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The Futureheads

January 7, 2008 By 3 Comments

Futureheads ReviewAttention: You can tap into The Futureheads “Broke Up The Time” and get some idea of what U.K. energy rock is about. Then slide over to the melodic “Skip To The End” with its nice rhythm track and guitar chord work (679/Warners 2004). Great, happy-time vocals at the end of this tune. What a difference a song makes!

Then the group combines the two “styles,” putting the energy to work again on “Decent Days and Nights” (679/Warners 2004). But this time the tune also has some select rhythm, bass and guitar work. This listener really likes “Hounds of Love” – oh, oh, oh… Fans have already bought the more recent News and Tributes CD in huge numbers.

With a home base in Sunderland, United Kingdom, The Futureheads start a tour in Brunel, then cover a number of stops around the home country – Hertfordshire, Loughborough, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bournemouth etc. This travel takes them quite a long way from the start as a garage band in 2000 in Sunderland. The band at first was composed of Jaff (Bass, Vocals), Barry Hyde (Guitar, Vocals), Ross Millard (Guitar, Vocals), and Peter Brewis. A more current lineup includes Barry Hyde, Ross Millard, David Hyde and Jaff.

Fans will particularly enjoy the Soho street gig photos on the band’s own Web site. Spreading the word as street musicians – what a great idea!

Futureheads at Myspace

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Filed Under: Reviews

Winning Indie Music Awards

January 6, 2008 By 9 Comments

finalistannounce100507.gifIf you’re an indie artist looking for recognition and some help in growing your audience you might consider applying to the International Independent Music Awards. It isn’t really a contest, as what you win is year-long help. You’ll be rewarded with professional help promoting your independent music, and marketing and distributing it to a much wider audience than ever before. 20 million people now follow The Independent Music Awards.

The audience for the Awards program includes radio programmers for public, commercial and college stations, music producers and promoters, music journalists, talent buyers for festivals and clubs, music managers for TV and film, distributors, managers, publishers, conference coordinators, and retailers.

There are many ways an indie artist or group can be eligible for The Independent Music Awards. If a recording is self-distributed and self-produced it qualifies. If the release of an indie label is distributed by an independent distributor or a major label distributor it qualifies. Every song must be an original of the indie artists, and singles or parts of albums that were released during the eligibility period. Since the 2007 awards just closed, the release dates would be between January 2007 and December 2008.

In addition to a song category there is a live performance category. A separate social action category accepts applications regardless of point of view. Web sites are eligible for Independent Music Awards as well. It must have as its mission the support and promotion of solo indie artist, indie music groups and independent record labels.

Additional categories for which those associated with independent music can earn awards are those who design posters promoting indie artists and groups, independent music video producers and those who create merchandise such as hats, T-shirts, bumper stickers and mugs, specifically for independent musicians.

Win or not, it is another outlet to get your music heard and that is a revenue producing activity you need to be engaged in. 2008 entries will be accepted through July. Get entry details here: Independent Music Awards and check out the 2007 winners while you are there.

Filed Under: Indie Music Blog Tagged With: , ,

Welcome to 2008

January 5, 2008 By 9 Comments

I know this has been an extended break over the holiday period and it wasn’t expected. It was intended to be no more than a week but then the writer fell ill. We should get back to normal shortly.  I did find some articles written back in August by an alternate writer that I don’t believe were ever published. I’ll get these published and ensure we always stay ahead.

For all of those who have written requesting a review, a number of you saw your review come online but there is a huge backlog. I really appreciate the enthusiasm and as the blog’s popularity (and pagerank) keeps growing, I hope the artists are benefiting from the additional exposure. This site is and always will be dedicated to helping indie artists reach more people.

I am open to contributed posts. If you are an avid indie fan with a knack for writing and want some exposure, send me a sample. My bandwidth is limited and the list of pending reviews/bios keeps growing. I am paying writers to help me keep up but this is a tough business model considering the blog is not yet monetized. I have always been committed to the artists first. I’ll find something appropriate at some point.

It’s been 20 months since I wrote the first welcome post. I want to thank everyone for sticking with me as there were some big gaps in postings in the past. Bringing in a paid writer has helped to keep them flowing. I wish everyone great success in 2008. Keep making the music that enhances our lives and I’ll keep getting the word out.

Filed Under: Indie Music Blog Tagged With:
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