Cityscape Presents . . . 20th June Press Release
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May 9th Cityscape Presents line-up announced
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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.
Cityscape Presents . . . Moore Marriott 12th December
Below is the press release text for Cityscape Presents . . . Moore Marriott on 12th December. If you want a pdf of the press release click here:
cityscapepresentsmooremarriottpressrelease.pdf
Eclectic North West musical showcase night Cityscape Presents returns to Bolton’s Octagon Theatre on Friday 12 December to unwrap some pre-Christmas treats.
The night, hosted by Cityscape Records offers the chance to see up-and-coming acts in the laidback environment of the theatre’s Bill Naughton Studio.
Headliners are Moore Marriott who will be showcasing their perfect pop including tracks from forthcoming EP The Catcher which will be released on Cityscape early next year.
They boast soulful songs with infectious arrangements - Elliot Smith, Neil Finn and Badly Drawn Boy are cited among their influences - and will be playing as a five-piece featuring banjo, guitars, flugelhorn, cello and double bass.
Next up are the intriguing Kirsty McGee & Mat Martin whose songs of vagrancy and restlessness havebeen described variously as reminiscent of a Coen Brothers film and as “Simon and Garfunkel - the Tim Burton version.” If it’s musical rather than cinematic references you’re after, think folk noir, Tom Waits, John Martyn, Boo Hewerdine…and go on, you can have an author - Jack Kerouac - as well.
Opening up proceedings will be brother and sister duo Liam Carter and Lauren Carter-Bridges who peform as Get Carter. The Bolton born-and-bred siblings’ talents developed when they were thousands of miles apart, Lauren in England writing songs while Liam was on the other side of the world in Queensland, Australia. They credit a 24-hour flight, many arguments and magic ‘Mozart’ voice-saving liqueur with the alchemy that resulted in their infectious lo-fi pop.
Comedian Lou Conran, a feature on what she calls the “Manchesterford” comedy scene since 2005, will be compere for the evening.
Brad B Wood, founder of Cityscape Records, said: “Once again we’re delighted to have some talented and varied acts grace the stage.
“Moore Marriott are a great band who I love so much I signed them! Seeing them live is always great so I’m looking forward to the night very much.
“I first met Kirsty when my band Merchandise supported her friends’ band Truckstop Honeymoon in Bolton. They’d recorded her music in Kansas and, with Mat Martin, she’ll be a real treat!
“Get Carter first came to my attention when Kat Dibbits of The Bolton News sent me an early demo. I heard the potential straight away and knew I had to get them on.”
The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £9 for adults (£7 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/kirstymcgeeandmatmartin
Future Cityscape Presents nights will take place on 7th February, 14th March, 18th April, 9th May
and 20th June.
FOR MORE INFORMATION email brad@cityscaperecords.co.uk