James Blake in Leeds Friday 3rd December

It is very likely that 2011 will belong solely to James Blake. James has so far released two EPs on R&S, each comprising of intelligent remixes and beautiful compositions. It genre defying music which can only be described as, well simply great music. He's remixed for Untold, Mount Kimbie and most recently covered Feist on the gorgeous 'Limit to your love', I dare you to listen to this track without feeling some sort of emotion. The video is also outstanding and has recently been featured on Pitchfork TV.

This show is not a Live show but won't be the standard DJ affair you have come to expect of late, it'll be interesting, bouncy and fresh, and no doubt awesome.

Tickets are absolutely flying out. They're £7.00 advance from Jumbo, Crash and Seetickets.com but you can pap on the door for £9.00. Strictly over 18s only though.

Buy tickets from HERE

James Blake - Limit To Your Love from James Blake on Vimeo.

Wanna support Phoenix in Berlin?

This is an opportunity of a life time for any up and coming band in Europe, in fact I'm thinking about starting a band myself just to get involved. The competition is simple apply with your band to the Beck's Music Experience site and the winner gets to play alongside Phoenix in Berlin on Saturday 6th November. Just provide a link to your best song, convince the jury and get your friends to vote for you. We'll keep our fingers crossed!

Read more: HERE

Visit the site here.

Wolf People (Jagjaguwar) added to Black Mountain show

I saw these guys supporting Avi Buffalo at the weekend, truly an amazing band, totally tubular! So I'm stoked to announce that they will be playing with Black Mountain at TJ's in Leeds on September 12th along with Lone Wolf. As you may have guessed, Wolf People have been added because Ladyhawk unfortunately can't play anymore. I'm sad because Ladyhawk are my favourite band, no bullshit I love those guys, I'll shed a tear for you brothers!


Download free Wolf People single here

Watch the video for 'Tiny Circle' HERE

Annie and the Beekeepers to support The Low Anthem at Wagon Week

The previously confirmed Caitlin Rose will now be playing with Deer Tick at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds on Wednesday 29th September. Replacing Caitlin will be Brooklyn based three piece Annie and the Beekeepers, a good swap I'm sure you'll agree. Check out the video below. Smoke Fairies will now be opening this show.

Annie & The Beekeepers Music Video from christopher walsh on Vimeo.

Mountain Man live at Nation of Shopkeepers. Mon 28th June

I'm really excited for this gig and with the album being released this Monday on Bella Union, it should provide the boost to get these three girls as noticed as they deserve to be. Mountain Man are a three piece currently based in Vermont and sing (as they don't play a lot of instruments live) a mixture of weird Americana Folk and semi traditional songs with odd lyrics about dogs and what not. Its all pretty new to me and I like it a lot, the perfect blend of soft vocals and some good tongue in cheek stories, inspiring.

The gig takes place on Monday 28th June at 8pm at NNation of Shopkeepers in Leeds. Tickets are a mere £3.00 in advance from Jumbo, Crash and Seetickets or you can pay on the door which is £5.00. Its a semi seated gig so there's only 75 tickets available for this so its nice a peaceful like.

Mountain Man "Babylon" [part 3 of 3] from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE, SMOKE FAIRFIES and LONE WOLF added to Wagon Weeks already ace line up

We are over the moon to finally announce that the seldom seen in the UK act OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW will be playing Wagon Week in our very own Leeds. Joining Old Crow Medicine Show on some or most of their UK shows will be DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE.


(Above Old Crow Medicine Show)

Old Crow Medicine Show have been going for almost 12 years now and play and great mix of old time traditional Bluegrass and great authentic Americana. I couldn't really imagine Wagon Week without these guys, and for confirmation check out their track 'Wagon Wheel' which is a live favourite HERE

Tickets are now available for all four days of Wagon Week. Below is the line up so far. Please note that there is still another 3 or 4 acts to be confirmed.

