The Bazaars to release new single

YMC chats to The Bazaars from Leeds


YMC: You formed in 2004, disbanded in 2007 and reformed in 2009 - was it easy to get everyone together again after such a long break?


Quite easy yeah, in that...we're all from the same area of Leeds and share the same friends. Actually our getting back together was entirely through Paul our new drummer getting in touch. He contacted us to see what we were up to, as his band had just split. The original Bazaars had all been discussing playing together again but we didnt have a drummer as our original one was long gone. Paul was always our No1, but we'd never gone near him out of respect for his then band. When he got in contact we had no choice but to get together and make music. He'd helped us out before on demos and we'd toured endlessly alongside his band prior to him joining so fitted perfectly.

YMC: What has everyone been working on during this absence?

Songs, music, writing, working, earning money to live and get through the week, watching the wheels.... 


YMC: Are you working with material you already had or trying new things?

We originally planned to get together and just record the songs that should have always made up our debut album, an album that for whatever reason never got recorded. The album's turned out to be a mix of original Bazaars songs and new songs too as we'd obviously kept writing whilst we were dormant. Quite a productive period actually. We approached all of the songs, old and new, with a totally fresh outlook. Everything we've done since recording the album has been new material, although there's hundreds of great songs still lying around.


YMC: What are you main influences, and who is exciting you at the moment?

As a band we all share a pretty similar musical outlook...we generally love anything and everything musically that we consider to be good, whatever the genre. I grew up on Hip Hop and West Coast American Rap, then in my teens found rock music through The Beatles and The Doors. Currently i like Tame Impala a new band from Perth, Australia - whos music i like a lot.


YMC: You are digitally releasing a double A-sided single "L'Attention/Visions", are there any plans for a physical release too?

100 bespoke CD copies will be being sold to accompany the digital release so if you live in Leeds you'll be able to get them from Crash/Jumbo. Its a first come first serve thing. We may be selling some through www.thebazaars.co.uk  too i think.


YMC: Are you planning to tour to accompany this release?

We're playing London and Leeds so far, with plenty more dates to come. We should have a big tour come through shortly. We'll keep everyone informed through our websites.

YMC: There have been a lot of changes in the music industry since 2004, do you think its getting easier or harder for bands just starting out?

Ultimately it comes down to tunes. There will always be thousands of bands out there all following the contemporary sound of the times, that will ultimately make them sound dated as time quickly passes. Bands and musicians who allow themselves to be free and follow their true spiritual influences - will succeed. By succeed I mean create great, timeless music. As far as the business side goes, these days its all about doing it for yourselves and being self sufficient and self reliant which is a good thing of course. Although it takes more money to navigate this route as the record companies have none, so there is a natural worry for the musicians, especially the really younger ones, who just dont have the funds avaliable


Find out more: 
http://www.myspace.com/thebazaars
http://www.thebazaars.co.uk 

Yorkshire Music Collective/Dead Sober Records Launch 14+ Event

When we were organizing Leeds Festival Fringe, we wanted to have an under-18 event as we'd had many applications to play from young bands and all venues on board were strictly over 18.

Can't be that difficult can it? Well it was and we weren't able to get a suitable place in time for the festival.

This is why, once the festival was over, we made it our maximum priority to find a suitable venue to host a 14+ event with a great selection of young local talent.

We have found that perfect venue in Eiger Music Studios, only a 10 minute walk from Leeds Station and we can't think of a better place to launch our record label, Dead Sober Records.

This is our amazing line-up for the launch on 13th November 2010:

Penguin (headline)
Apache
Sunday for The Suspect
Jack's Attic
White Comic
The Rogue Hearts
Poaching for Mammoths
Fake Blood Donation
Katie Richardson

We think there is a real need for events of this type in Leeds - please tell all your 14+ friends to support this event, so we can make it a success and it can become a regular thing.

Tickets will be available from the bands of from Yorkshire Music collective by the end of the week, so get in touch if you need some. Entry fee is £4.

Dead Sober Records will be specializing in under-21 bands, send us your mp3's to info@leedsfestivalfringe.org, drop a demo off at Carpe Diem or post one to Dead Sober Records, c/o Carpe Diem, Calvery Street, Leeds, LS1 3ED

M62 GODDAM RELEASE NEW ALBUM

YMC chats to M62 Goddam's Bill Hudson and Cecil Zinyuku about their new album

YMC: How long have you been working on the album?

