May 9th Cityscape Presents line-up announced
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cityscapepresentsblindatlasinfo
There is an international flavour to the next Cityscape Presents at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre on Saturday 9th May which features Denver/ Manchester band Blind Atlas and Belgian singer/ songwriter Maxwell Watts.
Blind Atlas came together through a shared love of drinking, melancholia and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Comprising Ross Thompson (Lead vocals and guitar), Adam Jones (vocals and guitar), Cameron Baxter (vocals and bass) and Christian Jacobs (vocals anddrums), Blind Atlas have become familiar faces on the Manchester circuit, notching up headline slots at some of the most iconic venues in the city, as well as supporting the likes of Liam Frost and Detroit’s Deadstring Brothers.
One point fans of the band will attest to is their ability to expertly combine the traditional melancholy of the classic Northern sound with the boozy soul of American alternative country. As they themselves put it: “If we had to describe the type of music we play it would be our own version of alternative country with more of a 21st Century vibe.” And Cameron recently described the sound to one journalist as being “quite a unique conflict of British and American musical styles”. Hailing from Colorado, frontman Ross was quick to inject his own roots into their music, making it more akin to Neil Young than Morrissey. “It’s like a melancholic overload! There’s this battle of Americana versus Britannia – and it’s producing some really amazing music.”
Support comes from the multi-talented Maxwell Watts and his quartet. Maxwell Watts was born and raised in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. He was brought-up in a classical music background along his older sister Gillian ( a Mezzo-Soprano Opera singer ), his younger sister Katrina ( a cellist ), his mother Evelyn ( a music and history of Art teacher ). He moved to Manchester in the late nineties to study a sound engineering course at Salford University and lived with a group of other musicians and art students from all different parts of the globe; Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Nigeria, USA: “The house became a real creative platform with open music jams. Musicians from Salford University would come in and out to join in with the grooves”. From this background Maxwell went onto form a band, Oddness, and now has a great quartet currently performing the Americana, folk, jazzy acoustic side of his personality.
The line-up is completed by Ben McGarvey, a rising talent on the Manchester acoustic circuit whose last album, Too Busy Framing prompted the Manchester News to say, McGarvey has locked himself away in his bedroom and crafted songs of true otherworldly magic and splendour. Bursting with beautiful acoustic melodies and hooks…”
The night will be compered by comedienne Katie Mulgrew.
Brad B Wood, founder of Cityscape Records, said: “These nights are proving to be a real success with the past three selling out. This is another quality line-up featuring three acts I’m really happy to have found. I’m sure they’ll all go down well with our regular audience.”
Thanks to an Arts Council fiunded scheme, there are a limited number of free tickets available to under 26s – contact the Octagon box office for details.
Listen to the bands here: www.myspace.com/blindatlas , www.myspace.com/maxwellwattsmusic and www.myspace.com/benmcgarvey
The next Cityscape Presents will take place on 20th June featuring Kirsty McGee & Mat Martin and Alex Hulme before returning in the autumn.
Viva Superlux to play the next Cityscape Presents: 18th April
New Cityscape band, Viva Superlux featuring John and Matt from Merchandise will be playing at the next CItyscape Presents in April. Also featured will be Emily Cooke with Lou Conran compering. The final act is still to be confirmed.
This concert marks the beginning of a new chapter for Viva Superlux and their upbeat pop songs which you can hear on their myspace.
New releases and gigs by the boys will be added to the site as they happen – keep your eyes open!
Exciting Times For Merchandise!
These are exciting times for Merchandise! The new single Listen Up! has been released and is available here, on itunes, in HMV and pretty much anywhere else you care to order it!
There is loads of news about the new single, the ALL FM radio session, the plays on Radio One and the launch gig at the Aftershow on the Merchandise site. Click the screen shot to be whisked away to the wonderful world of Merchandise
Cityscape Presents . . . Merchandise 14th March
cityscapepresentsmerchandise14-3-09pressrelease
The regular Cityscape Presents night in the Octagon Theatre’s Bill Naughton Studio has quickly established itself as the place in Bolton to see the North’s most promising music talent.
The latest showcase evening on Saturday 14 March offers three more reasons why.
Headlining are Cityscape band Merchandise, previewing material from forthcoming album For The Masses as
well as firm favourites. Their set is sure to include new single Listen Up! – a life-affirming two and a half minutes
which provides the perfect introduction to their pure pop gold. The single, released on February 23, has been
generating a fanzine buzz and was recently championed by Huw Stevens on his Radio One Introducingshow.
Support comes from Leeds-based Albert Ross and The Otters. They cite inspirations ranging from Nick Cave
and T-Rex to Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Belle and Sebastian…and Dexy’s Midnight Runners. As you might expectfrom a band with such eclectic influences, their sound is all their own.
Opening up the evening will be Cal Roberts, a 19-year-old singer songwriter from North Wales. Cal has
supported Pete Doherty at gigs across the UK and Europe and supported The Courteeners on their recent
sell-out tour. His music is raw and edgy with lyrics he describes as “through the eyes of a teenager stuck in nowhere town.”
Compere for the evening will be comedienne Katie Mulgrew.
