The Yohawks

 "The Yohawks stand forever a band caught in a freeze-frame of unrelenting sonic assault. Convened by Jeremy Gluck out of various Swansea bands including his beloved Superczar they enabled precious moments in which to single-mindedly detonate explosions out of his unique readings of classic

garage punk and New York noise. Further it allowed him to revisit one more time glories from ‘I Knew Buffalo Bill’ and ‘Burning Skulls Rise’. I recall The Yohawks one time raising the cacophony in an upstairs room in Leytonstone; it burns in the memory. Did it last? Did it fuck! But as we see traces remain, and here gathered you can happily access the echoes." 

 

Nick West, Bucketful of Brains Formed in 2006 by Jeremy Williams, co-founder of ace Swansea combo

Superczar, The Yohawks provided Jeremy Gluck, Barracudas’ frontman and established cult solo artist, with a band to perform reinventions of songs spanning his time. Named after a Sixties from gang from Gluck’s hometown of Ottawa, along with Williams, the band featured players from The Death of Chapman Baxter – guitarist Matt Ellis, bassist Liam S. wolf, and drummer Ray Boothby – making The

Yohawks live performances, as described by one devotee, “a cross between The Patti Smith Group and Ornette Coleman”, were never adequately captured in the studio. 

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcmfvLu89bk

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or-2oLGoWO4

 

Alpha Pegasi

 

Some musicians start out as shy, self-conscious, social misfits who only later bloom into passionate, creative, and confident people. Mitch Melodia is one of them.

 

After playing hundreds of shows, performing at festivals, and recording with numerous bands in New England, he moved West and started his own “band” Alpha Pegasi. For his project’s upcoming releases, hundreds of original songs were distilled into a select few for a four-part series of EPs. The first one, titled Love Sex Money Part I is due for release on 8/26/22. The first single from LSM I, "Give Some, Get Some," was released on 4/20/22.

 

“Making Music, Making Love, Making Money is probs gonna be the title of my future autobiography," Mitch says. "Personally, those are three of the most important things I feel like I can do to have a very happy, healthy, wealthy, and fulfilling lifestyle. The more money I earn, the more money I can give. And for the first two, well, they're pretty really great to be able to do."

 

A cohesive blend of danceable, sexy, and upbeat grooves come together for a tasty rock/pop/alternative stew. Influences run from Jam-band giants like Phish, the Grateful Dead, and the Allman Brothers Band, classic rock, and more pop approaches like Tame Impala, Beck, Arcade Fire, Talking Heads, and the funkier side of Khruangbin. 

 

“Alpha Pegasi has a Tame Impala-ish approach in the studio and a Phish-ish mentality for live shows,” he says. “Improvisation is a staple of every show but when recording, I keep it concise. It’s fun for me to play and arrange every instrument on record, but I’m also stoked for future collaborations with other musicians on AP studio songs.”

 

Beyond creating incredible and fun-fused music, Mitch also aims to work with non-profits and health-based organizations. A main financial focus for Alpha Pegasi is to donate 5% of all profits to groups like San Diego EarthWorks. Mitch aspires to use his music and art as a vehicle to support environmental and health-improving causes, including mental-health practices.

 

“I’ve had a few therapists over the years to get help with personal issues,” he recalls. “Every counselor has been very helpful, but sessions can be expensive. Down the road, I want to create Alpha Health to make holistic based mental-health programs more accessible and affordable.”

 

In these twisted and trying times, Love Sex Money Part I offers glimmers of light, enjoyment, and good vibes. “Through the music I make, I want to bring people together and create an ever-growing community through great shows and great music. Through such a community, we can raise a lot of money and support for non-profits who do a lot of good work for people and the planet.”

 

 https://alphapegasimusic.com/

Mr Bewlay

 

 

Bold and charismatic, an intoxicating charm blazes from the flamboyant powerhouse and emerging talent, that is Mr Bewlay.” Becky and the Bands “There is no man more committed to the pursuit of staying relevant. A true pop star in the making!” Adam Walton The UK Art Pop extraordinaire Mr Bewlay has established himself as the paramount voice for the unorthodox. Currently based in Cardiff, Bewlay’s scope is far reaching with his tendency to bend gender, genres, and styles.

 

Playing by nobody’s rules but his own, his live shows have become well noted for their

unpredictability. Like the royal courts of old,Bewlay’s command of the crowd is absolute,

and they bend to his whim in both quiet awe and reckless abandon. 

 

 https://linktr.ee/mrbewlay

Blaze Project

 

Sometimes having a passion can be both a blessing and a curse. Canadian rockers Blaze Project capture this very conundrum with their blues-infused single, “Sweet Little Misery,” from their brand new album, Enjoy This Moment – both available now. 

