Monday 27 April 2015

Leeds band, The Vendettas, to play the George IV in Lichfield on Saturday 23rd May - support band wanted


Looking for a local MOD/ Indie type band to support the fabulous Vendettas on Saturday 23rd May at George IV Lichfield. If you are interested please message Julie via the URL below or text / call 07846 259034.
 

Skagate 2015 from 3rd to 5th July

 




The Grand Opening of the Blues Hall of Fame is less than TWO weeks away on 8 May


"Most of the major construction work on the Blues Hall of Fame has been completed thanks to the generosity of the blues fans and numerous friends and supporters from Memphis and around the world. The Blues Hall of Fame, located at 421 Main Street in Memphis, directly across from the National Civil Rights Museum, is scheduled for an on-time opening on Friday, May 8, following the Blues Foundation’s annual Blues Music Awards the previous night."

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2015 Day 2 Highlights: The Who, John Legend, Trombone Shorty & More


vintage everyday: 12 Beautiful Women Who Had a Huge Influence on the Stones’ Music

Game of Thrones actor Iwan Rheon hoping for a hit with his debut album and reveals his Mod leanings


 
Permanently clad in a parka he might not be, but Rheon does profess a love for the mod movement – as the many pictures of him wearing Fred Perry bear witness. 

“Stylistically, it’s a really cool look,” he explains. “I honestly don’t think fashion and that look has been bettered. There was so much great music around in the ’60s, stuff like The Small Faces, but I also love The Jam. Mod has always been cool and it keeps coming back.” 

Everything You Need to Know About the Yardbirds says Ultimate Classic Rock


Ian McLagan, magical piano Small Faces


Charity Soul: Dekka' Roots Room at Headingley Stadium, Leeds, on Sunday 3rd May


Blackpool Tower Soul Weekender - 3 days for just £20 over May Bank Holiday Weekend


Margate Mod & Sixties Festival - Opportunities still available for traders to provide stalls


Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames to play The Garrick, Lichfield, on Tuesday 12th May


To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Georgie Fame's Yeh Yeh topping the charts, he will be hitting the road in 2015 with The Blue Flames.  

As ever, The Blue Flames feature the cream of the UK's musicians; Alec Dankworth, Alan Skidmore, Guy Barker, Anthony Kerr, Tristan Powell and James Powell are all on board to provide the musical backdrop for Georgie and his Hammond Organ.  

Come and enjoy and evening with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames - a true British Icon.  

Georgie's greatest hits include Yeh Yeh, Get Away, Sunny, Sitting In The Park, Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde and Rosetta.

Sunday 26 April 2015

The Faces Story - 2 forthcoming performances


The Jam Movement - May Gigs


NUTS Brighton Modernist Weekender on 28/29/30 August


From The Jam - Brighton Double Header


Got Shoreditch Soul - 26 June / 28 August / 30 October


Boom Boom, Boom Boom: American Rhythm & Blues in England 1962-1966 Paperback by Mark Stratford to be released on 1st May 2015


Back in the late fifties and into the sixties Manchester was a happening centre of popular music, rivalling Liverpool and London. Local lad Brian Smith saw it happen. In the mid-1950s Brian was introduced to skiffle, early rock and roll and the blues boom. A keen amateur photographer, Brian soon became known to door staff as 'the fan with the camera' and along with his friends went backstage to meet musicians, chat, and take photographs. Brian took a keen interest in the emerging blues scene after seeing Muddy Waters in 1958 and over the next decade Brian saw and photographed most of the big American blues musicians who played in Manchester.  

There is an acknowledged irony that black blues artists began to enjoy a cult following in Britain and Europe while they were still largely unknown or acknowledged back home. Brian began frequenting venues such as the famous Twisted Wheel Club and after the start of Roger Eagle's legendary r'n'b all-nighters there in 1963 (which later led to the birth of Northern Soul), the ground-breaking music magazine R & B Scene was launched. Brian became their main photographic contributor until the magazine folded. Brian produced images with a real presence and quality, and managed to capture a unique and relatively short lived scene in fascinating detail. Not only on-stage, but back in the dressing rooms, he photographed these giants of the blues relaxing with a beer and a pack of cards, or posing for souvenir pictures with British fans, male and female.  

