YUCA ( Vancouver, Canada)

I would like to tell you about a new band I discovered not so long ago. Yuca is the name of the band, and they come from Canada. The first song I heard on their myspace page, was " This Isn't Over Yet",and I can tell you I got chills when I heard it =) Singer Matt Borck have this unique and powerful voice , that you don't hear so often theese days. These guys are gonna be Huge, I can tell you =) I'm glad that I discovered them... I've talked to Matt via email , and I will buy their debut CD now from them , I will come back with a review and some more stuff about this wonderful band from Canada later on ! Once again, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR THEESE GUYS! THEY ROCK ;)

"YUCA formed in 2003, and is Matt Borck on lead vocals and guitar , Ryan B on lead guitar, Andy B on bass and Dave Atkinson on drums. The band got their huge break in 2006 when they were crowned the 2006 CFOX SEEDS Platinum award Winners - being chosen from over 650 bands)

Yuca's Biography ( from Cdbaby.com)

YUCA’s influences range from U2 and The Beatles to Radiohead, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. 

"YUCA is one of those bands that only come around every so often. They are the next big band to come out of Canada made for arenas, see them now in a club because one day soon they'll be playing in front of 60,000 people!" Comments of various radio and music industry reps exposed to YUCA at Canadian Music Week and Virgin Fest 2007 Vancouver.

Emerging from their rehearsal space and idea factory located in a barn on the outskirts of Vancouver, YUCA was chosen by an esteemed industry panel to be crowned the 2006 99.3FM The Fox SEEDS Platinum Award Winners beating out over 700 bands for the title. (Previous Winners include Nickelback and Default), 

In April of this year - YUCA was again crowned the Best Band in Western Canada winning the coveted title from the Pontiac “Battle of the Bands” at this year’s TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival in Whistler, BC Canada (Home of the 2010 Olympics) competing against the handpicked “10 Top bands” around including some from major labels.

YUCA has shared the stage with many brilliant bands like: Lifehouse on their Canadian LiveNation tour dates, The Killers, AFI, Metric and Hot Hot Heat at Virgin Fest, Billy Talent, Theory of a Deadman and Armchair Cynics at Fox Fest as well as Kim Mitchell at the Cascades Casino, blowing the crowds away with their live performance. The band was also asked to be the only opening band to play with Econoline Crush on their Vancouver Island Tour and has performed Live on Global TV with an overwhelming response from fans. In the bands experience, the fans are looking for melody, lyrics they can relate to, relevancy and a band that puts on a great live experience - YUCA is continually striving to be all of that and more.

Singer Matt Borck made the commitment to music after declining to pursue a pro soccer career, while also flirting with the big-time skateboarding scene. Along with his equally talented band mates, Matt has created nothing less than a total YUCA aesthetic, which encompasses music, design and an enthusiastic approach to the challenges of the current music business that focuses on independence, innovation and a "why not?" attitude.

With a full album of intense, infectious and brilliantly recorded tracks in the can (produced by John MacLean with the band and mastered by George Marino) YUCA's a band on a mission. YUCA released the Single “It’s about Something” through national radio promotion in Canada and saw the song shoot to Number 1 on Galaxie Rock Radio and beyond. The single was added and featured on many other radio stations. 

Through radio promotion in the UK, YUCA saw their single hit number 6 on University radio – while growing their fan base throughout Europe and Asia. 

YUCA released their debut album in 2008 and saw the CD sales hit over 1000 copies in less than 2 months from only side of stage sales. The band has also booked their own Western Canadian Tour dates to promote the new CD and has seen an overwhelming response in each city they visit – performing to sold out venues, gaining profile, momentum and new fans nationwide!

YUCA is the real deal and the bands powerful live performances, brilliant songs and authenticity has been attracting fans with every show they play. 

“We don’t do this because it’ the cool thing to do, we do this because rock and roll is in our blood” stated Matt Borck, “We don't fake a single note we play!”

Sincerity is a word that consistently comes up when people talk about YUCA. Seeing the band on stage and the passion that flows from the members, you know the band means every word they sing! 

