This is far from the first time FFS has seen Alessi Laurent-Marke perform live, but it might as well be. The shy girl whose last two gigs in Leeds were the lowest of low-key affairs in the corner of a noisy bar, Alessi stumbling over her lyrics as she performed alone, has gone. The...
The 14th Truck Festival (22nd-24th July) will, unfortunately for FFS, be our first. We had a rough idea that something good was going on in a field in Oxford all these years, but we’ve only just been informed of the gravity of the situation. Why did no one tell us? WHY? Truck is a...
‘Oh by now I must’ve grown’, sings Alessi Laurent-Marke on her second album Time Travel. And she has. Her writing, her melodies, the playing, the whole ambience of this album is stronger, more mature and simply wonderful. She’s yet to turn 21 but, like her contemporaries and friends – you know, that lot, the...
Put two uber-talented 20-year-olds together and what do you get? Well in this case it’s a tricycle-filled music video in which every frame and note is a beaut. Artistic wonderwoman Anika Mottershaw and dream-folk darling Alessi Laurent-Marke got together to produce the video for new Alessi’s Ark song ‘Wire’. The song is taken from...
Hurraaaaaaaaaaaay! Alessi and her Ark, whom FFS has loved for many years, has announced the release of her second album Time Travel. Since the release of her debut album Notes from the Treehouse, Alessi has shared the stage with the who’s who of UK folk including Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons, Peggy Sue and...
While sat barefooted on the tatami mats in Kyoto’s Cafe Yugue (home to arguably the best bagels in all of Japan. Seriously.), FFS filmed Alessi’s Ark at her first Japanese gig. Alessi was accompanied on a few songs by fellow British folkster Rachael Dadd, and here they perform ‘The Robot’ from the Soul Proprietor EP.
FFS turned two last month, and while we don’t like to make a fuss, it’s made us a tad reflective. Especially Brian, who’s a sentimental sort of owl. He has been remembering all the beautiful music he’s listened to over the past couple of years and has concluded that it has made his life...
If you’re on the look for a laid-back festival with a bit of class, look no further than the intriguingly named Deer Shed Festival, a one day festival (camping’s an optional extra) taking place at Baldersley Park, North Yorkshire on 17th July. It’s one for all the family, but they’ve not compromised on quality...
Brian’s been a bit quiet of late, largely because when he gets really excited his wings start quivering and he can’t type. What happened was, he realised it was June and that it was about to be Glastonbury, and his feathers were no longer under his control. The lucky fellow doesn’t even have to...
Bella Union have put together a little belter of an evening at the Union Chapel on 24th June featuring some of their finest signings from recent months. These will include long-term love of FFS Alessi’s Ark, Lone Wolf (who recently supported Aidan Moffat at the Borderline) and brand-spanking new signing Mountain Man (who are,...
#108 Nick Drake - Northern Sky Jun 19th, 2013
#107 Lowland Hum - War is Over Jun 18th, 2013
#106 Nick Mulvey - Fever To The Form Jun 17th, 2013