Thursday 9th September
THE LOW ANTHEM
plus ANNIE AND THE BEEKEEPERS & SMOKE FAIRIES
Venue: TJ's Woodhouse Club, Leeds
Buy tickets below from:
JUMBO RECORDS
SEETICKETS
CRASH RECORDS

Saturday 11th September
THE FELICE BROTHERS
plus Serious Sam Barrett and special guests
Venue: TJ's Woodhouse Club, Leeds
Buy Tickets below from:
JUMBO RECORDS
SEETICKETS
CRASH RECORDS

Sunday 12th September
BLACK MOUNTAIN
plus guests LADYHAWK & LONE WOLF
Venue: TJ's Woodhouse Club, Leeds
Buy Tickets below from:
JUMBO RECORDS
SEETICKETS
CRASH RECORDS

Tuesday 14th September
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW
plus very special guests DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE
Venue: Leeds Irish Centre, York Road, Leeds
Buy Tickets below from:
JUMBO RECORDS
SEETICKETS
CRASH RECORDS

Wagon Week: Now with The Low Anthem, The Felice Brothers, Black Mountain and Ladhawk.

The four day Americana event has now added some more exciting headliners. The first day on Thursday 9th September will be topped by Rhode Island four piece The Low Anthem. After releasing their third album 'Oh My God, Charlie Darwin' on Bella Union in 2008 the band have found fans in the shape of David Letterman, Jools Holland and Michael Eavis. This will be their first time in Leeds and a much anticipated one at that.

The Saturday headliner has been confirmed today as the ever popular barn storming group from upstate New York, The Felice Brothers. Having sold out Brudenell Social Club in a blink of an eye last October, this Saturday show will be a hot ticket.

More supports and headliners to be announced each week! However....

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!!!!

Thursday 9th September
THE LOW ANTHEM
Click here to buy from Jumbo Records
Click here to buy from Crash Records
Click here to buy from Seetickets


Saturday 11th September
THE FELICE BROTHERS
Click here to buy from Jumbo Records
Click here to buy from Crash Records
Click here to buy from Seetickets

Sunday 12th September
BLACK MOUNTAIN + LADYHAWK
Click here to buy from Jumbo Records
Click here to buy from Crash Records
Click here to buy from Seetickets

Who the hell is GAYNGS? and can I join?

When I first read about Gayngs and saw the symbol in various magazines, blogs etc I thought it was going to be some try hard experimental abstract, strange for strange sake concept album, but on the very first listen I gathered something uniquely amazing was happening here. The brains behind the project is Ryan Olson who has the enviable/unenviable task of collaborating the talents of Bon Iver, Megafaun, The Rosebuds, Solid Gold, Leisure Birds and more to make a prog jazz excursion influenced apparently by 10ccs 'I'm not in Love', talk about having the work cut out for you. Songs like 'Last Prom on Earth' sound like Barry White or Isaac Hayes meets Weather Report and Bones, Thugs n Harmoney or early Outkast, its fucking ace and the result is pure summer magnificence. I hope the next part of the project 'making it live' comes together with the same degree of precision and sweetness. The album is out now on Jagjaguwar.



Download 'The Gaudy Side of Town' by Gayngs via the Jagjaguwar websiteHERE

Download 'Faded High' by Gayngs via the Jagjaguwar websiteHERE

Wagon Week: 9th Sept - 12th Sept / First announcement: BLACK MOUNTAIN

The Iron Wagon's first week of shows starts in September on Thursday 9th with a very special headline act that we'll announce next week. Each night will be made up of 3 to 4 Americana, Folk, Alt Country or American/Canadian Rock acts and be priced individually for each night. The last night of the event is the first to be announced strangely, it just happened that way. Black Mountain are a 5 piece rock act hailing from British Columbia, Canada. Fronted by bearded songwriter Stephen McBean they've released two full length albums on Jagjaguwar and are set to release their 3rd in Summer of this year.

Ladyhawk - You Ran from Joey Angerone on Vimeo.

The guest support on the night will be fellow Canadians Ladyhawk (not to be mistaken with flash in the pan Australian pop thing Ladyhawke). Ladyhawk are a huge favourite here at The Iron Wagon and we've been lucky enough to do a show for them a year or so ago at the Brudenell in Leeds, so this will be a huge treat to see both acts together on one bill. Tickets are limited to 500 for this event so get them while you can as we won't be holding any back for the day.