M62 Goddam's new album Credit Crunch Blues is the culmination of 15 months in the studio at Fartown, Huddersfield. 

YMC: What's the inspiration for the album?

We wanted to scratch under the surface of the credit crunch, to put some life and gallows humour into the dry statistics of economic chaos and collapse. So it began as a concept album, a post-modern blues. The hero was not a sharecropper but a white collar worker down on his luck at the sharp end of capitalism. 

YMC: So is it a blues album?

Well from being a blues album it developed into something brighter, a silver lining in the cloud of shares diving, budget deficit and all those other horrors. We wanted a bit of kitchen sink drama spiced with earthy humour and introduced a character called Winston and his boss at a Yorkshire toilet roll factory, a redoubtable Mr Eckmun'wike, whose business is literally going down the pan, in a reggae number called Moonpig's On Heat. The album touches on tabloid obessions with aliens, in UFOs, and on the world of internet scammers and charlatans in Burkina Fastbuck, and then in Internet Lurve God. One song, Prozac Donkey, featuring rapper Dave Collins and co-written by him, was inspired by a headline, Prozac Donkey, spotted in the Daily Star of Scotland, about a forlorn ass rescued from the slaughterhouse in France. Our version is a comment on certain prescription drugs. Another track, Scouse Rap, is our tribute to the great port city of LIverpool and some of its scallies. We've run off 100 CD copies of Credit Crunch Blues, fusing soul, rap, blues, rocksteady and comedy. A follow-up is already being planned, entitled Green Shoots.

Find out more about M62 Goddam and listen to the track from their album on

http://www.myspace.com/m62goddam

Introducing...The Jones

YMC chats to The Jones from Leeds

YMC: Tell us something about the band, how did you meet, how long have you been playing together?

The band started out with the songwriting partnership of Kris and Kev about 8 years ago, they got a production deal with Will Jackson (Embrace,K Chiefs, The Music,) and from there started to learn how to write songs properly and then build a band.

From there a band was formed with Adam being brought on Will Jackson's recommendation. Then Chris and Jamie where drafted in to complete the line up. It all works the music, the vocals, the vibe it just all there, CHEMISTRY!

YMC: How would you describe your music? Who writes the songs?

Unique, Epic, Melodic, Dynamic, well written proper songs.  Kris and Kev write the majority of the songs but Adam also writes as well he wrote Killer Killer with Kris.

YMC: Who are your main influences?

Everyone in the band has different influences and thats what makes us as a band work, Kris most music loves Dylan, Kev Stone Roses, Chris Chilli Peppers, Adam Muse, Jamie likes Jazz and drummers.

YMC: What can people expect from a live show?

Now this is where we are at our best, in Kris we have a proper frontman think Ashcroft, Ian Brown no infact think Kris Jones he is a bit of a extravert, also adam is mind blowing to watch on guitar, Kev just sits back and lets it flow over him, Chris is quite energetic, and Jamie the drummer looks like he is having a fit.

YMC: Do you have any recorded material?

We have loads of stuff recorded, from being with our former management company Atomic London, and our current management Caral Management

YMC: What Yorkshire gigs do you have coming up?

We have a few gigs coming up in yorkshire check our myspace for upcoming shows.

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/thejonesofficial

Hound Dog Promotions chats about Acoustic Fringe

YMC chats to John McCabe from Hound Dog Promotions about the recent acoustic fringe

YMC: 7 nights of acoustic music, do you think there has been such an event before?

Not that I can recall in Leeds, and certainly not in the same way as Leeds Festival Fringe was

YMC: Do you think this first acoustic fringe has been successful?

I was completely blown away by the response from music fans, musicians and venues and of course the press. Everyone who supported the Fringe did so in such a huge way that I never expected, The turn out on the first night of Hound Dog Promotions was just phenomenal as it was on most other nights and from what I heard form other promoters that were involved it was the same there too, so yes I would say it has been a huge sucsess in a way which if I'm honest I never expected it to be.

YMC: What were the highlights for you?

Highlights. OOO thats a tough one because every night at The New Conservotry was in its own way special and all the acts who played were just fantastic. I think one of the things that stuck in my mind the most was "The Collective" a band consisting of Chris Sharp Sebastian John and Bernadette Dales who who all played solo sets during the Fringe and to see three such talented musicians playing together was just incredible.

