Six Storeys High

Edinburgh’s Six Storeys High have been bringing their robust, energetic and melodic rock sound to the capital’s most prestigious live stages and beyond. The four-piece have been building a loyal fan base right across the country with support slots for the likes of Xcerts, Tango In The Attic, Flood Of Red and Kassidy. They were selected to play both years of the Capital's Haddow Festival and reached the final of the national AyrPlay Festival competition.

In May 2010 Six Storeys High launched their debut EP to over 600 fans at Edinburgh's Usher Hall, and in September brought their new songs to the Capital’s reopened Liquid Room as hand-picked guests of Edinburgh heroes Jakil.

Winter 2010 saw the release of brand new single “My Last Favour”, picking up airplay across the UK, an accompanying and packed launch gig at Edinburgh’s Studio 24, and a tour of the Capital's schools playing to hundreds of new fans.

In 2011 they returned triumphantly to Liquid Rooms, gathered more airplay across the UK, supported We Were Promised Jetpacks and were selected again to play with Xcerts, played one of the main stages at Edinburgh’s citywide EH1 Festival and released brand new recordings (including single “Behind Closed Doors”), which were recorded at one of the country’s finest recording studios.

Summer saw a highly successful debut UK tour with dates in London, Leeds, Newcastle and Brighton, and the band followed the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Manic Street Preachers by recording a session for Jim Gellatly’s Scotland-wide “‘In Demand: Uncut” show. They rounded off the year with their biggest single launch yet, for the track “Ghosts”.

2012 has already seen the guys play with NME hot tips Bwani Junction at Edinburgh’s biggest venue, The HMV Picture House, work alongside Sandi Thom and Basement Jaxx in holding band “masterclasses” at the Scottish Academy Of Music & Sound in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and record “Childhood”: a brand new expanded EP of all new material. They’ll release this on June 11th and launch it with a video and major summer UK tour. With this, a keen eye on the year’s festival calendar and industry interest building all the time, who would bet against this being the year that Six Storeys High reach another level?

Stephen Gray – vocals/guitar, Scott Lackie – bass, Jamie Lindsay – drums, Ross Paterson – guitar

 http://www.sixstoreyshigh.com/ / http://www.darrenadam.com/

Twitter: @SixStoreysHigh 

''A gateway to the golden age of folk music''

A band that only formed back in the summer, Ruby & The Rib Cage are already causing quite a stir on the London folk scene.

Imagine the Bad Seeds fronted by Florence Welch, or Beth Jeans Houghton backed by Johnny Flynn’s band.

Intensely personal and reflective at their core, Ruby’ songs are enhanced by the musical imaginings of her band, the Rib Cage. Eddie Edwards (double bass), Ellie Garlick (violin and viola), Sam Pert (drums) and Aaron Brookes (guitar) join Ruby on lead vocals, ukelele, mandolin and banjo.

The band have gigged extensively throughout London - Hootananny Brixton, Proud Camden, BarFly Camden, Zigfried Von Underbelly Hoxton - in the process attracting attention from the likes of Ben Lovett at Communion, fashion photographer Lauren Haslam, and Stewart Bridgeman, radio plugger at Alan James PR. They are already booked in for over 10 summer 2012 festivals, including Bestival, Secret Garden Party and Wilderness, as well as a string of club dates around the UK.

The band recently released three “live in the studio” tracks (Horror, The North Wind and I am a Child) all of which are great examples of the bands subtle, yet powerful sound, evocative of windswept landscapes and lost loves. These can be heard and downloaded from the band’s Soundcloud for free. (http://www.soundcloud.com/rubyandtheribcage)

Check out the official video, 'Horror':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--PxOj0vzrY

For info on up-coming dates and booking the band, contact:

Band: rubyandtherc@gmail.com

Press: katie@howlagency.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RubyandtheRibCage

Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/rubyandtheribcage

Smile!

The Smiling Lies is an indie rock band originating from York Pennsylvania.

The band was started by lead singer and guitarist Tim Davis and drummer Sean Moran in 2009 – originally as a small jam band. The project grew when fellow classmate and bassist Jeff Bressler joined the band and started writing original music.

Inspiration comes from groups like The Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Blur, and The Strokes, and the guys featured some of their tracks whilst playing at local venues and school functions.

Doing home recordings in front-man Tim Davis’ basement, the band felt they had been missing something that they couldn’t quite put a finger on.  When lead guitarist Chris Kohler stepped in for a practice session the missing piece was found as they discovered the raw talent and jazz influence they had been looking for. 

After the four band mates returned from their freshman year of college they recorded a small collection of original pieces, in the summer of 2011.

The band is currently playing at colleges up and down the east coast and is planning to release more singles that they recorded last winter.

