Hello and welcome to the regular newsletter from German Shepherd Records, this week:

• We reissue Moff Skellington’s “The Corduroy Bridge” album
• We report on the successful single launch from Weimar
• We celebrate an award for Dominic Carlton Jones
• We tell you about a new single from Crab Dance GI’s
• We let you know about some gigs

MOFF SKELLINGTON – THE CORDUROY BRIDGE

If you have not heard the work of Moff Skellington before then you are in for a fascinating experience.

Moff, whose given name is Andy Quayle, is an iconoclast blessed with a unique talent with words and music that defies convention and operates in a separate and quite distinct time continuum to the rest of the world of entertainment. His prolific and prodigious output, over twenty five albums/EP’s and one DVD since 1999, offers some of the most exciting and challenging work you are ever likely to hear. Aside from his musical endeavours he is also a gifted and talented visual artist who has exhibited his unique painting and drawings in many different locations. He has recently moved into the world of video to create a fascinating marriage of his paintings and music.

The music is described as Eddodi – a kind of mutant folk music which incorporates elements of post-punk, rock and blues. Imagine Pere Ubu, Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart and Harry Partch thrown into a blender and mixed with the English Folk Tradition and you are getting somewhere near the sound.

The album “The Corduroy Tongue” was originally released in 2015 and we are reissuing it on 15th February in digital format as part of our plan to eventually release all of Moff’s back catalogue.

Moff is a “Marmite” artist you either are 1000% committed to his work or you are left scratching your head and wondering what you have just listened to. We understand if you don’t “get it” we are used to the mixed reaction.

As a taster of his work here is Moff defining entertainment

WEIMAR ENJOY TRIUMPHANT SINGLE LAUNCH

Weimar packed out The Eagle Inn in Salford on February 1st for the launch of their single “John Doe/Curse The Songs”. With an hour long set and a rapturous audience the band played both sides of the new single, were joined on stage by a very soulful Rose Niland for a couple of songs, featured new material, and, blew the roof off with a stunning version of “Nights In Spanish Harlem”. The set concluded with a couple of old tunes from Aidan Cross’s previous band The Bacillus (album still available on the German Shepherd bandcamp page). Press reports were effusive in their praise of the evening with Louder Than War and the Salford Star writing positive articles,. The single has gained airplay throughout the UK and the States and a series of very positive blogs have reviewed it also. Aidan will be appearing on Dave Hammond’s Smelly Flowerpot show on Cambridge 105 on Monday 11th February from 9pm where he will be chatting about the band and the plans for the forthcoming album.

DOMINIC CARLTON JONES

As well as receiving praise for his opening set at the Weimar gig mentioned above Dominic Carlton Jones has won the Salford Star Best Band/Act 2018 Award for his album “Salford Punk Poetry Sadness Death New Life”, which judges hailed  as “inspired and original”. Salford Star Live Editor Ian Leslie presented the award to Dominic at the end of his set last Friday. A full report from the Salford Star can be found here. Many congratulations to Dominic from everyone in The Kennel. Thanks to Michelle Leslie for the photograph.

CRAB DANCE GI’S INTRODUCE DAYGLO DAVE

Danny Cusick (KIT B, The Hidden Gem) side project Crab Dance GI’s have a new single out on March 15th called “Dayglo Dave”. The first of two forthcoming singles from this project the song is the tale of a regressive music fan who “only listens to New Wave” and will countenance any other forms of music. Watch this space for more details!

 

 

GIGS

Details of forthcoming gigs featuring German Shepherd Artists:

February
9th – Scissors play NCI Club Cambridge (Cambridge Central Aid charity fundraiser, Scissors headlining, other acts TBC)
10th – Pearl Divers play Fab Cafe, Manchester
15th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Bury Sound at Hunter Club, Bury St Edmunds
23rd – Electric Cheese and Four Candles play The Railway, Chorley
24th – Positronik play Fab Cafe, Manchester

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
2nd – Pearl Divers play Malaga Drift, Eccles Town Centre (Near the station and not far from German Shepherd HQ!)
2nd – Electric Cheese play The Village Inn, Skelmersdale
2nd – The Mind Sweepers play The Normandy, Dumfries
13th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play West Street Live Sheffield
15th – Adventures of Salvador play The Deaf Centre, Chester
16th – Bouquet of Dead Crows, The Scissors and Umbrella Assassins play The Smokehouse Ipswich.
16th – The Mind Sweepers play Midnight Breakfast Club at Bathgate.
23rd – Electric Cheese play The Ferret, Preston
29th – Bouquet of Dead Crows play The Blue Moon Cambridge + Burning Codes, Basement Strippers & Matt Hammond

April
20th – Toska Wilde plays The Venue, Southend On Sea