They are after nothing less than international recognition and it starts here, now, in Canada with the first single "It's About Something" and a dynamic live show packed with songs destined to be arena anthems.

We hope you'll give the music a chance and become a YUCA convert in the process."

Music Style : Rock/Alternative/Pop

Myspace Link:http://www.myspace.com/yucamusic

A Cuckoo (Leeds , UK)

"This project was started out of curiosity. I love curious things.. Ouija boards, Music boxes, Old photographs, Carousels, Clowns, Steam engines, Dolls.. even Qabalah, Sephardic culture, Persian history, Bulgarian folk music etc etc. I suffer badly from Nostalgia!! So I uploaded a couple of rough tunes here on myspace and then things became even more curious when a few dear people insisted that rather than spend my days doing curious things such as frequenting the circus, walking through quiet graveyards, exploring abandoned buildings, creeping through the deserted streets of Leeds at 3:12am or trying to master the art of the Yaki Soba... They suggested I should take some time out to finish an album. I did.. and it’s turned into quite a curiosity. It reminds me of silent films, of romantic séances, of alter egos and dusty roads to nowhere."

“There is something reassuringly old fashioned about A Cuckoo, a singular individual who dwells on the Yorkshire Moors and has a fixation with sepia-toned Edwardiana, music boxes and the like… MOJO would like to add that we hope that A Cuckoo’s forthcoming album will be available on 78. It would seem impolite if it wasn’t.” – MOJO

By the age of 17 A Cuckoo had already played in respected UK bands Blue Aeroplanes and House of Love. In his early 20s he started to create and produce his own music. In the meantime he ended up working nearly full time as a composer for the BBC, which is where he “learnt how to orchestrate and paint sonic pictures.”

Quietly A Cuckoo began putting some of the rough ideas that he was developing up on MySpace.. The page quickly began to gather a list of complimentary comments and was visited by A Girl called Eddy (former Le Grand Magistery recording artist, currently signed to Anti), who asked what the situation was with the release of his material. “Um, they’re only rough snippets!” replied A Cuckoo, so A Girl Called Eddy put him in touch with Matthew Jacobson from Le Grand Magistery who insisted he finish the album so he could release it.

The result is ‘Destination Unknown’. A magical and dusty esoteric mix of styles that seems to effortlessly project a work of humble yet visionary compositions and poetry. Filled with music boxes, accordions, mandolins, bells, a quartet, acoustic guitars, and endless melody.

I followed this guy for over one year on his myspace page, and I highly recomend this album ! Just wonderful !=)

Music Style :Indie,Pop,Folk,Contemporary,Experimental

Myspace Link:http://www.myspace.com/cuckooshome

Brett Dennen ( Oakdale, California ,USA)

In 2004, Dennen released his first self-titled album, Brett Dennen. His second album was So Much More , which includes the singles "Ain't No Reason", "She's Mine", and "Darlin' Do Not Fear". A few songs charted as iTunes top downloads in the days following the album's release in November 2006. Dennen also contributed a cover of "Private Life" to the 2006 tribute album Drink To Bones That Turn To Dust: A Toast To Oingo Boingo..

Dennen's music has been featured in several television shows, including Grey's Anatomy, House, The Unit and Scrubs. In addition to television series, Dennen's music has also been used in national advertising campaigns for companies such as Hilton Hotels.

He has toured extensively across the U.S. with his band , supporting such musicians as John Mayer. In 2007 he toured with Guster and singer-songwriters Meiko and Joshua James.

Dennen has been a part of The Mosaic Project, San Francisco Bay Area based nonprofit, since its inception. The Mosaic Project works towards a peaceful future by uniting young children of diverse backgrounds, providing them with essential skills to thrive in an increasingly diverse society, and empowering them to strive for peace. As The Mosaic Project's Resident Rock Star, Dennen created an original musical curriculum for the program, in 2003. It won a Children's Music Web 2004 Award and a Parent's Choice 2004 Approved Award.

In November, 2007, Dennen was named as one of Rolling Stone Magazine's "10 Artists To Watch.

