DIY Archives - The Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music

Armchair Committee

Armchair Committee is a genuine alternative-rock band from Bristol, UK.

The band formed in mid-2011 with some very simple goals in mind; to make raw, loud, alternative rock, and to leave a trail of ringing ears in their wake.

In the year following the band’s conception, they kicked off a gigging career in earnest; sharing the stage with a varied range of British and international acts such as Tubelord, Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun, Vessels, Jim Jones Review, Crazy Arm, Gauntlet Hair & new wave hero Wreckless Eric, as well as playing a number of Summer festivals including Worcester Music Festival, Hullabaloo Festival and Brisfest. All the while gathering accolades from music press, and being heralded as ‘Immense’ by the Huffington Post (March 2013) and ‘One to Watch’ by BBC Introducing (March 2012).

After releasing a number of home demos, the bands rave-reviewed ‘Toybox Sessions’ demos peaked the interest of Band of Skulls/Duke Spirit/Nine Black Alps producer Ian Davenport and the band entered Courtyard Studios (Radiohead/Supergrass) with the producer in late 2012. Described as, ‘…stupendous…’, Spy District – April, 2013 and ‘…present[ing] the listener with approximately a quarter-hour of fuzzed up joy.’ Real Gone – March, 2013, their debut EP ‘Imola’ will be released in May 2013.

www.armchaircommittee.com
www.facebook.com/armchair.committee
twitter.com/#!/armcomofficial

Kainee Boi Set

Posted
April 5, 2013
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Coming from the dark and dank underbelly of the North London streets of Holloway emerges a young talent with stories of Hope and Redemption, lyrics revealing the open wounds not just from his surrounding area but of Britain as a whole.

From the age of 14, Kainee has been recording his experiences from the streets, by doing this he has gained more stories to tell than many can muster in a lifetime!

http://www.kaineeboiset.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kainee-Boi-Set
http://soundcloud.com/kaineeboiset

The Merrylees

Posted
April 3, 2013
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The band got together at the start of last year and their unique brand of psychedelic western pop has sold out venues such as Glasgow’s King Tuts, Edinburgh’s Cabaret Voltaire and The Buffalo Bar in London.

In January of this year they recorded their debut single with Bill Ryder-Jones of The Coral in Elevator Studios, Liverpool.

More recently, the band have confirmed a run of shows in Italy and have been hand picked to support The Zombies on a series of dates across their UK tour as well as performing sessions for BBC London, Merseyside and Scotland.

https://www.facebook.com/TheMerrylees

Gaoler’s Daughter

Posted
March 21, 2013
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Gaoler’s Daughter have come a long way since their formation, when they shared rehearsal space with Is Tropical in an abandoned toilet factory in South London. Initially their fan base was built on the support of loyal independent music bloggers and live music fans but following a trilogy of well received independent EPs (played by Steve Lamacq and John Kennedy) the boys were asked to support Babyshambles on a UK tour.

Their last 3 rousing singles (St. Peter, How Do You Know & When We Were Young) have been championed by Zane Lowe, Tom Robinson, Mary Anne Hobbs, Tom Ravenscroft, Rich Walters and The Selector’s Goldierocks (amongst other UK taste-makers) and have now clocked up 4 Hype Machine #1′s as well as featuring on the Hype Machine radio show.

The success of these singles and the band’s growing live reputation lead to invitations to play support slots with Graham Coxon and We Are Scientists as well as several prestigious venues and festivals across the UK and Europe.

The band’s next single ‘Cordelia’ will be released on 12th August with their fan-funded debut album ‘How To Make Time’ due for release a few weeks later on 26th August.

http://www.gaolersdaughter.com/

Sisters

Posted
March 21, 2013
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Sisters = Andrew Aoife Nile. Three sisters from Clare/Limerick in Ireland who are based in London.

SNEAK E.P. out early Summer.

