Thursday, February 28, 2019
2019-02-28 FULL CONCERT - OYSTERBAND LIVE AT SHREWSBURY FOLK FESTIVAL 2017
2019-02-28 FIVE HILLS OUT "THE SNUG SESSIONS" OUT SOON
5 Hills Out are a 5-piece folk-punk band of misfits from Derbyshire, determined to make their mark on the folk scene. Inspired by the heritage and customs of folk and the aggression and energy of punk, 5 Hills Out combine traditional accordion, saxophone, guitars and mandola with a rocking rhythm section of fretless bass and drums.
The band generate a formidable sound scape set against their passionate and crafted shows. Stripped down acoustic arrangements, sit alongside driven punk anthems. This song variation and instrument swapping ability help give 5 Hills Out a great live edge.
Their sound and attitude is refreshing and shows their eclectic influences taken from the likes of The Levellers, X-Ray Spex, Richard Thompson, Stiff Little Fingers, New Model Army and Gogol Bordello.
The band have played extensive live shows around the Peak District, which enabled the self-released debut acoustic EP 'No Way In' in 2016, on all major download platforms and a limited-edition CD run. They released their second EP ‘Still Outside’ in Autumn 2017, which showed the bands diverse electric capabilities. Now the band are on the brink of releasing a double single in early 2019 called ‘The Snug Sessions’, which is their most accomplished writing and recording to date.
5 Hills Out are:
Ben Liverman: Guitar, Mandola & Vocals
Rebecca Liverman: Saxophone, Accordion & Vocals
Andy Gurney: Guitar, Mandola & Vocals
Dave Coxon: Bass Guitar & Vocals
Chris Clay: Drums & Percussion
The band generate a formidable sound scape set against their passionate and crafted shows. Stripped down acoustic arrangements, sit alongside driven punk anthems. This song variation and instrument swapping ability help give 5 Hills Out a great live edge.
Their sound and attitude is refreshing and shows their eclectic influences taken from the likes of The Levellers, X-Ray Spex, Richard Thompson, Stiff Little Fingers, New Model Army and Gogol Bordello.
The band have played extensive live shows around the Peak District, which enabled the self-released debut acoustic EP 'No Way In' in 2016, on all major download platforms and a limited-edition CD run. They released their second EP ‘Still Outside’ in Autumn 2017, which showed the bands diverse electric capabilities. Now the band are on the brink of releasing a double single in early 2019 called ‘The Snug Sessions’, which is their most accomplished writing and recording to date.
5 Hills Out are:
Ben Liverman: Guitar, Mandola & Vocals
Rebecca Liverman: Saxophone, Accordion & Vocals
Andy Gurney: Guitar, Mandola & Vocals
Dave Coxon: Bass Guitar & Vocals
Chris Clay: Drums & Percussion
‘The Snug Sessions’ will be the bands first release on their own label Culvert Collective Recordings. This builds on their debut acoustic EP ‘No Way In’ and their follow up EP ‘Still Outside’, which got the band nominated for best folk act 2018 on Radio Wigwam.
The band have never shied away from using their music to share their political and social views. In 2018 they took part in a protest march to protect a threatened local music venue and more recently shared and supported a campaign to protect the very same studio where they recorded.
The lyrics to the band’s latest offering reflect their concerns. Front man Ben explains about the two songs:
“Track one ‘Cogs’ is a rallying folk-punk belter which is aimed at a society that continues to undervalue and underpay its workers. We spent a lot of time on the arrangement which features a bass guitar solo before we all launch into a big tune section full of whistle, sax and mandolin all trading off each other”.
Track two ‘The Divide’ is all about sticking together through the current political unrest and climate of division. Ben recently showcased ‘The Divide’ whilst on a business trip to Berlin, managing to play at a different venues on each of the six nights he was there. He reflects “Berlin was incredible, the music scene is so vibrant out there. I was a bit nervous about playing ‘The Divide’, but felt given the political past of the city, the song would resonate with listeners. It did, they absolutely loved it, each night everyone was joining in on the chorus about us all coming together”.
Preorder will be from 28th March with full release on the 12th April from all major download and streaming services.
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Soundcloud
The band have never shied away from using their music to share their political and social views. In 2018 they took part in a protest march to protect a threatened local music venue and more recently shared and supported a campaign to protect the very same studio where they recorded.
The lyrics to the band’s latest offering reflect their concerns. Front man Ben explains about the two songs:
“Track one ‘Cogs’ is a rallying folk-punk belter which is aimed at a society that continues to undervalue and underpay its workers. We spent a lot of time on the arrangement which features a bass guitar solo before we all launch into a big tune section full of whistle, sax and mandolin all trading off each other”.
Track two ‘The Divide’ is all about sticking together through the current political unrest and climate of division. Ben recently showcased ‘The Divide’ whilst on a business trip to Berlin, managing to play at a different venues on each of the six nights he was there. He reflects “Berlin was incredible, the music scene is so vibrant out there. I was a bit nervous about playing ‘The Divide’, but felt given the political past of the city, the song would resonate with listeners. It did, they absolutely loved it, each night everyone was joining in on the chorus about us all coming together”.
Preorder will be from 28th March with full release on the 12th April from all major download and streaming services.
Website
Soundcloud
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
2019-02-27 - CELTIC FOLK PUNK AND MORE, TEN YEARS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE CELTIC PUNK / ROCK SCENE
“Days turn into months turn into years,
People come and go but you’re still here”
10 years. I couldn’t imagine back in 2009 that this day will come. 4.095 followers on Facebook. 2.307 followers on Twitter. 412 followers on Youtube. 527 Reviews. 84 samplers. 90 bootlegs and around 1.000 videos posted.