Check him out !=)

Music Style: Folkrock/Pop/Indie

Myspace Link:http://www.myspace.com/brettdennen

Civalias (Los Angeles , California )

Hailing from Southern California, Civalias is the project brainchild of 23 year-old Adam Stidham. Conjuring influences such as Aqualung, Coldplay, and Radiohead, the infectiously melodic sounds of Civalias are both engaging and visually enticing. The young songwriter who began his journey in music by playing guitar in his teens soon found that music became a form of therapy. "I found an undeniable peace and calmness in making music. It was me at my most genuine." It is this vulnerability and honesty that makes Civalias special, attracting a contingent of fans who are seeking not only a uniquely refreshing sound, but the emotional substance to back it up.

Music Style: Acoustic/Pop/Rock/Indie

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/civalias

The Blizzards ( Mullingar, Ireland)

The Blizzards' indepedently-released debut single "First Girl to Leave Town" went to No. 11 in the Irish Charts in 2005. In July of that year, the band performed at the Oxegen festival. The following year the band signed a recording contract with Universal Music , Ireland with the band's second single "Trouble" reaching No. 6 in the Irish Single Charts in spring 2006. The single stayed in the Top 40 for four weeks. Follow-up singles "Miss Fantasia Preaches" and "War of Words" were released in August and October 2006 respectively. The Blizzards returned to Oxegen in July 2006, moving up the billing to perform on the NME scene.

The band's debut album, A Public Display of Affection, was released in November 2006 and debuted at no. 4 in the Irish Album Charts. Although critical responses to the album were generally positive, the album remained in the Top 50 for only three weeks. However, the band's growing popularity saw the album re-enter the charts early in 2007. A Public Display of Affection reached No. 21 in the Irish Albums Chart and remained in the Top 50 for eighteen weeks from January to June 2007. Two further singles, "Fantasy" and "On the Right Track" were released in 2007 before a Main Stage appearance on the Sunday Of Oxegen.

In late June 2008, the band confirmed via their official website that work on their second album had been completed. Produced once again by Michael Beinhorn, The Domino Effect was released on the 12th September, with a single entitled "Trust Me I'm A Doctor" released in July. The single, alongside other new and old material as well as a cover of Sam Sparrow's " Black And Gold", was performed during their July 13 hour-long set on the Main Stage of Oxegen 2008.

The Blizzards released their second album, The Domino Effect on 15 September 2008 to mostly postive reviews stating the album "does a concrete job in guiding the sextet through their new-found maturity". The album peaked at #2 on the Irish Album Charts, losing out to Metallica's Death Magnetic. The lead single from the album, " Trust Me , I'm A Doctor"" was released on 29 August 2008 and debuted at #2, again just being beaten to the top spot, this time by the Katy Perry single " IO Kissed A Girl". "Trust Me, I'm a Doctor" remained in the Top Ten for 4 weeks before dropping down to #13 on 10 October. The second single from the band's sophomore album will be "The Reason".

Music Style: Pop/Ska/Punk/Rock/Alternative

Myspace Link : http://www.myspace.com/theblizzards

Birds Of Tokyo ( Perth, Western , Australia )

Birds of Tokyo formed from a collaboration between members of other well known Perth acts including Karnivool and Tragic Delicate. Birds of Tokyo's music marries soaring vocal melodies with catchy rock based guitar hooks and a driving rhythm section, the live show is filled with an energy as raw and exposing as it is energetic, emotive and fun.

Birds of Tokyo were formed in 2004 and despite the relatively short life time of the band they have already established themselves as one of Perth's premier rock bands, regularly playing their own headlining shows at packed venues such as Amplifier, Rosemount Hotel, Metros Fremantle and Capitol.

The band have toured nationally several times and been featured in media including Xpress, Zebra Hype, Adrenaline Zine, Beat Magazine and Base TV. 2006 saw the band touring regional WA on a three week tour in January, before returning to Melbourne to finish working on their debut album, Day One . The album was released on 3 February 2007 and debuted at #88 on the ARIA album charts and #3 on the AIR album charts. Following the release the band embarked on their 'Day One' tour in February 2007 played in five capital cities around Australia.

