJ Harvey’s pet banshee on vocals instead of Cliff Richard. A pleasing blend of up-tempo rocky jazzy weirdness, they keep you on your toes by never letting you guess what direction they’ll go next. Strangely, even people who profess not to like bands at all seem to love Von Bartha.”

(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

The Red Bullets:

www.theredbullets.com

“The Red Bullets were formed in 2007 by Pete Edwards and brother Mark as an outlet for Pete’s songs, many of them co-written with lyricist and close friend, John Bailey. Their music made an instant impact with audiences not only UK wide, but also with those who immediately took the band’s songs to their hearts during tours of Dubai and the French Alps in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

The Edwards brothers were joined during the early years of the bands ascent by Mark Wheeler on bass and Kyle Hall on guitar, who both left the band in May 2010 which marked the start of a re-birth for the band with a change in approach and, of course, personnel. Lyricist and now bass player John Bailey joined, at first, on a temporary basis, and the band were introduced to former Twang guitarist, Stuart Hartland, by producer Gavin Monaghan. Stuart initially recorded some sessions for the band and has since become, along with John Bailey, an ever-more-present member of the group, stamping his unique characteristics on the bands recent work.

A more recent addition to the band has been Ben Weston, a singer songwriter from Northamptonshire. The Red Bullets’ performance at the British Grand Prix to a 7000+ crowd was the first time the band had performed with 5 members, with Ben on acoustic guitar and adding to Mark’s prominent backing vocals. Ben’s ‘high up the fret board’, almost Ukulele sounding flourishes shimmering on top of Stuart’s unforgettable guitar licks and Pete’s unmissable pounding piano style, won instant favour with the Bullets faithful.

The Red Bullets often go out as a three piece, Pete on lead vocals and piano, John on bass and Mark on drums and backing vocals, something which developed from an experiment during a tour of the West Country in 2010. This has become yet another dimension for the band, in addition to the 4 and 5 piece performances and Pete’s solo performances and intimate shows with a string quartet (these are few and far between and well worth looking out for).

The Red Bullets have a strong, loyal following who are the backbone of the band’s existence, and it is this that allows this energetic, fun and committed band of musicians to continue to grow and evolve.

Check out The Red Bullets’ forthcoming dates to find out what all the fuss is about, you won’t regret it… They’ll have you whistling all the way home!”

(Info obtained from the band’s Official website)

Atlantic & Lion:

atlanticandlion.bandcamp.com

60 – ‘Thank Pablo’, ‘Ferris’ and ‘Trash Green’

Thank Pablo:

www.thankpablo.co.uk

“Based in South London, Thank Pablo make sun-kissed quintessentially English pop songs that have been dragged through the backstreets of Africa, Spain, France and Jamaica.

It is music to make you smile.

Recently featured on XFM, BBC 6Music and Queens Radio Belfast.”

(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

Ferris:

www.theferris.co.uk

Trash Green:

www.trashgreen.net

59 – TINS ON TOAST Launch Party featuring ‘Tribes’ and ‘Dexters’

‘Tins on Toast’ is a brand new Club Night at the Purple Turtle (Camden) on Monday nights featuring the best up and coming bands from across the country and Resident DJs: Steve Harris & Liam Young (XFM), Ed Wilder (Club NME) and Bandangos.

Here are some images from the ‘Tins on Toast’ Launch Party featuring ‘Dexters’ and an exclusive one-off acoustic set by ‘Tribes’ (as a 3-piece), who have been enjoying the success of their new album ‘Baby’.

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Dexters:

“Groups of good time boys and girls, musicians and renegades, vampires and vagabonds throughout the country are rooted in the same, unenviable and rudimentary limbo, frantically scheming, delicately lock-picking and audaciously plotting for the next strike for gold. Dexters have the master keys to that lock.”

(Info obtained from Dexter’s facebook page here)

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Tribes:

www.tribesband.com

Tribes’ new album ‘Baby’ can be purchased from itunes here

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58 – ‘P45’, ‘Deaf Offenders’ and Carol Jack & The Band’

P45:

www.p45band.co.uk

“Formed as a music project two years ago by Jack Kendall (star of ITV’s Bad Lads Army) and friend Neil Reed (guitar) the Mod /Ska /Soul band started life on the Essex and London’s pub / club circuit. There were a few line up changes before talented songwriter Rob Sigston (bass) jumped on board, as well as Joe Green (nephew of legendary guitarist Peter Green) playing sax. Along came drummer Dustin Burgess (veteran of countless ska, punk and tribute bands ) and ‘The Coverup’ were born.

The band have played a number of successful shows, most notably supporting Bruce Foxton’s “From The Jam”, Bad Manners, The Beat, and The Cockney Rejects, It was during this time that Rob (who’s previous efforts enjoyed Radio air play) started to write songs such as ‘Top Floor’ and ‘London Boys City Girls’. A collaboration with Garry Bushell produced the “Ska For Heroes” EP featuring Buster Bloodvessel for Help the Heroes charity.

The band have created a buzz around its original songs and are now playing at some of the famous venues in the capital such as the Dublin Castle in Camden Town. Now owing to advice from the music industry execs they have changed their band name to ‘P45’ – a gritty reflection of modern times in Britain.

Fronted by the ‘larger than life’ Jack Kendall, P45 are a band with a story to tell….”

(Info obtained from the band’s official website)

Deaf Offenders:

“A bunch of rejects from the damned generation of Thatchers Britain making skanky raggae indie punk a bit like Coldplay if they played something completely different. Will play for Beer, Cider, Drugs, Womens Clothes and Blue Badge Parking Permits.”

(quote obtained from the band’s facebook page here)

Carol Jack & The Band:

“I started in school and university choirs, later did lead and backing vocals for songwriter demos, was a member of harmony group Camden Soul, and am now leading my own band singing mostly originals written by my partner Michael J Ellis.

I like the idea of singing songs that people from all backgrounds feel they can relate to. I’ve had people from the audience come up to me after a gig and say: ‘It’s like reading a diary!’ ‘Me and the missus looked at each other and said yeah, we’ve been there’. That’s great, and I hope to have this kind of impact on more people as I go along.”

(Info obtained from Carol’s facebook page here)