 

“Sweet Little Misery” is a thumping, bluesy, head-bopping rock ‘n’ roll song with a wailing guitar solo that brings to mind the energy of an arena. Its message is somewhat meta: “It’s about an artist and his great passion for music, as well as his vision of a performance on stage,” the Baie-Comeau, Québec-based band shares. “A musician who was born with this talent and passion, and despite all the paths taken, he will always end up finding the stage and music on his way.”

  

It fits nicely with the overarching theme of Enjoy This Moment, which is to grasp a positive mood with an open heart and open arms. Composed in the band’s home studio and practice space during the pandemic, the album was fueled by Blaze Project’s need to create even amid the unfortunate medical diagnoses, family deaths, and even a car accident that various band members experienced throughout the writing and recording process. 

  

“The songs deal with the beauties of the world and nature, interpersonal relationships, passion, determination, the happiness of living and enjoying the good things in life,” the band says of the 10 songs, adding that though the members come from different musical tastes and disciplines they were able to achieve a cohesive sound, albeit one that spans traditional rock, blues, funk, and even indie rock at times. 

  

“Each musician brings his color,” they say. “This is what gives it the Blaze Project touch.”

  

Though each song deals with a different message and narrative, the thread that runs throughout Enjoy This Moment is the desire to create positive, emotional, and catchy music. 

  

“Sweet Little Misery” and Enjoy This Moment are available now.

 

 https://blazeproject.ca/

Tasha Hillman

 

Tasha Hillman is a young Indie singer and songwriter born and raised in kelowna b.c. She has always been involved in performing arts with dance her whole life. Though music has always been on her mind. The ability to capture a story in art is so beautiful. She discovered her passion for writing music when she was 16. Since then she has been cultivating songs daily about her experiences on this planet. One of her deepest moments of pain she turned into a song and knew in that moment she had to pursue this journey. Life throws us a lot of pain we don't always know how to handle. Songwriting and music has been this healing process that has helped me navigate the hardest parts of life. In every moment of pain and sadness I think we can still find beauty and hope. The songs I am writing hopefully will give that hope to people when they need it most. I want to remind everyone we are all connected and never alone. I want people to find pockets of sunshine when it feels like the rain will never stop. This world can feel too big but sometimes it feels too small and a single moment can change our reality. 

  www.facebook.com/TashaDreams2020

The Hogtown Allstars

 

A new band of multi-award-winning not-so-new blues players are set to make their musical mark: The Hogtown Allstars have released their debut album today, Hog Wild, via Stony Plain Records.

 

Featuring eight new all-original songs, and two covers, Hog Wild was recorded throughout 2021 once the group nailed their first challenge: coordinating everyone’s schedule to hit the studio. It’s the first release for the undeniable supergroup that first started in 2013 as a collaborative, creative outlet for Toronto-based musicians dedicated to the genre.

 

As for ‘Allstars,’ they come by the moniker honestly; built with some of the most dynamic and experienced players on the global blues scene, the 7-piece adds up to Downchild Blues Band alum Chuck Jackson, Pat Carey, Gary Kendall, Jim Casson, and Tyler Yarema alongside Maple Blues Band alums Teddy Leonard and Howard Moore. 

 

Their collective shelves are lined with more than 20+ Maple Blues Awards, five JUNO Awards, two Lifetime Achievement Awards, and countless international blues and jazz music awards. 

https://soundcloud.com/idla/sets/hog-town-all-stars-hog-wild/s-vMdqUsMABRL?si=83595b1263654240b2ced7c2023a345a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

ElectroBluesSociety

 

 

 

ElectroBluesSociety is an experimental electro blues duo. Two guys and a bunch of junk with a broad taste and an open mind mixing the old with the new. Modern technologies combined with 30+ years of live stage experience in the European blues / roots music scene. 

During the period 2016 - 2002 the guys invited several other artists to record new music with. On this album you will find a selection of our favorite ElectroBluesSociety tracks.

JASPER MORTIER – drums, bass
mainly known as bass player but lately he found a new passion: playing drums !!   Over the years Jasper worked with numerous great artists like Preston Shannon, ‘Sax’ Gordon Beadle, Monti Amundson, Philip Walker, Candye Kane, Melvin Taylor, Sherman Robertson, Terry Evans, Long John Hunter, Eddy Clearwater, Guy Forsyth, David Gogo, Toni Lynn Washington, Paul Oscher, Doug Jay, Boo Boo Davis, Byther Smith, Boyd Small, and many others. 

JAN MITTENDORP - guitar
Touring Europe since 1993 with USA blues artists ike: Percy Strother, Smokey Wilson , Byther Smith, Burton Gaar, Roy Roberts, Larry Garner, Boo Boo Davis, Erskine Oglesby, Jody Williams, Roscoe Chenier, Clara McDaniel, Boyd Small, Billy Jones, Hosea Leavy, Harrison Kennedy and many others.  With Boo Boo Davis among others at Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz, Jazz a Juan, Amal BluesFestival and Blues Peer.

