Hi Gigantic Gang,
It’s been a sad week for independent music following the announcement of the permanent closure of some crack venues, including Gorilla and The Deaf Institute at Manchester plus The Welly and The Polar Bear in Hull.
Independent venues are the well that brings life to local areas, creating a focal point for communities and giving new starters their first chance to perform on a stage in front of a live audience. Each closure means a loss of jobs, fewer opportunities for musicians and we are all worse off without them.
Gigantic supports the efforts of the Music Venue Trust and Independent Venue Week. Please head to their sites, give their socials a LIKE\FOLLOW and check in on your local gig venues online to see how you can help keep doors open.
And keep scrolling to see the latest releases with our #NewMusicFriday blog and playlist, check out the hot new tunes you need to know and grab tickets to enjoy gigs in the future.
Take it easy Gigantic gang, and stay hydrated xx
SINGLES
THE CORONAS – ‘Light Me Up’
It’s been a little while since we’ve Irish indie rockers The Coronas – fortunately for their fans they’re back with brand new single ‘Light Me Up’ – and it’s a cracker! Loaded with emotional depth with a truly anthemic feel, it’s yet another classic song from the Dubliners already famed for their multi-platinum sales.
The release of ‘Light Me Up’ follows the unexpected departure of guitarists Dave McPhillips from the band. Following the initial shock, the band once again concentrated on the future of The Coronas who have now completed their next LP ‘True Love Waits’ – following on from their awesome album ‘Trust The Wire’ which topped the charts at No.1 in their homeland.
“In retrospect, the shock of Dave leaving the band helped us get a clearer picture of what we wanted the album to be. When we accepted that we weren’t going to be the same band without him, it was easier to let the songs lead us in ways we wouldn’t have thought of before” – Danny O’Reilly
The Coronas will be showcasing their new material plus playing your favourite hits at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire last this year!
The Coronas tickets are currently available.
EP
BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD – ‘The Non-Stop’
We love glam rock revivalists Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard so much, we made them our Artist Of The Week. Having exploded onto the scene last year, they are well pleasing the already firmly committed fanbase with the release of new EP ‘The Non-Stop’.
Centred around brothers Tom and Eddie Rees, the pairs penchant for big 70’s grooves oozes through the ten-track love letter to a forgotten era which is so damn bombastic it demands to be played at maximum volume RIGHT NOW!
We defy you not to shake your hips to huge bankers like ‘Double Denim Drop’, ‘Stockholm City Rock’ and ‘Hollywood Actors’. And by the time you’ve finished listening to ‘John Lennon Is My Jesus Christ’, you’ll be scouring the online stores for flairs and platform shoes for sure!
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard tickets are currently available.
ALBUMS
JARV IS… – ‘Beyond The Pale’
With no signs of indie icons Pulp returning anytime soon, national treasure Jarvis Cocker has decided to form new band JARV IS… (get it?) to explore his love of the disco floor with new experimental LP ‘Beyond The Pale’ which effortlessly skips from electronica to lounge via psyche, ticking off funk, house and sophisti pop along the way just for good measure.
Packed full of all the usual Cocker observational wit, ‘Beyond The Pale’ is a joy to listen to as the lanky anti-star offsets the grandiosity of the music with his typical kitchen sink drama lyrics which somehow strikes a deeper chord whilst we’re all stuck in lockdown.
‘Beyond The Pale’ is out now on CD, Vinyl and a money saving Bundle of both!
Don’t miss your chance to see Cocker and his new gang play O2 Institute Birmingham and The Marble Factory in Bristol during November – tickets on sale with Gigantic right now!
JARV IS… tickets are currently available.
ESSENTIAL BUYS
SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR – ‘Song From The Kitchen Disco’
The queen of cool is back! Having been streaming sets from home, Sophie Ellis-Bextor announces her next album will be titled ‘Song From The Kitchen Disco’. Pre-order the Signed CD, Signed Pink Vinyl or a Bundle of both!
COLDPLAY – ‘Parachutes’ 20th Anniversary
Is ‘Parachutes’ really that old? Revisit the seminal debut Coldplay album on its 20th Anniversary and fall in love with Chris Martin and co. once again. Pre-order on Yellow Vinyl!
BRYAN FERRY – ‘Live At The Royal Albert Hall 1974’
1974 was a key year for Bryan Ferry. Not only did he release his incredible Top 10 solo album ‘Another Time, Another Place’ but also Roxy Music changed everything with their classic LP ‘Country Life’. Riding high, Ferry took over one of the UK’s most spectacular as captured on BRYAN FERRY – ‘Live At The Royal Albert Hall 1974’. Get your hands on this gorgeous Boxed Set including a replica tour program & ticket, postcards and a signed photo art print - now on sale!