Right click HERE to download 'Tyrants' by Black Mountain from the Jagjaguwar website

Right click HERE to download 'The Dugout' by Ladyhawk from the Jagjaguwar website

All ticket links below

Seetickets

Jumbo Records

Crash Records

Tickets also available over the phone:

Jumbo - 0113 2455570
Crash - 0113 2436743

Beast Coast at Nation of Shopkeepers next week

Still no album or label deal in sight yet for Visit the site BEST COAST, but I imagine they'll be playing most of whats gonna be on it in their forthcoming very small run of UK shows. I managed to catch them at their Fader fort show in March, even though the sprawling size of the Levi's tent wasn't the perfect surrounding for their sound I thought it was a great show, and she's cool as a cucumber stood om stage with her RayBans on and singing the perfect songs for a hot Texas afternoon. Can't wait to see them next week. The Visit the site NATION OF SHOPKEEPERS show is free entry but if you can't make it my boy Wesley from Visit the site NOW WAVE is putting them on on the 7th May at Visit the site DEAF INSTITUTE in Manchester. Cheers to Dan McEvoy for hooking this gig up.

Best Coast - When I'm With You from Pete Ohs on Vimeo.

Stag & Dagger: 21st - 22nd May

No Stag & Dagger in Leeds this year, but that doesn't mean The Iron Wagon aren't getting involved and helping out. Stag and Dagger last year was great, in Leeds we had Cursive, White Denim, Girls, Telepathe, Vivian Girls, Male Bonding, Abe Vigode and shit loads more, an awesome night. This year in London there's Active Child, Bok Bok, Brackles, Bug MCs (Flowdan and Daddy Freddy), Clock Opera, Comanechi, Cooly G, Dam Mantle, Deadboy DJ, Deadly Rhythm Soundsystem, DELS, Django Django, FACT DJs, Filthy Dukes, Frankie & the Heartstrings, Hyponik DJ Squad, Is Tropical, Mount Kimbie, North Atlantic Oscillation, Oneman, Peggy Sue, People Under the Stairs, Robin and Partridge: The Story Club, Reecha, Sian Alice Group, Sky Larkin, Stopmakingme, Team Ghost, Teenagers in Tokyo, The Bug, The Radio Dept, Yeti Lane.

Visit the site HERE

Get the Stag & Dagger Mixcloud Mix HERE

Record Store Day: Sat April 17th 2010

Record Store Day is the yearly event that brings together all Independent Record Shops around the world and for a day only sells exclusive and very very limited records, dvds, cds and tapes. Last year was a huge awesome beast of a success and this year the record labels have stepped up their game big time with the following items for sale (this is only a small small list, there is lots more too!) Check out the comprehensive list HERE

Thermals/Cribs – Split 7 inch single (Kill Rock Stars)

Beach House – Zebra – 12’ Coloured Vinyl (Bella Union 700 only)

Fucked Up – “Daytrotter Session” – MATADOR 7 inch single 500 only

Arthur Russell – ‘Calling Out Of Context” – ROUGH TRADE US IMPORT 500 ONLY.

Of Montreal – Back To School 7 inch single (Forte Distribution 100 only)

Dum Dum Girls / Male Bonding -‘Pay For Me / Before It’s Gone’ . Split 7’ inch single (Sub Pop)

Wooden Shjips – 7 Inch single. What it is / Buddy (300 only Forte music)

Happy Birthday – ‘Shampoo’ 7” inch single (Sup Pop)

+ lots and lots more!!

In addition to record stores selling amazing stuff, the people at The Iron Wagon and Nation of Shopkeepers have got together with Jumbo and Crash Records in Leeds to do a party to celebrate Record Store Day with special live guests Chapel Club, The Rent Boys and Minnaars, should be tasty.

Join the Facebook event for the Leeds day HERE!

Introducing: Zola Jesus

I stumbled across Zola Jesus a couple of weeks ago, completely by accident as usual, now I'm pretty obsessed, not actually obsessed but I've listened to Zola Jesus a lot this week compared to say Double Daggers who I love but they've gone on the back burner for now. She'll will be playing a good few shows in Texas next week so I'm going to try and catch one or two. Her new EP 'Stridulum' is out March 9th and can be bought from her website next week Buy from here.