At the 2007 Wami Awards Birds of Tokyo won two WAMingtons for 'Favourite Newcomer' and 'Best Male Vocalist' (Ian Kenny).

In April 2007 the band played at Blackjack 2007 (relocated "Rock - It" festival) and then undertook another national tour in support of their debut album.

Birds of Tokyo were nominated for two awards in the 2007 AIR Awards (Australian Independent Record Association) for 'Best Performing Independent Album' and 'Most Outstanding New Independent Artist'.

The band recorded their second album Universes in Australia, which was mixed in Los Angeles, California. The debut single from the album, "Silhouettic", was released as a free download on 14 April 2008. The album was released 5 July 2008 and debuted at No. 3 on the ARIA album charts and at No. 1 on the AIR album charts.

Music Style : Alternative / Rock

Myspace Link : http://www.myspace.com/birdsoftokyo

Lovedrug ( Cleveland, Ohio , USA)

Lovedrug is an indie rock band from Canton, Ohio, formed in 2001.
Since Lovedrug's formation in 2001, they have released two full-length albums and three EPs, all of which have been released through the record label The Militia Group to whom they are signed. While on tour with Straylight Run and Sparta in June 2007, Lovedrug's van and trailer was stolen in Detroit, Michigan. The burnt out shell of their van and trailer was later discovered with all of their equipment stolen. Despite this discouraging and unfortunate event, Lovedrug continued their tour, borrowing Sparta's equipment for the rest of the shows.
Their third album, The Sucker Punch Show, will be released October 28,2008.

From what I've heard from the new album , this album gonna be one of the best in 2008 !




Music Style: Indie/Rock/ Grunge

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/lovedrug

The Morning Light ( Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , USA)

The Morning Light is a pop/rock band based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In no more than a year, the band formed, started touring, and signed a record deal. They released their debut EP: The Sounds of Love in March 2008. Their self-titled album will be released September 23, 2008.

Gonna be BIG !

Music Style: Pop/Rock/Indie

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/themorninglight

Glasvegas ( Glasgow, Scotland , UK)

The band's line-up did not come together in early 2006 as recently speculated, but however back in 2000. After gigging around Scotland, mostly Glasgow (Where they were played glasgow Barfly dozens of times) a friend of theirs approached Alan Mcgee at Death Disco and asked him to check out their friends band "Glasvegas". At first he paid no attention, inyet the friend approached him several times, eventually Alan had a listen to the band and has backed them ever since. On October 30, 2006, the band released their first self funded limited edition 7" single, "Go Square Go!". Following the release of second limited edition 7" single, "Daddy's Gone" in November 2007, Glasvegas found themselves at the centre of a bidding war from several major record labels. "Daddy's Gone" sold out and was voted the Number #2 single of the year by the NME.

After releasing third limited edition 7" single, "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" on February 14, 2008 the band opted to sign for Columbia. They then won the prestigious Philip Hall Radar Award at the NME Awards two weeks later. Glasvegas recorded their eponymous debut album at Brooklyn Recording Studios in New York, produced by James Allan and Rich Costey. The album will be released on 8 September 2008, and will include re-recordings of "Daddy's Gone" and "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry", the former being the second single from the album, as well as previously unreleased songs "Polmont On My Mind", "Dream, Dream, Dreaming", "Lonesome Swan", "Sad Lite" and "Geraldine", which was the debut single from the album.

Music Style: Experimental/Surf/Pop/Indie

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/glasvegas

A New Honour ( Winnipeg, Manitoba , Canada)

