Monday 5 January 2009

Return of the North London 7

Madness release their new studio album 'The Liberty Of Norton Fulgate' on March 2nd. The album was previewed by the band at the Hackney Empire (London) last year to rave reviews.

As well as a new album, July also sees the return of the Nutty Boys Madstock festival, for the first time in 9 years. The gig will be held in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, East London, on Friday, 17th July, 2009. Tickets are on sale at £35.

Bombskare - A Fistful Of Dynamite

Bombskare release their long awaited debut album in February. The album is entitled "A Fistful Of Dynamite".

Bombskare are a 10 piece ska band who hail from Edinburgh, and have been described by many (including the Scotsman) as Scotlands best ska band.

The album is released on the 27th February.

Skaville UK - New Album

Skaville UK are currently in the studio recording their 3rd album. The album will be called 'Skazoo', and is due for release in the summer (2009).

Tracks that have been recorded for the album so far include:

I Threw It All Away
Surfing Ska City
She's Got Vertigo
Money Shot
Sally Sly
One More Drink
Daddy's Gun
Tribute Man

Skaville UK describe the album as skinhead reggae meets Pink Floyd.

Friday 2 January 2009

New CD Releases - January & February 2009

The Skatallites - The Skatallites (3 CD) (12.01.09)
Various - Treasure Isle The Ultimate Collection (3 CD) (12.01.09)
Freddy McGregor - Mr McGregor (12.01.09)
Anti Nowhere League - We Are The League / Live In Yugoslavia (2 CD) (19.01.09)
The Exploited - Let's Start A War / Live And Loud (2 CD) (19.01.09)
Studio 1 - Studio 1 (19.01.09)
Reel Big Fish - Fame, Fortune, And Fornication (26.01.09)
Subhumans - Cradle To The Grave (26.01.09)
Subhumans - The Day The Country Died (26.01.09)
Peter Tosh - Equal Rights (26.01.09)
Peter Tosh - Legalize It (26.01.09)
Various - Niney The Observer: Roots With Quality (2 CD) (26.01.09)
UB40 - Love Songs (02.02.09)
Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy: The Best Of (02.02.09)

All release dates are subject to change.

The Beat & Sonic Boom Six

SONIC BOOM SIX are to reform, and are rumoured to be supporting the BEAT on their 30th anniversary tour.

The first date is in Bristol on the 12 March 2009, and the tour ends in Gloucester on the 29th March 2009.

Still no news on Dave Wakeling rejoining the BEAT for the tour.

Details of the tour are available at: www.thebeatofficial.com

Bad Manners - Live And Loud

The classic BAD MANNERS live album "Live And Loud" is set to be reissued in 2009 on Moon Ska.

The album will be packaged in it's original Link Records artwork, along with original tracklisting.

This will be a stricly limited edition collectors "must have" release!

The Toasters in Europe 2009

New York Ska legends the Toasters return to Europe in 2009 with gigs starting in Russia at the end of March, and finishing off in May in Switzerland.

More news on the confirmed dates when we have them but keep an eye on The Toasters myspace page for updates: myspace.com/toasters

Dub City Rockers

The long awaited DUB CITY ROCKERS album "Peace, Love, Faith, Hope, Respect, Co-Exist" will be released in March 2009, on Moon Ska World records.

The 16 track album best described as "conscious" Reggae Ska-Ragga includes a new version of "We Do The Ska" and the popular "Trojan City Love".

The album also features collaborations with CHRIS MURRAY, and THE UPSESSIONS.

Mods Mayday 2009

Date: 1st May 2009 - 3rd May 2009
Event location: The Flapper & Firkin, Cambrian Wharf, Kingston Row, Birmingham (UK)

A Birmingham weekender over May Day bank holiday weekend to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Mod revival and features many bands from the revival era and the intervening years.

The line-up includes Squire, Long Tall Shorty, Pope, RT3, Darren J Connett, Speakeasy, The Risk, Yeh-Yeh, The Threads, Rinaldi Sings, Upper Fifth, The Itch, Small World, Petty Hoodlums, The Visitors, Shaughnessey and Mike Walker (The Circles).

DJs include Tiff, Brendan, Simpa, Ash, 6T's Paul & Nick Brady. More bands and DJs to be confirmed. There will also be stalls and a charity raffle. Tickets will go on sale in the New Year - with deductions for those attending the full weekend.

Price for tickets has yet to be set, and all the proceeds will go to the Charity 'ARMS' for research into Multiple Sclerosis.

Daltrey the Libertine

The Who frontman will team up with the modern-day mod icon (of sorts) Pete Doherty and his band the Libertines to play the Bristol Academy on Monday January 12th.

Daltrey originally met Doherty in July at the funeral of Daniel Squires, a 16-year-old cancer sufferer who had struck up a friendship with the former Libertines man.

Doherty had performed a song at Squires' wake, and Daltrey was said to be so impressed with his voice that he insisted that they team up for the gig.

Tickets for the show are on sale now, and cost £25 (plus booking fee) from TicketWeb.

No Woman, No Cry

Vincent Ford, the songwriter credited with composing the Bob Marley reggae classic No Woman, No Cry has died in Jamaica. He was 68.

Ford lost both his legs to diabetes and died in hospital from complications caused by the disease, said a spokesman for the Bob Marley Foundation.

His smash hit appeared on Marley's 1974 Natty Dread album.

It was inspired by the Trench Town ghetto in Kingston where both men lived in the 1960s.
Some claim Marley wrote it himself but gave Ford the credit to help his friend support himself with the royalties.

Ford is also credited with three songs on Marley's 1976 album Rastaman Vibration.

Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread Jamaican music to the worldwide audience.

He died of cancer in Miami in 1981, aged 36.