The Xcerts - Release new single ‘Slackerpop’ from their forthcoming Mike Sapone produced album and headline the Xtra Mile Recordings tour!

THE XCERTS have just returned from the US where they have been recording the follow-up to 2009’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’. The band’s new album was produced by Mike Sapone (Brand New, Public Enemy, Crime in Stereo…) at his home studio in Long Island and mastered by Emily Lazar (whose recent credits include this year’s UK and US chart topping album ‘Contra’ by Vampire Weekend). The first fruits of their labour, single ‘Slackerpop’ will be released on 7th June through Xtra Mile Recordings (Frank Turner, Reuben, Far…) with the album following later in the year.

The Xcerts second record shows an angrier side to the band’s music which harks back to the early days of 90’s Grunge. It has a brilliantly sinister, dirty and earthy quality without turning its back on the pop-sensibilities and catchy melodies that the band captured so well with their debut. ‘Slackerpop’ and its video which depicts the band dismembering mannequin torsos is a perfect, if not slightly twisted, example of this.

In support of the single release The Xcerts will be headlining the Xtra Mile High Club Tour and a special Xtra Mile Night at the Great Escape on 13th May at Fortune of War, Brighton. Catch them at the following venues alongside label mates Crazy Arm, Straight Lines and Fighting Fiction:

MAY
13th – Great Escape, Fortune of War, Brighton – Xtra Mile Night
14th – Great Escape, Pav Tav. Murray solo show
15th – Great Escape, Pav Tav.
19th - Tolbooth Striling
20th - UWS Festival, Paisley
21st - Club NME, Trent Uni Pulse Bar, Nottingham

Xtra Mile High Club Tour
22nd - The Cavern Exeter
24th - Cellars Portsmouth (support CA + SL)
25th - Borderline London (support CA + SL)
26th - The Forum, Tunbridge Wells (support CA + SL)
27th - New Slang, Hippodrome, Kingston (support CA )
28th - Roadmenders Northampton (support FF)
29th - West End Centre Aldershot
30th - Joiners Southampton

JUNE
4th - Inn on The Square, Barnstable supporting King Blues

JULY
16th - 2000trees Festival, Cheltenham
24th - Rhythms of the World Festival, Hitchin

Support: CA = Crazy Arm / SL = Straight Lines / FF = Fighting Fiction

www.myspace.com/thexcerts
http://www.xtramilerecordings.com/ & www.myspace.com/xtramilerecordings

The Xcerts debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings! Here’s what the press had to say:

“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5

For more information please contact info@presscounselpr.com / 0207 792 9400

FAR - 'At Night We Live' released on Xtra Mile Recordings

“Tune of the week” - Daniel P. Carter - BBC Radio 1 – April 2010

Far

- Jonah Matranga (vocals/guitar) - Shaun Lopez (guitar) - John Gutenberger (bass) - Chris Robyn (drums) -

New album ‘At Night We Live’ released on 24th May through Xtra Mile Recordings

Post-hardcore legends FAR are set to return with their first original material since 1998’s ‘Water and Solutions’. The band originally disbanded shortly after the album’s release but the record’s melodic appeal and classic song writing lived on to inspire an entire scene a the turn of the century and the band are increasingly cited as an influence by bands such as Biffy Clyro, Jimmy Eat World, Hundred Reasons, Funeral For A Friend and Thursday to name but a few. Far’s brand new album ‘At Night We Live’ is released on 24th May through Xtra Mile Recordings proceeded by the download single ‘Deafening’ a week earlier.

The release of ‘At Night We Live’ follows the band’s low key limited 7’’ single release ‘Pony’ originally by American hip-hop artist Ginuwine. The cover originally demoed as a bit of fun between friends encouraged huge unexpected radio play and over 4 million plays on MySpace.

Far’s fifth studio album was recorded at The Airport Studio and produced by guitarist and founder Shaun Lopez whom during the band’s hiatus has recorded albums for Will Haven, Giant Drag and friends the Deftones (the title track of ‘At Night We Live’ being written for bassist Chi Cheng).