When the best of 2008 was discussed on the Shite’n’Onions forum, it was mentioned that more info about Celtic punk bands from Europe was needed. Then, I started to post some samplers there. I looked for free mp3 files on the Internet (MySpace and other sites, apart from the bands’ websites) and put them together for free download.
I had no plan, but I felt that more coverage was needed and therefore I started the webzine Celtic Folk Punk and More. Six samplers were posted on March 21, 2009: Vol. I The Netherlands, Vol. II Switzerland, Vol. III France, Vol. IV Italy, Vol V Belgium and Vol. VI Austria. Little by little, more sections were added: free downloads, boots, news, videos, featured band (Band of the Month) and the reviews.
I didn’t intend to write reviews. I only wanted to post legal music. The e-zine should be “music”, not “about music”. But the lads from Pipes and Pints sent their debut album to me and asked me please to post a review. So I talked with my friend Chris who was writing reviews for Shite’n’Onions and an agreement was made. I’d send the CDs to him and he would write a review that would be posted on both Shite’n’Onions and Celtic Folk Punk and More. The first review, Pipes and Pints “Until We Die” was posted January 18, 2010. Chris did a great job and wrote 25 reviews before leaving. As I had plenty of CDs to review, I decided to give it a try. Then I wrote my first review and it was posted July 2, 2010: Les Ramoneurs des Menhirs “Amzer an dispac’h”. My last review, 500th, was posted last October 28, 2018: In Search of a Rose "Horses for Courses". Almost every band in the scene has been reviewed at Celtic Folk Punk and More, even the heavyweights of the scene. Flogging Molly, The Tossers, The Real McKenzies, The Mahones, The Rumjacks ... I wish I had reviewed the albums by three well-known bands, but even if I contacted them, they never answered or they told me to talk to someone who failed to send the albums :-(
The samplers were left behind when the scene went stronger and global. And some people suggested that I should make a podcast or work on a 24/7 streaming radio. I bet on the second option and Celtic Folk Punk radio was launched on Radionomy (March 8, 2013).
When Celtic Folk Punk and More was established in 2009, there were basically 3 e-zines/podcasts/streaming radios: 2 in the USA, Shite’n’Onions and Paddy Rock Radio and 1 in Europe, Celtic Rock (in German). Celtic Folk Punk and More was the first e-zine to feature bands from countries such as Indonesia, Hungary, the Czech Republic … Little by little, other projects were launched by fans from other countries: Irish Punk Brasil (January 1, 2010- July 5, 2016), Paddy O’Punk Podcast (2011-2013, we miss you Drazzle! ), Rocking the Craic (June 23, 2011-May 31, 2013), Celtico (March 2013), London Celtic Punks (July 2013) … And even a 24/7 streaming radio from Germany has turned into a successful business.
Yes, the scene has changed. But one thing is for sure: Celtic Folk Punk and More has been at the forefront of this scene and has become a cult e-zine. Its legacy is huge. The ones that were there before CFPAM did a fantastic work. But CFPAM changed the rules: most of the e-zines were based on a “push” strategy, but CFPAM bet on a “pull” strategy. The bands send their stuff to the e-zines (“push”) and CFPAM looked for new bands and posted their stuff (“pull”).
CFPAM reached its peak in 2016-2017. Paddy Rock Radio and CFPAM began to cooperate and CFPAM also supported new podcasts such as Paddys Home and Pub Podcast and The Celtic Punkcast. Then I realized that things were changing and I went back to basics in 2018. For the first time in 10 years I had goals: posting my 500th review and focusing on new bands. I should have posted a couple of reviews (drafts are somewhere on the PC), but after checking out and got the confirmation that my 500th review has been posted, I gave up writing reviews. (Two records by some bands were reviewed on some posts). Then I kept on posting about new bands that other sites have not talked about. Somebody told me that the e-zine was less interesting during the second half of 2018. Quite the contrary! It’s too easy to help popular bands. But, who cares about new bands? These are the ones that need help.
I will keep on adding videos to the Celtic FolkPunk YouTube channel and playing the music that I got on Celtic Folk Punk radio. But I won’t write reviews. As I said, this is music, not about music.
Anything to celebrate the 10th anniversary? Hell yeah. I’ll be posting a full concert video everyday till March 21st. The first one? The Pogues live in Munich (1985). Enjoy!
Sunday, February 24, 2019
2019-02-24 VIDEOS - TRISKELLES ET SUR LES DOCKS, JIMMY & RATS and TORTILLA FLAT
Friday, February 22, 2019
2019-02-22 TORTILLA FLAT LIVE ALBUM OUT SOON!
Tortilla Flat are releasing their new album Live at Old Capitol next March 15, 2019.
Apart from the CD, some copies of a DVD will be available too. There is a bonus track on the DVD, "The Wild Rover".
Tracklist:
01) Scotland The Brave
02) The Great Escape
03) Forward As One
04) The Rare Old Mountain Dew
05) I’m A Rover
06) Amazing Grace
07) F.U.C.K.U.
08) Nights Like These
09) Dublin In The Rare Old Times
10) Operation Crossroads
11) Tough Love
12) The Dawning Of The Day
13) The Town I Loved So Well
14) Little Wild Rose
15) Don't Ask Why
16) Dirty Old Town
17) Bear March
18) The Rising Of The Moon
19) 1946
20) The 45 rpm
21) Auld Lang Syne
22) I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
23) Whiskey In The Jar
Click to pre-order