HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter

German Shepherd Records Newsletter #31 – The Parasite, It’s A Dog’s Life, Inferior Complex, Adventures of Salvador, and Gigs!

Hello and welcome to the latest newsletter from German Shepherd Records

We will be taking a well deserved break between now and January so this is the last newsletter for 2018.

This week

  • The Parasite release charity single and EP
  • German Shepherd artists get together to raise money for charity
  • Inferior Complex release new single
  • Adventures of Salvador join German Shepherd for a single release, offer debut album as a free download
  • Line-up for Manchester Meltdown Night 4 confirmed
  • Gigs

THE PARASITE

The Parasite have released a one off single called “Wooden Huts” which aims to raise money for the homelessness charity Crisis.

See here for details

Wooden Huts Cover

The Parasite will also be releasing a four track EP on 21st December called Culture Wars – music inspired by the individual members of the influential band Throbbing Gristle forms the basis of the release with words from Ian Moss an integral part of the overall concept. With subjects as disparate as American Gangsters, anger management, assassins and coping with later life, there is a heady mix of vibrant wordplay and musical tricks and puzzles.

Culture Wars

IT’S A DOG’S LIFE

We return with one of our regular charity compilations – this one is called “It’s A Dog’s Life” and features stunning cover art from Moff Skellington. With a sizeable number of our roster involved we have a mix of brand new tracks, alternative mixes and new versions of old favourites. This will be released on 21st December and all proceeds will be donated to Mary’s Meals charity. A bandcamp only SPECIAL EDITION will include additional tracks from The Get and Sam Smith.

Featured artists are:

  • The Parasite
  • Umbrella Assassins
  • Bouquet of Dead Crows
  • The Get
  • The Scissors
  • Issac Navaro
  • Inferior Complex
  • The Mind Sweepers
  • Kit B
  • Mistletoe
  • Auster Boys
  • The Junta
  • The Screaming Love Collective
  • Positronik
  • m.t. scott
  • Sleeping Ducks
  • Lizard Brain
  • Sam Smith

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INFERIOR COMPLEX

Inferior Complex finish the year for us with a heartfelt tribute to the Missons brothers late mother Audrey. Called “Always In My Heart” the song marks the anniversary of Audrey’s passing this time last year combining the bands signature post-punk sound with emotive lyrics. The single releases as digital only on 28th December. They will be back with a new release next year.

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ADVENTURES OF SALVADOR

We are extremely pleased to announce that we are working with the North West’s Kings of Punk Surf the mighty Adventures of Salvador to release the first single from their forthcoming second album “Welcome To Our Village”. Including existing German Shepherd artist Loop-Aznavour on vocals, keys and theremin, the band has built a well deserved reputation as a must see live experience with the immense bass of Nigel Beck, the fluid guitar of Mark Berry, and Mike Smith’s powerhouse drumming. The single is called “Retroman” and will be released on 9th January coinciding with the bands appearance at Manchester Meltdown 2 at the Peer Hat. Manchester on that very day. Pending that the band are offering a free download of their debut album Chocolates and Drugs – check out this offer on website on the music player – just select down and pay what you like. The offer is open until December 31st – LINK

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MANCHESTER MELTDOWN NIGHT 4 CONFIRMED

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The line-up for the fourth night of 2019’s Manchester Meltdown on 23rd January has been confirmed with a very strong show featuring Rose and the Diamond Hand, Bang up to the Elephant, Matthew Hopkins and Four Candles. The show runs from 8pm to 11pm and it’s a mere £3 to get in

GIGS

Forthcoming gigs featuring our artists ………

2018
December
19th – Aidan Cross of Weimar plays Glossop Labour Club at the launch of Brian Gorman’s New Dawn Fades book. Free entry and 7pm start.
2019
January
2nd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Saturn Mansion. Weimar, Trancedental Equations, and Four Candles
6th – The Mind Sweepers play the Big Burns Supper at The Hub, Dumfries
9th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring St Lucifer, Adventures of Salvador, Emily Oldfield and Four Candles
16th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Poppycock, Factory Acts, Mystery Guest, and Four Candles
23rd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Rose and the Diamond Hand, Matthew Hopkins, Bang Up The Elephant and Four Candles
30th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Springfield Elementary, Bobbie Peru, Elastikbande and Four Candles
February
1st – Weimar launch their debut single at The Eagle, Salford with support from Dominic Carlton Jones
9th – Scissors play NCI Club Cambridge (Cambridge Central Aid charity fundraiser, Scissors headlining, other acts TBC)
15th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Bury Sound at Hunter Club, Bury St Edmunds
March
2nd – Four Candles, Johann Kloos and Rose Niland play the Peer Hat, Manchester, a benefit for Macmillan nurses as a memorial for Modal Roberts

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HalfEdgeMedia Charity, Releases

A partly political broadcast on behalf of the Parasite party

Last Friday in Manchester…..

Revellers stuff their faces with overpriced sausages.nuts and alcohol outside Wooden Huts in City Centre Manchester where mere yards away homeless people shiver in shop doorways in damp sleeping bags.

This is so very wrong in a so called first world country.