With a growing fan base and a college tour in the works for the fall of 2012, the anticipation heightens as to what the four young graduates of Central York High School will do next…

The self released E.P. ‘Say Yes?’ is available online. 

Checkout 'Space Elevator' - our recommended track off the EP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRhYzh2bpiI&feature=plcp&context=C300f924UDOEgsToPDskJSESP5vqZffLucuRQyNBZ3
Twitter: @TheSmilingLies

A name is a good place to start...

His name is Ben Semmens, he’s from Pontypridd, South Wales and is a singer-songwriter.

His music? Well, Ben lets his music do the talking for him and many seem to like what he has to say.

In early 2009 Ben released his debut album “Western Lights” and had a staggering 70,000 downloads- worldwide.

As it’s been said many-a time, the best advertising is word-of-mouth advertising and many began to spread the word and this continues today. And is growing. Word-of-mouth is becoming louder.

His music is difficult to categorise, which might be a good thing. His fans know each song stands on its own and means something different to everyone.

In 2011 Ben travelled to the United States to record his first solo album with Ben Thomas (Newton Faulkner, Ben Taylor, David Bowie). On this album, yet to be named, Ben collaborated with Carly Simon of “You’re So Vain”.

This year will see his first release since Ben left the band BenSem.

Whatever he does, wherever his music takes you, what’s always important to remember is that it’s music that has come straight from the heart of a remarkably gifted singer-songwriter who believes in the power of a good melody.

http://www.bensemmens.com

Twitter: @BenSemmens

The train arriving at platform 1 is Rebel Territory…

A band whose swagger and blistering live sets has already seen the band offered support opportunities with the likes of The Mystery Jets, The Kooks, Tribes, Tinchy Stryder, Los Campesinos, Viva Brother and Professor Green.

Leading a new wave of guitar bands coming through the media, reaction to Rebel Territory’s debut was a unanimous tide of critical acclaim. The media love for the band also spread to the radio airwaves around the country, resulting in the band being added to playlists on a number of top UK stations.

They impress wherever they go, whether it was the late Amy Winehouse coming to see them or football manager Nigel Clough, who asked for a meet following a performance at Derby’s Pride Park Stadium. Their flamboyance onstage led to live footage being featured in a Harley Davidson documentary illustrating music’s power to enthrall and entertain.

 

So who are these swashbuckling boys…?

…well, Lee Zajciw (guitar, lead vocals) and James Oldrini (bass, keyboards, backing vocals), have been playing together since they were 10 year old schoolmates. They completed their line-up with Sean Skinner, who had been representing Nottingham U-16’s in basketball but decided to devote himself to drumming for the band. The three-piece perform a jaw-dropping live set that has seen them invited back to venues again and again.

The train leaving platform 1 is Rebel Territory. Calling at…

Rebel Territory’s debut ‘double A’ single Falling For You / On The Rock’n’Roll is out now.

Check out the official video for 'On The Rock'n'Roll', from Rebel Territory's debut single:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJBM0M34NMU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL 

http://rebelterritory.co.uk/

Twitter: @rebelterritory 

Introducing... The Amateurs

The Birmingham based rock group is comprised of: Matthew Colley (vocals/piano), Andrew Fletcher (bass), Jim Holliday (drums) and Alex Wesley (guitar).

The guys have toured extensively throughout the UK, playing alongside artists such as Eliza Doolittle, Robert Plant, Athlete, Guillemots, Cage The Elephant and Reverend and The Makers.

Last year the group was invited exclusively by Oxfam to perform at Leeds Festival and this year the Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Canada. They recently completed a host of national UK tour dates with Eliza Doolittle.

The Amateurs have taken the long road to success, playing hundreds of shows together, honing their talent, building a fan base and perfecting their songs; their latest offering, The Rebel, accompanied by a brand new action packed ‘spy movie’ music video, is the culmination of that work and looks set to establish the band in the mainstream.

http://www.theamateurs.co.uk/

Introducing Umatic

...Take an incredibly light, high-pitch vocal, combine it with a heavy melodious productions and you'll get an idea of how Umatic sounds.  The band comprises of siblings Mathilde & Lukas.

In previous constellation they have played more than 300 concerts, gained lots of airplay on Danish National Radio and performed at the Roskilde Festival twice.  Not to mention, released several CD's (including Japan), contributed on film soundtracks such as Bille August's movie Return to Sender, and not least the main force behind their own songs and productions!

Mathilde and Lukas have their roots firmly planted in the musical soil.  She is a piano playing songwriter and the voice of 4 octaves.  He is an experienced hip hop producer - together they create Umatic's unique pop sound.

Umatic performed at this year's Start Festival, Musik i Lejet and Copenhagen Songwriters Festival.

Their track “Stay” is currently available for FREE download via http://www.last.fm/music/Umatic

 This will be the first of many bands we want to highlight. If you fancy a mention, get in touch.