Sun set to shine on Bank Holiday Supergrass/Ashcroft Gig After a grey weekend, the sun is set to burst into life on Monday morning and bathe Stowe House Country Estate, Supergrass, Richard Ashcroft, Athlete, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Black Kids, Royworld, The Rascals and Young Knives in glorious sunshine.
The British Met Office have forecast that Monday August 25th will be the hottest day of the next ten days with a temperature of 22°C (71.6) and excellent visibility. The forecast by leading global weather experts accuweather.com confirms: “Monday August 25th will be sunny with pleasant winds from the SSW at 24 km/h. The high will be 22 °C. Bank Holiday Monday will enjoy 13.4 hours of sunshing, the sun will set at 8.06pm.”
Festival organiser Lester Holcombe noted: “Reports that the sun is going to shine on The Last Days of Summer is exactly the news we’ve been waiting for! The Last Days of Summer is going to be the perfect way to spend Bank Holiday Monday, and a final chance this summer to enjoy a well-earned day in the sunshine with friends, music and laughter.”
Tickets for The Last Days of Summer are £39.50 and can be bought at www.seetickets.com or by calling 0871 220 0260. VIP Tickets are available upon request at £99.
22/08/2008
The Verve Stream Entire Album
‘Forth’ is the first album for the band in more than a decade. The Verve came to a grinding halt in 1999 when guitarist Nick McCabe broke his fist on singer Richard Ashcroft’s face.
The new album will be released on August 25 worldwide through EMI expect in the USA where it is coming out on their own ‘On Your Own Records’ label via Megaforce/RED.
20/08/2008
Ashcroft unveiled as Britpop Legend Organisers of The Last Days of Summer Festival have officially confirmed that The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft will make his only solo appearance anywhere in the UK this year at Stowe House Country Estate near Silverstone, Bucks on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25th.
Ashcroft will join a line-up that includes Supergrass, Athlete, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Black Kids, The Rascals, Young Knives, Royworld and VIP sets from BBC Radio One’s Gilles Peterson and Portishead DJ Andy Smith.
Event organiser Paul Reaney of Toast confirmed: “We can finally reveal that Richard Ashcroft is the secret addition to The Last Days of Summer line-up. At this time, we would also like to confirm that this in no way affects Richard’s relationship with The Verve. The fact that Richard is performing a solo gig on the same day that The Verve release their new album is completely co-incidental, Richard agreed to play The Last Days of Summer toward the end of 2007. He will be allowed to perform some of The Verve’s songs with his band, but this is very much a solo gig”
As the frontman of The Verve, Ashcroft’s summer has already included sets at V and Glastonbury. On his solo plans, Ashcroft recently noted: “I will continue my solo stuff. But it seemed a shame to leave this (The Verve) thing dormant when there is so much talent there."
The Last Days of Summer is the first music festival to be held at Stowe House or within the region. Fellow organiser Ciaran Kennedy noted: “While a lot of festivals go for some of the smaller acts and try to grow, we have gone for quality from the outset. We think in getting Ashcroft to come along and play alongside Supergrass and the rest, we’ve done that. The Black Kids, The Rascals, Young Knives and Royworld are four of the most exciting new bands around while Athlete and Fun Lovin’ Criminals are festival favourites for good reason.”
The Last Days of Summer will also include an ice slide, made from five tonnes of snow by Milton Keynes’ SNO!Zone, a snowboard simulator, funfair, food village, market stalls and bungies.
Tickets for The Last Days of Summer are £39.50 and can be bought at www.seetickets.com or by calling 0871 220 0260. VIP Tickets are available upon request at £99.
Press Enquiries and accreditation requests to: Paul Reaney The Last Days of Summer T 0845 370 1966 M 07912 477 993 E paul@thelastdaysofsummer.com
19/08/2008
Verve provide fitting end to V
Playing a series of songs from 1995 album 'A Northern Soul', including an epic version of 'Life's An Ocean', the band then enjoyed a series of loud sing-a-longs from the fans who stuck with them through the heavy rain.
Joined for most of the set by a violinist, the four-piece introduced new song 'Sit And Wonder' – which has featured in their set all summer – by referencing the atrocious conditions. "Shake off the rain with me," frontman Richard Ashcroft commanded the crowd before the song, "shake off the pain with me."
18/08/2008
Young Knives – “We’re Bigger Than God!”
Taking the Virgin Mobile Union stage at 7:35pm, the band played a set including 'She's Attracted To', 'Turn Tail' and 'The Decision'.
The Oxfordshire-based outfit were dressed in dinner jacket attire, complete with bow ties.
The House Of Lords joked about his band's stature: "We're the biggest band in the world. We're bigger than this festival. We're bigger than God."
18/08/2008
Rascals plan new album
The band is fresh from supporting The Killers in Germany and has also performed at festivals in Belgium and Holland. The lads said because of the busy schedule the first chance they will have to start writing the album is December.
18/08/2008
*Last Days’ Black Kids GetTheir Kicks* Electronic Arts Inc. have unveiled the complete music track listing for EA FIFA Soccer 09 which hits stores world wide in October. The game will feature 42 tracks across multiple genres to create an unprecedented global music event. “We have exceeded our annual challenge to create videogames’ preeminent international soundtrack,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing at EA. “No other game has been as influential with regards to new music, and FIFA Soccer 09 truly raises the bar worldwide.”
On August 25th, The Black Kids will join Supergrass, Athlete, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, The Rascals, Young Knives, Royworld and an Britpop Legend at The Last Days of Summer. Tickets are £39.50 plus booking fee from www.seetickets.com<http://www.seetickets.com/>
/Ends/ 15/08/2008
Supergrass Rock Leicester
Supergrass whipped the crowd into a frenzy with their swaggering set. All in all it was a great end to a great first day and that was just the start with two more fun-filled days to go.
12/08/2008
Royworld’s Interview
Watch this Royworld interview just after Summer Sundae...
More than 19,000 people gathered in an Oxfordshire field to enjoy one of the region's biggest music festivals - blessed with the best, and worst, of the English summer. And over the course of the festival, they were dished up sun, blue skies, cloud, rain and mud.
Highlights of the festival were Wheatley 'Britpop' band Supergrass, who played on Thursday; anarchist folk-rockers The Levellers, who headlined on Friday; Midge Ure, of 80s band Ultravox; and Fairport Convention themselves - including sets by individual members scattered throughout the festival.
But it was a visibly impressed Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes who summed up the mood, telling the crowd: "It's nice here isn't it... We might come back!"
They are – at The Last Days of Summer!
11/08/2008
Richard Ashcroft to continue solo career
“I will continue my solo stuff,” he said. “But it seemed a shame to leave The Verve dormant when there is so much talent there.” The Verve will release Forth later this month, their first new album since 1997’s Urban Hymns.
Here's the thoughts of a US Blogger on Supergrass' latest outing...
Whether it was lead singer Gaz Coombes making his way to the edge of the stage while serenading the crowd or motioning the audience to clap along during their performance, UK band Supergrass had a spot-on set — filled with non-stop intensity. The energy permeated from the stage into the crowd while practically all in attendance were dancing or singing along word for word.
16/07/2008
Supergrass get police escort to LA gig
From NME...
Last Days of Summer group Supergrass got a police escort to their headlining gig in Hollywood Saturday night (July 12) after unexpectedly being asked to perform at The Who tribute gig across town.