“Starting off with the same dark-eyed swing as The Stone Roses’ ‘I Wanna Be Adored’, Sisters’ debut song ‘Sun Walk’ soon reveals bratty riffs and snarky vocals that set them apart from Ian Brown and chums. The combination makes for a thrilling ride, with a video that sees the band rolling home (literally) on the night bus.” – NME

“There’s something about Sisters. The way a sound so forceful and immediate doesn’t overwhelm. The way the vocals overlap like they were born to sit against one another. It’s been done before, this fuzzy noise-pop, but it’s never sounded so fresh and thrilling” – THISISFAKEDIY.CO.UK

http://www.sistersband.co.uk/
http://facebook.com/sistersband
https://twitter.com/SISTERS_band

Sean McGowan

Posted
March 20, 2013
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Seán started gigging in late 2010 aged 17, with Dean Paul accompanying him on acoustic guitar.

Within a few months of gigging he had won a national competition to support Shed Seven at the O2 Academy Bournemouth, finished runner up in the Fast Track To Hop Farm competition and was voted as ‘Unsigned Act Of The Week’ by a national radio station.

For fans of the likes of Billy Bragg, Frank Turner and Joe Strummer, Seán sings his original folk/punk/protest songs written from the heart. Seán’s music is often described as acoustic/folk/protest/punk. He calls it “The Peoples Music”.

In 2012 Seán topped the Strummerville DIY Chart for over 6 months and made his festival debut, playing gigs all over the country from Blissfields and Bestival to Strummer of Love and Southsea Fest. Rob da Bank also gave Seán his first Radio 1 airplay to coincide with the release of his second EP, ‘ The Peoples Music. Billy Bragg tipped Seán for big things when giving his John Peel lecture for BBC Radio 6 last in the year. He ended 2012 and started 2013 playing several gigs with Frank Turner.

Seán has supported acts including Jesse Malin, Reverend & The Makers, Shed Seven, Frank Turner, The Men They Couldn’t Hang and many more.

https://www.facebook.com/seanmcgowanmusicuk

Skellies

Posted
March 20, 2013
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Skellies are a Punk/Rock trio from Camden, London. Originally known as ‘The Skellies’ a Punk/Mod band, the band have gone through a lot of changes in the past few months. A new line-up with new drummer Harry Balazs and bassist Tom Deacon, new sound and image.

2013 is set to be a big step forward in the band’s career, they release ‘Moving On’, the band’s second single and have a series of releases line-up for the rest of the year and then going into the studio at the end of the year to record their debut album.

Band Members
Pedro Skelly (Vocals/Guitar)
Tom Deacon (Bass)
Harry Balazs (Drums)

Whisky Jax

Posted
March 19, 2013
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Whisky Jax – an innovative and captivating young band from Cambridgeshire, producing unique and catchy new music. Taking inspiration from bands such as Foals, Hurts and Fenech-Soler, Whisky Jax are a commercially viable package, rapidly gaining attention.

Toping video charts on Myspace and feature band on Myspace homepage by The Editors request. Songwriters, musicians and performers. Brothers, friends and housemates. They attended the 1st BBC Radio1 Introducing masterclass by request having received airplay and having 2 of their tracks used by Jack Wills Clothing to front popular campaigns.

Regularly headlining shows in London at well known venues and constantly writing and recording new material. There is a space in the market for this band with their pop/electro/indie style.

www.facebook.com/whiskyjax
www.myspace.com/whiskyjax
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUk9HXr1vfo

CUT

Posted
March 12, 2013
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Hailing from the land of reverb & delay, armed with heavy fuzz //4 black leather jackets, 3 guitars // 1 beat maker // holy synths & a whole load of World Psychedelic Punk Rock n Roll Revolutions // sonic space attacks from the labyrinths undergrounds// Close Encounters meets the Ramones // London band ‘Cut’ have been inducing ear bleeding heart beating noise pop with a handful of shows along side /the Chapman Family/ Arrows of Love / Special Needs / Black Manilla / Great Western /

www.cut.uk.com