Wednesday, 29th May 2013 at Oporto, Leeds
Amber States
amberstates.tumblr.com
Amber States play euphoric-melancholic pastoral-rock with soul and musicality. They have a vintage ensemble sound – strong vocal harmonies feature prominently over lyrical cello passages, piano and organ washes and rhythms, soaring electric guitar countermelodies – enveloping the classic core of acoustic guitar and warm, bluesy lead vocal.
If you had to pin down some influences, you could start with the folk rock of the likes of CSN, Neil Young, The Band, and current artists such as Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear and Villagers. They also can’t resist Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and the song-writing skills of other English acts like Fairport Convention and Fleetwood Mac. Sometimes they dream about Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound. You should really see them live.
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog
www.crhb.net
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog play a blend of folk, country and rock music. As well as their own material, they often perform adaptations of traditional songs.
Formed by Iwan, Dafydd and Aled Hughes – three brothers from the Llyn Peninsula, north-west Wales, and since 2005 have three albums under their belts.
Their first album, ‘Dawns y Trychfilod’ topped the BBC C2 chart for Welsh-language releases. The band received the ‘Best New Band’ award at the BBC RAP Awards the same year.
Second album ‘Dyddiau Du, Dyddiau Gwyn’ brought wide attention to the band, including airplay on BBC 6Music and positive reviews in publications and website in Wales and England. This was followed by live performances at many festivals over the summer of 2011, including the Green Man Festival, SWN festival in Cardiff and as one of the headlining acts of ‘Maes B’ it also received the Album of the Year award from Welsh music magazine ‘Y Selar’.
‘Draw Dros y Mynydd’, was released in 2012 & nominated for the annual Welsh Music Prize and garnered BBC Radio 2, Radio 3 and 6 Music airplay. The same year saw the band playing nearly 100 live shows with appearances at Union Chapel, London, at the regular ‘What’s Cookin’ nights in east London and the first ‘No Direction Home’ festival in Sherwood Forest. In September the band left for Buenos Aires and the Chubut region of Patagonia, Argentina for a month to play a few shows and to run workshops for the Welsh language community there.
Taken from their biog for this years Greenman Festival… www.greenman.net/artist/cowbois-rhos-botwnnog
Georgia Ruth Williams
www.georgiaruthmusic.co.uk
Raised bilingually in Aberystwyth, Wales, Georgia’s haunting voice has earned her favourable comparisons with the melancholy folk sirens of the late 60s. Her unusual harp playing was inspired more by the guitar on Bert Jansch, Meic Stevens and old folk revivalist records than by the classical method she was taught as a child.
She has performed at Glastonbury, Green Man Festival, SWN and several other festivals. She has been selected as an ‘MPFree of the day’ on the 6 Music Breakfast Show. BBC Radio Wales’ Adam Walton described her as “one of the most prodigious talents ever to grace my airwaves” whilst Huw Stephens deemed her In Luna EP (released on limited 10″ vinyl in 2012) “exquisite” on his Radio 1 show.
This Spring, she will be releasing her debut album – Week of Pines – on Gwymon Records. Recorded and produced by David Wrench over six days last August at Snowdonia’s Bryn Derwen studios, the record features members of acclaimed country-folk outfit Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog, and a very special contribution from Lleuwen Steffan. From the motorik drive of the title track, to the darker Eno-like string arrangements, the stark joyfulness of a Welsh sea shanty accompanied by wheezing reed organ, or the more wistful folk ballads: this is a varied and intriguing collection of songs.
Georgia regularly plays in Richard James’ band and appears alongside the ex-Gorky’s member in his new project Pen Pastwn. She will also be appearing on the Guillemots’ forthcoming album, having recorded parts for it in the Summer of 2012. She also presents a weekly music show on BBC Radio Cymru.
Hayley Gaftarnick
www.hayleygaftarnick.co.uk
With a voice which can melt the hardest heart to piercing solid granite rock without ever losing control or technique, the Leeds-based singer-songwriter has established a fan-base far beyond her home city. Having been recognised as one of Leeds’ favourite solo performers, she has now hand-picked a group of musicians, who allow her the freedom to express her rich talent, and stretch her musical boundaries further and further with all genres included, from acoustic, soul/blues, jazz, folk, country, pop and rock, all are given the special Hayley Gaftarnick sound.
Joseph Francis
soundcloud.com/josephfrancispage
Leeds based singer songwriter drawing on folk, rock & world music. Wise and talented beyond his meager 18 years we expect great things from another exciting part of the new folk scene in our great city.
Doors: 7.30pm – 11pm (DJs ’til 2am)
Tickets: £5 adv. from Crash, Jumbo & here
Communion Brighton is having a garden party! We cordially invite you to join us down at the Green Door Store next bank holiday Sunday for a day packed with great bands and djs, lashings of beer and a top notch BBQ out on the patio.
This Sunday, 19th May 2013, Communion Melbourne celebrates it’s final show of the autumn season. After an amazing few months sharing the stage with the likes of Willy Mason, Thelma Plum, Mustered Courage, Jordie Lane, Kathryn Rollins, Yacht Club DJs and Deap Vally, this weekend we wind up with another great lineup of talented artists from around the country and abroad.
Thursday, 6th June 2013 at Rockwood Music Hall, New York
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Farao has had to cancel her upcoming show on 29th May at The Sebright Arms. Her next London show will be on 2nd June at our monthly clubnight.
Matt’s London June date has now sold out! We hope you all got your tickets.
