Texas announce new single Are You Ready

Texas announce new single Are You Ready

Texas celebrated their 25th anniversary earlier this year with the release of their incredible new album 'Texas 25' which stormed in at #5 in the official UK album chart and #1 in the Independent chart. The new album contained a number of brand new songs along with the very best of the multi-million selling (over 38 million album sales so far), multi-platinum, Ivor Novello Award winning band.

The latest single to be taken from 'Texas 25' is a brand new song, 'Are You Ready' which is released on 25th May 2015. 'Are You Ready' was written by Texas advocates Sharleen Spiteri and Johnny McElhone alongside Karen Anne (Overton) and recorded by the band in Glasgow and New York. The song hails back to Texas' classic sound – perfectly crafted pop music with a twist of soul that allows Sharleen's signature vocal melody to float effortlessly over the top.

'Texas 25' contains three further brand new songs and highlights from the bands greatest hits completely re-recorded and re-worked for 2015 with acclaimed NYC soul outfit Truth & Soul (Amy Winehouse, Adele).

Recorded in the Queens studio of Truth and Soul and mixed at The Black Key's Dan Auerbach's Nashville studios, working on 'Texas 25' was a chance for Sharleen Spiteri and the boys to hear Black Eyed Boy, Halo, I Don't Want a Lover, Say What You Want, Summer Son, The Conversation with new ears. 'It was incredible to be able to reflect on our body of work after 25 years and rework the tracks in a way that somehow is the very essence of what we've always been about, soul music.' says Sharleen.

Following on from their forthcoming sold out spring tour commencing this month, Texas recently announced a four date UK tour this December which sees them perform at some of the UK's iconic venues.

Full December tour dates:

Sunday 13th December London, Roundhouse

Tuesday 15th December Bristol, Colston Hall

Wednesday 16th December Manchester, Bridgewater Hall

Friday 18th December Glasgow, The SSE Hydro

Ticket information is available at www.texas.uk.com

Texas Announce December UK Tour Dates

Texas Announce December UK Tour Dates

Texas have celebrated their 25th anniversary with the release of their incredible new album 'Texas 25' which stormed in at #5 in the official UK album chart and #1 in the Independent chart. With a forthcoming sold out spring tour commencing next month, Texas have announced a four date UK tour this December which sees them perform at some of the UK's iconic venues.

This year marks 25 years of Texas, in which time they have sold over 38 million albums, toured across the world and been awarded with an Ivor Novello Award. 'Texas 25' contains four brand new songs and highlights from the bands greatest hits completely re-recorded and re-worked for 2015 with acclaimed NYC soul outfit Truth and Soul (Amy Winehouse, Adele).

Recorded in the Queens studio of Truth and Soul and mixed at The Black Key's Dan Auerbach's Nashville studios, working on 'Texas 25' was a chance for Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri and the boys to hear Black Eyed Boy, Halo, I Don't Want a Lover, Say What You Want, Summer Son, The Conversation with new ears. 'It was incredible to be able to reflect on our body of work after 25 years and rework the tracks in a way that somehow is the very essence of what we've always been about, soul music.' says Sharleen.

Full UK tour dates:

Sunday 13th December London, Roundhouse

Tuesday 15th December Bristol, Colston Hall

Wednesday 16th December Manchester, Bridgewater Hall

Friday 18th December Glasgow, The SSE Hydro

Presale tickets are available via Ticketmaster from Wednesday 4th March at 9am. General tickets are on sale from Friday 9th March at 10am.

Ticket information is available at www.texas.uk.com

Texas share new single Start A Family from latest album Texas 25

Texas share new single Start A Family from latest album Texas 25

TEXAS celebrate their 25th Anniversary in style with the release of their latest album 'Texas 25' which contains brand new songs along with the very best of the multi-million selling (over 38 million album sales so far), multi-platinum, Ivor Novello Award winning band.

The first single to be taken from 'Texas 25' is a brand new song, 'Start A Family' which is released on the same day as the album – February 16th 2015.

'Start A Family' is written by Texas stalwarts Sharleen Spiteri and Johnny McElhone along with newcomers Karen-Anne and Jack Townes. The track was recorded by Texas in Glasgow and New York. The song is is classic Texas – beautiful soulful pop with a stunning melody built around Sharleen's powerful and evocative vocal. 'Start A Family' will come with a cinematic video starring longtime Texas fan Alan Rickman, who memorably danced the tango with Sharleen in the video for 'In Demand' back in 2000.

Meanwhile 'Texas 25' contains three further brand new songs and highlights from the bands greatest hits completely re-recorded and re-worked for 2015 with acclaimed NYC soul outfit Truth and Soul (Amy Winehouse, Adele).

