New record out April 15th. Wahey!
Tag Archives: alessi’s ark
Festival Preview: Bushstock
Festival #3 of the year and one in quite a similar style to #1 and #2. Like Camden Crawl and Great Escape, Bushstock is one of those multi-venue inner city festivals where you run around trying to see as many bands as possible. Unlike CC and TGE, Bushstock is much carmer, less stressful and a lot folkier. It’s not overcrowded, you probably won’t have to queue and with only 4 venues, there is little chance of you getting lost. However, the difficulty arrives when deciding who to see, as the bill is ram-packed with amazing artists. I’m gonna give you a bit of help, so here is a Flying with Anna guide to 2012′s Bushstock festival.
1:30-2 David McCaffrey- St. Stephens Church
Start your day at the best venue of the festival with the delightful David McCaffrey. A previous New Treat on the blog, I am so impressed with David’s nack for melodies paired with his lush voice.
2:30-3 Mahalia- St. Stephens Church
Next up I’d stay put in St. Stephens church for little known singer-songwriter Mahalia. I don’t know much about this girl, except she’s 14 and could be quite a treat. Her voice has soulful qualities and her songwriting is way beyond her years.
3-3:30 Rae Morris- Defectors Weld
One of your absolute must sees of the festival should definitely be Miss Rae Morris. This girl is such a talent and pretty much blows every member of her audience away when she plays live. Plus she is destined for big big things, so catch her while you can.
4:30-5:10 Raghu Dixit- St. Stephens Church
Mix your day up a bit, get out of the folky zone and see some cracking Indo world music with Bangalore’s own Raghu Dixit. Guaranteed to put a smile on anyones face.
5-5:30 Joe Banfi- Defectors Weld
Someone I’d definitely keep an eye and an ear out for is Sheffield based Joe Banfi. This young chap makes music with the ghostly qualities of Daughter and the power and pop sensibilities of Ben Howard. A very beautiful live show.
5:30-6 Sarah Jarosz- St. Stephens Church
This is yet another must see of the festival. Over again from Boston, I’ve heard nothing but good things about her Bush Hall show last summer. Sarah Jarosz and her band make the most gorgeous country music with remarkable musicianship. This is gonna be a special set.
6-6:30 Alessi’s Ark- Defectors Weld
It’s been forever since I’ve seen Alessi. She never fails to give a loveable, quirky live set with her beautiful tales of Ribbon Lakes and Hummingbirds.
7:45- 8:15 Lanterns on the Lake- St. Stephens Church
And yet ANOTHER must see of Bushstock (yes there are too many). Lanterns on the Lake in St. Stephens church is a match made in heaven. Their luscious rich haunting sounds will send shivers down your spine and leave a tear in your eye.
8:45-9:15 Pale Seas- Shepherds Bar
I managed to miss Pale Seas at Great Escape (very sad) but shall be catching their set this weekend. If you don’t already know Pale Seas then you are missing out on a lot and I insist you catch up pronto.
10-11 Daughter- St. Stephens Church
Last year Daughter played St. Stephens Church at Bushstock but they were on much earlier in the day, second on the bill I think. This weekend they are headlining the stage which shows you just how far they have come in 1 year. Having just signed to 4AD, who knows where they will be this time next year, but I predict dizzy heights. Catch them this weekend for a guaranteed beautiful show and see a band fast on the rise.
Then be prepared to dance the night away! The line-up also includes Mystery Jets, Marcus Foster and Fink. To see the full line-up and buy tickets visit www.bushstock.co.uk
Filed under Festivals
Communion for Bands in Transit
Communion have done a couple of special’s for Bands in Transit which I thought were worth posting. Theres a small interview and performances from Alessi’s Ark, Kyla La Grange, Bear’s Den and Monument Valley. Bands in Transit also have great videos by loads of bands like Grouplove, Cloud Control and James Vincent McMorrow to name just a few.
This is a lovely song called ‘Lambs’ by Kyla La Grange
And the wonderful Alessi’s Ark with ‘Time Travel’ from her new album out on Bella Union.
If you click through the videos you can see all the other Bands In Transit videos, definitely worth a watch.
Alessi’s Ark new album and free download!
Alessi and her Ark are back! Her 20o9 debut ‘Notes from a Treehouse’ was one of my favourite albums of that year and after having signed to Bella Union, her last EP Soul Proprietor was also stunning. I reviewed it here.
She is now back with a new album, ‘Time Travel’ which is due to be released on April 25th on Bella Union. The songs on this album she says have been inspired by travelling and touring away from family and friends. Since releasing her debut she has toured with the likes of Laura Marling, Villagers, and is set to take to the road with Mumford and Sons in the coming weeks.
‘The Wire’ which has been taken from her next album is now available as a free download. It shows a maturer approach to her songwriting than in previous songs but still has that lovely innocence and gorgeous Alessi voice. I cannot wait to here more. Download the song below.
Filed under News
Best EP’s of 2010
I’ve come across a lot of really lovely EP’s this year, and I thought I’d create a little post to represent some of these. I’ve done a lot of EP reviews too on here which you can find in the ‘Album Review’ tag but here is a quick run down of some of my favourites.
Matthew and the Atlas- ‘Kingdom of your Own’ and ‘To the North’
Two very beautiful EP’s from this lovely band. Both are delicate and strong and the transition from To the North to Kingdom of your Own shows a great step and I look forward to the album, due this year. This song is Within the Rose from To the North.
Boy and Bear- With Emperor Antarctica
I love this band, I think their sound is wonderful and this EP shows that off brilliantly. They also have some brilliant videos, and this is one of them.