It struck us that the homeless might use the Wooden Huts as some form of temporary shelter, and our more anarchistic inner monologues even suggested knocking down the Huts and using them for firewood to keep the rough sleepers warm. These ideas are covered in Moet’s lyrics.

However temporary solutions, a bit like the Huts themselves, aren’t the answer, so we would like to give you the chance to donate to a homeless charity by buying our musical offering. All the money raised from this release will be sent to Crisis after we have paid our admin fees to Bandcamp and Paypal.

A donation of £28.18 to Crisis will give someone this Christmas
-A warm welcome and good company
-Three nutritious, hot meals daily, including a delicious Christmas dinner
-A bed for the night, if needed
-A chance to shower, freshen up and get clean clothes
-A health check and treatment from a doctor, optician and dentist
-Expert help with mental health and addiction problems
-Advice on housing, employment and benefits
-A way out of homelessness for good through Crisis’ year-round training, education and support.

We have 800 followers on Facebook – if each of them donated £1 we could help over 20 people.

HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter, Press, Promo, Video

German Shepherd Newsletter#30 – Staggs, Bouquet of Dead Crows, Poppycock Video, Manchester Meltdown and Gigs!

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the German Shepherd Records Newsletter. This week

– Staggs release new single
– Subscriber Special Bouquet of Dead Crows Radio Sessions Collection
– Poppycock launch “Magic Mothers” Video
– Third Manchester Meltdown line-up announced
– Gigs!

STAGGS RETURN AND THEY HAVE ANGER ISSUES

Those fun frolicking STAGGS are back with a brand new single – ‘(Banned from) Anger Management’ and ‘Ner Ner Ner Ner Ner’ form the duo of in your face explosions of ire that make up “Staggs Cock Snooks”.  We always want more from Ridley and Scott but they are both very busy doing other things. The usual STAGGS tropes are in play, with tongues firmly in cheeks. The most English of bands they distill the spirit of eccentric and regional into tidy little nuggets of sound.
More about STAGGS here
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SUBSCRIBER SPECIAL – BOUQUET OF DEAD CROWS RADIO SESSIONS

We have released yet another subscriber special. A twelve track album of radio sessions from Bouquet of Dead Crows.
Recorded with Stephen Doyle (Salford City Radio) Dave Hammond (Cambridge 105) and Sandy Mill (CAM FM) the band are in full acoustic mode delivering songs with emotion and grace in an entirely new light.
This release is exclusively for our subscribers. It will not be on general release.
If you take out a subscription now you will get 22 back catalogue items plus the next 12 months releases for a mere £40. An absolute bargain!
To subscribe go to this LINK
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POPPYCOCK LAUNCH MAGIC MOTHERS VIDEO

In parallel with the release of last weeks new single “Magic Mothers” Poppycock have launched a new video.
The band  support Vic Godard at Yes (The Basement) on Charles Street, Manchester with ASBO Derek this coming Saturday 8th

THIRD MANCHESTER MELTDOWN LINE-UP ANNOUNCED

Ian has confirmed the line up of third Manchester Meltdown to be held on Wednesday 16th January at The Peer Hat in Manchester, the aforementioned Poppycock will be joined by Stoke-on-Trent band Model, the dazzling Factory Acts, with Four Candles making up the line-up at the festivals resident house band. It’s a mere £3 to get in and it runs from 8pm to 11pm.
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GIGS

2018

December

6th  – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
6th – The Scissors (plus Ember Rev and Goddammit Jeremiah) at Cambridge Cornerhouse.
7th – The Mind Sweepers play Coach & Horses, Dumfries
7th -Toska Wilde appearing at Connect With Nothing Event at The Lido, Margate
8th – The Mind Sweepers and Øre playing The Troqueer Arms Dumfries
8th  – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishops Stortford
8th  – Boz Hayward and Keltrix with Misharlo play The Peer Hat, Manchester
8th  – Poppycock support Vic Godard at Yes (The Basement) on Charles Street, Manchester with ASBO Derek
8th –  Øre will be playing their debut gig  at the TA in Dumfries
22nd  – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
28th  – Drink and Drive, Four Candles play Whittles, Oldham

2019

January

2nd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Saturn Mansion. Weimar, Trancedental Equations, and Four Candles
6th – The Mind Sweepers play the Big Burns Supper at The Hub, Dumfries
9th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring St Lucifer, Adventures of Salvador, Emily Oldfield and Four Candles
16th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Poppycock, Factory Acts, Mystery Guest, and Four Candles
23rd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Rose and the Diamond Hand, Matthew Hopkins, Bang Up The Elephant and Four Candles
25th – Ian Moss plays The Kings Arms, Salford
30th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Springfield Elementary, Bobbie Peru, Elastikbande and Four Candles

February

1st – Weimar launch their debut single at The Eagle, Salford with support from Dominic Carlton Jones
9th – Scissors play NCI Club Cambridge (Cambridge Central Aid charity fundraiser, Scissors headlining, other acts TBC)
15th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Bury Sound at Hunter Club, Bury St Edmunds

March

2nd – Four Candles, Johann Kloos and Rose Niland play the  Peer Hat, Manchester, a benefit for Macmillan nurses as a memorial for Modal Roberts
HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter

German Shepherd Newsletter #29 – The Scissors, PrunX, Various Artists Compilation for Charity, Looking Ahead, Gigs

Hello and welcome to the latest newsletter from German Shepherd Records.

