Great new music from independent labels and artists all around the world

Some great food at the Fiesta in the Park: jerk chicken, curry goat and of course rice’n’peas. A great vibe considering it was the first such Fiesta as a fundraiser for the Cowley Road Carnival. It really is another side to Oxford and could be a million miles from the “dreaming spires” that were visible from the park.

 
Confused – Latvian Blues Band (Riga, Latvia)
“Unreal” is the first studio album by the Latvian Blues Band, who have been performing together since 1997, largely in Latvia, but also in Lithuania and throughout Europe, with occasional visits to the United States and Canada, including most recently when they were a contestant in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in January of 2010. This album showcases the band’s songwriting talents, with ten of the fourteen tracks being written by the band. Duke Robillard makes guest appearances playing guitar on two of the album’s songs and is also the album’s producer.
Latvian Blues Band “Confused” (mp3) from “Unreal” (Blue Skunk Music) More On This Albumwww.latvianbluesband.com/
 
Merchluv.com
Not an advert or sponsored link, I just thought it might be of interest to bands and designers.
www.merchluv.com
 
Best I can – FireBug (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Forged in the storied Wicker Park section of Chicago by vocalist Juliette Tworsey and guitarist Jules Shapiro, FireBug (named for Juliette’s flaming red hair) began cutting their musical teeth in and around local Chicago venues before making their way out to Los Angeles.
Since arriving in Los Angeles, FireBug have become a part of the essential club scene sharing the stage with many artists including Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Donita Sparks (L7), to unplugged sets at the Hotel Café with new folk artist Jesca Hoop (Tom Waits), and even performing with classic 60’s folk icon Donovan. 
The band has also received high praise from various publications such as Time Out NY and LA Weekly, who compare the FireBug sound to that of a new millennium version of 70’s rock, with each song being stamped with their own unique signature. 
FireBug’s touring efforts over the past year have garnered a core fan base, and 60,000 “friends” on MySpace. They are currently working on their upcoming U.S. & UK tour.
Their music can be gentle one moment, then fiercely aggressive the next. Their expertly woven rock/alternative/blues sound with a bit of Irish/British influence is brought home by the sweet, slightly psychedelic, but intense vocals of Juliette Tworsey.
You can see what all the fuss is about when FireBug visits the UK for a tour which includes performing at the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth on 1st August.  Full details of this along with how you can purchase their material can be found on their websites. 
www.firebugmusic.com/
www.myspace.com/firebug
 
Multiverse Playground Part II 
Two Paper Garden Recrords bands are touring the west coast kicking off in Seattle, WA (July 7) with Peasant playing at Tractor Tavern and Mighty Tiger at Neumos, then the two will join forces and head down the coast stopping in Portland (July 8) at The Woods, San Francisco (July 9) at Five Points Art House, Davis (July 10) at Sophia’s Thai Kitchen and ending the party in Los Angeles for Multiverse Playground II.
Last November, Paper Garden Records put together a spectacle of an event featuring music, art, and comedy at an art gallery space in NYC.  The idea was for this event to plant the seed  for a series of similar events, entitled Multiverse Playground.  With this event getting praises from media outlets including NY Post, Village Voice, Flavorpill, NY Press, Death & Taxes to name a few, the day has finally come to announce part two of the series – but this time cross-country to the land of Los Angeles on July 11th  And to sweeten the deal, the event is FREE and ALL AGES!!.
To be held at Urban Outfitters’ Space 15 Twenty, a unique and uber-trendy retail and art space, featuring music from Paper Garden’s very own Peasant and Mighty Tiger as well as LA’s Monster, Mulitverse Playground Part II will also exibit the live artwork of Gregory Siff, artist and actor who has made appearances on Late Night With Conan O’Brien and Saturday Night Live, not to mention has artwork is in the collection of Leonardo DiCaprio, Russel Brand, Robert Downey Jr., Lindsay Lohan and many more.  Cafe Bustelo will be sponsoring the event as well, doing free t-shirt and coffee giveaways!
Multiverse Playground will be held from 2-5pm on Sunday, July 11th.  The event will be free, all ages, and open to the public! Location 1520 N Cahuenga Blvd, LA.
RSVP by Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/3xezfax
www.papergardenrecords.com/
 