Recorded in the Queens studio of Truth and Soul and mixed at The Black Key's Dan Auerbach's Nashville studios, working on 'Texas 25' was a chance for Sharleen Spiteri and the boys to hear Black Eyed Boy, Halo, I Don't Want a Lover, Say What You Want, Summer Son, The Conversation with new ears. 'It was incredible to be able to reflect on our body of work after 25 years and rework the tracks in a way that somehow is the very essence of what we've always been about, soul music.' says Sharleen.

https://soundcloud.com/texastheband/inner-smile-truth-soul-session/

In 2015, Texas will present the findings of their 25 years in pop in a new, intimate arrangement, 'An Evening With…' in which Sharleen will talk through her amazing career and the band will play as a four piece skiffle ensemble as punctuation points.

'AN EVENING WITH TEXAS'

APRIL 2015

SATURDAY 18 BRIGHTON DOME

SUNDAY 19 BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL

MONDAY 20 SALFORD THE LOWRY

WEDNESDAY 22 GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL

FRIDAY 24 DUNFERMLINE ALHAMBRA

SATURDAY 25 EDINBURGH QUEENS HALL

MONDAY 27 GATESHEAD THE SAGE

TUESDAY 28 HULL CITY HALL

WEDNESDAY 29 NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CONCERT HALL

MAY 2015

FRIDAY 1 BATH FORUM

SATURDAY 2 LONDON PALLADIUM

SUNDAY 3 MARGATE WINTER GARDENS

TUESDAY 5 CARDIFF ST DAVIDS HALL

WEDNESDAY 6 READING HEXAGON

Texas tickets are available from www.livenation.co.uk or www.ticketmaster.co.uk

NME Awards 2014 confirmed for O2 Academy Brixton - Austin, Texas to sponsor

In one of the one of the most exciting and unique alliances in its six decade history, NME today announces the city of Austin, Texas – Live Music Capital of the World® – as the official headline sponsor of the NME Awards 2014, a first for any music platform.

Mike Williams, NME editor says: “No city in the world does more to support live music than Austin, Texas. They pack in a mindboggling amount of amazing festivals into a year, each of which seems to get better every time. Like everything else that the city does, they do it all their own way, embracing vibrancy, diversity and passion. There couldn’t be a more perfect partner for the NME Awards 2014.”

Home to many of the world's greatest music festivals – from Austin City Limits to SXSW – the city boasts over 2,000 recording artists and more than 250 thriving live music venues. Austin has become a mecca of vibrant musical diversity and talent.

Bob Lander, president and CEO of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau adds: “We are thrilled to be the title sponsor for the 2014 NME Awards. This partnership represents an incredible opportunity to expose our Live Music Capital of the World® brand and outstanding Austin talent to their fan base.

“Additionally, visitors from the UK represent our number one overseas market, and we know that the March launch of the nonstop British Airways flight from London Heathrow will really boost this number. Austin represents a long established and world renowned musical legacy and we’re looking forward to globalising that image.”
  
This unique partnership will run throughout the NME Awards season. It includes the regional NME Awards Tour, the London NME Awards Shows - which features the best in new and current music at the hottest venues in the capital - and the NME Awards night. Austin, Texas will also sponsor the prestigious Best International Band category at the NME Awards.

The NME Awards with Austin, Texas will take place on Wednesday 26 February at London’s O2 Academy Brixton.

Graham Walters, COO, Academy Music Group, says: “We’re delighted to once again be chosen as the host venue for the 2014 NME Awards. With our reputation and musical heritage, O2 Academy Brixton is the perfect choice to present one of the biggest events in the music industry Awards calendar.” 

Highlights from last year's event include live performances by Miles Kane and Paul Weller, Biffy Clyro and a show-stopping finale from 2013 Godlike Genius Johnny Marr who closed the night to a standing ovation performing a five-song set joined by Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood on guitar and vocals from The Vaccines frontman Justin Young.

Texas - New Single and Video "Dry Your Eyes" featuring Richard Hawley

In their 25th anniversary year TEXAS have returned to the top of the album and airplay charts across Europe, while their new album ‘The Conversation’ (which entered the UK charts at Number Four in May) has won serious acclaim for its songwriting and musical depth and rapidly secured Gold status in the UK, adding to the band’s career sales of over 30 million and counting.

Now Texas release the latest single from the album, the stunning ‘Dry Your Eyes’, which will be released through [PIAS] Recordings on November 18th.