This week:

– The Scissors Look Good In Cheap Clothes
– PrunX return with Sci-Fi teaser
– It’s A Dog’s Life : a new compilation for charity
– Releases for the rest of 2018 and looking forward to 2019
– Forthcoming gigs featuring German Shepherd Artists

THE SCISSORS LOOK GOOD IN CHEAP CLOTHES

Cambridge’s highly regarded band The Scissors return with a brand new album replete with their signature swirling keyboard-fuelled psych-pop,horrorshow freakbeat guitars and new wave post-punk basslines. Titled “Look Good In Cheap Clothes” the 7th December release shows a real development from it’s popular predecessor “Haunted Mirror”. With a dazzling mix of garage punk, otherworldly pop, and some new explorations  the band demonstrate a significant shift in their sound whilst retaining the core of their alternative take on music.

Here’s a sneak preview with a live version of album track “Ufotopia”

An interview with bassist and singer Stewart Harris, which includes a sneak promo preview of the albums contents can be found here: 

You can find more on the band on Facebook at: @thescissorsuk

The bands’ next gig is on Thursday 6th December at The Corner House, Cambridge with a stellar line up including Ember Rev and Goddamit Jeremiah.

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PrunX IN SPACE

Berlin based rockers PrunX never hesitate to point out the destructive effects of capitalism,  and on this new release they are using their unique sound as a “gateway to a peaceful solar system”. Celebrating this manifesto they release their third EP with our label on December 7th. Entitled “Contact” the three track collection presents a view from deep space – “favouring your ears with observations of Terra – most haunted planet in our galaxy”.

First Contact? – is a prelude for an upcoming concept album. The band say “It’s a far out story brought down to earth, when it happens, watch out for Sparks!”
Deadly Toys reflects a sarcastic spiteful calling out of arms-dealers.
There’s No Time is an ironic celebration of the negative impact of excess

Never afraid to rock out the band merge the best of the rich history of German music with a punk ethos. Label boss Ian Moss says “Imagine the Poison Girls in a heady brew with Amon Duul II with a hint of blues swagger”.

Facebook – @PrunXBerlin

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IT’S A DOG’S LIFE

Since the label’s beginning in 2014 we have regularly released compilations for Charity – including the Cambridge Calling series. To close the year we will release a new compilation called “It’s A Dog’s Life” featuring 17 tracks from our roster. The release will include brand new tracks from The Parasite, Umbrella Assassins, The Get, Issac Navaro, The Mind Sweepers, KIT B, Mistletoe, Auster Boys, The Screaming Love Collective, Positronik, m.t. scott and Sleeping Ducks. There will also be different versions and remixes of already released tracks from Bouquet of Dead Crows, The Scissors, Inferior Complex, The Junta, Lizard Brain and Sam Smith. A special deluxe edition for Bandcamp only will include additional tracks from The Get and one or two other surprises for our subscribers. The album will be released on 21st December and all proceeds will be directed towards Mary’s Meals charity to assist in famine relief. The album and also a selection of other German Shepherd releases will be featured on a special edition of Bob’s Aural Delights Radio Show on Analogue Trash radio on 20th December.at 10pm

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THE REST OF THE YEAR AND LOOKING FORWARD

After a busy year with over 70 releases and the launch of our subscription service we are ending on a high with three other new releases, a single from STAGGS, an EP from The Parasite, and a single from Inferior Complex. We will be taking a couple of weeks off at the start of 2019 but will be back in mid January firstly with a brand new album from Issac Navaro, and this will be followed by a single from Sam Smith, a new album from Lizard Brain and the debut single from hot new Manchester band Weimar.

Watch this space for details.

GIGS

November
27th – Rose & The Diamond Hand plays The Kings Arms, Salford
28th – The Strays play Lock 91 Manchester
29th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Gringos, Norwich
29th – Four Candles play “Free Rock & Roll” at Sound, Duke Street, Liverpool
29th – Loop Aznavour plays El Manisero at Eva, Sackville Street, Manchester
December
1st – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
1st – Bouquet of Dead Crows and Umbrella Assassins play Smokehouse, Ipswich
1st – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Bar 39 in Darwen.
2nd – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Sound, Liverpool
6th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
6th – The Scissors (plus Ember Rev and Goddammit Jeremiah) at Cambridge Cornerhouse.
7th – The Mind Sweepers play Coach & Horses, Dumfries
7th -Toska Wilde appearing at Connect With Nothing Event at The Lido, Margate
8th – The Mind Sweepers and Øre playing The Troqueer Arms Dumfries
8th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishops Stortford
8th – Boz Hayward and Keltrix with Misharlo play The Peer Hat, Manchester
8th – Poppycock support Vic Godard at Yes (The Basement) on Charles Street, Manchester with ASBO Derek
8th – Øre will be playing their debut gig at the TA in Dumfries
22nd – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
28th – Drink and Drive, Four Candles play Whittles, Oldham
January
2nd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Saturn Mansion. Weimar, Trancedental Equations, and Four Candles
6th – The Mind Sweepers play the Big Burns Supper at The Hub, Dumfries
9th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring St Lucifer, Adventures of Salvador, Emily Oldfield and Four Candles
16th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Poppycock, Factory Acts, Mystery Guest, and Four Candles
23rd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Rose and the Diamond Hand, Matthew Hopkins, Bang Up The Elephant and Four Candles
25th – Ian Moss plays The Kings Arms, Salford
30th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Springfield Elementary, Bobbie Peru, Elastikbande and Four Candles
February
1st – Weimar launch their debut single at The Eagle, Salford with support from Dominic Carlton Jones
9th – Scissors play NCI Club Cambridge (Cambridge Central Aid charity fundraiser, Scissors headlining, other acts TBC)
March
2nd – Four Candles, Johann Kloos and Rose Niland play the Peer Hat, Manchester, a benefit for Macmillan nurses as a memorial for Modal Roberts