Track listing of ‘At Night We Live’:

1. Deafening
2. If You Cared Enough
3. When I Could See
4. Give Me A Reason
5. Dear Enemy
6. Fight Song #16,233,241
7. At Night We Live
8. Burns
9. Better Surrender
10. Are You Sure?
11. The Ghost That Kept On Haunting

www.thebandfar.com
www.myspace.com/far
www.xtramilerecordings.com
www.myspace.com/xtramilerecordings

“Excited is not the word.” – Rock Sound
“In their absence their legend mushroomed…” – Kerrang!
“One might say that Far were ahead of their time…” – Drowned In Sound

For more information please contact info@presscounsel.com – 020 7792 9400

Jaakko & Jay - Debut album - 'War Is Noise'

Finnish duo Jaakko & Jay release their debut album ‘War Is Noise’ on 24th May, through Xtra Mile Recordings.

Embodying the spirit of punk with an acoustic, stripped-back folk approach, Jaakko & Jay have earned a cult following in their home country as well as throughout Europe with a near constant touring schedule. Armed with just one mic, a beaten up acoustic guitar, and a single snare and ride drum set up, travelling in a hired motor-home, J&J have taken their infectious, good-time folk punk to the masses and the masses are starting to take note.

Hailing from the region most famous for Santa Claus and reindeer, Jaakko & Jay are more jolly than Father Christmas and more hearty than reindeer steaks. The music throws a high-latitude spin on classic punk themes like drinking, revolution, drinking, making music, drinking, acute social commentary, drinking, and drinking - acoustic songs that shed their simplicity in a live situation by taking the audience in, melting their frosty cynicism, and putting smiles on every last person down to the bouncer.

Gaining popularity around the UK and Europe supporting Frank Turner, Mariachi El Bronx, Gaslight Anthem, Billy Talent and Chuck Ragan they were also discovered by Radio 1’s Huw Stephens at this year’s Eurosonic. With plenty of summer festivals and tour dates to be announced for later this year, including a slot at Brighton’s premier showcase festival, The Great Escape - their popularity is set to rise even further.

All tour details to follow.

www.myspace.com/jaakkonjay

"punked up, acoustic songs with gusto" Kerrang!
"ferocious and impassioned and funny" Distorted Magazine
"Jaakko & Jay come from Finland and are a punk rockin' drums and guitar duo. Their chugging riffs were awesome live” Huw Stephens, BBC1

Fighting Fiction - Brand new single – ‘We Will Not Forget’

Brand new single – ‘We Will Not Forget’
Out 3rd May 2010 on Xtra Mile Recordings

Jacob Glew – Vocals/Acoustic Guitar
Matt Roffe – Guitars/Bass/Backing Vocals
Andy Cooke - Guitars/Bass/Backing Vocals
Adam Wells – Drums/Percussion

Emerging indie-punk four-piece Fighting Fiction release their brand new single ‘We Will Not Forget’ on 3rd May 2010 through Xtra Mile Recordings. A politically aware call to arms, it’s no coincidence that this single release will coincide with the forthcoming general election.

Not intended as a two-fingered salute to the establishment in the traditional sense of some punk music, rather as a way to incite some pride and anger into a generation coming of voting age. The stress is on the power of the vote in this song, it’s not a call to Anarchy; rather a call of responsibility. To put your politics into action, whatever they might be.

Fighting Fiction formed late 2007 in Bristol when the four lads met at University. Bourne of a mutual passion for energetic live performance, their sound is a powerful collision of Indie-rock guitar riffs, reggae tinged punk and socially aware lyrics. These are songs written with anger and sung with passion. They evoke an honest and fundamentally English sound that is reminiscent of the brooding reggae guitar hooks of 'London Calling' era Clash, the lyrical wordplay and vocal delivery of Billy Bragg, and more recently, the acoustic guitar based sing-along sensibilities of Frank Turner and the King Blues.

