James Mackenzie – new EP

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Jamie Macdonald

One of the ways we use this site is to give further spotlight to some of the acts we feature on our podcast. Scottish singer songwriter James Mackenzie has popped up/invaded a couple of our past podcasts and he is currently on our Brew At The Bog podcast.

The reason he appears on our latest podcast is not just due to the fact we rather like the lad or solely due to him playing at Brew At The Bog but because he is heading back out on the road in May to promote his new self titled EP.

During the tour James will also be joined by Bedford-based folk group, The Darling Mundaring. Scroll your wee fingers down to the bottom of this page to see a lovely wee video from them.

Not to be outdone Mr Mackenzie too has also gone and done a promotional film with music.

James Mackenzie’s self-titled EP is released on 5th May on iTunes and bandcamp.

James Mackenzie EP artwork © houdidontblog

Live dates

28/04 – Buff Club, Glasgow supporting Callers + Harry & The Hendersons + Kirsty Marquis. Tickets

04/05 – Brew At The Bog, Inverness (7:15pm) Tickets

07/05 – Ort Cafe, Birmingham [£3 on the door] + Samantha Wate
08/05 – The Bedford, London
With The Darling Mundaring:

09/05 – Esquires, Bedford
11/05 – Orange Tree, Nottingham
12/05 – Odd Bar, Manchester
13/05 – Bar Bloc, Glasgow
14/05 – Pivo, Edinburgh
15/05 – PJ Molloys, Dunfermline
16/05 – Cellar 35, Aberdeen
17/05 – Y-Not Bar, Thurso
18/05 – Twa Tams, Perth
19/05 - Hootananny, Inverness

Highland label release Pete Roe debut

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Jamie Macdonald

Multi instrumentalist/vocalist Pete Roe is set to release his debut album on Highland label Middle of Nowhere Records in May.

Pete Roe is one of these acts that initially, by accident I ended up seeing more than any other act in one year. He was everywhere we went whether it was Belladrum, Rockness, Hootananny in Inverness, goNORTH Inverness or teaming up with Laura Marling in Glasgow.

Each time he has been a joy to watch and listen to.

Pete Roe. Photo ©ROOK

In fact it’s Laura Marling that has taken up most of his time in the past four years with Pete being a live and studio stalwart for her band. He is also a respected figure in the London folk scene.

However it’s Pete’s solo career that takes centre stage in 2013 with the release of his debut album Our Beloved Bubble.

Following the success of Highland songwriter Rachel Sermanni’s debut album Under Mountains Rachel and friends established their own independent record label, Middle Of Nowhere Recordings on which Pete Roe releases his debut on Monday 6th May 2013.

The album was recorded in a remote studio in the Highlands of Scotland with final touches added by acclaimed producer Ethan Johns.

Pete’s influences include John Martyn, Neil Young and Ryan Adams and the album covers a broad range of themes which trawl Pete’s encounters, ruminations, pub studies, love and friendships.

As a taster you can download Pete Roe’s double A-side Midnight:Mystery. The release features exclusive versions of album tracks Further Into Midnight and A Strange Kind Of Mystery In The Air. All that Mr. Roe requires in exchange for this is an email address. Download here.

There Has To Be A Reason. Original version appears on Our Beloved Bubble

To support the album release, Pete will set off on a headline tour of the UK and Ireland accompanied by members of Hot Feet. The tour starts in Leicester on Thursday 2nd May and takes in ten cities before closing in Brighton on Monday 13th May.

The Beloved Bubble Tour

Thursday 2nd May: The Cookie Jar, Leicester
Friday 3rd May: The Soup Kitchen, Manchester
Saturday 4th May: Live at Leeds, Leeds
Sunday 5th May: Poetry Club, Glasgow
Tuesday 7th May: Unitarian Church, Dublin
Thursday 9th May: St Marks Church, Dalston
Friday 10th May: Glee Club, Birmingham
Saturday 11th May: Moon Club, Cardiff
Sunday 12th May: Folkhouse, Bristol
Monday 13th May: The Greys, Brighton

Our Beloved Bubble is available to pre-order now at www.monr.co.uk/shop
Pete Roe: www.peteroe.org

Easter Showcase MixCast #1

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Jamie Macdonald

The smell of Easter is in the air, or maybe too many people eating too many eggs already? Either way the Ironworks Easter Showcase on Saturday 7th April is just around the corner and as promised we will take you on a musical journey to introduce you or reacquaint you with some of the acts on the line up.

For our first journey we have published an Easter Showcase MixCast # 1 on the Ironworks website that features tracks from 5 of the acts appearing.

So download and stick it on your iPod and take the dog for a walk or listen now and turn it up loud!

Featured on this Easter Showcase MixCast:

Zombie Militia

Inverness metal heads who won the 2011 Scottish Alternative Music Awards for best metal band and winner of the Bloodstock 2011 Battle of the Bands competition. A sound that has the same kind of combustible force that fueled the expansion of the universe after the big bang. Watching these guys live must be like witnessing the earth shake and spit fire.

The Frues

They like folk, rock and blues so they called themselves The Frues. The band are planning a nationwide summer tour in support of their forthcoming EP.

Ashley Mackay

As Ashley & The Cosmonauts, Ashley is currently busy in the studio recording their debut EP which would make a lovely Easter present for fans! This version of her brilliant “The Castle” was originally recorded for the Midas Highland Songwriters CD which was a release highlighting a selection of the finest emerging singer songwriters from the Highlands & Islands.

Ashley Mackay. Photo - J.Macdonald

Team Kapowski

Electro pop rap trio Team Kapowski are new to the Inverness music scene in their current form but this line up featuring former members of Theatre Fall and Fallow are sure to take Inverness by storm in 2012 with their tongue-in-cheek rap with delicious electro hooks and mighty drums.

Them & Us

Them & Us is a production project started by Mark Mackenzie and Liam Macleod. In their short time together they have already supported Annie Mac at Ironworks in Inverness and released their debut digital single, “The Bomb”. The pair are also soon to announce a record deal with a respected electro/house independent label that has in the past released material by the legendary Pete Tong.