For Folk's Sake » Dan Michaelson & The Coastguards

The Local combines cinema and music in Islington

Lynn Roberts — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:13:01 +0000

Our friends-of-friends the Local have announced a brilliant-sounding series of gigs at Islington’s Screen on the Green cinema.

The weekly shows feature a set from a brilliant artist — Caitlin Rose, Dan Michaelson & the Coastguards and Natty are lined up — followed by a screening of that artist’s favourite film.

The folks at the Local said: “We’ve always fantasised at The Local that it would be amazing to put on shows in a cinema and to blend film and music in a live event. We’re delighted to be able to work with the excellent Everyman Screen on the Green for this series of events which is special beyond all belief!

“How about some fantastic live music, a classic film, in comfy seats with a fancy schmancy bar at the back. Got it.”

The listings so far are:
24.04.2010: Natty plus a screening of La Haine tickets

01.05.2010: Dan Michealson and The Coastguards plus a screening of No Country for Old Men tickets

08.05.2010: Caitlin Rose plus a screening of Badlands tickets

This is about the best idea we’ve ever heard and we reckon it could run and run. What films d’you think go with which bands?

Peggy Sue release single, announce album launch and offer free download

Helen True — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:17:24 +0000

Brace yourselves, folk fans, for more Peggy Sue news than you can shake a drumstick at. Firstly, Peggy Sue released their single, Watchman Today (22nd March), a spiffing video of which is below. Besides that lovely news, in a fit of spring-cleaning madness Peggy Sue have decided to offer their fans, and indeed anyone who likes free stuff, a mixtape of their releases to date for free download. This generosity precedes the release of their debut album, Fossils and Other Phantoms, on 5th April.

The mixtape, which the band describe as their ‘not necessarily greatest hits in reverse chronological order’ was initially put together as a very limited edition release before Christmas, but they thought better of such exclusivity and are now making it available to all.

The tracklisting is very pleasant indeed, as you can see:
1. Watchman (live)
2. Hatstand Blues
3. The Conservationist
4. Lazarus
5. Alice in the Kitchen
6. Clockwork
7. Pupils Blink
8. Horror Movie Marathon
9. New Song
10. Hadlock Padlock

and the download is available here.

Peggy Sue have a lot more lovely stuff going on, including a special album launch at The Garage, London on Monday 29th March. Support will come from a nautically-themed assortment: Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards and Mariners Children. Get your tickets quick-like.

There will also be a chance to catch Peggy Sue at Rough Trade East on 6th April, which should go some way to help ease the pain of returning to work after the bank holiday weekend.

Peggy Sue – Watchman from Brittney Bean on Vimeo.

Words: Helen True

WIN: A pair of tickets to Shhh… feat David Thomas Broughton, Sam Amidon, Dan Michaelson & the Coastguards

Lynn Roberts — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:32:58 +0000

There’s nothing better than a gig with a quiet audience where you get to hear great music without any blutered punters inspiring homicidal notions you didn’t know you were capable of.

Well the lovely chaps at The Line of Best Fit and The Local are giving you a chance to spend your Saturday at just such an event. They’re offering up a pair of tickets for their ““all day celebration of quiet music” on this Saturday 23rd January at Cecil Sharp House, Gloucester Avenue, Camden NW1.

The line up includes David Thomas Broughton, Sam Amidon, Dan Michaelson & the Coastguards, Jon Hopkins and the Tim & Sam Band.

The chaps behind the event say: “Shhh… is standing up against the noise mongers of the world and hitting back with an all day celebration of quiet music… you can be guaranteed a perfect listening environment for some of the finest artists around.”

So if you’ve got this Saturday free in the capital and want to be in with a chance of winning a quiet day out, email win@forfolkssake.com with the subject line “shhh”. Or, if you’re an exhibitionist, reply in the comments section below.

The winner will be picked at random at 12 noon tomorrow (21st January).