Co-written by Sharleen Spiteri and Johnny McElhone with Richard Hawley at his Sheffield studio, ‘Dry Your Eyes’ is a Texas at their anthemic best, with its flavours of early Blondie, rock’n’roll and an unforgettable sing-a-long chorus. The story of the song is described by frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri as “one woman talking to another who’s going through a really shitty time. Absolutely a through-and-through woman’s song.”

The accompanying video continues the great Texas tradition of eye-catching storylines and unusual cameos with This Is England’s Vicky McLure and Lip Services’ Ruta Gedmintas taking the starring roles alongside Sharleen in a pub scene. Vicky joins the likes of Alan Rickman, Jean Reno and Peter Mullan as Texas video guest stars. Sharleen goes on to explain “It was a pleasure working with Vicky and Ruta as they're such great actresses and good friends of mine so the whole day was easy and enjoyable. Tto be honest when you're in a pub having a drink with your mates it feels more like a night out than a day at work. I thought we were genius at acting drunk!! “.

Texas played to over 50,000 people at the BBC’s Hyde Park Prom recently where they were joined on-stage by Richard Hawley for a very special rendition of ‘Dry Your Eyes’.

Ahead of the single release Texas embark on a nationwide tour in eight years commencing in York on November 9th and running through the rest of November.

After two acclaimed warm up shows at Glasgow’s King Tuts and London’s 100 Club (‘Timeless Texas thunder back’  announced London's Evening Standard in a 4* review), the band played two major festival performances at T in the Park and Latitude, where they headlined the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage.

Texas’s eighth album, ‘The Conversation’ is their first release in eight years and is the latest in a career that has seen the band sell over 30 million albums worldwide with a succession of multi-platinum albums in ‘White on Blonde’, ‘The Hush’ and ‘Greatest Hits’. This return in 2013 clearly redefines and confidently re-introduces the band afresh with all tracks written and produced by singer/guitarist Sharleen Spiteri and bassist Johnny McElhone and featuring collaborations with singer-songwriter Richard Hawley and Bernard Butler.

 ‘The Conversation’ is an album splitting its seams with the joy of a long-proven pop force creating a collection of songs rich enough in melody and emotion to deserve filing beside the best of the band’s other million-selling hits. The album was recorded in Glasgow, London and at Richard Hawley’s studio in Sheffield, where seven key tracks formed a formidable backbone for an album. ‘The Conversation’ is a perfect marriage of Hawley’s 50s rock’n’roll frills and the timeless Texas pop magnetism. Combine those two elements and its cast-iron melodies all-round. 

Full UK tour dates:

Saturday 9th November York, Barbican

Sunday 10th November Inverness, Leisure Centre

Monday 11th November Manchester, Bridgewater Hall

Wednesday 13th November Bristol, Colston Hall

Thursday 14th November London, Hammersmith Apollo

Friday 15th November Plymouth, Pavilions

Sunday 17th November Oxford, New Theatre

Monday 18th November Birmingham, Symphony Hall

Tuesday 19th November Southend, Cliffs Pavilion

Thursday 21st November Brighton, Dome

Friday 22nd November Portsmouth, Guildhall

Sunday 24th November Ipswich, Regent Theatre

Monday 25th November Cambridge, Corn Exchange

Tuesday 26th November Sheffield, City Hall

Thursday 28th November Glasgow, Academy

Friday 29th November Edinburgh, Usher Hall

Ticket information is available at www.texas.uk.com

Texas, Logic, AlunaGeorge and more added to T in the Park 2013 Line up

Iconic Scottish group Texas plus hot new acts Logic, AlunaGeorge, Laura Mvula, Deap Vally, Jagwar Ma, Ruen Brothers, MS MR, Brooke Candy and Josephine are set to perform T in the Park’s 20th year celebrations over 12th – 14th July, after festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager added yet more must see artists to the bill today.

Texas played T in the Park’s Balado debut back in 1997 – the same year their massive number 1 hit album White on Blonde catapulted them to global success. They returned to headline in 2001, and are set to play a huge homecoming show at the festival’s 20th year celebrations. After a 6 year hiatus, they release a brand new studio album entitled The Conversation on 20th May, and will showcase their long-awaited new material as well as treating fans to massive anthems such as I Don't Want a Lover, Say What You Want, Black Eyed Boy and Halo when they return to T in the Park in July.

Maryland rapper Logic’s recent rise through the industry has seen him snag a 2013 Freshman spot in hip-hop bible XXL Magazine, sign to Def Jam and work with No I.D. (the veteran producer and now A&R figure who helped mold the careers of Common and Kanye West). He makes his T in the Park debut this July.

AlunaGeorge are being tipped for big things this year, after they enjoyed huge success with their track Attracting Flies. They featured 2nd in the BBC’s Sound of 2013 list (after fellow T in the Park act Haim, who topped the list) and their hotly-anticipated debut album is due for release this summer.

Birmingham’s Laura Mvula is also one of this year’s hottest new stars. Her debut album Sing to The Moon shot into the top 10 in March and she gained critical acclaim with a coveted Brits Critics' Choice nomination. With her UK headline tour gaining rave reviews, her unique vocals and jazz-meets-soul style are set to go down a storm in Kinross this July.

Earlier this month, LA rockers Deap Vally opened for fellow T in the Park act Yeah Yeah Yeahs in Las Vegas and absolutely smashed their set at Coachella. Next stop is Kinross, when they bring their raw rock ‘n’ roll sound (created with only a guitar, drums and vocals) to the 20th year celebrations this summer.

Alternative-indie duo Jagwar Ma are Sydney’s answer to Madchester and as a result are causing a stir with their debut single, The Throw. With their 90’s inspired tracks Jagwar Ma are tipped to be huge in 2013.

Scunthorpe’s Ruen Brothers uploaded their track Aces to BBC Introducing on Radio Humberside in January and have been causing a stir ever since. The hotly tipped sibling duo are sure to get the crowd going with their 60s-esque rock ‘n’ roll.

New York’s MS MR went down a storm at SXSW slot in March, with an incredible set sure to follow at T in the Park’s 20th year this July. Their debut single Hurricane created a huge buzz in the blogosphere, with their first album Secondhand Rapture set to propel them to greater levels of stardom when it’s released in May. They’re most certainly ones to watch at T in the Park 2013.

US rap sensation Brooke Candy was first discovered after appearing in Grimes music video and was described by Vice Magazine as “the post-apocalyptic Lil’ Kim”; she has opened for the likes of Azealia Banks and put on an explosive performance at the NME Awards Show in February.

Josephine is a soulful chanteuse from Manchester, whose self-reflective debut album Portrait was voted in the top 50 albums of the year by Q Magazine, with the title hailing her “an extraordinary talent.” She’ll showcase her soulful vocal prowess when she makes her T in the Park debut this July.

Over 85,000 festival-goers per day will descend on Kinross over 12th – 14th July for the 20th year of T in the Park, which will feature some of the greatest acts, including headliners Mumford and Sons, Rihanna and The Killers, plus Frank Ocean, Snoop Dogg, Beady Eye, Foals, alt-J, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Courteeners, Jake Bugg and The Lumineers, plus many more still to be announced.

Fans can guarantee they’re part of the 20th year of T in the Park by getting their tickets now from www.tinthepark.com or www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 08444 999 990. Experience the 20th year of T in the Park and join 85,000 music lovers per day as part of the greatest audience in the world this July. Boutique camping options in The Residence are also available for those looking for luxury living at T in the Park – check out www.theresidenceexperience.co.uk

For regular T in the Park news, check out www.facebook.com/tinthepark and follow us on Twitter @Tinthepark

BLACK BOOKS - Epic, Sun-Soaked, Atmospheric Southern Rock from Austin, Texas

Black Books are a 5-piece from Austin, Texas who make a heady, atmospheric mix of dreamy, visionary pop and epic southern rock.
                 
Formed in 2010, Blacks Books heart-wrenching,  epic, sun-soaked melodies have already turned many heads. The Austin Chronicle hailed them as “Top Ten Locals to Watch in 2011” with influential US sites following suit with  Indie Darkroom Magazine calling them the “No. 1 New Artist of 2011”. A flurry of others soon made comparisons between the lush orchestral qualities of Black Books and respected contemporaries such as Band of Horses, Grandaddy and My Morning Jacket. While others have hailed the experimental psychedelia that quietly underlines most tracks with the likes of Pink Floyd.

However, Black Books have an experimental edge and maturity to their ambient show-gaze indie rock that sets them apart. Their ‘Aquarena’ EP’ - from which the track White Noise is taken -  evokes a plethora of emotions with its haze of sprawling, mesmerising psychedelia and sun-soaked melodies blended with something huge and anthemic - and all charged with a warm throaty drawl of a vocal. 

Watch the Black Books Daytrotter session: http://www.daytrotter.com/#!/concert/black-books/20054772-3738370 

Additional links: 
https://www.facebook.com/blackbooks
https://www.youtube.com/blackbooksaustin
http://soundcloud.com/blackbooks
https://twitter.com/blackbooksmusic
http://blackbooksband.blogspot.co.uk