The End – Peasant (Bucks County, PA, USA)
Peasant is Damien DeRose, 23-year-old poet turned artiste, from fabled and beautiful Bucks County, PA.  The sleepy hometown and its surroundings, melded with trials and tribulations, to inspire Peasant’s confessional and straightforward style of music. In and out of the bedroom studio throughout high school, DeRose helped form a small scene in Bucks County by doling out frisky live performances and DIY records. After high school, he traveled solo on several tours of the US and Europe before signing with Paper Garden Records in 2008 and releasing “On The Ground.”
www.myspace.com/peasant
www.papergardenrecords.com/shop/item/47
 
Mixdown [Eye Dance Master] – Grant Beardsley (Norwich, UK)
Grant came in to record a Session at the Barn a couple of year ago, last week he sent me a new track which marks quite a departure from his ambient style. I think it brings together the electro and real instruments in a really interesting way.
Hear more of his music at:
www.myspace.com/grantbeardsley
 
Back to this – The Heist (London, UK)
The Heist are four London-based twenty-somethings who spend their time writing songs and rocking out in the garage. Once you enter that garage… it hits you. An intense wave of sound will grab you, then shake you into a serious session of head-banging and fist-pumping. 
This is what The Heist are all about. Their blend of powerful rock is infused with melodic guitars and catchy choruses sprinkled with elements of funk, psychedelic and acoustic sounds. Musical influences include Rage Against The Machine, My Vitriol and the Foo Fighters whose presence can be felt in songs where strong, melodic vocals give way to heavy riffs and loud choruses.
Catch them live next week (15 July) at the good old Purple Turtle in Camden.
www.myspace.com/theheistrock
 
Unlock Democracy / Eyesee sponsored show on Friday in London
Eyesee, with thegood people at Unlock Democracy, are putting on some gigs in aid of the Take Back Parliament campaign which is all about trying to change our electoral system so we live in a Democracy… which would be nice.
The first gig is at The Luminaire in Kilburn on Friday 9th July, 2010 and features The Penny Black Remedy, True Ingredients and Jonnygonehome. 
It costs only £4. If you become a member of Unlock Democracy (£24 or £12 benefit) you will get a free ticket and a copy of their book… and of course help them in pursuing their campaigns.
You can buy a £4 ticket from our shop: Click on this £4 ticket link
You can become a UD member (free ticket): Click on this Membership link
Through the link in the shownotes you can see clips of the bands that will be playing on the night.
There’s only 250 tickets available. Show starts at 8pm and finishes at 11pm. Any profit to the Take Back Parliament campaign.
www.eyeseesound.tv/blog/archives/141
 
Essex – Catgut (UK)
“The artist known as Catgut, who was born in Norway in 1987, grew up in north-east Scotland and south-east England and has been making Stealth Pop recordings since 2007” – Tom Robinson, BBC 6Music
And we’ve been listening to him on SnC since 2006! He is up to some amazingly creative things as you can discover on his website which he assures me is officially open for business. Some interesting film collaborations on the site and don’t forget to pick up the latest EP, Love and Essex while you are there. It is available as a totally free and legal download. 
www.littlecatgut.com/
 
Podcrawl
at The Bridge House, 218 London Bridge Road, really near err … London Bridge in … err … London. There’s a map from this link.
 
Mabel – Kanda Bongo Man (UK)
Soukous legend Kanda Bongo Man, was born on June 8th 1955 in the village of Inongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
He grew up listening to Congolese legends such as Le Grand Kalle, Franco, Vicky Longomba, Dr. Nico, Tabu Ley and Zaiko Langa Langa, but Kanda began his own musical career when he joined the group ” Orchestra Bella Mambo” in 1972, learning his craft from fellow band member Soki Dianzenza. Kanda Bongo Man and Dianzenza then both joined Diazenza’s brother’s group Bella Bella before Kanda moved to Paris in 1979. 
In 1981 Kanda released his first solo album “Iyole”. This became a number one hit all over Africa and was to be closely followed by “Djessy” in 1982.
He performed at the first ever WOMAD in England in 1982 and in 1989 he released his first American-distributed album, Kwassa Kwassa.
www.myspace.com/kandabongoman