A remarkable cultural melting pot considering that many of the musicians themselves could not even travel next to whites in some States back home at that time. Most of Brian's photographs were forgotten until recently when they began to be sought out by CD compilers. Yet until now nobody has published a full collection of his work. Easy On The Eye have had unique access to Brian's extensive archives, working directly from surviving negatives and prints which have been newly scanned for the book. The photographs are annotated and fully captioned.  

ARTISTS INCLUDE: Johnny Guitar Watson, Big Joe Turner, Chuck Berry, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Reed, Hubert Sumlin, Howlin Wolf, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Carl Perkins and many more. 

Definitive Little Richard Box Set Getting Release From Specialty Records reports Glide Magazine


Rhythm and blues stars to round off the season for Lichfield Arts


Lichfield Arts will bring their latest season to a close with the return of Paul Lamb and the King Snakes. 

The rhythm and blues specialists will be at he Guildhall on May 9. 

Lichfield Arts artistic director Chris Newcombe said: “This superb band are a fitting close to our 2014-2015 concert season at the Guildhall which has been highly successful. 

“After that we’ve still got our exciting new Blues & Jazz festival at the end of June. We are also just putting the finishing touches to our Autumn programme of concerts at the Guildhall which will be announced in May.” 

For more details or to book visit www.lichfieldarts.org.uk or call 01543 262223.

Saturday 25 April 2015

The Ranch Casting - Calling all Mods, Skinheads, Suedeheads, Ska fans, Indie boys, Brit pop indie rockers, Football Casuals, Rudeboys and Northern Soulies!!!


Are you a skinhead girl with a feather cut?

Are you living for the next allnighter?

Have you been riding scooters since you could drive? 

We are looking for people aged between late teens to early 30's (who look good on camera) and live, love and embody these subcultures.

An Iconic UK clothing brand in a campaign shot by an award winning, world renowned and critically acclaimed photographer want to have you on board! 

If you would like to yourself forward please send head shots (can be a selfie) and a clear full length of yourself suited and booted along with your name, age and a short sentence about yourself to Amanda Ashed - Casting Director of The Ranch Casting: -
 

You must be able to attend the casting on Wednesday 29th April and the shoot dates on 14th or 15th of May. 

Successful models chosen from the casting will be required for 1/2 a day of the finalised shoot day and will receive £300 + £300s worth of the iconic brand’s clothing! 

So send us your snaps!

Thursday 23 April 2015

Smokey Robinson talks Motown legacy

 

Music in Belgium - Paul Weller, the tireless mod


Velvelettes discover new fans with Spain concert


KALAMAZOO, MI — The Velvelettes, the Motown girl group with Western Michigan University roots, recently performed in Spain for the 2015 Mojo Workin' R& B Festival. 

The four singers spent five days in San Sebastian, Spain in March for the R& B soul weekend. 

"They revere the Motown sound," said singer Cal Street. "Entertainers in Europe are timeless. They don't care what age you are as long as you are well and can still perform. They have a strong respect and appetite for music of the late 50s, 60s and 70s." 

Last year, the group performed at Modstock in London. 

Fellow Velvelette Bertha Barbee-McNeal said, "They'll drive miles just to see you. One young man, a journalist from Barcelona, drove five hours to see the show. People will tell you things like that bring our 45 records from the 60s for you to sign." 

The two-night festival was an all-female extravaganza, Street said. Other performers on the roster included blues singer Mabel John, who coordinated the Raylettes for "Ray," the Ray Charles movie, Maxine Brown, and Dee Dee Sharp of "Mashed Potato" fame. 

"We were on the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars tour with Dee Dee and had not seen her in more than 40 years," McNeal said. 

The Velvelettes, which also include singers Millie Gill-Arbour and Norma Barbee-Fairhurst, sang 14 songs during their hour-long set. 

The Velvelettes were found in 1961, when Barbee-McNeal and Gill-Arbour were students at Western Michigan University. The group scored a series of R&B hits including "Needle in a Haystack," which peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard charts. 

"'Needle in a Haystack' is what keeps us in demand," Street said. "It's the oddest feeling, because we never expected to keep performing today from the time we were teenagers." 