Forthcoming Iron Wagon shows in Leeds

As usual January was pretty quiet, but we had some nice gigs in February such as Egyptian Hip Hop, Yuck, Is Tropical, Real Estate, Fair Ohs, Spectrals, David Bazan, Postdata (Wintersleep), She Keeps Bees, Band of Skulls, Chew Lips, Gyratory System and more. So onto the Spring bookings and its looking pretty sweet already. Below are all the minute details you'll need.

01/03 - Invasion / Bo Ningen @ Nation of Shopkeepers (FREE GIG)
04/03 - Phenomenal Handclap Band @ Nation of Shopkeepers
06/03 - The Crookes / Race Horses* @ Nation of Shopkeepers
12/03 - Four Tet @ TJ’s (Sold Out)
01/04 - Kong / Chickenhawk / Blacklisters @ Nation of Shopkeepers (FREE GIG)
02/04 - Islands / Tigers That Talked @ Nation of Shopkeepers
05/04 - Silent Front*** @ Nation of Shopkeepers (FREE GIG)
13/04 - The Bomb / Mob Rules** @ Nation of Shopkeepers (FREE GIG)
15/04 - The Strange Boys @ Brudenell Social Club
17/04 - Chapel Club* @ Nation of Shopkeepers
23/04 - Hudson Mohawke (Warp) @ Nation of Shopkeepers
07/05 - Band of Skulls @ The Cockpit
08/05 - Cold Cave* @ Nation of Shopkeepers
10/05 - Best Coast / French Kissing @ Nation of Shopkeepers (FREE GIG)
13/05 - Double Dagger / Friendship @ Nation of Shopkeepers (FREE GIG)
23/05 - Goldhearts Assembly @ Nation of Shopkeepers (FREE GIG)
24/05 - White Hinterland @ Nation of Shopkeepers (FREE GIG)
25/05 - Sian Alice Group @ Nation of Shopkeepers
28/05 - The Nextmen @ Nation of Shopkeepers
22/06 - Hot Water Music** @ Irish Centre

* as part of No Bones / ** with WYSAS / *** with British Wildlife

All tickets can be purchased from Jumbo, Crash and Seetickets.com

Buy from JUMBO

Buy from CRASH

Buy from SEETICKETS

Best Coast - When I'm With You by The Iron Wagon

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & the Cairo Gang

Hands u if you don't love Will Oldham, mmmm no one put their hand up, there's a surprise. Well I'm sure you'll all be pumped to know that Drag City have uploaded a new Bonnie Prince Billy song in celebration of his new album/collaboration with the Cairo Gang 'The Wonder Show of the World' due out in March. The track isn't on the album so its probably a taster of the material or whatever.

Click here to go to the site and hear the new track.

MillionYoung arrive to satisfy the Washed Out in you

(above - Toro Y Moi, not MillionYoung)

Since Panda Bear's album Person Pitch became the huge underground hit it deserved to be, there's been a steady wash of young electronic producers coming out in the states and mesmerizing the internet generation with secret releases, impossible to get hold out 12"s and inspirational sounds that you've never heard before. The list is slowly building day by day with the likes of Toro Y Moi, Neon Indian, Small Black, Active Child, Washed Out, Memory Tapes etc having releases out last year and early this year. The more aware people out there will see an obvious link with the likes of electronic acts that were popular in the mid 90's such as Nightmares on Wax (and their 2nd album Smokers Delight), Boards of Canada, Four Tet, Plaid and even earlier artists like The Orb, The Future Sound of London and even Brian Eno. Easy connection to make if you're over 25 but bear in mind these new producers were all of 8 or 9 years old when labels like Skam started up in 1996 in the wake of the post house/back to basics explosion. So when you hear the new oft referred to style of chillwave (horrible) these youngs guys are being purely experimental and may not now about The Future Sound of London etc, therefore making this new sound even more exciting.


(Above - MillionYoung)

Posted below is a link to the debut EP by MillionYoung, the latest of acts ready to trip you out and make you feel like summer has already arrived. You can see them at SXSW next month with the likes of Best Coast, Eternal Summers and tons of other ace new acts, if the suns shining it'll be the best backdrop ever.