Produced by Mark Williams (Biffy Clyro, Bloc Party, Million Dead, Oceansize), ‘We Will Not Forget’ is the bands most aggressive offering to date and will include a free acoustic download ‘Turning Rebellion Into Money.’

To date, the band have released their debut EP ‘A Lesser Of Two Evils’ (November 2009); completed two UK-wide tours, securing slots at both the Isle of Wight and Isle of Man TT festivals, and have played support to the likes of This Town Needs Guns, Crazy Arm, Sam Isaac, Floors and Walls, Laura Marling and The Automatic.

Fighting Fiction hit the road again this April/May on a 20 date UK tour in support of their new single release.

APRIL
6 The Railway Winchester
7 Talking Heads Southampton
8 The Fawcett Inn Portsmouth
10 Fighting Cocks London
13 Mentholmans (@West Street Live) Sheffield
14 Harrys Bar Stoke on Trent
17 The Royal Oak Ipswich
18 Juiced - Liquid/Envy Crawley, London
22 Square Harlow
23 Lincoln Arms Dorking
26 Croft Bristol, Southwest
29 Prince Albert Brighton
30 Junction Cambridge
MAY
5 Moles Club Bath *Single release party*
7 Frog and Fiddle Cheltenham,
JULY
4 Keynsham Music Festival - Time out stage
SEPTEMBER
25 Frog Fest @ Frog and Fiddle Cheltenham

"Stormin' Norman! Tight punchy playing and production with warped off-kilter lyrics in the great English tradition of songs like Arnold Layne and Tracy Jacks. A storming track." - Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music)

“Raucous and energetic, this is the stuff to lift the roofs off venues in a wash of raised beers and raised voices.” - Rocklouder 4/5

www.myspace.com/fightingfiction
http://fightingfictionuk.wordpress.com

For more information please contact info@presscounselpr.com / 0207 792 9400

The Xcerts - To be the first UK band to be produced by Mike Sapone (Crime in Stereo, Brand New, Public Enemy…)

“Ludicrously Punchy” – Steve Lamacq
'...classic piece of air-punching melancholia' - Observer

THE XCERTS have already kicked 2010 off in style supporting the incredible Fightstar. Later this week they will be heading off to the U.S. to begin work on the follow up to 2009’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’. Their as-yet-untitled second record will see Long Island based producer Mike Sapone at the helm. Sapone has an impressive track record and has produced records for the likes of Crime in Stereo, Public Enemy and Brand New.

Initial talks about the possibility of Mike Sapone working with The Xcerts came about due to lead singer/guitarist Murray MacLeod’s love for the bands that Sapone has previously worked with. MacLeod said “Mike has produced some of our favourite records and creates unique sounding albums. We are honoured to be the first UK band that he will have produced. To say we are excited is an understatement... We cannot wait for you to hear this record.”

The Xcerts forthcoming album will be released on Xtra Mile Recordings later this year and you can expect to hear the first fruits of their labour in late spring/early summer.

www.myspace.com/thexcerts & www.xtramilerecordings.com & www.myspace.com/xtramilerecordings

The Xcerts debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings! Here’s what the press had to say:
“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5

For more information please contact info@presscounselpr.com – 020 7792 9400

Chris T-T - New Album / New Tour!

LOVE IS NOT RESCUE
New Album – New Tour!

Increasingly influential cult singer Chris T-T returns in spring 2010 with the release of his new album Love Is Not Rescue.

Released on 15 March 2010 through Xtra Mile Recordings, Love Is Not Rescue is T-T’s 7th studio album since 1999 and his second release for Xtra Mile. It was recorded in four days, primarily in rural Norfolk with Magoo’s Owen Turner (Bearsuit, Kaito) plus a session in Los Angeles with Gus Seyffert (Sia, Norah Jones, Flight Of The Conchords).