Barbee-McNeal and Street said being part of the Motown brand was a unique experience. In addition to working dress designers to craft their group image and  studying with choreographer Cholly Atkins to create signature Motown moves, the singers were also expected to learn manners from charm school teacher Maxine Powell. 

"She'd call us diamonds in the rough," Street said. "They prepared artists to perform for the most insignificant person to kings and queens." 

Today, Barbee-McNeal and Street live in Kalamazoo, while the other members reside in Flint. They look forward to their next overseas gig. 

"We feel like goodwill ambassadors," Barbee-McNeal said. "the more we travel and get to see all of the different people, the more it makes you realize how small the world is. It adds a bit of humility."

Motown Museum celebrating 30th anniversary


51 Years Ago: The Rolling Stones Release Their Debut Album


Paul Weller Teams Up With Genesis Publications for ‘Into Tomorrow’


Paul Weller is an artist constantly in forward motion. One of the very few that has resisted the obvious route of simply resting on past glories, his outlook is almost always on the road ahead … but we can’t fault him for a quick look at his glorious past, either. Teaming up with noted publisher Genesis Publications, Weller is the subject of a new book that focuses on his solo career. 

Into Tomorrow offers a “pictorial record of his solo years” from 1992 onward captured in over 800 photographs, taken by friend and photographer, Lawrence Watson, and selected by Weller and captioned with his own handwritten text. The 300-plus-page book will be published in a leather bound edition housed in a red acrylic slipcase. The special package will also include a 10″ vinyl record containing previously unissued live recordings. 

“When I look back to the early shots from 1992, I was starting to write and play (and, importantly, want to play) again. I’d been ‘away’ for a while and didn’t know what, if anything, to expect,” Weller says. The book, like all of Genesis Publications’ releases, is a very limited run, with only 2000 copies available worldwide. Each book is numbered and signed by Weller and Watson. “So many memories come back. Some of the pictures make me mourn the passing of time,” he adds. “Lawrence has been there to document most of them. He is part of our crew.” 

 
This is Weller’s second collaboration with Genesis. In 2008, they issued A Thousand Things, which chronicled his years with the Jam and Style Council. Weller’s new album, Saturn’s Patterns, is set for release May 19.

The Printworks to host first Manchester Soul Festival reports the Manchester Evening News


Northern soul fans can get their groove on at the first Manchester Soul Festival this summer. 

More than 30 bands and DJs from all over the UK will take to the stage at The Printworks in aid of The Christie on Sunday, August 30. 

The event has been organised by well-known DJ Frank Byrne, who has been undergoing treatment for oesophageal cancer at the Withington hospital. 

Printworks centre director Fred Booth said: “Frank is an influential part of the Mancunian music scene and it’s fantastic to see the support come flooding in for such a good cause. 

“The Printworks is at the heart of Manchester’s city centre and therefore ideally placed to showcase the best of Northern Soul throughout the different entertainment venues. 

“We are delighted to be hosting the festival and look forward to welcoming visitors on August 30.” 

The all-day event kicks off at 2pm on the bank holiday Sunday, with The Oldham Scottish Pipe Band parading through the Pump Yard. 

The line-up also includes sets from soul favourites including The Casino Allstars, The Soul Amigos and Twisted Soul. 

The Casino Allstars frontman Paul Kidd, who has been helping Frank to organise the event, said: “We are all so passionate about this music genre and the event is a really exciting idea for us because we’ve never done anything like this before. 

“It speaks volumes that all artists jumped at the chance to be involved, free of charge to support Frank and The Christie.” 

Participating venues include Tiger Tiger, where there will be a specially designated Groovy Wonderland bar, as well as The Hard Rock Cafe, The Bierkeller and many more. 

Wristbands are now on sale priced at £5, with all proceeds going to The Christie. Organisers hope to raise more than £10,000 and are already nearly a quarter of the way to their target. 

The event will also feature children’s face-painting, a silent auction with a haul of luxury prizes and special discounts.

The Small Faces Convention 2015 set for Saturday 12th September


Quadrophenia on ITV4 at 10.30pm


The Selecter: how we made On My Radio - The Guardian Interview


 
Roger Lomas, producer: ‘The band didn’t want to record it as a single at first – they said it sounded like a Eurovision entry’ 

Roger Daltrey gives back to teens through cancer charity


Raleigh, N.C. — For 50 years, The Who has been making hit after hit, and the unique, iconic voice of Roger Daltrey has led the way the whole time. 

