Strong Island » Music & Bands

Blackfoot Circle

Stuart Barker — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:21 +0000

Local band Blackfoot Circle are back in the studio today working on some new material, including Texas Headlight which you can see below.

Later this month you will also be able to purchase two new tracks on iTunes, “Racket Of The Records” and “Scarlett”.

You can see the band playing at the The Wedgewood Rooms on Albert Road next Saturday (18th). They will also be supporting Sound of Guns at Unit, in Southampton on Saturday 24th March. This will be one of the rare times we encourage a trip to Southampton!

You can keep up to date with them via their YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud pages. To sign up to their mailing list click here.

(L-R) Barrie Hardman (Guitar), Jake Bezzina (Vocals), Jack Greenfield (Drums), Grant Melin (Bass) and James Hill (Guitar)

Texas Headlights

XXXY at LJRs This Friday

Tristan Savage — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:11:03 +0000

XXXY’s sound is fresh and modern whilst managing to reference a multitude of classic sounds including house, techno, 2-step and garage. XXXY has risen to prominence over recent years after his inclusion on the 2010 Fabric ‘Elevator Music’ compilation, and releasing records on labels like ‘Fortified Audio’ and ‘Ten Thousand Yen’, along with being tipped by XLR8R and the Red Bull Music Academy as one of the highlights of 2011. Get up to get DOWN.

Science – FREE Party – Friction Machine LIVE

Tristan Savage — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:09:46 +0000

It’s a fresh chapter for Science, with their first soirée of 2012 taking place at the Edge of the Wedge – an intimate space stacked with plenty of musical heritage. As always they’re pushing sonic boundaries, treading the delicately blurred line between house and techno.

On the night they have selectors Lamech – aka Rich Jones, Science Chief Rich Archaic and the Backwards Disko trio of Josh, Sam & Jamie. The evening will also see an appearance from the highly tipped Friction Machine, who’s quirky and inventive live set will incorporate swirling vocals over widescreen electronica laced with sumptuous melodic textures.

And as usual they will be dressing the venue up in their own inimitable, atmoshperic style, with a suitably powerful sound system ready to incite hip movements and good times. And as the Scientists like to say, be there, or be the perimeter of an equilateral tetrahedron!

UP.dnb

Stuart Barker — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:30:53 +0000

UP.dnb are the drum and bass society run by students of Portsmouth University. The society has brought leading DnB acts to Portsmouth including Foreign Concept, Brookes Brothers, Kasra and Cyantific as well as organising free parties hosted by their resident student djs. Their events have been listed in the top 30 student nights by MixMag and we have recieved many positive reviews for both their society and nights.

Upcoming nights include the debut of Critical Sound to Portsmouth, hosting by Bassline MC, free student parties and currently covert bookings of Break and Dub Phisiks.

UP.dnb are also proudly representing Beach Break Live 2012 for the first time, promising it to be a great success come sun or rain.

You can find out a lot more about the society by visiting the website. To be kept up to date on future events you can follow them on Facebook.

Hipshaker This Saturday

Paul Gonella — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:36:39 +0000

Hipshaker is back this Saturday (11th February) at The Wedgewood Rooms and will feature a live performance by Janice Graham Band who recently signed to Acid Jazz.

The Southsea Alternative Choir – Charity Single

Stuart Barker — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:36 +0000

The Southsea Alternative Choir had a very successful Christmas, raising just under £1,500 for Samuel’s Fund, a local cerebral palsy charity. With Christmas 2012 ten months away, the local octet already intend to up the ante by releasing their own version of The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York’, which proved a highlight of the band’s set of indie/alt rock classics, which also included covers of tracks by David Bowie, Brian Wilson, Primal Scream, Bob Dylan, Blur and The Band.

The Southsea Alternative Choir have launched a Fairytale of New York website, which they will embellish as the year goes on. The choir is led by Southsea photographer Stuart Scott and also features the talents of Adam Collier; former Bluesky Research trio Charlie Waddington, Sam Richards and Matt Gill; former Kid Idiot duo Sam Davidson and Ashley Till; and former Ricky singer Jim Lines.

The Southsea Alternative Choir will record ‘Fairytale of New York’ later in the year, but in the meantime you can see the band performing the track outside The Belle Isle, mid-way through an epic six-hour session of drinking and busking that culminated in the band gate-crashing Little Johnny Russell’s one Saturday in December.

2.54 and The Big Pink

Stuart Barker — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:47:26 +0000

Friends of Strong Island Pet Sounds would like to give their seal of approval to 2.54. On 9th Feb fresh from tours with Wild Beasts, Yuck and Warpaint, the London based sisters arrive at the Wedgewood Rooms supporting The Big Pink to promote their EP release ‘Scarlet’. You can get tickets here.

It’s always good to see a band before they really take off, and the Wedgewood Rooms has seen its fair share of support bands go massive after that charmed slot.

The Big Pink are good too so all round a pretty hot ticket. Local support from the top Kassassin Street also. All in all a pretty sweet night…

Check out what the Guardian had to say on 2:54 and the Big Pink.

2.54

The Big Pink

Blackfoot Circle

Stuart Barker — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:19:07 +0000

Going back to ten years ago I remember working with lead singer Jake in Fareham. He introduced me to his band the Elements, they had a strong and loyal following within Fareham and Gosport. Since those days there are a few new faces and they go by the name of Blackfoot Circle.

Fresh off the back of winning Hard Rock Cafe’s UK Battle of The Bands competition, where they received glowing reviews from judges James Curran (Absolute Radio), Jemma Downey (Live Nation) and James Walsh (Starsailor), The band’s belief and reputation is growing fast. This and their recent appearance at Bestival being covered by ITV’s Meridian News has created a real buzz in and around their local area.

The band are starting to gain a strong following in London and have gigs there on the 2nd and 9th Feb. You can see the band playing around Hampshire on…
Fri 27 Jan @ 147 Club, Gosport
Sat 18 Feb @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Sat 24 March @ Unit, Southampton (supporting Sound Of Guns)

The band love their social networking and you can keep up to date with them via their YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud pages. To sign up to their mailing list click here.

If you like the video below you can buy four tracks on iTunes.

(L-R) Barrie Hardman (Guitar), Jake Bezzina (Vocals), Jack Greenfield (Drums), Grant Melin (Bass) and James Hill (Guitar)

Vinyl Jumble – King Street Tavern

Tristan Savage — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:47:26 +0000

Calling ALL vinyl lovers! Sam Foot is having a huge vinyl jumble tomorrow at his wonderful pub The King Street Tavern (click here for map). Expect some fine examples of some beautiful old tunes from back in the day.

He’s putting in listening stations too – gonna be like record shopping used to be!! Kicks off at 12noon, get involved! Beer and food will be served as usual.

Help Hayden at The Pier – Fundraiser!

Tristan Savage — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:24:14 +0000

Help Hayden at The Pier is a LIVE music event put together by local musicians, DJs, promoters, business owners and people who care, to help raise funds for a little lad named Hayden!

“Hayden is a 3 year old local boy who has Cerebal Pulsy. He has just under gone an operation in America to help him walk and we’d like help pay for for the expensive after care that he now needs. Not only would this money help a little run around like every lil boy but also help ease some of the massive pressure his parents and family must be under.”

Tickets are just £6 so make sure you get involved and help in any way you can. For more information about Hayden please visit www.helphayden.co.uk and keep up to date on the fundraiser of at Facebook.