The acoustic blues night that Houd Dog Promotions ran on the Sunday night of the fringe was one of the other highlights for me. Even though the turn out of crowd wasn't huge the musicians were just incredible, Chris Martin, Dac Charnley and Phillip Cockerham were playing, Gerry Cooper was also billed but unfortuantly due to personal circumstances was unable to play. But the musicans were just incredible, Chris Martin's tall tales never fail to amuse and his brand of sliding, finger picking blues never fails to captivate and Dac's own brand of blues was just made even more special when we saw a collaboration between Chris and Dac and then Phillip Cockerham offering a nice alternative on the blues. I'm sure the audience that were there will agree it made for just such a relaxing and lovely evening of acoustic blues sessions.

YMC: Do you think this is a good idea for the next Leeds Festival Fringe too?

I dont think there is a choice haha. From the very first night of Hound Dog Promotions nights and if I recall correctly during the very first act of the first night I was already being asked questions and having details requested about next years Fringe! So i think that is pretty much deicded for us.

YMC: Are you organizing any other events in the near future?

There is talk of possibly some night comming up with Houd Dog Promotions working in association with maybe one or two other promoters at a venue which I am not sure I can mention the name of but can say the latin meaning of the venues name is Seize the day and the venue may possibly be found around the Millenium Square area and hopefuly these nights will be early October.

YMC: How can people contact you if they are interested in playing for Hound Dog
Promotions in the future?

You can follow us on twitter: hounddogpromo or you can email hound dog promotions at hounddogpromo@yahoo.co.uk

All dates of gigs that Hound Dog Promotions or associated promoters put on will be posted on our Twitter page and emailed out to anyone who signs up to our mailing list, you can sign up to our mailing list by emialing the same email address saying that you would like to bve put on the mailing list. If you are wanting Hound Dog Promotions to consider putting you on their database please email me with a sample of your music, website, stage name and short description of your act.


I would just like to say a massive thank you to Fred, Matt, Nick and everone at The New Conservatory, anyone and everyone who came down to support the first ever Leeds Festival Fringe and of course the musicians, who were absolutly phenomenal, without all of these people the Fringe would not of been possible.
 

Introducing...Road To Horizon

YMC chats to Danny, Sie, Daz,and Mark from Wakefield's Road to Horizon

YMC: How would you describe your music? Who writes the songs?

Danny: We find this question pretty hard to answer to be honest lol, and we get asked it a lot, I think the reason people ask it is people find it hard to pigeon hole our music to a specific genre. We have some older songs that are really pop punk and our newer stuff is more what we call Alternative Rock with a heavy edge so we have a good mix.

Sie: I think thats just us finding our own sound as a band and also due to the line up change in January and just natural progression as a band.

Daz: We tend to write songs as a band not too much individually, we find we write better doing it this way as we can all have an input right from the begining.

Mark: People say we remind them of Young Guns which is awesome as far as were concerend cause there bands we love. Were not trying to be like them or write simalar music, we just write whatever comes natural.

Daz: Its a bit wierd somtimes, well be jammin and the next thing you know there's a new song pretty much writen in minutes. Its just a case of working out a structure for the song then Dan working his magic on the lyrics. Im not moaning tho weve spent days working on songs before which can get a little.......lets say annoying! 

YMC: Who are your main influences?

Danny: Not to sound too cheesy but life, a lot of shit happens and also a lot of good, so when I'm writing lyrics I try to use things that have affected me, it helps makes the songs more personal. Musically I LOVE Rise Against so there a massive influence on me too.

Martin (manager): Cough! Cough! poof Cough! lol

Daz: Blink 182, who isnt influenced by them in someway or form?

Mark:  Alcohol, Alcohol and erm.......Sorry What was the question!

Sie: I love listening to up and coming bands like Young Guns and Yashin, being a drummer obviously Travis Barker and.....Erm.....Phil Collins, Maybe not so much Phil Collins actually!

YMC: What venues do you like playing?

Sie: Everywhere, I love playing live. Its cool when we play the bigger venues with bigger band in front of a big crowds.

Mark: I like playing Bradford Gasworks its got a pretty good music scene so the crowds get a little crazy!

Daz: Leeds Cockpits always good to play.

Danny: Yeah I love playing Cockpit.

YMC: What can people expect from a live show?

Mark: Energy for sure, were very rarely stood in the same place for more than about three seconds lol.

Daz: Yeah we just like to have fun on stage and get the crowd involved as much as possible.

Sie: Probably a few penis jokes!

Daz: lol You cant beat a good penis joke to get the crowed involved.

