In the week that the BBC announces the winner of the Sound of 2010 I finally got around to signing up to the mailing list of the best band in the running and one of Kowalskiy's 'Ten for 2010'... Stornoway. Was glad I did when the email link to a free download of Zorbing B-Side "On The Rocks" arrived in my Inbox. Here's a wee preview and if you like what you hear then you can sign up on their MySpace.
On The Rocks
Fingers crossed for the rest of the BBC countdown!
Last but by no means least are the amazing Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers. Had the pleasure of seeing Ali and the guys a few times this year and was blown away. In particular the first time I caught them live they threatened to steal the show at Bedlam Theatre in Edinburgh when they supported Broken Records.
Debut album "Home and the Wildhunt" is scheduled for release in February through Electric Honey Records and arrives on the back of acclaimed singles "Draw A Line", "Twisted Mile" and the cracking "Hang The Noose" which hits you like a runaway train straight out of the Wild West!
Hang The Noose
In the New Year they'll be hitting the road to promote their album as well as popping into BBC 6Music on the 5th January for a session with Marc Riley.
Tour Details 24th Jan - Burns Night at King Tuts, Glasgow (with Broken Records) 31st Jan - Sick Kids Sunday @ GRV, Edinburgh 3rd Feb - Doghouse, Dundee 5th Feb - Hootenannys, Inverness 6th Feb - Trentham Hotel, Dornoch 7th Feb - The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore 4th Mar - COLOUR @ The Victoria, Birmingham 6th Mar - Westgarth SC, Middlesbrough
That's all from Kowalskiy for 2009. Thanks to anyone and everyone who has contributed or had a look at the blog. See you all next year and all the best for 2010!
Punch & The Apostles are without a doubt one of the best live bands Scotland has to offer! 2009 saw them relocate to Berlin after "catching their feet in the choking roots of the music industry". 2010 will see them return and self-release their debut album which is looking like being something a wee bit special if singles "Asylum" and "I'm A Hobo" are anything to go by! Not to mention new MySpace song "Rockefeller City".
Keep 'em peeled for their return! All the best for 2010 folks.... and all that jazz!
No list this time! Just thought I'd share my favourite 3 singles and albums of the last 10 years. There are plenty more that were close to earning a place on the podium but its these one I keep coming back to time and time again. For those not familiar with the covers they are:
Three to go on the "Ten For 2010" list so its time for Three Blind Wolves. Back in August the guys ditched the "Ross Clark and the Scarfs Go Missing" name and made a fresh start. Not sure why when you've just released the cracking "Silversword" single!
Anyway, Ross has been making great music for a while now (you gotta get yourself a copy of Anthems In Clams EP! - link on their MySpace) so fingers crossed 2010 is gonna be the year of the wolf!
Sex Is For Losers
Catch them on the 18th January at ABC2 (Glasgow) with OK Go, and at Voodoo Rooms (Edinburgh) with FOUND on the 12th February. Hopefully we don't have too long to wait for some new releases too!
Back to the Scottish ones now! The next on the list is hotly-tipped Edinburgh-based The Kays Lavelle.
Have a wee listen to this stripped back version of the achingly-beautiful "Aftermath" courtesy of The Pop Cop. The full band version will appear on the forthcoming debut album which I'm assured "should be coming out in Spring" through Wiseblood Industries. This will be preceded by a free digital download single to whet your appetite a bit more. Watch this space.....
....or keep tabs on TheSteinbergPrinciple (Euan from the band has himself a pretty blog!).
Aftermath
Here's a few dates to pencil into those shiny new diaries. Euan will be playing a solo set at The 13th Note on the 8th January supporting Benni Hemm Hemm and The Second Hand Marching Band. Then The Kays will all be at the Captain's Rest on the 19th January.
Next up is the second Oxfordshire band on the list, Foxes!
I'll let others do the talking here:
"Reminiscent of White Stripes with home made instruments." - BBC Radio Oxford "These kids kick out some delicious DIY power pop." - Audictive "It's everything and more you want from an indie pop band. Well written songs, girl vocals, some jangling guitars and some lovely melodic sounds coming from the keyboards. That's all you need to know is it not?" - Indie MP3 "Pleasing levels of naivety from indie poppers who clearly live in toy town." - Drowned In Sound
So if you're intrigued and a fan of Los Campesinos! or the much-missed Canadian outfit The Unicorns, then have a wee listen to recent single "Who Killled Rob?".
In the week that the BBC announces the winner of the Sound of 2010 I finally got around to signing up to the mailing list of the best band in the running and one of Kowalskiy's 'Ten for 2010'... Stornoway. Was glad I did when the email link to a free download of Zorbing B-Side "On The Rocks" arrived in my Inbox. Here's a wee preview and if you like what you hear then you can sign up on their MySpace.
Last but by no means least are the amazing Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers. Had the pleasure of seeing Ali and the guys a few times this year and was blown away. In particular the first time I caught them live they threatened to steal the show at Bedlam Theatre in Edinburgh when they supported Broken Records.
Punch & The Apostles are without a doubt one of the best live bands Scotland has to offer! 2009 saw them relocate to Berlin after "catching their feet in the choking roots of the music industry". 2010 will see them return and self-release their debut album which is looking like being something a wee bit special if singles "Asylum" and "I'm A Hobo" are anything to go by! Not to mention new MySpace song "Rockefeller City".
No list this time! Just thought I'd share my favourite 3 singles and albums of the last 10 years. There are plenty more that were close to earning a place on the podium but its these one I keep coming back to time and time again. For those not familiar with the covers they are:
ALBUMS
Three to go on the "Ten For 2010" list so its time for Three Blind Wolves. Back in August the guys ditched the "Ross Clark and the Scarfs Go Missing" name and made a fresh start. Not sure why when you've just released the cracking "Silversword" single!
Back to the Scottish ones now! The next on the list is hotly-tipped Edinburgh-based The Kays Lavelle. 
Next up is the second Oxfordshire band on the list, Foxes!