Brad B Wood, founder of Cityscape Records and member of Merchandise, said: “Merchandise have had a great year so far and it’ll be great to be back at the Octagon playing in front of a hometown audience.
“Cityscape Presents really seems to be getting a momentum of its own. We’ve had some great feedback and I’m chuffed we will be sharing the stage with two acts of such quality.
“Albert Ross and The Ottters produce infectious pop music which deserves to be heard. Albert sent me a Myspace
link and I knew within two bars that it was right up my street.
“Cal Roberts is also a big talent and definitely one to watch.”
The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £9 (£7 students/ concessions), are available from the Octagon box office. Call 01204 520661 or buy online at www.octagonbolton.co.uk
For more information about the acts, and a taste of their songs, visit their My Space sites at, respectively
www.merchandisetheband.co.uk , www.myspace.com/albertrossandtheotters , www.myspace.com/calroberts
March Cityscape Presents line-up Announced!
A big thanks to everybody who come down to Cityscape Presents on Saturday and helped make it the most successful one so far.
The line-up for the next one is as follows . . .
Albert Ross and the Otters and
Much more info will be coming your way in the coming weeks, but for now, have a listen to the acts’ myspaces by clicking the names. Get your tickets booked at the Octagon Box Office on 01204 520661. The event will take place in The Bill Naughton Studio theatre at the Octagon on Saturday 14th March.
Alex Hulme on WFM – Free Download!
Right, we’ve got a treat for you! This morning we took up and coming star Alex Hulme down to WFM (through all the snow winter could offer) to record a radio session ahead of his appearance at this Saturday’s (7thFeb) Cityscape Presents at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO! To book tickets, call the Octagon Box Office on 01204 520661.
To whet your appetite, we’ve cut out his live acoustic version of Seeing Sound to offer you lucky people as a free download.
To Listen to Seeing Sound click here:
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For a free download of Seeing Sound, right click and “save target as” or similar here!
To Listen to the whole 20 min radio session click here:
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Any problems, email me via the contact page. Please leave your comments below! Hopefully you’ll be hearing more of Alex’s songs here on the Cityscape website!
New Merchandise Reviews for Listen Up!
The reviews are now coming in for Listen Up! which will be released on 23rd February on 7″ white vinyl, CD and download. We’ve also set up a number of radio sessions surrounding the release, so keep your ears open for those – more news to follow! Click the screen shot to go to the Merchandise site for reviews etc.
Cityscape Presents . . . Micky P Kerr, Andrea Glass and Alex Hulme – 7th Feb
Once again we have another wonderful Cityscape Presents for you. Below is the text from the press release though you can download the pdf by clicking here: cityscapepresentsmickypkerrpressrelease
Acts who have been attracting national radio airplay can be seen live in intimate surroundings at the latest Cityscape Presents event at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre.
The showcase, hosted by Bolton-based Cityscape Records, returns to the venue’s Bill Naughton Theatre on Saturday 7 February with another line-up brimming with talent.
Headliner Micky P Kerr’s impressive CV includes slots supporting the likes of Kate Nash, Reverend and The Makers and The Ordinary Boys.
He refers to his unique songwriting style as “lyrical folk hiphop.” Radio One DJ Rob da Bank describes it, more prosaically, as “absolutely brilliant.” Micky has also garnered support from the likes of Colin Murray, Steve Lamacq and Lauren Laverne.
A popular figure in his home city of Leeds, he counts chart-bothering act The Pigeon Detectives among his friends. Micky’s track Dreamer’s Club may already be familiar to listeners as it was used provide the soundtrack to a Jet 2 advert. It is, however, his career that is now poised for take off . . .
Supporting Micky is Bolton singer-songwriter Andrea Glass whose Americana-tinged tunes have also been gaining national radio airplay from the likes of Radio 2′s ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris.
Her idiosyncratic list of loves “cowboy boots, flocked wallpaper, scented candles, fairy lights, notebooks, everything about autumn, all things coastal, trains, long journeys and maps” gives a flavour of the singular imagination at work in her music.
She might hail from Bolton but her debut album was recorded in arguably her spiritual home – Nashville, Tennessee.
Completing the line up will be 17-year-old singer-songwriter Alex Hulme whose unique acoustic sound is full of sweet melodies and intricate guitar work. Think Nick Drake-style guitar with more commercial vocal melodies reminiscent of the likes of Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly.
The night will be compered by comedienne Lou Conran who provided the laughs at the last Cityscape Presents in December and is back to provide more.
Brad B Wood, founder of Cityscape Records, said: “Cityscape Presents got off to a tremendous start in 2008, showcasing exciting new and niche acts. With acts the quality of The Travelling Band, The Hobopop Collective and Cal Roberts booked for forthcoming nights, the night promises to go from strength to strength. Do your ears a favour and come along.”
The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £9 (£7 students/ concessions), are available from the Octagon box office. Call 01204 520661 or buy online at www.octagonbolton.co.uk
For more information about the acts, and a taste of their songs, visit their My Space sites at, respectively www.myspace.com/mrkerr , www.myspace.com/andreaglassmusic , www.myspace.com/alexhulmeacoustic
Future Cityscape Presents nights will take place on 14th March, 18th April, 9th May and 20th June.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL email Cityscape Records info@cityscaperecords.co.uk