‘Love Is Not Rescue’ shows a change of direction from 2008’s rockier, heavier ‘Capital’ (“turbo-charged/grandiose/hummable fire” Q), the final part to his acclaimed London Trilogy. With this album, Chris focuses more on personal themes – love and the complexities of relationships – stripping back his sound and laying bare private lyrics over delicate melodies to create courageous, honest songs from the heart. It is a return to Chris's original visceral yearnings of love and loss; “British pop’s street-poet laureate and unsung genius” (The Sunday Times) has produced a beautifully introspective and pensive album.

The stunning album opener ‘Nintendo’ will precede the release on 8 March as a download only single.

Playing piano, electric and acoustic guitar (although not all at the same time) his UK tour of intimate gigs will highlight Chris’s wide and varied talent that has created a diverse career spanning seven studio albums. The dates are:

MARCH

6 Winchester, The Tower £6
7 Portsmouth, Eastney Cellars £6
9 Bristol, The Croft £5
10 Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach £6
11 Oxford, Jericho Tavern £6
12 Cambridge, Portland Arms £5
13 Norwich, The Marquee £6
14 Nottingham, Bodega £6
15 Birmingham, Academy 3 £6
17 Hull, The Adelphi £5
19 Teesdale, Club Cotherstone £5
20 Edinburgh, Sneaky Pete’s £6
21 Glasgow, The 13th Note £6
24 London, Slaughtered Lamb £7
25 Tunbridge Wells, The Forum £7
26 Canterbury, The Farmhouse £6
27 Brighton, Freebutt £6
Doors at 7pm

“We should cherish such poets of 21st century urbanity.” Plan B Magazine
“Chris stakes his claim to be the 21st-century Ray Davies” The Sunday Times
“If he was standing for London Mayor, I'd vote for him...” Steve Lamacq, Radio 2

http://www.christtuk.com/ / http://www.xtramilerecordings.com/

Straight Lines - Sign to XMR, release single and tour with KIGH, Automatic and Motorhead!

Sign to Xtra Mile Recordings, Release Debut Single ‘Versus The Allegiance’ and Tour with Kids In Glass Houses, The Automatic and Motorhead!

Straight Lines was initially conceived by lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Jenkins and drummer Dane Campbell after the demise of their previous band. The Welsh duo set about collating ideas and writing new material that would later form the basis for the band’s debut album. With no money to go to any other studio or producer to record the album they turned to Dane’s brother (and guitarist with local heroes Dopamine) Todd Campbell to play bass and help them produce and record their debut album in his studio situated in the garage of his house. With the help of their friends in other bands they managed to gather enough equipment together to start work on recording. Two weeks into recording the band would then be completed by Tom’s old college friend James Pugh on guitar.

Fast forward a few months and Straight Lines are ready to release the first fruits of their labour; ‘Versus The Allegiance’. The hard-hitting single is the first to be lifted from the band’s flawless debut album ‘Persistence In This Game’ which will be released through Xtra Mile Recordings (Frank Turner, The Xcerts, Reuben…) in early 2010. ‘Versus The Allegiance’ will be released through iTunes and all major DSPs on 7th December.

Tracklisting:
1. ‘Versus The Allegiance’
2. ‘When In Doubt’ (Demo)
3. ‘All My Friends Have Joined The Army’ (Acoustic)
4. ‘Visions’ (Acoustic)

Despite the band’s short existence, Straight Lines ability to pen infectious rhythmic anthems has not gone unnoticed and they have already secured forthcoming support slots with Kids In Glass Houses, Young Guns, Attack! Attack!, The Automatic and Motorhead! The band will be selling a limited edition CD version on ‘Versus The Allegiance’ at the following shows:

November
3rd Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff with Young Guns
4th Nag’s Head, High Wycombe
5th Fat Lils, Witney
6th Le Pub, Newport
7th Orange Box, Yeovil with Kids In Glass Houses
8th Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth with Kids In Glass Houses
9th Roadmender, Northampton with Kids In Glass Houses
10th 53 Degrees, Preston with Kids In Glass Houses
11th Chinnery’s, Southend with The Automatic
12th New Slang, Kingston with The Automatic
13th Newport Centre, Wales with Motorhead
14th Central Station, Wrexham, Wales with Motorhead
15th Swindon Oasis, Swindon with Motorhead
18th Sigma, Swansea
20th The RAFA Club, Aberystwyth
24th Escobar, Leeds
25th Independent, Sunderland with The Automatic
26th The Brickyard, Carlisle with The Automatic
27th The Grosvenor, Brixton
28th Hammersmith Apollo, London with Motorhead
December
5th Hobos, Bridgend
22nd Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

www.myspace.com/straightlines
www.xtramilerecordings.com
www.myspace.com/xtramilerecordings

For more information please contact griff@presscounsel.com (National/Online) or anthea@presscounsel.com (Regional) – 020 7792 9400

The Xcerts - Announce Main Support on Idlewild’s Forthcoming Tour, Dates with This City and New Single ‘Nightschool’

“Ludicrously Punchy” – Steve Lamacq
'...classic piece of air-punching melancholia' - Observer

Having recently rewarded fans’ loyalty with a very special live album ‘Live At King’s Tut’s’ made available exclusively through iTunes, THE XCERTS are now set to release the third single from their critically acclaimed debut album; ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’. ‘Nightschool’ - a standout fan favourite in the band’s live set – will be released as a download single on 5th October through Xtra Mile Recordings. The angst-ridden anthem will be backed with an atmospheric remix of ‘Home Vs Home’ by The Blueskies.

The video for ‘Nightschool’ captures the essence of the band’s live set with a raucous performance at a house party. Directed by Ricky Gibb and Richard Watson and shot at lead singer Murray MacLeod’s house at night, the video depicts the preparations for and goings-on at the house party building to a climatic end with the band performing live in the garden.

In addition to news of this single release The Xcerts can also announce that they will be taking to the road with friends This City in September and then supporting their childhood heroes Idlewild in October.

You can catch them at the following gigs:

August
15th - Leefest, Kent
20th - Harley’s, Bathgate
22nd GRV - SOS Festival, Edinburgh
29th - Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham
31st - Beachdown festival, Brighton
September
17th - Cavern, Exeter
18th - Inn On The Sqaure, Barnstaple
19th - Southsea Festival, Portsmouth
24th - The Tap House, Kidderminster with This City
25th - Unit, Southampton with This City
26th - Club Revolution, Peterborough with This City
27th - Fat Sam’s, Dundee with This City
28th - Tunnels, Aberdeen with This City
29th - Oran Mor, Glasgow with This City
30th - Fibbers, York with This City
October
2nd - Rock City, Nottingham with This City
3rd - Academy 3, Birmingham with This City
4th - Bivouac@Scy, Lincoln with This City
5th - Audio, Brighton with This City
6th - Barfly, London with This City
7th - Roadhouse, Manchester with This City
9th - Mad Ferret, Preston with This City
October
10th - Manchester University, Manchester supporting Idlewild
11th - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham supporting Idlewild
12th - Phoenix Centre, Exeter supporting Idlewild
13th - Arts Centre, Colchester supporting Idlewild
15th - Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea supporting Idlewild
16th - Electric Ballroom, London supporting Idlewild
18th - O2 Academy, Oxford supporting Idlewild
19th - Waterfront, Norwich supporting Idlewild

www.myspace.com/thexcerts & http://www.xtramilerecordings.com/ & www.myspace.com/xtramilerecordings

The Xcerts debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings!
Here’s what the press had to say:
“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5

For more information please contact griff@presscounsel.com (National/Online) or anthea@presscounsel.com (Regional) – 020 7792 9400

Frank Turner - New Single, New Album & Tours Galore!

“Heavy-clever wit and wry, do-or-die romantic solidarity of socially superconscious singer-songwriter Billy Bragg by way of Joe Strummer” (Austin Chronicle)

Continuing his meteoric rise to superstardom, Frank Turner will be releasing his brand new download-only single ‘The Road’ on 31st August through Xtra Mile Recordings/Epitaph Records. It’s an immediately catchy slice of sing-a-long folk/punk taken from the stunning forthcoming album ‘Poetry Of The Deed’.