Danny: We have something for everyone, So if you're not into the heavier side of our music we have some nice softer songs and some songs ya can have a little dance to!

Sie: People should definatly come check us out.

YMC: Do you have any recording plans?

Danny: Yeah were actually in the middle of recording our debut E.P now and are hoping to release it at the end of the year, We're two tracks in, weve only just finished the second and put it up on our player today so go have a listen if your reading this!...........Then you should probibly come back and finish reading this

interview! :  )

Sie: DO IT!

Mark: What!

Daz: You guys are wierd!

YMC: You recently played the Leeds Festival Fringe, do you think this sort of thing is good for the city?

Danny: Yeah definately, Thanks by the way for letting us play the first ever Leeds Festival Fringe! We had a blast. We know you were one of the promoters for the festival.

Daz: Its something Reading have been doing for a few years I believe so to be able to bring it to Leeds is awesome.

Sie: Yeah i think its a great idea and is good for the city, It may bring people to Leeds that have never been here to check out the awesome music scene we have.

Mark: Ditto!.....Im gunna throw it out there!......Can we play next year?

Find out more on www.myspace.com/roadtohorizon

My Forever Playing Leeds/Reading Festival - Interview

YMC chats to Dave from My Forever about been chosen to play Leeds and Reading Festivals this year.

YMC: You met at a party last summer, did you imagine then you might be playing Leeds/Reading Festival?

Dave: Not at the time no way haha! Me and Roy always had an aim and goal to play Leeds & Reading festival and that goal was for next year (2011) so when we got told we were playing at this year's festival we were blown away and so happy! We feel so lucky to be given this opportunity so early on in the life of our band.

YMC: Tell us when you were notified that you were playing the introducing stage, how did you react?

Dave: I was at home recording demo's for some 'new' My Forever material and Roy was in Scarborough at his graduation and I just randomly checked the 'My Forever' email account and the first one that popped up was the email asking us to play at Leeds & Reading and at first I couldn't quite believe it, I had to rub my eyes a few times haha! I was so excited I immediately rang Roy who was in the middle of is graduation ceremony and he whispered down the phone "whats up dave, im in the middle of graduation"... and i told him the good news and he immediately shouted at the top of his voice "YESSS, woohoooo" and all his friends apparently turned and looked at him and when he told everyone they all erupted in a big cheer for him. So it was a really nice moment for both of us! Me on the phone shouting "woohoooo" to him and then him and his friends at his graduation shouting "woohooo" back down the phone. It was a moment to remember!

YMC: Are you nervous about playing to a large audience?

Dave: I think its only natural that we will all have nerve's before the performance as it will be our biggest gig to date and also probably only our 3rd show as a 'Full band' because up until this point me and Roy have been gigging as an acoustic duo. So there's a lot of pressure but most of all we just can't wait to play for everyone, we are so excited and we're going to love every second of it.

YMC: Will you be adding extra members for the live set?

Dave: As hinted above we have recruited other musicians to back us live who are now part of the band. We have 'Glen Mancrief' on Bass, James Potter on Keys, and Ben Watson on drums. They are all great musicians and everythings sounding great in rehearsals. We were very lucky to find these guys so quickly and a bonus is we all get along amazingly well, so we are all happy. 

YMC: You have recently released your debut EP, where is it available?

Dave: Our EP featuring 7 tracks is called "Silhouettes & Paper Birds" and is available to download on iTunes (worldwide) and Amazon. You can here a preview of the EP on our website www.myforeverofficial.com

YMC: What are you plans for after the festival?

Dave: Our plans for after Leeds & Reading is to be gigging, gigging and more gigging. We have a show already planned on the 12th September at the "Acoustic Gathering" festival in Scarborough which will be a great event and we are currently planning other gigs around the UK for the rest of the year which will all be announced on our website and other networking sites very soon. We also will be working on new material this Autumn which again we are very excited about.

YMC: Who are you looking forward to seeing at this years festival?

Dave: Personally I'm very excited about seeing a band called "Kids In Glass Houses" who I first saw a few years ago when they supported the Goo Goo Dolls in Manchester and I'm also looking forward to seeing Blink 182 (as I think everyone of my age wants to see these guys at least once). I know Roy is looking forward to (or should I say hoping to meet) Marina (from Marina & the Diamonds).

Find our more:

Website: www.myforeverofficial.com

EP download from iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/silhouettes-paper
-birds/id378082170

www.myspace.com/myforeverofficial