NEWS: Karn8 To Release New Single And Video

Grunge/Blues rockers Karn8 are preparing to release their new single "Sick" along with an accompanying video. Having toured heavily the last few years, Karn8 have built up a strong following and a unique and powerful sound. Described as "The kind of garage blues your mother warned you about" these are definitely a band you should catch.

We will have a full review of the single and video as soon as it gets to us, but for now head over to www.karn8.com to check out their current tracks. We also suggest you have a watch of the video for "Old No 7" below. Because it is fantastic :)



Karn8 play:

May 11th - Sedition, Reading
May 14th - The Star, Guildford
June 3rd - Scream Lounge, Croydon (Wildfire Music Sponsored Show)
July 2nd - The Twig, Bracknell
July 23rd - Fiddlers Elbow, London

NEWS: TINIE’S TINIEST GIG UK’s biggest artist plays smallest ever show after O2 ‘flash exit’

Tinie Tempah teamed up with O2 to give one lucky ‘superfan’ the experience of her lifetime by performing his smallest show ever in a special one-on-one gig.

Katie Hobbs, 21 from Southampton, received the surprise of her life when the O2 Islington Academy was rapidly transformed by O2 from a packed concert venue to gig for one in the first ever ‘flash exit’.

Katie was picked as the star of the show from 2000 hopefuls who applied on Facebook to participate in what was billed as ‘a live video performance.’ What began as an intimate gig for 400 fans was transformed in a matter of seconds into the most exclusive concert the UK Artist has ever played.

As Tinie delivered a number of his hits to the packed venue, 399 fans – directed by renowned documentary maker Phil Griffin – left the dancefloor, leaving Katie to enjoy a completely dedicated, one-on-one performance of Wonderman, Tinie’s latest single.

This is the first known example of a ‘flash exit’ – the reverse of a flash mob – designed to spontaneously empty busy public spaces in seconds. The flash exit was created by O2 to show the lengths it goes to when thinking about its customers.

Katie Hobbs said: “This has been the most amazing day of my life. Getting an exclusive gig from Tinie was simply incredible. I had absolutely no idea what was happening and before I knew it I was getting a solo performance from my favourite act. It doesn’t get any better than that!”

Commenting on his most unusual gig to date, Brit award winner Tinie Tempah said: “I owe my success to my fans, and being able to interact with them when I play live is the greatest feeling. I’ve played all sorts of gigs in all sorts of venues but never one like this before. It’s definitely my tiniest gig ever, but it’s also one of my best.”

Footage shot during the event is being screened in a special 60 second ad spot running during Britain’s Got Talent, on Saturday 23rd April at 19.58pm. To see Tinie’s performance and Katie’s reaction, visit www.thinkingofkatie.co.uk

The Tinie tie-up was created as part of O2’s Thinking of You campaign, aimed at showing how O2 values its customers. The campaign also follows a long history of O2’s support for live music in the UK with its high profile sponsorship of The O2 and O2 Academy venues.

NEWS: Rufus Wainwright - ‘House of Rufus’ The sumptuous 19 disc box set, out July 18th

Exciting news this as Rufus Wainwright is simply fantastic.

The most complete collection of Rufus Wainwright recordings to date, ‘House Of Rufus’ is housed in a gorgeous, red velvet encased, 90-page hardback book containing rare and unseen photos as well as Rufus' early hand-drawn tour posters, handwritten lyrics, four art prints and other memorabilia.

‘House of Rufus’ will be released on the same day that Rufus starts his eagerly awaited five night residency of the same name at the Royal Opera House (July 18th-23rd). This will be the first event of its kind that the prestigious venue has ever hosted.

The set’s extensive and revealing sleeve notes feature interviews with Neil Tennant, Martha Wainwright, Linda Thompson and Lenny Waronker as well as an introduction by Rufus himself.

‘House Of Rufus’ contains:

Six studio albums: ‘Rufus Wainwright’, ‘Poses’, ‘Want One’, ‘Want Two’, ‘Release The Stars’ and ‘All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu’, all now with additional previously unreleased bonus material.