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HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter

German Shepherd Records Newsletter #28 – Poppycock, Crab Dance GIs, Subscription Service, Four Candles and Gigs

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the German Shepherd Records Newsletter. In this edition

  • Poppycock release a new single
  • Crab Dance GIs release their debut single
  • Our subscription service
  • Four Candles in the studio
  • Gigs

POPPYCOCK RELEASE “MAGIC MOTHERS”

Poppycock return with their second single of the year – the feminist anthem “Magic Mothers”. For a long time this potent piece of garage rock has been a live favourite with its’ call and response structure and positive message of empowerment. Poppycock is the collective formed by Una Baines (The Fall, Blue Orchids, Fates) which is a favourite on the Manchester live scene.

The line-up for this release is:

Vox – Lucy Nyland and Christine Johnson
Guitar – Heather Greenbank
Bass – Matt Crawford
Drums -Stuart Quinn-Harvie
Keys – Una Baines

The single was recorded at the excellent community resource at Seed Studios in Old Trafford and was engineered by Manos Sarantidis and produced by Manos Sarantidis and Una Baines.

Release date is 30th November. This is a digital only release which can be accessed via Bandcamp and 33 other download platforms.

 

CRAB DANCE GIs RELEASE DEBUT SINGLE

The Crab Dance GIs is a project from Danny Cusick (KITB, The Hidden Gem) and Craig Bodell (The Hidden Gem). Imbued with Manchester Pop Spirit the duo have delivered two classic pieces of rainy city music. Motorik beats, guitars and keys and kitchen sink drama lyrics are at the centre of “(LIsten to the) Dole Drums” an unambiguous tirade against poverty, a psycho-geographical dance around Manchester City Centre, and so damned catchy it hurts. “Compassion Fatigue” similarly balances post-punk with Manc pop smarts – a tirade against the selfie obsessed attention seekers that infest our streets.

Release date is 30th November. This is a digital only release which can be accessed via Bandcamp ONLY.


OUR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE

Now well established our Subscription Service via Bandcamp offers music lovers to opportunity to access everything we release in any twelve months for £40. As well as receiving everything we have released since we started the service, plus a selection of older releases – now numbering 19 releases in total – the subscriber gets access to rare and otherwise unreleased items from our artists that will not be available on general sale. With over 40 releases a year this is an absolute bargain.

Interested? Then sign up at – https://germanshepherdrecords.bandcamp.com/subscribe

FOUR CANDLES IN THE STUDIO

Four Candles are back at 6dB studios in Salford under Ding’s expert guidance to record their third album. Feedback is extremely positive and some of the new tunes that have appeared at recent gigs will be laid down. Expect to hear more at forthcoming gigs!

GIGS

The gig calendar is filling up fast with dates already in place for 2019. Particularly notable is Manchester Meltdown which is every Wednesday evening in January at the Peer Hat and features the best in Manchester and Salford grass roots music.