‘Poetry…’ – Frank’s third studio album – is released a week later on 7th September on Xtra Mile Recordings/Epitaph for UK and Ireland and through Epitaph/Xtra Mile Recordings for the rest of the world. Recruiting his outstanding live band for the recording process Frank, along with Grammy nominated producer Alex Newport (Death Cab For Cutie, At The Drive-In, Two Gallants) has captured the essence of his live show onto the record as performing live has always been at the very heart of the Frank Turner experience. The results are a big, lush album that showcases Frank’s growing maturity in song-writing and style perfectly.

‘The Road’ is accompanied by a video of Frank’s quite honestly mental attempt to play 24 shows in 24 hours. This involved posting a request on his blog for a load of London-based places where he could come and play a few songs. Tiny frontrooms and kitchens, roof terraces and warehouses, music magazine offices and a record store were all donated and Frank played them all, culminating at a crowded and raucous finale at North London’s Flowerpot venue.

The album release in the USA coincides nicely with a support tour with old friends The Gaslight Anthem in September and in the UK with his largest headline tour to date taking in London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire, for the last night. With over 3 months still to go until it starts, Manchester Academy 2 has already sold out and many of the other dates are expected to follow suit very soon.

The full dates are:
Supports for all dates are Fake Problems and Beans On Toast

UK HEADLINE TOUR
OCTOBER
13 Dublin, Academy 2
14 Belfast Stiff Kitten Club
15 Glasgow QMU
16 Manchester Academy 2 SOLD OUT
17 Newcastle Uni
18 Nottingham Rock City
19 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
20 Oxford Academy
22 Leeds Met University
23 Cambridge Junction
24 Plymouth University
25 Exeter Lemon Grove
26 Bristol Anson Rooms
27 Cardiff University
28 Winchester Guildhall
29 London Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Tickets are £10, £13 in London Doors 7pm
The summer is starting to hot up too with the announcement of many UK and European festivals including Reading and Leeds Festival, Camp Bestival, Beautiful Days as well as currently supporting punk legends The Offspring in the States.

All gig dates are:
The Offspring US Tour
16 Hard Rock, Orlando, FL,
17 St Augustine Amphitheater, Jacksonville, FL,
18 Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Miami, FL,
23 Chetltenham Town Hall (2000 Trees makeup show)
24 Queens Hotel, Weymouth
25 Camp Bestival
31 Y-Not Festival, Matlock
AUGUST
1 Kendall Calling Festival
13 Café 1001 Brick Lane Takeover MacMillan Charity gig
15 Leicester Summer Sundae
23 Beautiful Days Festival
27 Kingston New Slang
28 Cabaret Voltaire, Edge Festival, Edinburgh
29 Leeds Festival Radio1/NME stage
30 Reading Festival Radio1/NME stage
The Gaslight Anthem Tour USA
SEPTEMBER
13 The Ogden Theater, Denver, CO,
16 The House Of Blues, San Diego, CA
17 Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles,
20 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA,
22 Berbati's Pan, Portland, OR,
23 Showbox, Seattle, WA,
24 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, ,
26 Edmonton Event Centre, Edmonton,
27 MacEwan Ballroom, Calgary, Al,
29 Riddell Center, Regina, Sa
OCTOBER
1 Garrick Center, Winnipeg, Ma
3 The Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN,
4 Turner Hall, Milwaukee, WI,
5 The Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
6 Andrew's Hall, Detroit, MI,

“Everytime he plays London, Turner sells out a bigger venue and our money’s on him finally taking on the mainstream – deservedly so.” NME
"I think Frank Turner is one of the best singer songwriters of our generation." Mike Davies Radio 1
"Godspeed, sir." KKKK Kerrang!
“Frank is truly a unique British talent to be cherished and acclaimed with good reason.”
8/10 Rocksound

http://www.frank-turner.com/ & www.myspace.com/frankturner
http://www.xtramilerecordings.com/

