The Charity being supported for this release is Emmaus Cambridge.

Emmaus Cambridge is a homelessness charity providing more than just a bed for the night to people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion and was the first Emmaus community to be established in the UK.

For many people who have experienced homelessness, losing their self-esteem can be the most damaging part of their experience. Being on your own, with no support around you can be soul destroying, leaving you feeling worthless.

Finding your way out of that situation isn’t easy, particularly when the only options available are temporary fixes, offering a bed for the night but little to occupy your days.

Emmaus is different because it provides a home for as long as someone needs it in an Emmaus community. This gives people the opportunity to take stock of their lives, deal with any issues they might have, and often re-establish relationships with loved ones.

The artists supporting this compilation are

The Rugs

The Rugs are an indie pop band from Cambridge/Essex.

The Rugs formed on 16th December 1994, in Chester and played the first gig at the Boot public house on the medieval Rows. Big Dave (bass) and Shawn (guitar) met just before the gig for the first time, they played a short set which included “Italian State Railways” and “Voice of a generation”. On the strength of this short set the band were booked to play the Chester Fringe Festival in June 1995, with the cream of Piao! record label, namely Heck and Emperor Julian. The Rugs then gigged around Cambridge, Chester and Whitchurch until the end of the millennium. Things went a bit quiet for a while and the drummer (Strack) emigrated to Australia. However, in 2018, they decided to put the band back together again with a new drummer (On the beat Pete) and went into the recording studio at Half – ton, Cambridge with production from the fantastic Anthony Chapman (from Collapsed Lung / Arndales fame) and released their debut limited edition 7’ single “Blame it on me / Voice of a Generation” on their own indie label “Near Miss Records”. So that brings us up to date, a few gigs at the Portland Arms, Cambridge and a number of radio plays and the Rugs are back … “Say no to Lino – we are the Rugs”.

Colour Sergeant

Colour Sergeant is the alter ego of Dominic Kershaw, the multi talented, multi instrumentalist who also plays in various other bands in the Cambridge area including Trick Bird, Motor Tapes, Perfect Machine and Nero’s Thumb. He has the distinction of being the most featured artist in the Cambridge Calling releases.

NCKLCNG

The elusive NCKLCNG have been quietly releasing intelligent and beguiling music for a couple of years now. With each release, the mystery thickens. They hope to release a vinyl LP next year.

Kammahav

Kammahav are a musical project combining Christian Gustafsson’s (Victorian Tin) musical soundscapes with the words and vocals of Tony Jenkins (The New Fools) formed in 2018. So far they have released two EP’s, Glass Bottle Green and Scrapbook. They are also contributing to the Everlasting Records compilation “The Sound Your Dreams Make” (October 2019) and release a Christmas single in early December 2019, called (My) Last Christmas.

Luke James Williams

In November 2018, Cambridge based singer-songwriter Luke James Williams released his debut EP ‘Drove’. The first single ‘Rabbit Hole’ has received airplay on BBC6 Music, Amazing Radio and BBC Introducing whilst other cuts from the EP have been featured and played by Folk Radio UK and Hype Machine. Second single ‘Still In Bed’ has received huge support from BBC6 Music DJ Tom Robinson who recently chose it as his 6Music Recommends track of 2019 so far which then saw it played by Tom Ravenscroft, Lauren Laverne and Steve Lamacq. The song has also attracted a large listenership on Spotify with over 50,000 plays on the platform. Luke has received rave reviews for his engaging live performances and has supported artists such as Stu Larsen, The Little Unsaid and Megson. Broadly categorised as alt.folk and drawing influences from the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Nick Drake and PJ Harvey, Williams paints pictures with words and sings them in his own distinctly British voice.

RJ Archer and the Painful Memories

R.J. Archer is a guitarist and singer from Cambridgeshire with a recorded output that goes back to 1997 in various bands that have gained airtime on John Peel’s Radio 1 show, BBC 6Music and Xfm along the way.

In June 2018 he released a vinyl and download solo album ‘No Consolation Prize’ through independent Danish label Ragged Rooftops.

R.J. has recently moved towards a tougher blues style and as of July 2019 has been playing his songs with a band, the Painful Memories.

The Painful Memories are Roger James (the bass) and Ben Kingsbury (the drums).

Senex IV

Senex IV are from Suffolk

Dave, Rob and Mark have played in many underground bands over the years. The trio were enthused to launch a new dark rock band. The band wanted to build on the energy of the punk scene and the atmosphere of the Post Punk and Gothic scenes to release new music.

Moonstrips

Moonstrips are a heavy psychedelic garage rock quartet from Cambridge. Their debut album, ‘We Love You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’ was released at tne tail end of 2018.

KYANOS

KYANOS is a 4-piece band fusing together psychedelia, hypnogogic pop, jazz and alternative rock to create their own unique sound.

The group’s growing popularity has led to support slots with Kevin Krauter, Boy Azooga and Oh Pep!