Two concerts on CD: ‘Milwaukee at Last!!!’ and the legendary ‘Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall’ (two CDs), now with previously unreleased songs from the show.

Four additional CDs

Rufus Rarities:
Featuring previously unreleased songs and rarities.

Rufus at the Movies:
This contains many of the songs Rufus has recorded for soundtracks including ‘Hallelujah’ from the film Shrek.

Friends & Family:
The third disc is drawn from Rufus' collaborations with friends and family members such as Leonard Cohen, Teddy Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III, Martha Wainwright, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, The Pet Shop Boys, and Burt Bacharach.

Original Demos:
The final disc is made up of the demos from the tape which secured Rufus his first record deal.

Six DVDs: ‘Live at Fillmore’, ‘Rufus Does Judy at the London Palladium’,
‘Milwaukee at Last!!!’, ‘Release The Stars’ album commentary and live
performance and two feature-length documentaries, ‘All I Want’ and ‘Prima Donna: The Making of An Opera’.

‘House Of Rufus’ is available for pre-order now HERE

The dates for his 5 day residency at The Royal Opera house are:

Mon 18th    Rufus Does Judy! orchestra conducted by Stephen Oremus
Tue 19th     An Evening with Rufus and Martha Wainwright + band
Thu 21st     An Evening with Rufus and Loudon Wainwright + band
Fri 22nd      Rufus Does Judy!
Sat 23rd      Concert Version of Prima Donna with Janis Kelly, plus Rufus Does Rufus with orchestra

There is also an exclusive competiton for fans to have one their own photos and artwork included in the final boxset. To enter, and for further details, fans can visit the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rufus-Wainwright/26233759320?sk=app_4949752878

NEWS: Shibuya Crossings to release new album ‘DOYA’ on June 13th

Released June 13th, DOYA (Depend On You Alter-Ego) is London-based Shibuya Crossings’ sophomore album, to be released through Typically Magic Records. As much pieced together in anger and protest as it is influenced by all things heartfelt, this alt rock animal is full of nods to the likes of Sparklehorse, Hefner, Teenage Fanclub, and even the art-school fringe-swinging of Blur.

Talking of the release, vocalist and guitarist Declan Harrington said:

'We're both relieved and really excited to be releasing this album. It’s been a labor of love as we did most of the recording and mixing ourselves. There were times when I thought it just wasn't going to happen, so to have it turn out so well is really satisfying. I think we've definitely made a big step forward in terms of the writing and our general production and sound, so we can’t wait for people to hear what we’ve been working on.’

A literal translation of “Shibuya” is “Bitter Valley” and the poeticism of crossing a bitter valley captures the ideas in DOYA perfectly. If the grass is always greener wherever we’re not, let’s at least enjoy the crossing.

Head over to their social networks to hear single "Take It Out On Me"

www.shibuyacrossings.com

NEWS: The Savage Nomads “The Magic Eye” Out May 16th on Alaska Sounds

4 piece indie rockers The Savage Nomads are set to release their debut single "The Magic Eye" on May 16th. We're really digging this track over at Wildfire HQ and a full review of it will be winging its way onto these pages soon. This will also be followed by their debut album "Coloured Clutter".

With fans including Mick Jones of The Clash, these guys have some great support and will be moving up to playing some bigger stages in the near future, no doubt.

You can catch these guys play the Relentless Garage on the 19th May and if the indie/punk scene floats your boat, we suggest you do.

NEWS: RENDEZVOUS Debut Single “C Sharp” (feat. Carl Cox remixes) is out June 27thvia Moot Records

Electro duo "Rendezvous" will be releasing their single "C Sharp" on the 27th June. Described as "a masterclass in savvy electro with its roots in all kinds of unexpected place" this group certainly have their own flavour going on.

Carl Cox likes them so much he contributed 2 remixes for the single saying, "it was a pleasure to work on this remix, it was a beautiful piece of music and i have to put my Coxy stamp on it!"

Check out the groups Youtube channel to see the boys at work in the studio:

http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialRendezvous