It's All Happening

The New York Dolls - Dancing Backward in High Heels

2011-02-22T03:20:00.000-08:00

BLAST RECORDS are proud to announce the signing of the legendary NEW YORK DOLLS and the release of their fifth full-length album, "Dancing Backward in High Heels", full European release on Friday March 18th 2011.
The follow-up to 2009's "Cause I Sez So" was recorded in September 2010 at Blast Recording Studios in Newcastle, England with producer Jason Hill (LOUIS XIV/THE KILLERS) and features original NYD members, David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (Guitar) together with Brian Delaney (Drums), Jason Hill (Bass) and original Blondie guitarist Frank Infante.

The CD will be packaged with a bonus DVD filmed during the recording of the album, incorporating previous unseen footage and “live” audio tracks from the bands three “sold out” performances at The Cluny venue in Newcastle, on September 4, 5 and 6th 2010.

Sylvain Sylvain stated about the new recording - “I think this is the most creative record that the New York Dolls, and me and David in particular, have ever done. We’ve worked with a lot of great people and I’m not putting anybody down and I’m not trying to compare it with earlier versions of The Dolls but as far as song-writing goes I think that these are the best songs that we have ever come up with”.

NEW YORK DOLLS originally formed in 1971, the New York Dolls are best known for influencing a generation of artists in New York and London who went on to form the first punk rock and heavy metal bands. Largely influenced themselves by the rock and roll of the Rolling Stones and the Stooges as well as the glam rock made by David Bowie and T. Rex, the legendary original Dolls line-up only recorded two ground-breaking, seminal albums, New York Dolls and Too Much Too Soon, before disbanding in 1976.
After reuniting in 2004 (at the behest of Morrissey, the head of the band’s UK fan club in the 1970s), the band went on to record a pair of critically acclaimed records—2006’s One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This and 2009’s ‘Cause I Sez So.

NEW YORK DOLLS
"Dancing Backward in High Heels"
CD track listing:

01. Streetcake
02. Talk To Me Baby
03. Fabulous Rant
04. I’m So Fabulous
05. Fool For You Baby
06. Kids Like You
07. Round And Round She Goes
08. You Don’t Have To Cry
09. I Sold My Heart To The Junkman
10. Baby Tell Me What You’re On
11. Funky But Chic
12. End Of The Summer

www.nydolls.org
www.facebook.com/nydolls
www.myspace.com/newyorkdolls

Bodi Bill – What?

2011-02-14T00:52:00.000-08:00

An ode to trial-and-error, to DIY and to friendship. An obelisk made of stones, garbage bags and bits and trinkets found along the way. "What?" is the third album from Bodi Bill.

- What? -
The band we hold our breath for restarts the conversation and offers a change in perspective. What happens to things that get activated? A stone may become an instrument, a sound becomes a song. Bodi Bill answer this question with ten markedly distinct pieces sharing an undogmatic will to encourage and foster new methods and approaches. The band starts a joyful and open-ended journey, full of enthusiasm and curiosity and an irresistible urge to take hold of everything they come across on the way. Shaking, knocking together and turning things upside down to glimpse at what is underneath.

- Friends - Where are you from?
With their first two albums, "No More Wars" and "Next Time", as well as the international compilation "Two In One", Bodi Bill have made themselves indispensable. Out of the blue and without much clamor, they grew into the hearts of their listeners, making them burst, again and again. Straight from their circle of friends in their home town Berlin, they impulsively slogged it out throughout Europe, piece by piece, heart by heart. Listening to Bodi Bill means discovering them on your own, keeping them forever and sharing them: with all the others in all those crowded clubs and most of all with the band themselves.

- The Net - Strengths needing direction
Bodi Bill are a band that works within contexts, that has established its own channels of expression. A modern musical eclecticism, their art school background and a fertile home soil are the basis of that luxurious position to control every aspect of their output. This is about ideas and creative processes as a form of communication, not isolation. It's about mindfulness, exchange and interaction. In short: it's about the very intact myth of mutual growth and friendship at the same time. What often remains a mere experiment has already become reality for Bodi Bill. Accordingly, "What?" pulls it all off with great self-confidence: the balancing act between different scenes, charm, openness, being fresh, uncompromising and relevant. The music confronts you in a civilized way, as disturbing as stimulative, constantly changing form and function. It offers its services, but still it rather poses new questions than giving answers. And most of all: it's beautiful.

What? It's a cheerful What?, come on and shout it out, loud!

Tracklisting:
01. Paper
02. Brand New Carpet
03. Pyramiding
04. What
05. Garden Dress
06. The Net
07. And Patience
08. Hotel
09. Sea Foam
10. Friends

The Blue Van - Love Shot

2011-02-08T02:10:00.000-08:00

Since 2004 The Blue Van has been touring most parts of the world. In between touring – counting not only 300+ shows in US - but also numerous concerts in Europe and Japan, they've had time to put out 3 critically acclaimed albums. The full throttle mod’ster album "The Art Of Rolling" (2005) the more organic west coast manifesto "Dear Independence" (2007) and the symphonic guitar-rock piece “Man Up” (2008).

The Blue Van, whose name was chosen from the vehicle which transports patients to mental institutions in Denmark, have been playing together since the age of 12. The four members of the band raised in the Northern region of Denmark come from modest backgrounds as sons of carpenters, truck drivers and farmers, yet have quickly garnered international attention with rave reviews for their live shows and recordings in Rolling Stone magazine. Notable live performances have included extensive tour dates with Australian rockers, Jet as well as opening dates for Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Keane, Razorlight, Hot Hot Heat, and The Pretenders.

After more than 15 sync placements (mainly with songs taken from the previous album “Man Up”) including a worldwide Apple Ipad Ad debuted at the 82nd Academy Awards, the theme title for the hit TV series “Royal Pains”, for which they received a BMI Award for most played song on US TV composed by Europeans, plus placements in shows such as NCIS, 90210, CSI, Scrubs, Private Practice and also the MLB video game just to name a few.. The Blue Van is gearing up to unleash their 4th studio album entitled “Love Shot”.

The first single from the album “Love Shot” is already an absolute airplay hit in their home country; not only was "Love Shot" Single-of-the-Week on the national Danish mainstream radio DR P3, it also remained a full 3 months at high rotation at P3 and was a Top 10 airplay chart success.

Over the last 2 years, the band has spent their time touring Europe and writing an overload of solid song material while supporting the current release “Man Up". More than 30 compositions were boiled down to the 13 tracks. They recorded the album at Feedback Studios in Aarhus, Denmark and behind the wheel where of course the bands faithful producers Mark Wills and Dan Hougesen who also produced the previous album.

The previous album "Man Up" was an important step for us to break free of frames and boxes that reviewers have always loved to put us in. Now we are walking the plank". says Soren Christensen, the bands Keys player and guitarist. 60's style retro rock is not what the band is anymore. In fact, they have been moving way from the style since the bands first release. Like everyone, tastes change.

Let there be no doubt that the boys in The Blue Van know their music history to the tips of their fingers. It is exactly this deep respect for the traditions of classic rock combined with a boundary seeking and almost provokingly modern rock production that gives the band its unique sound. "Love Shot" is the final fight against the taboo and dogma rules from the garage- and retro scene and could have a few music snobs falling out of their seats. That is also the aim.

Connoisseurs and genre-purist are shown no mercy when the band take on heavy pop-hits as "Love Shot", Fame & Glory” and "Run To The Sun" and power ballads like "Woman Of The Wrong Kind", or when then they show some muscle with "Loser Takes It All", "Hole In The Ground" and the proggy "You Live You Learn, You Die". What combines all these inspired detours, twists and turns is that the song writing is always rock solid and musicality is at an all time high.
"Rock'n'roll is indeed also about taking chances and having courage to walk new roads. In a time where quirky indie rock and dusty lo'fi productions have become main stream it is once again time to turn it all around and throw a wrench in the wheel with well crafted hooks and big choruses"

"Love Shot" is the sound of a band in their international peak fitness condition.

The Blue Van is:
Steffen Westmark: Lead Vocal & Guitar
Søren O. Christensen: Guitar, Keyboards & Backing Vocal
Allan F. Villadsen: Bass
Per M. Jørgensen: Drums, Percussion & Backing Vocal

Happening Holidays!

2010-12-17T03:08:00.001-08:00

2010 has been a very successful year for It's All Happening. A big thank you goes out to all the artists who chose to work with us this year:

Are You Experienced?
Backyard Babies
Bedroom Monkees
Bloom
Buggirl
Florence + The Machine
(hed)P.E.
John Carrie and Moor Green
Letz Zep
Mazgani
Mike Posner
Natubella
PAUL Lamb
Plan B
Rita Redshoes
Sean Riley & The Slowriders
The Dukes
The Gathering
Think Floyd
Too Tangled
Underground Fly
Waines

After a well deserved holiday break It's All Happening will be back in January 2011. We look forward to start working on some very cool new projects.

Happy and warm holidays and an inspiring 2011!

Rita Redshoes In De Kringloop session

2010-11-25T07:42:00.001-08:00

www.indekringloop.nl

The Dukes – Resilient Lovers EP

2010-11-03T06:45:00.000-07:00

The Dukes make sweet songs with unsweet sounds.

The Dukes were born early 2010.

The Dukes don't dress casually. Casual sucks.

The Dukes are : Shanka (guitar/vocals), Greg Jacks (drums), Gaspard Murphy (guitar/vocals) and Stephen Galtera (bass/vocals).

The Dukes don't belong to any nation.

The Dukes are cocky and they love animals. That's the reason why their emblem is a big cock.

The Dukes are loud but friendly.

The Dukes are quick. They composed their first album in one month. That doesn't mean they're reckless.

The Dukes are brave, hence recording in Sweden during winter 2010 with Magnus Lindberg at the Tonteknik studios (Refused, Poison the Well...). Then Charles de Schutter made the album sound loud and fat, with extra-cheese.

The Dukes are influenced by many great bands, poets and artists like The MC5, The Dandy Warhols, The White Stripes, Black Sabbath, Weezer, Queens of the Stone Age, Elliott Murphy, William Blake, The Velvet Underground, Pink Floyd, The Dead Weather, Leonard Cohen, Nirvana, Patti Smith, The Subways, The Stooges, Barkmarket, Fugazi, The Rolling Stones, John Spencer, NIN, NoMeansNo, Cult of Luna, The Smashing Pumpkins...

The Dukes are a true rock'n'roll live band. Anything can happen.

The Dukes like to do raw, rough and raspy verses for the male audience.

However, The Dukes like sweet, airy choruses for the ladies.

And vice versa of course.

You can dance with The Dukes.

The Dukes are in. Are you?

http://itunes.apple.com/nl/album/resilient-lovers-ep/id398338838

http://www.thedukesmusic.com/

Think Floyd plays Pink Ribbon charity event in Arnhem

2010-10-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

The JANET MILLER Borstkanker Stichting is organising a one off, “THINK PINK” concert at LUXORLIVE at the LUXOR in Arnhem on 31 October ( Pink Ribbon month)2010.

The evening will have the theme, THINK PINK-THINK FLOYD and will feature The UK’s top PINK FLOYD tribute band, THINK FLOYD! (Recently played the “MELKWEG” in Amsterdam)

Also supporting our “THINK PINK” concert will be, IAIN MATTHEWS (of “Woodstock” Fame)and EGBERT DERIX, pianist extraordinaire! Both artists will be remembered from our two wonderful concerts in Oosterbeek and Kasteel Doorwerth last year and “PHOENIX PARK” a young progressive rock band from Arnhem led by my grandson, Zac Chapman.

We are hoping again to raise money to help small local projects that have difficulty in receiving funding for their good work in supporting the fight against Breast Cancer and also to again raise awareness through our FUNd - Raising activities.

We started the Stichting two years ago by organising first a party and then a three day, “THINK PINK” festival and as a result we were able to immediately donate, three thousand euro’s to the Mammacare team at the Rijnstate. Since then we have organised two parties and two concerts and also through kind donations are able soon to make further donations, hopefully boosted by a very successful concert!

Above are the Luxorlive link site and online ticket links to our concert. Tickets can also be purchased through the ticket line system throughout the Netherlands.

We hope you will come and support our Concert which we are sure will be a truly, not to be missed, memorable and unique event!

BUGGIRL - DIRT IN THE SKIRT

2010-08-18T05:41:00.000-07:00

Grease up ya gears! BugGiRLs new album 'Dirt In The Skirt' is gonna have ya spinnin' outta control and sliding right into home...if ya like it deep fried, open wide, oh baby you can hitch a ride!

It ain't no secret. Everyone's gettin' their BugGiRL Rock Action by the mother load. Show after show, load after load, from punks to glam-rockers, hicks to metal-heads, BugGiRL are inviting everyone to party...and its going down a treat. The power-duo, of siblings Amber and Clinno, are amassing hugely diverse crowds not seen since the likes of Motorhead.