A New Honour is an emerging alternative rock band from Winnipeg, Canada that came together in September 2006. A line up change of the original three members forced the band to regroup and begin tracking their debut record at Studio 11 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Thirty-six songs were narrowed down to 14 for the debut album “The Untitled Truce”. The album spawned their charting single “Artificial” which landed them a spot on two radio station compilation CD’s, “Power 97’s Class of 2007” and “Freq 107’s Local Heroes Frequency Vol.1.” The music can be best described as melodic alternative rock. The name sums it all up and describes the band’s attitude towards making music. A new creative outlet was formed and the ability to communicate and lift people up with their inspirational lyrics was seen as an honour to the band. The name, A New Honour, was what the band was looking for all along.One of the most impressive facts about the band is their age. All being under 24 years old, the youngest member being 19, the band can only grow stronger in time. Writing songs since the age of 15, songwriter William Prince's talents improve daily and push the band's talent to a whole new level. With lyrics that flow effortlessly alongside well-constructed guitar riffs, it is easy to see why the band has become one of the most played unsigned rock bands on PureVolume.com, and are climbing the charts on MySpace daily.The band has managed to create an online buzz on sites such as Myspace, Purevolume and Garageband. They have been featured in many newspapers receiving rave reviews for their performances and debut CD. Along with these accolades the band was awarded a special feature on CTV’s Spotlight with Sylvia Kuzyk. A New Honour are no strangers to the airwaves as they have done numerous radio spots on Power 97 and Freq 107 in Winnipeg, as well as receive daily airplay on Winnipeg's primary rock radio stations. At the same time, they were crowned the regional winners for the nationwide Mazda Muzik Tour in March 2008.Now here in Winnipeg is a developing new force in alternative music. The band has done all the work necessary to build a strong home fan base and are excited to take their show on the road this summer. With a solid debut album, the group is currently being shopped to major labels, producers and agents to further their career. A New Honour is a band certainly on their way to success. Be sure to catch them online, on tour, and gracing the airwaves of your local rock station.Press Reviews "Many songs on The Untitled Truce have the potential to find their way into a commercial radio station’s rotation, and main songwriter William Prince has the skills to pen a breakthrough hit. They have the modern rock sound and style down..." - The Winnipeg Free Press 3 out of 5 Stars "...the melodies are strong enough to place them above the typical rock music masses that make one change the station...A New Honour proves to be worthwhile. It is encouraging to see local talent go that extra mile, attempting something bigger than the usual. What we have here is a band name to keep an eye out for and an album that will satisfy fans of the genre." - The Manitoban University of Manitoba Newspaper 4 out of 5 Stars

Music Style : Rock/Alternative/Pop

Myspace Link : http://www.myspace.com/anewhonour

The Windupdeads ( Stockholm, Sweden)

The Windupdeads formed in the summer of 2007, Rickard Olsen (lead vocals, guitar), Jonas Westholm (bass) and Marcus von Boisman (drums, backing vocals) previously played together in a project called froid. After bringing in Petter Ingman on guitar, The Windupdeads emerged. They have spent the fall of 2007 recording an album that will be released october 7, 2008 by One Eleven Records. Their song Reverse of Shade has recently gained attention through the television series Gossip Girl and a full length version of the song will be included on their debut album. Really awesome songs !=)

Music Style : Indie/Alternative/Rock

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/thewindupdeads

Axle Whitehead ( Melbourne, Australia)

Axle Whitehead was originally a contestant on the first series of Australian Idol in 2003. He failed to win the competition but made it into the top twenty. After being spotted on Idol, he was hired to host the Television music show, Video Hits on Network Ten, hosting from 2004 to November 1, 2006.
On October 29, 2006, while at the ARIA's, Whitehead was on-stage presenting an award to hip-hop outfit Hilltop Hoods with radio jock Jabba, when he exposed his penis on stage. He also simulated masturbation on the ARIA trophy as the winners made their way to the stage. The Daily Telegraph later reported that Whitehead and his long time girlfriend Katrina Peden had broken up days before the ARIA incident, possibly explaining his behaviour. It was also rumoured in the industry that it was an ongoing dare, between himself, Jabba and Johnny Knoxville, though Whitehead denied the claim. He later said that he had no regrets about the incident, and thought that "more people should do it.Network Ten announced on November 2, 2006 that Whitehead resigned as host of Video Hits on November 1, 2006.
Axle Whitehead's debut album, Losing Sleep was released through Roadshow Music on August 22nd 2008. His debut single "I Don't Do Surprises" was released on radio during January 2008, debuting at #8 on the ARIA Charts in Australia on March 17, 2008. It has also received airplay on Nova radio and surfaced on TV advertisements for popular Channel 10 shows House and Women's Murder Club, being described as a cross between Coldplay and Robbie Williams. Whitehead made his return to Video Hits on February 24, 2008, though only as a guest to promote his announced debut album.

