Cityscape Records

25 May 2008, 18:30 - MAPS FESTIVAL GIG at TV21
Thomas Street, Manchester, Manchester, Northwest M4 1ER - £4

This gig is part of The MAPS Festival (Music Art Poetry & Stuff) a 3 day festival over the bank holiday weekend involving about 200artists in 14 venues in the Northern Quarter of Manchester. The band will be playing at TV21 at 6.30pm–so still time to get home for your tea! There’s 10 acts on altogether. kicks off at 3.30 & finishes at 11pm. For more festival details check out www.mapsfestival.co.uk

If you prefer we’ve also put the video on the site in quicktime (better audio) click here

Keep checking here, but here’s some info very far in advance for the October gig!

Booked so far: Ist, Merchandise, Dan Melrose and Dale Meakin as compere.

Here are some biogs and photos to get you in the mood!

Ist:

Formed in 2001, the original line-up of Kenton Hall, Jack Bomb, Detroit Robbins and Flash signed to independent label Pink Box Records, releasing The Adult Tree EP. Full-length debut ‘Freudian Corduroy’ followed eighteen months later, following an extensive UK tour, spawning both the official single ´Similarly Inclined/Tonto´ and the infamous ´Boyfriend´. Reviews compared the band to Syd Barrett fronting the Beatles, and the record built up a steady following of ´istians´ around the world.

Following the departure of Jack Bomb and the tragic death of Detroit Robbins, the remaining members convened, with John McCourt on bass, to record 2005´s King Martha, which garnered them further rave reviews, a slot at the BBC 6music-sponsored Summer Sundae festival and an eight week stay at #1 in the Russian download charts.

In September 2005, Brett Richardson - who had guested on King Martha, playing bassoon - joined the band full-time for the King Martha tour.

In 2006, Kenton Hall was voted by MOJO readers as one of the top 20 ´Songwriters of Substance´ and a special edition of King Martha was released by Italian label MODA Music in March 2007.

Also in 2006, following a conversation with legendary songwriter and broadcaster Tom Robinson, work began on a follow-up album Toothpick Bridge. Looking to move their sound forward, the band recruited producer Jay ´Burzootie´ Burnett, who had started as an engineer (manning the desk for the Beastie Boys, amongst others) with Def Jam Records and gone on to be responsible for classic albums in a wide variety of styles, including work on the seminal Planet Rock and Bert Jansch´s When the Circus Comes to Town, which was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize.

Guests on the new album include Melvin Duffy (The Lilac Time, Robbie Williams), Dorie Jackson (Chris Difford, Francis Dunnery), The Swinging Laurels and a very special guest they’ve managed to Squeeze in.

Dan Melrose:

Dan Melrose is a singer-songwriter and guitar instrumentalist based in Manchester. He writes, records and performs original material that, if it had to be pigeonholed, would be called folk.

Dan featured at the 2008 Le Blues Autour du Zinc (www.zincblues.com) on both the Friday and Saturday nights, having enjoyed the Acoustic Stage previously at both the Colne and Burnley Blues Festivals. Dan has also appeared numerous times on Channel M’s ‘City Centre Social’ music show as well as at Manchester’s own music festivals. Dan gigs in a variety of venues regularly in and around the North West, and is always well received.

At the moment Dan is painstakingly recording a CD, as well as performing as often as he can. He hopes to finish the recordings soon, with a view to getting some distribution of sorts. Whereupon he will, no doubt, be gigging and promoting himself like crazy.

When performing and recording, Dan has a wealth of peers with whom to play. The core of his band consists of double bass and violin, who come along and perform at the larger gigs. The full band gigs have previously gone under the band name “The Green Tree Riot,” AKA, “The Urban Folk Collective,” though more recently, the decision was made to axe the name and continue to perform billed as a solo artist, despite the larger line-up being the same and consisting of some of the original material.

Press Quotes

“Blending the romance of folk music with the grim realities of the blues… create(s) a sound that balances the traditional with modern life… Something magical could come of this.”

– Chris Long, BBC Great Unheard.