The Oxford band had to rush from one end of Los Angeles to the other in order to make it back in time to play their headlining gig at the Avalon Theatre, as previously reported. "We almost didn't make it here," Coombes told the packed house. "We had a police escort from the VH1 Who Tribute, as you do."
Supergrass played:
'Diamond Hoo Ha Man' 'Bad Blood' 'She's So Loose' 
'Mary' '345' 'Late In The Day' 'Rebel in You' 'Ghost of a Friend' 'Brecon Beacons' 'Outside' 'St Petersburg' 'Moving' 'Fin' 'Richard III' 'Sun Hits The Sky' 'Pumping On Your Stereo' 'Alright' 'Next To You'
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! GET YOUR TICKET TO SEE THEM AT STOWE ON AUGUST 25TH!
15/07/2008
BBC Radio 2 session... Catch Black Kids in session on Radio 2 this Saturday 12th July at 4pm with Dermot O’Leary 15/07/2008
The Verve headlined T In The Park on Friday - despite it clashing with Richard Ashcroft's wedding anniversary. Ashcroft dedicated Lucky Man to wife Kate, saying: "I'm good at writing songs for my wife, but it's about all I am good for. This is to apologise for all the times I've messed up."
14/07/2008
Black Kids Rock T
Black Kids played:
'Partie Traumatic' 'Hit The Heartbreaks' 'I Wanna Be Your Limousine' 'I've Underestimated My Charm (Again)' 'Hurricane Jane' 'Listen To Your Body Tonight' 'I'm Making Eyes At You' 'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You' 'Look At Me (When I Roll Wichu)
14/07/2008
Indie Rock Talk talks up Black Kids…
Indie Rock Talk talks up Black Kids…
Hey guys, I'm new to this forum. In fact, I just registered 30 seconds ago. Anyways, I was looking around and found very little talk about Black Kids. Their cd just came out about a week ago and I think it's the best cd I've heard in a long time. It's all I've listened to since I got it. It's got great beats, phenomenal vocals, killer guitar riffs, and dynamic bass. They've just got the whole package as far as an indie band goes and at the same time, they have all the attributes of an international music phenomenon. Just wanted to throw that out there and let the word out a little. If you haven't listened to them yet, you should.
14/07/2008
New video from The Verve
"Love is Noise" - so far in 2008, the re-ignited verve has been flawless, except for playing too many songs off Urban Hymns at the concert. The show was otherwise catapulting, the new songs so far are not ballads, and the album cover is what it should be. And now this stunning video, which puts Richard Ashcroft in one shadowy room, the rest of the band in another shadowy room and another room with a thing that has flames coming out.
"Forever. I was watching (adoring) Young Knives play the Tap ‘N’ Tin stage and every time one of us stepped out to check the main stage ASH were still playing. Transgressive stars Young Knives are an overlooked band with a rich and varied back catalogue. I could watch this band play for ever, the onstage chemistry between brothers Thomas & Henry Dartnall and drummer Oliver Askew is like watching someone else’s kids squabble - you can’t help but watch."
The Verve’s first single in ten years is finally available for all to view. You can find a link to their clip for the new single ‘Love Is Noise’ on their official website; www.theverve.co.uk. The song is promising and should keep old fans of the band happy. Singer Richard Ashcroft’s voice is as strong as ever. The song comes from their forthcoming album ‘Fourth’, which will be released on August 19 via their own label ‘On Your Own’.
So says Tim Cashmere.
Here is the album:
1. Sit And Wonder 2. Love Is Noise 3. Rather Be 4. Judas 5. Numbness 6. I See Houses 7. Noise Epic 8. Valium Skies 9. Columbo 10. Appalachian Springs
10/07/2008
Black Kids: New Spandau Ballet? Absolutely!
Black Kids told BBC News that they’re happy to be called the new Spandau Ballet.
Frontman Reggie Youngblood confirmed: "There are some very rockist tendencies on the album and we do tend to have our heavy moments," he said, "but the pop tends to outweigh the rock when it's all said and done. I'm fine with the description of being cheesy pop – there are so many cheesy pop songs I love and adore. I guess I don't think of them as cheesy, I just think of them as wonderful.” He added: "Like Spandau Ballet's 'Gold' (a hit in 1983) - that probably doesn't hold up too good any more - or Prefab Sprout's 'King Of Rock 'N' Roll' (from 1988) - that probably doesn't hold up either. But I love, love, love those songs."
See what all the fuss is about at The Last Days of Summer Music Festival which takes place at Stowe House on August 25th, Bank Holiday Monday and also include Supergrass, Athlete, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Young Knives, The Rascals and Royworld.
The Last Days of Summer tickets are priced at £39.50 plus booking fee and available from www.seetickets.com or by calling 0871 220 0260. VIP tickets are also available upon request.
Print ready images of Black Kids and The Last Days of Summer event logo can be downloaded by clicking on the images at www.toastevents.com/media.html
09/07/2008
Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner Joins The Rascals At Wireless Fest
Arctic Monkeys‘ frontman Alex Turner joined his Last Shadow Puppets‘ bandmate Miles Kane on stage as his band, The Rascals, performed on Friday (July 4) at the O2 Wireless Festival in London. Kane’s band performed a slot on the Sandisk Stage where they were joined by Turner on guitar for the track ‘Is It Too Late‘, to the surprise of fans.
Maybe we’ll see something similar at The Last Days?
09/07/2008
Supergrass to be immortalised on DVD
Read more here...http://www.clashmusic.com/news/supergrass-dvd-works
Get your tickets for Last Days and see what all the fuss is about.
See them at The Last Days of Summer on Bank Holiday Monday August 25th!
08/07/2008
Daily Mirror - Watch The Black Kids Go...
"(What's this?)Reggie Youngblood's Florida-based Kids are being hailed as the hottest US band to hit the UK this year. While their purposefully dramatic folk-laced epics evoke the flavours of Arcade Fire, their arch and sharply structured songs also reveal a love of British output, with US college band faves The Cure and Pulp who are the real recurring influences. On Hurricane Jane we get vintage Orange Juice with a disco makeover - watch them blow up a storm."
Check them at The Last Days on August 25th
03/07/2008
Supergrass Join Foos On US Dates
The band will open before Dave Grohl’s band on fourteen nights, starting with a Seattle bash on July 9th and ending in New York on July the 30th.
See them at The Last Days of Summer on August 25th, Bank Holiday Monday.
02/07/2008
Guardian/The Sun Join Royworld Fanclub
The Guardian promises ‘they’ll be huge’ and the Sun states ‘few debuts have had so much potential.’
Find what all the fuss is about at Last Days on BHM August 25th.
02/07/2008
Last Days of Summer Bands Steal Glastonbury
Last Days of Summer Bands Steal Glastonbury
A trio of bands appearing on The Last Days of Summer Festival, which takes place at Stowe House country estate on August 25th Bank Holiday Monday, have been heralded as amongst the top performers at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
Black Kids, Young Knives and The Rascals, who will join have each been described as amongst the cream of Glastron by the national press will appear
On Black Kids, NME Magazine commented: “The band played an energetic set including recent hit single 'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You' and 'Hit The Heartbreaks'. The latter song prompted a sudden surge in crowd interest as festival-goers began grooving to the catchy melody. Frontman Reggie Youngblood seemed delighted to be at the festival, saying, "Glastonbury, finally, finally!" after playing the aforementioned song. The show geared up a notch during 'Hurricane Jane', during which Youngblood shouted: "Come on Glastonbury, I want to see all your hands in the air.”
BBC News added: “Arriving onstage to the title track of their new album 'Rascalize', The Rascals tore through a longer set with "shebang" as they showcased their debut record. Playing the likes of 'Bond Girl' and former singles 'Out Of Dreams' and 'Freakbeat Phantom' the band then dedicated a song to one of the growing crowd. "This is for our mate Jay whose birthday it is, and for the mothers!" declared frontman Miles Kane before 'I'll Give You Sympathy', pointing to his friends and family in the crowd.
On Young Knives’ set, reviewers on bbc.co.uk’s Glastonbury site, noted: “They were easily the best act that I saw from your coverage. Why can't we see their set. There A GOOD LIVE BAND as opposed to most of the other lacklustre posers I endured”, “They were fantastic! Great set and the new tunes superb. Nice cut House!”
”where to start?some anti-fashion post-pub trio mixing Ian Dury madman vocal style with rabid hardcore RnB... yet with real musical talent - and with punk attitude. Where did you spring from (apart from Leicestershire - that most un-rock n roll of counties)? Perfectly formed and yet weirdly gruesome... did I dream you? The missing link between Madness, Gruppo Sportivo and the Screaming Blue Messiahs? DAN PROSSER
"THESE WERE QUALITY AGAIN WELL WORTH A SWIM THROUGH THE BROWN STUFF TO SEE UM. Frank, Worcester"
"As ever, the Knives were bloomin' great, even if they can't stop bickering on stage ;) New song 'Terra Firma' was brilliant too, can't wait for the new album!"
Amongst the other top performers were headliners The Verve who ended the show in fantastic style with the likes of 'Lucky Man', 'Drugs Don't Work' and 'Bitter Sweet Symphony'.
30/06/2008
The Rascals New Album – Reviewed
The Metro Says:
“Superficially, The Rascals' debut evokes Arctic Monkeys but, in truth, this is denser and darker than the Sheffield band's output. The sparse, reverb-drenched buzzsaw of the intriguingly chilly title track looms ominously before making way for an abrasive driving groove on the glitchy Out Of Dreams. Even with lead single Freakbeat Phantom we're still miles from the safety of the pub-rock border. Bar a couple of exceptions, these 12 songs are scarred, deformed and menacing, with only the occasional dab of Hammond-based psychedelia to betray their roots as Merseyside rather than Berlin. It's an impressively bold statement of anti-sellout intent but you can't help feeling the odd sizeable chorus wouldn't have spoiled the effect.”
Indie London Says:
“LIVERPOOL’S latest bright hopes The Rascals unleash their debut album in the form of Rascalize and aim to explore the darker and twisted realities behind the everyday. “There’s a dark element to what we do, because we’re not happy to skate the surface,” explains guitarist Miles Kane. “We like to delve below, picking up on things that are already there, though you might not spot them straightaway.It’s using your head. Not exaggerating things, but just taking a different perspective on the people we meet and the circumstances they’re in to find a deeper meaning.”
Electortrash
“The Rascals’ Rascalize was leaked about a month ago and it’s been oozing all over the place ever since. Not that that’s such a terrible thing,because I really do enjoy it, although I’m not so sure I should be saying that out loud seeing as Rascalize appears to be receiving more than its fair share of underwhelming reviews from a bunch of underwhelmed critics still hung up on an Alex Turner ideal. Admittedly it is a little spooky just how uncannily vocalist, Miles Kane, can sound like Turner, and the case against comparing the two isn’t helped by the recent release of their combined effort, The Last Shadow Puppets’ The Age Of The Understatement, so you have to kind of wonder how we would be reacting to The Rascals had The Arctic Monkeys never existed.”
24/06/2008
NME Say Black Kids Will Improve This Summer
NME.com says: “You might have heard the phrase ‘buzz band’, an utterance often accompanied by sentences like ‘toast of the blogosphere’ and ‘the highlight of CMJ/SXSW/insert name of industry showcase here’.
It’s a relatively new phenomenon in these culturally accelerated climes, one largely restricted to US indie rock acts, and testament to the heat that can be generated by an ear to the ground and an account with blogger.com. For 2006, read Tapes ’N Tapes; 2007, Cold War Kids; 2008, Black Kids. The problem that’s presented itself to all of them is how to connect with people who enjoy their music away from a flickering computer screen. Yet it looks like the final band on that list might be the first to crack it.
It helps Black Kids’ cause that in ‘I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You’, they’ve got a song with genuine hit single potential. And that they’re a pretty neat live band, with singing guitarist Reggie Youngblood flanked by his sister, Ali, and Dawn Watley on keyboards, who both come on like the coolest Double Dutch dancers this side of the holiday classic. But it’s the band’s sheer effervescence that stokes their connection.”
Read on at NME.com, see them at Last Days…
24/06/2008
Black Kids ‘catchiest New Wave Throwback’ – godisinthetvzine.com
“This is certainly the catchiest New Wave throwback song I’ve heard since The Killers broke with the imitable Hot Fuss album four years ago. The Black Kids have definitely embraced a sound that’s transient and easily danceable right from the get go. Opening with rattling drums that start your hips swinging followed by synthesizer punches that send the song into a retro direction. While the keyboards offer the lead throughout the song, every note from the guitar sounds like a recycled riff from The Edge - at one point I’m almost positive they play a note for note “homage” to the U2 classic “Mysterious Ways.” Vocalist Reggie Youngblood has a compelling and urgent voice - he's like some sort of musical cross-section for Robert Smith and Morrissey.”
Read more about Black Kids at godisinthetvzine.com
24/06/2008
The Verve Ready For First Album Since 1997
The album's first single, ‘Love Is Noise’ was premiered on BBC Radio One yesterday and Verve’s MySpace site.
"This is a very special band, with four incredibly talented people," the Verve's manager Jaz Summers told Billboard in February. "They made three great albums before. And they're going to make another great album now. There's a bit of magic when the four of them come together."
The Verve got back together in 2007 following a nine-year hiatus.
24/06/2008
The Verve Reades First Album Since 1997
The Verve has christened its reunion album "Four" and will release it before the end of the summer. The set is due Aug. 18 via EMI, where it will come out on the Verve's On Our Own imprint.
The album's first single, ‘Love Is Noise’ was premiered on BBC Radio One yesterday and Verve’s MySpace site.
"This is a very special band, with four incredibly talented people," the Verve's manager Jaz Summers told Billboard in February. "They made three great albums before. And they're going to make another great album now. There's a bit of magic when the four of them come together."
The Verve got back together in 2007 following a nine-year hiatus.
“How do they do it? Here we go again. They don't get no respect currently for reasons that elude me (a British thing, surely). Maybe they came out during Brit-pop's first flowering, so now they must surely be kinda "retro"? Yet, here we have one of brit-pop's few long-lasting bands, still producing classic pop/rock. No, this ain't Radiohead, it's just straight-ahead rock of the kind you almost can't find anymore, executed by true experts. Hey-- it's fun! And get this, it's not "ironic" fun, but the real unadulterated kind. For lovers of short, sharp, concise guitar-based pop/rock songs, it just doesn't get a lot better than this. This is as good an album as they've ever made. Thumbs up!”
Thomas Dartnall (aka House of Lords) is bass player in the Ashby-de-la-Zouch band Young Knives. Their first full-length album was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Music Prize. On 26 June the band will play in their home town for the Channel 4 programme 'Gaymers Grassroots Gigs'.
On August 25th, Young Knives will play alongside Supergrass at The Last Days of Summer Festival.
16/06/2008
Culturespill – Young Knives The New FF?
“As much as I hate to describe one band by discussing another–comparisons do a lot more to confine bands than they do to illuminate them–Young Knives, a geek-rock outfit out of England that look and sound every bit as “Young” as their band name suggests, are both picking up the torch that Franz left behind and taking it to the places we expected them to go. If Ray Davies is correct in his theory that a band’s third album is really the one that shows you if the kids are for real or not, then Superabundance, the third Young Knives album (if we’re counting their 2002 EP–and why not?), documents the arrival of a potentially great band.”
Visit Culturespill to read more…
16/06/2008
BoingBoing.tv speaks to Young Knives
UK-based Russell Porter chronicles alt music culture in the Porter Report with aggressive wit and offbeat charm. Today, part two of his exclusive interview for Boing Boing tv with the English geek rock / pop punk band The Young Knives, whose name came from a bandmember's mis-reading of the phrase "young knaves", while leafing through a book.
Read The Last Days of Summer band’s interview in full at BoingBoing.tv
16/06/2008
Black Kids – Dig The New Breed
The Last Days of Summer’s Black Kids, one of the US's hottest exports, are being heralded as one of a new breed of internet success stories.
The band - singer and guitarist Reggie Youngblood, bassist Owen Holmes, drummer Kevin Snow, keyboardist Dawn Watley and vocalist Ali Youngblood - formed in their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, just two years ago.
And in that short time they've had a top 20 hit with their debut UK single, I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You, and have recorded an album with the acclaimed guitarist-turned-producer Bernard Butler, formerly of Suede.
Owen, who's just flown into London from the States for the festival season and a string of gigs, including one at Norwich Arts Centre on Sunday, takes up the story. “We were playing about once a month, practising once a week at best - we had full-time jobs. It really was something that we did as a hobby,” he says. “Then, last August I think it was, our friends convinced us to play a festival in Georgia. We had the worst slot - at 2pm, playing in broad daylight and a rubbish sound system. Everyone was hung over and we played a fairly ordinary set and there was a crowd of about 40 - but they seemed to like most of the songs. And most of the people there turned out to be bloggers - maybe they got us on their sites or something. Somehow the right people found out about us and the rest is history.”
See them in person at The Last Days of Summer Festival on August 25th at Stowe House.
13/06/2008
Black Kids About To Partie
After Black Kids’ debut single ‘I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You’ set the blogosphere a-buzzin’ and subsequently became a certifiable chart hit in the UK, the quintet are tipped to further explode this summer with their eagerly-anticipated debut LP Partie Traumatic (July 7th).
If you feel a little déjà vu after listening to the Kids’ first single from the upcoming album, “Hurricane Jane,” it’s not just because the vocals are awesomely reminiscent of The Cure.
It’s because the track originally appeared on their Wizard of Ahhhsdemo EP. However, this reworked version packs a better punch with 44 seconds trimmed off and much tighter production.
This is what they had to say about Last Days Of Summer’s Young Knives….
The Band: Young Knives The Buzz: Hip-dork Brit band overloads songs with words, riffs. Listen If: You really could have used the concept of the "hip dork" 10 or 15 years ago. Key Track: "Up All Night," where guitars zig-zag over bouncing-ball bass and Henry Dartnell's self-aware Cockney pout.
13/06/2008
Black Kids Announce US Tour
The Last Days of Summer’s Black Kids have announced an 18-date tour of the United States.
July 25 - NY Santo’s Party House (NYC), July 29 - El Rey (LA), Sept. 19 – Freebird, (Jacksonville, FL), Sept. 20 - The Social (Orlando), Sept. 23 - Earl (Atlanta), Sept. 24 - 40 Watt Club (Athens, GA), Sept. 25 - Cat's Cradle (Carrboro, NC), Sept. 26 - Ottobar (Baltimore), Sept. 27 - Black Cat (DC), Sept. 29 - First Unitarian Church (Philly), Oct. 2 - Paradise (Boston), Oct. 4 - Cabaret Music Hall (Montreal), Oct. 5 - Mod Club (Toronto), Oct. 6 Metro (Chicago), Oct. 7 - 7th Street Entry (Minneapolis), Oct. 10 - Neumo’s (Seattle), Oct. 11 - Richards (Vancouver), Oct. 13 - Fillmore (San Francisco).
They'll be playing tracks from their forthcoming album Partie Traumatic out July 22.
You can see them at Stowe House alongside Supergrass, Ashcroft and the rest on Bank Holiday Monday August 25th.
13/06/2008
The Rascals to play Last Days of Summer The Rascals who will be releasing their highly anticipated debut album, Rascalize, on the 23rd June have joined Supergrass and Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft on a top line up for this new and exciting festival set on the borders of Northants and Bucks near Silverstone.
The album will be available in CD, Limited Edition Vinyl and Digital Download. The tracklisting will be as follows: 1. Rascalize 2. Out of Dreams 3. Bond Girl 4. The Glorified Collector 5. Fear Invicted Into The Perfect Stranger 6. Does Your Husband Know You Are On The Run 7. I’d Be Lying To You 8. Freakbeat Phantom 9. People Watching 10. Stockings To Suit 11. How Do I End This? 12. I’ll Give You Sympathy The album will follow the release of the single, Freakbeat Phantom, digital release on 9th June and then followed by the physical release on 16th June. 11/06/2008
Last Days of Summer goes out with a Verve... The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft will play his only UK solo set this summer at a festival on the Northamptonshire border.
Britpop stars Supergrass will headline the Last Days Of Summer festival, which will take place at Stowe House, near Silverstone. Athlete and the Fun Lovin' Criminals will also play at the one-day festival, which will take place on August Bank Holiday Monday.
The Young Knives, Royworld and up-and-coming bands Black Kids and The Rascals are also on the line-up, with further names to be announced.
Event spokesperson Ciaran Kennedy said: "The Last Days of Summer Festival is one of the music calendar's coolest new dates which brings together, on one stage for one day, a brilliant, international line-up to one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
"It is the first time Stowe House has agreed to stage this type of event and we've worked hard to deliver a line-up you'd normally only see at the really big festivals. The Last Days of Summer will allow friends to sit and chill out, grab a beer and sandwich at the bar and food village and enjoy for the last time in 2008, a superb British festival."
The Verve are headlining this year's Glastonbury Festival while Supergrass are a favourite on the festival scene and will headline the Summer Sundae Weekender in Leicester.
Fellow organiser Paul Reaney added: "News that Richard Ashcroft will play his only solo UK gig at The Last Days of Summer Festival makes the event one of the season's must-attend gigs. The festival unites some of the most exciting new music coming out of both sides of the Atlantic. It is going to be an unforgettable day."
Tickets cost £39.50 and are available by calling 0871 220 0260 or visiting www.seetick ets.com
It takes place on Monday, August 25. Gates open at noon, the first performance will start at 1.30pm and the event finishes at 11pm. To find out more visit www.thelastdaysofsummer.com 11/06/2008
Sun set to shine on Bank Holiday Supergrass/Ashcroft Gig After a grey weekend, the sun is set to burst into life on Monday morning and bathe Stowe House Country Estate, Supergrass, Richard Ashcroft, Athlete, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Black Kids, Royworld, The Rascals and Young Knives in glorious sunshine.
The British Met Office have forecast that Monday August 25th will be the hottest day of the next ten days with a temperature of 22°C (71.6) and excellent visibility. The forecast by leading global weather experts accuweather.com confirms: “Monday August 25th will be sunny with pleasant winds from the SSW at 24 km/h. The high will be 22 °C. Bank Holiday Monday will enjoy 13.4 hours of sunshing, the sun will set at 8.06pm.”
Festival organiser Lester Holcombe noted: “Reports that the sun is going to shine on The Last Days of Summer is exactly the news we’ve been waiting for! The Last Days of Summer is going to be the perfect way to spend Bank Holiday Monday, and a final chance this summer to enjoy a well-earned day in the sunshine with friends, music and laughter.”
Tickets for The Last Days of Summer are £39.50 and can be bought at www.seetickets.com or by calling 0871 220 0260. VIP Tickets are available upon request at £99.
22/08/2008
The Verve Stream Entire Album
‘Forth’ is the first album for the band in more than a decade. The Verve came to a grinding halt in 1999 when guitarist Nick McCabe broke his fist on singer Richard Ashcroft’s face.
The new album will be released on August 25 worldwide through EMI expect in the USA where it is coming out on their own ‘On Your Own Records’ label via Megaforce/RED.
20/08/2008
Ashcroft unveiled as Britpop Legend Organisers of The Last Days of Summer Festival have officially confirmed that The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft will make his only solo appearance anywhere in the UK this year at Stowe House Country Estate near Silverstone, Bucks on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25th.
Ashcroft will join a line-up that includes Supergrass, Athlete, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Black Kids, The Rascals, Young Knives, Royworld and VIP sets from BBC Radio One’s Gilles Peterson and Portishead DJ Andy Smith.
Event organiser Paul Reaney of Toast confirmed: “We can finally reveal that Richard Ashcroft is the secret addition to The Last Days of Summer line-up. At this time, we would also like to confirm that this in no way affects Richard’s relationship with The Verve. The fact that Richard is performing a solo gig on the same day that The Verve release their new album is completely co-incidental, Richard agreed to play The Last Days of Summer toward the end of 2007. He will be allowed to perform some of The Verve’s songs with his band, but this is very much a solo gig”
As the frontman of The Verve, Ashcroft’s summer has already included sets at V and Glastonbury. On his solo plans, Ashcroft recently noted: “I will continue my solo stuff. But it seemed a shame to leave this (The Verve) thing dormant when there is so much talent there."
The Last Days of Summer is the first music festival to be held at Stowe House or within the region. Fellow organiser Ciaran Kennedy noted: “While a lot of festivals go for some of the smaller acts and try to grow, we have gone for quality from the outset. We think in getting Ashcroft to come along and play alongside Supergrass and the rest, we’ve done that. The Black Kids, The Rascals, Young Knives and Royworld are four of the most exciting new bands around while Athlete and Fun Lovin’ Criminals are festival favourites for good reason.”
The Last Days of Summer will also include an ice slide, made from five tonnes of snow by Milton Keynes’ SNO!Zone, a snowboard simulator, funfair, food village, market stalls and bungies.
Tickets for The Last Days of Summer are £39.50 and can be bought at www.seetickets.com or by calling 0871 220 0260. VIP Tickets are available upon request at £99.
Press Enquiries and accreditation requests to: Paul Reaney The Last Days of Summer T 0845 370 1966 M 07912 477 993 E paul@thelastdaysofsummer.com
19/08/2008
Verve provide fitting end to V
Playing a series of songs from 1995 album 'A Northern Soul', including an epic version of 'Life's An Ocean', the band then enjoyed a series of loud sing-a-longs from the fans who stuck with them through the heavy rain.
Joined for most of the set by a violinist, the four-piece introduced new song 'Sit And Wonder' – which has featured in their set all summer – by referencing the atrocious conditions. "Shake off the rain with me," frontman Richard Ashcroft commanded the crowd before the song, "shake off the pain with me."
18/08/2008
Young Knives – “We’re Bigger Than God!”
Taking the Virgin Mobile Union stage at 7:35pm, the band played a set including 'She's Attracted To', 'Turn Tail' and 'The Decision'.
The Oxfordshire-based outfit were dressed in dinner jacket attire, complete with bow ties.
The House Of Lords joked about his band's stature: "We're the biggest band in the world. We're bigger than this festival. We're bigger than God."
18/08/2008
Rascals plan new album
The band is fresh from supporting The Killers in Germany and has also performed at festivals in Belgium and Holland. The lads said because of the busy schedule the first chance they will have to start writing the album is December.
18/08/2008
*Last Days’ Black Kids GetTheir Kicks* Electronic Arts Inc. have unveiled the complete music track listing for EA FIFA Soccer 09 which hits stores world wide in October. The game will feature 42 tracks across multiple genres to create an unprecedented global music event. “We have exceeded our annual challenge to create videogames’ preeminent international soundtrack,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing at EA. “No other game has been as influential with regards to new music, and FIFA Soccer 09 truly raises the bar worldwide.”
On August 25th, The Black Kids will join Supergrass, Athlete, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, The Rascals, Young Knives, Royworld and an Britpop Legend at The Last Days of Summer. Tickets are £39.50 plus booking fee from www.seetickets.com<http://www.seetickets.com/>
/Ends/ 15/08/2008
Supergrass Rock Leicester
Supergrass whipped the crowd into a frenzy with their swaggering set. All in all it was a great end to a great first day and that was just the start with two more fun-filled days to go.
12/08/2008
Royworld’s Interview
Watch this Royworld interview just after Summer Sundae...
More than 19,000 people gathered in an Oxfordshire field to enjoy one of the region's biggest music festivals - blessed with the best, and worst, of the English summer. And over the course of the festival, they were dished up sun, blue skies, cloud, rain and mud.
Highlights of the festival were Wheatley 'Britpop' band Supergrass, who played on Thursday; anarchist folk-rockers The Levellers, who headlined on Friday; Midge Ure, of 80s band Ultravox; and Fairport Convention themselves - including sets by individual members scattered throughout the festival.
But it was a visibly impressed Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes who summed up the mood, telling the crowd: "It's nice here isn't it... We might come back!"
They are – at The Last Days of Summer!
11/08/2008
Richard Ashcroft to continue solo career
“I will continue my solo stuff,” he said. “But it seemed a shame to leave The Verve dormant when there is so much talent there.” The Verve will release Forth later this month, their first new album since 1997’s Urban Hymns.
Here's the thoughts of a US Blogger on Supergrass' latest outing...
Whether it was lead singer Gaz Coombes making his way to the edge of the stage while serenading the crowd or motioning the audience to clap along during their performance, UK band Supergrass had a spot-on set — filled with non-stop intensity. The energy permeated from the stage into the crowd while practically all in attendance were dancing or singing along word for word.
16/07/2008
Supergrass get police escort to LA gig
From NME...
Last Days of Summer group Supergrass got a police escort to their headlining gig in Hollywood Saturday night (July 12) after unexpectedly being asked to perform at The Who tribute gig across town.
The Oxford band had to rush from one end of Los Angeles to the other in order to make it back in time to play their headlining gig at the Avalon Theatre, as previously reported. "We almost didn't make it here," Coombes told the packed house. "We had a police escort from the VH1 Who Tribute, as you do."
Supergrass played:
'Diamond Hoo Ha Man' 'Bad Blood' 'She's So Loose' 
'Mary' '345' 'Late In The Day' 'Rebel in You' 'Ghost of a Friend' 'Brecon Beacons' 'Outside' 'St Petersburg' 'Moving' 'Fin' 'Richard III' 'Sun Hits The Sky' 'Pumping On Your Stereo' 'Alright' 'Next To You'
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! GET YOUR TICKET TO SEE THEM AT STOWE ON AUGUST 25TH!
15/07/2008
BBC Radio 2 session... Catch Black Kids in session on Radio 2 this Saturday 12th July at 4pm with Dermot O’Leary 15/07/2008
The Verve headlined T In The Park on Friday - despite it clashing with Richard Ashcroft's wedding anniversary. Ashcroft dedicated Lucky Man to wife Kate, saying: "I'm good at writing songs for my wife, but it's about all I am good for. This is to apologise for all the times I've messed up."
14/07/2008
Black Kids Rock T
Black Kids played:
'Partie Traumatic' 'Hit The Heartbreaks' 'I Wanna Be Your Limousine' 'I've Underestimated My Charm (Again)' 'Hurricane Jane' 'Listen To Your Body Tonight' 'I'm Making Eyes At You' 'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You' 'Look At Me (When I Roll Wichu)
14/07/2008
Indie Rock Talk talks up Black Kids…
Indie Rock Talk talks up Black Kids…
Hey guys, I'm new to this forum. In fact, I just registered 30 seconds ago. Anyways, I was looking around and found very little talk about Black Kids. Their cd just came out about a week ago and I think it's the best cd I've heard in a long time. It's all I've listened to since I got it. It's got great beats, phenomenal vocals, killer guitar riffs, and dynamic bass. They've just got the whole package as far as an indie band goes and at the same time, they have all the attributes of an international music phenomenon. Just wanted to throw that out there and let the word out a little. If you haven't listened to them yet, you should.
14/07/2008
New video from The Verve
"Love is Noise" - so far in 2008, the re-ignited verve has been flawless, except for playing too many songs off Urban Hymns at the concert. The show was otherwise catapulting, the new songs so far are not ballads, and the album cover is what it should be. And now this stunning video, which puts Richard Ashcroft in one shadowy room, the rest of the band in another shadowy room and another room with a thing that has flames coming out.
"Forever. I was watching (adoring) Young Knives play the Tap ‘N’ Tin stage and every time one of us stepped out to check the main stage ASH were still playing. Transgressive stars Young Knives are an overlooked band with a rich and varied back catalogue. I could watch this band play for ever, the onstage chemistry between brothers Thomas & Henry Dartnall and drummer Oliver Askew is like watching someone else’s kids squabble - you can’t help but watch."
The Verve’s first single in ten years is finally available for all to view. You can find a link to their clip for the new single ‘Love Is Noise’ on their official website; www.theverve.co.uk. The song is promising and should keep old fans of the band happy. Singer Richard Ashcroft’s voice is as strong as ever. The song comes from their forthcoming album ‘Fourth’, which will be released on August 19 via their own label ‘On Your Own’.
So says Tim Cashmere.
Here is the album:
1. Sit And Wonder 2. Love Is Noise 3. Rather Be 4. Judas 5. Numbness 6. I See Houses 7. Noise Epic 8. Valium Skies 9. Columbo 10. Appalachian Springs
10/07/2008
Black Kids: New Spandau Ballet? Absolutely!
Black Kids told BBC News that they’re happy to be called the new Spandau Ballet.
Frontman Reggie Youngblood confirmed: "There are some very rockist tendencies on the album and we do tend to have our heavy moments," he said, "but the pop tends to outweigh the rock when it's all said and done. I'm fine with the description of being cheesy pop – there are so many cheesy pop songs I love and adore. I guess I don't think of them as cheesy, I just think of them as wonderful.” He added: "Like Spandau Ballet's 'Gold' (a hit in 1983) - that probably doesn't hold up too good any more - or Prefab Sprout's 'King Of Rock 'N' Roll' (from 1988) - that probably doesn't hold up either. But I love, love, love those songs."
See what all the fuss is about at The Last Days of Summer Music Festival which takes place at Stowe House on August 25th, Bank Holiday Monday and also include Supergrass, Athlete, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Young Knives, The Rascals and Royworld.
The Last Days of Summer tickets are priced at £39.50 plus booking fee and available from www.seetickets.com or by calling 0871 220 0260. VIP tickets are also available upon request.
Print ready images of Black Kids and The Last Days of Summer event logo can be downloaded by clicking on the images at www.toastevents.com/media.html
09/07/2008
Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner Joins The Rascals At Wireless Fest
Arctic Monkeys‘ frontman Alex Turner joined his Last Shadow Puppets‘ bandmate Miles Kane on stage as his band, The Rascals, performed on Friday (July 4) at the O2 Wireless Festival in London. Kane’s band performed a slot on the Sandisk Stage where they were joined by Turner on guitar for the track ‘Is It Too Late‘, to the surprise of fans.
Maybe we’ll see something similar at The Last Days?
09/07/2008
Supergrass to be immortalised on DVD
Read more here...http://www.clashmusic.com/news/supergrass-dvd-works
Get your tickets for Last Days and see what all the fuss is about.
See them at The Last Days of Summer on Bank Holiday Monday August 25th!
08/07/2008
Daily Mirror - Watch The Black Kids Go...
"(What's this?)Reggie Youngblood's Florida-based Kids are being hailed as the hottest US band to hit the UK this year. While their purposefully dramatic folk-laced epics evoke the flavours of Arcade Fire, their arch and sharply structured songs also reveal a love of British output, with US college band faves The Cure and Pulp who are the real recurring influences. On Hurricane Jane we get vintage Orange Juice with a disco makeover - watch them blow up a storm."
Check them at The Last Days on August 25th
03/07/2008
Supergrass Join Foos On US Dates
The band will open before Dave Grohl’s band on fourteen nights, starting with a Seattle bash on July 9th and ending in New York on July the 30th.
See them at The Last Days of Summer on August 25th, Bank Holiday Monday.
02/07/2008
Guardian/The Sun Join Royworld Fanclub
The Guardian promises ‘they’ll be huge’ and the Sun states ‘few debuts have had so much potential.’
Find what all the fuss is about at Last Days on BHM August 25th.
02/07/2008
Last Days of Summer Bands Steal Glastonbury
Last Days of Summer Bands Steal Glastonbury
A trio of bands appearing on The Last Days of Summer Festival, which takes place at Stowe House country estate on August 25th Bank Holiday Monday, have been heralded as amongst the top performers at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
Black Kids, Young Knives and The Rascals, who will join have each been described as amongst the cream of Glastron by the national press will appear
On Black Kids, NME Magazine commented: “The band played an energetic set including recent hit single 'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You' and 'Hit The Heartbreaks'. The latter song prompted a sudden surge in crowd interest as festival-goers began grooving to the catchy melody. Frontman Reggie Youngblood seemed delighted to be at the festival, saying, "Glastonbury, finally, finally!" after playing the aforementioned song. The show geared up a notch during 'Hurricane Jane', during which Youngblood shouted: "Come on Glastonbury, I want to see all your hands in the air.”
BBC News added: “Arriving onstage to the title track of their new album 'Rascalize', The Rascals tore through a longer set with "shebang" as they showcased their debut record. Playing the likes of 'Bond Girl' and former singles 'Out Of Dreams' and 'Freakbeat Phantom' the band then dedicated a song to one of the growing crowd. "This is for our mate Jay whose birthday it is, and for the mothers!" declared frontman Miles Kane before 'I'll Give You Sympathy', pointing to his friends and family in the crowd.
On Young Knives’ set, reviewers on bbc.co.uk’s Glastonbury site, noted: “They were easily the best act that I saw from your coverage. Why can't we see their set. There A GOOD LIVE BAND as opposed to most of the other lacklustre posers I endured”, “They were fantastic! Great set and the new tunes superb. Nice cut House!”
”where to start?some anti-fashion post-pub trio mixing Ian Dury madman vocal style with rabid hardcore RnB... yet with real musical talent - and with punk attitude. Where did you spring from (apart from Leicestershire - that most un-rock n roll of counties)? Perfectly formed and yet weirdly gruesome... did I dream you? The missing link between Madness, Gruppo Sportivo and the Screaming Blue Messiahs? DAN PROSSER
"THESE WERE QUALITY AGAIN WELL WORTH A SWIM THROUGH THE BROWN STUFF TO SEE UM. Frank, Worcester"
"As ever, the Knives were bloomin' great, even if they can't stop bickering on stage ;) New song 'Terra Firma' was brilliant too, can't wait for the new album!"
Amongst the other top performers were headliners The Verve who ended the show in fantastic style with the likes of 'Lucky Man', 'Drugs Don't Work' and 'Bitter Sweet Symphony'.
30/06/2008
The Rascals New Album – Reviewed
The Metro Says:
“Superficially, The Rascals' debut evokes Arctic Monkeys but, in truth, this is denser and darker than the Sheffield band's output. The sparse, reverb-drenched buzzsaw of the intriguingly chilly title track looms ominously before making way for an abrasive driving groove on the glitchy Out Of Dreams. Even with lead single Freakbeat Phantom we're still miles from the safety of the pub-rock border. Bar a couple of exceptions, these 12 songs are scarred, deformed and menacing, with only the occasional dab of Hammond-based psychedelia to betray their roots as Merseyside rather than Berlin. It's an impressively bold statement of anti-sellout intent but you can't help feeling the odd sizeable chorus wouldn't have spoiled the effect.”
Indie London Says:
“LIVERPOOL’S latest bright hopes The Rascals unleash their debut album in the form of Rascalize and aim to explore the darker and twisted realities behind the everyday. “There’s a dark element to what we do, because we’re not happy to skate the surface,” explains guitarist Miles Kane. “We like to delve below, picking up on things that are already there, though you might not spot them straightaway.It’s using your head. Not exaggerating things, but just taking a different perspective on the people we meet and the circumstances they’re in to find a deeper meaning.”
Electortrash
“The Rascals’ Rascalize was leaked about a month ago and it’s been oozing all over the place ever since. Not that that’s such a terrible thing,because I really do enjoy it, although I’m not so sure I should be saying that out loud seeing as Rascalize appears to be receiving more than its fair share of underwhelming reviews from a bunch of underwhelmed critics still hung up on an Alex Turner ideal. Admittedly it is a little spooky just how uncannily vocalist, Miles Kane, can sound like Turner, and the case against comparing the two isn’t helped by the recent release of their combined effort, The Last Shadow Puppets’ The Age Of The Understatement, so you have to kind of wonder how we would be reacting to The Rascals had The Arctic Monkeys never existed.”
24/06/2008
NME Say Black Kids Will Improve This Summer
NME.com says: “You might have heard the phrase ‘buzz band’, an utterance often accompanied by sentences like ‘toast of the blogosphere’ and ‘the highlight of CMJ/SXSW/insert name of industry showcase here’.
It’s a relatively new phenomenon in these culturally accelerated climes, one largely restricted to US indie rock acts, and testament to the heat that can be generated by an ear to the ground and an account with blogger.com. For 2006, read Tapes ’N Tapes; 2007, Cold War Kids; 2008, Black Kids. The problem that’s presented itself to all of them is how to connect with people who enjoy their music away from a flickering computer screen. Yet it looks like the final band on that list might be the first to crack it.
It helps Black Kids’ cause that in ‘I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You’, they’ve got a song with genuine hit single potential. And that they’re a pretty neat live band, with singing guitarist Reggie Youngblood flanked by his sister, Ali, and Dawn Watley on keyboards, who both come on like the coolest Double Dutch dancers this side of the holiday classic. But it’s the band’s sheer effervescence that stokes their connection.”
Read on at NME.com, see them at Last Days…
24/06/2008
Black Kids ‘catchiest New Wave Throwback’ – godisinthetvzine.com
“This is certainly the catchiest New Wave throwback song I’ve heard since The Killers broke with the imitable Hot Fuss album four years ago. The Black Kids have definitely embraced a sound that’s transient and easily danceable right from the get go. Opening with rattling drums that start your hips swinging followed by synthesizer punches that send the song into a retro direction. While the keyboards offer the lead throughout the song, every note from the guitar sounds like a recycled riff from The Edge - at one point I’m almost positive they play a note for note “homage” to the U2 classic “Mysterious Ways.” Vocalist Reggie Youngblood has a compelling and urgent voice - he's like some sort of musical cross-section for Robert Smith and Morrissey.”
Read more about Black Kids at godisinthetvzine.com
24/06/2008
The Verve Ready For First Album Since 1997
The album's first single, ‘Love Is Noise’ was premiered on BBC Radio One yesterday and Verve’s MySpace site.
"This is a very special band, with four incredibly talented people," the Verve's manager Jaz Summers told Billboard in February. "They made three great albums before. And they're going to make another great album now. There's a bit of magic when the four of them come together."
The Verve got back together in 2007 following a nine-year hiatus.
24/06/2008
The Verve Reades First Album Since 1997
The Verve has christened its reunion album "Four" and will release it before the end of the summer. The set is due Aug. 18 via EMI, where it will come out on the Verve's On Our Own imprint.
The album's first single, ‘Love Is Noise’ was premiered on BBC Radio One yesterday and Verve’s MySpace site.
"This is a very special band, with four incredibly talented people," the Verve's manager Jaz Summers told Billboard in February. "They made three great albums before. And they're going to make another great album now. There's a bit of magic when the four of them come together."
The Verve got back together in 2007 following a nine-year hiatus.
“How do they do it? Here we go again. They don't get no respect currently for reasons that elude me (a British thing, surely). Maybe they came out during Brit-pop's first flowering, so now they must surely be kinda "retro"? Yet, here we have one of brit-pop's few long-lasting bands, still producing classic pop/rock. No, this ain't Radiohead, it's just straight-ahead rock of the kind you almost can't find anymore, executed by true experts. Hey-- it's fun! And get this, it's not "ironic" fun, but the real unadulterated kind. For lovers of short, sharp, concise guitar-based pop/rock songs, it just doesn't get a lot better than this. This is as good an album as they've ever made. Thumbs up!”