Words: Lynn Roberts

Special deal at Peggy Sue album launch show, download Lover Gone

Lynn Roberts — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:56:11 +0000

The wonderful Peggy Sue are celebrating the very exciting release of their debut album with a London show on 29th March. The Brighton/London trio are offering a special admission + album ticket to the show for £14.

Fossils and Other Phantoms will be released on Witchita records a week after the show.

The gig will be held at The Relentless Garage, promoted by Platforms Live. Support comes from the amazing Dan Michaelson & The Coastguards and Anna Calvi.

Without the album, tickets for the show are £8.50. Both types of tickets are available at www.platformslive.co.uk.

Have a listen to Lover Gone to whet your appetite for this long-awaited album.

Words: Lynn Roberts

TLOBF announces Shhh… gig with Dan Michaelson & the Coastguards, Jon Hopkins, David Thomas Broughton and more

Lynn Roberts — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:23:51 +0000

Music website The Line of Best Fit has announced it is to host an “all day celebration of quiet music” in London in January.

The gig at Cecil Sharp House in Camden will feature Jon Hopkins, Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards (a particular FFS favourite, see our album review here), David Thomas Broughton and more.

Sounds perfect to us.

The full line up is:

Jon Hopkins www.myspace.com/jonhopkins
David Thomas Broughton www.myspace.com/davidthomasbroughton
Sam Amidon www.myspace.com/samamidon
Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards www.myspace.com/danmichaelsonandthecoastguards
Revere www.myspace.com/reverelondon
Sam and the Plants www.myspace.com/samandtheplants
Felix www.myspace.com/mybeautifulfelix
Oh Ruin www.myspace.com/ohruin
Grasscut www.myspace.com/grasscutmusic
Andreya Triana www.myspace.com/andreyatriana
Emit Bloch www.myspace.com/emitblochcountry
Fanni Risberg www.myspace.com/fannirisberg
Dry the River www.myspace.com/drytherivermusic
Tim and Sam’s Tim and Sam Band with Tim and Sam www.myspace.com/timandsamstimandthesambandwithtimandsam
Arch Garrison www.myspace.com/archgarrison
Spencer McLean www.myspace.com/spencermclean
Andrew Vincent www.myspace.com/andrewvincentsongs

Tickets cost £12.50 (that’s 73.5p per act, fact fans) and are available from SeeTickets.

Words: Lynn Roberts

Album Review: Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards – Saltwater

Lynn Roberts — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:04:26 +0000

Saltwater is the debut solo album from Absentee frontman Dan Michaelson. The songs which he originally wrote after the release of the critically acclaimed Schmotime, were rejected by the band because they didn’t fit the Absentee sound. It has become one of those stories passed so freely between reviewers, you wonder if there isn’t some myth-making going on, accidental or otherwise. But there is every chance the decision may yet prove to be a defining moment in both of their careers.

As you would expect with a solo project, the voice comes to the fore. And Michaelson has a voice many have already compared to the likes of Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and Lou Reed. His hung-over baritone and the witty phrasing of his lyrical despond promise consolation where there is heart-break and raise a smile where there is not. In the opener, ‘Ease on in’, Michaelson yearns: “You say you’re leaving/Some clothes on the line/ Just until they’re dry.” These are well crafted songs played extremely well by the loose collective of musicians known as The Coastguards.

Among the players on the album are Henry Fields from Fields, and Arnulf Lindner, who plays bass with Ed Harcourt and KT Tunstall, among others. But it is the horns, from The Rumble Strips’ Tom Gorbutt and Henry Clark, that win the day, notably on bluesy ‘I Was a Gentleman’. Icelandic producer Valgier Sigurdson, known for his work with luminaries including Bjork, Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Sigur Ros does a masterful job and even manages to add some piano.

I took Saltwater out for an aimless Sunday drive in the country and it stood up very well, but no doubt it will play well too inside the dowdy walls of bedsit-land. Whether or not Michealson is ready to rub along with the greats, there is no denying this album its place among the hits of the year.

Words: Jon Cheetham

For Folk's Sake » Dan Michaelson & The Coastguards

The Local combines cinema and music in Islington

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