“Well as it’s Sunday, I was under the illusion I was writing about a chilled out folk band. With the use of acoustic guitars, harmonica, double bass, fiddle and washboard I expected a sombre relaxing piece of music. What The Green Tree Riot delivered was a gutsy, raw and powerful mixture of Irish influenced blues. Singer Dan Melrose’s voice is razor sharp and he sings with a twinge of Americana in there too. On track Blood And Rust Blues, the song begins as if two cowboys are taking 5 paces ready to draw their pistols in a shootout. When Melrose hits the first roar, it’s their signal to shoot their barrels clean.”

- Ross @ http://unearthedtreasures.blogspot.com

Some of the North West’s brightest emerging music talent will take to the stage in a series of showcase nights at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre.


The nights, hosted by Bolton-based record label Cityscape Records, kick off on Saturday 10 May with Cityscape duo Merchandise headlining in the intimate surroundings of the Bill Naughton Studio Theatre.


“Sparkling“, “summery“, “life-affirming” and “beautiful” are among the terms critics have used in their attempts to encapsulate the intelligent, melodic pop conjured up by Brad B Wood and Conrad Astley. The BBC website’s Manchester section went as far as declaring their original sound to have “a touch of genius.”


Joyous single Sometimes, due to be released on Cityscape Records in June, gives a flavour of their knack for marrying acoustic gorgeousness with digital know-how.


A strong bill for the 10 May show also includes Manchester music scene luminary Sara Lowes. Her impressive CV includes being a member of both country-inflected Lancashire/Texas band The Earlies and Jim Noir’s tourning band, Chorlton-cum-Hardy’s answer to Brian Wilson. She has also lent her talents to King Creosote and Micah P Hanson.


But it is as a singer-songwriter in her own right that Sara Lowes will be wowing the Octagon audience. Driven by piano and piloted by her warm vocals, her songs give a fresh folk/pop twist to the classic sixties influences she absorbed as a child.


Chris Evans, who takes his inspiration from singer songwriters with something to say - from folk legends Fairport Convention through to John Lennon and Billy Bragg - completes the line up.


More Cityscape Presents nights, promising further delights, are confirmed for 21 June, 11 October, 12 December and 7 February 2008. The first of these being headlined by The Loungs from St. Helens.


Brad B Wood, Cityscape founder and one half of Merchandise, said:


“As a label, Cityscape is all about independence and imagination. Hosting an evening of like-minded acts seemed like a logical extension of what we‘re doing. I’m delighted that we’ve managed to entice acts of the calibre of Sara and Chris to join Merchandise for the inagural Cityscape Presents. These are acts which are creating a buzz among people who have their ears to the ground listening for up-and-coming talent.”


With its cabaret-style seating and table service, the Bill Naughton Studio should prove the ideal venue to host Cityscape Presents . . .


May 10th Cityscape Presents press release

CITYSCAPE presents is a new night to take place at the Octagon Bill Naughton Theatre in Bolton. We will be showcasing the best music on offer in Bolton and throughout the North West. Our aim is to put on a night of quality music and entertainment in a great, intimate venue. More details will come, including links to the Octagon box office for tickets and details of other acts/ events.

10th May 2008: Merchandise with support from Sarah Lowes and Chris Evans.

Tickets Available from the Octagon Box Office priced £9.00 for adults, £7 for concessions and £6 for 4 or more! See www.octagonbolton.co.uk or tel 01204 520661

Great news for fans of gorgeous hi-quality, lo-fi organic-pop. Merchandise are back.

Not content to sit back and soak up the plaudits from critically acclaimed second album, ‘Lo-tech Solutions to Hi-tech problems’, the creative drive of Merchandise’s Brad B Wood and Conrad Astley is flowing as richly as ever and in April 08, Merchandise drop stunning new single, Sometimes/Glitterati, in our laps, and with it look set to cement their growing reputation as creators of glorious melodic-pop.

Consummate in the art of marrying luscious acoustic loveliness with all the cut n paste potential of this digital age, Merchandise have once again struck joyful, life-affirming musical gold.
The title track sounds like waking up on a sunny Sunday morning next to the warm body of a post-coital lover. Dripping with dreamy optimism, Brad B Wood’s effortless vocal floats alongside the sprightly piano before the melodic and vibrant rhythm section kicks in and takes the chorus soaring in a swirl of harmonically entwined instrumental elegance and loved-up lyrics.

