The Wonder Stuff announce Christmas shows Sleigh The UK

The Wonder Stuff announce Christmas shows Sleigh The UK

The Wonder Stuff are back for Christmas, but this year they’ll be doing things a little differently. ‘Sleigh The UK’ has been as welcome during the festive season as a hot cup of mulled wine, but this December, the Stuffies return to play a handful of very special acoustic shows in London, Oxford, Birmingham and Newcastle. These performances will see Miles Hunt, Erica Nockalls and newest member Dan Donnelly play tracks from the length and breadth of the band’s extensive back catalogue.

Throughout the past 28 years, The Wonder Stuff have remained at the top of their game and play with more passion and attitude than most bands could dream of.  In recent years they have headlined festivals and toured the world, pleasing an army of loyal fans and welcoming new followers, captivated by the band’s charismatic live performance.

Frontman Miles Hunt explains: “Erica, Dan and myself just couldn't refuse the opportunity to come and have a seasonal ‘knees up’ with you. The three of us will be hitting the road in December, performing all of your favourite Wonder Stuff tunes acoustically.”

The Wonder Stuff have had an amazing journey so far; seven albums, exciting spin-off projects and collaborations and now there’s even a book of Miles’ musings and a personal view of the band’s ups and downs between 1986-89. For full details, please visit: www.thewonderstuff.bigcartel.com.

So before you get sick of turkey (mince pies and your relatives), come and join The Wonder Stuff for some seriously good live music this Christmas.

*- Support comes from Mark Morriss of The Bluetones

www.thewonderstuff.co.uk

December 2014

Monday 15th – Newcastle, The Cluny

Tuesday 16th – Oxford, O2 Academy*

Wednesday 17th – London, O2 Academy Islington*

Thursday 18th – Birmingham, O2 Academy*

*Box Office 0844 477 2000 or ticketweb.co.uk

Toots And The Maytals to play Glasgow, Oxford and Liverpool

Toots And The Maytals to play Glasgow, Oxford and Liverpool

Reggae legends Toots and The Maytals will be celebrating a summer of music with dates at O₂ Academy venues in Liverpool, Oxford as well as Glasgow’s O₂ ABC.

The shows in August will follow an appearance at Jamaica 50: a 50^th celebration of Jamaican Independence at the IndigO₂,. Alongside these dates, Toots and The Maytals will also be playing a string of UK summer festivals – including Shefftival and Beacon’s Festival.

Bringing a fusion of ska, gospel, soul, rock and reggae, they are one of the world’s best loved ska and reggae groups.

Led by the charismatic ‘Toots’ Hibbert, The Maytals formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1961. ‘Toots’ popularised the reggae sound with hits such as "Do The Reggay" (widely acknowledged as the first song ever to feature the word ‘Reggae’), "Pressure Drop", "54-46 (That's My Number)", "Sweet and Dandy", "Monkey Man", “Funky Kingston” and “Reggae Got Soul”.

Over the last five decades, ‘Toots’ has influenced countless artists including The Specials, The Clash to Amy Winehouse,and has toured with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow and Los Lonely Boys.

More recently, Toots and The Maytals won a Grammy Award in 2005 for ‘Best Reggae Album’ with ‘True Love’. The album consisted of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards. 

Glasgow, Oxford and Liverpool in August

Friday 10^th August                Glasgow, O₂ ABC

Wednesday 15^th August      Oxford, O₂ Academy

Saturday 18^th August           Liverpool, O₂ Academy

Box Office: 0844 477 2000 or ticketweb.co.uk

 http://www.tootsandthemaytals.com/

Article posted by Musicmafia

Oxford duo Little Fish set to release book of essays with author

Little Fish are set to publish a book in collaboration with writer Miranda Ward. The New Original Little Fish Paper Club™ Handbook – a collection of essays about rock’n’roll, independence, and what it means to be in a band – will be released in hardback by new crowdfunding-based publishing company Unbound.

The band are looking to get at least 400 fans to order the book in advance; in return, supporters will have their names printed in the back of the book and receive various rewards based on their level of contribution – from access to exclusive downloads and updates to an invitation to join the band in the studio.

Launched earlier this year, Unbound is seeking to revolutionise the publishing industry by giving power to readers, who can choose which projects they want to see made by pledging their support. Authors, in turn, get to pitch ideas for the projects they really want to write. This model appeals to Little Fish, who left label Custard Records earlier this year in order to pursue an independent career.

“We have loads of stories to tell, about life, and about what it’s like to be in a band going from a major label to being totally independent, and about dealing with the changes in the industry,” says singer and guitarist Juju.

Collaboration is a big part of the Little Fish ethos, and independence has allowed them the opportunity to explore different ways of working with other creatives – many of them also in Oxford. They first discussed the book over a drink with Ward in a local pub; a few months later they met the founders of Unbound while busking in Hay-on-Wye, and the idea became a reality.

“We’re writing a book because we love books, we love paper. We’ve been doing stuff on vinyl, and vinyl used to come with these great stories and liner notes. We want to recapture that,” Juju says.

“It’s like liner notes for the process of being in a band,” says Ben, who plays the Hammond. “It’s not a biography, it’s not a history. It’s just using us [Little Fish] as a springboard to talk about what’s going on with culture, the internet, music, DIY, labels, celebrity.”

Announcement of the book comes at the start of a new chapter in Little Fish history. Longtime drummer Nez has just left the band to focus on his family, and so, as a two-piece, Little Fish continue to evolve, developing a new, raw sound while maintaining their eclectic spirit. They released their new single, “Wonderful”, on Monday the 10th of October with a gig at the Camden Barfly, where they were supported by Black Casino and The Ghost as well as poet, compère and fellow Unbound author George Chopping.

They recently recorded an acoustic YouTube version of ‘Wonderful’, with Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes (who produced the single) on guitar, and will be in Singapore for a few gigs in November.

At time of writing, Little Fish need roughly 150 more supporters to ensure their book gets made.

• For more information about The  New Original Little Fish Paper Club™ Handbook, please visit http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/12
• For more information about the release of “Wonderful”, please visit http://littlefishmusic.com/wonderful