Music Style: Pop/Indie

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/axlewhitehead

The Primary 5 (Bellshill/Glasgow, Scotland/UK)

The third album from the Primary 5, High Five finds singer/songwriter Paul Quinn in a contemplative mood, questioning whether he should even keep going with this music thing. Although his knack for crafting perfectly sunny pop melodies is still in full bloom, many of these songs, whether about a relationship or his music career, reveal Quinn as a troubled daydream believer always on the verge of packing it all in. On the title track he sings, "Man, if you could only feel, the shadow that is over me. I'm feeling the strain and I don't know what to do." Such fatalistic notions aren't too surprising if you know something about Quinn's time after leaving his post as the drummer for the Scottish rock stalwarts the Teenage Fanclub in 2001. Purportedly, Quinn worked as a mailman in a bid to leave the music biz altogether. It was a sentiment he apparently returned to in 2007 after he parted ways with bandmate Ryan Currie and once again made gestures toward disbanding Primary 5.Thankfully, the daydreamer had a change of heart and plunged headlong into recording High Five. Recorded at former the Darkness-guitarist Dan Hawkins' Leeders Farm Studios in rural Norfolk, England, High Five is a deeply personal, heartfelt, and musically lush work that builds upon all of Quinn's innate strengths as a melodic pop craftsman while also stretching the admittedly low-key Scot into more sonically expansive and ambitious sounds that bring to mind the moody, baritone guitar soundscapes of Ennio Morricone. Joining Quinn here is guitarist (and former fellow Soup Dragons member) Jim McCulloch who adds much of this spaghetti western twang. Which isn't to say that High Five is all whip cracks and crooked smiles; on the contrary, Quinn mixes in such sleight of hand campiness alongside driving power pop numbers and layered, Baroque pop gems. Interestingly, much as spaghetti westerns work as post-modern histories of the old west as remembered by fans of films about the old west, High Five is a kind of post-modern classicist pop album about classicist pop by a guy who grew up loving classicist pop. Crystallizing this notion at the center of the album is the pure ode to rock music "Lost and Confused" in which Quinn plays out the meeting between artist and fan. He sings, "Hey man it's so good to meet you. I love your records. I love your songs. I feel like I have always known you. Since way back when, you weren't so cool. Now, you're number one." And continues, "You are the sun. You are the moon. I love the things you do. Or, is this an excuse?" The implication is that no matter how amazing the music is, no matter how much it means to you at that moment, somebody is probably wasting their time. And as the song drives on with Quinn's insistent catchy hook you begin to wonder if he's talking to himself. And yet, High Five is anything but a waste of time. In fact, Quinn is a master of stopping time in the way only great pop songwriters can with a melody that grabs your lips or a harmony that tugs at your guts and gives you goose bumps and a lyric that defines exactly the way you feel right now and again. If a lot of contemporary pop music is leaden, fabricated product that can make you forget why you ever liked music in the first place, Quinn's High Five is a deeply affirmative, hand on the back reminder of why a well-constructed pop song with a hook and a simple truthful message is perhaps all you ever need. 4/5 STARS. ~AMG~

Music Style: Indie,Pop,Power-Pop

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/theprimary5

Plajia (Montreal, Quebec , Canada)

I just LOVE "Sleeping" ! The most wonderful song at this moment !