For further info contact: Charlie and Dani – firstname@presscounsel.com 020-7792-9400

Crazy Arm - Debut album 'Broken By The Wheel'

Debut single ‘Broken By The Wheel’ (Xtra Mile Recordings) Released: 25th May 2009 Debut album ‘Born To Ruin’ (Xtra Mile Recordings) Released: 8th June 2009

Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that Plymouth hard-twang roots-punks, Crazy Arm’s debut album has been a long time coming. Not through want of trying, of course. In late-2006 the band headed into a local studio to bang an album into shape. A year later, and with an arsenal of new songs, they decided to scrap the recordings and start again. Another year later, and with another clutch of new songs, they reluctantly called a halt to proceedings and started afresh, for the third time, with Peter Miles (Sonic Boom Six, The King Blues, Failsafe) at the controls. The fact that his newly assembled studio was only 20 miles up the road, in the middle of a beautiful forest that backed onto Dartmoor, sweetened the deal somewhat.

The result is ‘Born To Ruin’. A debut album that sounds nothing like it would have done three years ago when the band were still in the embryonic stages, and perhaps nothing like it would have done if it hadn’t been recorded in such idyllic surroundings, where pheasants strolled around the grounds and vegan curries were mandatory. Not easy to categorise, and all the better for it, ‘Born To Ruin’ is an aural accumulation of years and years of influence and inspiration: rooted in hardcore/punk, ‘60s protest folk and timeless rock’n’roll. Of course, you may not actually hear the likes of Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, Hűsker Dű, Crass or Gene Vincent but it’s all in there somewhere, adding weight and depth to songs that are as different from each other as they are from any other self-proclaimed punk band you care to mention.

But make no mistake. This is still a punk rock record. In the same way that ‘London Calling’ by The Clash, ‘The Argument’ by Fugazi and ‘Under The Fog’ by The King Blues are punk rock records. They don’t scream their ideas at you, they’re steeped in inventive melodies, and they spill over into many other styles but they are records that stand out as punk classics because of, not in spite of, their willingness to side-step punk stereotypes. For instance, ‘Blind Summit’ and ‘Broken By The Wheel’ may be dynamic country-punk anthems – all slide guitars and self-confession, but ‘Christ In Concrete’ and ‘Asphalt’ harness the dark brooding tones of 16 Horsepower. ‘Reassure Me’ may pack a melodic hardcore punch, but ‘International Front’ – a slight upon imperialist wars – and ‘Henry Fabian Flynn’ pay tribute to the protest song of Dick Gaughan, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, et al. Elsewhere, live favourites like the galloping ‘Still To Keep’ call to mind the sub-pop sensibilities of Ted Leo or The Replacements, while the title track, and album centre-piece, is an epic celebration of history’s conscientious trouble-makers that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on ‘Physical Graffiti’. All told, ‘Born To Ruin’ is an embarrassment of riches full of stories told from a grass-roots perspective. And for a debut album, it’s something of a true revelation.

The band head out on a UK tour in June (confirmed dates below) to promote the album and are planning a European tour for August. Members are all vegetarian/vegan, atheist, internationalist and support human and animal rights struggles worldwide.

CONFIRMED TOUR DATES FOR JUNE
2nd Cavern, Exeter with NEW BRUISES £3
6th Hobos, Bridgend with A NEW DAY - FREE SHOW!
7th Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth with ASTPAI FREE SHOW
8th TBC
9th Farmhouse, Canterbury with RENTOKILL £5
10th TBC
11th King Alfs, Southampton with NEW BRUISES £5
12th White Rabbit, Plymouth with FAILSAFE - FREE SHOW!
14th Prince Albert, Brighton with LEMURIA £5
15th Norwich Marquee
16th Portland Arms, Cambridge
17th Purple Turtle, London with MISCHIEF BREW £5
18th Evolution, Worcester
19th The Xoo Club, Peterborough with LAUGHING IN THE FACE OF £3
20th White Rooms w/BROKEN FEW + more Sunderland
21st Cricketers w/SOUNDS OF SWAMI Keighley
22nd TBC w/SOUNDS OF SWAMI + more Leeds (tbc)
23rd TBC w/SOUNDS OF SWAMI + more Manchester (tbc)