'Dirt In The Skirt' celebrates that ever-growing party. With tracks like "Hungry As Hell", "Faster & Faster", "Spread That Eagle" and "Fat n' Greasy", this is whisky soaked Rock n Roll that'll guarantee to get the head shaking and the bed breaking. Amber and Clinno weave guitars, vocals and drums that drive and groove, like good rock should.

In June 2009, BugGiRL bled their vintage pub-rock sound all over the walls of Weed, CA's notorious theatre, Radiostar Studios. With legendary producer Sylvia Massy (The Black Crowes, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slayer, and Tool), 12 tracks were cut that are a feast of outback blues and outlaw attitude.

"BugGiRLs songs are NASTY! ... DAMN!!" (Sylvia Massy – Grammy Award Winning Producer).

Emerging from old school Rock ethics and sheer guts and determination, BugGiRL have covered a distance of over 186,000 miles since 2007, playing over 280 shows to over 200,000 fans in every corner of the globe...and they're having a fuckin great time doin’ it too!

Between outback tours in the Australian summers of 2008 to 2010, “the buggers” continued burning up the international highways. Throughout their travels they have played California's Ink N' Iron Festival, Berlin's Wacken PopKomm Showcase, and have toured alongside The Damned, The Germs, The Bones, Valient Thorr, Mad Sin, The Bronx, Stiff Little Fingers, X, Danko Jones, Brant Bjork, Nick Oliveri, Doro, Girlschool, Texas Terri Bomb, OTEP & Peter Pan Speedrock.

UK giants of media love BugGiRL. Impressed by the band’s no bullshit attitude towards rock, blazing guitars tones & fun rockin’ party vibe, long time fan Malcolm Dome invited BugGiRL for a special guest appearance on Total Rock Radio London. Legendary UK Rock magazine, Classic Rock featured BugGiRL on the Cover mount CD alongside The Datsuns, Airbourne, Stone Gods, The Donnas, and Rose Tattoo.

BugGiRLs catalogue of releases, considering the bands short-history is impressive. Releases include 2007's "Rock n' Roll Hell" and 2009's "Blood, Sweat & Beers" and have basked in glowing reviews from the UK and Europe to the USA to Australia.

So get amongst BugGiRLs 'Dirt In The Skirt'. You're gonna be sore ... but satisfied.

Sean Riley & The Slowriders - Only Time Will Tell

2010-06-11T01:16:00.000-07:00

Sean Riley named his debut album Farewell. An auspicious beginning that revealed to perfection the intentions of a group of friends that gathered to make music and enjoy themselves. But the simplicity and hedonism that formed the basis of "Farewell" were betrayed by a set of 11 wonderfully beautiful songs that projected Sean Riley & the Slowriders onto the main stages of Portugal, authors of on the best debuts in the history of Portuguese recorded music. The media attention raised the stakes for the follow-up album, "Only Time Will Tell".

The road ahead was defined, and pointed to the broadning horizons. The will of the band, to grow, was affirmed during the pre-production phase and they recruited another multi-instrumentalist into their fold, Filipe Rocha (The Allstar Project, ex-Phase) - childhood friend to Sean Riley, and by coincidence the singer in their first band.

After deciding not to record on American soil with Kim Fowley, the band returned to Portugal's Valentim de Carvalho studios with Nelson Carvalho at the helm (he had already produced two tracks on the debut album: Lights out and Moving on). He balanced out the band's bohemian approach with recording techniques able to achieve the musical ambition at hand.

Only Time Will Tell presents a collection of 12 new songs by Sean Riley, selected from the inumerable song ideas presented to the Slowriders during pre-production. "Lord have mercy", "Yellowstone" and "Walking you home" were some of the new tracks played live during the extensive touring of the first album, which included an appearance at the reknowned Paredes de Coura festival as well as dates in the UK and Spain.

The first single, Houses & Wives, features Sean Riley on the piano and Filipe Costa on guitar. The "Farewell" album is already a classic - will this second Sean Riley album surpass the distinction of the first?

... Only Time Will Tell.

Waines - Stu

2010-06-11T01:14:00.000-07:00

Waines: an expression deriving from the long nights of Palermo, when the most simple and unsuspicious things like minipizzas and wet paving stones of the old town rise up in the air and get human outlines.
Modern stuff with deep roots: Slideguitars from the Mississippi-Delta to Bob Log III and Jon Spencer, good old rock like Led Zeppelin, the Sweet and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Already cult in their native Italy, Waines played various shows around Germany and Europe as well. In Italy they had a major buzz with their first video „Let me be“, which is followed by the recent video „Wooooo“.

“Psycho-Blues that will probably become cult!”
Access! All Areas (D)

“STU should raise the heartbeat of every grounded Bluesfan. Eleven varied, roots bounded Songs are on it, also a pretty funky cover of Soulwax’ “NY Excuse””
Visions (D), May 2009

"Buy the Waines, Listen to the Waines, spread the word of the Waines. Recognize that in Italy there are people that know how to rock. And they can. Monumental!"
Rockerilla (I)

“. Hybrid dynamite between Jon Spencer, Rolling Stones, Black Keys, White Stripes, Beck, AC/DC and Led Zeppelin”
Il Mucchio (Italy)

“Great seventies guitars, a convincing and particular voice, the talent to fish the best out of the past without becoming nostalgic and calligraphic: The Waines need attention!”
Rocksound (Italy)

“The Waines are back – in great way. After only an EP “A controversial Earl Playing” – that showed us a energic rock’n roll band, here’s finally the album. With “STU” they go heavy, and with the bullets in the revolver."
Rockit (Italy)

“… a true hidden hint… Their massively, every trend passing produced debut “Stu” has the flair of smokey backyard bars and classic Bluerock of bands like Canned Heat, with a modern sound… with the Soulwax-Cover “NY Excuse” the Waines conquer hearts”
Album of the week – Westfälische Rundschau (D)

“Waines sound dirty, reactionary and cool. Their Blues comes from deep within and is worth it to be checked out with calm.
Constantin Aravanlis, Teleschau.de / www.yahoo.de A

Lineup:
FABIO RIZZO: Vox / Gtr
ROBERTO CAMMARATA: Gtr / Backing Vox
FERDINANDO PICCOLI: Drums

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered between june and october 2008 by Daniele Grasso at The Cave Studio, Catania.

Tracklisting:
1. Flow River Flow
2. Wooooo
3. Let Me Be
4. Have You Heard The News?
5. Server
6. Again
7. Ready To Taxi
8. I'm Northbound, Babe
9. NY Excuse (soulwax cover)
10. Red Cross Store
11. Stu

Amanda Jenssen - Happyland

2010-06-03T01:23:00.000-07:00

Backyard Babies - Them XX press quotes

2010-05-27T04:55:00.000-07:00

“A bulky book with 3 CD’s and a DVD. If there’s one band that deserves this kind of release it has to be Backyard Babies. From the tattoos to the outfits; this is the ultimate rock band. ‘Them XX’ is loaded with beautiful pictures of the band in their natural habitat: onstage, backstage, in the studio or tour bus, cigarettes and whisky always within arms reach. These images come to live in the documentary on the dvd. They underline the fact that Backyard Babies is one of the most exciting rock-’n-roll bands of the past decennia. (…) This release is the best thinkable celebration of their 20 years together as a band. “ [Aardschok]

“You have to admit; Hardcore Superstar, The Hellacopters and Backyard Babies are the best Sweden has to offer since ABBA. Awesome musicians, lots of tattoos, brilliant choruses and lots of melody. (…) If you have a large piggy bank: buy the limited edition box set. If not, buy the best of compilation; 12 Backyard Babies songs: it won’t get better than that. [Rocktribune]

“This overview offers more than 2 decennia Backyard Babies. It’s also a solid reminder of the heyday of Scandinavian rock. [OOR]

“Good overview and fantastic album.”.[LiveXS]

“Excellent blueprint of the oeuvre of one of the best Scandinavian rawk ’n roll bands ever.”. [Lords of Metal]

“This album is an example of an excellent compilation cd. (…). Hopefully Backyard Babies will be around a little longer and finally get a break in the Netherlands. In my opinion they would be a good addition to the line up of Dutch festivals like Lowlands and Speedfest. [Rockportaal]

“While listening to this album you get the urge to jump around and shout along very loudly. “Them XX” is a collection of our all time favourites of the Swedes.” [Tempelores]

“It’s a shame that the band never go the recognition they deserve in our country. The band earns much respect for playing in the same line up for 20 years.” [Zware Metalen]

“This is an excellent trip down memory lane and a good introduction for people who are not yet familiar with this Swedish band.” [Festivalinfo]

Watch unique Florence and the Machine live footage

2010-05-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

Fury TV! Interview (HED) P.E

2010-04-13T08:01:00.001-07:00

RITA REDSHOES – GOLDEN ERA

2010-03-25T07:07:00.000-07:00

Rita Redshoes surprised the world with her amazing talent last year, when she released, through her Myspace website, a song called "Dream on Girl". Magical and daring at the same time, her voice became part of our daily play list, making this one of the most successful Portuguese songs of the year 2007.

Like many teenagers, she began her musical path in a garage band at age of 15, a band called Atomic Bees who actually recorded an album "love.noises.and.kisses", and toured the country – and were the opening act of The Cranberries concert in Lisbon. Already back then she was one of the audience's favourite voices.

All the success gained with "Dream on Girl", made her one of the artists chosen to be part of a new comers album (Novos Talentos – FNAC 2007") and quickly became it's single. The song, which started immediately to play on the radios, was named song of the year by one of the Portuguese radios, and the media recognized her amazing talent. The video was a huge success, showing the world her "rebirth", Redshoes's gaining life to music again. It became one of the most watched videos on Portuguese web platform Sapo and all this success made her the chosen artist to officially open the Portuguese MySpace.

In 2003, she's invited to play with David Fonseca, one of the portuguese most talented singer-songwriters, and shared with him the song "Hold Still", the third single of "Our Hearts Will Beat As One", his second solo album. Since then she has been touring with him, and has also participated on the recordings of his last successful album "Dreams in Colour". Rita Redshoes started performing live as David Fonseca's opening act during the presentation tour: "Dreams in Colour Live".

"Golden Era", her debut album, was released in March 2008, and went directly to the top 10 of the Portuguese charts on the first week of it’s release, and remained for several weeks, becoming one of the most successful newcomer album ever. "Hey Tom", one of it's gems, was the chosen single. The presentation concert was in one of the most prestigious clubs in Lisbon – MusicBox – the crowd was so eager to see her, that the queue surrounded the building!

A sight that became familiar, since almost every concert has sold out venues. On "Golden Era" Rita Redshoes has made herself all the composition, the piano, synths and some of the guitars. The production was co-worked between her and Nelson Carvalho. In April, it was time for "The Beginning Song", whose video was inspired on the 50's and 60's country music television shows, like Grand Ole Opry, revealing some of Redshoe's musical influences, it instantly became a MTV's favourite. This song is still one of the most played on the Portuguese radios. Meanwhile, since "Golden Era's" release, Miss Redshoes has done more than 40 gigs and has played also in several festivals, sharing the stage with international artists such as The Chemichal Brothers, Goldfrapp or Tindersticks. She was also Shout Out Louds opening act in their concert in Lisbon.

Rita Redshoes was nominated for the MTV European Music Awards for Best Portuguese Act and won the "Best Newcomer" award from the Portuguese radio "Radio Clube Português". Internationally, the nomination for the Spanish POP-EYE de la Música 2009 award showed how global her music can be, shown also by her presence at the EuroSonic Noorderslag in Groningen – Netherlands and at the prestigious SXSW – South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, in March 2009. Her song, "Choose Love" was chosen to be the soundtrack of a new Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign called: "Fashion Targets Breast Cancer". Last November she was chosen by the British band Keane to be the opening act on their European tour concert in Lisbon.

Rita Redshoes was also nominated for “Best Newcomer 2008” of the Portuguese Awards “Golden Globes”. In May 2009, the singer-songwriter had a huge debut in one of Lisbon’s most charismatic venues: S. Jorge. The first date was so quickly sold out that a second date was opened. These concerts were prepared in detail: new visual approaches in synch with Rita’s music, not only with video but also with the help on stage of 4 dancers. The critic was unanimous: two great performances. Meanwhile “Golden Era” reached the Gold Record award for 10.000 units sold becoming one of the most successful newcomers album.

The summer continued with several concerts from north to south including the Azores Islands, but the highlight was the concert at the opening of Festival dos Oceanos (Oceans Festival) in Belém – Lisbon, where she performed for 35.000 people and had a very special guest: Daniel Bacelar, a singer from the 60’s that was known as the Portuguese Ricky Nelson and with whom she sang “Lonesome Town” and “I’ve got a Feeling”. Rita Redshoes was invited to team up in two songs (“Lonesome Town” and “Hey, hey Sister Ray”), on The Legendary Tigerman (Paulo Furtado) 4th album “Femina” – an album made with several female collaborations like Asia Argento, Maria de Medeiros or Peaches, amongst others.

Furthermore, it was also with The Legendary Tigerman that Rita appeared in MOTELx – a horror movie film festival held in Lisbon – where they composed and played live the soundtrack for the 30’s movie “A Dança dos Paradoxismos” by Jorge Brum do Canto. In November, “Golden Era” goes international: it’s released in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland by Fading Ways Finland. Both “The Beginning Song” and “Choose Love” have airplay in P4 (Dansk Radio) and P3 (Sveriges Radio) respectively. Soon, “Golden Era” will also be available in BeNeLux. After an intense year... Rita Redshoes promises news for 2010!

Mazgani Road Film

2010-03-25T04:38:00.003-07:00

Mazgani Road Film

2010-03-25T04:38:00.001-07:00

The Gathering helping Chile

2010-03-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

The last couple of weeks the Gathering has been working non-stop trying to organize a benefit concert for Chile. As you probably know a massive earthquake hit Chile last February, and has cost the lives of more than 400 people and left many people homeless.

We are happy to announce that the Gathering will be playing in Teatro Caupolican, Santiago, Chile on April 11th 2010!

Normally it would take months to put up a concert like this, but when we heard about the earthquake we immediately felt the need to do something to help. The Chilean people have always given us such a warm welcome and giving this special concert is the most natural and personal way for us to do something back. We hope to not only raise money for the people that are in need of help, but also to give some hope and strength to rebuild this beautiful country after such a natural disaster.

It will also be the first time for our new vocalist Silje Wergeland, who joined the band for the latest album The West Poleto play in Chile. She is very happy to be part of this very special event & has also worked really hard to make this come true.

In cooperation with "Chile ayuda" the money raised will be donated to Red Cross Chile to help the people in need after the damages from the earthquake.

Presale tickets will be $ 7.000,- (pesos) and it is also possible to donate non-perishable food at the door. Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.cl

We are feeling so lucky we’re able to reach out a helping hand for people to rebuild their homes and lives again. So amigos, spread the word, come and join us and let’s create a beautiful evening together to help the people in need!

Our very best
Marjolein, Hans, Frank, René and Silje

The Gathering would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to our amazing crew, the promoter and our partners in Chile who have been and will all be working hard to get this together for the good cause.

THE BLUE VAN's "There Goes My Love" for Apple iPad worldwide advertising

2010-03-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

The Blue Van track "There Goes My Love" was chosen to be featured in the worldwide Apple iPad commercial - called "Meet the iPad". No less than fabulous news!

Check it out:

IT’S ALL HAPPENING RELEASES January - March 2010

2010-02-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

JOHN CARRIE AND MOOR GREEN (NL)
Clearing Air
Self released
Release date: 7.01.2010
Genre: folk / rock / pop

BACKYARD BABIES (SWE)
Them XX – Best Of
Billion Dollar Babies/ Suburban
Release date: 29.01.2010
Genre: punkrock/ glamrock

RITA REDSHOES (PT)
Golden Era
Fading Ways/ Sonic Rendezvous
Release date: 1.03.2010
Genre: alternative / pop / ambient

(HED)P.E. (USA)
New World Orphans
Suburban Noize/ Suburban
Release date: 1.03.2010 (re-release)
Genre:hardcore / punk / Metal

THE BLUE VAN (DK)
Man Up
Iceberg Records/ Intergroove/ Suburban
Release date: 26.03.2010
Genre: rock / soul / indie

UNDERGROUND FLY (PL)
Between Fiction And Reality
Captive Recordings
Release date: 26.03.2010
Genre: rock/ alternative/ progressive

ALSO AVAILABLE:

Tom Musca – Lucifer My Love – 05.10.09 – Musca Music/ Rough Trade

Heidi Happy – Flowers, Birds and Home – 30.10.09 – Little Jig/ Coast to Coast

Mazgani – Ladies and Gentleman, Introducing – 02.11.09 – Fading Ways/ Sonic

(hed)p.e. on tour in the Netherlands

2010-02-17T03:39:00.000-08:00

While California-based hardcore pioneers (hed)p.e. have enjoyed successful albums, and even registered a Top 30 Modern Rock single, they are now embraced as one of the top underground acts on the independent scene. With the release of their seventh studio album, “New World Orphans (NWO)”, the band is once again ready to lead their family of new century youth into the promise land.

With every release (hed)p.e. pushes the boundaries of free speech and socially acceptable content. “For years I have been told to tune down my lyrics. But great art is supposed to push boundaries. That is what makes people take notice and question things. Provocative and thought provoking art leads to dialogue. And dialogue leads to answers. And that is what we all want isn’t it? Answers.”

“When I first started making records, I was mostly writing party music, and some subject matter with social commentary,” says frontman Jared, referring to his formative years in the music industry. “I never dreamt that I would one day be in a band that actually has a divine purpose.”

The purpose to which Jared refers is what is commonly referred to as “The Truth Movement.” “Now that (hed)p.e. has developed mentally and spiritually into what we are today, we find that the underground youth are rallying around us. (hed)p.e. is focused and crystal clear. It feels special to be involved in a band that actually stands for something. Cuz like they say ‘if you don’t stand for something – you’ll fall for anything!!!’”

“Listen, we come from the land of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. And that still has its place in the world and we haven’t turned our back on what we were, or said in the past. But take a look at the world around you. We did. We woke up one day and said to ourselves something isn’t right. We analyzed it individually and as a band, and decided it was time to wake America’s youth up!!”

The wake up call is written all over the group’s new album, “New World Orphans,” and the secrets of the “Shadow Government” and “New World Order” are exposed once and for all. (hed)p.e. are uncovering the web of lies being force fed to the American youth. Undoubtedly their most intensely political album, "New World Orphans" shows the band blending together a potent mixture of heavy, thrash riffs mixed with punk-rock and hip- hop beats into one intoxicating package. The album does more than offer fans new music; it shows the band grabbing the torch to become the leaders of The Truth Movement.

“We the People have been manipulated into fighting wars for hundreds of years!!! Pointing out deceptions in our governments and leaders has turned out to be my calling in life; to spread awareness to the youth. Being in this band and spreading the message of Truth across the globe. The Truth Movement found us and we have become a voice to lead the youth of the world. (hed)p.e has become a band with a purpose. THIS IS MORE THAN MUSIC!!!”

“We want to wake up the youth to the games of the global elite, so they don't get caught in it,” he says emphatically. New World Orphans is a name that represents those of us who have been abandoned by the System. Even abandoned by our own creators!!! We are the orphans. We in (hed)p.e. and the youth- we represent the orphans. We're out there playing shows to thousands of kids each night who don't have a voice. These kids are orphans, because the powers that be have abandoned them, and don't respect them enough to tell the truth," says Jared.

For this release (hed)p.e. put out a call to arms and united an all-star army to deliver their message. Joining the fight is Strange Music’s Tech N9ne who appears on the track "Work" (a song that tackles the media’s perceptions of sex), California rip-hop hybrids Kottonmouth Kings roll up on "Higher Ground", while Oregon's king of rapid-fire rhyme The Dirtball urges listeners to prepare for battle on "Stay Ready.” “Ordo,” about how the government creates war and chaos so the public gives up freedom for what they think is protection, will be their first single from NWO. Since joining the Suburban Noize stable in 2006, (hed)p.e has enjoyed a rebirth of grand proportions. After a series of releases with major labels that stifled the band’s creativity, (hed)p.e. has been embraced by an underground movement that celebrates the musical melting pot that their music exemplifies. The group has created a dedicated following by opening sold-out tours for Tech N9ne, Kottonmouth Kings and Papa Roach, as well as selling out venues across the country and overseas on their own headlining tours.

With “New World Orphans” the youth have rallied behind the group to help the album debut at #72 on the Billboard Top 200, making it the second highest charting release in the group’s career. The album was also the #4 selling independent album in the country and the #5 selling release on the internet, silencing critics and confirming the undeniable underground movement that (Hed)p.e. has created since joining the label.

The band has also been featured in the pages of Revolver and become one of the hottest groups in the scene. Adding fuel to the (Hed)p.e. fire, the group has stormed radio with their new single ”Renegade”, which entered into the Top 40 on the Active Rock Radio Charts and gave the band one of their most successful radio singles. Meanwhile the group’s video for the track has registered 250,000 views through sites like YouTube and MySpace TV as fans continue to join (Hed)p.e.’s quest to uncover the truth.

With the release of “New World Orphans” (hed)p.e. have shed their skin to find clarity amongst the chaos. 2010 finds (hed)p.e. more relevant than ever.

(hed)p.e. on tour in the Netherlands:
Sat 20.03.10 - Groene Engel, Oss
Sun 21.03.10 - Romein, Leeuwarden
Mon 22.03.10 - Patronaat, Haarlem
Tue 23.03.10 - Helling, Utrecht

BugGirl USA Tour

2010-02-15T02:56:00.001-08:00

‘Led Zeppelin - 30 Years Gone’

2010-02-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

Thirty years have now passed since the sad demise of drummer John Bonham, and the disbanding of Led Zeppelin, who remain one of the most influential and iconic band of all time.

John Henry "Bonzo" Bonham is widely considered to be one of the greatest drummers in the history of rock music by musicians and critics alike.

His contributions to rock music were revolutionary, and had a huge impact when he exploded onto the music scene in1968 and his talent remains unmatched.

Following his sad demise in 1980, the Surviving members of Led Zeppelin issued the following statement.

"We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were’

Apart from the occasional performance, most notably The Ertegün Concert at The 02 Arena in 2007, Led Zeppelin have turned down the offers of gazzillions of dollars to do another tour, with Jason Bonham, son of John, being the natural replacement on drums.

Letz Zep will be performing their ‘Led Zeppelin – 30 years Gone’ tour in 2010.

The band are rated as The Most Popular and Top Rated, Led Zeppelin tribute act in the UK today (Source: Ticketmaster)

The band also received the ultimate accolade by being praised by Led Zeppelin themselves, when the ex-members invited Letz Zep to perform at their prestigious official launch party for Led Zeppelin's 'Mothership' CD, In Soho, London.

Letz Zep are the most successful and best known tribute act to Led Zeppelin, having been featured on BBC1, BBC2 and ITV1, The band had a full page feature in Classic Rock magazine', they also received a glowing full page review in Kerrang! magazine. The band have also featured on Planet Rock Radio, naming them 'The Very Best of tribute bands'

Letz Zep have also been reviewed in The Sunday Times by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

With an ever growing repertoire, of over 50 songs, covering the entire recording career of Led Zeppelin, from the rockers like ‘Black Dog’ and 'Rock and Roll' the acoustic folk style of ‘Gallows Pole’ and 'Babe I'm Going to Leave You' to the haunting melody of 'Kashmir', and the classic ‘Stairway to Heaven’

A gig by Letz Zep fully portrays the full scope of the music of Led Zeppelin.

"You can't have too much of a good thing....here's Letz Zep" -

Jeremy Paxman BBC2 Newsnight

Letz Zep are critically acclaimed as the leading tribute to the music of Led Zeppelin, and Baby they aint foolin' Even legendary Zep frontman Robert Plant commented it was like watching himself onstage. As He Told Q Magazine in an interview :-

‘I walked in, I saw me!’

Letz Zep regularly tour in territories including Spain, Greece, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela, Andorra and here in the UK.

Confirming Letz Zep as the number 1 tribute to the music of Led Zeppelin.

Letz Zep is not an exercise in nostalgia, but of revolt against time, a heart rendering shout against mediocrity and forgetfulness, faithfully recreating the sights and sounds of Led Zeppelin at their awesome best.

Bringing the music of Led Zep to new generations of audience.

Letz Zep is a band formed by talented, experienced and respected musicians who are all true Zep fans with a strong musical pedigree.

Its members have toured with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Roger Daltrey, Steve Hackett, Dr Feelgood and Uriah Heep – to name but a few.

All four members possess the considerable musical ability required to produce a completely convincing recreation of Led Zeppelin in their prime, complete with the "tight but loose" raw excitement which was the trademark of a Led Zeppelin concert.

Letz Zep are a touring force in Europe and the UK and Europe, where they play to packed houses and rave reviews, recently selling out the prestigious Madrid Heinekin Arena and The Melkweg Amsterdam, as well as a sell out night at Plaza Del Toro (The Bullring) in Madrid. The band are now set to tour South America, after a highly successful debut performance to 6000 avid rock fans in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela.

Charles Walker & The Dynamites interview KX TV

2010-01-28T05:22:00.000-08:00

The Blue Van - Man Up

2010-01-26T06:20:00.000-08:00

Since 2004 The Blue Van has been touring most parts of the world. In between touring – counting not only 200+ shows in US - but also numerous concerts in Europe and Japan, they've had time to put out 3 critically acclaimed albums. The full throttle mod’ster album "The Art Of Rolling" (2005), the more organic west coast manifesto "Dear Independence" (2007), and the new, more guitar-driven album “Man Up” (2010).

The Blue Van have shared the stage with Jet, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Keane, Razorlight, Hot Hot Heat, The Pretenders, Electric Six and many others.

The band have recently played showcases at Musexpo (L.A.), PopKomm (Berlin) and CMJ (New York).

The Blue Van tracks have been featured in:
- Royal Pains (new NBC/Universal tv-series (song “Independence” is the theme title in all episodes))
- CSI:NY (CBS) (song “Man Up” featured in episode #511)
- Samsung/T-Mobile TV-commercial (aired on most Major channels in the US (song: “Man Up“))
- Bevery Hills 90210 (The CW) (song: “Man Up“ (ep. 11) and “Silly Boy“ (ep. 19))
- Scrubs (ABC) (song used in trailer for new series)
- Free Radio (VH1)
- 3 video games (among them, a Playstation 3 Basketball game)
- Morning Becomes Eclectic (KCRW and worldwide online) (song “Man Up” playlisted several weeks by DJ Nik Hardcourt)

“Man Up” is the new full length, an album about transitions. From A to B – from boy to man – therefore, the first single “Silly Boy” is a also chosen as a contradiction to the title “Man Up”.

What is the genre then? Well, The Blue Van’esque melodic, guitar-driven rock that is inspired by music from the 1950s through today (though minus the 1980s…). A band determined to amaze on record and live – now with more energy than ever. As for the live show, The Blue Van goes for the kill... every time.

The Blue Van are certainly not novices anymore.

Mazgani Eurosonic Showcase

2010-01-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

He sings in English, his cradle was in Iran, he lives in Portugal and he is inspired by an Australian (Nick Cave), a Canadian (Leonard Cohen) and an American (Tom Waits). And he has also a guitarist in his band named Sergio Mendes. But that is called coincidence. Anyway, Shahryar Mazgani is a singer/songwriter whose music is not something to be pinned down to one feature: melancholic, poetic, tortured, bluesy and dark if necessary, but always light on the ear. His appearance at EuroSonic occurs to the close of a Dutch tour, so let the grapevine do its job!

Mazgani Eurosonic Showcase
Date: Thursday, 14 January 2010
Time: 20:00 - 20:45
Location: Shadrak, Groningen

Are You Experienced? – Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

2009-12-15T06:12:00.000-08:00

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? are now widely accepted as the No.1 tribute to Jimi Hendrix, formed in 1996 by John Campbell. The onstage resemblance is there for all to see. And with showmanship that harks back to Jimi’s late 60’s performances, even the most ardent fan would raise a wry smile. John has appeared on “The Trisha Show”, Talk Radio with Lorraine Kelly and Sky One’s “Death by excess”. The band were featured on BBC 2’s Arena special on tribute bands…”Into The Limelight” to critical acclaim.

How do you replicate the sound and style of a man widely regarded as the greatest guitarist the world had ever known? And do it convincingly! John Campbell has been doing that for years. John, an ardent long time Jimi Hendrix fan is in his element playing Jimi's music and re-creating the live stage show. Fans who have actually witnessed the real thing are amazed at the Hendrix vibe that Are You Experienced? bring back to life.

John says "I get a real buzz out of watching the crowd when we're playing. And I like to think that I'm doing my bit to introduce Jimi's music to a new and eager audience. Jimi was truly unique". As with any tribute act authenticity is the key, and with Are You Experienced? it is immediately apparent that there is a deep affinity with the act they are paying tribute to, and a healthy respect for a man who is recognised as a cultural icon, and one of the best live performers of the 60’s. Are You Experienced? are firmly in place in the UK as one of the best live acts on the circuit, and are now ready to take Europe by storm. They are a fantastic band paying tribute to one of the biggest legends in the history of rock music!

Are You Experienced? – Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Saturday 23 january 2010
Melkweg - Amsterdam
Doors: 20.00 hrs
Entrance: € 18,- + membership

www.areyou-experienced.co.uk
www.myspace.com/jimijonexperienced

The Gathering European tour

2009-12-01T01:48:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

We are happy to announce the fact that Autumn from The Netherlands will be our special guest during the European tour jan-febr 2010. Autumn released a new album this year, called ‘Altitude’.

We think that Autumn is similar to The Gathering in many ways. Both released a new album this year, have a new singer, and have the urge to explore their musical horizons.

As you might know Marjolein will not be able to play with us the first week. Old bandmember Hugo Prinsen Geerligs will join us on stage, after 6 years! So these gigs will me memorable for sure! Hugo will join us from Krefeld untill Bratislava, Marjolein will be on stage again in Budapest untill the end.We are thrilled and excited and we hope the same goes for you!

The European tour with Autumn will start in Krefeld and ends in Paris.

JANUARY 2010
fri 22 Krefeld (ger) – Kulturfabrik
sat 23 Erfurt (ger) – HsD (formerly Gewerkschafshaus)
sun 24 Berlin (ger) – Columbia Club
tue 26 Karlsruhe (ger) – Substage
wed 27 Nurnburg (ger) – Hirsch
thu 28 Prague (cz) – Abaton
fri 29 Krakow (pl) – Loch Ness
sat 30 Bratislava (sk) – Randal
sun 31 Budapest (hu) – Diesel

FEBRUARY 2010
mon 01 Zagreb (hr) – Mochvara
tue 02 Milan (it) – Zoe
thu 04 Barcelona (es) – Salamandra 1
fri 05 Alicante (es) – Nave 8
sat 06 Granada (es) – El Tren
sun 07 Madrid (es) – Heineken
tue 09 Lyon (fr) – Ninkasi Kao
wed 10 Pratteln (ch) – Z7
thu 11 Aschaffenburg (ger) – Colos Saal
fri 12 Vosselaar (be) – Biebob
sat 13 Lille (fr) – Le Splendid
sun 14 Paris (fr) – Elysée Montmartre
sat 27 Thessaloniki (gr) – Block 33 club
sun 28 Athens (gr) – Gagarin 205 club

http://www.gathering.nl/

BugGirl - press quotes Blood, Sweat & Beers

2009-11-30T07:24:00.000-08:00

Rocktribune Magazine:
High quality songs sung by Amber who has a perfectly raw rock voice. (…) Dirty, rough rock & roll that reminds the listener of AC/DC.

Ekaya:
Rock 'n Roll in the tradition of AC/DC, no concessions, and certainly no stratification. In other words: Deliciously Down To Earth. (…) This cd is bursting with energy. In fact, if you take a smell of the CD you will smell stale beer. The smell of a lifestyle that can best be described as: Drinking, and Stinking Thinking never!

Punx:
Uncomplicated rock, I love that shit! This band will make you scream ‘tits!!’ and while throwing your beer.

Fury Rocks:
While making Blood, Sweat & Beers the band made moderate use of overdubs. The void created during guitar solo’s are not filled with a rhythm guitar. Similar bands with just 2 members, such as The White Stripes, use studio tricks to achieve a fuller sound. In a live setting those band can’t recreate that sound. These seasoned musicians don’t need those tricks. Rock 'n Roll!

8.5 - http://furyrocks.com/en/recentie/BugGirl_Blood_Sweat_Beers_119473

Zware Metalen:
Imagine AC/DC with the vocals of Tina Turner singing while being taken from behind, and you’ll know what they sound like. Rock 'n' Roll in it’s purest form. Hard, pouring, pure, merciless.

Podiuminfo/ festival info:
Rock'n'roll with balls is the underlying idea of this band. Energetic and loud… dangerously close to AC / DC. The EP lasts less than 20 minutes, this is a short but powerful answer to all those male retro rockers who are trying to retrieve the past. The ultimate highlight is "Bad Blood" when my roommate heard this song he asked, "Since when has AC / DC a female singer?", without knowing that this isthe new BugGirl EP.

Tempelores EP review:
It is all about rock and roll. The sound of this band can be compared with Skew Siskin, raw and driven to the statement. The band seems to be one that brings a lot of energy when seeing in a live situation and that might be the side of them you want to see mostly. The title track has a catchy melody and gets you into the albums mood already from the first notes; V8 Motor has a cool intro riff but unfortunately after that the song goes a bit down. The rest of the songs are pretty much into the Rock ‘n’ Roll mark that sounds like a street version of AC/DC, with female vocals which are very energetic and fit perfectly with the music. The final result is really dynamic and doesn’t bore at all, it all flows quite quickly and takes you to the final track without even realizing it. http://tempelores.com/?p=1143

Tempelores live review:
The duo might look a bit lonely on the stage, just but the lack of a bassist is not disturbing at all. The female vocals are raw and fill up all the emptiness in combination with the guitar. In some points the band might remember me to the band Skew Siskin, as their music stand as steady as rock. The band played a couple songs from their just released EP “Blood, Sweat & Beers” and when you heard the EP you might come to the conclusion that BugGirl is a band you better see live. http://tempelores.com/?p=1120

Reflections of Darkness:
All in all, this Rock’n’Roll soundscape reminds me of ROSE TATTOO with a pinch of GUNS`N´ROSES and JANIS JOPLIN. `Blood, Sweat & Beers´ is a passionate opener that punches right into the listener’s face. Dirty and raw-edged guitar sounds join simple but expressive lyrics and could be the perfect soundtrack for extended car rides. Lead singer Amber’s powerful voice is a nostalgic reminiscence of JANIS JOPLIN while her brother Clinton is contributing his punchy drum playing resulting in atmospheric roadhouse anthems. The third track `V8 Motor´ provides a masterful vocal performance with a lot of squeaks and shouting. The other tracks are pretty much alike and can be regarded as decent but not too innovative stuff. Nevertheless, alone the melodic and the same time forceful singing of Amber makes the EP worth listening. http://www.reflectionsofdarkness.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6117&Itemid=44

Rockportaal:
The EP consists of 5 tracks, like the title of the ep says, about blood, sweat and beers and in addition also about engines and highways. The tracks sound flaming. As if you’re chased on the highway chase by a motorcycle gang. The lyrics are easy on the ears and easy to sing a long with.

3voor12 live review:
This Australian brother/ sister duo plays raw speed rock in the style of the old AC / DC and Motorhead. The big difference is that Buggirl makes a wall of sound with only 2 people, their heroes of the past needed four or five band members to achieve a similar result. What a power is behind this duo and the don’t even have a bass player!. The singer / guitarist is a real rock bitch with a high speed rock rock'n'roll voice that will make Melissa Etheridge jealous. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix she even plays the guitar with her teeth.

Mazgani in the Benelux

2009-11-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Mazgani's first international CD is here and it is aptly titled, "Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing... Mazgani". Great reviews have started coming in from the first territory of release, BeNeLux: (see: http://www.ekaya.nl/2009/11/02/mazgani-ladies-gentleman-introducing/). Translated, (thanks Google!) it reads something like this:

""Ladies & Gentleman, Introducing ..." is a combination of Mazgani's
debut "Songs From The Heart" and his latest EP "Tell The People". It
is an amazing album. Mazgani counts Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Bob
Dylan to his examples. The beauty is that you hear it back. Mazgani has
something of all three. It manifests itself in a poetic, insanely
good album.

Mazgani makes dark Americana. The man then and now seems to be
possessed and then moves to modesty. (...)
Mazgani's high quality compared with its great examples, is that
it not only in the somewhat dark corner looking. He has a tendency to
be informed to go looking for more euphoric moments.

Listening to Mazgani is a pleasure. His deep voice gives his words
into the correct value, the correct weight. Musically Mazgani is strong,
lyrically too. It makes the album complete and convincing. Mazgani
proves you do not have to be American to play Amerikana. A large
portion of talent is enough!" - Ekaya.nl

The CD can be ordered directly from the Fading Ways label via their music store: www.fadingwaysmusic.com/store

Meanwhile, Mazgani has a solo acoustic show confirmed in the Netherlands at Patroonat in Haarlem on the 10th of December, plus a few radio shows where he will be interviewed live and play a few songs:

Mazgani NL promo tour: December 2009

10 Rijnmond RTV Rijmond show “Live Uit Lloyd” (afternoon)
10 Haarlem Patronaat (evening show)
11 Amsterdam Amsterdam FM 16:00
13 Haarlem Radio Haarlem 105 14.00
13 Hilversum Radio 1/ Omroep LLink 19:00

BugGirl @ Live A Live

2009-10-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

The infamous Live Alive Radio Show in Reeuwijk is having Buggirl on Thursday, 05 November. Get on down early to not miss your place! It will also be recorded and copies of the show given to all people who come down. Only 5 euro for this special event!

Thu 05th November
Live Alive Radio Show
Plug Unit... Read more
Jan Tinbergenstraat 1
2811 DZ Reeuwijk
www.livealive.nl
www.plugunit.nl

Bond - new video by Electric AlleyCat

2009-10-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Heidi Happy: Flowers, Birds And Home

2009-10-20T01:21:00.000-07:00

Although she was honoured as the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation’s ‘Swiss Top’ winner in 2007 for her music, the bright-eyed Lucerne Rock City pop singer Heidi Happy only officially began her recording career in 2005. O-o-oh, the first single on “Flowers, Birds and Home” is perhaps the best direction on how to approach the singer whose feet stand in pools of indie alternative folk and pop jazz at the same time. Toronto’s NOW magazine listed the album as one of the top 10 of 2008 , “Switzerland’s tastiest export since Emmenthal, creates her career-best work that somehow manages to be both charmingly whimsical and deeply affecting in equal measure.”

It’s daunting when any album begins with a timpani and bars of classical dramatics, but the moment that Priska Zemp’s voice launches over the orchestrated musical journey, you are in safe hands. Despite choosing a stage name – Heidi Happy – for her solo efforts in haste, it seems she actually zeroed in on a moniker that exudes the essence of her music. (The story goes that she chose her name quickly in order to get the flyers printed before her first show.) One international critic for Style Magazine described the aural encounter as, “A voice like icing sugar. And songs which are as enchanting as the fabulous destiny of Amélie: Priska Zemp sings with charm and wit of life after the idyllic childhood!”

The voice and musicality come with genetic promise – Priska’s mother is a classically trained soprano and her father sings in choirs. Her brothers and sister all toil in bands as well.

Choosing to write and produce with the authority of a well-travelled singer-songwriter, Heidi Happy’s tunes are filled with a nascent dark romanticism. This is evidenced in lyrical passages like I’m walking home/ It’s light outside/The birds are singing/Quite annoying from O-O-Oh and from the hand-clap primer I Understand whose lyrics get to the point Why don’t you tell me you don’t want to meet anymore/Instead I'm waiting for your calls and practice my patience again/Why don’t you tell me you didn’t like the night we spent?/Would be easier for me, ‘cause now I cannot think of an end. There is an old-timey modernism here, one that takes artful to a new level. It’s as if Joanna Newsom was giving pointers and Joni Mitchell took on the story. Everything is full and acutely personal.

She pulls from classical and jazz and backs this up using flute, violin, viola, cello, vibes, Fender Rhodes and, even glockenspiel. But some of her most touching moments happen when paring back and using simple guitar and voice to tell a love song.

In concert, she’s as creative as her music. Seeing her play crowds in her home country, you might encounter an eight-piece band filled with Switzerland’s best. Elsewhere, she solos using looping pedals. It’s that mix of acoustic instrumentation and the awareness of available technology that put this young singer ahead of most on tour.

Heidi Happy’s ‘Flowers, Birds and Home’ is released in the Benelux on Little Jig/ Coast To Coast on October 30.

Ladies & Gentleman, Introducing... Mazgani

2009-10-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

Mazgani is a classic singer-songwriter in the vein of Cohen, Cave and Dylan, and this introductory collection of two Eps is his first international release. It features 5 songs from the brand new EP “Tell the People”, available exclusively in Portugal, and is packaged with another 5 tracks off his debut album Song of the New Heart (2000 units sold in Portugal alone, where Mazgani has lived most of his life and tours often) and an exclusive, unpublished new track.

The 5 tracks taken from his new “Tell the People” EP point the way forward for Mazgani, featuring Dead Combo's Pedro Goncalves at the production helm and adorned with an aesthetic violence that was absent from Mazgani's first album. This may be classic songwriting in the Americana vein, but it is far from country and owes at least some of its pedigree to David Eugene Edwards (Woven Hand, 16 Horsepower) and Tom Waits.

Tracklist
1. Thirst
2. Rebel Sword
3. Loving Guide
4. Broken Tree
5. Dust in the Sun

6. Somewhere Beneath This Sky
7. Strong & Holy
8. Song of the New Heart
9. Lay Down
10. Let your lips blossom in a kiss

Bonus Track:
11. Slaughterhouse of Love

"Ladies & Gentleman, Introducing" will be released on Fading Ways/ Sonic Rendezvous (Benelux) on 2 November 2009.

The Blue Van joins Danish Royal Family in Vietnam

2009-10-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

The Danish band, The Blue Van, will accompany the Danish Royal Family and the Danish Minister of Cultural Affairs during the upcoming State Visit to Vietnam, as chosen representatives of the cultural and musical promotion campaign towards the Vietnamese youth.

For the first time in Vietnam, rock fans can experience Danish and Vietnamese rock music together on stage.

The Blue Van was chosen for several reasons to take part in this memorable campaign/State Visit: with 3 album releases and more than 500 live performances throughout Europe, Japan and the USA the band is without any doubt one of Denmark's most experienced and best live bands today.

The Blue Van will play 3 rock concerts with 3 popular Vietnamese bands in Hanoi, Hue and Hochimin City, respectively. The concert in Hue will be attended by the Danish Crown Prince and Princess.

Dates:

November 1 2009
Giang Vo Exhibition Center
Hanoi

November 4 2009
Southern Gate of the Palace
Hue

November 7 2009
Lan Anh Music Stage
Ho Chi Minh City

http://www.myspace.com/thebluevan

Buma Stemra bloggers petition

2009-10-02T02:05:00.001-07:00

Buma Stemra has decided that from 2010 people (private and companies) who post embedded content on blogs, websites etc. will have to pay huge license fees. Uploading 30 files will cost you
€ 650,-. If you post 1 YouTube video every day, this will cost you
€ 7908,- per year!!

These kind of fees will make the promotion of new (embedded) music by bloggers or smaller companies impossible.

Please sign the petition here: http://www.petitiononline.com/bumablog/petition.html

Thanks for your time!

More information [in Dutch]: http://www.bumastemra.nl/nl-NL/OverBumaStemra/Actueel/brochuredigitaletarieven2010.htm

The Dynamites feat.Charles Walker - Burn It Down

2009-09-30T04:33:00.000-07:00

From Nashville, Tennessee, please welcome The Dynamites, 10 pieces of straight-up, badass deep funk and super soul! After “Kaboom” in 2007, their highly explosive second album will be released in september 2009, and the band will hit the roads at the fall to defend it. They’ll notably play with Maceo Parker at famous Nancy Jazz Pulsations the 9th of October... now people know that the Dynamites are one of the funkiest band of players imaginable!

If the first attention-grabbing horn lines of The Dynamites album Burn It Down evoke a dramatic curtain call from a late ‘60s funk concert at the Apollo Theater, it’s no accident. After all, that’s exactly where Charles Walker, the band’s singer and front man, first cut his teeth as a performer. When the revolutionary ‘new bag’ now known as funk first made the scene, Walker was right there in the thick of it, opening for the likes of James Brown, Etta James, and Wilson Pickett, and imbibing himself in a cultural movement’s genesis. Walker deserves his due after decades as an unsung musical hero. He first became a professional entertainer in his native Nashville in the late 1950s, recording with hit producer Ted Jarrett and appearing nightly at the New Era Club, one of the South’s leading black nightclubs. Walker spent most of the 1960s and ‘70s in New York, performing frequently at the Apollo Theater and Small’s Paradise when the original funk scene coalesced. Fronting various bands, including the criminally underrated Little Charles & the Sidewinders, Walker released singles for Chess, Decca, and a number of smaller labels. The records failed to hit the big time but their quality endured and are now prized among collectors. After the recordings gained notice in Europe’s Northern Soul scene, Walker found steady solo work overseas, and he lived in England and Spain before returning to Music City in the 1990s.

If this all sounds retro, think again. The Dynamites are far from being alone in their second millennium pursuit of rekindling funk’s original flames. A renaissance of funk and soul is snatching up listeners from coast to coast and beyond. A furious and unrelenting barrage of stripped-down, rhythmic R&B and swinging soul, Kaboom! is the aptly titled full-length debut by Nashville funk band The Dynamites. Bill Elder (a.k.a. Leo Black) is the troupe’s founder, bandleader, guitarist, primary composer, arranger, and producer. He’s the one keeping everything so damn tight here. But he insists that it is, not he, but his lead singer who is given special billing in the group’s name: The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker. For soul veteran Walker, finding songwriter Bill Elder has been an epiphany. More importantly, he’s found in Elder a songwriter that writes for his voice. This stands in sharp contrast to the days when he was asked to record songs whether they inspired him or not. The Dynamites reignited Walker’s spark and pushed the versatile vocalist to sing the hardest, grittiest funk he’s ever made. The band’s dynamic live show has already gained them opening slots for Galactic and Widespread Panic as well as appearances at Bonnaroo and the Austin City Limits festival. Critical acclaim for Kaboom! continues to pour in. The fuse was lit and The Dynamites were set to explode!

Two years after Kaboom, the Dynamites and Charles Walker are about to release their second album, Burn It Down. Powerfull, ambitious, fed by the new experiences of a globe-traveller band. Absolutely funk and deeply soul, Burn It Down is an abrasive album, intense, just like it was about to explode in any moment. Now you’re warning, you have to be careful when you handle dynamite.

Not just another social network

2009-09-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

With the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Myspace all doing their time at the top spot, is now a good time to launch another social network?

wohomusic (www.wohomusic.net) thinks that due to a gap in the market now is a great time to launch not just another social network but one dedicated to music.
wohomusic is a social network and website which has been set up for music lovers of all backgrounds, some professionally involved in the industry and some simply avid fans.

Although there are a few music sites around this one is in a league of its own. The website offers; free membership, forums, group and individual chat, free to enter competitions for fans and musicians, free unsigned band music, an unsigned online music radio and much more.

The website officially launches on the 26th September at 23:59pm although you can join now for a sneak preview.

Lynsey Sweales from wohomusic comments ‘We have been extremely pleased with the interest from industry and music fans alike in the new website wohomusic.

The website has been developed from extensive research into music websites and identifying a gap in the market for music lovers to have a dedicated website to chat and discuss music related topics’.

wohomusic is not just for the UK’s popular music market either, the site already has an international following and is showcasing bands and artists from places all over the globe, some as far as Australia and Canada.

To celebrate the launch of wohomusic they are sponsoring a stage at B Fest on the 26th September, where they will be meeting and interviewing the fans and bands on the day. After a fun filled day of music, the team will all be logging on and welcoming any new members from 23.59 that evening so make sure you are online to meet them!

Interview Turku Romantic Movement in UP Magazine #59

2009-09-22T07:59:00.001-07:00

BugGirl supporting PeterPanSpeedRock

2009-09-03T03:03:00.001-07:00

Underground Fly @ AmsterdamFM

2009-08-10T06:58:00.001-07:00

edibleRed Toazted interview

2009-07-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

Part 1

Part 2

Reviews for "The Dead Vegas" by Underwater Sleeping Society

2009-06-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

- “The sound of USS might not be unique, but their implementation of that sound is very satisfactionary. Besides staccato guitar lines and pounding basses there is also space for airy bells games, stylish synths, horns and discreet acoustic guitars. That might sound a little excessive but in reality it’s a beautiful package of inspiration. The constant between all these factors are the melancholic atmosphere and the cool, powerful voice of singer Okko Nieminen.”

Spinner 72/100

- “We see a beautiful northern lights appear around the band and we are awaiting the spring, which is hidden behind the lyrics.”

Cutting Edge 3/5

- “Most of the songs are written by singer / guitarist Okko Nieminen. The other five band members, with their different musical backgrounds and influences, fill in the rest. This creates an organic sound. They play with ease and made a beautiful album full of deceptively simple indie pop songs. This album gives the band the potential to reach audiences all over Europe.”

Kindamuzik

- “I think we will hear al lot more about USS. They made a top quality record in any case. I predict that they will be playing at festivals all over Europe, a gig at the Lowlands festival would suit them.”

Den Helder Actueel

- “Listening to the album of Underwater Sleeping Society is no punishment at all. The band can embrace me as a new fan.”

Rockportaal 70/100

- “These musicians from Helsinki live up to their reputation. The hammering sound is very dynamic, with rich layers of bombastic melodies. Bands like Motor Psycho, Midlake and Arcade Fire can be heard in the sound of USS. (…) From the Joy Division-like "Trap Doors" to the light psychedelic space rock of "Counting Stars" USS is doing its best balance within the eclectic sound palette.”

3voor12

- “An ingenious combination of art and prog rock with Echo & The Bunnymen vocals.”

OOR/ Parool

- “This album is a collection of gems with the song 'Trap Doors' as a highlight. This number starts wonderfully calm and then slowly, the song is expanded into something more. We can even hear horns! The song is an explosion in slow motion. (…) I was pleasantly surprised with this album. It is a calm listen, just as the Finns generally are. The album also shows what it could be like to be Finnish. It doesn’t stay on the surface, but digs into deeper layers. These layers are very well worth listening to as they transform the band’s music into something very strong.”

Ekaya

Video for "Hey Ya" by edibleRed

2009-06-08T02:20:00.000-07:00

edibleRed and lead singer Collette McLafferty's powerful and heart wrenching version of Outkast's "Hey Ya". Clearly, this is the way the song was meant be interpreted.

Find "Hey Ya" on edibleRed's album "Welcome to My Bad Behavior" (Select Records).

Turku Romantic Movement

2009-05-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

Turku Romantic Movement is a band from Finland. With their international debut album, called simply Turku Romantic Movement, they bring danger and edge back to rock music. For a new band they’ve been around for quite long, playing almost 200 shows all around Europe and releasing records in Finland. The experience can be heard on their new album.

Turku Romantic Movement is album full of energy, catchy choruses and meaningful lyrics. Lyrics about the world as it is today; love, doom, hope and everything in between. The band has been influenced by The Stooges, MC5, The Clash, New York Dolls, Manic Street Preachers and David Bowie, and this new album shows that! All these classic bands can be heard on their influences, although Turku Romantic Movement have their own recognizable sound that won people over where ever they have been.

Join the Romantic Movement NOW!

www.turkuromanticmovement
www.myspace.com/turkuromanticmovement

Songs:

1. Daily Planet
2. Zero Nine
3. Moneypulation
4. Black Beach
5. It’s Another Massacre, Motherfucker!
6. Nothing At All
7. In Command
8. The Return Of The Carpenter
9. Image Of My Time
10. Finland

It's been twenty years of rock 'n' roll

2009-05-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Twenty years means a lot of snapshots and that's where you come in! We're looking for UNIQUE pictures of you and/or the Backyard Babies. Unique meaning we would rather see what happened behind the stage than on it, it could be anything from fanzines and fan tattoos to vintage pictures of the band. Please submit them to pictures@backyardbackyardbabies.com

It's All Happening Newsletter - Spring 2009

2009-05-07T06:26:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally come to the Netherlands; the perfect time to update you about It’s All Happening.

Eline van Beek will be helping It’s All Happening with the various projects. She has done other PR activities at booking agency Alles Los and music company Fortress Music. She also has published a Dutch music magazine at the Lowlands festival in 2007. It’s All Happening is very happy to have Eline on board!

At the moment we can take on new PR projects. Would you like to have more information, please take a look at the website www.itsallhappening.nl or contact us by e-mail info@itsallhappening.nl or phone +31 650 542 944.

BACKYARD BABIES

Swedish rockers Backyard Babies just finished their tour with Danko Jones in March and will be out on the road again in the spring and summer all throughout Europe. Backyard Babies will be playing headlining shows, festivals and will be opening for Motley Crue. Check their Myspace for current dates: http://www.myspace.com/backyardbabies. Also be sure to check out the brilliantly animated video for the new single “Degenerated”:

UNDERGROUND FLY

Underground Fly is a progressive rock band from Poland that impressed people from outside their country with their debut album, something you don’t hear very often. In Eastern and West Europe the band has put their name on the musical map since 2006 when they released their debut album “Your Move, Your Choice”. This spring Underground Fly’s new album “Awakenings” will be released on Captive Recordings. This summer Underground Fly will be touring Poland and Holland, check out the dates at: www.myspace.com/undergroundfly.

TURKU ROMANTIC MOVEMENT

Turku Romantic Movement's second album Turku Romantic Movement is the "Album of the Week" on MySpace Finland, meaning that you can listen to it advance at www.myspace.com/turkuromanticmovement from 6th of May to 12th of May. The album hits the stores on May 13 in Finland, and the record release party takes place at Bar Loose, Helsinki on May 14. The album will also be released in Central Europe, UK, Canada etc. during June. Check out Turku Romantic Movement and fall in love!

UNDERWATER SLEEPING SOCIETY

The indie pop band Underwater Sleeping Society from Helsinki has released a new album! “The Dead Vegas” is the third excellent album of the six-headed band from Finland. In their home country their music is described as ‘Indie-pop-folk-punk-art rock’. Their latest album is a collection of 11 sweet indie pop songs with a twist that sounds a little like British bands such as The Editors and Doves. “The Dead Vegas” has received great reviews from the European press. Underwater Sleeping Society will be playing various gigs all through the summer, see: www.myspace.com/uwssoc.

LETZ ZEP

Letz Zep are now critically acclaimed the leading tribute to the music of Led Zeppelin, and, Baby, They ain’t foolin’. Letz Zep have been featured on BBC1, BBC2 and ITV1 and have also been reviewed in The Sunday Times by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson. New Letz Zep live dates get confirmed every day, check out their Myspace for updates: www.myspace.com/letzzep.

Letz Zep interview Toazted - Backstage Hotel - 11.04.09

2009-04-24T06:07:00.000-07:00

Interview Nicke Borg // Backyard Babies - Jimmy Alter TV

2009-04-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

Jessica of It's All Happening interviewed Backyard Babies singer Nicke Borg in Utrecht on March 28, 2009. The item starts at 02:00.

Alan Lauris – Different Frequency

2009-04-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

Is it electro? Is it singer-songwriter? Is it pop? Well, it’s electrosingersongwriterpop! This is an unique genre created by the songwriter/producer/artist Alan Lauris from Utrecht, Netherlands. The music is a creation of sensitive, melodic and sometimes humoristic pop songs with a little bit of jazz and classical themes. Humoristic? Just listen to what he says, and you will discover.

The album has been song in a half Dutch and half English language. The debut album of the innovative Alan Lauris is titled Different Frequency and has been released by Canal Island Records. Different Frequency is out now on his website (www.alanlauris.com) and iTunes.

His new album consists of ten avant-garde songs about his memories (‘1987’), his private life (‘You Need A Shredder’) and inspiring cities (‘London or Berlin’).

Alan Lauris recorded his album in a studio at home. He’s a typical studio artist, although he plays a live show now and then. If you visit a concert it will amaze you because sometimes he plays with an electronic set but other times on a grand piano.

The songwriter started his career in 1987 when he wrote his first song. In the nineties he discovered a talent in writing musicals and comedy. He’s been a part of the comedy duo ‘Alias The Same’. The duo released three albums.

Alan Lauris’ first solo album ‘Connect Me’ has been released in 2006. Most of the songs have been written together with British lyric writer John Coughlan. They have won several prizes for their songwriting.

Tracklist Different Frequency

1. Time Out
2. Concrete And Steel
3. Twelve
4. You Need A Shredder
5. London or Berlin
6. The Ratrace
7. 1987
8. My Second Life
9. Same Old Building
10. Snowball

For more information and music:
www.alanlauris.com
www.myspcace.com/alanlauris
www.youtube.com/alanlauris

Read about the Caribbean adventures of Orange Grove

2009-03-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

http://orangegrovestories.blogspot.com/

Joep Pelt and his rockin' friends present: "Rock-a-billy & Coffee"

2009-03-03T10:09:00.001-08:00

TOKYO TRACK SELECTED FOR "NOW THAT'S AMERICANA OK"

2009-02-25T04:33:00.000-08:00

Rock & Sock Records announced today that their recording artist, Tokyo Rosenthal, was selected to be included on the upcoming compilation CD, "Now That's Americana OK". The selected track, to be one of fifteen on the album, is "We Planted Seeds" from Rosenthal's chart breaking release "Love Won Out".

The compilation is the brain child of Americana icon Tom Fahey who hosts and produces the internationally syndicated radio program "Americana OK". It will feature fifteen different Americana artists from the best the genre has to offer.

"When we first heard the Tokyo Rosenthal CD 'Love Won Out' we were at first intrigued and then delighted by the eclectic mix of styles", said Tom Fahey. "It quickly became a favorite generating a great audience reaction. So you can imagine our pleasure when 'Toke' contributed a track to the forthcoming AmericanaOK compilation, 'Now That's AmericanaOK'. This will help to spread the word about Tokyo Rosenthal, the other 14 contributors, the show and the Americana genre generally. Tom Fahey presenter and producer of AmericanaOK is proud have Tokyo Rosenthal on board."

"I'm so honored to be on this record with all these great artists", said Rosenthal. "Some I know from the road and the rest I hope to meet soon and perhaps put on one big show together. Thanks to Tom Fahey for such a fine idea."

Also featured on "We Planted Seeds" is the fine playing of Alex Little on bass and Bobby Britt on violin. The track was produced by Tokyo with assistance from Chris Stamey who engineered the tune as well.

For more information on "Now That's Americana OK" and how to purchase it go to www.americanaok.com.
For further information on Tokyo Rosenthal log on to www.tokyorosenthal.com and www.myspace.com/tokyorosenthal.

TOYKO HAPPENINGS:

"Toke" did a special on the BNN Radio Network - http://www.bloggernews.net/119848
"Toke" will be playing in Hamburg on 3/21 at Down Under
"Toke" returns to the world famous "Blue Bayou" on April 2nd in Hillsborough, NC
"Toke" will return to Holland and Scotland among other countries beginning April 24th

Check "Toke's" web site for more radio show appearances and new pictures from recent tours and appearances as well as all upcoming performances.

Underwater Sleeping Society - The Dead Vegas

2009-02-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

A indie pop sextet from Helsinki. Riders of the Lost Ark (feat. Harrison Ford), so open the lid and join the ride. THE DEAD VEGAS is the new album. We recorded this album in Seawolf Studios, Suomenlinna during 2008, produced it by ourselves with Jukka Putkinen and Henri "Hippo" Ohvo recording. It was mixed by Kalle Gustafsson Jerneholm, Mattias Nyberg and Hans Olsson in Göteborg (Svenska Grammofonstudion) and Fred Kevorkian mastered the album at Kevorkian mastering, New York.

“The Dead Vegas is an effective collection of bittersweet indie pop songs, touching on the same indie nerve as UK acts like Editors and Doves with peaks in grandiose ‘Counting Stars’, semi-psychedelic ballad ‘Body Blues’ with its spacey chorus and power-pop gem ‘Painting The Dead’. -Peter Krogholm ( Allscandinavian.com)

All this being in a band stuff is really about making music, playing gigs, having good parties, meeting nice people and traveling, so we plan to keep doing it and try to get the music out there as wide as we can.

Announced shows 2009 (dd/mm)

05.02. Klubi, Tampere w/ Tapes
07.02. Korjaamo, Helsinki w/ Credit
(My Lovin´ Martian & Cute Pint)
14.02. Woodoo, Imatra w / Tuvalu
19.02. Rockefeller Annex, Oslo (NO)
20.02. Sentrum Scene, Oslo (NO)
27.02. Blue Pool, Forssa
28.02. Suisto-klubi, Hämeenlinna
04.03. Debaser, Malmö (SE)
05.03. Ost-Pol, Dresden (DE)
06.03. P3, Purmerend (NL)
07.03. W2, S-Hertogenbosch (NL)
09.03. Cafe Video, Ghent (BE)
12.03. Espace Tatry, Bourdeaux (Fr)
13.03. Gare De Lion, Wil SG (Ch)
14.03. Kukuun, Hamburg (De)
18.03. Garage, Bergen (NO)
19.03. Kråga, Kristiansand (NO)
21.03. Studentersamfundet, Trondheim (NO)
27.03. Klubi, Turku
04.04. Is This It - Festival, Helsinki
09.04. Rytmikorjaamo, Seinäjoki

Singer Songwriter Tells The Tale of Great Depression 2

2009-02-02T11:39:00.000-08:00

February 2, 2009 - Chapel Hill, NC - Picture it's 2040 and a young kid is asking an old geezer, "What happened back in '09 when you lost your house and job and why?" That's what Tokyo Rosenthal's new single "Mister Tell Me 'Bout The Great Depression" is all about.

"We spent it all on war and oil, put our heads in the mortgaged soil"

Rock & Sock Records recording artist Tokyo Rosenthal, fresh off the critical acclaim of his last CD, "Love Won Out" is now taking on the economic woes of the U.S. with his latest recording. "Like most boomers I heard the tales of the 'first Great Depression' from my Grandparents but never thought weʼd see another," said Rosenthal recently. "So I wondered what it was going to be like if I'm asked the hard questions 30 years from now, assuming I live that long(lol. Next thing I knew I put it all to song."

"We voted them our public trust, and they turned it all to rust"

Tokyo explained that he felt compelled to record the song immediately much the way Neil Young felt the urgency to record "Ohio" after he wrote that. So he ran over to Chris Stamey's Modern Recording in Chapel Hill, phoned up Bobby Britt to bring over his fiddle and two days later "Mister Tell Me 'Bout The Great Depression" was a reality on CD with Stamey also playing bass as well assisting on the production. Toke sang it and played guitar, mandolin, drums, piano and organ.