2018
November
22nd – Inferior Complex play The King Charles, Poole
23rd – Electric Cheese play Zombie Shack, Manchester
24th – Bouquet of Dead Crows launch new album Motus Octo at The Blue Moon, Cambridge
24th- Keltrix play The Crown & Pipes, Fenstanton
24th – The Strays play Fuel Cafe, Manchester
27th – Rose & The Diamond Hand plays The Kings Arms, Salford
29th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Gringos, Norwich
29th – Four Candles play “Free Rock & Roll” at Sound, Duke Street, Liverpool
29th – Loop Aznavour plays El Manisero at Eva, Sackville Street, Manchester
December
1st – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
1st – Bouquet of Dead Crows and Umbrella Assassins play Smokehouse, Ipswich
1st – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Bar 39 in Darwen.
2nd – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Sound, Liverpool
6th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
6th – The Scissors (plus Ember Rev and Goddammit Jeremiah) at Cambridge Cornerhouse.
7th – The Mind Sweepers play Coach & Horses, Dumfries
7th -Toska Wilde appearing at Connect With Nothing Event at The Lido, Margate
8th – The Mind Sweepers and Øre playing The Troqueer Arms Dumfries
8th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishops Stortford
8th – Boz Hayward and Keltrix with Misharlo play The Peer Hat, Manchester
8th – Poppycock support Vic Godard at Yes (The Basement) on Charles Street, Manchester with ASBO Derek
8th – Øre will be playing their debut gig at the TA in Dumfries
22nd – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
28th – Drink and Drive, Four Candles play Whittles, Oldham
2019
January
2nd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Nick Alexander. Weimar, Trancedental Equations, and Four Candles
6th – The Mind Sweepers play the Big Burns Supper at The Hub, Dumfries
9th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring St Lucifer, Adventures of Salvador, Emily Oldfield and Four Candles
16th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Poppycock, Factory Acts, Mystery Guest, and Four Candles
23rd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Rose and the Diamond Hand, Matthew Hopkins, Bang Up The Elephant and Four Candles
25th – Dominic Carlton Jones, Ian Moss and Toska Wilde play The Kings Arms, Salford
30th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Springfield Elementary, Bobbie Peru, Elastikbande and Four Candles
February
1st – Weimar launch their debut single at The Eagle, Salford with support from Dominic Carlton Jones
9th – Scissors play NCI Club Cambridge (Cambridge Central Aid charity fundraiser, Scissors headlining, other acts TBC)
March
2nd – Four Candles, Johann Kloos and Rose Niland play the Peer Hat, Manchester, a benefit for Macmillan nurses as a memorial for Modal Roberts

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HalfEdgeMedia Single

Weimar announce first single and launch

Weimar , the band comprising Aidan Cross- vocals, rhythm guitar, Johann Kloos- lead guitar, John Armstrong- bass and Anthony Edwards- drums, have announced the release of their debut single, the double A-side John Doe/Curse the Songs, to be released 1st February 2019, accompanied by a special launch gig at The Eagle Inn in Salford!

Recorded at 6db Studios Salford and produced by the legendary Simon ‘Ding’ Archer (The Fall, Pixies, PJ Harvey, Bobbie Peru), the double A-side will be released in physical format by Weimar’s own label Marlene’s Hat, and digitally by German Shepherd Records.

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HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter

German Shepherd Records Newsletter #27 – Bouquet of Dead Crows Album Release, and Gig Guide

This week we focus on the release of the brand new album from Cambridge alternative rockers Bouquet of Dead Crows.

Their second album “Motus Octo” is released on 23rd November. The title (referring to the fact that there are eight tracks on the album), essentially means ‘eight movements’, or eight emotions.

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This is an altogether harder and more focused set of songs than the debut album “Of The Night” with the band embracing the heavier side of their music but retaining the melodic edge that sets them apart. Expect riffs galore, epic tunes with soaring vocals and a rhythm section which drives the band to new levels.

Pre-release CDs of the album have completely sold out however Limited Edition Colour Vinyl Versions of the album plus T-Shirts and gig tickets are available via this link 

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The album will be available digitally via Bandcamp and the following sites

I Tunes, Apple Music, I Tunes Match, I Tunes Radio, Spotify, Amazon, Google Play
Napster, Media Play, Pulse Locker, 7 Digital, HMV Digital, Rdio, Pandora, I heart radio
Deezer, Svooq, Slacker Radio, Nokia, 24 / 7 Entertainment, Shazam, Akazoo, Aspiro
Wimp, Tidal, KK Box, Saavn, United Media Agency, AWA Music, Anghami Music
Claro Musica, Yandex, You Tube Music

Bouquet of Dead Crows are:

Antoinette Cooper : Vocals
Neil Bruce : Guitars
Graeme Clarke : Bass
Andrew Coxall : Drums, Percussion, Trumpet, Synths & Keys, & Backing vocals

Jethro Steel of Goldblume is the guest vocalist on track 7 Cold Inside

The album was recorded and Produced By Neil Haynes at the Parlour

Artwork is by Stewart Harris 

The band is touring to support the album with the following gigs:

NOVEMBER
15th – Esquires, Bedford
24th – The Blue Moon, Cambridge : ALBUM LAUNCH
29th – Gringos, Norwich
DECEMBER
1st – Smokehouse, Ipswich with label mates Umbrella Assassins
6th –Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
8th – The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishops Stortford

REVIEWS

……the quartet goes from the heavier waves of Alternative Metal to the charm of British Rock and the melancholy of Blues, extracting crisp and vibrant sounds from their instruments throughout the entire album, keeping us hooked on their music and always eager for more. THE HEADBANGING MOOSE

……with their second full length and a fuller, more aggressive sound emerges, consolidating the tension between the hard rock of the music and Toni Cooper’s melodic vocals. The music takes on a much broader more orchestral sound, the riffs are heavier, the structures are more complex. The band have demonstrated a clear development of their sound with this release. AURAL DELIGHTS

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GERMAN SHEPHERD ARTISTS GIGS

