Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the German Shepherd Records newsletter.

This week:

– The new album from Dominic Carlton Jones
– Previewing the new album from Bouquet of Dead Crows
– Looking forward to the Salford Music Festival
– Moff Skellington update
– Welcome Matthew Hopkins
– New gig announcements

DOMINIC CARLTON JONES – DEBUT ALBUM

As trailed last week Salford singer-songwriter Dominic Carlton Jones returns with his debut album “Salford Punk Poetry Sadness Death New Life”. This nine song collection includes a dizzying array of genres and sounds, including spoken word, instrumentals and Dominic’s trade-mark clear and direct ballads; there are also dips into experimental and ambient sounds. The themes of the album centre around the  recent death of Dominic’s father from cancer, and in that context there is a heartfelt tribute to legendary Fall front-man and Salfordian Mark E. Smith who also battled the disease. The new release serves also as a perfect follow on from Dominic’s debut release “1”.

The album releases on October 5th in digital form only via Bandcamp and a range of other digital outlets.

Here is a sample track with the emotional “Fall Over Into Something New”

Commenting on the album and his experience with German Shepherd Dominic said:

” 8 months from being welcomed by German Shepherd I’m pleased to say I’m enjoying life on the label.Getting to know the music of the artists. Meeting those concerned and still feeling a genuine thrill to be a part of this movement and scene.

In that time space my EP was well received and achieved some comparative success in terms of sales and genuine appreciation from those connected. I went on to contribute the song “Cats front door “ to the 200 compilation album and The music for “like a poet dies “with Ian Moss and once again genuinely thrilled to be involved here.

My new music is the album:’Salford Punk Poetry Sadness Death New Life” ,which hinges around my fathers death from bowel cancer in January of this year and goes on to explore themes of belonging,spirituality loss,.geographical connection and life after death.It’s a challenging and thought provoking album bringing together an eclectic style of musical forms which I’ve always striven to as an ethic.”

BOUQUET OF DEAD CROWS – TEASER PREVIEW

We are gearing up for the release of the second album from Cambridge band Bouquet of Dead Crows in November with a preview of their track “Cold Inside”.

The band are touring extensively over the new few months please see the gig list below for details (although the band seem to think it’s above!).

Pre-order the album here

SALFORD MUSIC FESTIVAL – THIS WEEKEND

Manchester and Salford German Shepherd chums are encouraged to visit Eccles next Saturday for the second night of the Salford Musical Festival. Four Candles will be playing as part of packed evening of fine music including Bobbie Peru, Plexus, Garsoons, Jess Kemp, Surreal Kinnock and Blaney. There will also be a tribute to Mark E. Smith at the start of the evening from 6:30pm. There is a late bar and all of those artists can be watched for just £6. The venue is the Gilda Brook Club (the old Liberal Club) on Wellington Road, which is ten minute walk from Eccles Interchange. Fans can secure their ticket now by visiting the Salford Music Festival site . A full weekend ticket is just £10 which gets you two nights of entertainment and we highly recommend both nights.

MOFF SKELLINGTON UPDATE

Moff has a second EP under the Uncle Roy’s Utopian Vision Saga released on October 12th which coincides with his gig in Manchester the day before at The Peer Hat. Recorded in a morning at the legendary Uterus Cottage studios Moff explores his post-punk side with fervour. The lantern show at the Peer Hat promises to deliver an evening of Moff wonderment with his trademark wit and sideways look at the world. The event is not ticketed and is a mere £3.50.  More details on the EP next week.

MATTHEW HOPKINS JOIN GERMAN SHEPHERD

Melodic avant rock trio Matthew Hopkins have joined the German Shepherd family – more details next week but pending that here’s a sample of their excellent song-craft with the track “Something”

GIGS

Poppycock follow up their excellent set at The Peer Hat last week with a new outing on October 13th at new Manchester Venue Yes supporting Virginia Wing. The promoters have listed it as a Fates gig but it will be the Poppycock line-up playing Fates material. – Facebook event link here –

Here is the full gig list

SEPTEMBER
27th – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
27th – Electric Cheese support Tom Hingley at Preston Guildhall
28th – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
28th – The Strays play Park Hotel, Wigan – Musicians Against Homelessness gig
29th – Four Candles play Salford Music Festival at The Gilda Brook Social Club, Weliington Road, Monton, Eccles
29th – Boz Hayward plays Levenshulme Market (afternoon gig)
29th – The Strays play The Jolly Collier, Heanor
29th – Bouquet of Dead Crows Play Deepdale Festival, Norwich
30th – Keltrix play Camboaters River Festival, Jesus Green, Cambridge, 6pm

OCTOBER
5th – Electric Cheese play The Railway as part of Chorley Live
5th – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
6th – Taser Puppets play Lost Bar and Club as part of Chorley Live
6th – Electric Cheese play Cunliffe Hall as part of Chorley Live
6th – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
6th – Inferior Complex play Liberties, Southampton
11th – An Evening with Moff Skellington at The Peer Hat, Manchester
13th – Poppycock playing a Fates set at Yes, Manchester supporting Virginia Wing
14th – Taser Puppets play TNT Punk Fest at The Peer Hat, Manchester
14th – Positronik and The Strays are at Fab Cafe, Portland Street, Manchester
17th – The Strays play West Street Live, Sheffield
19th – Taser Puppets play Old Courts, Wigan
19th – The Strays play A.M.P. Music Bar, Buxton
25th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Pepys, Huntingdon – acoustic gig
25th – Ian Moss appears at El Manisero, Innside, Manchester
NOVEMBER
1st – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Dublin Castle, London
2nd – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – with Drink and Drive, Taser Puppets, The Strays and Flea
15th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Esquires, Bedford
17th – Drink and Drive and Four Candles play The Railway, Greenfield
22nd – Inferior Complex play The King Charles, Poole
24th – Bouquet of Dead Crows launch new album Motus Octo at The Blue Moon, Cambridge
29th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Gringos, Norwich
29th – Four Candles play “Free Rock & Roll” at Sound, Duke Street, Liverpool

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
6th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge, Stamford
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/