From bands website :

Lauded by music critics in Canada and abroad, trip-rock group Plajia, composed of Patrick Pleau (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards and harmonica), Simon Boivin (bass and backing vocals) and Pascal Laviolette (drums, percussion and backing vocals) feels compelled to buy a crystal ball in order to preview its future successes.But let’s get back to ongoing reality. With its first sonic offering entitled “Beautiful Explosion ”, the Montreal trio renews a struggling tradition in this hypermodern and fragmented musical era: the full-fledged album. No respite for the listener here, the experience is total.From gripping beginning to grandiose end, this voyage through eleven songs transports us in an impressionist soundscape, where unbridled imagination, open emotion and gleeful sarcasm colour an ethereal and melodious music. And stylistically speaking, “Beautiful Explosion ” is certainly audacious, as Plajia infuses its atmospheric rock with brit-music references, psychedelic accents and eccentric arrangements, the whole with a pop focus and technical mastery.After having won the 2004 edition of Virée chaosphonique and finished first at the Bluetracks.ca MP3 Contest in 2006, Plajia has recently been nominated with “Beautiful Explosion ” for the Grand Prix de la relève Archambault 2008. Now, and in the words of the great Gerald Levert, Plajia hopes to “pop pop pop” Montreal, but that decision lies with a very wise and humourful hipster wearing checkered Converses.

Music Style: Rock / Acustic/ Ambient

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/plajia

The Beep Seals (Manchester,UK)

The Beep Seals formed many moons ago thanks to a mutual admiration of each other and a shared love of various things predominantly the rock band Pavement, visionary demi-god Todd Rundgren, the Animal Collective, long walks on rainy days, the sound of a really good fuzz pedal and the Beatles (obviously). Spending 2007 touring some of the world and cultivating a fearsome live reputation centred around the best drummer since Animal from the Muppets and vocal harmonies that'd make Brian Wilson punch Carl in the face; the Beeps somehow managed to release two sold out singles aswell...amazing right? Both slices of pure psych-slacker pop, cherished by the lucky few who managed to bag a copy, particularly a handful of girls currently camped outside keyboard player Phil's house waving lewd banners.

Music Style : Progressiv / Classic

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/beepseals

Lady & Bird (Iceland)

This side project is from the duo of internationally famous singer/songwriter Keren Ann Zeidel and Bardi Johannson (lead singer of Iceland's Bang Gang). After having huge success in Europe, Keren Ann released her breakthrough, critically acclaimed album "Nolita" on Blue Note in 2005. She's been repeatedly nominated for several Victories awards (France's version of The Grammys). The American release of this record contains an exclusive live track of "Do What I Do", and the duo will be touring the US this summer.

Music Style: Indie / Psycadelia / Pop

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/ladyandbirdband

Moi Caprice ( Copenhagen, Denmark)

HIGHLY RECOMEND THESE GUYS! JUST WONDERFUL MUSIC !

Moi Caprice is an indie rock band from Denmark. Current members are Michael Møller, David Brunsgaard, Jakob Millung, and Casper Henning Hansen. The band, formed as early as 1993 as Concrete Puppet Frog, rose to visibility in 1997 as the first unsigned band to top the Danish alternative music charts in 1997, despite the lack of a released studio album. The band has remained active, releasing three albums beginning in 2003, and by touring internationally, including performances in Canada and Vietnam.
Their third album, released in 2006, earned them four Critics Award nominations and two nominations for Danish Music Awards, and they won the prize for best band at the Danish critics award, Steppeulven.

Music Style: Alternative/Indie/Rock/Pop

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/moicaprice

Hamfatter (Cambridge, East ,UK)

Following tours of local venues throughout the UK, and several line-up changes, Hamfatter signed to Pink Hedgehog Records in 2003.
Hamfatter's first official album, Fireworks (April 2004), enjoyed moderate success - particularly in and around Cambridge, where the band had built up a following. The album exhibits several different styles.
Hamfatter's next release, Girls in Graz (May 2006), continued to raise the band's UK profile. The title track received radio-play and became a surprise hit in Austria, and two European tours followed. During this time Intim Productions of Vienna produced a DVD featuring live performances, interviews and a video for the song "Fireworks".
In June 2006 Hamfatter were booked to headline the main stage at Strawberry Fair, Cambridge's summer festival. For this performance in front of an audience of several thousand, the usual three-piece line-up was enhanced by a horn section and double bass. This larger line-up has featured at most of the band's subsequent performances.
Hamfatter recorded their third studio album, entitled What Part of Hamfatter Do You Not Understand?, in summer 2007. Its lead single, "Sziget (We Get Wrecked)", reached 13 in the UK indie charts, and 54 in the UK singles charts.
NME wrote a review in 2007 saying "Hamfatter carry an arsenal of power-pop nuggets including the amazing 'Sziget' which deserves to be a hit."