Gigs are piling up for our artists – here is the current full list

2018

November

14th – The Junta is invading Lock 91, Deansgate Locks, Manchester. Free entry
15th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Esquires, Bedford
17th – Drink and Drive and Four Candles play The Railway, Greenfield
17th – The Mindsweepers play The Riverside, Dumfries
17th – Poppycock and Aidan Cross (The Bacillus, Weimar) playing The Waldorf, Manchester as part of a Benefit gig for the NUJ Exiled Journalists Network
18th – Four Candles and Matthew Hopkins play The Eagle, Salford
22nd – Inferior Complex play The King Charles, Poole
23rd – Electric Cheese play Zombie Shack, Manchester
24th – Bouquet of Dead Crows launch new album Motus Octo at The Blue Moon, Cambridge
24th- Keltrix play The Crown & Pipes, Fenstanton
27th – Rose & The Diamond Hand plays The Kings Arms, Salford
29th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Gringos, Norwich
29th – Four Candles play “Free Rock & Roll” at Sound, Duke Street, Liverpool
29th – Loop Aznavour plays El Manisero at Eva, Sackville Street, Manchester

December

1st – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
1st – Bouquet of Dead Crows and Umbrella Assassins play Smokehouse, Ipswich
1st – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Bar 39 in Darwen.
2nd – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Sound, Liverpool
6th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
6th – The Scissors at Cambridge Cornerhouse.
7th – The Mind Sweepers play Coach & Horses, Dumfries
7th -Toska Wilde appearing at Connect With Nothing Event at The Lido, Margate
8th – The Mind Sweepers and Øre playing The Troqueer Arms Dumfries
8th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishops Stortford
8th – Boz Hayward and Keltrix with Misharlo play The Peer Hat, Manchester
8th – Sam Smith and The Ombudsmen play The Castle, Manchester
8th – Poppycock support Vic Godard at Yes (The Basement) on Charles Street, Manchester with ASBO Derek
8th – Øre will be playing their debut gig at the TA in Dumfries
22nd – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
28th – Drink and Drive and Four Candles play Whittles, Oldham

2019

January

2nd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Saturn Mansion. Weimar, Trancedental Equations, and Four Candles
6th – The Mind Sweepers play the Big Burns Supper at The Hub, Dumfries
9th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring St Lucifer, Adventures of Salvador, Emily Oldfield and Four Candles
16th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Poppycock, Factory Acts, Mystery Guest, and Four Candles
23rd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Rose and the Diamond Hand, Matthew Hopkins, Bang Up The Elephant and Four Candles
25th – Dominic Carlton Jones, Ian Moss and Toska Wilde play The Kings Arms, Salford
30th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Springfield Elementary, Bobbie Peru, Elastikbande and Four Candles

February

9th – Scissors play NCI Club Cambridge (Cambridge Central Aid charity fundraiser, Scissors headlining, other acts TBC)

March

2nd – Four Candles, Johann Kloos and Rose Niland play the Peer Hat, Manchester, a benefit for Macmillan nurses as a memorial for Modal Roberts

 

HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter

German Shepherd Records Newsletter #26 – Flea, Inferior Complex, Crab Dance GIs, Subscriber Special Offer, and, Gigs

Hello and welcome to this weeks edition of the German Shepherd Newsletter.  Featuring this time :

– Flea release album of classic tracks
– Inferior Complex celebrate Southampton Punks
– Crab Dance GIs announce new single
– New special offer for subscribers 11 to 20
– Gigs

Flea to release “parasitic insects teach us humility”

16th November sees the digital only release of a debut album for Manchester band Flea. It’s a debut that has arrived a little later than initially anticipated, as explained below:

Flea exists in the years between 1987 and 1993, as bass and drum-machine driven, industrial ‘grindcore’ noise merchants. Based in the depths of Manchester’s legendary Boardwalk rehearsal rooms alongside contemporaries A Certain Ratio, Happy Mondays and Oasis, Flea foray the UK (often with roommates Slum Turkeys or neighbours Dub Sex) to unleash their experimental industrial machine-groove upon unsuspecting audiences. Art Carbuncle’s bass nods to a PiL-dub thing and Boz Vile’s guitar sculpture is reminiscent of Keith Levene, John McGeogh and Geordie Walker. Sissy the drum machine produces unpredictable, edgy on/off beats that drive the audience into pleasurable submission. Feeding on the energy of the time, this complementary undercurrent and anti-dote to the co-existing ‘Madchester’ scene, goes under the radar.

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The discerning music world need not be concerned: A generation later, this parasitic menace will be found! German Shepherd Records will come to the rescue and release a collection of Flea songs recorded between 1989 and 1992. In this day people will identify strongly with Flea’s awareness of mental health issues, greed, media control and fake news. This collection includes hard-hitting Headshrinker ‘what’s for dinner?’: a hypnotic collision course with ‘medication time’ helped on its way with an intentional disorientating loop from Sissy. ‘Golf Show’ is a statement about CNN’s rolling news during the first Gulf War with all its surgical strikes, ‘Get A Life’ presents thoughts about ‘normal’, material life over an infectious, dubby bassline Jah Wobble would be proud of. ‘Panic Button’ is Oh Sees meet JAMC on speed on the beach. The finale ‘Your Words Mean Nothing To Me’ is a rescued treasure that could be in a ‘best of’ Magazine catalogue but with such emotional intensity that even Sissy is throwing up in turbulent rhythms. Extraordinary stuff which has found its time.