 

 https://open.spotify.com/album/2QhI35fsU1XUn8uitfo33p?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=submission_electrobluessociety_2016_2022&utm_term=2022-04-24

Ellinor Springstrike

 

The extraordinarily talented, and hard working, Ellinor Springstrike is widely acknowledged as one of the most exciting Country Music stars in the world today.

Her music is highly-listenable, accessible and has a wide appeal.  So it comes as little surprise that her latest two singles, ‘What’s Your Name?’ and ’It’s Never Too Late’ have between them racked up well over two million streams along with airplay all over the world.

This fairytale, film worthy, story begins when, quite by chance, the Swedish born Ellinor Springstrike was discovered by the multi-award winning Nashville producer and singer/songwriter Jimmy Ritchey after a Christmas gift of a DNA kit led him to investigate the Country Music artists in Sweden when he discovered he is of Swedish heritage himself.

Jimmy Ritchey, who also discovered, and developed the careers, of such artists as Jake Owen, Sam Hunt, Greg Bates and William Michael Morgan spotted Ellinor Springstrike’s exceptional talents, contact was made and one of the most amazing musical partnerships was born.

Ellinor flew to Nashville to work with Jimmy and his team.  She immediately began co-writing with Grammy Award winning, luminary songwriters of the Country Music world.  Jimmy and Ellinor then took the songs into a world class studio to cut the tracks for the new EP including ‘This Fire,’ ‘It’s Never Too Late’ and ‘What’s Your Name’ as well as the new single ‘Good Love’ which is out 23rd April 2021.

The pair have a natural affinity which creates a magic that shows in the music.  Somehow Jimmy and Ellinor were destined to work with each other and luck brought them together over the thousands of miles that separate their home towns.

With bookings for concerts flooding in and a fanbase that is growing exponentially, Ellinor’s stellar rise of the last two years looks set to make her an international name.

 

 www.ellinorspringstrike.com

Rebekka Lundstrøm

 

Rebekka Lundstrøm is a country and folk inspired singer/songwriter from Norway.

Her sound is melancholic with glimmers of hope and her honest and personal stories are delivered by a distinctive and soothing voice.

Since her debut as a songwriter in 2017, Rebekka has released one album, two individual singles and is soon ready to put out two more singles, followed by her second album.

Rebekka's debut album, “Carousel”, (March 2020), earned great reviews in newspapers, music blogs and magazines both in Norway and abroad. It made it onto several lists of “Best albums of 2020”.

Since then, she has put out two more singles, “Breathe” with music video and “This Christmas”, both in 2021.

"Silent Storms”, Rebekka’s second studio album is releasing on April 22nd 2022, but before this her  single “Starting Again” will be ready for streaming on March 25th and “Soul Searching &  Songwriting” on April 8th. 

 

 https://www.facebook.com/misscarousel

Judith Owen

 

Judith Owen, a performer whose stylistic range spans rock, pop, classical, jazz, blues, and musical theatre, Owen is also a comedic actress and master storyteller.

Born into an overtly musical Welsh family, Judith Owen grew up in London surrounded by classical music, ballet, theatre, and the fine arts.  Owen was also exposed to many jazz icons and Broadway musicals that her parents loved (the mixture would become her signature sound).

Owen quickly began performing at a variety of different venues around London. Her unique hybrid of classical/jazz-influenced styled sound soon affirmed a regular slot at Ronnie Scotts.

With Thirteen critically acclaimed album releases, multiple live shows (mini-musicals as she describes them), from Ronnie Scott’s to The Royal Albert Hall and Syndey Opera House and her “cinematic” songs featured in film and TV.

Pre lockdown, Judith wrapped up a tour in Europe and the U.K. to adoring fans, during which time she joined Richard Thompson as a featured guest (along with a cavalcade of British rock and folk royalty) at his 70th birthday celebration at London’s Royal Albert Hall. She then joined another legend… bassist Derek Smalls (“formerly of the band formerly known as Spinal Tap”), for a series of concerts in the U.S. followed by a handful of intimate shows in Australia with percussionist Pedro Segundo.

Judith Owen is co-creator and co-host of the annual “Christmas Without Tears” charity variety show that has featured guests including Steven Merchant, Tim Minchin, Catherine O’Hara, and many others.

 https://judithowen.net

Bé Schmaal

 

 

Bé Schmaal is a singer-songwriter and mainly sings in Groningen. He writes about what he knows and experiences, straight from the heart. No subject, however personal, is shunned, so that you as a listener are taken into the emotional life of the singer. Since the release of the first single “Zwait en Zwoare Sjek” several songs have been released as singles. Together with Krzysztof Groen as a duo "Mitzenbaaident" June 2020 the song "Ik Zing". The first album “Dattien bie sixty” (“13 bie 60”) was released on February 28, 2019 and presented live in Van Beresteyn in Veendam. With 13 songs on it, as the title suggests. It is a mix of own songs and five covers rewritten by Bé in Gronings.

 

 https://www.be-schmaal.nl/