07 April 2014 – HOWLING BELLS @ OSLO HACKNEY
Our first act of the month is London-based quartet Howling Bells, who already charmed us with the lusciousness of their latest single ‘Slowburn’, released on the very same day as their gig. With three albums under their belt and a fourth one just on the way -release date for ‘Heartstrings’ is June 2nd – Howling Bells are ready to seduce us with their high-energy indie rock, giving us a taster of what has yet to come on their forthcoming UK tour in June.
10 April 2014 – BRITISH SEA POWER @KOKO
These six Brightonites, described by the Sunday Times as “the best band in Britain”, will startle you with the soulfulness of their repertoire. Majestic guitars perfectly blended with lyricalship’s profundity, twistedly dark sounds echoed by potent bass lines, British Sea Power are a breathtaking live band. Six studio albums released in a 10-year time span -the latest one being ‘Machineries of Joy’- plus an original soundtrack composed for ‘From The Sea To The Land Beyond’ film directed by Penny Woolcock, they simply are a force of nature. They’ll be gracing KoKo’s stage this next Thursday before continuing on their UK April tour. Go and see them.
11 April 2014 – MANIC STREET PREACHERS @ O2 BRIXTON ACADEMY
After having just been confirmed to play this year’s Glastonbury Festival, alongside an incredible amount of other festival dates as Benicassim, T In The Park and Fuji Rock, The Manics will play two consecutive dates at London’s Brixton Academy with support from Scritti Politti. Keeping on rocking since the end of the 80s, their sound and live performances are a certainty.
16 April 2014 – ELBOW @ O2 ARENA
Post brit-pop, alt rockers Elbow will bring their latest effort ‘The Take Off And Landing Of Everything’ to the o2 Arena for the last of their 8-date UK arena tour, before hitting the US of A. The album has been the first chart-topper for the English fivesome, released on March 10th via Fiction Records and it’s a beautifully intimate yet adventurous work. And while they’ve just announced they’ll be playing this year’s Glasto, be sure to not miss their London arena date.
18 April 2014 – THE PEARL HARTS @ CAMDEN BARFLY
With their stomping sound and strong visual style, it’s no surprise that this London-based pair have burst onto the scene. We’re giving you the chance here to be that person who says “I knew about them when their debut single had 341 views on YouTube” and we all secretly love being that person so don’t even try and deny it.
19 April 2014 – SEPTEMBER GIRLS @ HOXTON SQUARE BAR
Five girls who draw inspiration from the likes of The Velvet Underground, The Cure and The Jesus and Mary Chain, September Girls presented us with a startling debut just last month. Its all reverberating vocals, submerged in a crystal prism of shadowy bass lines and star-gazing guitars. Awesome.
22 April 2014 – PAINTED PALMS @ THE OLD BLUE LAST
Back in the UK for three dates, Painted Palms are going to bring their psych-tinted synth tunes to the Old Blue Last and we wouldn’t want to be missing it, surely! The Frisco duo recently released their debut album ‘Forever’, a pure drop of Californian sunshine slightly Beach Boy-esque. We love it and so do you. Catch them while you can!
27 April 2014 – BRODY DALLE @ ROUGH TRADE EAST
On the eve of her debut album ‘Diploid Love’ release on April 28th, the ex-Distillers Brody Dalle will play an in-store gig at Rough Trade East. She recently unveiled the first track off her solo project -which she co-produced with Alain Johannes at his studio in California-, called ‘Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy’ and fans went literally mental over it. With lots of sold-out warm-up shows in LA, playing golden oldies from Spinnerette’s and Distillers’ days alongside new material, Brody is now embarking in a full UK tour throughout April. Write down this date in your diaries and get ready to be swept off your feet!
More info here.
29 April 2014 – ANTO DUST @ THE SHACKLEWELL ARMS
Our current band of the Month are more mesmerizing than a 90s screensaver. Shoe-gaze and overlays aplenty combined with orchestral epicness and celestial subtlety, this lot sounds like The XX performing an intimate set in a cathedral if they’d overdosed on codeine.
30 April 2014 – THE DISTRICTS @ SEBRIGHT ARMS
Pennsylvania’s The Districts have recently released a stunning self-titled debut EP. They’re going to be performing it live at London’s Sebright Arms on April 30th, bringing their talent of blending imaginative indie rock with blues-tinted folk to the UK. We don’t think there could possibly be a better way to end the April giggery than this.