Download the MillionYoung EP 'Sunndreamm' here

MillionYoung - Youthless by The Iron Wagon

The Strange Boys April UK tour

The Strange Boys second album 'Be Brave' is released on Rough Trade on Monday 22nd February, I've heard it and its a little gem, more polished than the first, but much better songs and hooks, in my poinion, obviously everyone is different so I would suggest checking out the forthcoming single, also entitled 'Be Brave' and making your own minds up.

THE STRANGE BOYS, "Be Brave" from EJ on Vimeo.

They will be playing at Nation of Shopkeepers in Leeds on Thursday 15th April, there will be a limited amount of tickets available (150 to be exact) so get one now as I think after the UK reviews of the new album come out it'll get pretty big.

Tickets are on sale this week from normal outlets.

WILD YAKS.....the sound of maculinity!

I've had four Wild Yaks tracks on constant rotation now for about six weeks, they have a sound which reminds me of a countrified Clutch or a semi graceful Scissorfight, add that to a guy with a saxophone and some male chorus group and you have WILD YAKS. They look a bit dirty but have an air of intelligence and aloofness. Thanks to a kind Iron Wagon reader I have now been told that Wild Yaks do have a release and you can buy it HERE!!!. I love them so much it does my head in, I doubt they'll ever come to England and I missed them at SXSW last year, fucksake, so the world turns....



Here is a link to three Free MP3s which arrive courtesy of my third favourite magazine The Fader.



Kids! Learn more about Wild Yaks by watching this amusing and entertaining short film, its about 5 minutes long and features an ex-girlfriend. Watch it HERE

Wild Yaks Myspace

Wild Yaks: "River May Come" from cutandpaste on Vimeo.

HUDSON MOHAWKE unviels live shows

Scottish Hip Hop producer/DJ Ross Birchard aka Hudson Mohawke released his first full length LP 'Butter' last October on Warp much to the appreciation of music lovers and critics everywhere. After Hudson returns from his stint at SXSW in March, he will embark on a short run of live shows in the UK. As yet these dates haven't been announced but he will be playing Leeds in April and more news on that will be announced in the forthcoming week. Until then you should familiarize yourself with his soulful techno Hip Hop and check him out live.

Hudson Mohawke Myspace

Hudson Mohawke - "FUSE" from Kase on Vimeo.

Yeasayer - 'ONE' (Free Download)

In order to spice up more unnecessary interest for the forthcoming 'Best Album Of The Year' nomination, Yeasayer are giving away their latest track free from various sources. The latest comes courtesy of
Rcrdlbl.com, you need to register with an email address but its a legal port to get the track from, so use that instead of some dodgy site.

Yeasayer 'ONE' via RCRDLBL.COM

Pre order 'ODD BLOOD' via their website

Click here to watch the wonderful 'Ambling Alp' video

Freelance Whales

Freelance Whales are a five piece folk pop act from Queens, NYC, they sound very similar to Iron and Wine circa 2003 before Iron and Wine started to sound like Yeasayer, not in a bad way just an accidental way. If you get a chance and are lucky enough to be at SXSW this March they have at least 5 shows over there, no venues or times have been announced yet but keep checking their myspace. Their debut album WEATHERVANES is out on 16th March (in time to buy it at one of their SXSW gigs. Or you can order it from HERE.



Freelance Whales on Hype Machine

Freelance Whales on Last.fm

Omar Souleyman vs. Leeds

Omar Souleyman (live)
Thusrday 13th May 2010
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Omar Souleyman is a folk artists born in Syria and has been making moving and busting out real live shows for the non believers since 1994 and his only just bringing is super rhythmic phase shifting Arabic meets Turkish brand of pop rap of to the UK now! Its down to Pavement and ATP that this genius his coming to our shores and I imagine it must have taken quite a while to arrange so I'd get tickets now as this is a hot ticket, you better believe dat!

Tickets available now from:

Jumbo Records, Leeds

Crash Records, Leeds

Seetickets

For more info about Souleyman No 1 check out the below links

Omar Souleyman Myspace

Subliem Frequencies Website

NYE: Pulled Apart By Horses / Sky Larkin / Spectrals / Wonderswan photoblog

Another great new year party put on by The Iron Wagon, this year with the help of Sailor Jerry Rum and Shut Magazine.