Iron & Wine

Beautiful and pure. I am a huge fan of this artist.

Iron & Wine (Samuel Beam) is an American folk singer and songwriter, who to date has released five albums and several EPs.

In 2002 Iron & Wine released his debut album "The Creek Drank the Cradle." What makes me enjoy the music written, performed, recorded and produced by Samuel Beam is the accompaniment of guitars and banjos that features heavily in his music.

Following the success of his debut album, Iron & Wine released four more albums; "Our Endless Numbered Days," "The Shepherd's Dog," "Kiss Each Other Clean," and "Ghost on Ghost."

As well as five albums, Iron & Wine has released a number of great EPs including "The Sea & The Rhythm," "Woman King," and "In the Reins."

If singers such as Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Tallest Man On Earth are your thing, than this is a man for you! An insanely talented singer, Samuel Beam is able to seduce the audience with his gut wrenching, softly sung, and highly emotive tracks. Check him out - he is certainly worth the effort.

Tour dates: 
June 21st. Smith Opera House - Geneva, NY

For further details check out: http://www.ironandwine.com/tour

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics

Love this band.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics are an American indie folk band from LA. What sets this band apart from all other indie folk bands out there is the pure number of band members it has! The band consists of; Alex Ebert (vocals, guitar, percussion, piano), Jade Castrinos, Stewart Cole, Josh Collazo, Orpheo McCord, Nora Kirkpatrick, Christian Letts, Seth Ford-Young, Mark Noseworthy and Aaron Arntz - yes that is 10 members!!! On top of the ten mentioned there are also 8/9 additional members who help with general percussion and instruments.

Whenever I listen to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics I find myself smiling and jamming along to the beat. Their music is insanely catchy and uplifting, and leaves the listener with the impression of a band just having one big musical party. It is clear this huge band is doing what they love most - creating great folk music.

To date, this band have released two albums; "Up From Below," and "Here." Songs which have proven to be hugely popular from their albums are: 40 Day Dream, Janglin and Home. My personal favorites are Man on Fire, and Mayla.

In terms of live performances you can be sure of a great evening. Likened to being 'one big family' on stage, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetics all perform with such enthusiasm and passion it becomes impossible for the audience not to join in. Expect an active (sold out) crowd - i'm talking singing, clapping, stomping...oh and sweating!! Hey it's party!!!

So if Mumford and Sons and Alabama Shakes are your calling than you would be a fool to ignore this band.

For a recent review of this band, check out: http://musicgigsnfestivals.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/gentleman-of-road-mumford-sons-review.html

Tour dates: 
26th July.  Xponential Music Festival - Camden, NJ

For more information regarding tour dates and tickets, check out: http://edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com/tour/

Gabrielle Aplin

An English singer-songwriter that is building quite the following.

Gabrielle Aplin got her first number one with her cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood "The Power of Love," on 9th December. An indie folk singer with a beautiful voice it is clear she has been influenced greatly by the music of Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.

Describing her music as "family orientated, very personal," Gabrielle used self uploaded vidoes on youtube to get her music out there. Since 2010 she has released three EPs ;"Acoustic" which reached number 25 in the album charts, "Never Fade," and "Home."

Her debut album "English Rain" is due to be released later this year.

Tour dates: 
13th March. King Tut's Wah Wah Hut - Glasgow
14th March. The Institute - Birmingham
15th March. The Plug - Sheffield
16th March. Sound Control - Manchester
18th March. The Sage Gateshead - Gateshead
19th March. O2 Academy - Oxford
20th March. KOKO - London
22nd March. Concorde 2 - Brighton
23rd March. The Trinity Centre - Bristol
25th March. Wedgewood Rooms - Portsmouth
27th March. Princess Pavilion - Falmouth

For more information regarding tickets and tour dates check out: http://www.ents24.com/web/artist/139308/Gabrielle_Aplin.html

Daughter

Indie folk at its finest.

Daughter, made up of Elena Tonra, Igor Haefeli, and Remi Aguilella are already achieving great things. Their debut single Smother has helped to build the bands already growing reputation by featuring on many popular tv shows including Skins and Vampire Diaries.

If artists Ben Howard, Bon Iver, and Keaton Henson are your calling than so are these. Personally lead singer Elena Tonra reminds me a great deal of a more 'deep and meaningful' version of Ingrid Michaelson.

 This band is due to release their debut album "If You Leave" on 18th March. If however you are unable to wait this long you can check out their EPs (released between 2010 - 2011) "Demos," "His Young Heart" and "The Wild Youth."

I really am a huge fan of this band I seriously urge you to check them out. If indie/ indie folk is your thing than Daughter will certainly tick all the boxes. Their soft vocals, eerie tones and painfully honest acoustic performances will have you truly enraptured.

Tour Dates: 
21st April. The Institue - Birmingham
22nd April. Liverpool Cathedral - Liverpool
23rd April. Oxford Town Hall - Oxford
24th April. Old Fire Station - Bournemouth
25th May. Victoria Park - London
30th - 1st Sept. End of the Road Festival - Salisbury

For more information regarding tickets and tour dates, check out: http://www.ents24.com/web/artist/159884/Daughter.html

Bon Iver Review

I absolutely love this band.