The band appeared on the UK edition of Dragon's Den on BBC2 on 21 July 2008, where they performed an extract from "Sziget (We Get Wrecked)" in an attempt to secure a £75,000 investment as an alternative to a standard record deal. After offers from four of the five potential investors, they agreed a deal with Peter Jones.
The following day, Peter Jones appeared on The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 and Hamfatter's next single "The Girl I Love" was previewed. It was then announced that the song is available to download now and will be available to buy physically on August 11, 2008. Within one hour of their appearance on Dragons Den, the single had sold 500 copies via downloads, with a further 1,000 selling later that night. On the UK Singles Chart published on July 27, 2008, the song entered at #71.


Music Style: Indie/Pop/Alternative

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/hamfatter

The Stills ( Montreal, Quebec , Canada)

The Stills are a Canadian rock band. Four of the band members, Tim Fletcher, Dave Hamelin, Liam O'Neil and Olivier Corbeil, have known each other since around the age of 12 and played in various bands prior to forming The Stills in 2000. The band members are art students from Montreal, Quebec. On a two-month trip to New York City, they recorded several songs with the help of a four-track recorder. According to rumour, the four-track recorder was given to them after helping a friend in Barcelona who needed drug money. After landing a record deal, they began working on an EP entitled Rememberese EP which was released on June 17, 2003. Their debut album Logic Will Break Your Heart was released later that year, and touring with Interpol and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs gained them a steady following. Their latest album, Without Feathers, was released May 9, 2006 on Vice Records. They supported Kings of Leon on their UK spring tour in 2007.
They signed with Arts & Crafts for the release of their upcoming third album, Oceans Will Rise. A new song is available for streaming from their website, along with a looping video credited to Gordon Hull.
On May 29, 2008, according to Spin magazine's website, their third album entitled Oceans Will Rise is due out August 19.
On July 20, 2008 they played to a crowd of over 250000 in Quebec City, opening for Paul McCartney.

Music Style: Alternative/Indie/Rock

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/thestills

Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong ( London,UK)

The band formed in late-2006 initially calling themselves Joe Lean and The Tantrums. Following a name change to Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, they played their first gig in January 2007 and released début single Lucio Starts Fires on October 8. In the same year, the band supported Babyshambles, Dizzee Rascal, Cansei de Ser Sexy and Kaiser Chiefs, and completed their first headlining tour across the UK in December. At the end of the year, the band were placed number 7 on the BBC's Sound of 2008 poll.

Lead singer, Joe Lean (Joe Beamont), also acts under the name Joe Van Moyland and was drummer with The Pipettes until June 2007. He has played Jamie Chapman in Peep Show and Thomas Tallis in The Tudors.

Guitarist Tommy D (Thomas Dougall) is the brother of Rose Dougall, formerly of The Pipettes. Drummer (James Craig) has also been a stand-in drummer for The Pipettes and has also drummed for The Sigma. He is brother of George Craig from One Night Only. The band also features Dominic O'Dair on guitar and the Panda on bass.

In 2008, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong supported The Cribs on the 2008 NME Awards Tour, and showcased their sound at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The band announced their biggest UK headlining tour to date, playing 25 gigs throughout April and May. Their second single, "Lonely Buoy", was released on 10 March 2008, with reports by NME saying that they are currently recording an album with producer John Cornfield. A third single, Where Do You Go was released in June.

They played at the Glastonbury Festival 2008, despite their name erroneously appearing as "Joe Ling and the Jing Jang Jong" on the line-up.

Their debut, self-titled album was originally due to be released on the 4 August 2008, however this release was scrapped as the album 'didn't represent their current sound'. Copies had already been sent to critics, with the likes of NME giving it 8/10. The album will be re-recorded with a view to release the album in 2009.

Music Style: Indie/Pop/Rock

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/joeleanandthejingjangjong