NEWS, 19th July 2010
> EMERALD'S MASTER I AM
Featuring a line-up of musicians from across the globe, Emerald are a 5-piece melodic rock band with an international pedigree for songwriting and performance, and will be releasing their debut 8 track mini-album ‘Master I Am’ on Monday August 30th!
Formed at the end of 2006 by Irish drummer/song-writer Thomas Maher, Emerald has spent the last 3 years gigging all across the UK and Europe, resulting in a feature on MTV Europe, TV exposure on the BBC and radio play in Japan, America, Australia, India and various European national stations. The constant gig schedules have helped the band create and maintain a seriously impressive fan base that regard them as one of the premier independent rock bands on the current circuit.
‘Master I Am’ is the band’s debut commercial release and with influences including Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath, the album is molded around some superb guitar work, driven bass lines and bustling percussion. The album blends the boarders of modern rock with a classic guitar sound that is best evident on the title track, with its huge main riff and thought provoking lyrics displaying the talent the band possess.
With a UK tour to be announced for late summer and endorsement deals from some major brands including Marshall, Earnie Ball and Fila in the bag, Emerald are a band making waves in the UK rock scene this year. They are also offering a FREE download of new track ‘On The Run’ from their website here: http://www.emeraldrock.net/Page%201
> WIZARD FESTIVAL
Campervan and caravan passes for this year’s Wizard Festival have completely sold out ahead of the event.
However, organisers have released a further 50 vehicle passes for caravans and campervans so that keen fans who want to attend the festival can still come to the event.
As the festival continues to grow, many fans are trying to secure tickets in the last six weeks in the lead up to the event.
More than 4,000 fans from across Scotland, the UK and Europe flocked to the New Deer festival last year and organisers are expecting an increase in numbers attending the event in 2010.
Festival organisers have also called for applications from fans who want to be stewards at this year’s event.
Stewards must be 16 or over, be available to work over the weekend the festival is held and help organisers ensure that Wizard is a safe and fun event for everyone that attends. For more information on how to apply go to the Wizard website at: http://www.wizardfestival.com/
Since the festival started in 2007, more than 200 acts have performed in front of almost 10,000 music fans.
Already confirmed to headline at this year’s event are iconic Manchester bands James and the Happy Mondays. Also included in the line up are Alabama 3, Pearl and the Puppets, Kid British, The Dykeenies, Sandi Thom and The Complete Stone Roses.
There is also a full line-up of DJ’s who will be performing in the Snafu tent, as renowned Aberdeen nightclub Snafu, winner of Scottish nightclub of the year award, brings its club atmosphere to the festival for the second year in a row.
Acts perform across three stages over two days at what is the only two day music and arts festival to be held in the North-East of Scotland.
More than 50 bands, DJ’s and solo artists perform at the festival, which was nominated in five categories at last year’s UK Festival awards.
A family friendly festival, Wizard also runs a full two day programme of activities for children and young people. Kids aged twelve and under are free to attend the event. In order to keep the festival affordable, weekend passes are priced at the same amount as last year at £70 for the weekend. All camping and car parking are also free.
Roy Thain, Wizard festival director said: “Our caravan and campervan passes have always been popular but this year we have sold out really quickly. We have made additional passes available but we expect these to sell out very fast too and so we advise fans that want to come along in these types of vehicles to buy their tickets as soon as possible. There has been an increase in fans attending Wizard every year since we started in 2007 and this year is set to be no different. We are expecting even more festival goers from across Scotland and the UK to make their way to New Deer in August.”
Wizard is held on August 27 and 28 at the New Deer Showground, New Deer Aberdeenshire approximately 30 miles from Aberdeen.
> EMPTY TREMOR SIGN TO SG RECORDS
Empty Tremor return after the "The Alien Inside" hit.
SG Records is pleased to announce that Empty Tremor has joined the family in preparation for the fourth album by the well known Italian prog metal band.
Iridium, the new album, marks the renewal but not a revolution in Empty Tremor, and it will be published next October.
> REDTRACK'S THE TRIER... AND DATES
The Truth: REDTRACK consist of Billy Wright (guitar / vox), Phil Blake (bass / vox) and Andrew Perry (drums) and new boy Mitch Silvey (guitar / keys / vox). They come from Southend, their bass player has survived an attack with a meat cleaver, five minutes ago they were confirmed for the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading / Leeds Festival and on their new single they reckon they sound like a cross between Girls Aloud and The Clash.
Cheeky, eh? Well yes. And in many ways ‘The Trier’ single captures the essence of REDTRACK’s smalltown-by-the-sea charm because it is terse and taut and pop-tastic and comes backed with the rousing romp of ‘Pretty Boy’, co-starring Hollyoaks’ Hollie-Jay Bowes. And, of course, these three chipper REDTRACK tracks will be available on bright red vinyl.
When they aren’t shaking their collective pop booty and hanging out with soap starlets you’ll find REDTRACK digging their very own new wave scene. So imminent debut album ‘Whole Town’s Heart’ (out on Label Fandango on September 7th) nods at the classic Britpopesque lineage running from the power trio jabs of The Jam to the melodic liberties taken by The Libertines, and listen closely and you’ll also hear echoes of the deadpan observations of Difford and Costello. Small wonder then that their punkoid peer Pete Shelley was so enamoured with REDTRACK that he co-produced (alongside Dave M Allen) last year’s single, ‘Poledancer’ / ‘Addicted To Love’ and REDTRACK will be touring with The Buzzcocks in September.
Not bad going when you consider that three years ago bassist Phil Blake was attacked with an airgun and a meat cleaver and so badly hurt that he needed microsurgery on severed tendons in his arm. That he is back playing is a testament to his spirit in the face of adversity, and seeing REDTRACK’s terrific live show you can see why his band mates downed instruments and waited for him to recover.
But don’t just take our windswept word for it – get ready to see REDTRACK at one of these shows here…
JULY 16TH SOUTHEND Chinnerys (w/ The Baddies)
JULY 23RD ROCHESTER School For Girls (charity gig)
AUGUST 7TH CHELMSFORD Shakey’s Bar (w/ Bleech)
AUGUST 27TH / 28TH / 29TH READING / LEEDS FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER
1ST LONDON Kentish Town Bull & Gate (reopening party w/ Pete & The Pirates)
SEPTEMBER 9TH DUNDEE Fat Sams (w/ The Buzzcocks)
SEPTEMBER 10TH EDINBURGH Liquid Rooms (w/ The Buzzcocks)
SEPTEMBER 11TH EXETER Ivy Live
OCTOBER 9TH OXFORD University
http://www.myspace.com/redtracktheband
> NEW STONE SOUR WEBSITE
Stone Sour is proud to present the launch of the brand new StoneSour.com.
This is your one-stop destination for everything Stone Sour, and the only place you can find up to the minute news on the upcoming new album Audio Secrecy.
Become a member of the site to get exclusive news and content straight from the band.
In addition, go here to hear the brand new track 'Say You'll Haunt Me', which will be released digitally on iTunes this coming Tuesday, July 20th.
