Rose Parade - Grace

There are some artists who feature prominently on my playlist and then there are others who don't but really should. It's not because I don't rate them but because I simply, over time, forget to put them on. So it's always great when they come back to the forefront of my mind and I fire on a couple of tracks and get back in the mood.

Tonight I remembered that Rose Parade were launching their new video for "Grace" and so I started going back through the "Archives" as I like to call them (really it's just a stack of cds on a couple of shelves or folders on my HDD) and listening to what I call "Wee Gems" and it's safe to say that Rose Parade are back on my radar.

To top off listening to that fantastic music from their past I also managed to watch the new video, which if the hype was anything to go by, it was going to be fantastic.

I'm a big fanboy for music that's not considered "Mainstream" or "Commercial" although I'm also a big believer of not putting labels on music and letting the music describe itself. Whenever something new comes out from someone on the local scene, I am on it like a moth to light (I was going to use some sort of Jimmy Saville reference but thought perhaps it was too soon, or inappropriate)

Anyway I was waiting for 7pm and the video for Rose Parade's "Grace" didn't disappoint. The videography itself is stunning, and the lense effects really bring it to life. I'm also a sucker for silhouettes or shadows in videos, I don't know what it is but I love them and the use of them in "Grace" just adds to what already (for me) was an astonishing video.

There's something about it that makes me think of a dream sequence from a movie, I can't remember the movie at the moment but when I do I shall edit this. It's a video that keeps your attention, there's no over the top theatricals or loud costumes, there's no crazy make-up or un-necessary gratuitous dancing. It's a video that simply embellishes the music that it's showcasing.

Stepping away from the videography for a moment I have to say that "Grace" is a perfect example of why Rose Parade should be off making millions and touring the world. I've always loved their music and it's so great to see that even years later they can still pull out magic from what I can only imagine is a giant bag of tricks. It's so easy to be labelled these days, but with a band like Rose Parade who are far from a one trick pony, it's so easy to see why music shouldn't be labelled.

With the debut album on it's way, I for one am excited. Although I have to apologise to Ed, I was supposed to meet that crazy man to get tickets off of him for the launch night and things kept coming up and I never got round to getting one. One of those things that happens but I could kick myself in the face for it.

Burn the Maps

I love listening to new music and it's even better when that music makes me have a wee dance to myself. Tonight is one of those nights, I'm currently sitting making my upper body listening to "Burn the Maps" a band who until about half an hour ago, I had never heard of. After 2 songs I had made up my mind that this is a band worth writing about and it will just be a short write up, because I really don't have to breathe these days. Also before you all start to say something about my dancing just remember what Friedrich Nietzsche said “Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music.” and I have no doubt that as soon as you hear this, you too will be moving.

"Lose Myself" is the first track I listened to and even though the recordings aren't fully produced studio album tracks the music is just fantastic. The song itself is such a simple piece of music but the way it's performed is nothing short of outstanding. I've been sitting trying to work out who "Burn the Maps" remind me of and I've came to the conclussion that it's a cross of early Biffy Clyro and Brown Bear and the Bandits. Which as you can imagine makes for pretty amazing music. 

I will get a proper review done of this band, and I hope that I can make it to a show in the near future but for now I recommend that you go and check them out.

http://www.reverbnation.com/burnthemapsband/songs

What a start to the year

Sometimes I feel like I don't get time to breathe. I've been so busy with organising the final 6 acts to play at the Showcase in Stereo on February 24th, we had between 150-200 acts enter and 90% of them were outstanding (granted there were a few who sounded like a queef) but we've managed now to get it down to the final 6 who now get a chance to go forward and have a chance to perform at the O2 ABC1 on April 27th supporting Jiezuberband and Preacher.The final 6 are Jay Ingram, The Detours, Suspire, Sonic Templars, Jesus Trip and Dee, and they are outstanding acts, it's going to be a tough call. Myself and Mikey from Jiezuberband announced the acts on Ronnie McGhies show on 3TFM yesterday and it was a great wee show. It was so odd being on the other end of a Radio Interview but I managed to behave myself which I'm pretty proud of.

I'm going to just run through the acts and give you an idea of what they're like:

Jay Ingram is an act who has supported Jiezuberband in the past, this was before I started managing the nutters but having listened to Jay's music I have to say I'm extremely impressed. For a solo performer his music has so much life and soul to it and it has been on my speakers quite often in the last couple of weeks.

The Detours are a band who I have been a big supporter of over the last year both as recording artists and live performers, they can bring such energy to every show.

Suspire are a great band who have had quite a bit of success in recent years. They are another band who have been on my speakers quite often since they applied, definitely a band worth checking out.

Sonic Templars have been a favourite of mine for quite a while now. "Human Connection" is one of my favourite tracks from the last year and so I'm so happy that they made it into the final 6.

Jesus Trip are a band who sound very Psychedelic and I'm really excited to actually see them perform live at the Showcase. They are actually playing as I type this and I can imagine them as being a brilliant set of live performers.

Dee is an act who has really stood out for me recently her music just grabs my attention and pulls me in, and if you read one of my blogs from a few months ago you can find out exactly why.

On top of all of this I've started marketing Tini Designs a local arts company who do Body Painting, Face Painting, Tattoo Designs, Murals, Artwork for Cd's and Books and so much more. So search them on Facebook if you need anything done.


It has been an insane start to the year. Tomorrow is actually my first day where I think I'm going to be able to relax and chill the hell out, although I say that but I know for a fact that I'll be running about like a headless chicken once the phone calls start coming in. I actually told a friend the other day that I "don't have time to shite" and I'm starting to feel that this might actually happen one day, I'll just explode from the inside. However this isn't a complaint, I absolutely love what I do and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Reliving my childhood

First off I would like to say congratulations to Brown Bear and the Bandits and The Imagineers for getting into the suns "top tips for 2013" although anyone with any sense would have known that anyway. Both bands just go from strength to strength and it's always a pleasure watching them and listening to their music. 2013 holds big things for both bands, it's now just a formality.

Anyway moving on.

This weekend is the weekend that most of us adults have been looking forward to - "CITV goes Old Skool" two full days of classic television shows from our childhood back to back.

It started off with Mike and Angelo at 9.25 and I have never been so excited to see a childrens tv show in all my life. For me Mike and Angelo was my childhood show. I loved it when it aired and I loved it today, the memories just came flooding back. For those of you who don't know (and if you don't I'm disgusted) the show's about a boy and an alien who lives with him. Angelo being the Alien and Mike being the boy, not hard to deduce but sometimes our brains don't function. There's no story arc as such and most of what happens on screen is a load of nonsense but by god I can't stop loving that show.

Throughout the course of the marathon so far we've been treated to "Knightmare" "Raggy Dolls" "Super Gran" and even good old "Sooty"

Facebook and Twitter have exploded with people talking about their favourite shows and their favourite episodes. As I type "The Worst Witch" is currently gracing my screen and granted I was never a fan of that show, but I know that my sister loved it. Infact I think most of the girls in my class also loved it.

We've had so many great television shows over the years that when I look at what's on tv now it's so disappointing. I remember when they relaunched "Pinky and Perky" I was so excited and then when I saw it they had turned into a CGI adventure show, gone were the silly puppets and it just made me sad.

We live in a world now where Children watch shows like "Hannah Montana" and "Zoey 101" so I'm hoping that many a parent has sat their child down in front of CITV today and shown them what real childrens television is.

I hope that BBC follow suit someday and do an "Old School" marathon because personally........I'm a playdays kid at heart