Flea exists again!

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Inferior Complex celebrate the Southampton Punk Scene

Inferior Complex return on November 16th with a new single, previously featured on a charity compilation. The usual trio of the Missons brothers and Paul Jenman are joined by Paul Beazley who narrates a list of key figures on the original Southampton Punk scene over a pulsing dub/post-punk soundscape dominated by Ray’s growling bass. The single is attached.

The trio will release another single in December and will have a new EP out in the New Year.

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Crab Dance G.I.s announce new single

Crab Dance G.I.s – the duo featuring Danny Cusick (Hidden Gem, KIT B) and Craig Bodell (Hidden Gem) have announced a new double AA single (Listen To The) Dole Drums, and Compassion Fatigue to be released digitally via Bandcamp on November 30th. The duo have previously featured on one of our compilation albums – “Salford Streets”

As part of the writing team that created some of the Hidden Gem’s memorable tunes Cusick and Bodell have a gift for song-craft which is exceptional. Watch this space for more details.

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Second Subscriber Special

In order to encourage our fans to take up our value for money subscription we are offering the next ten people to sign up a free gift of a CD from our back catalogue. For a mere £40 a year subscribers will receive everything we release over 12 months plus a selection of items from our back catalogue as well as one off subscriber specials which will not be released anywhere else.

Subscribe Here

Gigs

The gig calendar is rapidly filling up and dates are now appearing well into next year

2018
November
14th – The Junta is invading Lock 91, Deansgate Locks, Manchester
15th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Esquires, Bedford
17th – Drink and Drive and Four Candles play The Railway, Greenfield
17th – The Mindsweepers play The Riverside, Dumfries
18th – Four Candles and Matthew Hopkins play The Eagle, Salford
22nd – Inferior Complex play The King Charles, Poole
23rd – Electric Cheese play Zombie Shack, Manchester
24th – Bouquet of Dead Crows launch new album Motus Octo at The Blue Moon, Cambridge
24th- Keltrix play The Crown & Pipes, Fenstanton
27th – Rose & The Diamond Hand plays The Kings Arms, Salford
29th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Gringos, Norwich
29th – Four Candles play “Free Rock & Roll” at Sound, Duke Street, Liverpool
29th – Loop Aznavour plays El Manisero at Eva, Sackville Street, Manchester
December
1st – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
1st – Bouquet of Dead Crows and Umbrella Assassins play Smokehouse, Ipswich
1st – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Bar 39 in Darwen.
2nd – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Sound, Liverpool
6th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
6th – The Scissors (plus Ember Rev and Goddammit Jeremiah) at Cambridge Cornerhouse.
7th – The Mind Sweepers play Coach & Horses, Dumfries
8th – The Mind Sweepers and Øre playing The Troqueer Arms Dumfries
8th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishops Stortford
8th – Boz Hayward and Keltrix with Misharlo play The Peer Hat, Manchester
8th – Poppycock support Vic Godard at Yes (The Basement) on Charles Street, Manchester with ASBO Derek
8th – Øre will be playing their debut gig at the TA in Dumfries
22nd – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
28th – Drink and Drive play Whittles, Oldham
2019
January
2nd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Saturn Mansion. Weimar, Trancedental Equations, and Four Candles
9th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring St Lucifer, Adventures of Salvador, Emily Oldfield and Four Candles
16th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Poppycock, Factory Acts, Mystery Guest, and Four Candles
23rd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Rose and the Diamond Hand, Matthew Hopkins, Bang Up The Elephant and Four Candles
25th – Dominic Carlton Jones, Ian Moss and Toska Wilde play The Kings Arms, Salford
30th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Springfield Elementary, Bobbie Peru, Elastikbande and Four Candles
February
9th – Scissors play NCI Club Cambridge (Cambridge Central Aid charity fundraiser, Scissors headlining, other acts TBC)
March
2nd – Four Candles, Johann Kloos and Rose Niland play the Peer Hat, Manchester, a benefit for Macmillan nurses as a memorial for Modal Roberts

HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter

German Shepherd Records Newsletter #25 – m.t. scott, Bouquet of Dead Crows, The Ombudsmen, Manchester Meltdown, Subscribers Update and Gigs

Hello and welcome to our weekly update.

This week:

  • m.t. scott returns with a stunning single
  • Bouquet of Dead Crows radio interview
  • Introducing The Ombudsmen
  • Manchester Meltdown returns
  • Subscribers update
  • Gigs!!

m.t. scott launches new single “Don’t Mention The War”

Taciturn North Easterner and all round renaissance man m.t. scott is back, in partnership with Josephine Dechamp, with a just over six minute tune of epic grandeur.”Don’t Mention The War” which releases digitally on November 9th.

Scott says:

On holiday against nature, Basil Fawlty meets Marlene Dietrich in a nazi death camp. They examine British heavy metal graffiti and take photographs. True story.

Alternatively we say:

Noir…..a piano lost in a soundscape of menace…..bitter sweet melodies dance across a blackened landscape…..the perfect lullaby for Brexit times…..Scott and Dechamp interlock in a post-referendum slow dance echoing Christopher Isherwood, or Truman Capote or Dagmar Krause…..nothing seems real but conversely this is all true….only your own solipsism can lead you astray. Watch out for the falling Moose..

