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
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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
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.
Last week Merchandise went down to WFM for another radio session and a corker it was too. And with a story! To read all about it and to hear the whole radio show, click the pic!
The whole WFM interview with Merchandise has been put up on the Merchandise site. Have a listen, click here.
As always, the new Merchandise updates are going up on the Merchandise site including new pics, gig dates etc. Click the picture to go to the site . . .
Three will be the magic number on Saturday 11 October as Bolton-based Cityscape Records hosts three acts for its third showcase of emerging musical talent. The first two Cityscape Presents events at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre provided some captivating performances enjoyed by full houses in the venue’s intimate Bill Naughton Studio Theatre.
Number three, headlined by Cityscape band Merchandise with Ist and Dan Melrose completing the bill, promises to be every bit as much of a treat. Comedian Dale Meakin, a familiar face on the Manchester comedy circuit, is compere for the evening.
Merchandise return to the Octagon fresh from performances at the Sugarhill festival in Wiltshire and Manchester’s Night and Day. A new full band line-up, welcoming new members John A Stewart on bass and Matt Maher on drums, gives added oomph to their acoustic sound.
They will be previewing songs from forthcoming album For The Masses, including feelgood favourite Sometimes and soon-to-be-released single Enemy. Both can be heard on their MySpace site and are available from Itunes, HMV and other outlets.
Leicester band Ist, who cite influences ranging from Cole Porter to the Pixies, will be playing tunes from their new album Toothpick Bridge which features former members of the Beautiful South and Chris Difford’s solo band. Readers of Mojo magazine voted singer Kenton Hall as one of their 20 top ‘songwriters of substance’ in 2006.
Opening the evening is Manchester folkster Dan Melrose, a talented acoustic guitarist whose live band features an array of instruments including double bass, cello, harmonica and violin.
Brad B Wood, Cityscape founder and member of Merchandise, said: “The feeback from our first two events has been excellent and I’m really looking forward to introducing Dan and Ist to the Octagon audience.
“I saw Dan at a Manchester folk night and knew straight away I had to get him on. He’s got a hell of a way with an acoustic guitar and I’m sure anyone who comes along will see why I was so impressed.
“I first met Ist years ago when my former band Mazeppa were playing on the same bill as them at the Cavern Club. We’ve been friends since and I’m a big fan of their music. Their latest album is their best yet.
“As for Merchandise, we’re really happy with the development of our live sound and looking forward to sharing it.”
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/merchandisetheband, www.myspace.com/ist and www.myspace.com/danmelrose
Future Cityscape Presents nights will take place on 12 December, 7th February, 14th March, 18th April, 9th May and 20th June.
Merchandise have been picked to play at the Bolton Showcase at Leverhulme Park. The gig will take place on Saturday 26th July and will also feature Andrea Glass and The Last Waltz, The Minions, Pancho Ballard and The Banditos, The Broken Door, Second Hand Wings, The Planets, Hans Island, Last Chance, The Right Hands, Strangers In Paradise and Drama.
For more information visit the Bolton Showcase site – Hope to see you there!
Merchandise will be playing at the Sugar Hill festival in Wiltshire on 6th September 2008.
There’s a great website to have an explore of and to book tickets:
Plenty of new reviews of Merchandise’s new single Sometimes have been hitting the web and print media. Have a look at what these august institutions have to say about the band . . .
There are now new shots of Merchandise up on the Merchandise website including video stills, shots from the making of the video and live shots. Click the pic to get there!
Visit the new Merchandise website, have a look around and let us know what you think!
Merchandise are playing the Night and Day on Oldham St. in Manchester on Wednesday 28th May to celebrate the release of their new single, Sometimes.
The band will be showing the video of Sometimes at 9:15 and will be playing live at 9:30.
Print a copy of the flyer to get cheaper entry – click below for lots!
Following on from the wonderful firstCityscape Presents on the 10th May, we’re delighted to announce the line-up for the second night on 21st June.
Headlining act is this time the Loungs, described by the NME as “Heart stonking trippy folk that melds your brain into a big mush of unbridled, beardy love.”
Support comes from last time’s headliners, Merchandise with Moore Marriott opening the evening.
Tickets will go quickly with the first night a sell-out so book soon – click this link to visit the Octagon website to book tickets. http://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/Cityscape2.asp
If you prefer we’ve also put the video on the site in quicktime (better audio) click here
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.