Pete Roe- The Merry-Go-Round EP
Pete Roe is such an underrated talent. His songs are wonderful and I wish he was able to bring them to more people, but alas. At least they were brought to my ears though in the form of this lovely little EP.
Alessi’s Ark- Soul Proprietor
2010 saw Alessi’s Ark sign to the wonderful label Bella Union and consequently release this EP. Her debut album Notes from a Treehouse is a treat for the ears but this EP shows such a wonderful development and maturity in her sound. I believe their is an album due in 2011 and I can’t wait to see how her sound further develops. This is one of my favourite performances on youtube!
Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell- The North Farm Sessions
I don’t know if this is a mini-album or an EP, but whatever it is, it melts my heart. The melodies and the harmonies and so so pretty and they are another very underrated duo. I think my favourite EP of the year.
Summer Camp- Young EP
Summer Camp are my favourite new find of 2010 and I hope to see much much more of them in 2011. Their Young EP did not disappoint as this track shows.
Much love x
Filed under Features
Gig Review: Laura Marling @ Salford Lowry, Manchester
Anyone who follows this blog regularly will know that I have a bit of an obsession with Laura Marling. I think she is incredible. I went to see her last night at the Salford Lowry, a theatre outside Manchester, along with support from Alessi’s Ark and Boy and Bear. The whole show was such a treat, all three acts just flawless. Boy and Bear played first. They are from Australia, a place where there seems to be alot of brilliant bands coming from at the moment. There harmonies are so beautiful and they had a great energy even though the venue wasn’t where they would be best suited. I hope there is lots more to come from them in the future.
Then for Alessi’s Ark. I’ve seen her twice before but both times with a full band so it was lovely to see that it was just her and one other guy. Her new EP Soul Proprietor came out last week but I think she only played one song from it, Bird Song and the rest was from her album ‘Notes from a Treehouse’. She played Woman though which is my favourite. Her voice is so unique and I think her music is stunning, makes your hairs stand on ends.
And finally, Laura Marling! It was a little surreal so see her playing is such a big venue. I remember the second time I saw her about two years ago at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. At the end we met her, she was lovely and the whole show was so intimate. And when I saw her at Glastonbury last year I was barely a metre away from her the tent was so small. The Lowry is a big theatre, its got incredible acoustics but the Laura I saw two years ago could not have filled that space. She was still incredible, but so timid and her voice sounding so much younger. The Laura I saw yesterday has grown up, her voice much stronger but still with the same haunting beauty and her music too has evolved. Its unreal to think she is only 20. She played mostly songs from her new album ‘I Speak Because I Can’, but also a few from ‘Alas, I Cannot Swim’ such as Ghosts, My Manic and I and Failure. She played both solo and with her band, which consisted of members of Boy and Bear, and of course Pete Roe. In the middle she did a few solo songs, including a cover of Neil Young’s ‘Needle and the Damage Done’, she messed it up at the end but it was the sweetest mess up ever. New Songs included ‘Rest In My Bed’ and a song she said was written in the last week, both may be on her next album, due at the end of this year. As usual with Laura shows she refused to do an encore and played her last two songs without a gap, she finished with I Speak Because I Can, the last track from the album of the same name. She was stunning, so charming, such an incredible talent. My love for Laura Marling continues and grows.
Filed under Gig Reviews
Laura Marling Supports
I have mentioned a few times what the Laura Marling tour supports are, as they are so great. Her tour starts today so for those who haven’t picked up what they are, they are Alessi’s Ark and Boy and Bear. I am going to see her on Monday at the Salford Lowry in Manchester and I am so excited! Here’s what to expect:
I hope everyone who is going has a brilliant time! There are still tickets left for a few dates I think.
Filed under Music General
EP Review: Soul Proprietor- Alessi’s Ark
Alessi’s album ‘Notes from a Treehouse’ is a record full of creativity and innocence alongisde Alessi’s very unique voice. Now, around a year later she is signed to Bella Union and is releasing an EP called ‘Soul Proprietor’ which is out tomorrow (Monday 5th April). The packaging of the record is very nice indeed, the sweetshop cover is above and the inside artwork has all been drawn by Alessi and Anika from one of my favourite blog’s Anika in London. But as good as the outside packaging may be, the music inside is possibly even better. The opener ‘The Robot’ is a lovely summery number and shows off the quirkiness of Alessi’s voice brilliantly. The next track ‘Shovelling’ which is a free download below is a very sweet little song with a country feel to it. ‘Dancing Feet’ is a song I have been in love with for a long time and is the highlight of the record for me. The lyrics show off both the beauty and creativity that goes on in the mind of Alessi. The line ‘You should know by now, that I cared for you’ has some melting male vocals behind Alessi’s voice. The final track The Bird Song features the Willkommen Collective and is backed with whistling, banjos, violins and trumpets on top of the usual Ark arrangements. Although I think there is still a child-like innocence behind these songs, I also feel like she has grown up a little since ‘Notes from a Treehouse’. ‘Soul Proprietor is still full of creativity, but also a little more mellow creativity, and there is a much more definite beauty to the record. I will be really interested to see where she goes next.
Rating: 4.5/5
Best Tracks: Dancing Feet, The Bird Song
Filed under Album Review
Watch this!
woahh, did no one else think that is the best thing you have ever seen!
Filed under Music
Alessi’s Ark
Alas, I could not go to see her for free in Leeds 
Silly silly snow. This is what I and everyone else who isn’t there is missing…
I also got the new Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell mini-album and the Marina and the Diamonds album, so I will review those maybe at some point. Hope everyone is well x