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Our first ten subscribers will be getting their own signed print of scott’s art alongside this release (see below)

He is now working on the next Staggs release with Ridley which we anticipate will arrive just before Christmas.

Bouquet of Dead Crows Podcast Interview

Anticipating the release of the Dead Crows sophomore album “Motus Octo” a fulsome appearance on Local Distortion Podcast offers an opportunity to listen to the band talking about the new album amongst other things.

Copies of the CD version of the album are nearly sold out – there are literally a handful left

See below for tour dates.

Introducing The Ombudsmen

We are pleased to introduce you to Stockport based instrumentalists The Ombudsmen. Coming across like the mutant offspring of Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and John Zorn but with added Greater Manchester vibes and an in your face your attitude they are definitely one to note for the future. With a handful of gigs under their collective belts and a growing reputation we thank Sam Smith for bringing them to our attention.

Whilst we are not, as yet, releasing anything by the band, we are taking the opportunity to assist with promotion and introduce them to the wider world with a selection of demo tracks. The band aim to get into the studio sometime in 2019 to get some material down.

Pending that say hello to them on Facebook and listen to them on Bob’s Aural Delights show over coming weeks.

Manchester Meltdown Returns

Ian Moss’s weekly residency at The Peer Hat returns in January next year with five consecutive Wednesday with four bands each night. Starting at 8pm each night the entrance is ridiculously cheap at £3

Details below:

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Subscribers Update

Having reached our first target of ten subscribers we are introducing a special gift for the next ten new subscribers who will receive a CD from our back catalogue when they sign up.

Sign up here – for £40 you get all our releases for 12 months, ten selected items from our  back catalogue, subscriber only specials, and everything we have released since we launched the service!

Gigs

2018
November

1st – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Dublin Castle, London
2nd – The Strays play Zombie Shack, Manchester
5th – Weimar are playing The Peer Hat supporting Madmoizel.
14th – The Junta is invading Lock 91, Deansgate Locks, Manchester
15th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Esquires, Bedford
17th – Drink and Drive and Four Candles play The Railway, Greenfield
17th – The Mindsweepers play The Riverside, Dumfries
18th – Four Candles and Matthew Hopkins play The Eagle, Salford
22nd – Inferior Complex play The King Charles, Poole
23rd – Electric Cheese play Zombie Shack, Manchester
24th – Bouquet of Dead Crows launch new album Motus Octo at The Blue Moon, Cambridge
24th- Keltrix play The Crown & Pipes, Fenstanton.
29th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Gringos, Norwich
29th – Four Candles play “Free Rock & Roll” at Sound, Duke Street, Liverpool
29th – Loop Aznavour plays El Manisero at Eva, Sackville Street, Manchester

December

1st – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
1st – Bouquet of Dead Crows and Umbrella Assassins play Smokehouse, Ipswich
1st – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Bar 39 in Darwen.
2nd – Moet the Poet is back on the Independents Tour with JD Meatyard and others as MC at Sound, Liverpool
6th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
6th – The Scissors (plus Ember Rev and Goddammit Jeremiah) at Cambridge Cornerhouse.
8th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishops Stortford
8th – Boz Hayward and Keltrix with Misharlo play The Peer Hat, Manchester
8th – Poppycock support Vic Godard at Yes (The Basement) on Charles Street, Manchester with ASBO Derek
8th – Øre will be playing their debut gig at the TA in Dumfries
22nd – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
28th – Drink and Drive play Whittles, Oldham

2019

January

2nd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Saturn Mansion. Weimar, Trancedental Equations, and Four Candles

9th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring St Lucifer, Adventures of Salvador, Emily Oldfield and Four Candles

16th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Poppycock, Factory Acts, Mystery Guest, and Four Candles

23rd – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Rose and the Diamond Hand, Matthew Hopkins, Bang Up The Elephant and Four Candles

25th – Dominic Carlton Jones plays at the Kings Arms, Salford

30th – Manchester Meltdown Series 2 at the Peer Hat. Only £3 featuring Springfield Elementary, Bobbie Peru, Elastikbande and Four Candles

March

2nd – Four Candles play the Peer Hat, Manchester, a benefit for Macmillan nurses as a memorial for Modal Roberts

HalfEdgeMedia Releases

Under the Waves off Kanagwa

This new release was the last song Sam wrote and recorded in his old studio of nearly 10 years, where he composed over 200 songs.

He recorded it in 2017, all as one take, with a couple of overdubs added recently for this release.

The song is explicitly about victim shaming and what it feels to be on the thick end of that.

It is a deeply personal song that had to be shared

“…… a fabulous, quite moving piece…. deserves to be heard far and wide.” Dave Hammond, Cambridge 105

“…after too long a wait Sam Smith is back with a stunning new single which is a marker for his first full length album in early 2019. Building on his success to date in capturing the raw heart of rock and roll Sam has delivered a breathtaking new tune, an epic song wracked with emotion which will leave the listener gripped until the very last note.” AURAL DELIGHTS BLOG

Kanagawa Art for website