Live Review: Wilderness Festival (Day 1)

We are lucky to live on the edge of the Cotswolds and on the fringes of the beautiful Cornbury Park Estate. Previously it was home to the Cornbury Festival, which was unfortunate in, for a few years, consistently having the worst musical line-up you could contrive to put together. It was a source of constant disappointment to us. However, last year the Cornbury Festival thankfully … Continue reading Live Review: Wilderness Festival (Day 1)

Introducing Waves of Fury

We’ve taken our sweet time getting round to listening to the new single Businessman’s Guide To Witchcraft by Somerset’s Waves of Fury, but as soon as we did  we knew we’d be sharing it far and wide. It is the first track to see the light of day from their forthcoming self-titled long player and it is an unholy alliance of scowling, snarling vocals, sleazy … Continue reading Introducing Waves of Fury

Q Magazine’s Free Amy Winehouse Tribute

It seems de rigueur at the moment to reinterpret classic albums wholesale, especially for the UK music monthlies as their free cover disk mounts. Following Mojo and Uncut both offering recent tribute discs to Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and George Harrison, Q magazine have joined the party with Back to Back to Black, an anniversary re-recording of Amy Winehouse’s album featuring amongst … Continue reading Q Magazine’s Free Amy Winehouse Tribute

MM Shorts 184: Michael Glader

Based out of New Orleans, Louisiana, Michael Glader captures a rich array of psychedelic soul and folk rock into a consistent vibe with ever changing moods. Grooves reminiscent of Broken Social Scene, vocal melodies inspired by Chet Baker, and the indelible pop approach of The Kinks. His sophomore release, When on High, is released on 6th August via Wet Lettuce. For now check out the … Continue reading MM Shorts 184: Michael Glader

MM Shorts 168: Hudson Branch Cover Wilco

The Hudson Branch needed to blow off some steam having spent the past year writing, recording, and promoting their latest album World Kid. So they did what bands do – started nerding out to their record collections (which include everything from Motown to soul to indie rock to electronica) and started messing around in the studio. The result is a just-for-fun soul version of Wilco’s … Continue reading MM Shorts 168: Hudson Branch Cover Wilco

Polly and the Billets Doux – New EP & Tour

After a short break from touring to write and record new material, Polly and the Billets Doux return with their Hold Fast EP and a UK tour this month. They recorded the new EP at the infamous Truck Studios (from the same team behind Truck and Wood Festivals). Hold Fast marks the band’s first formal release of 2012, with their second album set to follow … Continue reading Polly and the Billets Doux – New EP & Tour

Mad Mackerel Recommends…Al Scorch & The Country Soul Ensemble

In his new full-length CD release, Tired Ghostly Town (out May 21 on Plan-It-X South), Chicago-based songwriter and instrumentalist Al Scorch and his backing band, the Country Soul Ensemble craft literate, character-driven songs with Mid-American roots and a post-punk DIY attitude. The protagonist wishing for a pair of gold cuff links to accompany his beau to her daddy’s funeral; the deserting Civil War soldier headed across destroyed cotton fields beckoning to … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Al Scorch & The Country Soul Ensemble

Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday – on Sunday again (25th March)

Lordy, really should have given up gallivanting for Lent, home and away. TFI Friday is turning into Mrs Mackerel’s shifty Sunday. It was an away fixture in the Big Smoke on Friday: sober affair, late night, loads of gabbing, followed by an early evening kick off at home on Saturday – think less Stadium of Light more Den of Iniquity, led by the High Priestess … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday – on Sunday again (25th March)