I must admit that I am a wee bit jealous of Gerry Loves Records, in the past 12 months or so they have released some of the most exciting new music that Scotland has to offer. Now with their fifth release they've made me doubly jealous as they're just about to release a split 7” on the 8th of August, featuring PAWS and Lady North. Arguably two of the hottest bands in Scotland at the moment, the boys certainly know their stuff, you can stream two of the singles below.To celebrate the split release PAWS and Lady North are heading out on tour, they're in Aberdeen's Dirty Hearts Club, Snafu, on Thursday 28 July with support from Devils Disco, followed by an appearance at Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh on Monday 1st August, before finishing up at the Captain’s Rest in Glasgow on the 3rd of August, with support from Hairy AREA ( Side project featuring members of We Were Promised Jetpacks, Lady North, Endor & Sebastian Dangerfield).
If you can't make it along to any of these shows, then you can pre-order the split release via Gerry Loves Bandcamp page, it's only £4 and it would be money well spent.
Edinburgh DIY promoters, Tracer Trails are putting on their fourth Retreat Festival over the weekend of August 27th-28th 2011 at Pilrig St Paul's in Leith. So far they've confirmed Broken Records, Jesus h Foxx, Meursault, The Scottish Enlightenment, Skeleton Bob, The Leg, Rob St John, The Pineapple Chunks, Two Wings, eagleowl, ballboy and FOUND, with more to be announced over the coming weeks. Tickets for the gig are on sale now, day tickets are £7 and weekend tickets are £12, you can buy them here.
I quite like this new trend of bloggers putting on gigs, not just because it makes me and Jim look trend setters (we're not Song By Toad has been doing them for ages), but more because it's interesting to see others stepping out of their comfort zones and putting on some excellent bills. The most recent of the blogging community to take this bold step are my friends Stuart and Chris, who run The Tidal Wave of Indifference and Favourite Son respectively.I have already had one of them asking me for advice, which in all honesty felt pretty odd as I hardly feel like an expert in putting on gigs, I have been winging it since day one. Then again I guess that everyone's blags these kind of things, most folk just aren't stupid enough to admit it.
The Tidal Wave of Indifference gig is of particular interest to me as he's got Star Wheel Press, a band who I have heard a lot of good things about, but still haven't listened to. Apparently they've got the best selling album this year in Avalanche Records, seeing as last year Kid Canaveral were their biggest seller, I have a feeling they might well be up my street. On top of that he has Peenko favourites, French Wives, who were on top form at this years Wickerman Festival, plus there's also the excellent Douglas Firs and Lost Telegrams. Personally it's the kind of gig that might well persuade me to travel through to Edinburgh for the night. Tickets for the gig are on sale in advance here, if you buy one then I am sure you will be making a certain young gentleman that little bit less stressed.
Our other blogging companion Chris who runs Favourite Son is also stepping up to the plate with his first ever gig which takes place next month at Pivo Pivo in Glasgow. Featuring Tape Records very own Dead Boy Robotics, Any Color Black and Blank Canvas. If you're quick off the mark then you can win yourself a pair of tickets to the gig, details and the like can be found here.
Right, that's emptied out some of the important stuff in my inbox, now I just have to work out what to do with all of these free download links... oh and there's a Wickerman review to be written (if I can remember any of it that is).