You know, so many people come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for singing the soundtrack of my life,’ which is kind of scary. We’ve done all that?” Daltrey said with a laugh. 

The legendary singer is also using his voice to help teenage cancer patients. 

At every concert stop, including Tuesday’s performance at PNC Arena in Raleigh, the band holds a fundraiser for a charity that Daltrey started about three years ago called Teen Cancer America. 

“We do sound checks where people pay to hear us make a terrible racket while we get the sound sorted out,” he said. “We charge them for that, and all that goes into the pot. We’re having fundraisers every night.” 

Daltrey and his bandmate, guitarist Pete Townsend, founded a similar organization in Britain 25 years ago called Teenage Cancer Trust. Since then, the charity has raised more than $200 million. 

The goal of the non-profit is to set up places in hospitals to focus on cancer treatment for young people who are no longer children, yet not quite adults. 

It doesn’t have to be a big space, just somewhere they can meet, be together. The parents can meet other parents going through the same horror,” Daltrey said. “Psychological and social well-being for anyone with serious illness like cancer is incredibly beneficial to the patient.” 

At 71, Daltrey still loves to perform and is passionate about giving back to the fans who have helped him and The Who persevere for 50 years. 

I’ve had a life of privilege,” he said. “I really have, I mean, due to the music business. And when you look at the music business, what it is, it is literally, completely and utterly supported by that age group. So, this is just a way of easily giving back.” 

As a child, Daltrey spent time in a hospital after he swallowed a nail. The experience gives him a certain empathy for teens undergoing treatment. 

I remember the horrors of being isolated,” he said. “I hated it.” 

The first Teen Cancer America facility started at UCLA. The group is in talks with 40 other hospitals, including Duke University Hospital, to expand the program. 

Triangle resident Sally Webb is a member of the board of directors for Teen Cancer America. Her younger sister was diagnosed with a brain tumour in her early teens and died in her 20s. 

Webb also sits on the executive committee of the Triangle Chapter of the British-American Business Council, which co-hosted a pre-concert event in Raleigh that raised $7,000 for Teen Cancer America. 

Daltrey said his work with the charity has given him immeasurable return. 

I get so much good feeling out of doing this. You can’t buy it,” he said.

Paul Weller asks MOJO: “Eton Rifles? What Did David Cameron Not Get?”


As Paul Weller returns with his 24th studio album, he talks MOJO magazine through his extensive songbook. 

On sale in the UK from Tuesday, April 28, the latest issue (June 2015/ #259) sees the former Jam and Style Council man reliving 20 of his most significant compositions, including toff-baiting breakthrough single Eton Rifles, telling our writer Tom Doyle that he’s still staggered that David Cameron has claimed it as one of his favourite songs. 

“The whole thing with Cameron saying it was one of his favourite songs… I just think, Which bit didn’t you get?” wonders Weller of the Old Etonian Prime Minister. 

“People say, Why don’t you write any more political songs? But I would just write exactly the same f**king things I wrote thirty-odd years ago. Every time they fire a missile in the Middle East, that’s 850,000 pounds, right? And then they talk about the NHS, f**king selling it off or it crumbling. So nothing’s really changed, has it?” 

As for the origins of The Jam’s iconic single from 1979’s Setting Sons, a wet weekend rather than a summer of rioting was primarily responsible for Weller’s call to arms. 

“We had a week off and I never even thought about going abroad for a holiday at that time. So I went down to my mum and dad’s caravan in Selsey and it pissed with rain for the whole week, so I just ended up writing,” he recalls. “And I wrote Eton Rifles. I thought it was a powerful statement.” 

Order your copy of the new MOJO now for the exclusive interview with Weller, spanning his first compositions to new record Saturn’s Pattern. 

The issue comes with a cover-mounted free CD, Beyond Saturn featuring 15 mind-blowing cosmic tracks personally approved by Weller, including Panda Bear, TOY, Public Service Broadcasting, Neu! and more. 