Bon Iver is an indie folk band who first formed back in 2007. The bands debut album "For Emma, Forever Ago" was released in 2007 and includes the tracks "Flumes," "The Wolves (Act 1 and 11)," "Skinny Love" and "Lump Sun." In June 2011 Bon Iver released their second album "Bon Iver." This album proved to be equally as successful as their first, with over 100,000 copies sold during its first week in the US alone.

If you like bands such as Fleet Foxes, Tallest Man On Earth, and Iron & Wine, than this is a band for you.

I have been hoping to see Bon Iver live for a number of years now, so when I was fortunate to get tickets to their Manchester gig I was ecstatic. Having got there early enough, I was able to get prime standing position (3 people from the very front) and boy was it amazing.

I can say without any doubt that this is by far one of the best live performances I have ever seen. The vocal and musical ability demonstrated by the band was breathtaking. The set list for their manchester performance was; Perth, Minnesota (WI), Brackett (WI), Towers, Flume, Creature Fear, Hinnom (TX), Wash, Woods, Calgary, Blood Bank, Holocene, Lisbon (OH), Beth/rest. For the encore, they performed; Skinny Love, and For Emma. (I was a little disappointed they didn't perform their hit single "Wolves").

With all nine members in their positions, this hour and half gig was everything I hoped. True to their album, the sounds created by the band were intense and highly emotional. Justin Vernon was fabulous - a great character who had the entire arena crowd eating from the palm of his hand. He put everything into each song, and created awesome banter between tracks,

I can't stress how truly magnificent this show was. If you have the chance please check them out - they are definitely worth it. For me the highlight of the show was Bon Iver performing skinny Love and Flume - two great singles, and personal favourites of my mine.

Of Monsters and Men

This indie folk band from Iceland are absolutely awesome.

After being crowned winners of an annual battle of the bands competition in Iceland, this six piece have gone from strength to strength. Their single Little Talks has so far been the bands most successful single to date - and not just in Iceland. Within the States this band has proven already to be a huge hit, and have even been deemed by Rolling Stone as the "new Arcade Fire."

Of Monsters and Men released their debut album "My Head Is an Animal" earlier this year. Despite the occasional play on UK radio, this band still remains off the radar - not for long though. I would jump on the bandwagon soon - this band are expected to achieve great things.

I am a huge fan of this band and have already secured my ticket to see them -  I urge you to do the same! 

Tour Dates:
20th Nov. Terminal 5 - NYC
22nd Feb. O2 Academy - Glasgow, UK
24th  Feb. Ritz  Manchester - Manchester, UK
25th  Feb. Rock City - Nottingham, UK
26th  Feb. HMV Institute - Birmingham, UK
27th Feb. O2 Academy Bristol - Bristol, UK
1st  March. O2 Academy Oxford - Oxford, UK
2nd March. Pyramids  Centre - Portsmouth, UK
3rd March.  Norwich UEA LCR - Norwich, UK
5th March. O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - London, UK
6th March.  O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - London, UK

For more information regarding tickets or the rest of their European tour dates check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/3631016-of-monsters-and-men/calendar?page=1

Bon Iver

Although I have already posted about Bon Iver (April 29th) he has just come out with some more tour dates which I feel I have to be mention.

Their recent self titled album "Bon Iver" has been a massive hit, with over 100,000 copies sold during its first week in the US alone.

I really can't stress enough how insanely talented this band is. Justin Vernon can create such emotion from his vocal performance that you will be truly mesmerized and left feeling in awe. With their two hugely successful albums and exceptional reviews from fans and the media, it comes as no surprise that their shows are a sell out. I really do urge you to buy a ticket. Go on - I did!!!

Tour dates: 
12th July. Latitude Festival 2012 - Suffolk, UK
17th September. Brewery Ommegang - Cooperstown, NY
19th September. Radio City Music Hall - NYC
20th September. Radio City Music Hall - NYC
8th Nov. Wembley Arena - London, UK
8th Nov. Manchester Arena - Manchester, UK
10th Nov. Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre - Glasgow, UK

 For more information regarding Bon Iver's European, Australian and N.American tour dates: http://www.songkick.com/artists/590705-bon-iver/calendar?page=4

Bon Iver Music Gig

Bon Iver is an indie folk band who first formed together in 2007. The bands debut album "For Emma, Forever Ago" was released in 2007 and includes the tracks; Flumes, The Wolves (Act 1 and 11),  Skinny Love, and Lump Sum. Bon Iver's highly anticipated second album, which is due to be released sometime around June, is reported to have gone down a new musical direction to that of their previous work.

If you like bands such as Fleet Foxes, The Tallest Man On Earth, and Iron & Wine, than this is a band for you.

This humble bands' live performances will certainly make the hairs on your arm stand up. The level of emotion and intensity that Justin Vernon pours into his songs not only captivates the audience but moves them also. If you are looking for a night of exceptional singing that will have the singers giving you their heart and soul, than you really can't miss this gig.

Tour dates
10th August. Prospect Park Bandshell - Brooklyn, NY

For more information about their tour or for tickets check out: bon iver tickets