WHAT WOULD WILLSON WEAR: Lennon Haze ft. Emmaus Cambridge

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Absolute Bangers: AUGUST (ft. new music from Lacuna Bloome, GIRLI and Bedroom / Boredom)

RECAP

Photo via Catherine North

Yet again we've got another Absolute Bangers, this month wasn't as full gig-wise as last month however the few I have been to have been pretty intimate as they've all been with pals. Right at the end of July I did my first solo gig in over a year at The Portland Arms, supporting a whole bunch of great musicians all thanks to Mark McGivern who organised the event (and also organises the Cambridge's infamous music and poetry nights, Sunday Night Lives). One act that stuck out for me from the evening was a dark blues trio called Murder Ballads, fronted by Anna Knight who has the most incredibly distinctive voice which you can find right HERE. 

I finally lost my Cambridge Junction Fiver virginity this month. For those who don't know what the Fiver is it's basically five local bands, on a friday, for a fiver (what a concept). The fiver nights always have the best that Cambridge has to offer in young talent and I'm not dropping any hints or anything but Violet Flares may or may not be doing a fiver in the near future. This months lineup consisted of Maverick, The Lost Volts, followed by Deep City, The Hemingways and Oscar Corney who also played at River Town Festival in St Ives the next day hosted by Tom Lumley. 

Photo via Local Distortion Official

As I was recovering from the night before, I only stayed for a few sets at River Town (which I later regretted as Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles were one of the headliners) but thankfully I caught Searching Grey who have been on my gig list for ages. 

Tracks

Lacuna Bloome - Only One 

Lacuna Bloome are a relatively new on the scene Brighton based four piece who are heavily influenced by Wolf Alice, Foals and Oasis; however for me they have a fresh resemblance to the likes of late 2000's indie bands like Pigeon Detective, early Arctic Monkeys and even Viola Beach. They sent me their brand new track Only One last week and is released today! For me the track is so contagiously catchy and anthemic and has been on my repeat on my lazy days (lmao everyday is my lazy day). 

Links: 

Soundcloud

Instagram

Musicglue

Dates:

16th September - The Camden Assembly, London

18th October - The Prince Albert, Brighton

Redwood - Aster

This alt-rock five piece from Hertfordshire have just finished a three week European tour supporting Drawstrings. They released their latest double A-side Night Garden/Aster back in May. It's super dreamy like Warpaint, but has this prominent post-rock drive mixed with fragile and thought-provoking lyrics from Alex Birchall. 

Links:

Bandcamp

Instagram

BigCartel

Twitter

The Big Moon - Sucker

I'm definitely a SUCKER for all gal bands (sorry shit puns). This band has been a fave of me and the Violet Flares gals for a while and I'm planning to see them again on their upcoming tour in September/October (although where I see them is dependant on where I end up in September). The one thing about Sucker that I love is the 6/8 time signature which you don't usually hear often or at all in typical indie rock music. It starts off kinda sad but then progresses into one of those super happy feel good bangers. 

Links:

Soundcloud

Twitter

Instagram

Dates:

list on their whole uk tour dates here

JUICE DIGITS - No Interruptions

This five piece from Cambridge made their debut at Strawberry Fair this summer on the Love Music Hate Racism stage. Their bassist Billy was first to introduce them to me and they have their first demo out on soundcloud. It could easily pass for a Hills boy rapping about random shenanigans over a funk jam (hang on a minute), but the simplicity of that concept is what makes it so damn appealing and an absolute banger. Their main influences are ATCQ, Parliameny Funkadelic and John Mayer, and over the course of the next few months they'll be doing gigs in Cambridge pubs, house parties (think Libertines in a London flat style) and are set to play The Portland Arms on the 2nd of December. 

Links:

Soundcloud

Dates:
2nd December - The Portland Arms, Cambridge

Girli - Hot Mess

I reviewed Girli's track 'So You Think' a few months ago after I saw and fell in love with her at the Cambridge Junction supporting Declan McKenna. Fast forward to now, she's released her brand new track 'Hot Mess' that made its radio debut on the Huw Stephens shows on BBC Radio 1 on Wednesday night (was literally the perfect way to wind down before the results day madness) and is now out TODAY! It starts off sounding like a bond track motif if 007 was an anime character until she starts rapping about being, well, a hot mess in her North London accent. Like a lot of her tracks, her lyrics are very tongue in cheek and sarcastic as fuck which makes it such a pleasure and refreshing to listen to. 

Links:

Soundcloud

Twitter

Instagram

Dates:

30th August - XOYO, London

Bedroom / Boredom - Shuteye

Will I ever stop raving about this six piece from West London? Probably not. Their brand new EP 'Reefs' came out today and is just as feel-good and exciting as the first. The last track on the EP, Shuteye, is really sticking out for me as it has such a fun carnival/festival vibe with a really prominent sax riff which is perfect to get me into the pre Reading Festival hype. As much as I adore their first EP 'I Wouldn't Worry', Reefs definitely sounds a lot more experimental within their unique sounds n vibes. You can buy the new release, as well as other cool merch like t-shirts handmade by the band and tape cassettes on their bigcartel store.

Links:
Bandcamp
Twitter
BigCartel

Dates:
14th September - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, London


UPCOMING GIGS