The best time of year is upon us! Sunshine, barbeques, girls in short shorts and of course an outrageous selection of gigs! So outrageous that we just couldn’t do Nottingham justice this week with just three gigs.

GIG ONE

It’s the SINNER HIGHWAY EP LAUNCH at Rock City’s basement with support from MOTHERLOAD and A THOUSAND ENEMIES on Thursday 31st of May.

Come lose your dignity at one of the most eagerly awaited EP launches in living memory. SINNERS HIGHWAY recently wowed us at a Future Session and are sure to kick start a riot in the Rock City basement (Look out for the Future Session coming soon). Face melting solos, violent drumming and a collosal front man voice. Think BON JOVI with less lycra and more fire. Boasting one of the most powerful hard rock voices we’ve ever heard, from Simon Ross, these guys are beyond epic. The vocals sound like a cross between AXL ROSE and MOTLEY CRUE’s Vince Neil but still very unique in their own right. Don’t miss this one! Plus the first 50 people get a free signed EP.

Support will come from High Wycombe rockers MOTHERLOAD and the classic rock sound combined with the modern metallic madness of A THOUSAND ENEMIES.

DOORS: 7PM
TICKETS: FREE (including entry to TUNED afterwards)

GIG TWO

Nott’s mega-promoters I’m Not from London are bringing a hefty feast of incredible music from folksy blues to rock out anthems for CAPTAIN DANGEROUS’ epic album launch of ‘The Empire Never Ended’ at RESCUE ROOMS on June 2nd.

First up, PRACTICAL LOVERS’ are taking to the stage. 80’s synthy yet grungy pop tunes reminiscing about teenage love and relationships are entertaining and fun, however a closer listen will reveal a heartbreakingly honest undertone which is lovingly expressed in their live performances.

Also supporting are the beautifully experimental INJURED BIRDS. Newly signed to Notts label Denizen Recordings, INJURED BIRDS define the tensions of fragile human relationships in their songs with touches of subtle instrumental colour. Influenced by the likes of THE SMITHS and the stripped down grit of THE WHITE STRIPES, this band have been described as ‘hypnotically engaging’ and are set to enchant as well as inspire you.

WE SHOW UP ON RADAR are also on this fantastic line-up. Using a vivid imagination to produce fantastical folk tales combined with a whirlwind of sound, multi-instrumentalist and producer Andy Wright will take you on an unforgettable journey from undisputed optimism to the depths of despair and back again.

And last but by no means least, CAPTAIN DANGEROUS are bringing their unique flair to the mic. This band are firmly cementing themselves as the kings of poetic powerhouse rock and complete with 16 piece orchestra this gig at the RESCUE ROOMS will without a doubt pack an epic instrumental punch. If you need any more proof that this band are destined for the big time, their debut single was released to huge critical acclaim and has featured on the soundtracks of national TV shows such as Gray’s Anatomy, Hollyoaks, and Fresh Meat – not to mention playing to sold out crowds at London’s Proud Camden. Trust me people of Notts, this is a one off event that will reintroduce you to the meaning of all-or-nothing live shows and an unbeatable array of incredible songs. Miss it and miss out!

PRICE: £5
DOORS: 6.15pm

GIG THREE

This is more than just a gig! This is a motherflipping festival! It’s the SOUTHWELL FOLK FESTIVAL from June 1st to June 4th.

This is your bank holiday weekend sorted fo sho with 54 acts confirmed to date, and more to be announced; the Southwell Festival is set be a scorcher.

With a handful of Notts artists spread across the weekend this is a great opportunity to go check out some local talent and also go and boogie woogie with JAKE BUGG’S new biggest fan JOOLS HOLLAND.

On Friday, MANIERE DES BOHEMIANS will provide gypsy jazz played with the jaunty abandon of a misspent youth, an abusive PE teacher and a broken heart. Six young virtuoso musicians who travel around playing the violin, guitar, double bass and accordion whilst dipping in and out of Parisian alleyways and eastern European brothels, absorbing pieces of the colourful lives they meet along the way. A huge hit at last year’s Gate To Southwell these guys are back for more.

On Saturday, MUHA puts the okie dokie in Folky music. The 5 piece band experiments with mixing sounds of different traditions into their music. Their songs are infused with the melodic beauty of Russian/Ukrainian folklore combined with a multi-cultural Eastern European folk twist. The lead singer, Iryna Muha, has such a distinct voice which naturally fits well with the ‘authentic feeling of Eastern European feel’ to their music. Raise your glasses to MUHA.

The lovely and stunning GEORGIE ROSE is set to perform at Southwell Festival on the Monday. Her folky/blues/acoustic vibe will blow you away. We were very excited about having her perform an acoustic session for our Future Session (Watch Here). Such a talented and delightful young artist with so much charisma, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

TICKETS: £32

GIG FOUR, YES FOUR!

Only the small matter of the most NOTTS-TASTIC DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! In May 2008 we emailed Dot To Dot asking how many local acts would be on the line-up, the answer? ‘Two’. In Twenty Twelve there are so many we can barely keep count! Not to mention the ‘quality’ of slots playing host to Nottingham musicians, not one, not two but three of the motherflippin HEADLINERS are Nottingham artists (DOG IS DEAD, JAKE BUGG and PETEBOX). Yes Acoustic Rooms are doing their thing 100% representing Notts music but there are also Nottingham musicians on pretty much all the major stages, from PARKS playing ROCK CITY’s main arena to HOT JAPANESE GIRL, GREY HAIRS and KAGOULE playing the Jongleurs arena. Hear more about this year’s Dot To Dot on the brand spanking new New Music Podcast HERE.

The full D2D line-up from the Notts perspective is HERE

TICKETS: £20

Yours In Love of New Music,
Tom Hadfield, Cerys Owen and Ashleigh Bossman x

#spreadthelove

Share/Bookmark

GIG ONE

Thursday the 24th sees local boys ATTICUS ANTHEM play their biggest Notts show to date headlining The Bodega Social. Following the self-release of their first EP back in October, the four-piece will be following this up with a new Limited Edition CD EP on sale for the first time at this show, making it something not to be missed! Lead by the ‘softly spoken kid with tattoos’ Bjorn Franklin, ATTICUS ANTHEM have perfected the balance of powerful melodies with anthemic choruses. Throw their nostalgic lyrics of love and loss into the mix and you have a killer combination, the recipe for rock ‘n’ roll success. To top it off, the boys have also been kind enough to give the first 50 people through the door a free copy of their new CD – who said the best things in life aren’t free?!

Notts support comes from the classically trained and seemingly unrestricted vocal range of the stunning LISA DE’VILLE. Great on record she is even better live, make sure you get there early to catch her!

KENWORTHY complete the bill.

PRICE: £5 in advance, £6 on the door.
DOORS: 7pm

GIG TWO

Friday the 25th of May sees Alea Casino and Outlaw Label Present ROB GREEN, NINA SMITH and INDIANA.

If you fancy a change of scene from the usual depths of grunginess of your standard gig venues, Alea Casino is providing a twinge of glamour and is set to be the backdrop to some of the most incredible voices of Nottingham – this lineup will blow you away, we’ve been looking forward to it for weeks!

Headlining is the bona fide musical entertainer ROB GREEN. Well known for his charming mannerisms and infectious onstage charisma, Rob is an all-round incredible performer and his catchy upbeat tracks about heartbreak and relationships are destined to be future hits. If you like what you hear and want to delve a bit deeper, watch his Future Session HERE.

Next, NINA SMITH will warm the cockles of your soul with her delicate and moving melodies. Having supported rising Nottingham stars such as RONIKA in recent months and taking part in a hip-swinging duet with ROB GREEN in Market Square, its a clear sign of Nina’s standing in the Notts scene that she has been asked back to play Splendour this year. With that butter-wouldn’t-melt persona, incredible voice and insanely catchy tunes she is on her way to big things.

First on the bill (and this will probably be the last time she is first on a line up judging by the speed at which she is conquering the music world) INDIANA will be taking to the mic. Having recently caused a stir in the nest of local music industry bigwigs (and further afield we’re hearing), this girls beautifully haunting voice has the ability to produce goosebumps on even the most hardened of skins and (if her performance at The Future Sound of Nottingham semi’s was anything to go by,) can render the masses well and truly speechless. Believe the hype – if you haven’t caught a glimpse of this girl yet sort it out! Not convinced? Check out her jaw-dropping vocals in “Blind As I Am” on this Podcast and then tell us your not amazed.

PRICE: £3
DOORS: 7.30pm


GIG THREE

Word on the street is … there’s an Album Launch Party in Town!

Launching his FIRST album, TIM MCDONALD will be performing at The Malt Cross on Friday 25th May, 8pm. ‘The Bandit, The Rebel and The Man’ album features some incredible and extremely talented musicians such as NATALIE DUNCAN who is set on releasing her album on Universal soon. TIM MCDONALD has a drive to push Nottingham’s music scene onwards and upwards. He truly is a chap going places – So come and support this Friday!! His Album Launch party will be an amazing vibe and a great opportunity to hear exclusives off his new album performed live.

Support comes from Will Jeffery. Signed to Farmyard Records, Jeffery is a musician backed by The Wild Gentry who ‘provide the gravy to his musical pie’. His music can be described as Shambolic Smokey Folk…..

DOORS: 8:00PM
TICKETS: Free entry.

Yours in Love of New Music,
Tom Hadfield, Cery Owen, Maddie Hammond and Ashleigh Bossman x

#spreadthelove

Share/Bookmark