"Seems like we hadn't learned our lesson, Mister Tell Me 'Bout The Great Depression"

Rosenthal premiered the tune live on WCOM's Wrecking Ball radio program to a great reaction from DJ Jayson Sanders several weeks ago. He followed that with a performance on the award winning radio show State Of Things on WUNC. Now the song is being played by Americana DJs the world over and threatening to cross over to mainstream and country stations. Rosenthal embarks on a 2 week promotional tour of Holland and Scotland on January 26th where the tune is a welcome comment on Europe's economic stress as well. Far from a ballad, the song is a solid country rocker that both delivers a message and a beat.

Keeping in line with present trends the song is only available as a down load from CD Baby, iTunes and other down load services. The song can be sampled on Rosenthalʼs web site (www.tokyorosenthal.com) and his MySpace site (www.myspace.com/tokyorosenthal).

To hear "Mister Tell Me 'Bout The Great Depression" please click on the following link: http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/1069588

To download "Mister Tell Me 'Bout The Great Depression" go to http://cdbaby.com/cd/tokyorosenthal4

The second coming of Poland’s most popular new rock band

2009-01-06T11:30:00.000-08:00

Underground Fly’s debut album “Your Move, Your Choice” was hugely successful in Poland and made plenty of waves world wide. This is the much anticipated second album.

“Awakenings” is a very focused and mature piece of work... and very much on the ball. A well observed social commentary of the world coming from one of Europe’s fastest emerging economies. Underground Fly are at the forefront of Poland’s new thinking, new media scene.

For the second album Underground Fly made a conscious effort to walk outside all of those boundaries that would categorise them as a “rock band”, sometimes it’s good to unplug the electric guitar and see what else you can come up with. There has been muttering amongst the Polish press of “Fly Rock” and in the context of these new recordings it starts to make some sense.

As well as extensive touring of their home territory Underground Fly ventured across much of Eastern and Western Europe with a fantastic response. From trudging the cool alternative clubs of Holland to headlining festivals in Lithuania, Denmark
and the Czech Republic. Wherever they made noise, they were heard with wide open ears and open hearts.

In 2005 Underground Fly played the Swiss “Donc!” festival as foreign outsiders, they stopped the audience in their tracks and won huge acclaim as best festival performance. They also won the support and faith of Jean-Daniel Favrod-Coune,
a principal player on the Swiss live circuit, he even flew to the “Awakenings” recording sessions just to lend his “Martin” acoustic guitar.

“Awakenings” was produced by Mariusz Nawrocki, one of the best known producer/engineers in Poland. He has run his Cockroach Production facility in
western Poland for the last 12 years.

Further information, photo’s and other media is available at:
www.undergroundfly.com
www.myspace.com/undergroundfly

Happening Holidays

2008-12-19T04:06:00.000-08:00

It’s All Happening wants to wish you Happy Holidays and all the best for the New Year!

We would also like to take the opportunity to thank the following bands and artists for working with It’s All Happening in 2008:

Backyard Babies, The BossHoss, Consuming Art, The Covenant, Cruiserweight, edibleRed, iO (ex Guano Apes), Jon Roniger, Joseph Parsons, Late Night Venture, Letz Zep, Lukas Batteau, Lukestar, Marillion, Mr. Love and the Stallions, Orange Grove, RNR Agency, Skaguitar, The Spinshots, Sven Ratzke, Tokyo Rosenthal, Underground Fly, Utopium and Werring.

If you want to make a good start with your PR in the new year and if you think It’s All Happening could help you achieving this, please do not hesitate to contact us today!

Jessica interviews Danko Jones

2008-12-05T05:22:00.000-08:00

Jessica of It's All Happening had the pleasure of interviewing Danko Jones for Jimmy Alter TV. Some of the highlights of the interview are used in the Jimmy Alter presents Danko Jones report. The item starts at 02:00.

You can watch Jimmy Alter TV at these websites: www.jimmyalter.nl and www.101tv.nl

Big Bold Letters - New Album Cruiserweight

2008-10-30T05:31:00.000-07:00

Cruiserweight is a female fronted pop-rock band from Austin, TX. The four-piece band, consisting mostly of siblings and fronted by the youngest Stella, released their first album Sweet Weaponry on Doghouse Records / Heinous in February 2005. The band supported the album by sharing the stage with bands like Hot Water Music, The Get Up Kids, Saves the Day, Dashboard Confessional, Strike Anywhere, The Anniversary, Rx Bandits, and Avail. An interview in The Austin Chronicle had this to say about the hometown band; "fans take their songs to heart because they recognize themselves in the experiences Stella relates in her lyrics. By the same token, they attract the sort of listeners for whom music is about something beyond just being popular, sitting at the coolest table in the cafeteria, or having the current flavor of the week cued up on your iPod."

Musically, the band have a knack for crafting empowering songs based on Stella's own experiences. Personally, they happen to be one of the most likeable bands. "Of the five years we've been in this band, there've been so many different trends that have come and gone," says Hawkins. "There's something to be said for just being yourself and doing what you love because you love it. I think kids can see past it. They can see that we're just who we are."

HANOI ROCKS, WARRIOR SOUL, BACKYARD BABIES, THE 69 EYES Members Team Up For 'Pirates' Single

2008-09-19T05:35:00.000-07:00

The Baltic Sea is the most polluted sea in the world. Worldwide climate change affects us all. "Operaatio Maa" (Operation Earth), a new series starting in November on Finnish TV channel 4, features three separate teams with different environmental causes. Rock stars Jyrki 69 and Jussi 69 from THE 69 EYES form one of the teams, that will man the barricades for saving the Baltic Sea: they have formed an anarchistic environmental movement called Pirates Of The Baltic Sea and invite everyone aboard the ship that sails under the green Jolly Roger.

HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe joined the Pirates and created a powerful, anthemic call to arms that aims to wake people up from their apathy and to take action: every single living soul CAN take part in saving the Baltic Sea. Michael Monroe has always been an actively aware person, even back in the day: in the '80s he participated in the Sun City project, which was Bruce Springsteen's and Little Steven's worldwide musical protest against apartheid. Besides singing the song along with a bunch of other international rock stars, Michael Monroe can be seen in the legendary Sun City music video.

With the song "Pirates Of The Baltic Sea", Michael Monroe appears at his most aggressive, and punky for quite some while. The international band of misfits that recorded the song with Michael is a true rock'n'roll crew of the highest order: Jussi 69 behind the drums, underground legend Adam Bomb on the guitar, WARRIOR SOUL's Kory Clarke singing backup, and BACKYARD BABIES' Dregen on the guitar as well. A music video for "Pirates Of The Baltic Sea" — directed by Tuukka Temonen — was shot a short while ago on the Baltic Sea aboard the marine research vessel Aranda.

The release party for the "Pirates Of The Baltic Sea" single and video will be held at the Tavastia Club in Helsinki on Friday, September 19 starting at 1:30 p.m.

For more information, visit piratesofthebalticsea.fi

Jon Roniger on tour in Belgium and Netherlands

2008-09-14T05:36:00.000-07:00

Hey guys...and gals...

I am leaving on Tuesday for a tour in Belgium and Netherlands.
Here are the dates:

9.17.08 Den Hopsack
9.18.08 The Rambler
9.19.08 Cafe Steinbruch Duisburg
9.20.08 Blues Meets Rock Radio Show
9.21.08 Lokaal Vredebreuk
9.22.08 Musicon
9.23.08 Cafe Stiels
9.24.08 Radio 5
9.25.08 Amsterdam Radio 5
9.25.08 Skek
9.26.08 Muziekcafé De Hertog

Please pass this on to everyone you know! I hope that I get a chance to meet you at one of my shows there!

Peace,
Jon

Collette McLafferty [edibleRed] - Hey Ya - live at Radio 1

2008-09-11T05:37:00.000-07:00

MARILLION celebrate 30 years with new double album

2008-09-09T04:13:00.000-07:00

Marillion today announce their 15th studio album Happiness Is The Road, released exclusively on www.Marillion.com on 20th October, 2008. Marillion are widely acknowledged as the first band to truly embrace the internet and tap into its potential to interact with their fans and have sold more than 15 million albums worldwide to date.

Happiness Is The Road is a mighty 110 minute 2CD set, with the first album entitled ‘Essence’ - an adventurous musical trip exploring life’s biggest question “What’s it all about?!”. Alongside their signature classic rock orchestration Happiness Is The Road also references elements of pop, dub and soul and draws influence from artist’s as diverse as The Beach Boys and Marvin Gaye to Interpol, The Doors, Traffic, Pink Floyd and David Bowie. The album also sees Marillion experimenting with a host of new instruments including, Dulcimers, Glockenspiels a Harmonium, French Horns and even Sleigh bells a Harp and Zither and has been expertly crafted into a multi-dimensional sonic landscape by Co-Producer Michael Hunter.

The second half of the Happiness Is The Road double album is The Hard Shoulder; a collection of songs that draw their inspiration from far and wide including, Space Aliens America, Love Found and Lost, Sanity Found and Lost, and – I’m guessing – Britney Spears?!. According to Marillion’s lead-singer Steve H, the two albums that form Happiness Is The Road are a truly complete and contrasting set, “In many ways Happiness Is The Road represents our broadest and most wide ranging collection of influences to date, the music was written in the usual way - by jamming and listening, more jamming, more listening but with this album I think we’ve pushed our boundaries and redefined the traditional Marillion sound once again.”

Inspiration for title track Happiness Is The Road came from H’s visit to the doctor during mid-tour stress-exhaustion. The Dutch doctor prescribed not drugs, but a book called "The Power Of Now" by Eckhart Tolle; the book expounds on man’s addictive tendency to obsess with past and future whilst denying the present moment – the only real thing in life – and the only path to happiness. This proved to be the creative ‘essence’ for the lyrics of this incredible new album.
Happiness Is The Road also marks the start of Marillion’s 30th Anniversary year and sees the band embarking on a string of live dates across the UK this autumn and into
2009.

Exclusive instore performance Backyard Babies

2008-09-05T04:17:00.000-07:00

On Saturday september 13, Swedish rockers Backyard Babies will do an exclusive instore appearance in record store Sounds Rotterdam.

Nicke and Dregen will play some acoustic songs and afterwards will take the time to meet & greet the fans.

Don't miss this unique oportunity to see the band in a small setting!

Backyard Babies instore
Saturday September 13
Start: 15.30 hrs
Sounds Rotterdam
Korte Hoogstraat 24, Rotterdam

That night Backyard Babies will play Waterfront in Rotterdam. Tickets are still available.

Backyard Babies straight to #1!

2008-08-22T04:19:00.000-07:00

Backyard Babies' new album, which was released on August 13, went straight to the number 1 position on the Swedish album chart!

This is not the only good news; in Holland the new video ‘Fuck Off And Die’ has been added to the playlist on www.tmf.nl. The video had almost 700 views in less then 4 days. Check out the video here: http://www.tmf.nl/video/20141/.

The new album has been getting rave reviews from the Dutch press:

“The Backyard Babies have delivered an amazing record. If you wouldn’t know better, you would think this band hails straight from Los Angeles, but that couldn’t be any less true; the band is from Europe, and that is something we can be really proud of. (...) The new Backyard Babies album will be doing overtime in my stereo.” [Punx]

“Quite possibly their best record yet. (...) A heavy (punk) rock meal that is surprisingly easy to digest.” [SBS Text]

“The Backyard Babies know how to make rock music appealing for a large audience. Nicke and his guys seem to have found themselves again and this resulted in their best album yet.” [Roarezine]

“This the ideal record for everyone who still waits on the new Guns N’Roses album to be released. I bet the Backyard Babies will still your hunger.” [Rockportaal]

Orange Grove - ‘Some Live Stuff’

2008-08-11T04:20:00.000-07:00

Orange Grove: five young healthy men all originating from different parts of the Caribbean.

'Some Live Stuff' is Orange Grove's second album. It features recordings taken from a Orange Grove show at the Bitterzoet, Amsterdam as well as some songs from a show they did last Summer in the woods somewhere. 'Some Live Stuff' can be purchased online and it will also be available at upcoming Orange Grove shows.

A couple of songs of 'Some Live Stuff' and previous release 'Genuine Origins' have been used in Sint Maarten's first ever full-length feature movie: 'The Panman: Rhythm of The Palms.' This movie will be released on September 4, 2008.

‘Some Live Stuff’ will be released on September 12, 2008.

The BossHoss Live at KinkFM

2008-07-15T05:40:00.000-07:00

Gold for The BossHoss' Stallion Battalion

2008-07-13T04:23:00.000-07:00

Last night The BossHoss received their 3rd gold award in a row. The boys were honoured for more than 100.000 copies of their latest album Stallion Battalion in Germany alone. 500 friends, fans and partners had a fabulous party in Berlin, Mississippi.

It's All Happening in Musicmaker magazine

2008-07-11T04:24:00.000-07:00

It's not just the bands that receive a lot of media coverage, It's All Happening has also been featured in the press again.

It's All Happening owner Jessica de Wal has been interviewed about bio writing by Dutch magazine Musicmaker. If you can read Dutch, you can check out the link below for the article.

www.musicmaker.nl/bandbio/bandbio.pdf

RnR Agency presents: album Lukas Batteau on USB - Stick

2008-07-11T04:22:00.000-07:00

Lukas Batteau’s music is powerful, richly arranged and thick with yearning melody. It’s the urgency of the roaring nineties that’s found a new channel; the scream has died, hopelessness has made way for a new desire. Think of Damien Rice covering U2’s Achtung Baby album.

RnR Agency has chosen for a non conventional method to distribute the EP. Instead of the traditional CD, listeners will receive a USB-stick containing the digital version of the EP, plus extra material including a biography, photographs, lyrics and video fragments.

The EP ‘All Dressed Up And Nowhere To Go’ will be available August 31st on CD and digitally on iTunes and Amazon. Both the CD and the USB stick can be ordered by mail.

Watch a video report on one of the sold out shows in Germany on January 26 2008, ‘Driving On To Zollhaus’:

New project: BACKYARD BABIES

2008-07-10T04:25:00.000-07:00

The 18th of August it is time for Backyard Babies’ sixth album to hit the record stores. The self-titled album was recorded during 90 sweaty days and nights in Polar and Big Island Sound studios in Stockholm with producer Jacob Hellner (Rammstein, among others). The first single to kick off the album is Fuck Off And Die.

“Already when we started with this album felt obvious that this album would be called just Backyard Babies. This record feels most like Backyard Babies. It was about time that we finally make an album that has all the ingredients that a classic rock album should have!” says Dregen.

Backyard Babies is clearer than previous records and features an even fresher and cockier Backyard Babies, a natural step in the BYB-evolution.

With this new album behind them Backyard Babies will once again head out on tour to greet their fans around the world.

New project: Lukestar - Lake Toba

2008-07-04T04:26:00.000-07:00

Lukestar’s pop sound is an otherworldly one; seemingly taking as much inspiration from Mediaeval mythical creatures as they do from power-math-rock. Saturated with towering vocals that often exceed the normal male range, hook after marvelous hook, and drumming so fluid, present, and masterful that it is as fascinating to listen to as the vocal and guitar work.

"Lake Toba" is the new album that will be released in the Benelux on September 22, 2008 through Bertus Distribution.

“Lake Toba” has received rave reviews from most Norwegian major newspapers and magazines and the album has sold more than 4500 copies in a country where you receive your gold album with a sale of 15.000 albums.

Electric Eel Shock becomes the most established artist to reach US$50,000 on SellaBand

2008-06-24T04:27:00.000-07:00

SellaBand, the online music site which empowers artists to record a professional album funded by their fans, is pleased to announce that Electric Eel Shock has become its 23rd global act to raise the US$50,000 recording budget. EES became the first Japanese band to reach the target with 597 believers and in less than two months - in the first two weeks alone the band reached over 50 per cent of the target!

“Everyone at SellaBand is very pleased to see Electric Eel Shock reach the US$50,000 mark, in such a short space of time,” said Johan Vosmeijer, CEO, SellaBand. “The band has been welcomed by the SellaBand community. The results speak for themselves”.

Electric Eel Shock is one of the most established artists to sign up for SellaBand, having previously released three albums worldwide through labels large and small, such as; Roadrunner Records, P-Vine (Japan), Bitzcore (Germany), Gearhead (USA) and Spooky (Australia). The band has also toured in over 30 countries since 2002, performing an average of 150 gigs a year.

Electric Eel Shock has always embraced ‘the’ independent way of doing things and felt that working with SellaBand, was the right move for their music. “SellaBand offered us the opportunity to directly connect with our fans whilst also pushing our music to the next level,” said Aki Morimoto, guitarist and vocals, Electric Eel Shock. “We are really pleased to have raised the budget so quickly and are looking forward to playing at SellaBand’s second birthday festival – SellaBration ’08 - in Amsterdam on 15th August, at the world famous Paradiso”.

Electric Eel Shock have previous financed the band's development through their fans by setting up the Samurai Club in 2003: 100 fans paid £100 in return for guest-list for life. The £10,000 was used to finance the recording of previous release Beat Me which was licensed to several labels around the world.

Electric Eel Shock plan to record the album before the end of the year and look for a release early 2009. The band and their management are already talking to a number of labels regarding license deals in key territories.

New project: Jon Roniger - Charmed Life

2008-05-30T04:28:00.000-07:00

New Orleans native, Jon Roniger, is gearing up for the release of his new album “Charmed Life”. On it, Roniger serves up a collection of songs that put, on full view, his uncanny ability to bring multiple influences together.

“Charmed Life” simmers with the flavors of Americana, soft alt-rock and country, creating a perfect musical gumbo! Roniger’s songwriting shifts easily from layered songs incorporating a variety of instrumentation to a simpler contemporary folk approach. With “Charmed Life”, Roniger demonstrates his “roots to rock” aesthetic time and time again.

The record is packed with songs that are full of heart and have something to say that audiences want to hear. One of the singles from the new album, “The Way I Feel”, is a spot-on example of Roniger sharing his heart and message with listeners through his accessible and charismatic personality. It’s an ideal introduction to Roniger’s musical world and sets the pace for the album.

"Charmed Life is released in the Benelux on Setember 1, 2008 trough Rough Trade Distribution.

The BossHoss in the Netherlands

2008-04-25T04:29:00.000-07:00

It took some time but today finally starts The BossHoss era for Universal Music in Holland. The record company will release the current album Stallion Battalion and also the previous longplayers Internashville Urban Hymns and Rodeo Radio.

First single is Ca Plane Our Moi feat. Plastic Bertrand. From Tuesday on the boys will be on release tour in the Netherlands and already get strong support from Dutch radio: City FM is presenting the tour and Boss and Hoss will be live on air at 3FM on May 7th. The BossHoss are proud and happy to have now their official release in the Netherlands and so all we want to say to our friends over there is: HUP HUP HOLLAND!

more ska, more guitar

2008-04-08T04:30:00.000-07:00

more ska, more guitar is the first release of Amsterdamse based guitarduo Skaguitar. Contrary to what you might expect from a band named Skaguitar, releasing a CD titled "more ska, more guitar", this CD is definitely not your typical guitarplayers album. Nor your typical ska-album. Instead, this is a very enjoyable collection of guitar-oriented music for the average music lover.

The versatile album is mainly comprised of instrumentals. These range from the chunky "High hopes" to the quirky "Nurks". If you enjoy straight-ahead ska, listen to "Floating". Do you take your ska with brass? Listen to "Falling" with its roaring baritone sax.

And then there are a few vocaltracks on this disc. "Becalmed" features the husky singing of Mark Foggo, nicely contrasted with the smooth backing vocals. And Maaike Lans shines in the moody "Damn right", backed up by trombones and trumpets.
It's All Happening is doing press promotion for more ska, more guitar.

The BossHoss – Stallion Battalion, first official album release in the Netherlands

2008-04-01T04:30:00.000-07:00

The BossHoss
TheBossHoss is a band from Berlin which started in 2004 with Country & Western style cover versions of famous Pop, Rock and HipHop songs, for example "Hot in Herre" by Nelly, "Toxic" by Britney Spears and "Hey Ya!" by Outkast.

Stallion Battalion
Stallion Battalion is the first official release in The Netherlands and already the third studio album by The BossHoss. Stallion Battalion consists for 75 % of own material and for 25 % of covers in the distinctive BossHoss style: an eclectic combination of punkrock and country. Cover songs featured on the album are: ‘Everything Counts’ by Depeche Mode, ‘Gay Bar’ by Electric Six and ‘Drop it like it’s hot’ by Snoop Dogg. The single ‘Ca Plane pour moi’ feat. punkrock singer Plastic Bertrand will be a bonus track on the Dutch version of Stallion Battalion.

Lukas Batteau: a promise for 2008

2008-03-19T04:31:00.000-07:00

Lukas Batteau (1979) is a half-Dutch half-American singer-songwriter, currently living in Utrecht, The Netherlands. He started songwriting at the age of 15, inspired by Radiohead, U2 and The Smashing Pumpkins. It wasn’t until he was out of college in 2002 that he saw a long-held wish fulfilled when the rock band Yen Harley was born. But after two years he decided to continue on his own. Since the release of a demo March 2007 he’s been performing in various venues across the country. His music is described as “Great lyrics, melancholy voice and appealing melodies”, “A soothing, tuneful voice. The guitar chords and interspersed melodies are also really quite unique”, somewhere along the line of Ray LaMontagne, Damien Rice and José Gonzalez. He is currently working on a 7-track EP which is due medio 2008.

Werring rocks Holland with new single

2008-03-04T04:32:00.000-08:00

Who says pop music can’t have depth, be explosive and still remain catchy, appealing to young and old alike? Enter Werring...

Born and raised in The Netherlands, the brothers Erwin (vocals, sax) and Roeland (guitar) Werring are both trained musicians, who grew up on classical music, jazz and rock. In music they were out of ordinary successful at a very young age, for example they did their first European tour in a jazz band at the age of respectively 14 and 12 years old. Then back in 1999 they set up a studio and began writing, arranging, producing, performing (also drums, keys, bass, samples etc) and recording intelligent pop lyrics, financed by a lot of session work (studio & live) with a variety of acts, including legendary soul artists Sister Sledge.

Two years ago Werring got signed by a daughter label of Universal in the US (together with EMI Music Publishing), so the brothers moved to the US. Their debut album incorporates everything from heavy rock, disco, electro and of course pop – all blended to pop/rock perfection and masterfully recorded and produced in Hollywood LA by the legendary Mike Shipley. As a mixer or producer Mike’s records have sold in excess of 700 million units worldwide. Successes include Shania Twain, Def Leppard, Faith Hill, The Sex Pistols, AC/DC, Aerosmith, India.Arie, Tom Petty, Shawn Colvin, Green Day, The Cars, The Corrs, Van Halen, Nickleback, Kelly Clarkson and countless others. The record is finished and the label in the US wants to keep it on a hold until the time is right (very common in the US known examples are Kelis and Maroon 5), however Werring is allowed to do a release in their home country, which is very important to them!

It's All Happening is working on the press promotion of Werring's first single "So Strange". You can listen to "So Stange" at www.tunetribe.nl

Ex Guano Apes members are back with a new band and ready to rock!

2008-01-28T04:33:00.000-08:00

What happens when one of Germany’s best soul singers crosses over to the world of alternative rock? Singer Charles Simmons with Dennis Poschwatta, Henning Rümenapp and Stefan Ude come together to form an exciting new band under the name iO (pronounced “eye-oh”).

Their sound is Crossover of the highest caliber: heavy guitars coupled with the sometimes soft and soulful, sometimes furiously rock-tinged vocals of frontman Charles: a sound that fits somewhere in your CD collection between Living Color, Nirvana and No Doubt. iO walks on a similar path like Jimi Hendrix, Prince and Michael Jackson before them; an explosive mix of Rock and Soul, with music and lyrics that are dynamic and catchy, yet full of depth and emotion.

iO will do a small tour in Holland, in March 2008. It's All Happening will take care of the tour publicity.

American band and Dutch PR agency find each other through Twitter

2008-01-25T04:33:00.000-08:00

The very talented edibleRed from New York has fallen in love with Amsterdam. After a successful Dutch tour at the end of 2007 edibleRed decided to make Amsterdam their "home away from home" and to tour Holland every 3 - 6 months.

The band has been successful in the US for quite some time and is in the process of finding an audience in Europe. The band asked It's All Happening to help them take care of their Dutch publicity. edibleRed found It’s All Happening through micro blogging site Twitter.

edibleRed’s debut album “Welcome to my bad behaviour” was released in 2007 through Select Records. The single “Sugar and Spring” is on the soundtrack of an episode of “The L Word”. edibleRed will tour Holland in March/ April 2008.

Letz Zep will perform in Amsterdam again

2008-01-21T04:34:00.000-08:00

On Saturday March 22nd 2008 Letz Zep will once again rock the Melkweg in Amsterdam. For the second year in a row It’s All Happening will take care of Letz Zep's publicity.

Letz Zep is Europe's leading Led Zeppelin tribute band. They play sold out venues all over the world and they received the approval of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

If you like radio games, you can participate in “Listen to the Lyrics” at City FM Classic Rock Radio between January 28th and February 1st. You can win tickets, merchandise and a meet & greet with Letz Zep.