Thomas Dartnall (aka House of Lords) is bass player in the Ashby-de-la-Zouch band Young Knives. Their first full-length album was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Music Prize. On 26 June the band will play in their home town for the Channel 4 programme 'Gaymers Grassroots Gigs'.
On August 25th, Young Knives will play alongside Supergrass at The Last Days of Summer Festival.
16/06/2008
Culturespill – Young Knives The New FF?
“As much as I hate to describe one band by discussing another–comparisons do a lot more to confine bands than they do to illuminate them–Young Knives, a geek-rock outfit out of England that look and sound every bit as “Young” as their band name suggests, are both picking up the torch that Franz left behind and taking it to the places we expected them to go. If Ray Davies is correct in his theory that a band’s third album is really the one that shows you if the kids are for real or not, then Superabundance, the third Young Knives album (if we’re counting their 2002 EP–and why not?), documents the arrival of a potentially great band.”
Visit Culturespill to read more…
16/06/2008
BoingBoing.tv speaks to Young Knives
UK-based Russell Porter chronicles alt music culture in the Porter Report with aggressive wit and offbeat charm. Today, part two of his exclusive interview for Boing Boing tv with the English geek rock / pop punk band The Young Knives, whose name came from a bandmember's mis-reading of the phrase "young knaves", while leafing through a book.
Read The Last Days of Summer band’s interview in full at BoingBoing.tv
16/06/2008
Black Kids – Dig The New Breed
The Last Days of Summer’s Black Kids, one of the US's hottest exports, are being heralded as one of a new breed of internet success stories.
The band - singer and guitarist Reggie Youngblood, bassist Owen Holmes, drummer Kevin Snow, keyboardist Dawn Watley and vocalist Ali Youngblood - formed in their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, just two years ago.
And in that short time they've had a top 20 hit with their debut UK single, I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You, and have recorded an album with the acclaimed guitarist-turned-producer Bernard Butler, formerly of Suede.
Owen, who's just flown into London from the States for the festival season and a string of gigs, including one at Norwich Arts Centre on Sunday, takes up the story. “We were playing about once a month, practising once a week at best - we had full-time jobs. It really was something that we did as a hobby,” he says. “Then, last August I think it was, our friends convinced us to play a festival in Georgia. We had the worst slot - at 2pm, playing in broad daylight and a rubbish sound system. Everyone was hung over and we played a fairly ordinary set and there was a crowd of about 40 - but they seemed to like most of the songs. And most of the people there turned out to be bloggers - maybe they got us on their sites or something. Somehow the right people found out about us and the rest is history.”
See them in person at The Last Days of Summer Festival on August 25th at Stowe House.
13/06/2008
Black Kids About To Partie
After Black Kids’ debut single ‘I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You’ set the blogosphere a-buzzin’ and subsequently became a certifiable chart hit in the UK, the quintet are tipped to further explode this summer with their eagerly-anticipated debut LP Partie Traumatic (July 7th).
If you feel a little déjà vu after listening to the Kids’ first single from the upcoming album, “Hurricane Jane,” it’s not just because the vocals are awesomely reminiscent of The Cure.
It’s because the track originally appeared on their Wizard of Ahhhsdemo EP. However, this reworked version packs a better punch with 44 seconds trimmed off and much tighter production.
This is what they had to say about Last Days Of Summer’s Young Knives….
The Band: Young Knives The Buzz: Hip-dork Brit band overloads songs with words, riffs. Listen If: You really could have used the concept of the "hip dork" 10 or 15 years ago. Key Track: "Up All Night," where guitars zig-zag over bouncing-ball bass and Henry Dartnell's self-aware Cockney pout.
13/06/2008
Black Kids Announce US Tour
The Last Days of Summer’s Black Kids have announced an 18-date tour of the United States.
July 25 - NY Santo’s Party House (NYC), July 29 - El Rey (LA), Sept. 19 – Freebird, (Jacksonville, FL), Sept. 20 - The Social (Orlando), Sept. 23 - Earl (Atlanta), Sept. 24 - 40 Watt Club (Athens, GA), Sept. 25 - Cat's Cradle (Carrboro, NC), Sept. 26 - Ottobar (Baltimore), Sept. 27 - Black Cat (DC), Sept. 29 - First Unitarian Church (Philly), Oct. 2 - Paradise (Boston), Oct. 4 - Cabaret Music Hall (Montreal), Oct. 5 - Mod Club (Toronto), Oct. 6 Metro (Chicago), Oct. 7 - 7th Street Entry (Minneapolis), Oct. 10 - Neumo’s (Seattle), Oct. 11 - Richards (Vancouver), Oct. 13 - Fillmore (San Francisco).
They'll be playing tracks from their forthcoming album Partie Traumatic out July 22.
You can see them at Stowe House alongside Supergrass, Ashcroft and the rest on Bank Holiday Monday August 25th.
13/06/2008
The Rascals to play Last Days of Summer The Rascals who will be releasing their highly anticipated debut album, Rascalize, on the 23rd June have joined Supergrass and Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft on a top line up for this new and exciting festival set on the borders of Northants and Bucks near Silverstone.
The album will be available in CD, Limited Edition Vinyl and Digital Download. The tracklisting will be as follows: 1. Rascalize 2. Out of Dreams 3. Bond Girl 4. The Glorified Collector 5. Fear Invicted Into The Perfect Stranger 6. Does Your Husband Know You Are On The Run 7. I’d Be Lying To You 8. Freakbeat Phantom 9. People Watching 10. Stockings To Suit 11. How Do I End This? 12. I’ll Give You Sympathy The album will follow the release of the single, Freakbeat Phantom, digital release on 9th June and then followed by the physical release on 16th June. 11/06/2008
Last Days of Summer goes out with a Verve... The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft will play his only UK solo set this summer at a festival on the Northamptonshire border.
Britpop stars Supergrass will headline the Last Days Of Summer festival, which will take place at Stowe House, near Silverstone. Athlete and the Fun Lovin' Criminals will also play at the one-day festival, which will take place on August Bank Holiday Monday.
The Young Knives, Royworld and up-and-coming bands Black Kids and The Rascals are also on the line-up, with further names to be announced.
Event spokesperson Ciaran Kennedy said: "The Last Days of Summer Festival is one of the music calendar's coolest new dates which brings together, on one stage for one day, a brilliant, international line-up to one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
"It is the first time Stowe House has agreed to stage this type of event and we've worked hard to deliver a line-up you'd normally only see at the really big festivals. The Last Days of Summer will allow friends to sit and chill out, grab a beer and sandwich at the bar and food village and enjoy for the last time in 2008, a superb British festival."
The Verve are headlining this year's Glastonbury Festival while Supergrass are a favourite on the festival scene and will headline the Summer Sundae Weekender in Leicester.
Fellow organiser Paul Reaney added: "News that Richard Ashcroft will play his only solo UK gig at The Last Days of Summer Festival makes the event one of the season's must-attend gigs. The festival unites some of the most exciting new music coming out of both sides of the Atlantic. It is going to be an unforgettable day."
Tickets cost £39.50 and are available by calling 0871 220 0260 or visiting www.seetick ets.com
It takes place on Monday, August 25. Gates open at noon, the first performance will start at 1.30pm and the event finishes at 11pm. To find out more visit www.thelastdaysofsummer.com 11/06/2008
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the link below to view the official images from
The Last Days of Summer 2008
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the link below to find more about The Last Days
of Summer 2009
