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

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

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