PHOTO: Tom Sheehan 

http://www.mojo4music.com/19940/paul-weller-mojo-259/

The Harringtons’ debut single, ‘On My Mind’, is now available to purchase on iTunes (and it’s well worth buying)



The Harringtons -  a really good band of 17-year olds from Barnsley: -

Jack Shaw - Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar 

Brad Cartwright - Bass Guitar / Backing Vocals 

Jordan Watkin - Drums / Backing Vocals

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/on-my-mind/id987937717?i=987937721

New issue of Uncut to feature Pete Townshend, Paul Weller & Ronnie Wood


Strictly Rockers Records - a UK based record label for Ska, Motown and Northern Soul


The Sha La La's - 'Your Blind Soul' EP out now on limited 7” vinyl (Detour)


After their much heralded album Feelin’ Real and the blisteringly anthemic follow up single Soul Of The Nation, The Sha La La’s have moved it on a notch still, with their latest EP, proudly released on Detour Records, Your Blind Soul. 

Forget all the comparisons that have been made of them in the past, they’re 60’s R&B influences are apparent but make no mistake, their sound is definitely their own. 

This EP has it all…The driving bass lines, thunderous drum fills, soulful guitar riffs all complimented by swirling Hammond and Wurlitzer combine to make you want to get up and get down! 

Your Blind Soul opens and leaves you in no doubt of what’s to follow. This is “in yer face” driving soul at its best and it doesn’t let up. The title track carries you high above its head! 

I defy you not to want to dance to the next offering, Bring It Down on You. Wah Wah pedals at the ready! Shut your eyes and you’re in a heaving, sweaty club! 

Always There is a more introverted number but not lacking in the style and panache of its Side A cousins. With a nod to the Northern Soul scene and an incessant beat! 

The final track on the EP, Do What’Cha Wanna, is the uplifting finale. The clue is in the title. A musical Tour De Force that really leaves you wanting to press repeat! 

The Sha La La’s have done it again with four self-penned tracks which deserve your listening. 

RELEASED ON MONDAY 13th APRIL 2015 - ONLY 250 COPIES PRESSED ON 7" VINYL SO BE QUICK 
http://www.detour-records.co.uk/

The new album from The Moment is imminent.......

 

Stone Foundation album, 'A Life Unlimited', scheduled for June release


Stone Foundation have been signed to Japanese record label P-VINE, Inc. and have the new album, "A LIFE UNLIMITED", released in Japan on June 17th.  

UK & EUROPEAN release dates to follow very soon, along with pre sale links and further album info. 

"Beverley" the first video from the new SF long player will be released on May 2nd, so stay tuned for that folks. 

You can catch Stone Foundation playing songs from the new album "A LIFE UNLIMITED" live throughout April and May on their European and UK tour at the dates below: - 

EUROPEAN & UK TOUR DATES 

April - 23rd El Diablolo, Lille, France

April - 24th Freedom Sounds Festival, Cologne, Germany

April - 25th Honigfabrik, Hamburg, Germany

April - 27th ČESKÁ 1 MUSIC CLUB, Kutna Hora, CZ

April - 28th Klub Buben, Prague, CZ

April - 29th Parkclub Fürstenwalde, Germany

April - 30th Reduit, Mainz-Kastel, Germany

May - 8th Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen Leeds

May - 14th Jazz Café London

May - 15th The Dukebox Theatre part of the Brighton FestivalFringe

May -16th Thunderbolt Bristol

May - 17th The Musician Pub Leicester

May - 30th Malaga Rocks Mijas, Spain

Pete Meaden biography by Pete Wilky & John Hellier to be published this summer


Light & Dark Publishing Ltd. 

We're pretty darn excited about releasing Light & Dark's first book, due to be published in Summer.  

Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances is by Pete Wilky and John Hellier. It is the biography of Pete Meaden, who was an English publicist for various musicians and the first manager for The Who. He was a prominent figure in the English Mod subculture of the 60s and is sometimes referred to as the "Mod Father" or "Mod God", either way his influence has left a mark on the Mod subculture to this day. 
 
With a foreword by Pete Townsend from The Who, this book is destined to be loved by all Mods and fans of music as well as the genre. Pre order link will be posted as soon a possible.
 
 

BREAKING NEWS: The Mark Three to play the IPO Festival at The Cavern, Liverpool, on Sunday 2nd June

  The Mark Three's stage times for Sunday 2nd June are: - 5.15pm The Cavern Pub 7.00pm The Cavern Club