Track 2, Glitterati, is a further example of Merchandise lo-fi loveliness, albeit in slightly more cynical mood. The uplifting piano is reeled in by the dark lead guitar line and world weary lyrics that Brad delivers from the regretful point of view of one recently duped or deceived; ‘you told me how the field of glitter, is only gold and silver lies. I should have seen it from the outset but I had glitter in my eyes’.

Mournful yet ultimately uplifting, Merchandise’s perfect knack of producing aural comfort means Glitterati’s lyrical content and tender vocal doesn’t quite defeat the notion that there is still light at the end of this particular tunnel.

With Sometimes/Glitterati, Merchandise have produced the perfect antidote to winter’s greys and blues, and have once again produced a familiar, yet unique cocktail of charming, disarming and seductive music.

So go on, treat yourself to a taste of the Merchandise.

Click here to view or download in Quicktime format.

Another new project that we’ve added to the roster here at Cityscape:

Knight Music is the new project headed by songwriter/pianist Paul Swannell. Having plied his trade for over 10 years in various bands including Mazeppa and more recently, Ist, Knight Music is new territory for Paul. Although essentially a solo, piano-based venture, the music draws on the expertise of various guest instrumentalists (guitars, drums, percussion, brass, strings, saxophones and even accordian) to create a diverse soundscape within a pop song setting.

Work began on the first batch of songs in August 2007 with producer/drummer, Phil Holmes. The intention is to release 2 ep’s within the next 12 months, alongside some live gigs. Although very much in it’s infancy, it is hoped that visitors of this site will accompany Knight Music through it’s musical journey by checking out the latest blogs and getting in touch. Keep posted, as songs will be available to listen to on this site as soon as they are ready - we’re working as quickly as possible!

We’re pleased here at Cityscape to welcome Moore Marriott to the fold. Their previous record, Back up and Bounce is a classic so we’re as excited as everyone else to hear their new stuff!

” Their music has grace and a real integrity–and that never goes out of style.” Colin Scott, Bob Magazine 2007.

To find out more information about Moore Marriott then please visit their website: www.mooremarriot.co.uk. Moore Marriott are the song-writing & production team of Ian Bamford and Adam Speakman with the gracious help of John Hulme (trumpet & flugal), Aileen Williams (cello), Sandra Scattergood (keys, sax & flute) & Rick Hughes (drums).

Merchandise’s new album Lo-tech Solutions to Hi-tech Problems has been gathering an embarrassment of adoring reviews.

As the title suggests, the album is the result of duo Brad B Wood and Conrad Astley marrying luscious acoustic loveliness with all the wonders of the electronic age.

And the marriage, as a host of reviewers and radio DJs have already noticed, is certainly a happy one, with tracks taken from it having caught the attention of good people everywhere.

Blowback magazine wrote: “Merchandise make the kind of acoustic electronica that’d be the soundtrack to a summer picnic in Hyde Park, with cute animals frolicking in the sun. A whole album of beautiful music. The sound of pastoral idylls and eternal sunshine.”

Elsewhere, Gill Rickson of SBN Radio commented: “It’s like someone got hold of Rae and Christian and made them cut up a Kings of Convenience album.”

Plenty more of these reviews can be found at www.cityscaperecords.co.uk.

Beautiful Morning for a Bad Day and 14:53 are two of the stand-out tracks which have been turning reviewers’ heads - gorgeous pop songs which see acoustic guitar riffs bouncing out of the speakers alongside lolloping drum loops, pristine piano motifs and Brad’s understated vocals.

Elsewhere the band step up the pace on tracks such as two-and-a-half minute bruiser Sunday Song and psychedelic burn-out Charlie Parker was a Hobo.

The mournful piano balladry of Distil Disappointment and The Last Stand of Pucho Vasquez provide other surprises as does the stark warmth of Winter.

Give Lo-tech Solutions a listen and you will surely agree with Tasty Fanzine that this is “Fantastic pop music.”