In September 2017 the group released their debut EP, the experimental, iPhone recorded project Elevator to Japan, which received critical acclaim from NME and BBC 6 Music.
Singles So High and Lost in Blue from 2019s Lost in Blue EP saw KYANOS’ sound pushed out much further than rural Suffolk, receiving praise and support from all around the world.

Cong-Fusion

The band Cong-fusion performs original music written by Ryan McCaffrey and jazz standards. The band is more of a collective of musicians which changes depending on who is available to do each date!

This track ‘Turned Tables’ was written about Ryan’s own personal experiences of bullying at school and within working environments. It was released to coincide with anti-bullying week and he has been on several radio stations to promote the release and also London Live  . MC E-Mix from Soul II Soul also features on the track as the vocalist.
Cong-Fusion has performed in London and Cambridge at Strawberry Fair, The Empire Bar in Hackney and La Raza.

Tribes of Europe

Inner and outer space music for the good children of Earth and other planets. Tribes of Europe is the alter ego of multi-instrumentalist Martin Elsey. Releases have enjoyed support from BBC 6music’s Steve Lamacq. Radio 3’s Late Junction and a host of specialist shows. Collaboration is key to ToE’s modus operandi, most recently linking up with late-70’s feminist-rock iconoclast Barbara Stretch, who contributes vocals to “Intermission”.

 

Annie Dressner

Annie Dressner has received considerable recognition since moving from NYC to the UK eight years ago (Radio 2, 6 Music). Shire Folk called her latest release “one of the freshest and most enjoyable releases of 2018”. She has a new album coming out Spring 2020. The first single ‘Nyack’ has already aired on Gideon Coe (BBC 6 Music), Radio Wales, Radio Scotland, etc… Cambridge Folk.

Absolute Beginners

Absolute Beginners are a Haverhill based three piece playing guitar and keyboard driven songs with a nod and a wink towards the classic songwriters of the sixties and seventies.

Pink Lemonade

Drawing influences from iconic female artists such as Avril Lavigne, Pink Lemonade  have created their unique sound by exploring the close vocal harmonies heard in popular music paired with raunchy overdriven guitar riffs, punchy bass grooves and steady rock drum beats. Sisters Maddie and Frankie met guitarist Rhiannon in early 2018 where the girls began song writing, rehearsing and dreaming big. Since then they have played a multitude of live performances across East Anglia, brought home the ‘Audience Choice Award’ two years running at The NMG Awards, released two singles and in recent months, their debut EP (produced by Grammy Award Winning Simon Gogerly) and a music video.

 

Slava B

Slava B. is a Singer/ Songwriter from Cambridgeshire via Russia who writes, records and performs his original music in the Industrial Metal / Punk Rock genres.

Future Now

Future Now is Prog Rock/Metal band based in Cambridgeshire. The band unknowingly began their collaborative efforts when Jaz first met Charlie as he joined Charlie’s band, Flesh That Burns (2009) to Jaz Band, Equatas (2010-2012) Jaz and Charlie quickly integrated themselves into bands and were easily inspired by each other’s musical creativity.

From that point on, Jaz and Charlie continued to write music and create more and more comprehensive pieces across several bands until Jaz began writing material in 2014 for what was originally going to be a solo project quickly became a band effort as Riko Burrows offered to aid the band in late 2015 with his outstanding vocal.

4 years later with a lot of hard work, passion, persistence and patience, Future Now have created their epic debut album, Utopia Awaits and with their 2nd album already half way to completion and now with the extra special addition to the band, Richard (Nejjy) Nejman on Keyboards who has brought his incredible and stunning talent to Future Now’s table,they are now preparing for live shows.

Karalinga

Formed 18 months ago, Karalinga are a new band to the local Cambridge scene playing everything from avant-funk to rock, country to ska, and perhaps a little in-between. Rob (Guitar & Vocals) and Nick (Bass) recently graced the Sunday night airwaves with a live set on Cambridge 105 show Stagger Indie.

‘The Old Man’ is a song about fleeting relationships that we can often have with people as we move through life. The song is magnificently enhanced with sax, played by a good friend Martin Seabrook.

 

Amethysts

Electronic duo Amethysts are renowned for expertly crafting their brand of ambient pop to perfection with a series of awe-inspiring hooks. Working with esteemed producer Shuta Shinoda (Daughter, Ghostpoet) and taking full advantage of the acclaim edging their way, the East Anglian’s rely on their masterful pop sensibilities, swirling guitars and soothing synths to create an intense, atmospheric experience.

Having racked up over a million plays on streaming platforms alongside BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music airplay and sessions with BBC Introducing, the rising pair have already worked with The Orchard (Sony) and Manimal Vinyl Records (Bat For Lashes, Yoko Ono, Moby, Warpaint) and played sets at Latitude Festival, Secret Garden Party, BBC Introducing Live as well as selling out a number of headline shows in and around London.

Amethysts are currently preparing their debut album.

Lo-Grade Lawrence

Lo-Grade Lawrence rooted as a bedroom guitarist from Cambridge turned experimental solo artist, exploring ethereal, dark droning soundscapes, coupled with blissful melodies that drive skywards to hair raising peaks. An experience as much as a meditation. “From the womb to the world and back again”