All doors are at 8pm

www.myspace.com/crazyarm

REVIEWS OF DEMO EP ‘CROSS COUNTRY’
"Here we have a new band that sounds like a grizzled, road-hardy bunch of musicians singing for their supper, such is the inherent power and dirty glory of their songwriting. They should be standing on some huge stages sooner rather than later." punktastic.com "Powerful, progressive, political and inspirational. An immense, energy-fuelled, life-affirming statement of intent yet fragile, honest and heartfelt at the same time." The Fly "Crazy Arm bring hooks and edgy guitars aplenty on 'Cross Country'… I dripped drool all over the keyboard just thinking about a proper full-length." absolutepunk.net "The live energy they muster is immense. Straddling the margins between a punky militancy and folk fragility, they can spit out a tight, snarling, ballsy anthem and break your heart at the same time. Indeed, out of the strong came forth sweetness." 247

The Xcerts - New single, dates with My Vitriol and festivals!

“Ludicrously Punchy” – Steve Lamacq
'...classic piece of air-punching melancholia' - Observer

Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile', that saw the band win over journalists, DJs and musical peers with their raw, energetic and impassioned melodies, The Xcerts can now reveal plans for their next single. ‘Just Go Home’ will be released on 8th June through Xtra Mile Recordings as a download on iTunes and all major DSPs. Fans who purchase ‘Just Go Home’ in the week of release are eligible for an additional free live track recorded at the band’s recent sold out Glasgow show and mixed by Dave Eringa (Idlewild, Manic Street Preachers…) who also produced the band’s debut album. We will have some more information on this here, soon!

The Xcerts recently returned from the British Anthems in Tokyo. They were flown out to the music industry showcase by the British Embassy to perform live and represent their country! The band returned to the UK in a triumphant fashion becoming the first rock act to play a show on Loch Ness when they took to the water for the launch of ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’. Coach-loads of fans were transported to a boat where the special show was held with one of the vehicles having to be rescued later that evening when it sank into the sand!

No strangers to the road, The Xcerts who spent a lot of last year touring with the likes of Get Cape, Wear Cape. Fly, Twin Atlantic, Feeder and Fight Like Apes will soon embark on a national tour supporting My Vitriol while stopping off at every festival along the way! Dates below:

APRIL
29th - O'Couture Glasgow (DJ Set)
30th - Hinterland Festival, Glasgow (Glasgow Arts School)
MAY
1st - Hinterland Festival, Glasgow (The Admiral)
2nd - Jericho Tavern, Oxford
8th - City Show Case, China Town, London
15th - Great Escape Festival
17th - Aberdeen Tunnels - Supporting My Vitriol
18th - Liverpool Barfly - Supporting My Vitriol
20th - Cardiff Barfly - Supporting My Vitriol
21st - Exeter The Hub - Supporting My Vitriol
22nd - Southampton Joiners - Supporting My Vitriol
23rd - Audio, Brighton
JUNE
5th - Herts Uni Summer Ball
6th - Hull Uni Summer Ball
20th - Lexapalooza Festival, London
24th - Southend Arts Festival
25th - Warwick Uni
JULY
3rd - Electric Bay, Perth
4th - Electric Bay, Perth
5th - Perth Music Festival, Perth
24th - Wickerman Festival (Solus Festival), Scotland
25th - Truck Festival
26th - Truck Festival
AUGUST
1st - Leopallooza Festival, Cornwall
30th - Beachdown Festival Brighton

www.myspace.com/thexcerts
www.xtramilerecordings.com
www.myspace.com/xtramilerecordings

Here’s what the press had to say about The Xcerts debut album; ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’:
“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"The Xcerts have grown beyond their influences, mixing heart-aching indie pop with huge-sounding rock seamlessly. These young Scots should have a lot to smile about this year…”- Big Cheese